Week 48 - Transfer to Cuiaba, Brazil

Monday- So I'm still sick....so we stayed home again....

 

Tuesday- We went to lunch and then went back home and had a meeting with our ward mission leader, Elton!  Afterwards the Dr. in São Paulo called me and I talked more with him and he told me to take some other medicine....so the Elders went with us and we bought MORE medicine..... :/

Wednesday- We had lunch with Jussara and then we went and visited Isabelle, a new investigator we found before I got sick...while we were visiting with her Sister Reber called me and I talked with her, in the end we decided that it was a lot better for me just to go to Cuiabá and go to a doctor there then to stay in Cáceres and keep taking medicine prescribed over the phone and because we don't know what I have she told me to pack everything....so after visiting Isabelle we went home and I started packing.

Thursday- We left Cáceres at 8:45am and got here in Cuiabá and went straight to the doctor. He said that he thinks that I just had a stomach infection. But he had me do a few tests to be sure and then I will take the results to him when I get them.

Friday- So I did the tests today and then we just stayed with the Elders in the mission office and helped them out.

Saturday- We stayed in the office again and helped out more and then the sisters in Verdão had a Wedding/Baptism at 7 so we went to that. It was cool. :) 

Sunday- We went to church and everyone kept asking if Sister Huayhuas and I were the new sisters for the ward....they have been wanting sisters for a while now....and when we told them no they were a bit sad....they are really cool. :) Then we went to lunch. After lunch we went on a visit with the Elders and then to the office so they could do the transfers.....and yes we had to wait for our District leader to call to recieve our transfers....and I will be staying HERE! haha Actually at the last minute President Reber changed his mind and moved me to open Cuiabá C.  We actually heard the assistants freaking out about it haha and then they opened the door and asked if we heard anything haha.  Sister Huayhuas will stay in Cáceres and train and I will stay HERE in the same house that we are already staying and I will train. President Reber hasn't told anyone who they will train yet. :/

--

Sister Emma Marion

Week 47 - Brazil

Monday- We had to go to Cuiabá for ANOTHER meeting x( So we got on a bus with the elders and went.....when we got there we walked from the bus station to the office.....well we tried anyway... normally its like a 15 minute walk...butttt we got lost....welllll I got us lost and it actually took an hour and a homeless drug user to get us in the right direction.....BUT eventually we got there.....and no one was there yet....so we waited and then when Elder Leão (hehe his name means lion) and Elder Bonaro got there we went to McDonalds! 

Tuesday- We had our meeting and then we had lunch with the sisters in Verdão then visited with a family that Sister Huayhuas helped baptize then we went to the office again and then went to the bus station (with out getting lost this time haha) and went home!!

Wednesday- Well I woke up with a whole lot of pain in my stomach that I couldn't stay straight....only doubled over....so we stayed home...

Thursday- So I woke up and my stomach was still hurting.....soooo we called Sister Reber...who called the mission dr in São Paulo who called me and passed on some medicine to take....he also said that I couldn't leave the house....because my body is weak and I need to rest... BUT I reached the 1 year mark!!! :D Yayy!! AND our washing machine came in!!! :D 

Friday- So I didn't leave the house.....well just to buy medicine and food....but then I went home and slept...

Saturday- Still stayed at home....

Sunday- I went to church and then to lunch and then Arlete (Relief Society President- and a mom) fussed at me for not already going to a doctor (because I still wasn't better) and made me go to the Pronto Socorro (which is a free clinic)...So turns out that the Dr. there says that it's my body's natural reaction to the climate change...even though I've been here almost a year my body hjas been trying to catch up. So he told me to buy some medicine and put an IV in my hand (because once again the vein in my arm busted when they tried there) to rehydrate me. So now all will be well :)

--

Sister Emma Marion

 

One year serving in Brazil!

