I survived.
This week was probably the busiest I've seen in my entire life. Here's an example of one (1) day we had, quarta-feira (Wednesday):
7am -- left the apartment and raked a member's yard
9:30 -- after running home to shower after the service, met with an enthusiastic member, who had planned with us to present Liahonas (church magazine) to the city officials in the city hall!! We watched the meeting of the officials, but didn't get to present because we had to leave for an appointment at...
11:00 -- waiting at the church for an investigator Marco Antônio, who didn't show up but called to reschedule
12:00 -- lunch
14:00 -- meeting with Marco Antônio at the church, a great but long lesson with some members, he's LOVING the Book of Mormon! He had run home and bought glasses after our first lesson so he could start reading it.
15:00 -- we passed by the home of Cristiane, the sweet women from last week who managed to stop smoking. We swept the house and left a scripture and message of encouragement. (2 Nefi 31:33)
16:00 -- meeting with the family of young Alice on the other side of the city, taught the whole family about the importance of baptism, challenged everyone to be baptized who wasn't already (two kids were).
17:00 -- running to the home of Lucas and Jandira and Josafá, to meet with the young men's president, who left a great message with the family. We also taught the family about the five love languages. (Mom, you'd be proud -- I'm informally teaching so many families about this over lunch, etc, and I really believe it's uniting families).
19:00 -- an appointment with a member family who brought us to the home of their friends, where we presented them with the Book of Mormon. A short, powerful lesson! I love teaching with members!!
20:00 -- running to yet another end of the city to teach Maria Nazaré, a wonderful woman who will be baptized soon.
20:30 -- back close to home, we finally were able to teach a strict father of two young boys who are preparing for baptism. This last lesson was not so good because we forgot to start with prayer, and this father was expressionless and stern.
21:00 -- HOME AGAIN. Yay.
Lots more days like this, but we survived to tell the tale!
I only have 8 minutes, but I just want to bear my testimony that I know my Savior lives. Jandira and Lucas, thanks to a miracle that took place in the baptismal interview, were baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Christmas day. This completed a family. Watching Josafá, the man we baptized a month ago, enter the water with his wife, and baptizing her just like we had practiced in his living room a couple hours before, was one of the most poignant experiences of my mission so far. This family has a lot to learn still, but they are in the best possible place to learn it. They have entered the door and are now on the path.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, late! Here in Brazil it's a feast on Christmas Eve and one or two presents for everyone, handed out before the feast. Christmas day is almost normal. I love the mission and I'm learning so much! This week will be almost as busy as the last, so I'll be sure to have stories to tell.
I'm a real missionary! Sometimes I still can't believe it!
THANK YOU ALL for your letters and for the zip-loc bags you've sent!
Much love,
Your missionary,
Sister Petty
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
In Which I Am Reminded That I'm Already Old, That This is Not About Me, and of The Power of Leadership
Folks--today I have eight months on the mission.
EIGHT MONTHS.
I having a bit of a mid-mission crisis (did I already write about this
or no?). Nine months is almost here! What does this mean? WAIT, time!
Let me catch up! I thought I was supposed to know everything by
now...that I was supposed to feel totally confident in all things, a
different missionary, and looking forward to going home.
Well...I'm still me. But a better version of me. I am learning to be
much more patient, much more confident, and to work harder than ever
before. However...I'm kind of in denial that I'm almost halfway
through. I still have SO MUCH to learn and so much I need to improve!
I've had at least three dreams in the last couple weeks that I went
home and had to take off my name tag, and I didn't feel like I'd truly
become a better person--that I hadn't truly given my best on my
mission. Each time, I woke up with a huge sigh of relief that I still
have time to grow, to learn, to love, to laugh here on the mission. I
still get to put on my name tag and represent the Church of Jesus
Christ.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, folks! It's here! In Brazil, it's Christmas too, but
it's hot. And the radios still play twangy Brazilian music in the
streets. I took the elders and some members caroling on Sunday night,
but it turned out funny because Brazilians don't know how to really
carol. We got invited in, people gave us water, and wanted to have a
conversation. I'm used to arriving at a door, singing until people
poke their heads out, smiling and singing some more while everyone
shivers and smiles, then singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" as we
head to the next house. But the Brazilian version was fun anyway.
