December 14, 2014-No Transfer for me!!!

Hi family!! 

It was definitely a week of Christmas blessings and miracles!! And I am oh so happy about it. 

First and foremost, the ward Cotia 2 just got a little bigger and a whole lot stronger :) Alexandre AND Gabrielle were baptized this weekend and it was soo beautiful! Seriously, ya should have been there!

Alexandre was baptized Saturday and both he an Joyce just glowed. They have both been waiting for this day for a very long time. (Alexandre just did not know it until recently) They both bore their testimonies after the ordinance. Joyce talked about all the lessons she learned growing up and how great it was to be back. She also talked about the future, how she can not wait to be sealed with her precious family for eternity. Alexandre told the story of the first time we met him one rainy night a few months ago. As he was about to tell us that it had been a long day and he just really did not want to talk at the moment, he saw our badges and was touched. He said that from that day, his life began to change for forever. He talked about the peace they felt in their home. He talked about his new study habits, family prayer and family scripture study. After I complimented him and he said ``I owe it all to you!! You were a great professora.´´ If that isn´t a gratifying moment, I don´t know what is! 

We got together a huge box filled with presents for the whole family: primary CD´s for Joyce, an illustrated Book of Mormon for Pietro, and new scriptures and liahonas for Alexandre. In honor of mom, I decorated the box super cute with lots of ribbon and even a little gold ornament as decoration. Chocked up, Alexandre told us that he did not know how to thank us for everything but promissed to hang the gold ball on their family tree to always remember us. 

*** Side note: I wish all of you were there, and not only for the spiritual aspect, but also because... ohh  you just had to see.. The largest  baptism jumpsuit was exactly 3 sizes to small. As he came out I tried soo hard not to laugh. Lucikly, Alexandre is really great at making fun of himself. He said ``I feel like I should be doing ballet!´´ Needless to say, this Christmas I did not miss out the Nutcracker on single bit. 

Another miracle was Gabi! She told us that for the last 7 months she has been waiting to feel ready, and all of the sudden, she felt a strange sensation in her heart and felt that she needed to be baptized immediately! Music to any misisonaries ears! We called the Elders, did an interview and filled the font in a matter of days. Ohh I was so happy. I love this girl like on of my very own sisters and wanted to do something super special. As if it were my sister being baptized again. We ran to the papelaria and bought anything and everything that looked teenage girlish. We made invitations for her friends and family and all the ward members. We made some delicous treats and decorated super cute. We also made cute notebooks filled with quotes and invited all the ward members to write their testimonies .This week we will print out photos of the baptism to put in. I just felt like we had to do our part to make sure it would be a day they would never, ever forget. 

In Gabi´s baptism, the ward young women participated a lot and I was so happy! A few gave their testimonies, the president spoke, and we all sang "walk tall your a daughter of God", in Portuguese. Oh it was wonderful!!

Oh a few other funny stories... So we had our ward Christmas Party and our two velinhos, João and Ivan came. They are so darling and practically members of the ward! They decided to participate in a ward gift/service exchange. The thing is, I don´t thing João understood compltely, because he asked if he should buy the irmã (sister) he chose a dish rag... haha we will be helping them. And during... Ivan told us that he had a joke, but it was dirty and heavy.. My companion did not catch on and said... yeah it is best if you don´t share it here... He proceeded anyway... AN ELEPHANT FELL IN THE MUD!! We laughed and laughed and he was oh so pleased! I love those to temporary grandpas!

Another day we were at lunch and an irmã began complaining that she was feeling pain in her back. She asked which one of us knew the ´´corpo humano.´´ I knew that was a recipe for disaster so I kept real quite. Once again, my companion did not quite catch on and offered to help. They went into her room and BAM, she ripped off her shirt and ordered sister granados to massage her naked body. Needless to say, she is scarred for life. 

But, yep, it was a wonderful week. Thank you for your love support, and prayers. Have a wonderful, jingle bell, fudge filled week! 

Sister Lauren

Lunch

So much rain

Churrasco

The Bishop's family

a monkey!

                                                                                                        pietro

                                                                                 the happy family!

                                                                                                      Alexandre!!

 João

                                                                                                        Ivan

Pietro at the Christmas Party

Gabi's table- You would be so proud!

we also made brigadeiros and cinnamon cake and gave her a ctr necklace, socks, a new book of mormon, bible, and liahona! in the orange box. We put this table outside of the sacrament meeting room so a lot of people ended up staying out of interest!! it was such a special day! could you see those first pictures?