New washing machine

 

Brazil - Week 46

Monday- So when we got home we spent the rest of the night washing clothes. :/ But we managed to wash them all!!! But then it started raining...... :( SO my brilliant companion grabbed our plastic bags and we cut them open and made a tarp to put over the clothes so they could dry!!!!! Haha it worked!! :)

Tuesday- So it kept raining today so I grabbed my rain boots and coat and off we went to lunch!! It was a brilliant idea on my part! The road was SUPER muddy! But then after lunch we ran home grabbed an over night bag and got on a bus for Cuiabá!! We got there about 6pm and went to the mission office and stayed there until 8pm when Sisters Carbalho and Ribero got there and then we all got in a member's car and went to another sister's house in Morada da Serra (that's in cuiabá). 8 sisters ended up sleeping there!!! Haha and only 1 bathroom!! Then 2 sisters took showers and then we ran out of water!! :( So I took a bath using water in a bucket!! Haha! It was an adventure!!!

Wednesday- We had our sister conference, it was really cool!! :) All of the sisters in the North got together in Cuiabá and had like a district meeting. We had trainings and then lunch. :) After that we got to ride with President and Sister Reber in their car to Cáceres! :) It was fun. 

Thursday- So we had our interviews with President Reber....I just feel so re-energized after talking to him! :) Then after lunch we went to our appointment but when we got there she said that something came up and she didn't have time today... :/ Then we had seminary and then we went and visited with Rubens.....

Friday- So after lunch we tried to find a house of a new investigator BUT she didn't know the address.....just directions.....we couldn't find it... :/ we even called her but she didn't answer. :( So we went to the church and had our weekly planning....and then I started sneezing a lot and feeling sick....so we went home after. And all night I was SO HOT but Sister Huayhuas said that my body was cold.....it was really strange...I felt so hot that even with the air conditioner on I had to have a fan blowing on me so I could sleep.

Saturday- I spent all day in bed sleeping and drinking lots of water!! But that night the elders had a baptism so I got up my strength and we went...its good that we did because it was a last minute baptism and no one of the members knew.....just the branch pres. and one of his counselors!!! But the walk from our house to the church (15/30 minutes) at night I was SO tired afterwards and sweating like I ran!!! It was sad. :( But we went home afterwards and I went back to sleep!!

Sunday- I felt SO much better!! We went to church and then after lunch we had an address from the branch of a member that is inactive but no one knows if she was still living there so off we went on the search......the address doesn't exist! :( But we managed to do a few contacts and mark 2 baptismal dates!! :D So it wasn't a wasted day!! Then the elders called and said that we have to go to Cuiabá Monday afternoon for a Zone meeting Tuesday! :/

--

Sister Emma Marion

 

Emma has a new friend!

 

Fog Togs poncho and rubber boots are the new style for sister missionaries in Brazil!

(see Tuesday entry)

The Tuiuiu bird

 

Week 45 - Brasil

Monday- So we spent p-day with the elders today. We went to Subway for lunch and then got ice cream and took lots of pictures by the river!! IT was really fun!! Then we went to Jussara's house and had a family night and made chili!!! Everyone LOVED it!!! Haha!! I'm bringing Texas to Brazil!! :)

Tuesday- We had a division and I went with Sister Grimes. We did a lot of contacts....we were really tired when we got home!! Haha!! And then we went with the other sisters and elders to have pizza with Geovan and Gisselle. 

Wednesday- After lunch with Jussara we visited with Elton's mom, Margarita! She hasn't been coming to church and we have been worried about her. Turns out that she is relying solely on Elton to bring her to church. BUT he also has to bring Jussara and his daughters to church and he only has a motor....so its complicated....

Thursday- So we had our weekly planning today. Then we taught seminary and then visited with Geovan to talk about the commandments with him and help him prepare for his baptism Saturday!!!! :D We are really excited!!

Friday- So we tried to visit a referral that we got but the house numbers are all wrong so we spent our day walking up and down the really long road trying to find her house!!! We never found it.... :( Then we got on the bus and went to seminary!! 

Saturday- Geovan got baptized!!!!!!!!! :D It was the greatest thing ever!!!! BUT we had to spend ALL day at the church to fill the font. :/ It took about 5 hours!!!!  

