Mission Birthday

Birthday cookies!

 Tuesday, May 13, 2014

            I didn’t end up writing anything yesterday, but we had a FUN p-day which is a rarity here in Brazil.  We went to Fregesuia (in a bus…not so fun) to have a p-day with our district. I have Sister Tingey and Sister Sasine in my district, which is a huge blessing to me.  We had lunch, played volleyball (yes I am still terrible),  and just laughed and chilled.  It was a great break from the routine, and it was a huge blessing to interact with other missionaries. Elder Hawks surprised me with birthday brownies! Such thoughtful Elder!

            Funny story – we went to visit B., a sweet lady in her 60’s who has been an active member for the past 4 years.  I sat down on the couch and the first thing that she said to me was, “WOW, that is a huge zit!”  *facepalm* Thanks B., I wasn’t aware of it already.  Then she went on to (lovingly) give me a lot of skin care counsel.  I just smiled and nodded, but I am pretty sure that the best cure for zits does not include wearing 70 spf sunscreen and walking 7-9 hours every day. 

            Another Funny Story -  Happy Birthday to meee-- I met a very cute RM who served in Santa Maria--guess who was his trainer??? Jon Rogers! Small little Mormon world. 

            Spiritual story – I was doing street contacts, which is usually just very unpleasant and pretty face paced concentrated rejection, when along came a young woman who just started talking to me.  She was so nice and we connected quickly.  As I pulled out my Book of Mormon pass along card, she exclaimed that she had been given a Book of Mormon in 1998 and that she had read the whole thing and it really helped her through some tough times.  She even remembered the month that she had been given the book.  Unfortunately, she doesn’t live in our area, but I passed her information onto the Elders serving in that area. 

            My companion and I are not getting along very well.  I am searching and praying to find the root to our problem, but we just don’t click. We will keep working on it.  Our areas is still rough, but we get to go on divisions today which means that I get a break from my area.  YESSS!  Plus I will be able to have my birthday breakfast with dear, sweet Sister Tingey, whom I love!

Divisions with the Sisters serving in Anil

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

            My 22nd birthday!  I am feeling infinitely more balanced and happier today.  The division was a huge blessing. It was so good to work with Sister Brenes.  She is in week 9 of her 12 week program and just has that wonderful optimism, energy, and drive of a new missionary.  She was born in Costa Rica and moved to the states when she was 10 or so.  Now she is tri-lingual!  The purpose of divisions is to help train missionaries and for the more experienced missionaries to give ideas or tips to the younger missionaries.  I think that I learned far more from Sister B. than she did from me.  She listened as I talked about what was weighing me down, and rather than telling me what to do, she asked more questions and kept listening.  It was like a counseling session..haha!  She helped me a lot and we had a great, fun-filled division.  Sister B. and I taught the Plan of Salvation to a woman whose husband recently passed away.  Every time I teach that lesson I feel a combination of two extremes.  That achy pang that comes from thinking about my Dad leaving this life prematurely, and that deep calm reassurance that this life is NOT the end and that “the grave hath no sting.” 

           I made myself birthday cookies (thanks Mom!)  Sisters Tingey, Veirra, and Brenes enjoyed them very much, but then I had to go back to Jacarepagua.  Back to my loud, busy, challenging area to work with a companion that I don’t quite jibe with. We knocked on some more doors with not success, then we went to Ber. And Tass. to have FHE using “my family: stories that brig us together” pamphlet.  Tass. is 89 years old and had quite a few family stories to tell.  I love listening and learning about other people’s rich history, which caused me to reflect upon my own.  I am realizing that I know very little about my grandparent and great-grandparents.  I hope to be able to get to know some of their history a bit better when I get home.

 I took a lot of pictures of the cookies...they were literally the highlight of my week...thanks Mom!

Happy Birthday - sharing a cookie with sweet Sister Tingey.

 Thursday, May 15, 2014

            Things are much better between Sister R. and I.  Sister Brenes gave me some really good, simple ideas of things to say and do to help our relationship.  Things silly and small, but I tried them out, and what do you know, it worked!  Since then we’ve been working with a lot more unity and a lot less tension. 

