Hello Mom,
I am guessing you didn’t get the pictures that a guy in my ward sent. He said he sent you an email and a bunch of my pictures. . .
Anyway, this past week I wasn’t able to write because there were some problems with the mission web site. . . I wanted to write so bad because last week we had a baptism. The girls name is Bruna and she is only 17. She is married and has a one-year-old. She is the one who heard our plan of salvation lesson and wanted to be baptized. She smoked, her husband and her family. We made a plan for her to stop and she started the following day. She made progress really fast and wanted so badly to stop smoking. We also fasted together so that she could stop smoking and be baptized the following Saturday. It was really hard for her but she completely stopped smoking in two weeks and hasn’t smoked since her baptism. The baptism was awesome. She cried during the whole meeting and was so happy. There were a lot of investigators there and they were also very impressed with the spirit and atmosphere. The Lord really blessed us this week.
This week we started teaching her two cousins and her husband. He is only about 19 or 20. He went to church with her on Sunday and really liked it.
Also, one of our friends in the ward, Raulene is the only member in her family and we have been teaching her parents. They came to church with her and brought their niece. They loved it (it was their second time). The problem is that they have to get married before they are baptized which is a long and expensive process. But we are working with them and Raulene will be a big help.
We are teaching some other families but none of them are married. . . ã carumba.
Easter was really fun. The tradition here is that all the kids get a huge hallow chocolate egg with candy inside. Almost all of the Irmãs (the ladies in the ward) gave us boxes of chocolates and one gave us a giant chocolate egg. Our fridge is filled with chocolate. I told my comp about the tradition to color the hard-boiled eggs and she thought it was pretty funny. I also told her about Easter egg hunts.
This week we have transfers and I think Sister Ferreira and I will be transferred and our area will be closed for the sisters. Also, my other area in Sarandi was closed for the sisters too. But I am excited to see. I hope I can email next p-day.
I didn’t get the package yet. I will probably get it at our next conference. I did, however, get the package from Gloria and loved it.
Our mission conference was awesome. Elder and Sister Ellis spoke (they are from Utah). I am learning so much about the Savior and missionary work and I loved the conference. I also got to see my other two companions, Sister Fernandes and Sister Portes.
Anyway, what is new with you guys? It seems like I have been gone for so long but when I think that I have been out for almost 9 months, I can’t believe it. There is so much I need to learn.
Thank you so much for the letters, prayers, packages and all the support. I love you and miss you. I hope you have a great week.
Love Barbie
3.26.2008
3.14.2008
March 11, 2008
Hi Mom,
Sorry I didn’t really reply to your questions last week. The pics took awhile to send and there was a lot of mail from the mission office.
Anyway to respond. . . I don’t know what was with Sister Isabel’s headband. he he. Did the film work? Were you able to watch it? I made another one and will try to send it this week.
Tell Michelle congrats and I can’t wait to hear if it is a boy or girl. My comp just found out that her sister is pregnant too. It is the first grandbaby in her family. She is due the same time as Michelle.
So how are the organ lessons going and the condo? Good luck with everything, I hope the lessons are coming along well and that the condo sells soon. Thanks so much for sending the package. I probably won’t get it until our next transfer which is in 2 and 1/2 weeks. We’ll see. But I am close to Londrina so maybe I will get it sooner.
This week was great. The 17-year-old girl who listened in on our lesson about the plan of salvation and progressing. We have taught her all the lessons and she can be baptized as soon as she stops smoking. The three of are going to have a special fast for her to stop smoking and I am sure it will give her the strength to stop. She is a wonderful investigator and loves studying the Book of Mormon. I couldn’t believe how fast her conversion was. The first time she read it she felt the spirit so strong and knew that everything was true.
We found a few new investigators that seem pretty interested and we will return this week to see how they are doing. We marked baptism for a family we are teaching. They accepted but they still need to go to church a few more times before they can be baptized. They have stopped drinking coffee and are living the word of wisdom. Yay. It is so wonderful to see how the commandments bring blessings into people’s lives.
Oh, also, there is a girl named Raulene who was baptized in December. We have been teaching her family and they are showing a lot of interest. They have seen how dedicated Raulene has been and believe that the gospel has changed her life. Her mom said that if you guys come pick me up she wants to make a special Brazilian dinner for our family.