Sunday- Geovan was confirmed today!! And then we all went to Gisselle's uncles house for lunch!! (He is a chef!!) It was really good!!!! Then we started walking the hour walk to the church but then Elder Pacheco did a hitchhiker sign and someone stopped and gave us a ride!!! It was kinda funny!!!! But we did a contact with the guy too!!! Haha! Then Sister Huayhuas and I tried to visit a few people that we found in some old registers but 1 wasn't home, the 2nd moved, and the third....died 2 yrs. ago......it was really sad. :( 

--

Sister Emma Marion

 

Geovan's baptism (see Saturday entry)

Sister Huayhuas & Sister Marion at the Rio Paraguai (Paraguay River) in Caceres 

Sister Huayhuas & Sister Marion on P-day

 

We LOVE Brazil!!

 

 

 

Week 44 - Cáceres, Brazil

Monday- So this week was a bit more.....relaxed haha. Today we visited with our baptism, Jadelson. And gave him a Book of Mormon and explained it to him. He promised to read it. :)

Tuesday-  So today Jussara called and asked us to go to her school so I could speak English to her students. So we went and I talked in English (which was a bit difficult....haha) and talked about the church too!! It was really cool! :) The students were so amazed haha AMERICAN 8o Also Sister Huayhuas got to talk to the students learning Spanish. :)

Wednesday- Today we had our district meeting and the ZLs came to talk to us....and they brought me my Christmas package form the Relief Society haha! Thanks!!! :) And then we all went and had lunch together at Jussara's :) 

Thursday- So today we visited with Geovan!!! It went really well! We just talked to him about why he didn't want to accept a baptismal date and what we could do to help him and talked about the blessing he will recieve because of being baptized....in the end he promised to pray about being baptized on March 8th. :)

Friday- So today we had to look at prices for a new washing machine so that took all day looking in all of the stores to find the cheapest.....but then we taught seminary. :) 

Saturday- So we were looking through some papers we found and we found a phone number to a girl that wasn't ever baptized but her parents are members. So we called and her dad, Walter, answered and told us that she doesn't live with him anymore and we started talking and he said that he lives in a city that doesn't have the church. But that he really wants missionaries there so that they can have the gospel. He told us that he just knows that if President Reber would let missionaries there just for 1 day that they would find a lot of people to teach. He also told us that on the 11th and 12th he will be here in Cáceres and asked if we could give him some Book of Mormons to give away! So we are going to try and meet with him and give him some and also the Restoration video and Finding Faith in Christ and Joy to the World. :) And I called President and talked to him about this city and he wants to talk to Walter!! :) 

Sunday- Geovan told us that he accepts our invite to be baptized on the 8th!!!!! :D We are SUPER HAPPY!!!!  :D He has a girlfriend who is a member and so she is really happy too!! Everyone is happy!!! Woo hoo!!! :D Geovan has a strong spirit and I know that this is going to be a HUGE blessing to LOTS of people!!!! (He also is mission age!!! ...Well below the limit!!) 

--

Sister Emma Marion

 

 

 

 

Ruth & Diego: getting married in the States. Diego will be going to BYU-I!

District Leaders and Zone Leaders

 

Cáceres, Brazil - Week 43

Monday- So Sister Martinez left at 1:30pm and Clary (a YW in the branch) stayed the night with me. :) It was fun! haha We called people that I don't know but that were saved in the phone! It worked out great!!! haha!! We got a new investigator out of it!! :D

Tuesday- So Sister Huayhuas was suppose to get here at 10:30am but her bus from Lucas was delayed because of the rain and so she missed her bus here so Clary stayed longer with me and Sister Huayhuas got here at 3:30 BUTTTTTT here we have 2 bus stations....... 1) is in the middle of nowhere and far from our house and dangerous and 2) 5 minutes from our house and in the city......guess which one she got off at. Yup! You got it, the 1st one!!! So we called one of the few members with a car and he went and got her and brought her home!! I was stressing OUT!  BUT all went well!!

