A Day in the Life of Sister Colvin

Jungle walking in the middle of the city.

 Monday, May 26, 2014

            Well it’s already 3:10 on a P-day and I feel like we’ve just been walking and walking and running errands.  (Oh wait, that’s what’s happened…) Augh. I’m worn out.  Actually, I really don’t feel like writing today.

10:20 pm

Sister R. marching right along!

Funny Story:  Sister R. wanted to buy a Brasil Jersey, and she remembered a store that sold them.  When we got there the shirts were hanging from the ceiling at the store entrance.  Then we noticed that the store was definitely not just a store for jerseys…it was a MACUMBA (African spirit worship) outlet! There were a bunch of weird things – weird statues, a ton of candles, a bunch of pots that people fill with food and leave on the street corners to feed the “spirits”. 

Spiritual story:  We had a great lesson tonight with a new investigator, Mar. We taught the Restoration and the spirit was the kind of strong confirmative feeling that just fills you up and leaves you feeling confident and warm.  I am so grateful to have experiences like this to help lift my heavy heart.

Some of the MTC District reunited.

Elder Fox and Elder Mountain

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

            I have only a few minutes before study time.  I got emails from Stewart Brim and Becky Smith yesterday that were really sweet notes only I didn’t have time to respond to them. I hope that they read this note and know how much I appreciate their encouragement!

            PM: Today was the first day in Jacarepagua that was actually fun and productive.  We organized a “Capela Aberta” activity with our zone.  This is my 4th or 5th time doing this activity, and it was a huge success, far better than I prayed for.  All of the missionaries worked hard and we were able to give us over 50 referral!  We did church tours with people off of the street and it was just great.  The best part was getting a small break from my companion.  It sounds terrible, but it was so nice to just do contacts, teach lessons in front of the chapel, and do church tours by myself.  We stayed close to one another of course, but divided and conquered!

            My comp and I still don’t click well. We are able to laugh and joke around at times, but during lessons we just don’t teach in unity.  She talks 80% of the time – teaching really well with examples, scriptures, personal stories, etc…but the problem is that I don’t have anything else to add.  I don’t want to be repetitious or drag our lessons out forever.  The cure to not teaching in unity is an effective comp study with realistic practices.  Only problem is that because she is senior she gets to control what we study and practice.  My insight and ideas are brushed off. I’m in the “I’ll just wait it out and see what happened with transfers” stage right now.

             Today we also planned a surprise birthday celebration for Elder Hawks, who turns 21 tomorrow. It ended up being fun especially because the whole zone (including Elder Mountain and Elder Fox) were there to celebrate with us. Anyways it was a good day full of work, action, and plenty of distractions to keep my mind off of my family.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

            We had a good day today despite cold 60 degree weather and lots of rain.  I changed clothes and shivered through the whole day.  (I am going to die when I get home in the dead of the Spokane winter!)  But, we found 2 new investigators with a lot of potential. 

            We taught R. who is struggling through a recent divorce.  It was so great to teach and testify of the healing and enabling power of the Atonement. I have been praying to be able  to have experiences that would lift my spirits and help take my mind off of home and this experience was an answer to those prayers.

Friday, May 30, 2014

            Busy Day! FINALLY, the work is starting to pick up!  We only have a few minutes before 10:30 so I can only bullet point noticeable moment:

• Gorgeous Brazilian Chris Pine
• Family on the street corner
• “Vai la –conversa c/Brian na Igreja!” Lolz
• a GOOD companion inventory
• FHE c/todo mundo

I've worn out another pair of shoes!

Saturday May 31, 2014

            Wow, I am so tired tonight.  My body is aching with the amount of walking that we did today.  My day in review:

• 6:30 – awake, morning prayer, exercise, watch my comp do crazy jump rope exercises as I stretch and massage sore thigh muscles.
• 7:00 – eat breakfast, which today is ripe papayas and honey drizzled on granola, whole wheat toast and a leftover brownie or two ; )
• 7:30 – slather on sunscreen, throw on clothes not even caring if they are cute, start a load of laundry, stare at a zitty face in the mirror accentuated by frizzy sunbleached hair...sigh, throw hair into a quick braid, don’t even bother with any makeup.
• 8:00 – begin personal studies, delve into the lives and deaths of the Jaredites, find scriptures/ideas that we can apply to investigators, read about the marvelous Plan of Salvation….which causes me to remember Dad and Mom.  Push those thoughts away.
• 9:00 – companion study = 1 long hour of struggling to feel intellectually stimulated, planning, more practice on how to teach “the Sabbath day”.
• 10:00 – language study…finally.  Review flashcards of horse terms in Portuguese, which obviously apply to proselyting.  Memorize another scripture in Portuguese.  Memorize another hymn. Work on another grammar principle. 
• 11:00 – wait for comp to finish getting ready
• 11:30 – finally leave the apartment, walk for 45 minutes to our lunch appointment, sit awkwardly on the couch as members of a very quiet reserved family move in and out of the room.  The chicken isn’t ready yet.  More awkward waiting. 
• 1:00 – eat a wonderfully delicious meal, break the ice with members, exchange mission stories with the head of the household. (this meal marked the beginning of our fast.)
• 1:45 – share a message, feel the Spirit guiding my words.  Irma compliments us on the investigators that we are bringing to church.
• 2:15 – head out to face the hard routine. Walk and walk and walk some more.
• 2:45 – ride in an over-stuffed VW bus sandwiched between two chunky Brazilian women with sacks full of groceries.  Wind through a favela, dodge scruffy dogs and drunkards, climb a mountain.
• 3:10 – squeeze out of the VW bus, laugh as comp points to literally 200 stairs and says that’s where we have to go.  Remember that today we are fasting.
• 3:30 – arrive exhausted at a member’s brick shack. Smile at their positive outlook on life despite such dire circumstances.  Feet attacked by fire ants.  Stop smiling. Descend 100 of the steps to try to contact a referral.
• 4:00 – referral isn’t home.  Great. Teach her toothless mother about the gospel of Jesus Christ. She’s not interested. 
• 4:30 – thank the member for their help, descend some more steps, ride in another bus to return to our main area. 
• 5:00 – wait for an investigator in front of their apartment building.
• 5:15 – still waiting
• 5:20 – start talking to random people passing by, invite them to come to church and hear our message.  No one bites.
• 5:30 – investigator calls, she is stuck in traffic, we reschedule our lesson.  Look to comp who is as exhausted as I am. Ride in another bus, walk some more, climb another hill.
• 6:00 – G. finally signs the marriage papers giving us hope that we can clean up this mess that the Elders left behind (by marrying this couple, baptizing them both…only to leave the sisters to discover that the marriage was not valid and the baptism was a “dunk em and drop em”…leaving the husband unimpressed with the missionaries.)
• 6:15 – We finally get to meet our 15 year old investigators mom and have a great lesson
• 6:45 – Walk some more, ride another bus. 
• 7:00 – arrive back in our main area again, climb another hill, lesson falls through, descend the hill.  Go to plan B, but that lesson falls through too. Resort to contacting people on the street. No one stops to listen.
• 7:45 – Walk and walk and walk some more, contacting referrals from our “capela aberta” activity.  Feel weak and dizzy and woozy because of our fast.  Say a mental prayer.  Press forward. Find someone at home! A young mom! A family! She is receptive and we mark an appointment for our next visit.  Stay on our feet – go to our next referral.  The bell-man calls her apartment, they clearly talk, but then he comes to the gate and says that she didn’t answer (cross that name off the list).  Just 49 more to go.  Walk some more, discover that someone completely lied about their address. (cross that name off the list)
• 8:30 – walk back to the chapel, finish contacting our required 30 people daily – nobody stops to listen. 
• 9:00 – arrive in our apartment, exhausted. Pray, plan, write in the area book.
• 9:45 – take a shower. The water is scorching, then freezing, then scorching. Sigh. Yet another thing that I miss about home.
• 10:15 – write in journal (I finished this entry Sunday morning)



A great family home evening!

• 10:30 – nightly prayers, collapse into bed.  Knee pain is irritating. Apply topical anesthetic cream that someone left behind.  Sleep like a log

Sister R waiting at church for our investigators.

Sunday, June 1, 2014

            Today was a great day even though we walked a LOT.  My knees are killing me, but we have 5 people with baptismal dates! We hear about transfers tomorrow.  I think that Sister R. will end up leaving this area.  She has been here a very long time.  We will see. Time to rest these achy knees.

