Sunday, December 22, 2013
December 16, 2013
Dear Family and Friends,
This week was full of landmarks! 6 month mark! I ate the
same thing for three days in four different houses, saw a person taking a shower
in the street, saw a parade of 500+ horses pass by, was invited to celebrate Christmas
by more than ten different people, and of course my testimony was strengthened
a ton this week through the 1st presidency devotional and night of music put on
by the missionaries. I can’t really explain it, but it doesn’t feel like
Christmas yet. Maybe it is the weather ;) I have been reflecting on the meaning
of Christmas. President Scisci said something that touched my heart the other
night. "eu testifico que Cristo nasceu" (I testify that Christ was
born). I have been thinking about this sentence. We often testify that Christ
is our Savior, He lives, He died for us, he resurrected on the third day, but
how often do we testify of his birth? This was the first step in His earthly
ministry. His birth was crucial and so beautiful. I know that Christ was born
in the humblest of places to the Virgin Mary. I am so grateful for Mary and her
love and acceptance to be the mother of our Savior. Christ was born in
Bethlehem. In Portuguese Belém means Bethlehem. I know it is not the same country, but it
makes my mission even more special that the city where I am serving has
connection to Christ. I have felt my love and connection to my savior grow so
much here on my mission. I am learning how to put my life, thoughts, and
actions in his hands. He really does break you down until you become humble and
then builds you back up through experience and love.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and feel of the
special spirit de Natal!
Feliz Natal!
Love always (amor para sempre),
Sister Sender
December 9, 2013
I finally figured out the name of the city where I am
serving. Everyone calls it Cidade Nova because every neighborhood is named
cidade Nova #?. I am currently serving in Ananindeua, Pará. it’s a mouthful to
say. I am doing well and working hard to get to know the area and people. Our
area is huge and it only consists of two neighborhoods. (it is about the size
of Solon, OH maybe a little bigger, so just imagine walking this every day).
The ward here has set some large goals and we are working to help them. One of
the common situations in Brazil is problems with retention. Often times after
someone is baptized they don't always become firm in the Church. We are working
with this. Only 32% of the ward is active here (200+ ppl less active) and my
comp and I want to change that. It is a ton of work, but it will change
lives.
I have been thinking a lot about Christmas and culture. I
love Christmas. Absolutely adore it! It is a time full of tradition, love,
spirit, family, and memories. Even though I am far from my family, I still feel
the spirit of Christmas in the heart. I helped put up our little Christmas tree
this week and have been singing singing and singing some more and trying to
serve, serve, and serve more too :) The culture of Christmas is different here,
it is a lot simpler, but the message of our Savior's birth is the same. I am so
grateful for simplicity. Life here is so relaxed and simple and everyone is
just so happy. For example, last night we were invited to a house to try a
fruit called "jaca" and eat mangos. They cut open this green spikey
fruit the size of a watermelon. Then you eat the outside of the seed and spit
out the center. It probably had 200+ inside of one fruit. It tasted like Banana
with slime. Pretty good and I ate mango after mango because "Americans
love mangos and you need to try every color/type". I ate four mangos
yesterday and about passed out with the piles of other fruit we were eating. It
was wonderful! Good thing I love fruit. It was so fun just chatting, sharing a
message and eating fruit until the table was piled with mango peels, jaca,
cupuaçu, and acerola. It was a simple, but wonderful event. "Simplicity is
bliss"
I know that the work i am doing is so important and has
the capacity to change lives and provide everlasting joy.
Love you all! Merry Christmas!!
Love always,
Sister Sender <3
December 2, 2013
Dear Family and Friends,
What a marathon week! We had transfers and I didn’t know
anything until Tuesday and then things were finalized on Friday. (some areas
are not even finalized). I was transferred! Saying goodbye was bitter sweet and
actually really difficult. I gave my heart to the people of Capanema and it is
always hard to say goodbye to those you love. It was that same aching feeling
that I felt when I hugged my family goodbye for the last time. Just imagine
hugging person after person and having people break down crying in your arms.
