Week 54 - Brazil

Monday- We sent Sister Whipple off to Lucas...it was really sad. :( But after we went to the family night that we had planned. It was fun and everyone asked about her. 

Tuesday- I went back to the doctor to show him my ultrasound results and he said that there was a lot of gas in my stomach so he gave me some medicine to take and told me to come back in 2 weeks. Then after that we went and visited Marli and Armando! :)

Wednesday- We had a district meeting, it was fun! WE now have 10 people in our district!! Then after lunch we went to do some visits but NO ONE was home!!!! We even went to their houses twice!! But we managed ​to find one person so we taught her and then we did some contacts and taught them and then we went to a family night at Luzia's house. 

Th​ursday- We did contacts again.....we found this girl named Alexandra and we taught her about the restoration. She is really​ awesome! She said that she really likes us. :) ​A mission isn't all about making friends but it really makes you feel good when you know that they like you. :) After that we went to the church and taught an English class to Armando and Marli. :)

​Friday- ​We literally spent ALL day doing contacts!!! It was VERY tiring!!!! We went to every house on this road...... 

Saturday- Today we visited with inactive members and then went to the church for the English class. :) 

Sunday- Mother's Day!!!! :D And we had a fun experience at church when 2 missionaries from this new church called A Igreja Adventista Renovada Laodiceia. They came in because Bishop invited them when they stopped by his house and started talking bad about our church and then Bishop told them that he is a member and bishop of that church and invited them to come and see for themselves how it is. So they did...and we started talking to them and they asked a lot of questions....they were really interested in the temple.....so we were careful what we told them but explained about temples to them. Then they tried to talk about their church with us....they said that the only thing they eat that comes from animals is eggs, and they don't eat sugar.....they are basically vegetarians to the extreme.....it was an interesting time.....

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Sister Emma Marion

 

 

 

 

 

Week 53 - Brazil

Tuesday- So my stomach started hurting again so I went back to the Dr. He had me take some antiparasite medicine and he ordered for me to get an ultrasound done.

Wednesday- So we went early in the morning to get my ultasound done and they didn't find really anything but they did find a kidney stone.....I'm not sure if its the same one from before or not.....but its a bit bigger than the other one was. But next week I have to go back to the Dr. and show him my results from the ultrasound and we'll see what happens....

Thursday- We had a district meeting today and we played this game called amigo da onça...it's like secret santa but you get like bad gifts.....hehe. Well the Elder I choose started his misison before me but I will be going home first so I got him an airplane haha, Sister Whipple got an elder a clock of the soccer team that is his team's rival, and Sister Frietas got an Elder that is always sleeping so she bought him a pillow and I helped draw pictures of him sleeping, eating and sleeping, and reading Jesus, the Christ and sleeping (he has been trying to finish that book for 2 yrs....) on the pillow. :) Then I got an elder that isn't really creative.....so he gave me a toothbrush.....and Sister Freitas got a broken zipper tie.....but Sister Whipple got the most creative gift ever!!! She got a baby chick. Yeah....crazy right!!! So we have had a baby chick living under our kitchen sink for a few days now......we have a member to give it to but she lives kind of far away so we haven't had time to get it to her. But the chicks name is Joana. She's cute.

Friday- We went on splits today with a young woman named Fernanda. Her sister is serving a mission in São Paulo. So she went with me and we tried to do contacts but man was no one home!!! But we managed to find some people!! Then we went back to the church and found the other sisters and we went and taught an English class at the church for a member and her nonmember husband because they can't come on Saturdays!! It was cool. :) But man have I forgotten English!!! :(

Saturday- We taught another English class today for everyone else and then we went to stake conference. :)

Sunday- We had stake conference again. Then afterwards President Reber gave me a blessing and then he took us home and we went to lunch then after lunch we went to visit with Ana and after that we had a ward council meeting and then after that we went home and made tacos!! Then we got the transfer call.... I will be staying here with Sister Freitas and Sister Whipple will be going to a city called Lucas do Rio Verde it is here in Mato Grosso but its about 4-5 hours away. :( I'm really going to miss her!!!

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Sister Emma Marion

 

 

Sister Marion & Sister Freitas

Sister Whipple & Sister Marion: at the Lan House

(5/5/14- Last pic together as companions!)

