I am SO HAPPY!
You know those incredible stories in the Ensign (the magazine of the
Church) about missionaries who find people prepared by the Lord to
accept baptism practically in the first conversation?
I'd always heard about these things...but it's a different thing to
see it with your own two eyes.
There's no way I can tell you the stories of Marco Antônio and
Perisvaldo, but I'll give the basics and just testify now: this is
real. This truly happens. God prepares people.
This week we saw two types of miracles: the kind that takes a long
time developing (that we see) and the kind that seems to happen really
fast (because we didn't see the beforehand stuff). This week a woman
was baptized who we've been teaching for months. It was completely
worth the wait--she will be a strong force and a leader in the church.
On Saturday also baptized a man called Perisvaldo, who, before we met
him, had read the entire Book of Mormon within a month. We invited him
to church, and he went. There he met Marco Antônio, whose baptism was
that same day. It was the first day at church for the two of them. We
finally got to truly teach Perisvaldo this week, starting
quarta-feira, and then each day until the interview sábado. He was
baptized sábado. Domingo he was confirmed a member of the Church.
Primeira lição until confirmação = 5 days. It was a whirlwind of
seemingly unreal lessons and events.
I don't know if any of this made sense to anyone. Basically...two men
who had be prepared long before we met them were baptized in close
succession, and one by the other. It was a feeling I can't describe to
see the two of them standing in the baptismal font.
I am so grateful for the CHANGE I see in people's lives. Many many
missionaries say that participating in the ordenance of baptism is the
only way to be happy on the mission. I disagree. For me, the true
reward is what's underneath the symbols of baptism: MUDANÇA. (change.)
I know the Gospel truly changes people.
I love the Lord and I love the mission.
Can I stay for two years? Please?
Sister Petty
P.S. I still love letters! Thank you to those who have written, and
forgive me for the delay in responding. Have faith and I will try to
respond.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Os Eleitos Existim
Sometimes we have birthdays and don't feel a difference. This
birthday, however, I really feel like I grew older and wiser, too.
I have a habit of naming each week. Have I mentioned that here yet?
This week, the first of the transfer (my third transfer here in Dias
D'Ávila, my second area), was Semana de Escolher. (Week of Choosing).
I feel that I really changed. I chose to bite my tongue when I was
tempted to rush my companion out the door. I chose to be patient with
the people I'm working with. I chose to do my best to help others
choose to follow Christ.
Change is possible. Not easy--but certainly possible. I'm so grateful
that I am learning these things here on the mission. My husband would
be a very unhappy man if I hadn't decided to serve a mission before
marrying him. Did that sentence make sense? I don't think in English
anymore. Anyway, I'm growing so much!
This week was incredible. We taught a mature, sensitive, sincere young
woman of 14 years on Wednesday, our second visit with her, and marked
a return appointment. When we returned on Friday, she had read the
marked chapter "tudinho." We began to review the chapter with her
(Alma 32) but after a couple minutes she changed the subject.
"Sisters," she said, with an almost confused look on her face, "I said
that prayer you told me to say, asking to know if the Book is true.
Sisters, it was very strange. I felt something that I've never felt
before. A peace, a warmth in my heart. I don't know why, but I started
to cry there on my knees."
We tried to stay calm and listen without jumping up and dancing around
the room or the couch.
"So do you feel that this was an answer to your prayer?" I asked slowly.
She nodded, her eyes wet with tears.
This is something so beautiful to see--these people keeping their
commitments, reading the Book of Mormon, and praying to know that it's
true...with faith! And getting answers from the Lord!
I am so grateful for members who share the Gospel with their friends.
This week we worked with members, who not only gave references, but
took us to the person's house and were present while we taught.
We're teaching families!
MARRIED PEOPLE!!!
I love the Gospel and I love you all! Thank you so much for your
letters, your support, and your love!
READ the Book of Mormon and pray-- you will receive an answer.
Over and out.