Tomorrow we have Mission Tour in Londrina. It is a conference for missionaries and Elder Ellis and his wife will be the speakers (that is why p-day is today). It will be in Londrina. I am really excited. I love mission confereneces. I will let you know how it goes. Our last mission conference, the authority changed a bunch of stuff. We are teaching the lessons differently and p-day changed too.
I love teaching the gospel and seeing it change peoples lives. The ward is great and we have members teach with us almost everyday. There is also a family here with a car and the 23-year-old always helps us out with the appointments that are really far.
I miss all of you and love you so much. Thanks for everything. Have a wonderful week!
Love Barb
Sorry I didn’t really reply to your questions last week. The pics took awhile to send and there was a lot of mail from the mission office.
Anyway to respond. . . I don’t know what was with Sister Isabel’s headband. he he. Did the film work? Were you able to watch it? I made another one and will try to send it this week.
Tell Michelle congrats and I can’t wait to hear if it is a boy or girl. My comp just found out that her sister is pregnant too. It is the first grandbaby in her family. She is due the same time as Michelle.
So how are the organ lessons going and the condo? Good luck with everything, I hope the lessons are coming along well and that the condo sells soon. Thanks so much for sending the package. I probably won’t get it until our next transfer which is in 2 and 1/2 weeks. We’ll see. But I am close to Londrina so maybe I will get it sooner.
This week was great. The 17-year-old girl who listened in on our lesson about the plan of salvation and progressing. We have taught her all the lessons and she can be baptized as soon as she stops smoking. The three of are going to have a special fast for her to stop smoking and I am sure it will give her the strength to stop. She is a wonderful investigator and loves studying the Book of Mormon. I couldn’t believe how fast her conversion was. The first time she read it she felt the spirit so strong and knew that everything was true.
We found a few new investigators that seem pretty interested and we will return this week to see how they are doing. We marked baptism for a family we are teaching. They accepted but they still need to go to church a few more times before they can be baptized. They have stopped drinking coffee and are living the word of wisdom. Yay. It is so wonderful to see how the commandments bring blessings into people’s lives.
Oh, also, there is a girl named Raulene who was baptized in December. We have been teaching her family and they are showing a lot of interest. They have seen how dedicated Raulene has been and believe that the gospel has changed her life. Her mom said that if you guys come pick me up she wants to make a special Brazilian dinner for our family.
Tomorrow we have Mission Tour in Londrina. It is a conference for missionaries and Elder Ellis and his wife will be the speakers (that is why p-day is today). It will be in Londrina. I am really excited. I love mission confereneces. I will let you know how it goes. Our last mission conference, the authority changed a bunch of stuff. We are teaching the lessons differently and p-day changed too.
I love teaching the gospel and seeing it change peoples lives. The ward is great and we have members teach with us almost everyday. There is also a family here with a car and the 23-year-old always helps us out with the appointments that are really far.
I miss all of you and love you so much. Thanks for everything. Have a wonderful week!
Love Barb
3.05.2008
March 5, 2008
Hi Mom,
This week was awesome. One night we were teaching one of investigators, a single girl in her 30’s, about the Plan of Salvation. One of her friends walked in at the beginning of the lesson and listened for awhile. After we talked about baptism and the Celestial Kingdom, she asked, “When can I be baptized?” She also said she would wake up at 7am the next Sunday to be ready for church. Sure enough the two girls came to church and absolutely loved it. We marked them for baptism for this month. They both need to stop smoking but have a strong desire to do so.
Also, we have been teaching an old lady named Dalva. Her husband passed away a few years ago and she lives with her daughter. She understands the lessons really well. After one of the lessons, she said. “Girls, I am really worried because I know my baptism is not correct.” Hmmm, it was a perfect opportunity to talk about baptism and she accepted to be baptized this month. She also told us she feels something really different when we are with her and she loves having us there. I love her so much and she feels like family to me and my companion.
We are also teaching a really great family with two young boys. They love the messages, they believe everything, and they are reading the book of Mormon together but they are hard core Catholics and their conversion is coming along slowly. We had family night with them and a few other families from the ward. It was a blast and the family really liked the ward members and the activity. The 10-year-old boy wants to come to church and be baptized but the parents still have a few doubts.