            We walked ALL day long today.  We ent to the “Cartorio” to check on Fr. and Al.’s marriage papers…only the lady at the desk thought that Sister R and I wanted to get married to each other…ai ai!   

            I realized today that my stress is related to the environment that surrounds me.  I am serving in an area with a TON of traffic, police sirens, and people always in a hurry.  We have to cross busy 4 lane streets where people don’t respect traffic lights, and there are police on the street corners carrying the BIGGEST GUNS I have ever seen.  There are a lot of things in this city living that I have never experienced and I think that is what is adding to my stress.

            Another factor adding to my stress are the reminders that my Dad is not well.  When someone talks about their father, or I see someone suffering from cancer, it just makes me think about my Dad and wonder what he must be going through.  It just makes me sad…but as I try to help these people through their difficulties, I am lifted and comforted. I just wish that I had a friend or a confidant to talk to.  I am coping because of my faith in Christ and the Plan of Salvation, but I do miss being able to share my thoughts, feelings, concerns, and fears with a trusted friend or parent.  It’s just different on a mission.

           We had a good lesson with M., one of our very few investigators. We taught at the chapel and in vited her to be baptized, which she accepted.  She is a sweet lady amd we are blessed to at least have a select few people that are interested in making changes in their lives.  But other than M., we had 0 success today, just a LOT of rude people saying a LOT of rude things.

 

Friday May 18, 2014

            We walked all day long again.  Our Bishop gaveus a list of people to contact – only they all lived in Praca Seca, which includes a HUGE favela, lots of drugs, and areas where there have been assaults and bus burnings and such.  That all falls within our proselyting area and we are not supposed to work there except during the day and only when we have a male member with us. Soooo, we went looking for these people, with a brother from the ward, and although nothing terrible happened, I was really stressed out over the whole thing. I just never imagined myself walking through favelas on my mission.  The highlight of the day was visiting with recently reactivate

My desk after morning studies.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

            Oh my gosh, I am so tired. So so so tired….SO TIRED! My body is complaining with the walking that we are doing.  We have worked hard, been diligent, and obedient and we talked to 230 new people since Monday.  Yet we have 0 = ZERO new investigators.  It is very discouraging.  We are getting rejected a TON. I think that I might be feeling my lowest low right now.  I am just moving on because of obedience and obligation, but things are rough, and I am just SO tired. 

            On the upside, Sister R and I are getting along really well right now.  She actually helped encourage and uplift me this week, for which I am grateful.  Life is a lot easier when at least your companionship is going right.   We had a great ending to our day by teaching Mar. then Alex. And Fran who are all preparing for baptism. 

A family that we helped to re-activate this Sunday. Their son will be baptized next week. 

Sick of being Sick

Not my best day...looking bad, feeling worse!

 Tuesday May 6, 2014

            It’s 8:05 pm, and we’re at home because once again, I’m sick. I am super congested, now have a fever, sore throat, and a cough – SUCKS.  I don’t know why I’ve been so sick so often on my mission. 

            We has zone training today as part of being a Sister Training Leader, my companion and I had to give part of the training.  Imagine me with a fever-flushed face and a strained squeaky and nasally voice.  It was just okay – nothing super inspiring.

            I am a big fan of our new zone leader, Elder Hawks.  He is from Moab, Utah and is just a humble, good guy.  He leads with love and sensitivity and is especially good with the sisters.  Our other zone leader on the other hand, is a very typical number obsessed young missionary. 

            I think that I am starting to like my companion and I am settling into being a junior once again.  It is actually much more relaxing to not have to take the lead or talk on the phone.  We are working together as a team and have made some good goals to put into action. My companion is very sweet to me, and made me homemade soup to help me to feel better. My companion is really funny. She is super feisty and spunky.  She always looks for ways to serve others, which is a trait that I am still trying to develop.

            It is so weird to read about changes at home – everything from the season, work changes, cars being sold, horses being sold, etc. I think that it will be hard to readjust when I get home because there will be so many changes that have occurred while I have been here. 