It was heart breaking. I had one young woman look me in the eyes saying
"promise you will return after your mission!" I said yes... not
knowing if I really will. It is my dream to return and visit the people I
served with my future husband one day. I hope this dream comes true. Missions
are bitter sweet. We meet tons of people and serve until we are exhausted at
the end of each day and eventually have to say goodbye. Imagine how our Savior
felt during his earthly ministry. He loved every individual with a perfect
love. It had to have been heart wrenching to say goodbye in each city He served
in.
I am once again opening a new area for sisters in Cidade
Nova (6&7). My companion is sister Barros (another sister from São Paulo
aka the Utah of Brazil). We are working hard while having fun. She is
incredible and is me in the Brazilian form! aka she is crazy. haha but in the
most wonderful way. I am excited for the changes (especially taking a shower
with clean water for the first time in almost five months). Cidade Nova is
wonderful. The members are so excited to have sisters. It has been nine years
since they have had sisters here! (sorry mom... but it is because this area is
really dangerous). Almost the same story as capanema (15 years without sisters).
I feel so much excitement and cannot wait to see what adventure Cidade Nova
holds. The mission president definitely has high expectations for me! (2nd
aread and 2nd time opening an area for sisters).
Cidade Nova 6&7 is my area and our ward has one set
of elders that are serving with us. Elder ´Poaletti, my district leader in the
MTC is one of them. It is great to see a familiar face. During these past few
days, I have had the opportunity to learn and grow quite a bit. I have felt the
hand of God mold me and it is incredible. We live in a time full of excitement
and we each have so many opportunities to grow and progress. The Lord truly has
a plan and potential for each of us in this life. We each can reach our full
potential through our Savior Jesus Christ. Every imperfection can be made
perfect through Christ. Before the mission and in the MTC my biggest fear was
that I would not reach my potential/achieve the plan/goal the Lord prepared for
me, but I have learned that through faith in Him and His timing we each will
achieve our potential and He will be proud of what we become, if we are
faithful to the end. The Lord's hands are tied until we exercise our faith. I
am learning how to rely on Him and trying to follow the plan He has set for me.
I am serving a mission in Northern Brazil solely on faith in his timing and
plan for me in this life. The things I am learning are priceless.
Remember to rely on Him always, and have faith in His
plan and His timing. There always are blessings after every hardship and our
progression will continue as long as we express our faith in him.
I love each of you and hope you are all doing wonderful
and can feel of my love and prayers for you.
Cultural:
They use propane gas tanks
(same as an outdoor grill) inside their houses with a lighter to start the
stove and oven.
November 25, 2013
Dear family and Friends,
I feel like I start my letters the same way every week.
"This week flew by", but honestly this week was so slow! We are
waiting to hear about transfers so I feel like things are up in the air. Will I
see my investigators a week from now? Will I have to say goodbye to my recent
converts and members? It is so bitter sweet. I grow attached to people and love
the people here and it is hard for me to say goodbye. We usually know the
details of the transfer on Sunday and then prepare Monday and travel Tuesday,
but President Scisci was in São Paulo all week for training and then spoke at
stake conference yesterday morning and then again last night. So the entire mission
is waiting. I have been in Capanema for 4.5 months with the same companion. I
think at least one of us will be transferred.
This week was a week of reflection. I have thought a lot
about my weaknesses and what I can do to be better. It is interesting how on
the mission it is so much easier to feel my weaknesses and my desire to improve
is so much stronger. We are here on this earth to grow, learn, and progress. We
are given weaknesses so that we will humble ourselves and turn to our Heavenly
Father in faith, and he will teach us how to turn our weaknesses into
strengths; (Ether 12:27). I am so grateful for this. We do not have to live in
weakness. We can progress through faith.
I have also been thinking a lot about Thanksgiving. This
is my first year not actually celebrating Thanksgiving, and 2nd away from
family. It is tough. But I was thinking about this yesterday.... I don’t need
to eat turkey to celebrate Thanksgiving. I just need to keep my family in my
heart (like always) and express thanks to my father in heaven and those I love.
Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and sacrifices for
me. Thank you for the love each of you have shown me. I want to thank my family
for creating special traditions and memories full of love that I will never
forget and want to pass on in my future family. I am thankful for our health
and strength and also for the time I have to serve the Lord. i am about to
complete my 6th month. The time is passing by so fast. I am grateful for the
knowledge that we have and for my eternal family. I left my family for a short
little while, so that others can be with theirs for eternity.
