Hello Family!!!!!!!!!!!
We woke up to a flood in our apartment this week. I dont know exactly what happened, but I think the lady across the hall was cleaning her floor and the water went out her door and into ours. So when I stepped into the living room, there was a small lake. Fortunately, my stuff was on the couch. But Sis O was not so lucky. I was a fun game of moving the water from the living room down the hall into the bathroom and into the shower, kinda like a weird version of curling. But hey, the floor is clean now! That's Brasil for you =]
We had Zone Conference this week. It was good, but really different. Pres kinda burned everyone, saying we all need to be better. He also indescreetly talked about two Elders that got sent home; one for doing something very bad, and the other because he knew about it and let him. Pres told it in the form of a story, where there were two warrior who fought together and became as brothers. Then the enemy came and woulded one and the other just let him die. It really struck me when he used those words "he let him die". He talked about how we have to take care of our companions and our mission.
On a slightly more uplifting note, I wore 4 inch heels to conference!!! (and that pun was NOT intentional haha) I borrowed a dress from Sis O and Bought some really cute shoes. It was nice to look pretty for once. seriously, sometimes I just feel so ugly and sweaty here on the mish. We were also the only sisters on our day, so we had to make an effort ;)
Well, we've been praying for some miracles this week, and we've seen a few, in the form of a couple investigators that are just so ready to hear the gospel. One is the son of an inactive member who really wants to be baptised, and the other is a LEGALLY married family, and she has 3 kids and is lookig for a new church! Wooooooo! So we'll see how that goes, but we're pretty excited.We had a fun adventure on Sunday where this crazy lady ust walked in to Gosel Principles and started showing off a picture of some 80's rock star and his wife and saying some false doctrine or another and not letting sis O teach. The stake president just happened to be in the class, so he escorted her out, When she left, we all just started laughing, hahahaha. It was pretty awesome. I think missionaries are magnents for crazy people.
I just wanted to once again thank everyone for their love and support.
Riley--You're amazing. I know the Lord loves you so much for the serive you've given. I think the things you've done are worth 10 of my mission.
Aunt Debbie (Olsen)--Thank you for the package!!!! And especially the TP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I forgot how big and soft American toilet paper is! I opened it at the conference and everyone was like "Whoa, was it always that big and soft?" Everything in America is bigger and better, haha.
Espero que vocês sejam felizes e sempre se lemrem que Jesus os ama. Realmente, eu sei que Ele vive, e que esta é a igreja Dele. Esta obra é tão maravilhosa e eu sou grata por ter a oportunidade de servir e ajudar outras pessoas a conhecer a luz do evangelho. Não existe uma felicidade maior.
I LOVE YOU ALLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~Sis Wilkinson
Monday, January 25, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
18 Janeiro 2010: Mais Uma Semana
Hey Familia!
I have forgotten what cold feels like, since 70 degrees is getting a little chilly for me, haha. Its usually about 90 degrees here during the day... pretty dang hot for how humid it is!
The rain is making a mess of things here, because our investigator cant make it down to church when it rains because the roads get sooo muddy. And when has it rained? The last two saturdays. SO ANNOYING. But we're still teaching here and shes determined to be baptised, and her daughter and son and cousin and some of her friends are way interested too, so yay!
This week wasnt too interesting, unfortunately. Not much to report. No fotos to show. No baptisms yet. Our area is sooo big and yeah, its a it difficult, but we're working hard. my portuguese is suffering a bit from having an american, but oh well.
I was also pretty sick this week--Return of the BU... If you dont remember what that is, it means everything I ate came out quite quickly after.... Hint hint. Basically I didnt eat practically anything until about Friday. But now i'm better and eating everything in site, as is normal.
And thats about it....
I love you all and pray for you always!
~Sis Wilk
Oh, and today is ELEVEN MONTHS!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH
I have forgotten what cold feels like, since 70 degrees is getting a little chilly for me, haha. Its usually about 90 degrees here during the day... pretty dang hot for how humid it is!