Sister Petty
birthday, however, I really feel like I grew older and wiser, too.
I have a habit of naming each week. Have I mentioned that here yet?
This week, the first of the transfer (my third transfer here in Dias
D'Ávila, my second area), was Semana de Escolher. (Week of Choosing).
I feel that I really changed. I chose to bite my tongue when I was
tempted to rush my companion out the door. I chose to be patient with
the people I'm working with. I chose to do my best to help others
choose to follow Christ.
Change is possible. Not easy--but certainly possible. I'm so grateful
that I am learning these things here on the mission. My husband would
be a very unhappy man if I hadn't decided to serve a mission before
marrying him. Did that sentence make sense? I don't think in English
anymore. Anyway, I'm growing so much!
This week was incredible. We taught a mature, sensitive, sincere young
woman of 14 years on Wednesday, our second visit with her, and marked
a return appointment. When we returned on Friday, she had read the
marked chapter "tudinho." We began to review the chapter with her
(Alma 32) but after a couple minutes she changed the subject.
"Sisters," she said, with an almost confused look on her face, "I said
that prayer you told me to say, asking to know if the Book is true.
Sisters, it was very strange. I felt something that I've never felt
before. A peace, a warmth in my heart. I don't know why, but I started
to cry there on my knees."
We tried to stay calm and listen without jumping up and dancing around
the room or the couch.
"So do you feel that this was an answer to your prayer?" I asked slowly.
She nodded, her eyes wet with tears.
This is something so beautiful to see--these people keeping their
commitments, reading the Book of Mormon, and praying to know that it's
true...with faith! And getting answers from the Lord!
I am so grateful for members who share the Gospel with their friends.
This week we worked with members, who not only gave references, but
took us to the person's house and were present while we taught.
We're teaching families!
MARRIED PEOPLE!!!
I love the Gospel and I love you all! Thank you so much for your
letters, your support, and your love!
READ the Book of Mormon and pray-- you will receive an answer.
Over and out.
Sister Petty
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
And it came to pass...
And it came to pass that I, Sister Petty, waxed old.
Has anyone out there ever made a candle by hand? The kind where you
take a wick and dip it into wax a thousand times or so? It's
interesting, because when you start dipping that little scraggly wick
into the hot, watery wax, you feel like you'll never end up with a
beautiful plump candle. But after countless more dips, so many that
your arm is a bit tired and you've stopped paying attention, you
suddenly look down and realize you've got a candle.
In the Book of Mormon, the prophets often say that they "waxed old."
They way they write it, it seems to be a rather sudden process. Well,
my friends, now I understand them. When I started my mission, I was
sure I would be here pretty much the rest of my life. Now, suddenly, I
look down and see that I'm suddenly OLD on the mission! The process
was gradual, but I missed it! Not only will I gain another year of
life this week, on the 20th of January I will have NINE MONTHS on the
mission.
Half.
My mission is practically over.
WHAT?!
Whew. Calm down, Sister.
Okay, back to a normal post.
< / sentimental artist blurb >
A new transfer has begun! I'm so excited! I'm so grateful for the
chance for change that each new transfer gives. This is one thing
about the mission I'll miss--these clearcut chances to start new and
fresh. I'll stay in Dias D'Ávila (A Cidade das Águas) with my
companion Sister Piola, but we'll be awesome.
This last week was a good one. We truly saw miracles. Since I arrived
in Dias D'Ávila, I have a habit of naming each week. This last week
was the Semana de Simplificar. This week will be the Semana de
Escolher. We have to cut a bunch of people, CHOOSE which ones to work
with, the ones that will CHOOSE to follow Christ.
One thing I need to improve, and I believe this new transfer will help
me, is continuing to enthusiastically talk to EVERYONE about the
Gospel, even when I've been in an area for awhile, and even when we
already have a good-sized teaching pool. These are God's children and
He wants each one of them to have a chance to be baptized, entering
the path to salvation.