This upcoming week we will have Mission tour in Londrina and I don’t know if I can write. I am so sorry that this email is so short but I am out of time. Tell everyone who wrote me that I will send an email next week and I am so sorry I couldn’t respond.
I sent some pics.
· The banana tree. I thought it was very interesting. I have never seen one until I came here
· We had a churrasco and I am holding the meat. There was a ton
· We found a way to get to the other side of town a lot faster by cutting through the woods. I am crossing the river.
· Me and one of our investigators daughters, Angela.
I love you so much! Thanks for everything.
Love Barbie
3.03.2008
3.02.2008
February 27, 2008
February 27, 2008
Hi Pãe,
Wow, New York. That is one place I would love to visit. How was it? What did that guy who you work with say about Rio? All I hear is that it is super dangerous and has a ton of favelas (really poor parts). I saw some pics of a member’s vacation and she wrote the places. I dont have them with me but she went to Cutatiba. There are beaches there and it looked awesome. Also, the temple in Cutatiba will be finished in the next month or two. I don’t think President Leal will let the missionaries go because it is out of our area. Bummer.
I am finally at the point where I feel like I have a personality. I am able to talk with people (more or less) and I am understanding a lot more. I still can’t express myself clearly and there is a lot I don’t understand but I pretend that I understand when the people talk to me. I am enjoying the mission more and more as I learn the language. I sometimes feel like I will be a missionary here forever. At times I never want to return to my normal life because here, I feel like I am making a difference. But at times I think, wow, it would be really nice to take a nap or take a break from being in the sun. But I don’t really miss much. Just my family and friends.
Although I haven’t had a baptism for a long time, I am learning a lot and have met a lot of great people. We are also able to help strengthen the ward members. I really want to baptize and sometimes I feel like I am doing something wrong because we are not baptizing. But I know there is a purpose for this and that we will find someone. However, I love getting letters from the 15-year-old girl who I baptized. She is darling and this mission is worth it even if I only baptize her because I love her so much.
Anyway, how are you doing? And the rest of the family? You were the only one who wrote this week so I am in the dark. And Michelle and the baby? I love you and miss you so much. I hope you are doing well. Love Barb
Hi Mom,
This week was our first week without the other Sisters. We ended up in their area and the elders ended up in our area. I love our new area although there are a ton of really steep hills. The majority of the members live in area and they have been helping out a lot. It is so nice to have help from the members.
We have been teaching Idinea English as well as the lessons. We gave her a Book of Mormon in English and she has been reading the Book of Mormon and O Livro de Mormon side by side. She also bought a dvd with Shania Twain songs that she is listening to and memorizing which is funny. She seems really interested in the church and always asks a bunch of questions about our standards and beliefs. I always look forward to teaching her. We are also teaching a really great family. We left them a little bit to read in the Book of Mormon and when we returned they had read all the parts as well as other parts dealing with sacrament, baptism, etc. Also the 10-year-old boy has started to participate in the activities at church. They seem really interested, and the spirit is always really strong when we teach them. We taught an older lady yesterday. She is very open and loves our visits. She and her daughter love to talk with me about the United States. She said she had the lessons from the elders several years ago and there was an American who taught her. She sort of laughed and said she didn’t understand anything he said and his companion had to translate for him.
Anyway, how is everyone doing? Did you get the cd of pics that I sent and the letter? How is everything with the condo? Has it sold? The people here always ask about the weather and the snow. Is heating up there yet. It is like an oven here and won’t cool down for months. The sun is so strong that through our sun-proof umbrellas, it is dying our clothes (or I guess lightening our clothes).
How is Michelle doing? How far along is she? And mom, your new calling. Have you begun to play in Sacrament yet? I received an email from dad about New York and it sounds like he is having a good time.
Anyway, I love you and hope everything is going well.
Love Barb
Hi Pãe,
Wow, New York. That is one place I would love to visit. How was it? What did that guy who you work with say about Rio? All I hear is that it is super dangerous and has a ton of favelas (really poor parts). I saw some pics of a member’s vacation and she wrote the places. I dont have them with me but she went to Cutatiba. There are beaches there and it looked awesome. Also, the temple in Cutatiba will be finished in the next month or two. I don’t think President Leal will let the missionaries go because it is out of our area. Bummer.