The rain is making a mess of things here, because our investigator cant make it down to church when it rains because the roads get sooo muddy. And when has it rained? The last two saturdays. SO ANNOYING. But we're still teaching here and shes determined to be baptised, and her daughter and son and cousin and some of her friends are way interested too, so yay!
This week wasnt too interesting, unfortunately. Not much to report. No fotos to show. No baptisms yet. Our area is sooo big and yeah, its a it difficult, but we're working hard. my portuguese is suffering a bit from having an american, but oh well.
I was also pretty sick this week--Return of the BU... If you dont remember what that is, it means everything I ate came out quite quickly after.... Hint hint. Basically I didnt eat practically anything until about Friday. But now i'm better and eating everything in site, as is normal.
And thats about it....
I love you all and pray for you always!
~Sis Wilk
Oh, and today is ELEVEN MONTHS!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH
11 Janeiro 2010: MOUSE
Oi Familia
Well, I hope you’re all sitting down and have gone to the bathroom, because I have a story that Just may make you pee your pants (I certainly was laughing hard enough to)!
It all began one peaceful evening this week, as Sis Ortolani and I rested after our long day. We were in our room, chatting about life, when suddenly I saw a little furry face poke its nose around the corner. I gasped “Sister! There’s a mouse!” She sat up quickly and exclaimed “What?! Where!”. (She had seen a lizard in the hallway earlier and screamed, then said “Oh, it´s just a lizard, thank goodness it isn’t a mouse!” Ohhhh the irony). We cautiously tiptoed into the room with our suitcases, knowing it was lurking in there…somewhere… The lid to Sis O’s suitcase was open, and, thinking that maybe the mouse was behind the suitcase, she quickly closed it.
What happened next nobody was expecting. The mouse had been hiding IN the top of her suitcase. He FLEW through the air and landed… on my FOOT. It took about a half a second for us to realize what had happened—Then the screaming commenced. I screamed, Sis O screamed, and I think even the mouse screamed as we all ran around in a panic. Sis O and I left the room and slammed the door. Panting from the excitement, we made battle plans. Armed with our formidable weaponry (a broom and a bowl), we once again ventured into enemy territory. We didn’t see the little rascal anywhere in sight, and, concluding that he must be lurking in one of the suitcases, we began to search. We discovered the reason for the invasion: a packet of Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate (Switzerland starting a war?!) with one corner nibbled away. Our mouse has a sweet tooth.
About this time, our District Leader, Elder Snarr called, and we gave him the update on our little battle. Suddenly, the mouse appeared out of NOWHERE inside Sis O’s suitcase. Screaming ensued, as Elder Snarr helplessly listened on. The mouse ran into the bathroom and hid there behind the garbage can. This is about when I got my camera and started to film (I wish I could send this video!) Sis O and I were trying to scare him out. He ran for the shower, then, in a sudden show of admirable bravery, he made a dash for the door. I was yelling “THROW THE BOWL ON HIM! THROW THE BOWL ON HIM!” so that we could catch him and gently remove him OUT of the apartment
What ended up happening was that Sis O screamed as he raced closer and CHUCKED the bowl at the furry fiend, like some horrible life or death game of horseshoes. It hit him in the face and once again he jumped through the air (the poor thing was probably more scared than we were). He made a breakaway around us and ran into our BEDROOM. Sis Ortolani, in extreme anguish, cried, “WHY didn’t we close the DOOR!?!?!”. This is when I about peed my pants from laughter. E. Snarr was DYING of laughter on the other end of the line. We searched for an hour, but he had disappeared. We went to sleep, knowing he was still there… somewhere… lurking in some dark corner.
It’s been a few days though, and we haven’t seen him, so maybe he got smart and left the apartment of the annoying screaming girls.
So that was our big adventure. It was very VERY funny, and I hope you all enjoyed this little account.