I love you all! Have a wonderful week and Happy
Thanksgiving!
Love always,
Sister Sender
Cultural:
-people pump your gas for you and you pay afterwards
- it is rare to have
internet in your house. They use cybers
November 18,2013
Dear Family and Friends,
Another week down and I still feel like the days feel
like weeks and the weeks feel like days. Time is flying by and I can already
feel the impact my mission has had on my life. I am so grateful for this time
to serve and grow. We had a mission conference this week in Belem with almost
all of the missionaries here in missão Brasil Belém. It was wonderful to see
many of my friends from the MTC and the missionaries that arrived with me.
Elder Fernando of the seventy spoke to us as well as President and Sister
Scisci. I learned a lot and reflected a lot as well. Just four months ago I
arrived in Brazil and sat through a mission conference where I didn’t
understand anything, and now I am basically fluent. We learned a lot about
faith and obedience and my desire to serve and work increased. Sister Scisci
said something that stood out to me. "We must first lift our foot with a
step of faith, and then God will place the floor for us. Every choice and
action in this life is a step of faith and the Lord is directing our paths. In
my life, serving a mission was a huge act of faith, and God is placing the
floor for me. It is like Elder Fernando said during the conference "Never
say your mission is a sacrifice! Your mission is a privilege!" This is so
true. Yes I sacrificed many things to serve, but the blessings and things I am
learning are priceless. My mission is a privilege. I get to share my heart and
love with people every day and know I am serving our Loving Heavenly Father. I
came across this scripture the other day and loved it..."Nevertheless, ye
are blessed, for the testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for
the angels to look upon; and they rejoice over you, and your sins are forgiven
you." D&C 62:3 Every time we share the gospel, our words are recorded
in heaven and our sins are forgiven. Share the gospel this Christmas season and
remember that we have a Father in Heaven that knows and loves each of us!
I love you all!!
Love Always,
Sister Sender
Cultural Things:
They take naps in hammocks after lunch 1-3pm and some
people sleep in hammocks
- Thanksgiving is an American holiday (eat some turkey
for me)
- they play soccer on concrete soccer fields
barefoot.
-food is meshed all together on their plates and eaten as
a mountain of mixed food.
- it is normal for 10 people to share a bowl of ice cream
and pass around one spoon.
Love you all!!
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
November 11, 2013
Dear Family and Friends,
Another week has passed by and I feel like I emailed
yesterday. This week was full of excitement. We had a wedding, church building
dedication, open house, and baptism for six people. I talked/worked with so
many people and could really feel the joy and excitement of the members. They
have been waiting more than twenty years for this beautiful chapel and after
having church meetings in two different houses, the members here have a church
building. The mission president and Sister Scisci were here Saturday and it was
wonderful talking with them. They were in shock with my Portuguese and
expressed lots of love and concern for us four sisters here in Capanema. After
the dedication, we had a baptism service for six people. My first family was
baptized and the spirit was incredible. When Idelcina exited the water she
hugged me until I was soaking wet. We were all crying as she repeatedly said
"I am baptized, I can’t believe it, I really am baptized!" we then
watched her spouse Silva be baptized by his son. It is through tender moments
like this that my testimony is strengthened. While we waited for the newly
baptized members to change into dry clothes, us four sisters and two elders
sand a special musical number. The spirit was incredible. Sister Scisci was in
tears and many of our present investigators had tears streaming. My testimony
was strengthened. I know that the gospel of Christ has been restored and that
through Christ, we can return to live with our Father in Heaven. Baptism is the
first step/ first door we need to open in order to achieve our goal of living
with our families for all eternity. I love this gospel and know it is true. I
love you all so much and am so grateful for my eternal family!
Love Always,
Sister Sender
November 4, 2013
Dear Family and Friends,
How is everyone doing? I can’t believe it is already
November! it is funny because I keep thinking "oh winter is coming"..
but it is only getting hotter! So strange for me! This week was great! we had
another baptism and it was so special. We have been baptizing every week and
each baptism is so special. Last week we baptized two young boys and this week
was Gustavo (15 years old) and next week we are baptizing a family!! This work
is moving forward and we are working very hard to bring the wonderful happiness
of the gospel to the people of Capanema.