I am finally at the point where I feel like I have a personality. I am able to talk with people (more or less) and I am understanding a lot more. I still can’t express myself clearly and there is a lot I don’t understand but I pretend that I understand when the people talk to me. I am enjoying the mission more and more as I learn the language. I sometimes feel like I will be a missionary here forever. At times I never want to return to my normal life because here, I feel like I am making a difference. But at times I think, wow, it would be really nice to take a nap or take a break from being in the sun. But I don’t really miss much. Just my family and friends.
Although I haven’t had a baptism for a long time, I am learning a lot and have met a lot of great people. We are also able to help strengthen the ward members. I really want to baptize and sometimes I feel like I am doing something wrong because we are not baptizing. But I know there is a purpose for this and that we will find someone. However, I love getting letters from the 15-year-old girl who I baptized. She is darling and this mission is worth it even if I only baptize her because I love her so much.
Anyway, how are you doing? And the rest of the family? You were the only one who wrote this week so I am in the dark. And Michelle and the baby? I love you and miss you so much. I hope you are doing well. Love Barb
Hi Mom,
This week was our first week without the other Sisters. We ended up in their area and the elders ended up in our area. I love our new area although there are a ton of really steep hills. The majority of the members live in area and they have been helping out a lot. It is so nice to have help from the members.
We have been teaching Idinea English as well as the lessons. We gave her a Book of Mormon in English and she has been reading the Book of Mormon and O Livro de Mormon side by side. She also bought a dvd with Shania Twain songs that she is listening to and memorizing which is funny. She seems really interested in the church and always asks a bunch of questions about our standards and beliefs. I always look forward to teaching her. We are also teaching a really great family. We left them a little bit to read in the Book of Mormon and when we returned they had read all the parts as well as other parts dealing with sacrament, baptism, etc. Also the 10-year-old boy has started to participate in the activities at church. They seem really interested, and the spirit is always really strong when we teach them. We taught an older lady yesterday. She is very open and loves our visits. She and her daughter love to talk with me about the United States. She said she had the lessons from the elders several years ago and there was an American who taught her. She sort of laughed and said she didn’t understand anything he said and his companion had to translate for him.
Anyway, how is everyone doing? Did you get the cd of pics that I sent and the letter? How is everything with the condo? Has it sold? The people here always ask about the weather and the snow. Is heating up there yet. It is like an oven here and won’t cool down for months. The sun is so strong that through our sun-proof umbrellas, it is dying our clothes (or I guess lightening our clothes).
How is Michelle doing? How far along is she? And mom, your new calling. Have you begun to play in Sacrament yet? I received an email from dad about New York and it sounds like he is having a good time.
Anyway, I love you and hope everything is going well.
Love Barb
2.22.2008
February 20, 2008
Minha Mãe,
This week I found out about transfers. Sister Ferreira and I will stay in our same area but the other two girls we lived with were transferred. Two elders will take their place. We have been looking for a house and found a small one that they will live in. We will stay in the house in front of the church. I was really said that Sister Isabel was transferred but I will see her at the conference in a month. We are changing areas and giving our area to the Elders. I am excited because it will be a completely new area but the same branch. This branch is great and the members love the sisters.
I am not sending pictures this week because I am worried that my camera card is picking up viruses. Also, I got the camera card you sent me but it is still having formatting problems. I don’t think it will work.
Have you received the cd with all my recent pics? I sent it a week or two ago. Thank you so much for the Valentine’s Card. At times I think everyone has forgotten me so it was good to get a card and some letters. I saw that it was a Valentine’s card and the first thing I thought was, “wow, what month is it?” I had totally forgotten about the holiday. I have no concept of time here. . . And p-day changed for everyone in the mission. It will be Wednesday.