            Speaking of readjustment, I am experiencing culture shock in my new area of the city by the way. There is a huge difference in the standard of living in Jacarepengua (wealthy) compaired to Santa Margarida (humble). I’m not gonna lie, I miss Santa Margarida especially the people that I worked with.  I think and worry about the recent converts and how they will be taken care of and integrated into the church.  I think I feel a little bit like a parent feels towards their children.  Are they making friends? Are they progressing in the gospel?  Ughh, I must have inherited the worry gene from my mother.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

            I am still sick, but I think that I am on the upside of this pesky cold.  Unfortunately, my companion is losing her voice now.  We had interviews with the President today.  As I prepared for the interview, I thought back on the past 3 months.  So much has happened, so much has changed.  I have grown much stronger, deepened my relationship with Christ, and broadened my understanding of my purpose in life.  I entered the room for my interview and I just felt completely unburdened.  I felt that I was prepared to handle the challenges in my life, that I could remain calm and confident, and I felt full of hope for the future.  President asked me if I had any problems that I needed to discuss and I answered, “No, I am doing just fine.” I think that it was the shortest ever interview with a mission president in the history of interviews.

Friday, May 9, 2014

            Work here is really slow…Really…slow.  We don’t have many investigators, our area is spread out, and our ward is pretty cold.  It seems like the work here will be a lot more about getting the members to work with us and help them to retain and reactivate the members we already have.  It is much different that the work in Santa Margarida.  I just found out that my former companion’s trainee from Chile decided to go home because she was really homesick.  Sister R. continues to work hard in Santa Margarida.  She has reactivated 2 families since I left and she had 5 investigators at church!  Miracles are continuing to happen in that special place.  I miss my friends and loved one there, especially dear, obnoxious Carlos :D.  It is hard being transferred after such a long time in one place.  I am at peace and getting used to this new area, but it will take time to feel connected to this area and these people.

Saturday, May 10, 2014

            Well today was rough.  Work here is literally painfully slow.  My body is aching and complaining about the amount of walking we did today.  We stayed on our feet for a long time – probably 8 hours or so today.  I feel like I am pounding my face against the wall because it just doesn’t seem like anything we do is productive.  We rarely get to enter houses or apartments and teach.  Most of the time we are just doing contacts with people who aren’t interested in our message and very RUDELY reject us.  I am not complaining, it’s just he way it is here.  I have yet to figure out the system or method that works best for this area and these people.  In the meantime I will jest continue with the head beating.

            My companion was really down today.  We’re both still a little sick with our colds.  She seemed especially tired and sad, probably because her last companion, Sister Carvalho, finished her mission and came to our apartment with her family today to pick up a few of her things.  I am sure that it is weird for my companions to see her old companion headed home with her family.  That sort of thing has a huge impact on our psyche. My companion and I still have a few wrinkles to iron out in our relationship.  There is a lack of emotional/spiritual connection right now.  We are both good, obedient, hardworking missionaries who strive to love those we are serving.  But, we just aren’t clicking very well.  I am praying to be able to feel more connected or at least to trust her more during lessons. We’ll get there.

 

My second birthday package came in time!

Ward cake decorating activity

Panel of esteemed judges

Old friends...New digs.

Assistants to the President - great missioaries!

My MTC family! 

Elder Evan (or what's left of him), Elder Neu, me, Sister Tingey. We are all waiting for the arrival of Elder Mountain.

 Monday April 28, 2014

            We spent the entire p-day in public transportation and evaluation and training.  We ended the day at Alc. and Jos. house with our ward mission leader.  That was a hard good bye.  I really grew to love those people. Carlos bought an over-the-top cake and gave me a hair flower as a going away present, which he really shouldn’t have because he cannot afford it. But it sure did touch my heart.  He also wrote the most thoughtful, sweet letter that I have ever gotten.   He summed up everything that I wished to express t him.  I am really going to miss him.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

            My new area is Jacarepagua.  It is CITY city – lots of traffic, noise, and the “New York” rush type feeling. There is a stark contrast between the wealthy and the very poor.  I must say that I feel more comfortable sitting on a stool in a little room with a dirt floor than I do in a fancy top floor condo.  There is just a special humble spirit present when you visit people who have nothing – and are perfectly happy and content.

