Campo Grande 4-14-13 to 4-21-13

Oi familia!

I got a little cold at the beginning of the week, but all's good now and I´m up and running. (Literally, a few times this week, lol) It´s been interesting this week as we´ve had the usual ups and downs of the work. Some investigators that we´ve been working with for a while now just stopped progressing, so we´ve had to cut them. This was especially sad for my companion who´s been working with them for a lot longer than I have. But for the good news we´ve started working in a new bairro in our area and I think it´ll be a great thing. We´ve just not had much success where we´ve been working, and we just kept having the other area come to mind. An answer???  I think so. This area is quite a ways from the church building, which is why not many missionaries go there much, but this week we stopped by and did a little contacting and found some good possibilities. In a very short time. And we´re also waiting for a member to get back from vacation as he said he has two families he wants to visit with us. So I think things are looking up. 

I feel bad for my companion sometimes as she is completely awesome and dedicated, but the Lord is trying to teach her (and me this transfer) some important things. It´s just that she hasn´t had a baptism in her area for three transfers now. We´re working hard to turn that around, but the Lord is definitely trying to teach us through these experiences. Like one thing I learned is that this work is not about us. It´s not about numbers (though numbers are a reflection of hard work), but this is about people and the Lord. This is His work and He makes everything possible. It´s how we can do everything we can think of and work and work and work, but without the Lord, nothing will happen. It is when the investigators are open to receive an answer, and when the Spirit touches their hearts. The Lord truly knows who needs what. And sometimes, they need a little bit at a time. Just to prepare them. So when they taste of the truth, then pass through the experiences here in life, they will know where to turn in the future. I don´t know. Each person needs something different. It just shows how perfect the Lord knows us and knows what we need. Everything in His plan is just so perfect.

Other than that, the rain pretty much stopped here and went back to the heat. I still don´t know which I like better. The sun is hard to work in, but when it rains every just shuts themselves up in their houses and no one wants to go anywhere (like church, lol). Pretty much just enjoy what we have when we have it.

///

So this week was really good. Me and my companion worked like crazy and finally began to see some fruits. It´s really cool how when we do our part, sometimes things still won´t work out because of agency, but the Lord will bless you with people who are really ready to accept the gospel into their lives. This week we received a reference of a lady who is so ready to accept the gospel and change her life. She just moved here from São Paulo and she knew a member there and so when she felt really lonely and felt like she needed help, she found the church building here. Que chique! We´ve already marked her baptism for this Sunday, she just is working on stopping smoking. She´s already cut down a lot and since the first day we met with her she´s said when she gets baptized she never wants to ever put another cigarette to her lips. It´s really cool how excited she is. And she´ll help out so much. She really is an example in that she wants to serve and serve and serve. I´m sure this ward will find ways to put her to work!

We also have two other possibilities for this Sunday, but we haven´t marked it yet. But we will! I´m excited. I just feel like we´re finally clicking with the members in the work and our bishop will start calling ward missionaries. It will be really nice to have their help!

As for the weather, it got really hot again. I lost the habit to use sunscreen, so yeah, I kind of burnt a little. But oh well. It´ll get better soon. It´s not the first time, and probably won´t be the last. I feel like I´ve gotten tan, but compared to everyone else, I´m still ´bem brancinho!´ (really white, lol). But you guys can say for yourself. When I return I plan on being a lot darker. After all, I still have another Brasilian summer! 

Oh, I also bought some shoes for the rain. Their gellies!! lol. Basically, they´ll just let the water run through, so they won´t stay wet all day. I caught a cold last week and I think it was because I was walking around with wet shoes all day (and was in the church building for conference, the only area I know with air conditioning). So this will be good to not have wet shoes all day :) 

I´ve been looking forward to going home and watching the movie Rio again. My first companion, who already went home, said this about herself too. Really this is the only place in Brasil that has those kinds of birds just flying around. It´s really cool. She said when I go home and watch it, I´ll miss being in Brasil, lol. But it´s so cool. When I first got here it was the season of the blue and yellow parrots. All blue above, but with a brilliant yellow on the under side of its wings. One of the Sisters found a feather that was just amazing. Pure blue on one side, and pure yellow on the other. That´s why our state´s colors are the vibrant blue and yellow. But recently I´ve been seeing more of the other kind of parrot, with red and blue. The typical image we see in the US. Bright red with bright blue under their wings. They really are beautiful. Oh, but they are also really big. And squawk really loud. Some people find it annoying, but I like it, lol. 

 We have transfers this Sunday, so I´ll let you know if I stay or if I go. The chances are good that I go, but you know, the Lord´s ways are not our ways. So if I stay, there will be something for me to do here. Or if I go, there will be work for me there. Either way, I´ll let you know. Have a great week and keep on keeping on. Like one of my professors always said, onward and upward!

Sister Grimes