Anyway, the work is going well. We have a friend in the ward-she is 23 and teaches with us sometimes. She gave us a reference of a lady who wants to learn English. I have been teaching her English and the discussions. There is also another investigator who loves speaking English and he got involved with the Elders because he wanted to practice his English. He has been reading the Book of Mormon, and we have started to teach him the lessons again. He is far along in the Book of Mormon and says he wants to read the whole thing before he prays to know it is true. He already knows it is true but he knows that when he prays, he will receive an answer and will have to change his life and follow his answer to his prayers. I think he is not quite ready to make some changes. But we are trying to teach and encourage him so that he can be ready for baptism. He knows everything is true but is just getting nervous.
This week, we will have completely new investigators because we are switching areas. We spent today in Londrina because we took the other two girls to the bus station. We then went downtown and shopped for some things. Londrina is a really beautiful city and love being so close.
If you are going to send a package in the next couple of months, can you send my camera cord? It is odd-shaped and no one here has the same one. Thanks. That way I can send you pics easier.
Mom, I am so proud of you and your new callings. This calling will force you learn how to play the organ and you will be able to play for the rest of your life. The Lord would never call you to do this if you didn’t have the capacity. You will be blessed-don’t worry about a thing.
How is everything else? Is everyone recovering from their sicknesses. Is it snowing like crazy there? How are the relatives, the ward and the neighbors? I hope everyone is doing well. Tell the family that I love them so much and miss everyone.
I love you and have a good week.
Love Barbie
Hi Dad,
I wasn’t transferred and I am staying in Ibiporã.
I had a friend in Sarandi that is obsessed with Elvis and Nashville. When I write to her I will tell her that you were just there. Let me know how New York is. I love it there although I have never been there. He he.
My comps have been telling me of some cool places I need to visit. Everyone talks about the beaches in Recife and Natal (the north part of Bazil). Brotas in Minas gerais--I think there are things like repelling and rock climbing and outdoor sports. In São Paulo there are cool streets and shopping to see. There are also water parks and parks like Central Park in NY. It’s called Parque Ibirapuera. Also, Foz do Iguasu. This is close to my mission. Everyone says all you do is just look at the Falls. Anyway, I hope you guys can pick me up and we can visit my areas.
Wow the Suns will be stocked with an amazing team when I get back. . .
Anyway, I love you and hope you have a wonderful week!!!
Love Barb
This week I found out about transfers. Sister Ferreira and I will stay in our same area but the other two girls we lived with were transferred. Two elders will take their place. We have been looking for a house and found a small one that they will live in. We will stay in the house in front of the church. I was really said that Sister Isabel was transferred but I will see her at the conference in a month. We are changing areas and giving our area to the Elders. I am excited because it will be a completely new area but the same branch. This branch is great and the members love the sisters.
I am not sending pictures this week because I am worried that my camera card is picking up viruses. Also, I got the camera card you sent me but it is still having formatting problems. I don’t think it will work.
Have you received the cd with all my recent pics? I sent it a week or two ago. Thank you so much for the Valentine’s Card. At times I think everyone has forgotten me so it was good to get a card and some letters. I saw that it was a Valentine’s card and the first thing I thought was, “wow, what month is it?” I had totally forgotten about the holiday. I have no concept of time here. . . And p-day changed for everyone in the mission. It will be Wednesday.
Anyway, the work is going well. We have a friend in the ward-she is 23 and teaches with us sometimes. She gave us a reference of a lady who wants to learn English. I have been teaching her English and the discussions. There is also another investigator who loves speaking English and he got involved with the Elders because he wanted to practice his English. He has been reading the Book of Mormon, and we have started to teach him the lessons again. He is far along in the Book of Mormon and says he wants to read the whole thing before he prays to know it is true. He already knows it is true but he knows that when he prays, he will receive an answer and will have to change his life and follow his answer to his prayers. I think he is not quite ready to make some changes. But we are trying to teach and encourage him so that he can be ready for baptism. He knows everything is true but is just getting nervous.
This week, we will have completely new investigators because we are switching areas. We spent today in Londrina because we took the other two girls to the bus station. We then went downtown and shopped for some things. Londrina is a really beautiful city and love being so close.
If you are going to send a package in the next couple of months, can you send my camera cord? It is odd-shaped and no one here has the same one. Thanks. That way I can send you pics easier.
Mom, I am so proud of you and your new callings. This calling will force you learn how to play the organ and you will be able to play for the rest of your life. The Lord would never call you to do this if you didn’t have the capacity. You will be blessed-don’t worry about a thing.
