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.