May 12 ,2014

Dear family and Friends, 

 

Happy belated Mother's Day! I hope yesterday was a wonderful day for all of you. It was an incredible day for me too :) Being able to Skype with my family was priceless. I felt like I saw them just a few days ago (Christmas) and then after ending the phone call it felt like a dream. It is hard sometimes to understand and feel that we are so far apart and in two completely different countries. Technology is really incredible. As I was talking to my parents, brothers, and sister, I could not help but feel reminded of what pure joy feels like. To hear Nicole talk about life and how excited she was to tell me that she said the prayer in Primary yesterday was so special, and to even hear that she even organized my new closet for me in our new purple bedroom. She is adorable and really knows how to make her big sister emotional. I am so grateful for my family and the support and love that they give me. I am so proud of their progress in the gospel and in life in general. I really am so proud to be a Sender. I am constantly reminded of that each day when I put on my nametag. I am a sister. I am a Sender. And I am a servant and representative of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is an honor to put on my nametag each day and remember what I have been called to do and who I represent. 

 

I have been thinking a lot about my calling to serve and also a little bit about my future calling to one day be a mother. The other day when i was studying 1 Nephi 11 I learned quite a bit about a mothers love and purpose. Chapter 11 is incredible and talks about when Nephi is shown in a vision the Tree of Life. Nephi sees the life of Christ, His baptism in the Jordan River, His ministry, and his atoning sacrifice, but the part that stood out most to me is verses 13-23. (Please patiently read this and try to understand me as I explain my thoughts)

The angels shows Nephi, Mary in Nazareth and describes her as "a virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins" Then in verse 16 the angel asks Nephi, "knowest thou the condescension of God?" Nephi responds in verse 17 saying, "I know that He loveth His children, nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." This showed an interesting idea. Nephi, doesn't know all things, but he knows that God loves each of His children. The angel then testifies to Nephi in verse 18 (returning to the story of Mary), "The virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God" and then in verses 20 &21 Nephi says, "I looked and beheld a virgin again, bearing a child (Christ) in her arms" (20) "and the angel said unto me, behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!" I love the next question the angel asks, " Knowest thou the meaning of the Tree which they father saw?" and Nephi answered "yea, it is the love of God... wherefore, it is the most desirable about all things" (22) and the angel responded "yea, and the most joyous to the soul" (23).Nephi wanted to understand his father's vision and as a result of his faith, a angel of the Lord showed him the same vision, but in order for Nephi to understand to meaning of the Tree of Life, he needed to understand what is the love of God. Nephi finally understood after seeing Mary, the mother of the Son of God and the purest love of all. A mother's Love. 

 

Once Nephi understood pure love, he could understand God's love for each of His children. He also understood that the Tree of Life is a symbol of God's love as our goal to one day partake of the fruit of the Tree of Life. I love the description Nephi and the angel use to describe the love of God. He said it is the most desirable above all things and the most joyous to the soul. We each desire pure love and the love and acceptance of our Father in Heaven. It brings pure joy. However, when I think of a mother's love, the love my mother has for me and that I have for her, I can truly understand what is pure love and pure joy. 

 

I am so grateful for my mom. She loves me for who I am, even with all of my imperfections. Her love brings me pure joy and it is something that is most desirous to me. Mom, Thank you for choosing to be my mom and for just loving me for me. I am who I am today because of you and your example. I look forward  to one day being a mother and sharing even more pure love with my future children. 

 

As I ended the skype call yesterday, my family knelt in prayer. First, Nicole said a heart felt prayer, and then my dad offered a spirit filled prayer asking for so many needed blessings and for my success. In that moment, my family was together again. I wasn’t in Brazil, Nathan wasn’t in Louisiana, my parents, Ben, Zach, and Nicole were not in Ohio. We were together in the most calm peaceful place. As I said goodbye and I love you to each of them by name, I wont ever forget the look on my dad's face, as he said looking into my eyes, "Haley, (Sister Sender) we love you and I am proud of you". I hope that one day our father in heaven can look each one of us in the eye and say the exact same thing. This is our goal and purpose in this life. Return with honor. 

 

I love my family and I love my mom more than words can express. Talking to them yesterday was the best gift I could have received. I hope you all have a wonderful week and feel of my love and prayers. Like I said to my family, " See you in November!"