                             Gabi!! and the young women! a much smaller group than in home but good girls!

p.s. well, actually they had to call us yesterday so we would have time to put our stuff together and pack our bags. So  now I know I will stay and I am soo so happy!!

p.s.s. I got the packages!!!!! thank you so so much. I absolutely loved everthing. I put the tree right up on the wall and used the dress for the baptism. I left the skirts and things with President when we were in Sao Paulo last week. My companion is so excited to open her things because I am pretty sure they will be the only presents she will be opening. It is super expensive to send things from Columbia and her family does not have much money. 

And I absolutely lovedddd the cards. And everyone else will too! I am so excited to give them out. You are the perfect mãe. Seriously. 

p.s.s.s. I saw Sister Farfal this week!! We talked and talked and it was so wonderful!! She is doing great and talked about you! Tia Christine. When I saw her her mouth dropped and she told me I had to tell her exactly what I was doing to stay in shape. So I had to demonstrate our exercise routines in the temple garden!! haha so funny!  

December 8, 2014-só felicidade

Hi family!!

The felicidade continues! Seriously, I often ask myself how I could possibly be so blessed. In fact, last night I could not even sleep because I felt like a child on Christmas Eve: so happy about all the blessings and so excited knowing that the best is yet to come. 

To start, I would loveee a few prayers in behalf of a some really special people. Alexandre, Joyce and Pietro are every day more happy. It is actually incredible to see (and feel)  the difrence the gospel has brought into their home. When we met them, Alexandre seemend bitter and closed off. Now, he is a new man! Maybe it is the prayers. (when he prays he actually talks with his Pai Celestial. The sincerity is palpable.) Maybe it is the daily scripture study.(He has now finished the intire Principles of the Gospel book and is now writing a summary of every one of the 24 chapters). Maybe it is the the strong spirit we feel as we talk about the more spiritual things of life. But whatever it is, it is a modern day miracle!! 

Our bishop told me this week that he is certain that Alexandre will be the next Stake President and I don´t doubt it one bit. The thing is, we just got to get this good man to the finish line. Pray that he goes through with his plans to be baptized this week. pretty pleaasee. 

João is the other we have planned to be baptized this saturday. Only one little problem.... the law of chastity strikes again. Turns our our little 60 year old João has a girlfriend!! We did not know if we should laugh or cry when we found out: we decided to laugh!! But it´s all good, because turns out he has been feeling guilty about the circumstance for a while. They don´t live together so it will be easy for them to break up. He is committed to ending this officially but is pretty nervous. Who knew that here on the mission I would still be counseling people on how to effectively use the ``it´s not you, it´s me´´ speech?

Gabi is incredible. Actually, other sisters found her about 7 months ago. She is super inteligent and has lots of questions. When we began to teach her she told us that as a young girl she prayed about a man named Néfi. She always remembered the dreams but never new what they meant. She absolutely loved the lessons but never felt ready to be baptized. Buttt, this week we had an incredible lesson with her. Actually, it was more of a conversation. She told us of her goals for life and also about her fears. We bore our testimonies and in the end I reminded her how she had met the sisters. Actually, she had visited lots of churches and wanted to have a stronger relationship with God but never felt compltely whole. Days after she pleaded for help, the sisters passed in front of her house. I invited her to ask Heavenly Father, with the same vigor,  why the sisters were put in her life, and what she needed to do to follow the His plan. 

and GUESS WHAT?!?! Sunday she told us she had some very special news. She decided that baptism was the right path for her and now is the time!!!!! I can not sufficiently put into words my joy at that momnent. We laughed and hugged and bounced up and down a little. Just pray that her mom accepts her daughter´s decision. 

Ohh and Edilson and Angela are officially getting married 16 de Janeiro and I could not be happier!!! Actually, right now we are in the middle of thinking up invitations, decorations etc. Ahhhh I am so absolutely happy. We had their son, Emerson (recent RM) read his favorite scriptures about the atonement with his parents after we left and it turned out to be a super spritual moment. Everyone cried!! And after, we invited them to be baptized. The two accepted!! It will be wonderful. 

So here is the quote of the week... ``We need to recieve, recognize and rely on  the holy ghost.´´ -Elaine S. Dalton But isn´t that the one of life´s largest battles? Especially the last two... For this I am soo grateful I decided to serve a mission. And let me tell you, I am learning volumes about how to rely on the spirit, because most of the time, it is the only option we have! 

