Monday, February 11, 2013

It´s a carnival over here.‏

We are now beginning the 3rd week of the transfer! Que loucura! And this would be the week of the infamous ``Carnaval``. And as a result, the city is pretty much deserted. Everyone is at the beach but we are on the hunt for the elect people who don´t like the beach and want the Gospel. Wish us luck in finding them! This last week was great but the sun is coming back with a vengeance and one day I forgot to put on sunscreen. Ouch.

I have been trying to finish Jesus the Christ this week and I have about 70 pages left. IT IS SOOOO GOOD. I feel like I am getting to know Him so much more. I have learned about Him all my life but I feel like this book really helps me to get a picture of how He really is. Like His personality and all. It is really cool. Sometimes the things He says to the pharisees make me laugh because they think they can confuse Jesus? Good luck. They just ended up looking dumb every time they talk to Him because hello, He is Jesus. I am just really loving the book and want to read it again when I get home.

Our investigator Rita is getting ready for her baptism next Saturday which is gonna be a surprise to Maurício and should be really good. We had a lesson with her and she said she takes the BOM with her everywhere she goes and especially when she goes on vacation. Sister Anderson is speaking Portuguese like a PRO! Seriously. Yesterday, NONE of the speakers showed up for church. Luckily, this ward has four back up sister missionaries to call on and so they used plan B and we all gave a short little talk. I am pretty excited that giving a talk on the spot is getting easier and easier (don´t get any ideas Bishop) haha But it was good and when we asked Sister Anderson if she could give a short talk she hesitated at first and I could tell she was a little scared but she accepted and went for it and it was AWESOME. She is talking so well and it is the biggest reminder to me at how important this work is and how the Lord will give His missionaries the tools he needs. Gift of tongues baby. It´s pretty cool. Also, it must mean I am a pretty good trainer right? haha JK she is just really smart.

We had an investigator call us the other day and say goodbye and that she can´t meet with us anymore because her mom is giving her a rough time and actually stopped talking to her. The woman is 40 years old but her mom lives with her and is making life miserable for her. She said she will continue to read the BOM and will call us when things calm down a bit. I am not gonna lie I was pretty sad. I wanted to help her so bad and I know she wants it and so it is hard that someone else is just trying to get in the way. But we are gonna keep praying for her.

Well the celebration of carnaval actually started Saturday and will end Wednesday. We were doing visits Saturday and it was SO HARD to find people at home and we had a member with us. We walked the whole day and all the lessons we gave were standing so we were all pretty tired. The member that was with us bought us popsicles and she shared some words of wisdom that her mission prep teacher told her, ``When you are with the missionaries and they are having a hard day, stop a second and buy them a milkshake.`` haha she said she didn´t see anywhere selling milkshakes so popsicles would have to do. I agree with that teacher and was very glad to eat that popsicle. I think everyone else should put into practice those wise words as well.

We were teaching a lady about eternal families and she just wasn´t getting it. She said, ``If families were forever than no one in heaven would be happy.`` It made me pretty sad. And grateful for the knowledge I have about eternal families. And for the wonderful family that I have.

I can really see that my teaching has improved a lot these last couple weeks and I am learning to be a lot more courageous than I ever was before. I think when we are put in a position to be an example it really gives us an opportunity to step up to the plate and get the job done. I have been trying to do that lately and it seems to be working. Only because the Lord has been holding my hand the whole way but still.

We had a lesson with another investigator and were teaching about a principle that she wasn´t really getting. I bore my testimony to her and she said she still didn´t understand but she could see truth in my eyes as I bore testimony and so she is gonna trust us enough to pray and study. It made me think of how powerful our testimonies really can be and how important it is that we share them. During the mission, before, and especially after for the rest of our lives. I think the after will be the real test.

Yesterday at church a couple that says EVERY week when I ask if they are coming to church Saturday night, ``OF COURSE WE ARE`` and haven´t come for the past month or more finally came! I was SO HAPPY! I hope now that it becomes a regular thing because I know they will start to see a difference in their family.

Well this week has really been a blast and I know this transfer is gonna pass by sooo fast. Gotta really enjoy it while it is here! I am so excited for you Rachael and am telling everyone that is preparing for a mission here ``OH cool, maybe you will meet my sister in the MTC! She looks just like me and her name will be Sister Zeller!`` haha You will for sure meet my MTC comp who is serving in Fortaleza. Pretty cool. She could even train you! Ahh. I send my love to all of you! and the cousins!!!!!

Tchau tchau!
Sister Zeller

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