View from my new apartment- 10th floor!

Sister R. in a quiet moment

            Our area is huge and should be navigated by bus, except my new companion is crazy and walk/runs all over the place.  I am starting to think that Brazilian Sister Missionaries could make it big time in speed walking competitions.  Anyways, her name is Sister Ramao and she is from Santa Catarina (the south).  She has been out 2 more transfers than me, and she is TINY…4’10” max.  I am fairly sure she is insane.. in a good way.  She gets up to exercise at 6:30 doing “Insanity workout” type exercises.  This would be great for normal people, but for missionaries who are on their feet all day long…it’s a little crazy.  She is also crazy about doing contacts.  Yesterday for example, she stood up in the middle of the bus and announce herself as a missionary, shared a message about families, then gave everyone a pass-along card.  She has guts!  So I am thinking to myself, “this is what I get for wanting to be recharged.”  Who knows , maybe this tiny hyper-active extroverted Brazilian will  be the answer to my prayers. 

            (PM) Man, I am feeling tired! We literally walked ALL day without really doing anything.  We just have to establish a better area of concentration and find people to teach there. I am already missing Santa Margarida, especially the good , hard working leadership there.  They work so stinkin hard to build that woard.  Jacarepagua seems pretty cold in comparison, with members that are very spread out. I am also missing knowing details about my area – being familiar with the streets, sounds, smells, people, and rhythm. It is also going to take some time getting used to being a junior again. 

Clean, but almost sterile.

Our little bedroom.

City view from my apartment.

Friday, May 2, 2014

            This transfer I am working as a Sister Training Leader –which basically means that I have to sit is a lot more meetings and work harder.  Our next training meeting is planned on our P-day.  WHY?  It is possible that I won’t have a p-day this whole tranfer.  Augh!  I am really feeling the lack of p-day from this past week, and to know that I will miss another one make my body and mind tired.  Transfers are hard.  It’s like moving but you don’t choose where you are going, and you only have a day’s notice to pack up your things and leave.  I feel for elders who get transferred every transfer.

            I think that I am going to like my companion.  She is very funny and also very determined.  It is really nice to work with an experienced companion. We are still working out the kinks in our rhythm, but we are working well together. We’ll see how things turn out.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

             I can’t believe that I am SICK again! This time with congestion and a sore throat.  I can’t seem to say well here in Brazil. 

            We don’t have a lot of investigators here, but there is one family that w are teaching that is amazing!  Al. and Fr. have three little boys and have een taking the discussions for a few months now.  They live in extremely humble circumstances, but they are so happy and the spirit is strong in their home.  They were taught by the Elders a while ago, but they thought the Elders were too pushy so they stopped taking the discussions.  When our ward switched from Elders to Sisters a few months ago, the sisters re-contacted them and now they are ready to be baptized.

Monday, May 5, 2014

            10:05 p.m. Man I am worn out.  We spent ALL day in leadership training meeting.  (ie. 8 hours of pep-talks, importance of living the gospel, and the next key or secret to success type talks.)   I think that it is really cruel to schedule meeings, training, evaluations, etc. on a missionaries p-day.  Missionaries need time to recharge and rest.  If I am every a mission president’s wife…I will tell you, I would put my foot down and fight so that my young missionaries had their P-days protected. 

            Also disappointing was the fact that I didn’t get any mail this month.  I was hopeful for a few birthday cards, oh well…life goes on.  (NOTE: Apparently Sister Colvin forgot the package from the previous month that arrived early with her birthday present and cards inside of it! My timing is always off.)

            Man I am tired, and stuffy..and so tired!  I don’t think that I have ever walked up and down so may hills in my whole life.  This new area is all hills.  Sister Rom. has had to do a lot of clean up work here.  There were a lot of missionaries that served here and were major slackers.  They really caused a loss of the members confidence and so that is what we are working hard to regain. 

Jacarepagua - from internet