How is everything else? Is everyone recovering from their sicknesses. Is it snowing like crazy there? How are the relatives, the ward and the neighbors? I hope everyone is doing well. Tell the family that I love them so much and miss everyone.
I love you and have a good week.
Love Barbie
Hi Dad,
I wasn’t transferred and I am staying in Ibiporã.
I had a friend in Sarandi that is obsessed with Elvis and Nashville. When I write to her I will tell her that you were just there. Let me know how New York is. I love it there although I have never been there. He he.
My comps have been telling me of some cool places I need to visit. Everyone talks about the beaches in Recife and Natal (the north part of Bazil). Brotas in Minas gerais--I think there are things like repelling and rock climbing and outdoor sports. In São Paulo there are cool streets and shopping to see. There are also water parks and parks like Central Park in NY. It’s called Parque Ibirapuera. Also, Foz do Iguasu. This is close to my mission. Everyone says all you do is just look at the Falls. Anyway, I hope you guys can pick me up and we can visit my areas.
Wow the Suns will be stocked with an amazing team when I get back. . .
Anyway, I love you and hope you have a wonderful week!!!
Love Barb
2.12.2008
February 11, 2008
Hi Mom,
I am so glad you got the letters. I sent another letter and also, today I will send a CD with all my pictures. There are pictures that I already sent and some pics that are sister Isabel´s.
Yesterday, we had stake conference in Londrina. We were able to find out about President Monson, Uchtdorf and Eyring. Also, a new stake president was called in Londrina. The conference was packed and we were able to sustain the leaders of the church. It is really amazing to see that the church functions the same in every stake in the world. The church is truly governed by Christ. Also, Elder Didier spoke. He is from Belgium and speaks 4 different languages. I watched a leadership training meeting that he gave a few years ago and he speaks English really well too. It was a great conference. After, we ate lunch at the Branch President’s house with his family and a few other elders because he lives in Londrina. I met his son in the MTC and their family had a few pictures of me and their son together--what a small world. After, we had a conference just for missionaries in the stake with the stake President, President Leal, and Elder Didier. Elder Didier gave a wonderful training. I learned a lot about the power of revelation and faith. I was sitting there thinking, wow this training will help me not only on my mission but for the rest of my life and I am getting it for free. He greeted all the missionaries and had such a strong spirit with him.
Anyway, the work is good and we met two really great people. One is a young guy with a little girl and a wife. He said he has been searching for the church of Christ but hasn’t felt good about the churches he has attended. This week we will check up on him and see if he read the chapter that we marked for him in the Book of Mormon. The other is a lady in her 40s. We marked her to be baptized in two weeks and we are preparing her. Her husband doesn’t know she is taking the discussions so it might be a little complicated when she tells him. But we have faith that everything will go well.
This past week was Carnival week. Surprisingly, it didn’t affect the work at all. In some areas the missionaries have to stay inside for a few days but this city didn’t have anything going on, just everyone got a break from school and work. Carnival lasts a few days and it is little a celebration of all different sorts of dances. There are parades, dance classes, parties and a whole bunch of other things. It is not a very uplifting experience for most people as I am sure you have already heard.
Also, this week, the kids in the branch went to camp. We were able to see all of them outside the church waiting for the buses with their pillows and tents. I loved girl’s camp. They have a pool and a bunch of other activities.
Anyway, things are going well. I am really loving the branch. The people love to feed us and take care of us. I am becoming really attached to the people here and it will be really hard to leave. We have transfers this week and I really am hoping to stay. I like being close to Londrina. President and Sister Leal stopped by our house to have interviews because they live so close. I really like Londrina. President Leal was talking about moving 2 sisters out and bringing in 2 elders. But who knows. . . I will let you know next week.
I love you so much and I hope you are having fun with buying and selling those condos--save one for me when I get back. I sent another email with some pics. I only took a few this week. . . I love you so much!! Thank you for everything!
Love Barb
Hi Dad,
Wow, how fun. I loved eating dinner at the Delta Center (esc-whatever) before the games. The jazz games are always a blast.
How’s everything coming with the condos? What a fun project. Also, I wont know when I will be released until it comes a lot closer. I will know when it comes closer. There will be transfers Dec 9, 2008 and around the 19th or January. I don’t know if President Leal will let me choose.