In other news! We went to visit Nininha (the sister of the lady who’s a member—our miracle!) in Vicencia, aka the middle of NOWHERE, Pernambuco, Brasil. It was about an hour on the bus. But the thing is, this town is virtually UNTOUCHED by missionaries, and Nininha is ALREADY inviting her friends to hear our message!!!!!!! We decided we’re going to open a branch there. Like, seriously. If we baptize 10 or so people there, they can organize a branch. Wouldn’t that be cool? I was talking to my buddy Elder Goodwin, who’s the Secretary, because I was asking him if we could use Pres Emerick’s car to drive to this town instead of spending a lot of money (half serious…). He said if we opened a branch, Pres would probably BUY us a car, hahaha. How’s a Mercedes sound?
The members here are great—we’ve basically just been working with references. Everyone is really excited now about the work. It’s wonderful =]
Oh, gossip update. Sis Abrantes (My beloved last companion) once again locked her new companion in the apartment and left, but this time it was for the ENTIRE night and she went to meet her boyfriend, who was also a missionary. They both got sent home last week and will be getting married in about a month. Isn’t that crazy?
Alrght, i will send fotos a little bit later, because i need to charge my camera. But i have some fun ones!
I love you all!!!!!!! I pray for each of you every day.
~Sis Wilkinson
Well, I hope you’re all sitting down and have gone to the bathroom, because I have a story that Just may make you pee your pants (I certainly was laughing hard enough to)!
It all began one peaceful evening this week, as Sis Ortolani and I rested after our long day. We were in our room, chatting about life, when suddenly I saw a little furry face poke its nose around the corner. I gasped “Sister! There’s a mouse!” She sat up quickly and exclaimed “What?! Where!”. (She had seen a lizard in the hallway earlier and screamed, then said “Oh, it´s just a lizard, thank goodness it isn’t a mouse!” Ohhhh the irony). We cautiously tiptoed into the room with our suitcases, knowing it was lurking in there…somewhere… The lid to Sis O’s suitcase was open, and, thinking that maybe the mouse was behind the suitcase, she quickly closed it.
What happened next nobody was expecting. The mouse had been hiding IN the top of her suitcase. He FLEW through the air and landed… on my FOOT. It took about a half a second for us to realize what had happened—Then the screaming commenced. I screamed, Sis O screamed, and I think even the mouse screamed as we all ran around in a panic. Sis O and I left the room and slammed the door. Panting from the excitement, we made battle plans. Armed with our formidable weaponry (a broom and a bowl), we once again ventured into enemy territory. We didn’t see the little rascal anywhere in sight, and, concluding that he must be lurking in one of the suitcases, we began to search. We discovered the reason for the invasion: a packet of Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate (Switzerland starting a war?!) with one corner nibbled away. Our mouse has a sweet tooth.
About this time, our District Leader, Elder Snarr called, and we gave him the update on our little battle. Suddenly, the mouse appeared out of NOWHERE inside Sis O’s suitcase. Screaming ensued, as Elder Snarr helplessly listened on. The mouse ran into the bathroom and hid there behind the garbage can. This is about when I got my camera and started to film (I wish I could send this video!) Sis O and I were trying to scare him out. He ran for the shower, then, in a sudden show of admirable bravery, he made a dash for the door. I was yelling “THROW THE BOWL ON HIM! THROW THE BOWL ON HIM!” so that we could catch him and gently remove him OUT of the apartment
What ended up happening was that Sis O screamed as he raced closer and CHUCKED the bowl at the furry fiend, like some horrible life or death game of horseshoes. It hit him in the face and once again he jumped through the air (the poor thing was probably more scared than we were). He made a breakaway around us and ran into our BEDROOM. Sis Ortolani, in extreme anguish, cried, “WHY didn’t we close the DOOR!?!?!”. This is when I about peed my pants from laughter. E. Snarr was DYING of laughter on the other end of the line. We searched for an hour, but he had disappeared. We went to sleep, knowing he was still there… somewhere… lurking in some dark corner.
It’s been a few days though, and we haven’t seen him, so maybe he got smart and left the apartment of the annoying screaming girls.
So that was our big adventure. It was very VERY funny, and I hope you all enjoyed this little account.