I wanted to share two experiences this week.
1) funny/ horrible experience
Tuesday after a long day we returned to our house only to
find we were without power. We have had problems with our electricity bills and
the landlord didn’t resolve the problem. Just imagine entering a house that is
about 85 degrees without a slight breeze. Our house is next to a canal that
smells terrible (and tons of mosquitos) so we cannot open the windows. We
usually sleep with a fan blowing but without electricity we had the honor of
sleeping in the heat. I took a shower in the dark (terrified that a frog or
spider was in the bathroom with me). We, four sisters, slept in the same room
with the window and door closed. The sister from Chile slept under my mosquito
net with me haha... just imagine. However, let’s make this a learning
opportunity... Pay your electric bill! Ok ok.... This experience can be
compared to our light or testimony. When we do not pay the bill or nourish our
testimony, the light burns out. Then you have to work, call, and pay the bill
to have the lights turned back on. Just like our testimony. We have to study,
pray, and ask for forgiveness and then pay the bill. ACT! I testify that it is
never too late to pay the bill and recharge your light!
2) In my family we always talk about "pay days! Moments
in life when all our hard work pays off. I had a wonderful "pay day"
moment this week. We have been doing divisions (switching companions for 3
days). A new sister from Kentucky (3 weeks in Brazil) was here in Capanema and
my Companion was in another city. On Saturday, she taught with me. I prayed so
hard that everyone would understand my Portuguese and everything would flow
smoothly. We taught and prepared young Gustavo for his baptism. He understood
everything and was so excited for his baptism. This moments was a huge
"pay day" for me. After almost 5 months studying and workig so hard,
and feeling like I would never speak fluent without an accent... I achieved my
goal. Blessings always come after or trials. I love this scripture in the Book
of Mormon. Alma 26:27 "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were
about to turn back, behold the Lord comforted us... Bear with patience thine
afflictions and I will give unto you success" and also D&C 58:4
"For after much tribulation come the blessings"
Be patient in moments of trial and difficulty. The Lord
will give you success. I know this to be true. I have witnessed it here in my
mission. My mission has been the most difficult yet rewarding time of my
life.
I love you all so much!
Love always,
Sister Sender
October 28, 2013
What a week! Sorry I didn’t write much last week, we didn’t
have much time to email. This week was so fast that it is hard to remember what
even happened! This week was filled with love and change. One of my favorite
things about the mission is helping people make changes in their lives. We
teach so many people and honestly the majority of them are lazy and do not want
to change, but when we finally help someone make changes for the better, the
joy is priceless. For example, Irmã
Idelcina and Irmão Silva. They are finally getting married after seven years of
working with missionaries. All of their children are members of the church and
one already served a mission! We have been working with their family a ton and
now they are getting married, two of their children are as well and then on
November 9th they are getting baptized :) it is so exciting because the new
church building will be dedicated right before the baptism, so the mission
president and basically the whole stake will be present for this baptism. I
love this family so much and am so excited for them. I am so excited for them
to begin this wonderful journey in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are already
making plans for them to go to the temple in one year to be sealed for time and
all eternity. It is moments like this that drive me to serve even harder here
in the mission. I am blessed to watch people change and accept our savior Jesus
Christ and am so honored to be serving the people here in Capanema another
transfer with Sister De Lima.
I have learned a lot in the first chapter of my
mission. I have truly learned how to love people and how to serve. Many times
is life we start to become focused on ourselves and our own
struggles/weaknesses. It is during these times that we need to forget ourselves
and put others first. We are blessed with so many luxuries in this life and
need to remember to serve and more importantly, to love. I have felt my heart
expand here in Brazil and cannot help but feel an overwhelming love for those I
meet every day. The people here are now a part of me. They are part of my
family and I am so grateful for the power of love. Especially Christ-like
love.
I hope you all have a wonderful week and feel of my love
and prayers for each of you. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!!!
Love Always,
Sister Sender
Cultural Things:
- When a person passes away they have an open casket
service... people touch and kiss the body, or hold the hand of the dead
person.