This week I learned even more that this is God's work, not mine. We
went to the home of Cristiane, a less-active member, on Monday, and
talked with her about the importance of marriage. She is living with a
man she's not married to, and is afraid to approach the subject of
marriage with him. We offered to do a special fast with her to help
her have the courage and the faith to do this, and for his heart to be
open to the idea. She said, "Tomorrow?" we said, "Great. We'll come at
11am on Wednesday to break our fast with you." (lunch to lunch)
We fasted and prayed for her, and when we came back on Wednesday there
was a special calm in the house. We broke our fast with prayer, where
Cristiane said, "Thank you, Lord, that I made it. I did it." After the
prayer she opened up and told us something I didn't know -- that she
had been a heavy smoker, 20 cigarettes a day -- and had managed, in
this fast, to stop. Although we had all planned to help her with her
problem of marriage, the Lord had a different plan for her. I know the
Gospel is real! Lives are changing!
Another highlight of the week was on Saturday, when I had the
privilege of working with my zone leader (E. Buarque) and my district
leader (E. Conceição). They came with us to visit and get to know our
possibilities for batismo this week.
Watching these elders work was a huge eye-opener for me. Before my
mission, I admit that I thought elders would be something to
"aguentar" on the mission, them being so young (and being male). But
ever since I arrived, I have been more and more impressed with the
elders here, and my testimony of the Priestood -- the authority of God
that these young men hold -- has grown immensely.
The lesson these leaders taught to our investigator Lucas was
incredible. It opened and closed with a prayer, but in between felt
more like a Spirit-filled conversation than a "lesson." These elders
didn't preach a thing to Lucas (16 years). They simply asked
questions, read some of 2 Nephi 31, and asked more questions. They
helped Lucas discover for himself the answers, learn for himself how
to pay attention to his own feelings. These young elders then bore
powerful testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, of
Christ, of their own calling to preach the Gospel, and specifically of
their authority to be here in Bahia teaching Lucas. "We are here to
hear you," they said. "What can we do help you feel ready to follow
the example of your Savior, Jesus Christ?"
As I watched them teach, and added my testimony to theirs, I felt the
powerful witness of the Spirit that what we are doing is truly
approved by the Lord. We missionaries are truly called by God to serve
His children. I know this work is changing lives, uniting families,
and saving souls.
I know the Book of Mormon is true and that Jesus Christ lives.
Let us all remember why we are celebrating Christmas this year. Christ
was born so that He could save us, and this is what he did. De
verdade.
Amo vocês, amo brasil, amo a missão.
Com amor,
Sister Petty
EIGHT MONTHS.
I having a bit of a mid-mission crisis (did I already write about this
or no?). Nine months is almost here! What does this mean? WAIT, time!
Let me catch up! I thought I was supposed to know everything by
now...that I was supposed to feel totally confident in all things, a
different missionary, and looking forward to going home.
Well...I'm still me. But a better version of me. I am learning to be
much more patient, much more confident, and to work harder than ever
before. However...I'm kind of in denial that I'm almost halfway
through. I still have SO MUCH to learn and so much I need to improve!
I've had at least three dreams in the last couple weeks that I went
home and had to take off my name tag, and I didn't feel like I'd truly
become a better person--that I hadn't truly given my best on my
mission. Each time, I woke up with a huge sigh of relief that I still
have time to grow, to learn, to love, to laugh here on the mission. I
still get to put on my name tag and represent the Church of Jesus
Christ.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, folks! It's here! In Brazil, it's Christmas too, but
it's hot. And the radios still play twangy Brazilian music in the
streets. I took the elders and some members caroling on Sunday night,
but it turned out funny because Brazilians don't know how to really
carol. We got invited in, people gave us water, and wanted to have a
conversation. I'm used to arriving at a door, singing until people
poke their heads out, smiling and singing some more while everyone
shivers and smiles, then singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" as we
head to the next house. But the Brazilian version was fun anyway.