In other news! We went to visit Nininha (the sister of the lady who’s a member—our miracle!) in Vicencia, aka the middle of NOWHERE, Pernambuco, Brasil. It was about an hour on the bus. But the thing is, this town is virtually UNTOUCHED by missionaries, and Nininha is ALREADY inviting her friends to hear our message!!!!!!! We decided we’re going to open a branch there. Like, seriously. If we baptize 10 or so people there, they can organize a branch. Wouldn’t that be cool? I was talking to my buddy Elder Goodwin, who’s the Secretary, because I was asking him if we could use Pres Emerick’s car to drive to this town instead of spending a lot of money (half serious…). He said if we opened a branch, Pres would probably BUY us a car, hahaha. How’s a Mercedes sound?
The members here are great—we’ve basically just been working with references. Everyone is really excited now about the work. It’s wonderful =]
Oh, gossip update. Sis Abrantes (My beloved last companion) once again locked her new companion in the apartment and left, but this time it was for the ENTIRE night and she went to meet her boyfriend, who was also a missionary. They both got sent home last week and will be getting married in about a month. Isn’t that crazy?
Alrght, i will send fotos a little bit later, because i need to charge my camera. But i have some fun ones!
I love you all!!!!!!! I pray for each of you every day.
~Sis Wilkinson
04 Janeiro 2010
What?!?!?!?! 2010?????????
Wow, 2009 went by fast. I can tell i'm close to a year on the mission because basically all communication in the form of letters has ceased... oh well, we all knew that point would come, ne? For those that have sent packages... i think theyre here or coming. Brasil is funny like that, always keeps you guessing.
Our apartment is MUCH cleaner and organized and smells quite fresh now too. huzzah for pine sol!
Our new years was sooo lame. We even wrote a song about it. Basically, because we're new in the area, and we dont know anyone, no one invited us to their house. so we stayed home. and its not like we can watch a DVD or anything, so we played the guitar and tried to make brownies and ice cream, but the brownies burned and the ice cream didnt freeze, haha. We tried calling a couple of the elders just to chat, but they didnt really want to. Bah. So it was lame. And the work basically didnt happen the next few days because no one was home or they were drinking and we knocked on doors for awhile but to no avail. So we cleaned the apartment some more, haha. It was probably the most unproductive few days of my mission--but not because we werent trying! Now i know how missionaries in other missions feel.... im so glad im in Brasil!
But after Sunday (yesterday), its all good. We had a meeting with the ward mission leader and a bunch of people and we got a bunch of references and set up some family home evenings and activities---its gonna be soooo great.
Thats about it... this week was not very exciting.Oh! We did kinda have a miracle yesterday at church. We had an investigator, haha. But just not any investigator! She was the sister of a lady in Madalena. This lady in Madalena was taught/baptised by sis ortolani, and then we always visited her, and she always talked about her sister who lived way out in the middle of nowhere. What are the odds that the first sunday in carpina is also the first and only sunday this lady got her sister and took her to church, and they searched for the closest one and it was ours! I dont think thats a coincidence. The hand of the lord is truly guiding this work. I can see sooo much thast me and sis ortolani are meant to be here. my old district leader, e. shulze, when i got transfered, said "I think you're going somewhere very special" and its true. this is one area where i really feel like I need to be here.
Anyway, I hope you're all having a great new year, and that you're all happy! If you're not, stop being a downer and SMILE!!!!! Life really is great =]
~Sis Wilkinson
PS i would put pictures, but this computer is lame and the USB thing is broken............ im excited to get home and never ave to use a stupid lan house again.
Wow, 2009 went by fast. I can tell i'm close to a year on the mission because basically all communication in the form of letters has ceased... oh well, we all knew that point would come, ne? For those that have sent packages... i think theyre here or coming. Brasil is funny like that, always keeps you guessing.
Our apartment is MUCH cleaner and organized and smells quite fresh now too. huzzah for pine sol!