This last week we had an incredible baptism. It was right out of a
story book. This man was truly prepared by the Lord for us. He gave up
his girlfriend, one of his jobs (that was on Sunday), and lots more to
be baptized, following the example of the Savior. At his baptism, he
did something I've never seen. He himself got up during testimonies
and bore his testimony, thanking the Lord for finally showing him --
after years of searching -- the true Church of Christ, restored to the
earth. He said he saw us passing every day on the street, and saw that
there was something different about us missionaries. "These two had
the light in their faces of people that are working with a purpose,
working for something they know is true," he said, his eyes shining.
The Lord's hand is truly in the work. I will never forget this man and
his testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints.
I know that Christ lives, and that He truly died for each one of us.
Thank you all for your love, support, and testimonies.
Until next week,
Sister Petty
Has anyone out there ever made a candle by hand? The kind where you
take a wick and dip it into wax a thousand times or so? It's
interesting, because when you start dipping that little scraggly wick
into the hot, watery wax, you feel like you'll never end up with a
beautiful plump candle. But after countless more dips, so many that
your arm is a bit tired and you've stopped paying attention, you
suddenly look down and realize you've got a candle.
In the Book of Mormon, the prophets often say that they "waxed old."
They way they write it, it seems to be a rather sudden process. Well,
my friends, now I understand them. When I started my mission, I was
sure I would be here pretty much the rest of my life. Now, suddenly, I
look down and see that I'm suddenly OLD on the mission! The process
was gradual, but I missed it! Not only will I gain another year of
life this week, on the 20th of January I will have NINE MONTHS on the
mission.
Half.
My mission is practically over.
WHAT?!
Whew. Calm down, Sister.
Okay, back to a normal post.
< / sentimental artist blurb >
A new transfer has begun! I'm so excited! I'm so grateful for the
chance for change that each new transfer gives. This is one thing
about the mission I'll miss--these clearcut chances to start new and
fresh. I'll stay in Dias D'Ávila (A Cidade das Águas) with my
companion Sister Piola, but we'll be awesome.
This last week was a good one. We truly saw miracles. Since I arrived
in Dias D'Ávila, I have a habit of naming each week. This last week
was the Semana de Simplificar. This week will be the Semana de
Escolher. We have to cut a bunch of people, CHOOSE which ones to work
with, the ones that will CHOOSE to follow Christ.
One thing I need to improve, and I believe this new transfer will help
me, is continuing to enthusiastically talk to EVERYONE about the
Gospel, even when I've been in an area for awhile, and even when we
already have a good-sized teaching pool. These are God's children and
He wants each one of them to have a chance to be baptized, entering
the path to salvation.
This last week we had an incredible baptism. It was right out of a
story book. This man was truly prepared by the Lord for us. He gave up
his girlfriend, one of his jobs (that was on Sunday), and lots more to
be baptized, following the example of the Savior. At his baptism, he
did something I've never seen. He himself got up during testimonies
and bore his testimony, thanking the Lord for finally showing him --
after years of searching -- the true Church of Christ, restored to the
earth. He said he saw us passing every day on the street, and saw that
there was something different about us missionaries. "These two had
the light in their faces of people that are working with a purpose,
working for something they know is true," he said, his eyes shining.
The Lord's hand is truly in the work. I will never forget this man and
his testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints.
I know that Christ lives, and that He truly died for each one of us.
Thank you all for your love, support, and testimonies.
Until next week,
Sister Petty
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
There's a lot of love out there, man.
We're working. Growing. Seeing miracles daily. We're sweating a lot.
We're eating a lot of beans and rice and farinha de mandioca. We're
making food for elders. We're riding the bus. We're teaching families.
We're talking to everyone. We're Brazilian missionaries!
Another week! Just one more this transfer...WHAT? I just started!