This week I learned even more that this is God's work, not mine. We
went to the home of Cristiane, a less-active member, on Monday, and
talked with her about the importance of marriage. She is living with a
man she's not married to, and is afraid to approach the subject of
marriage with him. We offered to do a special fast with her to help
her have the courage and the faith to do this, and for his heart to be
open to the idea. She said, "Tomorrow?" we said, "Great. We'll come at
11am on Wednesday to break our fast with you." (lunch to lunch)
We fasted and prayed for her, and when we came back on Wednesday there
was a special calm in the house. We broke our fast with prayer, where
Cristiane said, "Thank you, Lord, that I made it. I did it." After the
prayer she opened up and told us something I didn't know -- that she
had been a heavy smoker, 20 cigarettes a day -- and had managed, in
this fast, to stop. Although we had all planned to help her with her
problem of marriage, the Lord had a different plan for her. I know the
Gospel is real! Lives are changing!
Another highlight of the week was on Saturday, when I had the
privilege of working with my zone leader (E. Buarque) and my district
leader (E. Conceição). They came with us to visit and get to know our
possibilities for batismo this week.
Watching these elders work was a huge eye-opener for me. Before my
mission, I admit that I thought elders would be something to
"aguentar" on the mission, them being so young (and being male). But
ever since I arrived, I have been more and more impressed with the
elders here, and my testimony of the Priestood -- the authority of God
that these young men hold -- has grown immensely.
The lesson these leaders taught to our investigator Lucas was
incredible. It opened and closed with a prayer, but in between felt
more like a Spirit-filled conversation than a "lesson." These elders
didn't preach a thing to Lucas (16 years). They simply asked
questions, read some of 2 Nephi 31, and asked more questions. They
helped Lucas discover for himself the answers, learn for himself how
to pay attention to his own feelings. These young elders then bore
powerful testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, of
Christ, of their own calling to preach the Gospel, and specifically of
their authority to be here in Bahia teaching Lucas. "We are here to
hear you," they said. "What can we do help you feel ready to follow
the example of your Savior, Jesus Christ?"
As I watched them teach, and added my testimony to theirs, I felt the
powerful witness of the Spirit that what we are doing is truly
approved by the Lord. We missionaries are truly called by God to serve
His children. I know this work is changing lives, uniting families,
and saving souls.
I know the Book of Mormon is true and that Jesus Christ lives.
Let us all remember why we are celebrating Christmas this year. Christ
was born so that He could save us, and this is what he did. De
verdade.
Amo vocês, amo brasil, amo a missão.
Com amor,
Sister Petty
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Marinalva, Douglas, e William
1--Overloaded truck
2-Bahian baby
3--Bus full of sisters
"Marinalva, Douglas, e William"
Sisters: "Licença, do you know where the Rua Aranere is?"
Random Baiano: "No. But you should ask that guy over there."
Sisters: "Licença, do you know where the Rua Aranere is?"
That Guy: "No...but I think it's in that direction. Ask that other person."
After about 4 more of these conversations, we arrived on a little dirt track of a road behind a motel. We needed number 73, but didn't see numbers on the houses (this is normal). I stopped and addressed two woman who were talking in front of a little house.
"Licença, we are looking for two boys named William and..."
Woman: "Douglas?"
Sisters: "YES!! Are you a relative?"
Woman: "I'm their mother!"
God guides His missionaries.
This woman, Marinalva, excused herself from her neighbor and accompanied us to the end of the little road, calling her boys (Douglas, 14, and William, 11) inside. We recognized the boys, because they'd been to church a few times with member friends. However, this was their first visit from the missionaries.
