Hmm.
How was conference in Portuguese? Good question... just kidding. I
understood some things... it was a rough weekend though. Portuguese was
really discouraging this week, I am feeling better about it now though.
My companion is super patient and loving. She always has ways to cheer
me up when people don't understand me. That was encouraging what Tom
said about not understanding foreigners. I usually have more success
talking with the younger generations. One of our investigators is really
sweet and she hardly ever understands what I say, but she always
listens really closely and tries and tells me that she will adjust to my
accent over time. It is really nice. Street contacts are the most
awkward when I say stuff and then the people just stare at me like I am
not speaking Portuguese. Oh well. I realized that God will bless me with
fluency in His time and while I wait I will develop patience. It is a
good challenge to learn a new language. And like my mission president
told me, it will be really sacred to me because of all the suffering I
am going through to learn it. Also, what Tom said about the heat is good
news as well. My comp. already served in a few places and Natal and
João Pessoa are better temperatures, but she served in a city called
Sousa that she said is way way hot because it has less wind than here. I
am adjusting to the heat better though. Or at least I am adjusting to
being sweaty all the time.
SO BEST NEWS EVER!! We had a baptism yesterday!
Priscilia and her two sons Gabriel and Isaque. They are so great. I
love them all. It was so beautiful to see them get baptized and the
desire they have to change their lives. Gabriel & Isaque are the
cutest future missionaries ever! It was super difficult to get the
baptismal interviews scheduled. The stake president was MIA and finally
we got ahold of one of his counselors, but he wasn't authorized at first
and it was really nerve wracking because we had 3 people who wanted to
be baptized and who were ready and excited and missionaries and church
leaders were on the phone with whoever they could to get things figured
out. We had already delayed the baptism a few hours and we thought
things were worked out, but then another problem came up so while
everyone was on the phone my comp. and I just went and started praying
and seriously just like those classic stories you hear, we finished our
prayer and the elders came and told us that everything was good to go
about 5 seconds later!! It was wonderful. I learned that people (church
leaders) are imperfect, but people's eternal salvation (Priscilia,
Gabriel, and Isaque) is important to God so he always prepares a way. It
was great. Those kinds of moments make being a missionary great. I
attached pictures of all of us!
Crazy that announcement about missionaries at 18 and 19! The first thing
that popped into my head is that Chad can go in June!!! I want him to!
How fun for all of us to be missionaries at the same time. He is going
to be a great missionary and I don't see why he would want to wait. My
vote is for June. Not that it is my decision, but yeah.
We had a zone meeting last week and it was great, our zone leaders are
really great. The better I get at Portuguese the more I realize how
awesome they are because I can actually understand what they are saying.
Really though, super righteous and hard workers. They told me that I
have a lot of letters at the mission home. I didn't exactly understand
why they didn't bring the letters this week, but we have interviews with
Pres. Hall this Thursday
so we will get letters then. They were all teasing me about how many
letters I have, but probably just because they are jealous. I am so
grateful to have so many people supporting me and loving me!! Pretty
sure I would be crying everyday if it weren't for all the prayers and
love I am getting from home. Instead I am reading scriptures and being
strengthened and understanding my purpose as a missionary better
everyday.
This week I ate a lot of pizza. I like the food here. I have rice and
beans a lot, but I like it. Also, I had a pineapple this week that was
way good. I am going to buy another today.
Something I ate that I didn't love was a popsicle that tasted like
butter. It was cream flavored, but I am pretty sure it was made of
butter. So gross. I am going to stick to the regular ice cream shop we
go to. Even though the owner raised his prices 25 centavos last week. It
costs 2 reals for an ice cream cone now. It is definitely worth it
though. I love ice cream so much. My goal is to try all of the 30
flavors before I leave. So far my favorite is the chocolate marshmallow
or if I am in the mood for a fruity one I like the açai banana one.
Oh and about what you said about people not being good husbands and
stuff, I am amazed here at how many women are super faithful and accept
the gospel, but their husbands don't support them and cause problems for
them in going to church and obeying the commandments. Really I am
trying not to have a bad attitude about men because I know there are
good ones, like dad, but I see so many examples of terrible husbands
here it breaks my heart.
I haven't seen anything here about Halloween. I don't think they
celebrate.
Elections ended yesterday
THANK HEAVENS! It was so loud last night when we were trying to sleep.
Like my bed was shaking from the celebration in the street. It is all
over now though. Lots of people try to talk to me about the election in
the US, but I am clueless. One of the sisters in the ward wanted me to
try to find out if Mitt Romney is a good mormon. Do you know at all?
Because all the members here have a lot of interesting stuff to say
about an LDS president of the USA and when the second coming will be. I
think lots of things will be changing either way.
Well, I think I am out of things to say this week. I love you all. I am doing great, but keep praying for me please.
Love, Sister Laurel Udy
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