Our new years was sooo lame. We even wrote a song about it. Basically, because we're new in the area, and we dont know anyone, no one invited us to their house. so we stayed home. and its not like we can watch a DVD or anything, so we played the guitar and tried to make brownies and ice cream, but the brownies burned and the ice cream didnt freeze, haha. We tried calling a couple of the elders just to chat, but they didnt really want to. Bah. So it was lame. And the work basically didnt happen the next few days because no one was home or they were drinking and we knocked on doors for awhile but to no avail. So we cleaned the apartment some more, haha. It was probably the most unproductive few days of my mission--but not because we werent trying! Now i know how missionaries in other missions feel.... im so glad im in Brasil!
But after Sunday (yesterday), its all good. We had a meeting with the ward mission leader and a bunch of people and we got a bunch of references and set up some family home evenings and activities---its gonna be soooo great.
Thats about it... this week was not very exciting.Oh! We did kinda have a miracle yesterday at church. We had an investigator, haha. But just not any investigator! She was the sister of a lady in Madalena. This lady in Madalena was taught/baptised by sis ortolani, and then we always visited her, and she always talked about her sister who lived way out in the middle of nowhere. What are the odds that the first sunday in carpina is also the first and only sunday this lady got her sister and took her to church, and they searched for the closest one and it was ours! I dont think thats a coincidence. The hand of the lord is truly guiding this work. I can see sooo much thast me and sis ortolani are meant to be here. my old district leader, e. shulze, when i got transfered, said "I think you're going somewhere very special" and its true. this is one area where i really feel like I need to be here.
Anyway, I hope you're all having a great new year, and that you're all happy! If you're not, stop being a downer and SMILE!!!!! Life really is great =]
~Sis Wilkinson
PS i would put pictures, but this computer is lame and the USB thing is broken............ im excited to get home and never ave to use a stupid lan house again.
Yup, I got transferred. I was happy to leave behind the crazy comp, but soo sad to leave beind Casa Amarela. I really loved the people there in that ward and I made some amazing friends.... =/
BUT! The Lord is good to me, because now i'm co-senior companions with sis Ortolani!!!!! My first American companion. AND we're opening an area--Carpina. The Elders that were here were super slackers and no one in the ward liked them and they left no investigators for us. Our area is waaaay the freak out in the middle of nowhere, but has everything we could need--bank, supermarket, paperstore, etc. But we had a fun 2 1/2 hour bus ride with our four huge suitcases (mine still doesnt have wheels) and a guitar and a bunch of other stuff.... We had the help of the elders. But it was pretty ridiculous. But we got here! We had the help of the ward mission leader, who showed us our house and around the area a little. Our house is disgusting. These elders left everything a mess--dishes in the sink and on the stove, the floor hasnt been swept in forever, and the toilet wasnt even flushed so it smells like pee. SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK. So we're basically going to spend the rest of today and tomorrow cleaning. With a lot of bleach. A LOT of bleach.
But I'm waaaay excited for Sis Ortolani. Shes super fun and we're already way good friends and we're totally going to ROCK this area =]
My Christmas was sooooooo fun. President let us go with the ward to the big ward activity. We went to this farm place and played soccer and volleyball and Uno and had this great feijoada for lunch and just really bonded with the members there. and after I got to call HOME!!!!!! It was sooooooooo good to hear your voices. Like I said, knowing I have your support (all of you are included) means the world to me, It makes hard days easier when i remember im out here not just for me but for you all as well, and that I have your support. it makes me want to be better.
Oh, so biggest news....BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We had the baptism of Herman, our cute little chubby 12 year old who is amazingly prepared. His whole famil wa there along with a ton of people in the ward. It was on the last day of the transfer too--a perfect way to end =]
fotos!
1) baptismo with the family thats friends with herman
2) Me and sis abrantes with herman (i'm gettin skinnier!)
3) Me and Ju (Juliana) my best friend in casa amarela
4) Bruises on my arms from sneaking into the sisters house in recife to scare them (I jumped through the window)
5) once again, the bruise (that i think looks like Nossa senior da aparecida, haha, or in other words, the virgin mary)
6) group at christmas
7) Me, Ju and Edilene being silly on christmas
8) Our amazing zone with t-shirts that say "Goal over achieved!!!" or something like that... hard to translate
LOVE YOU ALLLLLLLLL
~Sis Wilkinson
14 Dezembro 2009: I Shook an Apostle's Hand!
Hey familia!