Marinalva welcomed us into the little brick house (all houses here are made of frail brick and cement) and we got to know this little family. They had a nearly-naked baby parrot in a box in their living room, who was calling to be fed. I automatically loved the family more. :-)
The lesson was perfect. When we asked if we could open with prayer (after the opening hymn), and asked if one of them would like to say it, Marinalva volunteered! Without ANY prompting! This is a first for me. After the prayer we went straight to the Livro de Mórmon. I drew a world map in the air, showing how the Bible was written in the Old World at the same time that the Book of Mormon was being written in the New World ("Aqui, nas Americas! Talvez aqui mesmo em Bahia!" I said).
They loved the lesson, paying good attention because I was on splits with another Americana and they HAD to pay attention to understand. :-) Afterward, Marinalva was excited. "I really understood about the Livro de Mórmon!" Her eyes were shining. "I'm looking forward to explaining this to my husband."
We committed everyone to read a chapter of the Book of Mormon, and then challenged everyone to be baptized when they received an answer from the Lord that the book is true. They all accepted. William and Douglas will be baptized this week. Marinalva needs to get married (but she said she's already started working on the papers! GAHH yay!) but she's sure to be next, along with her husband.
The family is excited to learn more. We'll teach them again tonight, 19h. (Brazilians use army time a lot. It's cool.)
I love the mission and I love Brazil. Thank you all so much for your support and love and letters. I can't tell you how much your letters keep me going (even though I try every week)!
There's a new American elder in our district. AWwww. Elder Smith. Poor thing, EVERYONE asks him if he's related to Joseph Smith!
A Igreja é verdadeira. A lingua está melhorando todos os dias. Amo minha companheira, mesmo que ela anda devegarzinho. Reclamava que Sis. Marciano andava rapido, então não posso reclamar agora. :-)
Focus this transfer: teach more straight from the scriptures, so people can gain a testemony of the Book of Mormon.
Merry Christmas, all!
Sister Petty
P.S. I made snowflakes and put them on my window. They're cool ones, too. I'm determined to have something that reminds me of the cold here.
2-Bahian baby
3--Bus full of sisters
"Marinalva, Douglas, e William"
Sisters: "Licença, do you know where the Rua Aranere is?"
Random Baiano: "No. But you should ask that guy over there."
Sisters: "Licença, do you know where the Rua Aranere is?"
That Guy: "No...but I think it's in that direction. Ask that other person."
After about 4 more of these conversations, we arrived on a little dirt track of a road behind a motel. We needed number 73, but didn't see numbers on the houses (this is normal). I stopped and addressed two woman who were talking in front of a little house.
"Licença, we are looking for two boys named William and..."
Woman: "Douglas?"
Sisters: "YES!! Are you a relative?"
Woman: "I'm their mother!"
God guides His missionaries.
This woman, Marinalva, excused herself from her neighbor and accompanied us to the end of the little road, calling her boys (Douglas, 14, and William, 11) inside. We recognized the boys, because they'd been to church a few times with member friends. However, this was their first visit from the missionaries.
Marinalva welcomed us into the little brick house (all houses here are made of frail brick and cement) and we got to know this little family. They had a nearly-naked baby parrot in a box in their living room, who was calling to be fed. I automatically loved the family more. :-)
The lesson was perfect. When we asked if we could open with prayer (after the opening hymn), and asked if one of them would like to say it, Marinalva volunteered! Without ANY prompting! This is a first for me. After the prayer we went straight to the Livro de Mórmon. I drew a world map in the air, showing how the Bible was written in the Old World at the same time that the Book of Mormon was being written in the New World ("Aqui, nas Americas! Talvez aqui mesmo em Bahia!" I said).
They loved the lesson, paying good attention because I was on splits with another Americana and they HAD to pay attention to understand. :-) Afterward, Marinalva was excited. "I really understood about the Livro de Mórmon!" Her eyes were shining. "I'm looking forward to explaining this to my husband."
We committed everyone to read a chapter of the Book of Mormon, and then challenged everyone to be baptized when they received an answer from the Lord that the book is true. They all accepted. William and Douglas will be baptized this week. Marinalva needs to get married (but she said she's already started working on the papers! GAHH yay!) but she's sure to be next, along with her husband.
The family is excited to learn more. We'll teach them again tonight, 19h. (Brazilians use army time a lot. It's cool.)
