More Pictures

BAPTISM OF TEREZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our musician investigators Cassio and Talina and their adorable kids!!! Brian and Camila!!
Me in a tree??

More Mission Pictures

Just taking pictures of myself....I´m happy to be a missionary!
This is my absolute new favorite thing!!!! CORN ICE CREAM! I was really afraid to try it at first but now I cant get enough of it! Its like eating corn bread but in the form of ice cream!!!
Our last district....they were fun!

Mission Pictures

This is just a random but kind of cool picture of Sister de Souza and me!
Baptism of Jenifer. She chose her boyfriends dad to baptize her! I thought that was neat since her bf could have!
I´m obsessed with the sunsets here!!!!!!!!

vez enquanto, quando voce acredite!‏

This week was much better than the last one, stressful still, but better! And goodness how the weeks are flying by now that P-days are on Monday! Not sure how its changing things so drastically but it is! Good news numero um is that we found a house!!! I´m really amazed by the tender mercies from Heavenly Father. Allow me to tell you a quick story: One day we were walking around trying to find a store to make XEROX copies but nothing was open. We found one that we walk by every day but never had paid any attention to before. The young man behind the counter, Xico, (she-ko) was happy to help us with our copies and whatever else we needed! We became fast friends with him. He has helped us with so much from, making CDs for investigators, copies for church, whatever, and he always gives us free ice cream! One day we figured it would be a good idea to ask him about a house and as it turns out his brother owns an apartment complex and had one available. When we went to look at it it was beyond perfect. Definitely a miracle for us because we have been searching and searching and its been frustrating because our work isnt progressing because we have to find a house! Whats even better is that Xico is now reading the Book of Mormon!!!! However we´re not teaching him because he unfortunately doesnt live in our area. But we will pass his info to the elders soon. He also promised to help us move and buy us pizza on our first day! Xico helped us find a home and we´re helping him to GET back home! :D Isnt it great to help each other?!

Miracle number two: When I arrived here in Parque das Laranjeiras there was a family recently baptized by my trainor, well almost a whole family. Only the dad and son and daughter. The mother decided not to be. However ever since I´ve been here she has atteneded church every Sunday, goes to institute, holds FHE, even invites friends and family to church! Basically what we call a "dry member" Shes basically a member just not baptized! Well yesterday she was! It was a miracle for sure. The spirit at her baptism was so strong. Her husband (recent covert) baptized her and bore testimony after, especially about their goal as a family to be sealed in the temple in one year. I´m pretty sure the whole ward was there and everyone was crying. It was absoultey beautiful to see a complete family. It couldnt have been better!

So all in al things are good. We have had some recent changes in our mission too. For example after the first lesson with an investigator we have to have members with us! its a rule now!! It will be difficult for sure but we´ll do our best. We also have to do 10 contacts per missionary per day. Things like that. We had a ward talent show last week too that was.....alright. It was really chaotic actually and stressful. We´re not the activities committee but we might as well have been. But we did have some investigators come and participate. The professional musicians! I´ll see if i can upload the video for you to watch! Well that's all for now. Hope everyone is well! Com amor aqui no Brasil!

-Sister Peck

August 16 Letter

This week has been really....off.....I think having two P-days made things more confusing. In addition we´re trying to find a house and its been really complicated. Unfortunately we´re apparently supposed to do everything alone and our zone leaders forbid any Elders from helping us?? I don't know what that's all about. But its a little ridiculous. Anyway its been very dramatic and stressful but we´re prayerful and hopeful that we can find a place. I am hoping soon.......

The work is alright despite everything being crazy. we received the suggestion to pray for miracles each day. We are working with such great people but the pattern seems to be as soon as we mark a baptismal date...it falls through and the person no longer wants anything to do with the church. :( anyway the lord truly answers prayers because a miracle did occur on Sunday. I cant write about it yet...just because....well I don't feel its the right time to share it but I will! But know that miracles do happen and the lord truly answers prayers according to our faith. however we have to have patience and realize that its in HIS time, definitely not ours. I´m grateful for this knowledge and for the things that are happening in our area.

Today for P-day we went to a real Rodizio!! It was SOOOOOOOO good!! But if you see a big chunk of money out of my VISA that's why. I paid for both me and my comp. But it was fun to get out and do something for a change.

Well unfortunately there is so much to write and no time today but I will write more next week. Love you all and thank you for your prayers and support!

P.S. Mom, without cheating, do you know where Cashews come from? I´m curious.

Ola

Sometimes I wake up and think "Wow. Do I actually live in Brasil??? How cool is that?!" I will be here in Laranjeiras another transfer with Sister de Souza. Things are okay here. We had Jenifer's baptism on Saturday which generally would be an extremely happy occasion. Unfortunately practically NO ONE from our ward attended which really was disheartening. There were only about 7 people including me and my comp, the elders, and Jenifer. She didn't seem to mind and was still happy so that was good to see. And honestly its not about the numbers really, I am confident the spirit can be present with 3 people present but everything was just odd. I´m not sure how to explain it. We really need more support from the members here but we can only do what we can do. We are teaching this guy, Marcel, right now that is just great. To paint an image: He is Zach Efrons twin. I dont even really know who Zach Efron is except that hes on the Disney Channel and this guy looks just like him! He has a real desire to learn about the gospel and is reading the Book of Mormon! I don't know theres just something about him. He treats us better than some of the members in our ward too....for example he always feeds us and gives us rides no matter the time or situation!