Walking past a little open bar this week (an almost minutely occurance
here in Bahia), we encountered a woman we've been trying to teach
(only taught her once until now). She is about 40, is short and sweet
and was once very very beautiful. She saw us, and with a tipsy grin
came to give us a hug, the smell of beer strong on her breath. How are
you? I asked her, and she said she was well. I then took her by the
shoulders and looked down into her eyes--eyes that couldn't looked
directly back because of the alcohol. "Maria," I said gently but
firmly. "Você precisa parar de beber." (You need to stop drinking.)
Her grin faded, and her eyes filled with tears. She murmured a few
excuses, saying that her life was difficult and that she just needed
to get away sometimes.
I left Maria there in the bar, my own eyes stinging with tears and
with a sharp pain in my heart.
There is so much sadness and pain in the world. I want to fix it all.
I want to erase the world of alcohol and drugs and violence. I know I
can't. Man has agency.
But each day, as a missionary, I am doing what I can to change lives,
one family, one soul at a time.
I love the people here in the Brazil, and I am doing my best to teach
them to love themselves, love their families, and to love their
Savior...the Savior that gave His life for each one of them.
Until next week. Thank you all for everything.
Sister Petty
We're eating a lot of beans and rice and farinha de mandioca. We're
making food for elders. We're riding the bus. We're teaching families.
We're talking to everyone. We're Brazilian missionaries!
Another week! Just one more this transfer...WHAT? I just started!
Walking past a little open bar this week (an almost minutely occurance
here in Bahia), we encountered a woman we've been trying to teach
(only taught her once until now). She is about 40, is short and sweet
and was once very very beautiful. She saw us, and with a tipsy grin
came to give us a hug, the smell of beer strong on her breath. How are
you? I asked her, and she said she was well. I then took her by the
shoulders and looked down into her eyes--eyes that couldn't looked
directly back because of the alcohol. "Maria," I said gently but
firmly. "Você precisa parar de beber." (You need to stop drinking.)
Her grin faded, and her eyes filled with tears. She murmured a few
excuses, saying that her life was difficult and that she just needed
to get away sometimes.
I left Maria there in the bar, my own eyes stinging with tears and
with a sharp pain in my heart.
There is so much sadness and pain in the world. I want to fix it all.
I want to erase the world of alcohol and drugs and violence. I know I
can't. Man has agency.
But each day, as a missionary, I am doing what I can to change lives,
one family, one soul at a time.
I love the people here in the Brazil, and I am doing my best to teach
them to love themselves, love their families, and to love their
Savior...the Savior that gave His life for each one of them.
Until next week. Thank you all for everything.
Sister Petty
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Continuation of picture continuation.
16 - Spontaneous service!
17 - My comp sleeping after lunch. Missionaries work hard, give her a
little slack. :-)
18 - Alice, the sweetest 8-yr-old in Bahia.
19 - It had been a long day.
20 - Shlurping a coconut. You can buy a coconut for about the value of
50 cents here, and the Bahians hack at the top with a huge knife, and
you drink the coconut water (usually with a straw).
17 - My comp sleeping after lunch. Missionaries work hard, give her a
little slack. :-)
18 - Alice, the sweetest 8-yr-old in Bahia.
19 - It had been a long day.
20 - Shlurping a coconut. You can buy a coconut for about the value of
50 cents here, and the Bahians hack at the top with a huge knife, and
you drink the coconut water (usually with a straw).
Pictures--still continuing.
- Part of my current zone. Fuzzy and upside down, sorry.
- Today we ate açai shake, which is a berry that I've never seen.
Here it is with granola and banana. Yummmmm.
13 - FAROFA. Probably the best thing here in Bahia. And I made it! My
first batch, and it was fantastic. It's calabresa (I dunno in
English...meat of some kind), carrots, banana, garlic, onion, oil, and
farinha de mandioca. YAY.
14 - Me, playing the instrument of the fight/dance thing called
capoeira. I love the authentic sound and rhythm of this art and this
instrument. It is so BAHIANO.
15 - A piece of rubber. Shaped like Idaho. Ha!7 - Part of my current zone. Fuzzy and upside down, sorry.
