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
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