Wow... This weekend was amazing.First off. We had a conference with Elder Scott! And Julie Beck, president of the Relief Society, and Elder Zwick of the Seventy. They all speak Portuguese, go figure. Sis Beck and Elder Zwick gave amazing talks. Then Elder Scott spoke, and he did a little training. He had us all prepare a 5 minute lesson about using the Book of Mormon to prove that Joseph Smith was a profet. He had a pair of Elders give their lesson, then talked about things they did well and how they could improve. Then me and my comp did it. He talked about things that we did well, then he said, (more or less) "As for things they could improve on, I dont even dare try to say. It was perfect. You Elders can all learn from these Sisters".
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! An APOSTLE said that about ME. I was all smiles =]
I know im bragging, but hey, I think I can a little ;) So that basically made my mission.
The most powerful moment was when he talked to us as an Apostle. He said "Jesus Christ lives and is a ressurrected and glorified Being. He directs His church. I know Him." This last part was the most powerful, "I know Him", because the verb he used in Portuguese, "Conhecer", means to be familiar, to know closely or intimately. "Eu O conheço" He knows our Saviour personally. I have no doubt of that.
Unfortunately, Pres Eyring couldnt meet with us =[ But he did speak in the Stake conference!!! That was amazing (It was broadcasted to all the Nordeste). He spoke very powerfully about helping those around you know the gospel, and about staying firm and focused in the gospel.
Thats about it for this week. We're here in Olinda, which is one of THE most beautiful places in the world. Hands down (Google it). I dont have my cable to send pictures, but I will next week =] It is AMAZING> The sea is totally clear and blue-ish green and theres green palm trees and old dutch architecture. Hardly seems like Christmas is arriving, haha.
As for the companionship, this week has been good. Nothing extreme. I think we're starting to be friends, even though we have our arguments. Just keep praying for us! Its working!!!!!!I love you all soooo much!
~Sis Wilkinson
Wow... This weekend was amazing.First off. We had a conference with Elder Scott! And Julie Beck, president of the Relief Society, and Elder Zwick of the Seventy. They all speak Portuguese, go figure. Sis Beck and Elder Zwick gave amazing talks. Then Elder Scott spoke, and he did a little training. He had us all prepare a 5 minute lesson about using the Book of Mormon to prove that Joseph Smith was a profet. He had a pair of Elders give their lesson, then talked about things they did well and how they could improve. Then me and my comp did it. He talked about things that we did well, then he said, (more or less) "As for things they could improve on, I dont even dare try to say. It was perfect. You Elders can all learn from these Sisters".
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! An APOSTLE said that about ME. I was all smiles =]
I know im bragging, but hey, I think I can a little ;) So that basically made my mission.
The most powerful moment was when he talked to us as an Apostle. He said "Jesus Christ lives and is a ressurrected and glorified Being. He directs His church. I know Him." This last part was the most powerful, "I know Him", because the verb he used in Portuguese, "Conhecer", means to be familiar, to know closely or intimately. "Eu O conheço" He knows our Saviour personally. I have no doubt of that.
Unfortunately, Pres Eyring couldnt meet with us =[ But he did speak in the Stake conference!!! That was amazing (It was broadcasted to all the Nordeste). He spoke very powerfully about helping those around you know the gospel, and about staying firm and focused in the gospel.
Thats about it for this week. We're here in Olinda, which is one of THE most beautiful places in the world. Hands down (Google it). I dont have my cable to send pictures, but I will next week =] It is AMAZING> The sea is totally clear and blue-ish green and theres green palm trees and old dutch architecture. Hardly seems like Christmas is arriving, haha.
As for the companionship, this week has been good. Nothing extreme. I think we're starting to be friends, even though we have our arguments. Just keep praying for us! Its working!!!!!!I love you all soooo much!
~Sis Wilkinson
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