- they drink soda (can) and juice with two straws because
it is faster
- children run around in their underwear/or nothing and
it is completely normal (0-about 12 years of age)
-it is normal to drink hot chocolate with crackers at
night before bed (80+ degrees)
- They eat pizza with ketchup, fork and knife
- salad is a mix of cabbage and lettuce thinly slices
with cucumbers and tomato slices. They dont use dressing. They use salt and
olive oil or vinegar
- food is packed with
salt....so much salt.
October 21, 2013
Family and Friends,
How is everyone doing? Thank you all so much for the
letters and emails. They are wonderful!! This week was a week I will never
forget. I saw a lot of pain, sorrow, and Joy. I learned a lot about listening
to every prompting of the Spirit and how the Lord really does work through his
servants.
We have been teaching a woman (50 yrs old) for a while,
but she randomly disappeared. She owns a restaurant, but it has been closed for
a week and her house looks abandoned. On Saturday we were walking past the restaurant,
and I felt prompted to enter and talk to Nini. She was alone and we started
talking through the window. She became extremely emotional. I dropped my bag,
entered the kitchen and just held her. We eventually sat down and talked for a while.
She is going through a ton of family problems and moved houses. After a little
while I felt prompted to help her with the dishes. I thought no this is a restaurant.
I can’t do that. I felted prompted again. I asked if I could helkp and she said
"oh no no it will be easy". I stood up and said I will help you I
will only take 5 mins. We started washing and literally the entire kitchen and restaurant
was clean in 5-10 mins. As we were ready to leave the light in her eyes was brilliant.
She was filled with light and love. Share
the light of Christ! Share with those around you! I have washed a lot of dishes
here in Brazil and have also gained a lot of dear friends because of it. Look
for opportunities to serve this week and you will feel a difference in your
relationships with others.
It is short this week!!
I love you all so much!! Have a wonderful week!!!
Love Always,
Sister Sender
October 14, 2013
Dear Family and Friends,
What a busy week! I learned a lot this week and really
felt like a servant of the Lord. I taught a lot of heart felt lessons and a
lots of special experiences occurred because of it. I will share a little bit,
but many of the moments are too sacred to share.
One experience was with 15 year old Khalil. We have
committed him many times to read the Book of Mormon and he has not followed
through with his commitments. One day this week, Sister De Lima and I had a
lesson fall through and she asked me what I wanted to do. I said "let’s
visit Khalil". We haven’t been able to find his house because we always
teach him at his grandmas. We searched for his house and I told Sister De Lima
to enter this one street with me. His house was the first one :) We talked with
Khalil for a while and he almost said that he would rather not continue working
with us, but I started to talk... I don’t remember what I said, but I spoke in
fluent Portuguese with him. I remember feeling an overwhelming feeling of love
for him and told him that I pray for him specifically by name every day. I pray
for his success and ability to receive a response to his prayers. He became
emotional and had goose bumps very visible. I asked him what he was feeling. He
said that he felt bad he had not read the Book of Mormon and that he had the
evidence of truth in his hands for over two months. I then asked him, "do
you think what we are telling you is true?" and he said, after today, yes.
I have never in my life had someone tell me that they pray for me and love
me. He felt an overwhelming feeling of love and afterwards he said that he
would read and then pray to know the truth. (and he did :) I know that the
words I spoke to Khalil were not my words. When Sister De Lima and I reflected
together, she told me that I spoke 100% fluent Portuguese with Khalil. She
understood every word and so did Khalil. The spirit in our lesson was different
and very strong. I know this is because we taught by the spirit and followed the
feelings in our hearts. The lord will
always give you the words to speak when you are on his errand.
We also had a baptism of Renato this week. He lives in
another city, so we had to travel 1.5 hrs to teach him. He is amazing! He
sacrificed everything to be baptized. His family disowned him and he lives
alone now. He was baptized in the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday. He invited so
many peple and many members traveled to support him. After he was baptized he
came up to me and said "you saved my life. thank you". This is why I am serving a mission.