 

Love always,

Sister Sender 

 

May 5, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow the time doesn't want to slow down!! Another week has flown by. This week was a tough one but wonderful. We are working a ton and trying new things to find people to teach and to help strengthen this area. On Saturday we had an awesome activity at the church. We organized a breakfast, and taught members of the ward how to do street contacts with a pass-along card. We then went all over the city doing contacts. It was wonderful and the ward members loved it. Then at church yesterday there was a small glimpse of change in the ward. They were smiling a little brighter and a little more united. As the members bore testimony, they each shared an experience about the activity and the power of missionary work. As a little 8 yr old boy bore his testimony he talked about a contact he did with an elderly man. He expressed how he knows that the church is true and that that same elderly man was present. The whole ward looked at the Elderly man (Luis) and his eyes were filled with tears. That little boy touched my heart. His testimony was pure and heart felt. He testified of the importance of helping the sisters and our loved ones learn about the gospel. My testimony was strengthened. 

 

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. It is the church of Jesus Christ reestablished here on the earth. We each have so much to offer and share and one of the most special gifts we can share is the gospel of Christ. I honored to be serving a mission at this time in my life, and know that I am doing the Lord's work. 

 

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week! 

 

Love Always,

Sister Sender 

 

Fun Photos

April 28, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

Another wonderful week here in Icoaraci!! Miracles are happening and we are starting to feel a huge difference in the members here. Saturday we had a baptism for Elton (28 years old) and it was wonderful. It was the first baptism this ward has had in over 5 months and it was wonderful. My companion was so excited and I couldn’t help but thank my father in heaven for helping us bring one more soul unto Christ. Elton has an incredible story and i am so honored to be a part of his journey in the Gospel of Christ. As I watched him enter the waters of baptism i was again reminded of the joy that this gospel brings and also of my purpose as a missionary. We are to invite others to come unto Christ by making and keeping covenants with him. I am so grateful for this calling. We have the best job in the world! Invite others to accept Christ and then feel of the power and love the gospel brings. 

 

I learned a lot about repentance and charity this week. I had many moments this week when I felt like I should be doing so much more. Teaching more, inviting more, helping, serving, and loving more  sincerely. I had a pretty good conversation with God and felt that he has and is accepting my work here in the mission field, but I know that he has a even greater potential for me here in Brazil. i am determined to fulfill that purpose. This life is full of difficulties and hardship, but I know and testify that it is through difficulties that we learn and grow. He breaks us down so that we can raise up stronger than we were yesterday.  I am feeling this strengthening process in my life daily and know that he is just guiding and helping me become who I need and want to be. 

 

i love this work and love this gospel. I know that this work is the work of the Lord and that he is guiding his church. It is like Elder Holland said, "why is this work so difficult? Because salvation was never easy". I know that if we do our part and keep the commandments of our Father in Heaven He will bless us more than we can comprehend. 

 

I love each of you! Have a wonderful Week! 

 

Love always,

Sister Sender 

 

cultural: 

- they mix avocado with milk and sugar in the blender and drink it like juice. They think it is weird eating avocado with salt. 

- when we wash dishes. you don’t rinse off the food before washing. just use the same dirty sponge and soap and wash everything and once everything is covered with soap bubbles rinse and dry. (with cold water of course) :) 

- shower curtains and doors don’t exist the bathroom is just a open space and you squeegee the floor after wards. 

- after lunch it is normal to put the food back in the pots and pans with a lid. or back in the oven (turned off). and then at night just turn on the stove and eat again. 

- we hug and kiss everyone... yesterday my face was covered with lipstick at church haha 

 

love you all! 

 

April 21, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Another week já!! crazy!! The time is flying by so fast that I need to catch up. This week was a tough one, but I learned a ton and training has been wonderful. My companion is great and she is always so excited to try new things. Easter was also wonderful. It was wonderful to take a moment and remember the sacrifice our Savior made for each of us and the beautiful resurrection. I look forward to the day that we will all be resurrected and reunited with our Savior. 

 

I was feeling a bit down this week. I have been super sick and just stubborn about it. (I know it is not good to be stubborn). I kept thinking about what my dad always taught me. Get up, take a shower, and start your day. I did just that and somehow managed to work all day every day this week. I know that I was not the one walking the streets of Icoaraci this week. One day Sister Conforme (a sister from Ecuador that lives with me) shared a scripture with me. 1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.". When I read this scripture I was touched and felt strongly that the Lord sees and is aware of my efforts here. He will give me the strength to continue strong. I know that he is guiding this work and that I am just the instrument that He is using. It is like I said every day this week when the Sisters were shocked that I was working, studying and not resting being super sick, "it's because I am a Sender". We don’t have time in this life to take a break or stop giving our all. When times get tough, keep pushing forward and the blessings will come. I know this to be true and have truly experienced it this week as we have been teaching may of the true restored gospel of Christ. 