Beautiful Brasil

 

Week 52 - Brazil

Tuesday- We went and visited with Ana. She is really awesome!!! And she told us that she already knows that the Book of Mormon is true!!!  It was really awesome. But then when we left it started raining REALLY hard and Sister Freitas left her umbrella at home....so Ana and her husband gave us a ride home and we grabbed the umbrella but when we left the house the street was already starting to flood, but off we went. But the further out we got the harder it started to rain and then we realized that Sister Freitas had a hole in her umbrella and she was getting soaked. So we stopped at a member's house until the rain calmed down....but then it was time to go home.....

Wednesday- We did contacts all day!!! We got 10!

Thursday- So while we were at lunch today we got a call from an investigator asking for us to come over today. (She was recently abused by her husband.) So we went over and talked to her about the gospel of Christ. She accepted baptism!!! Then we invited her to go with us to a welcome home party for a returning sister! Her name is Tania and she served in London, England!! She is really sweet!! I like her!

Friday- So we had lunch at home today and we decided to dye my hair blonde!! :o  It was shocking to see!!! But after that we went and visited with this lady named Valiera. She was baptized when she was 15 but we aren't sure if her name was removed or not....because her visiting teachers came over when she was married and she said that she was really interested in coming back....but she wants us now to talk with her husband so we made another appointment.

Saturday- We went on splits today Sister Freitas went with Taina and I went with Sister Whipple....and NO ONE was home!!! Or they didn't want us to talk to them. It was sad.

Sunday-

Today it was the same thing!!! Only the members let us in!!! :( Sometimes. Life is really hard. :/

Monday- Today we went with President and Sister Reber and all of the sisters in Cuiabá to the waterfalls. It was really fun! We took lots of pictures! :)

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Sister Emma Marion

 

Trying a new hair color! (see Friday entry)

P-day at the waterfalls (see Monday entry)

Sisters Marion, Freitas, Whipple

Sister Freitas' broken umbrella (see Tuesday entry)

 

 

Week 51 - Tijucal, Brazil

Tuesday- So we had a division today. Sister Whipple and Sister Freitas went to Morada da Serra with Sister Kimball and I stayed in Tijucal with Sister Silva. It was a really good day...but it didn't last very long because they are doing a lot of construction work in the city we had to leave earlier to switch back so we could get back in time to go to a family night at an inactive member's house! So we all met at the mission office and then we went to our family night...it was really great! And then when we went home Sister Whipple and I decided to have a water fight!! Hehe It was super fun! :)

Wednesday- After lunch today we went to a big store (basically Sam's Club) and then we went back home and made chocolate Easter eggs to give to some members to thank them for helping us. :) Here in Brazil one big Easter tradition is you get a chocolate Easter egg. :)

Thursday- We went on splits. Sister Whipple went with me and Sister Freitas went with a member. So Sister Whipple and I just did contacts and we found this lady named Ana, and she accepted a baptism date!! :D

Friday- So today we visited a girl named Oyukane. Her parents are Brazilian but she was born in

Japan. She is really sweet and we aught her and her mom and they both agreed to pray about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. :)

Saturday-

So we decided to try and have an English class here in Tijucal! So we went to the LAN House and made invites and then we went back home and I helped Sister Whipple make a language study plan.

Sunday- So today was super great!! We had a sign up sheet for the English class and a LOT of people signed up!! :D And we told the members to bring friends!! So we are expecting a great turnout! Then after lunch we went to some nearby member's houses and we sang 'I know that my Redeemer Lives' and then shared our testimonies and prayed and then we thanked them for all of their help and gave them chocolate eggs!!! It went so well and we felt so great! It was really spiritual!! :)

Monday- We slept in and then did a deep clean on the house and then we tried to go to the LAN house but because it is a holiday it was closed, so we went to the Bishop's house and used his!!

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Sister Emma Marion

I asked Emma what brought on the water fight. She simply said, "the heat!"

Water Fight (see Tuesday entry)

Week 50 - Brazil

Tuesday-  So we got to teach our gas station ladies! It was really awesome!! Josi is really wanting to put her life in order and I felt so great because I could see that I really was helping her!!  

Wednesday- So we bassically spent all day doing contacts. But before that we finally divided the area in 2. It really helps a lot so that you can have a better idea of things. Actually I have been quoting Mawmaw lately...hehe..... "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!" 

Thursday- So. Today we got a phone call form Elder Leão saying that we were being transferred to Tijucal to be in a trio with Sister Freitas. It was really sad news. I love Cuiabá so much!!! But I trust President Reber and if he think that we are needed in Tijucal then "I'll go where you want me to go!" (Tijucal in still in the Cuiabá city....like 40 minutes from where I was.) And I got my PACKAGE!!! :D

Friday- So we arrived in Tijucal in the morning and we just basically met members. It was really great!! The members here are super funny!! I really like them. :) And they really like Sisters here!! 