Renato is now preparing to serve a mission as well. We are also creating a
group of members in his city and eventually a branch and then a ward. :)
I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints is true. My mission has changed my life. My capacity to love has
expanded and I know that the Lord sent me to Brazil to bring others unto
Christ. I really am serving in the Mission of Miracles
Love always,
Sister Sender
Cultural things:
They bury their dead in
marble coffins above ground :)
Monday, October 7, 2013
October 7, 2013
Dear Family and Friends,
I have learned and grown
so much this week and have so much to write about! I have learned a lot about
the importance of the spirit in our lives. I teach people every day about Jesus
Christ and the restoration of the gospel, but the spirit is crucial. i cannot
touch the hearts of the people unless I teach by the spirit. During General
Conference yesterday, Elder David M McConkie said something that I loved, After
we prepare a lesson or something to teach "we have to be able to let go
and follow the spirit". This can be scary and sometimes I would prefer to
just teach a lesson, but teaching by the spirit is powerful. Only the Lord
knows what we truly need.
I also had the
opportunity this week to be "tested". My zone leader and another
district leader traveled to Capanema and I had to teach them a gospel lesson.
After I finished they would critique me (president is doing this with lots of
misssionaries in order to find missionaries ready to train). I taught them and
they gave me pointers, but the best part was when they said that my Portuguese
is incredible for the time I have been here. They said that they understood
everything I said and felt the spirit strongly. Miracle!! They finished by
saying "you are ready to train and will soon. So start preparing".
The Lord is hastening his work! I still have one week left in my own training and
am preparing to train another new missionary soon. I know that we can do all
things through the Lord. He is a perfect God that works through imperfect
people.
A fun moment this week
was after the 1st session of conference. Renato (member) told me to grab my
camera. We walked behind the sacrament table only to see a huge iguana. it was
a meter long and cool/creepy. It started running around the room and everyone
was standing on their chairs. When they caught the iguana they picked him up by
the tail and ok DRUM ROLL.... I held the iguana!! Yes me. I about died haha. I
love the random moments of excitement here. It is in these moments of joy that
I know the Lord is laughing along-side us. Maybe He was laughing when He
created the world. "hmmm... this spider is for Sister Sender, oh and
this yummy cock croach too haha!" I am so grateful for these moments and
for the hand of the Lord in our lives. I loved the words of Elder Holland on
Saturday "Never lose faith in the love of the Lord. You cannot comprehend
how much the Lord loves you". I know this to be true. The Lord loves each
of us with a perfect love. He allows us to break down so we can build- up even
stronger. I have felt this in my mission. I love you all so much! Keep the
faith, persevere, and remember to laugh.
Laughter is one of the
strongest medications.
Love Always,
Sister Sender
September 30, 2013
Dear Family and Friends!
Another great week in Capanema!
it is interesting how every week of my mission thus far has been centered on a
specific topic. This week was prayer. In the mission I pray more than ten times
a day ok more like twenty. We pray with the people we teach and the spirit is
so powerful. I was touched many times this week by very powerful prayers. Our
investigators pray for us during our lessons. They ask that we will be able to
find others to share our message with. They pray for our safety and success.
When they express thanks for our presence in their home I can’t help but feel
an overwhelming joy for them as well as in my own life. When I thought about
prayer this week, I felt like I should pray even more! But then I thought, how
can I further strengthen my relationship with my father in heaven? Answer:
sincere prayer. I began to study this exact question. How can I have more
effective personal prayer? I narrowed it down to 3 things:
1) Pray specifically for
guidance and pray for other specifically
2) pray to be shown what
to say/do and know that the Lord knows what you need better than you do
3) Believe your prayers
will be answered.
A prayer is a
conversation with our father in Heaven. A two way conversation. Listen for
responses. They will come.
Another great experience
this week was the baptism of Mykellem. She is incredible! I love teaching her
and her spirit is so strong. She is nine years old and recently moved in with a
family in the church. She came from a broken home and I felt so honored to help
her feel love and purpose in her life. It was wonderful!
Another Miracle this
week was with an investigator Idelcina and Silva. She has waited almost 8 years
to be baptized in the church because she is not married. We have been working
with them. After seven years of missionaries THEY ARE GETTING MARRIED!! They
signed papers this week and they baptism is marked for November 9th :) I am so
excited!