I love the mission and I love Brazil. Thank you all so much for your support and love and letters. I can't tell you how much your letters keep me going (even though I try every week)!
There's a new American elder in our district. AWwww. Elder Smith. Poor thing, EVERYONE asks him if he's related to Joseph Smith!
A Igreja é verdadeira. A lingua está melhorando todos os dias. Amo minha companheira, mesmo que ela anda devegarzinho. Reclamava que Sis. Marciano andava rapido, então não posso reclamar agora. :-)
Focus this transfer: teach more straight from the scriptures, so people can gain a testemony of the Book of Mormon.
Merry Christmas, all!
Sister Petty
P.S. I made snowflakes and put them on my window. They're cool ones, too. I'm determined to have something that reminds me of the cold here.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
More pictures. (:
1 - Me and my companion ("Ladybug") Sister Marciano!! Her fruit: pear. Sweet and white, but not mushy.2 - Awkward baptism photo, ha. Josafá and his family.3 - Big group of members at a place called "Tché Burguer." Burgers there are like...bigger than my head. Literally. Check out the walls of this place--yep, that's real mud brick.4 - Missionary ping pong world tournament, Brasil vs. Estados Unidos! (we didn't have the keys to access paddles...or a net)
Transfers, William, Novos
Transfer day! I am back in Dias D'Ávila, folks, and so happy to be here. In case you want to see in on Google Maps (did I already say this once?) it's very close to Camaçari. My new comp is Sister Piola, a jolly sister who has 10 months or so on the mission.
ANSWERS to my Mom's questions:
Do you use an umbrella, or a poncho, or both? Umbrella.
Is your hair all frizzy from the humidity and wetness all the time? Yes.
Do you keep an extra pair of socks in your pocket so you can change out of the wet ones? Nope. I just wear the wet socks all day long, and at the end of the day my feet are painful raisins. Ha.
What about rubber boots? Nope.
Does it rain every day? No. There's just been a few very rainy weeks.
Does it cool off at night? A little.
You mentioned cobblestone streets. Are they all that way, or are there a lot of dirt (mud) roads, too? LOTS of cobblestone, some pavement, some dirt. Some roads are completely undrivable. I'm in a little town.
Are they slippery when wet? No.
What holidays are celebrated big there? LOTS. You wouldn't believe. Lots of saints, Fathers Day, Mothers Day, Children's Day (yes, seriously), Day of the Dead....TONS.
Have you experienced any of them yet? Yes. I arrived in the mission in the middle of São Juão, a huge holiday here in Bahia. Parties all week, bonfires EVERYWHERE.
Do you fix all of your own food? No. We eat in the house of a member every day for lunch.
How is that going? Fantasticly. :-) The sisters in the ward are absolutely incredible cooks. I'm officially addicted to beans and farinha de mandioca now.
Do members ever feed you? See above. I'm getting chunkier every day.
Do you still have access to peanut butter? No. At least, I haven't been able to get to that store that has it. Alas. :-(
Any more questions, anyone? Send questions to my mom or a sibling, and I can get them answered. :-)
Gente, the week was a good one. I love the mission more every day. My favorite part of this week was I saw William walk into church on Sunday. William is a man in his mid-30s, and is absolutely enormous (I think his arms are bigger around than my head). However, like some character from a movie, he's also a complete mommy's boy, and raises rabbits. Ha! He's the neighbor of a member, and we taught him twice this week. Each time, was said we'd just talk for "cinco minutinhos," but these turned into more than an hour because of all the questions he and his mom had. We loved the questions.
And then he showed up at church--NOT what I expected--in button-up shirt, black pants, shaven and chique! Even with the right clothes, he looked a little like that proverbial bull in a china shop, lost and awkward. However, the members grabbed him and helped him feel welcome. YAY!!!
Josafá, our baptism of a couple weeks ago, gave a prayer in sacrament meeting last week, bore his testimony in church this week (there's absolutely nothing like this feeling for a missionary), and will give a talk in church on the 18th. I'm so grateful for our wonderful bishop who is integrating him so very well.
