Weekly Update

I sure love being in a trio! It´s tons of fun! It´s like a slumber party every night! hahaha. I did hear some rumors though (they´re not really rumors when you hear it from the secretaries) that our trio is going to be split up next week though! Dang. I will probably stay here with Sister Lund and Sister Felipe will open an area with a short term sister. Nothings set in stone yet so we´ll keep waiting to hear. Hope she stays! Well whatever the Lord´s will is but it will be hard to say goodbye! Sister Felipe has been such a help here even in this short time!

We had a blessing fall from the sky last week too. A young man named Francisco just moved here from another state to study and work and is living with his sister, who happens to be in our ward! whoohoo! During Carnival, the young men and young women have lots of activities planned (kind of like mini EFY) and he got here just in time! The incredible youth of our ward won Fransisco right over and he is now taking the lessons and accepted a date to be baptized NEXT WEEK! He is so cute. He shows up to our lessons with scriptures in hand! When we say "who can give the opening prayer?" he says "Um can I?" I just beam! It is amazing to me how the Lord prepares people to hear the gospel. I never fail to be amazed at just how aware He is of each of us individually. He knows and loves Fransisco. He knew him when he lived way in the North of Brasil and prepared the way for him to come in contact with the church so many miles away here in Sao Paulo! Our area is SO small and the church is SO old here. It´s so easy to think, "oh its pretty hard to do missionary work and everyone knows everything about the church already." But the Lord knows these people, not me. He knows who is prepared and it is our job (ahem, along with the memebrs) to find them! How fun! It´s like a treasure hunt! And the treasure is better than gold and silver! One member in our ward is excellent. He shares the gospel with any client that comes into his store. He even has is own area book!!!!!!!! Every time he passes a reference to us (which is often) he says "I just want to see everyone I know in the Celestial Kingdom Sisters, thats all. Gotta do everything I can to make it happen!" What an incredible attitude!!!!!!!!

I´m also very excited about a couple we met the other day making contacts in a very chique neighborhood. The man is an owner of a major company here in Brasil whose headquarters are in the states. He speaks English very well but wants some help with some technical/grammatical things. So he invited us over to "teach" him! Actually it was more of a conversation because he speaks perfectly but through that we were able to explain who were are and what we do and invite them to stake conference which is this weekend. They said they would come too!!!! What tender mercies. I am grateful to be a missionary. Its the best job in the world!!! I know I always say that but I still feel that way! I wake up every morning and think "Gosh, how lucky am I?" The church is true and I am blessed to know it! I want to make sure that everyone I know is in the Celestial Kingdom with me someday too and I "gotta do everything I can to make it happen" :)

Com amor,

Sister Peck

Mais uma semana!

Today I made TACOS!!!! Thanks to my mom for sending taco seasoning, we were able to enjoy a great Mexican lunch in Brasil! I don´t have too much to say today other than we are just eagerly waiting to find out about transfers....we usualy dont find out until late. We may stay as a trio for next transfer! Who knows. I really dont have too much to report but we did have some incredible experiences this week! We had an exceptional lesson with Novena and her husband on Friday night. We brought a member with us who speaks English and it just couldn´t have gone better!

The spirit was so strong and we were all very much in awe of this elect family. Mario is reading the Book of Mormon every day. He told us that he really is into the story but is noticing that it is more important what he is feeling rather than reading! We just got Novena a Book of Mormon in english so she hasn´t started it yet but she is really excited about the unity it will bring their family on a spiritual level. Our goal with them is to get them to church and then a baptismal date. They´re even married legally! We are all basically enamored with their family, her Australian accent, everything!

We also taught Jean and Orlando! Orlando was a referral from the Internet. Turns out he met a brand new elder at the airport who had just arrived from the united states. In his broken Portuguese he bore his testimony and invited Orlando to meet the missionaries, who happen to be..... us! Orlando was very touched by this humble young man and that´s where we come in! It was a great lesson. He had wonderful questions and is very excited to learn more. Isn´t it amazing how the Lord works? Surely by small and simple means are great things brought to pass.

Other than that we have been working very hard to talk with everyone through contacts and find new people! I am so happy and healthy, well somedays (hehe) and love to be on the Lord´s errand! Sorry I don´t have more to say. Or maybe you´re grateful since I usually write a novel! ;) The gospel is true! Look for missionary opportunities and open your mouth like the elder in the airport! Love you all! Até mais!

-Sister Peck