I think about my journey
thus far. One year ago President Monson announced the change in age for
missionaries. I never thought i would serve a mission... I honestly never had a
huge desire to serve a mission, but here I am. I love my mission! This time in
my life has been incredible and will only continue to become more exciting. One
year ago... if only I knew I would be sitting at a computer in Brazil serving a
mission. The Lord really does have a plan for each of us. He sees the big
picture. We just have to rely on Him and his timing.
I love you all! Have a
wonderful week and general conference!!
Love always,
Sister Sender
September 23, 2013
Dear Family and Friends,
another wonderful week
here in beautiful Brazil! The tan lines are starting to become quite amusing.
;) I was thinking about this last night... When I arrived in Brazil my skin was
extremely white and everyone would stop and stare. I was fresh and new to the
mission and country. As I have worked, learned, studied, and grown I have felt
my heart change and my relationship with my Savior grow. My skin is a great
reminder of this. I didn’t become tan overnight. The process was gradual and is
still an ongoing process. It is the same with my progress as a missionary. I
grow and change a little more every day. This applies to every aspect in life.
We start something new and with time and experience we become better and learn
more about our personal capabilities.
This week we had
interviews with the mission president and his wife. President and Sister Scisci
are wonderful! Sister Scisci shared a story that changed my perspective a
lot...
She talked about a
runner. His mom always attended his races, but never stood at the start or
finish to cheer him on. Many people asked her why she didn’t cheer on her son.
She responded, "many people stand at the beginning to cheer him on and it
is very crowded. Many people also stand at the finish to congratulate him. I
like to stand on a corner in the middle of the race... because in the moment
when he is feeling tired, and is ready to quit, I am able to cheer him on and
help him push through." It is the same in the mission. My family and
friends cheered me on when I left to serve, and will embrace me when I return,
but in those difficult times in the middle, I have my Savior to cheer me on.
Weekly emails and letters help, but during a long hard day, I know my Savior is
walking beside me.
I am so grateful for the
words of encouragement I receive every week. I love my family so much and my
love for them grows every day. Distance makes the heart grow fonder... this is
so true. I love my mission and the opportunity I have to give a little bit of
my time to God. I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Love Always,
Sister Sender
ps:
Cultural things:
1) eggs are stored at
room temp (which is 85+)
2) Everyone cleans with
powdered laundry soap and a broom. "mop" the floor and then squeggy
the floor
3) We eat lots of fish,
chicken, and "carne" (red meat). We eat the scales and all.... and
shrimp tails :) yummy... (actually I really like it but have to be careful with
food here I get sick a lot)
Love ya!
Time flying by....
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9/16/13
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Sent:
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Mon 9/16/13 10:10 AM
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Hello Family and
friends!
Another week down and
the time is flying by! This week was a week full of learning experiences. In my
mission I have learned that obedience brings miracles. I have strived to follow
every rule and do everything in my power to be a good example and missionary. I
know that because of this, miracles are coming.
We had two baptisms this
week. A 18 year old named Vinicius who is incredible and a 17 year old young
woman that the other sisters taught. The spirit in the meeting was incredible.
In moments like this make struggles in my mission worth every minute. Our
purpose as missionaries is to invite others to come unto Christ. As I have been
teaching people about our Savior Jesus Christ, I have felt very close to my
Savior. Life is hard, and my mission has been difficult, but I know that I am
not alone. The Savior knows our hearts and he knows our desires, and when we
are patient blessings and help will come. I read this quote this morning and
love love love it! "Life is full of difficulties, some minor and others of
a more serious nature. There seems to be an unending supply of challenges for
one and all. Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to
such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is
required." -President Thomas S. Monson
This is very true. I
know that through patience we grow immensely and that the Lord works through
patience. I love this work and love Brazil. I am grateful for the opportunity I
have to serve my Father in Heaven. i am sacrificing time with my family so that
others can live with theirs for eternity.
Have a wonderful week!
Love Always,
Sister Sender
PS: cultural things
1) Wedding rings are a
simple gold bands placed on the right hand and engagement rings are silver and
placed on the right hand
2) milk here is powder
because liquid is very expensive
3) we store sugar and all types of food in the
fridge because ants get into everything
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