Sister Nida - one of our awesome missionary moms!

I little bit homesick

Washing my feet in the sink after volleyball

 

Monday, May 19, 2014

Today was a great P-day.  I am finding that when we spend our P-days with other people, I am 1,000 X happier.  I think it helps to keep my mind off thining about and worrying about my family, which often occurs on P-day.  It is so weird to hear about so many things changing at home.  But the things that matter most will continue to be permanent.  My Mom will always be my determined, strong-willed problem-solving Mom, and my Dad will always be my loving, good-humored, witty Dad regardless of sickness or different living conditions. 

Our delicious lunch with Ana Julia & Tadeu, and Berenice & Tassiano (Tassiano is 90 years old!) We love these members a whole lot. 

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

 Divisions with the Freguesia sisters!

We had division with Sister Tingey and Sister V.  I went to Freguesia to work with SV.  She is a really low-energy sister beyond the point of someone just not wanting to work.  After a series of questions regarding her health, she told me that before he mission she underwent treatment for anemia and took supplemental medication every day for it.  But in the past 8 months, she hasn’t taken anything and she just keeps feeling more tired and ill.  *facepalm* Why don't missionaries take care of themselves?! I called Sister Lima and explained the situation, so we will see if SV will start taking her medication and start feeling better. Just last week I talked with another sister who did two 24 hour fasts back to back with only 1 meal in between!  I tried to help her recognize tat it is just NOT a good idea, and that since missionaries are under a very different and stressful work load, we are advised to limit our fasts to the monthly fast –except for the occasional exception.  I am just amazed by the lack of knowledge, worry, and care of their own health that I m noticing among these sister missionaries.

            Yesterday we taught a recently converted family.  The have 4 little kids and a little mangey puppy.  Before knocking on their door, SV told me that we would be wise to put up our hair because the kids and the puppy have lice/fleas/other stuff!  Yikes!  We then entered in to the stuffiest, stinkiest, dirtiest house that I have ever been in…the kids were all dirty with wild hair, reeking of urine – but completely, blissfully happy.  They greeted us with huge smiles and the kind of enthusiasm that only little kids have.  The mom proudly showed us their marriage certificate in a crisp page protector (possibly the only clean thing in the house). The dad showed up with grease all over his hands and shirt, but beaming and happy to have the sisters in his home.  I was floored as they bore testimony and explained how they had both turned down much needed jobs because it wouldn’t have allowed them to keep the Sabbath day holy.  Time after time I am impressed by the faith and strength and overall happiness that these people (who have relatively nothing by the world’s standard) have.  It makes me rethink what makes me truly happy.

 Rainy, cool weather (no complaints!)

Friday, May 23, 2014

            I think that I am really sad about my Dad’s situation.  The more I think about it, the more I just kind of go achy and introverted – something that my companion is starting to pick up on.  When we are busy and teaching I do okay, but I am starting to recognize that I really am stressed and tense and sad.  We are not having very much success here. Last week we had 0 new investigators, and this week we have knocked on a LOT of doors and had a LOT of really rude rejections.  That doesn’t really help to lift our spirits.  Tambem, today we were teaching with a member (A.) in a nursing home, and he started talking about how his grandpa died of cancer…ai, ai. I have been having very realistic dreams about being at home which makes me even more homesick.  It’s terrible.  Don’t get me wrong, I am still working hard and determined to keep serving, but I am so sad.  Sister R. is helping me a lot.  We still don’t see things eye-to-eye, but we are communicating and working much better together.  She helps me to keep laughing and keep working, which is a huge blessing.  I am grateful for her and I am learning a lot here. 

 Camila & Marcelo (reactivated last week), and Luhan, who was baptized this week by our 1st counselor, Irmão Cassio. 

Sunday, May 25, 2014

            The end of another long week!  Today was a really good and very busy day.  It started with a bang at 7 am in ward council.  Our bishop is kind of complicated…if things aren’t happening his way, they’re happening the wrong way.  My naturally feisty temperament makes me want to defend my point of view, but it just wouldn’t do anything to change his mind. 

 With João & Nida 

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