Saturday- So after lunch we visited a few inactive members and the last one that we visited I really learned something really important. There are so many people inactive because of gossip. And then when they try to come back everyone looks at them and the feel like people are talking and judging them. This is the biggest problem that we see. Pride and Judging. It is so sad to see people embarrassed to go to church because they know that people with talk about them. That night I made a heavenly food: TACOS!!!!!! <3 It was soooo good!!! Sister Freitas loved them!!! haha! :)

 

(We sent corn tortillas and Taco Bell seasoning in Emma's most recent package!)

Sunday- After lunch we had Sister Whipple's language study and then we had a meeting with the ward mission leader and then we went to a member's house for her daughter's birthday party! :) 

Monday- So we had an Elder's birthday party today- Bar-b-que, birthday cake and soccer!!! Haha BRASIL!!

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Sister Emma Marion

 

Sister Whipple, Sister Marion, Sister Freitas, Sister Kimball

Birthday party for an elder (see Monday entry)

 

Week 49 - Training in Cuiaba

Monday- So today I got to basically do my new favorite thing......FAMILY HISTORY!!!! :D I helped an Elder (from Dallas) learn how to use Family Search so we did his family history! It was awesome!!! I felt the Spirit so strong!! I know that there were happy people in heaven!!!! :) And we listened to this https://www.lds.org/topics/family-history/rootstech/find-our-cousins/video?lang=eng 

Tuesday- So today we had a training with the new missionaries and then one for the trainers. It was really good!! And then I got my new companion!! Her name is Sister Whipple! She is from Blanding, Utah and she served one transfer in New Jersey. :)She is super awesome!!

Wednesday- We had to go to the Federal Police to register her with Brazil. Then we tried to go back to the doctor to show him my results....but he wasn't seeing patients so we went back to the office and the Elders gave her her training because her plane got in later and so she didn't get it with everyone else. 

Thursday- So today we really DID see the doctor. He said I'm fine. He thinks it was like an infection with a short life span and because I'm feeling better he thinks it's gone. THen after that we went to the gas station to get food and we talked with the two chashiers and we ended up teaching them there un the gas station about the Book of Mormon and gave them each one. :) It was really awesome! They are really wanting to learn but they work a lot. One of them, Josi, actually works two jobs....so we will probably be talking more with Dasi. 

Friday- So today was a lot better. We had a lot more time so we worked alot. We don't have an Area Book or anything yet so we are basically starting from scratch. So we went and did contacts. But becasue we are in the city there is a lot of apartment buildings....which are really hard to get into because they only let you in if you know someone......please pray for us that we can get in!!! :/ 

Saturday- CONFERENCE!!!! So fun conference story....so we had lunch early with a member but because lunch ran late we stayed with them to watch the 1st session and they said that Sister Whipple and I could watch in English.....but then the other computer wasn't picking up the signal.....so I decided to watch in Portuguese and let Sister Whipple watch on his phone in English.....so she was watching and everything and she looked into it. So everyone was happy for her! But then when we left and went to the church to watch the other session she told me that the member had her on youtube to watch conference and he actually just typed in "general conference" and then the first talk he saw.....little did we all know (because she didn't say anything) he was just clicking on random conference talks from various years!!! She wasn't watching the right conference!!! But when we got to the church we watched in English. :)

 

 

 

Sunday- CONFERENCE PART 2!!! So to go to conference our ward rented a bus and we all went together and the Relief Society made lunch for the ward and while on the bus we all started singing hymns! It was super fun! And then we all had a yummy lunch together and then after conference we all went home on the bus and we sang again!! It was awesome!! :)

Monday- SO this morning we started washing clothes...by hand....again.....because the faucet is too small to connect it to the washing machine so we need to buy an adaptor. So I just started washing. And then halfway through the Elders asked to borrow our blender and so when I gave it to them they asked why I was wet and I told them about the clothes and they were like "oh wait! I think we have one of those at our house!" and they did! SO we put it all together and now we are washing clothes the lazy way!! :D But then we cleaned the laundry room because the elders left it REALLY dirty! We felt productive!! Haha!

 

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Sister Emma Marion

 

 

 

 

Sister Whipple and Sister Marion

 

Pondering at the "Bus Stop of Life"

 

Month 10

Month 11

 

 

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. :/

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Sister Emma Marion