February 11, 2013

Hello from Pombal!

Another wonderful week here. It's strange how we are having so many difficulties baptizing people or getting them to go to church, but I still feel SO blessed everyday. The branch here has a lot of potential. A lot. We are really working to strengthen the members. Yesterday we had 24 people by the time sacrament meeting started, which is better than the 7 who were there at 9:00. Yes, that is including the 4 missionaries and 2 visitors from Campina Grande (one of which is a counselor in the mission and he is AWESOME, Presidente Barbosa). I absolutely loved church though, the spirit was so strong. Probably because I was feeling super humble because I had to teach in Relief Society and Sunday School. At least in Relief Society Sis. Salazar team taught with me and there were only 2 people there so it was nice and intimate. Seriously though, I am loving Pombal. Yeah it has it's challenges, but that is why I love it so much. I actually feel like I have something to offer here, you know? They really need the missionaries service.

The shack (in a previous weeks picture)is common here. There are neighborhoods that are a little nicer, but a lot of houses are really simple. People are way humble here, I love it. I am blessed to serve here and see how much in life I really don't need. I sent a picture of a typical lunch. Rice, beans & meat. I love the rice and beans always... but the meat I could usually live without. I am learning to love it. Lots of times they serve spaghetti too. It's good. The picture has a dish that I don't know how to spell, but is rice and beans mixed together and it is so good. Three of the members made it for us this week. I'm blessed, I know.  

We had an emergency transfer in the mission that effected our district this week. Elder Ortega left and Elder Leite is our new district leader. We no longer have 4 Americans in Pombal, but we still speak a lot of English because Elder Leite studied for 3 years before his mission and wants to get better at it. He is way cool. We also had an English class Wednesday night at the church. It was great, tons of people came and we taught introductions. I loved teaching it. There is this group of little boys that lives on the street of our recent convert Ronaldo and they always hang out in front of his fruiteria. They all went to English class and they are our new best friends. Now whenever we see them there we ask them "How are you?" and they are getting good at responding. They are like the Buttercream Gang of their neighborhood, it is so great. Also, super great that Ronaldo has a fruiteria because he gives us fruit all the time and it is SO good. We have a tradition that is developing to go eat watermelon every Sunday afternoon and it is so good. 

Our zone meeting was really good, one of the assistants came and gave the training with our zone leader and he was really inspired. I learned a lot. We took the alternativo to Sousa (alternativo = random guy driving a car). It was a big Bronco with 12 people smashed in. Such a great 40 minutes. And another great 40 minutes on the return ride too. Lunch was super good. They had salad dressing to go on the salad and made homemade pizza that was delicious and chocolate cake. Oh and also I finally made the brownies you sent me for Christmas, they were SO delicious we ate them all in like a day. 

 

This week was great though, our lessons were good and we had tons of cool families we found to start teaching and one is even married already. We also had 3 different experiences with people who prayed for the first time and finished the prayer crying they were so touched by the Spirit. It's the most rewarding thing to see someone feel the spirit that strong by just a simple prayer. God's love is so strong and real and I can't get enough of it! 

Until next week. Except next week is transfers so it will probably be Wednesday I e-mail. This transfer is only 4 weeks because of the adjustment of the CTM time for new missionaries.

Tchau! Muito amor!

Sister Udy