Wednesday- Not much happened because we had lunch with Jussara and now she lives like 1hr away.....but after lunch we went and taught seminary and then we went BACK to her house for a family night! It was really great! :) Then we got a ride home!! :D

Thursday- When we were leaving lunch it started raining and we were walking on a dirt, well muddy, road. And as we were walking we passed this car that had a tire stuck in one of those sidewalk drains with out a lid. We slowed down and the owner walked out of a nearby house with a big piece of wood. So we stopped and asked if he needed help. He told us that he didn't want us to get wet, but we quickly put down our umbrellas put our bags in them and went to help. After lots of work, and the help of 2 other men that stopped to help, we manage to raise the tire enough that the car started to roll right out of the hole! When it was done the man was so grateful and we started talking to him and we said that we were missionaries and he said "I just knew that you were people of God because only true followers would have stopped to help me." It was a really great when he said that! :) Then he and his niece offered to give us a ride to the church and then they gave us corn!! :D But when we got to the church and he left we realized that Wednesday night we left the keys to the church IN the church......

Friday- After lunch we went to the church and I helped Jussrara practice her English. It was fun! :) Then we had seminary and then we went and visited a girl that we called Monday named Thais....but she doesn't really want anything with the church.....just friends.....This happens a lot. :/

Saturday- SO we went to wait for the bus to go to lunch......and it never came.....then we called Luciane to let her know why we were late and she told us that the bus doesn't run on Saturday......so we started walking....then it started RAINING like someone dumped a swimming pool on our heads!!!! It was HORRIBLE! It was raining so hard we could barely see ANYTHING! So when we finally got to her house we were SOAKED.....also because 2 cars passed us by and sprayed us down :( So she gave us clothes. :) I got a blue and white polka dot dress and Sister got a black shirt and a skirt. :) 

Sunday- After lunch we tried to do contacts but Sunday is HORRIBLE to find people at home.....or sober...... :/ So we went to Jussara's because it was her birthday!! We got her chocolate and we have another special something but we can only get it today.....hehe ;) She's gonna love it!! :)

 

--

Sister Emma Marion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sister Marion and Sister Huayhuas  (she is from Peru)

 

Corn for a good deed!

 

Emma's solution to getting their keys from the church building!! (see Thursday entry)

 

 

 

 

Week 42 - Cáceres, Brazil

This will be short because time is really short today!!!! Read after the Sunday entry for why.....

Monday- We had to wash clothes...... :/ That was our day.....

Tuesday- We had lunch with Ruth and Diego! It was fun!!! We talked a lot with them, hearing their mission stories! It was great!! But then it started raining a lot and we had to run home to get our clothes out of the rain!!! It was a crazy time!!!

Wednesday- Today we spent all day with Jussara helping her start to move to a bigger house close to her mom. It really took ALL day!!! 

Thursday- We finished helping Jussara move and helped organized her house.

Friday- We did our weekly planning and organized some stuff and called a few ex-investigators we found in the area book.

Saturday- Today was mission wide pre-transfer cleaning day!! So we stayed home all day and cleaned.....then we went and had pizza with the elders again...it was suppose to be with a new member (Grisele) and her boyfriend (Geovan- our investigator) and aunt (Tate- who is also a new member) but last minute Grisele and Geovan got in a fight and he didn't want to go and then Tate and Grisele couldn't make it....so it was just us 4..... :/ But it was fun. :)

Sunday- We had lunch with an inactive member, Cristiana. It was realllyyyy good!! It was a bar-b-que!! And one thing that they have sometimes that is REALLY yummy is grilled pineapple with cinnamon!!! ITS SO GOOD!!! You open the pineapple (just cut off the outter layer, it will be kind of a pentagon shape) and put cinnamon on all the sides and then up it over the fire like roasting marshmellows then when its hot you take it and cut it up how you want and EAT!!  <3 After that we went and visited a few new members and then had a metting at the church. 

TRANSFERS: I will be staying here with a sister from Peru, Sister Huayhuas. And Sister Martinez will be going to Lucas do Rio Verde here in Mato Grosso. She will be leaving today at 1:20pm and I will get my new companion tomorrow morning so I will be with Clary, a young woman in the branch, and she will stay the night with me.... SLEEP OVER!!! ;) But I really will miss Sister Martinez!!!!!!!!! :( </3 

--

Sister Emma Marion

 

Caceres district

Sister Marion, Jussara, Sister Martinez