- Today we ate açai shake, which is a berry that I've never seen.
Here it is with granola and banana. Yummmmm.
13 - FAROFA. Probably the best thing here in Bahia. And I made it! My
first batch, and it was fantastic. It's calabresa (I dunno in
English...meat of some kind), carrots, banana, garlic, onion, oil, and
farinha de mandioca. YAY.
14 - Me, playing the instrument of the fight/dance thing called
capoeira. I love the authentic sound and rhythm of this art and this
instrument. It is so BAHIANO.
15 - A piece of rubber. Shaped like Idaho. Ha!7 - Part of my current zone. Fuzzy and upside down, sorry.
Pictures--continued
8 - Baptism of Lucas and Jandira, son and wife of Josafá. The latter
is our most recent convert, and it was him that baptized his wife! The
priesthood is real, folks. The rapaz in a white tie is Antônio, our YM
president, who baptized Lucas.
9 - Yay baptism!
10 - Ceia de Natal, at a member's home. This was a small amount of
food, they said.
11 - my district! Elder Conceição, leader, Elder Smith, Sister Piola, Me.
12 - Me and a book written by a distant relative. Probably.
is our most recent convert, and it was him that baptized his wife! The
priesthood is real, folks. The rapaz in a white tie is Antônio, our YM
president, who baptized Lucas.
9 - Yay baptism!
10 - Ceia de Natal, at a member's home. This was a small amount of
food, they said.
11 - my district! Elder Conceição, leader, Elder Smith, Sister Piola, Me.
12 - Me and a book written by a distant relative. Probably.
Bunches of pictures. I hope ya'll are figuring out which labels go to which pic cause they don't always line up :)
1 - Needs no explanation. My family and a few crazy friends will understand.
2 - Same thing
3 - A missionary's Christmas tree.
4 - Marlene
5 - Our wonderful, wonderful Bishop, giving a Bishoply thought at our
Ceia de Natal. The food was gorgeous. I was asked, last-minute, by the
bishop to give a thought as well...probably more than 200 people.
Thank goodness the Lord prepares missionaries to always be ready for
moments like this. :-)
2 - Same thing
3 - A missionary's Christmas tree.
4 - Marlene
5 - Our wonderful, wonderful Bishop, giving a Bishoply thought at our
Ceia de Natal. The food was gorgeous. I was asked, last-minute, by the
bishop to give a thought as well...probably more than 200 people.
Thank goodness the Lord prepares missionaries to always be ready for
moments like this. :-)
New Year's Blurb
Happy New Year's! The tradition here in Bahia is go to the beach.
After a beautiful baptism, our district walked through the empty
streets of Dias D'Ávila, searching for a way to say tchau to 2011.
Everything was closed except a pharmacy. We entered, weighed
ourselves, bought ice cream pops, and sat on the curb for 10 minutes
as our celebration. For a missionary, it was pretty fun.:-)
This year, my world view has expanded, I have learned to converse like
a more normal person, and my testimony of the Gospel has increased. I
know that when people live the commandments of God, they will be
happy. When they don't, they will be unhappy, and will drag their
family and friends with them.
Spread the Gospel! Spread happiness!
I love the Lord and I know He lives.
Happy New Year!
Sister Petty
After a beautiful baptism, our district walked through the empty
streets of Dias D'Ávila, searching for a way to say tchau to 2011.
Everything was closed except a pharmacy. We entered, weighed
ourselves, bought ice cream pops, and sat on the curb for 10 minutes
as our celebration. For a missionary, it was pretty fun.:-)
This year, my world view has expanded, I have learned to converse like
a more normal person, and my testimony of the Gospel has increased. I
know that when people live the commandments of God, they will be
happy. When they don't, they will be unhappy, and will drag their
family and friends with them.
Spread the Gospel! Spread happiness!
I love the Lord and I know He lives.
Happy New Year!
Sister Petty
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