Have a great week! And enjoy the special Christmas spirit! 

It is a wonderful time of the year

Your Sister Lauren

                                                                                         angela and edilson

                                                                                            b day celebration!

                                                          cute little entreprenuers. I had to by a bracelet!!

                                                                                FHE with a recent convert fam

                                                black friday and Brazil! I missed our shopping trip this year

                                                                                               why I love Cotia

                                                           do you recognize the skirts? they went to a good cause!!

                                          recognize the tie?! I visited my old area and this little boy ways using it!!

                                              look what I bought this week!!!! Turns out, I could not live without it

                                                                                               GABI!!

December 1, 2014- So VERY Happy!

Hi Family!!!!

So, this was a very memorable and incredible week and best believe that I am so very THANKful. For many reasons. Heavenly Father reminded me, once again, of the lesson that he has already taught me oh so many times during my short time here in Brazil: that he loves me and is grateful for my service and that he is taking care of me with every step.

First, MY MIRACLE.... So I was all sorts of bummed about my memory card. So many photos, videos and memories. I tried to accept that I would just have to beg my old companions and cut my losses but every night I ended up imagining each and every photo that I was missing. And I prayed. A lot. I knew exactly the two places it could have been, both of which outside our house because these were the only places I had used my camera this week and the card was in the case. And believe me, I searched these places well. Then one morning we had an appointment and I came home to my card!!!!! waiting for me on my desk with a little note saying ``I listen to your prayers. Love Deus.´´ Turns out, the sisters decided to clean under the blanket spralled out on the floor that we have been using for the last MONTH to do exercieses in the mornings. And there, laid my card. I have no idea how it got there because like I said, I only used my card outside the house and it has only been missing for a week. But then again, I marvel at God and his power everyday so what else is new? Long story short... I am a very happy girl.

Also, We are living the missionary dream teaching lots of families. It actually has become quite funny because right now we are only finding couples. Couples that need to get married legally and everything else but all have a lot of potential. Alexandre and Joyce are as great as ever!! We had two family home evenings with them this week in the homes of different members. So cool to see them being accepted so well. Alexandre had a doubt this week that led to a very inspired personal study. He can´t imgine how he could possibly forgive himself for all of the things he has done throughout his life. I studied a little about the atonement and the present Christ has given to completely forgive ourselves so that we can go forward continuing to better ourselves every day. Like one of our favorite books exemplifies with the example of Jean Valjean, this gift of redemption is oh so very powerful. I am grateful for the knowledge that ``However late we think we are, however many chances we think we have missed, however many mistakes we feel we have made or talents we think we don’t have, or however far from home and family and God we feel we have traveled, we never can travel beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for us to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.” (Elder Holland) And between him and a few less actives (and their families)  we are bringing back I am grateful for my role in this process. To testify that God is a god of second changes and new beginnings.

Also, Sister Frandsen and I did end up whipping our own thanksgiving dinner. We used chicken instead of turkey and our mashed potatoes had the same consistency as play dough but I made a pumpkin role with cream cheese frosting in the middle that was simply divine. Also, the night of thanksgiving we got invited to eat with one of our very favorite families in the ward. We actually ate parmessean chicken but it did not matter one bit. With thanksgiving, as basically everything else in life, really it is who we are with and not what we do that makes the difference.

This week I adopted a dog. A cute little thing that likes to follow us to all of our appointment and waits patiently outside. And a little girl Bianca said that we are her veryy best friends and that she has never met adults she likes as much as us. We became very grateful that we have been applying the missionary motto ``teach when you find, find when you teach`` as we are now teaching this cute couple that drives a little car selling churros. They seem so very great and we are still waiting for the free churros to start! haha and we are teaching a man named Luiz that delivers gas on his motorcycle day and night. This week our gas went out just as we were making our very favorite Columbian dish rice and avacado (sounds weird but is delicious and  has seen us through this transfer) when our gas ran out. So who did we call?! LUIZ and he helped us right away. Having investigators in all trades is actually a very good idea.

So many other things happened, but I hope I covered some of the highlights. Love you all and let the Christmas countdown begin!! Advent calendars and all. I am seriously contemplating making a paper chain. We´ll see if I can find the time today!

Boa Semana

Sister Lauren

Thanksgiving

                                                                                            alexandre e joyce FHE