 

I love this work and wouldn’t trade my time here in Brazil for anything. 

 

Love you all!! Happy belated Easter!!

 

Love always,

Sister Sender 

April 14, 2014

Dear Family and Friends!!

 

Happy Easter!! I hope you all have wonderful family Easter plans :)

                            

This week was a fun, tough and learning filled week. I got super sick this week but kept working along. When I finally woke up burning with a fever, sore throat, cough, runny nose, aching I spent a few hours with a member of the ward who took great care of me. I am almost 100% better which is such a good thing. We don’t have time to get sick on the mission and I am training so I don’t have time to stop working. I love this work :)

 

This week was a week full of learning and I had moments when I got a glimpse of how our Heavenly Father feels when we "slip up". Our investigator Surely went through a ton of huge changes this week and was progressing wonderfully. She has been living the word of wisdom and Law of Chastity and changing her life. It has been remarkable to see the hand of the Lord molding her. I love her so much. Satan has been working so hard on her this week too, and sadly he earned a few points this week. The day of her interview everything feel through and as we sat and talked with I couldn’t help but feel heart-broken, frustrated, sad and just wanted to give up. After doing everything that we could do, we left her house and I took a moment to offer an emotional prayer to my father in heaven. In that exact moment I felt exactly how our heavenly father feels when we sin or step off of the path. We spend our whole life trying to stay strong and hold on to the rod, but then fall time after time. Every time that we fall, our heavenly Father's heart is aching and he just wants us to do what is right. I felt that for Surely this week. I just wanted her to stay strong in the perfect gospel of Christ and accept the blessings that lay ahead of her, but Satan works 24-7. I know that through the atonement of Christ we each have the power to stand up again, repent, and stand strong against the power of the adversary. He doesn’t have any more power over us, but that which we give him. i have grown to love the people here in Icoaraci and just want to help them feel and see the hand of the Lord in each of their lives. I know that he lives and that he resurrected on the third day. I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and his eternal love for each of us. I know that it is never too late to stand up and try again.

 

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and take time to remember our Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Love Always,

Sister Sender

 

Cultural:

-They don’t cover anything before putting it in the refrigerator

- tissues are super expensive so they use towels.

- when you are sick they make you eat 5x more than usual.... so yeah those few hours with the member..... i ate so much.... and had no desire to eat

- clothes are optional.... haha 

 

April 7, 2014

Dear Family and friends!

How are you all doing!? This week was full of surprises! Monday night the zone leader called and told us all about the transfer again. He had already said that i would be staying in Icoaraci with Sister Felix. I was excited. But then Monday night he said that Sister Felix would be transferred to a different area and that i would be training. It was a tough change, sister Felix was pretty emotional saying goodbye. :(  so yep I am now officially a "mom" in the mission and my companion calls me "mãe" it is kind of silly if you ask me haha. Sister L. Oliveira is from São Paulo (4th companion from SP) :) i have officially changed companions four 4 transfers straight... maybe something is wrong with me.... haha


We also had the chance to watch general conference this past weekend. It was wonderful to watch it in Portuguese and understand everything and even translate a little for a new American sister. I loved all of the talks, but i especially loved President Monson's talk about loving one another and President Packer’s talk. I loved when President Packer talked about our father in heaven and how that out of every possible calling he could have chosen; He chose to be a Father. He chose to be our loving Heavenly Father. We truly are so blessed to have someone love us just as much as our father in heaven loves us. I think about how much I love my family and just how special they are to me. Imagine how Heavenly Father feels about us. It is incredible.

I love conference and the time that we get to listen to a prophet of God. I know that we really do having a living prophet that leads and guides the true church of Christ here on the earth. One of my investigators that was with me watching, "Suely" she was amazed by the talks and the overwhelming spirit. She had earlier this week separated from the guy she has been living with and filed divorce with her actual husband. She has been making so many huge life changes, and after conference she was truly comforted and received every response that she needed. She bore her testimony to us sisters and accepted to be baptized this coming Saturday. She is incredible and I am so excited for her. This gospel really does bring others unto Christ and helps us make the necessary changes to one day return and live with our father in Heaven.

I love my Savior and know that he lives! I know that His gospel has been restored and that he is guiding each of us on our journey back home.

Have a wonderful week! I know I will too :)

Love always,

Sister Sender