The other night it was really late and usually his mom goes with us in the car when he drops us off at home but she was already asleep. We assured him that we were okay to walk but he insisted and ran accross the street and got his NEIGHBOR! I´m sure she thought we were insane (what kind of weird rules do these mormons have anyway??) but he´s so nice and truly inquisitive about our teachings. He has a long way to go, that's for sure. But we are doing our best to plan and prepare lessons specifically for him that will help him feel the spirit and know that these things are true, that it IS possible for him to change his life around. He may think a lot of the things he´s involved in are "fun" but ultimately we know better. I was reading in Jesus the Christ about "pleasure" versus oh I can't remember the other word now! I think its "joy or happiness" or something....dang it I cant remember but anyway basically it talked about the same thing. Thigns that give us pleasure are but temporary and not of God. But things that give us pure joy will have a lasting happiness for eternity. This is the message we hope to share with Marcel! Pray for us!

We went to Sao Paulo today (its transfers) but only because it was free for us to take the bus and we were able to get our things out of our suitcases. It was fun to see people like the elders from my district in the CTM!!!! They are all so great! Some got skinny and others....well not quite so skinny lol. I wonder how I appear to them?? I am so excited to have an extra P-day on Monday! I got mom's mission ties letter and dads email. Thanks for all the updates. Wish I had time to go through everything but really I appreciate it. I am so confident the 24th of July Celebration was a success!!!! Wish I could have been there to be a part of it! How wonderful the missionary effort is continuing to flourish up there. Gosh!!!! And people said the USA is hard to serve!! I think no matter where someones serving a mission its difficult for different reasons. I wont lie and say that I dont have my difficult days. But I just breathe deeply and remember that everything is for my good and part of Heavenly Fathers plan. He is shaping me into the person He wants me to become, I can see that. I am grateful for the lessons I am learning and things I am experiencing. I know whole heartedly that its only here I could possibly have such experiences. I dont really care about the numbers of people I baptize or dont baptize during my time here in Brasil, I just hope to make a difference! If I´ve left an area better than I found it when I arrived, I will know I have done my part. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!!

-Sempre, Sister Peck

Com fe em cada paso!

We have a baptism this week! Her name is Jenifer and she is the girlfriend of a member here. We started teaching her and she accepted everything so naturally! Of course she is familiar with the church because of her boyfriend, but we felt that she isn't baptized only because no one has invited her! She is a great young woman and I´m so excited for her! We marked two more baptismal dates with the mom and brother of a member in our ward. It really appeared to be the same thing! No one had invited them to be baptized! It really strengthened my testimony and understanding of how important it is that we constantly share our testimonies and the gospel with others! We don't want it to be on our shoulders in the next life that our closest friends and family simply say "Well no one asked me!" That's why we as missionaries seriously talk to everyone!! As we pass people on the street I always think of this "future situation". We seriously never know who is ready and prepared to hear and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ!

I had another great experience this week. I had a really bad migraine on Sunday, that wasn't so great. But we had to go to a fireside all about missionary work. I was absolutely dying and one Irmao, who apparently knew I sang, approached me and asked if I would sing "I´ll Go Where You Want Me to Go". It was difficult to say yes under the circumstances of my health. But I agreed. I said a silent prayer and the Lord blessed me with health and strength yet again to bear my testimony through song. I was really surprised how it went and could tell others were touched by the Spirit. I of course knew it had nothing to do with me but was all the Lords doing. The words to the song are truly how I feel too, and I was honored to get to sing. As soon as I was done the headache came back with full force, but I was so grateful for the Lords answer to my simple prayer it didn't even matter! I know He hears and answers us according to our faith and His will. I was reading in Jesus the Christ today about the importance of prayer. One passage struck me in particular. It said something along the lines of "God will continue to be God if man ceases to pray, but without prayer, man is nothing." Something along those lines. It was really powerful! And so true. Prayer is for us! The Lord hears and acknowledges even the most humble of prayers. It is such a blessing and I am so thankful for it. Dang, I wish I could teach this way in Portuguese.... :)

Other than that things are pretty good here. Just living with the dogs and eating rice and beans! We had a Festa Julilhas the other Saturday at the church which was really fun to be a part of. Its a red-neck party where everyone dresses up like theyre from the country! usually involving beer, but obviously we had none. We had a lot of investigators come and a lot of help from the members, thank goodness. We had this idea to set up a board with holes in it for faces (I forget the name in English) and take pictures of all the investigators. We wrote down their addresses to "deliver the fotos we took for free" haha. Em serio it was a great way to get contacts! Legal nao e?? haha. I'll see if I can attach some pictures. Anyway things are great. Hope all is well at home! Have fun at the family reunion!!! Wish I could be there, but actually I´m quite happy where I am. Please take pictures and send them to me!!! Also from the 24th of July celebration! I want to hear how that went too!!!! Beijos e abraços!!

-Sister Emily Peck