Things are going well but still no baptism. We keep getting so close but then the people became a little lazy and don’t want to attend church every week. They know the church is true but the sacrifice is too great for them. We met some new people who seem to have potential. I am loving this branch and the investigators. There is an older lady that always makes dinner for us when we are close to her house. She loves having the missionaries over and is preparing to go to the temple for the first time. The members here are great although there are not a lot yet.
Anyway, I love you so much and I hope everything is going well. Thanks for all the support. Have a wonderful week. I love you.
Love Barb
I am so glad you got the letters. I sent another letter and also, today I will send a CD with all my pictures. There are pictures that I already sent and some pics that are sister Isabel´s.
Yesterday, we had stake conference in Londrina. We were able to find out about President Monson, Uchtdorf and Eyring. Also, a new stake president was called in Londrina. The conference was packed and we were able to sustain the leaders of the church. It is really amazing to see that the church functions the same in every stake in the world. The church is truly governed by Christ. Also, Elder Didier spoke. He is from Belgium and speaks 4 different languages. I watched a leadership training meeting that he gave a few years ago and he speaks English really well too. It was a great conference. After, we ate lunch at the Branch President’s house with his family and a few other elders because he lives in Londrina. I met his son in the MTC and their family had a few pictures of me and their son together--what a small world. After, we had a conference just for missionaries in the stake with the stake President, President Leal, and Elder Didier. Elder Didier gave a wonderful training. I learned a lot about the power of revelation and faith. I was sitting there thinking, wow this training will help me not only on my mission but for the rest of my life and I am getting it for free. He greeted all the missionaries and had such a strong spirit with him.
Anyway, the work is good and we met two really great people. One is a young guy with a little girl and a wife. He said he has been searching for the church of Christ but hasn’t felt good about the churches he has attended. This week we will check up on him and see if he read the chapter that we marked for him in the Book of Mormon. The other is a lady in her 40s. We marked her to be baptized in two weeks and we are preparing her. Her husband doesn’t know she is taking the discussions so it might be a little complicated when she tells him. But we have faith that everything will go well.
This past week was Carnival week. Surprisingly, it didn’t affect the work at all. In some areas the missionaries have to stay inside for a few days but this city didn’t have anything going on, just everyone got a break from school and work. Carnival lasts a few days and it is little a celebration of all different sorts of dances. There are parades, dance classes, parties and a whole bunch of other things. It is not a very uplifting experience for most people as I am sure you have already heard.
Also, this week, the kids in the branch went to camp. We were able to see all of them outside the church waiting for the buses with their pillows and tents. I loved girl’s camp. They have a pool and a bunch of other activities.
Anyway, things are going well. I am really loving the branch. The people love to feed us and take care of us. I am becoming really attached to the people here and it will be really hard to leave. We have transfers this week and I really am hoping to stay. I like being close to Londrina. President and Sister Leal stopped by our house to have interviews because they live so close. I really like Londrina. President Leal was talking about moving 2 sisters out and bringing in 2 elders. But who knows. . . I will let you know next week.
I love you so much and I hope you are having fun with buying and selling those condos--save one for me when I get back. I sent another email with some pics. I only took a few this week. . . I love you so much!! Thank you for everything!
Love Barb
Hi Dad,
Wow, how fun. I loved eating dinner at the Delta Center (esc-whatever) before the games. The jazz games are always a blast.
How’s everything coming with the condos? What a fun project. Also, I wont know when I will be released until it comes a lot closer. I will know when it comes closer. There will be transfers Dec 9, 2008 and around the 19th or January. I don’t know if President Leal will let me choose.
Things are going well but still no baptism. We keep getting so close but then the people became a little lazy and don’t want to attend church every week. They know the church is true but the sacrifice is too great for them. We met some new people who seem to have potential. I am loving this branch and the investigators. There is an older lady that always makes dinner for us when we are close to her house. She loves having the missionaries over and is preparing to go to the temple for the first time. The members here are great although there are not a lot yet.
Anyway, I love you so much and I hope everything is going well. Thanks for all the support. Have a wonderful week. I love you.
Love Barb
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