My friends, I love you all. I received a handful of letters today in Salvador (transfer day, remember?) and nearly fell over with happiness. THANK YOU for all your love and support, my friends! I can't tell you how much your letters -- each one of them -- touch my life as a missionary. And when you include things you've learned recently, experiences you've had at church or in the scriptures, I learn so much from you. Truly. Thank you, from my heart.
I know my Savior lives. The Gospel changes lives, not just here on this earth but in the eternities. And it is changing MY life, right now. I thank the Lord daily for this opportunity to be here, giving my all to Him.
Much love,
Sua missionária,
Sister Petty
P.S. Our washing machine isn't working lately. Now the words "hand wash cold, separately" have taken on a whole new meaning to me.
ANSWERS to my Mom's questions:
Do you use an umbrella, or a poncho, or both? Umbrella.
Is your hair all frizzy from the humidity and wetness all the time? Yes.
Do you keep an extra pair of socks in your pocket so you can change out of the wet ones? Nope. I just wear the wet socks all day long, and at the end of the day my feet are painful raisins. Ha.
What about rubber boots? Nope.
Does it rain every day? No. There's just been a few very rainy weeks.
Does it cool off at night? A little.
You mentioned cobblestone streets. Are they all that way, or are there a lot of dirt (mud) roads, too? LOTS of cobblestone, some pavement, some dirt. Some roads are completely undrivable. I'm in a little town.
Are they slippery when wet? No.
What holidays are celebrated big there? LOTS. You wouldn't believe. Lots of saints, Fathers Day, Mothers Day, Children's Day (yes, seriously), Day of the Dead....TONS.
Have you experienced any of them yet? Yes. I arrived in the mission in the middle of São Juão, a huge holiday here in Bahia. Parties all week, bonfires EVERYWHERE.
Do you fix all of your own food? No. We eat in the house of a member every day for lunch.
How is that going? Fantasticly. :-) The sisters in the ward are absolutely incredible cooks. I'm officially addicted to beans and farinha de mandioca now.
Do members ever feed you? See above. I'm getting chunkier every day.
Do you still have access to peanut butter? No. At least, I haven't been able to get to that store that has it. Alas. :-(
Any more questions, anyone? Send questions to my mom or a sibling, and I can get them answered. :-)
Gente, the week was a good one. I love the mission more every day. My favorite part of this week was I saw William walk into church on Sunday. William is a man in his mid-30s, and is absolutely enormous (I think his arms are bigger around than my head). However, like some character from a movie, he's also a complete mommy's boy, and raises rabbits. Ha! He's the neighbor of a member, and we taught him twice this week. Each time, was said we'd just talk for "cinco minutinhos," but these turned into more than an hour because of all the questions he and his mom had. We loved the questions.
And then he showed up at church--NOT what I expected--in button-up shirt, black pants, shaven and chique! Even with the right clothes, he looked a little like that proverbial bull in a china shop, lost and awkward. However, the members grabbed him and helped him feel welcome. YAY!!!
Josafá, our baptism of a couple weeks ago, gave a prayer in sacrament meeting last week, bore his testimony in church this week (there's absolutely nothing like this feeling for a missionary), and will give a talk in church on the 18th. I'm so grateful for our wonderful bishop who is integrating him so very well.
My friends, I love you all. I received a handful of letters today in Salvador (transfer day, remember?) and nearly fell over with happiness. THANK YOU for all your love and support, my friends! I can't tell you how much your letters -- each one of them -- touch my life as a missionary. And when you include things you've learned recently, experiences you've had at church or in the scriptures, I learn so much from you. Truly. Thank you, from my heart.
I know my Savior lives. The Gospel changes lives, not just here on this earth but in the eternities. And it is changing MY life, right now. I thank the Lord daily for this opportunity to be here, giving my all to Him.
Much love,
Sua missionária,
Sister Petty
P.S. Our washing machine isn't working lately. Now the words "hand wash cold, separately" have taken on a whole new meaning to me.
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