new area- new excitement Casanhal, Brazil

 

June 30,2014

Dear Family and Friends,

I am keeping it short this week because I want to send pics. This week was wonderful! We tried a ton a new ideas and they were wonderful! We started preaching on the city bus! We actually have a ton of people to teach and visit because of it! My companion is wonderful and we are working like crazy. I love my new area and am so excited to see all of the miracles that await! 

 

I have a firm testimony of this work and the gospel of Christ. If we follow his example we will never fall away. I am so grateful for the things that I am learning and for the love we get to share every day.

 

love you all!! Have a wonderful week!! 

 

Love Always,

Sister Sender 

 

June 23, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

 

It was an incredible week! I stayed in a trio Monday- Wednesday waiting for my companion to arrive. She arrived late Wednesday night :) Sister G. Cardoso (mini missionary that is a member here in Belem). We started working right away. When I spoke with the zone leaders about the division of our area and training my comp, he replied "it is up to you, do what you think is best with everything". That stressed me out a bit, but through prayer and working hard, everything started to fall into place and I was feeling better. I have learned here in the mission field that whenever we start feeling comfortable the Lord throws another challenge our way to help us grow. He did just that with me. On Thursday my zone leader called and said " Sister Sender I have some news for you". My first thought was "oh no who died..." He then said "The Lord has another calling ahead of you... you have been called to be District leader over the sisters in our Zone". I did not see that one coming. I have started praying even more than ever and after a few stressful days, I know and have faith that the Lord will qualify me for this responsibility. We have a huge work to do here in Castanhal and I am excited to serve even more than I ever thought possible. 

 

I have learned that this gospel is the only way to feel perfect love. We have the complete gospel restored here on the earth and we each have the responsibility to share this wonderful message. Here in Castanhal the people are so accepting! My area is huge, but the people are so humble and willing to make sacrifices for the Lord. We are doing street contacts all the time and I am just shocked at how ready these people are to hear our message. My love for them and this gospel grows daily. I can’t wait to share so many incredible stories with you all, but my time is even shorter now than ever. Please just know that I know our savior lives. He loves each of us and will never leave us comfortless. I would not be able to accomplish everything he has placed before me if it were not for my Savior Jesus Christ. He is perfect, but he loves us in our imperfection.

 

I love you each!! Have a wonderful week :)

 

Love always,

Sister Sender 

"daughter" she is training her

June 16, 2014

Dear Family and Friends!!!

ok here we go!!!! It was a crazy beyond busy week and I am now currently sitting in a cyber on the other side of  Belém!! I was transfered today to Castanhal. (it is about 1.5 hours from Capanema my first area, but is in the same zone). I am yet again opening up a new area in the mission! Third time is a charm right?? haha I think Heavenly Father is laughing at me a little :) I will be serving with a "mini-missionary". (Which is member that lives here). I have a ton of work ahead of me. I am excited and nervous. Like all of the elders keep saying "wow only a warrior could do what you are about to do". It will be fun :) 

This past week was so fun! I finished up training Sister L. Oliveira and it was bitter sweet. We taught a ton and shared a lot of love and laughter with the people. We even did a few service projects :) We helped an adorable old lady clean her house that was full of stuff. She is a collector. I washed dishes for 3 hours. We also gave her dog a bath and washed all of her clothes etc. It was quite a project!! We also helped a woman in our ward move a bunch of old rotten wood etc to help with the construction of her new house. It was a blast! 

I also hit the 1 year mark this week!! Wow one year serving the Lord full-time. It feels like yesterday I was at the MTC hugging Nathan goodbye. Crazy how fast the time flies. Thursday was also the first game of the world cup for Brazil. We were not allow to leave our house after 3:30pm because of the parties and drinking etc. (tomorrow will be the same thing again). We used the time at home to study and celebrate me completing one year. The sisters made a cake and I took a little bit of time to reflect on the past year of my life. I have matured and grown so much!! My mission has changed my life forever. I now have a even stronger relationship with my savior and know that he lives and loves us. This work is powerful and I am so grateful that the Lord called me to serve at this time and this place. I love this gospel and I love my Savior. I love seeing the smiles and light enter the faces of the people when they start to feel of His powerful everlasting love. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week!! Wish me luck!! 

love always,

Sister Sender 

ps: I am serving in Castanhal. My area is called Nova Linda III (translation.. new beautiful 3)