*Central Eurasian Mission speaking Turkish. He reports to the Provo MTC on December 20th.
All right, getting right to your questions*.
*She wrote to Leroy that I had "a Billion questions." Such an over-stater!
On whether the area has a high baptizing rep:
No, the area isn't a high baptizing area. Well kinda, but just a high child-baptizing area. Meaning: only children get baptized here. The branch got super pumped when we baptized 3 non-children in one weekend. I've been chatting with Sister Braga who has been in this area for 4.5 months now. She says she's never taught as many people or marked as many baptismal dates. Super awesome. We have a lot of potential baptizees. We have one this weekend and it's looking like we'll have about 4 this month of October!! (1 Year!!* Crazy!)*October 4th is her 1 year mark. Woot!
On who they're currently teaching:
We're teaching some Jehovah's Witnesses; they made lunch for us today. I'm pretty sure they're going to get baptized soon! They love the Book of Mormon, have gone to church a few times and know a lot of the members.
On how she's managing all those people:
I have no idea how we're managing our time with them all. It just happens? We're really trying to let the Lord lead our planning sessions. I'm amazed at how things work out every day. This week, we ended up teaching 44* people and having 35 baptismal dates. We met so many incredible people this week. I'm psyched!! Last week of the transfer too.
*Abnormally high numbers, even for Brazil. They usually average 1 baptism a month.
On how she's managing the stress:
I don't know how I'm relieving my stress. To be honest, I don't feel very stressed out. The members tell me I am super faceira*. Just super happy always. My resting face is happier. I looked into a mirror and I was happy and smiling except I didn't know it. I think I'm learning to trust in the Lord and feel the peace that a Christ-centered life brings. It's real Joy, you know?*Dictionary definition: Happy, cheerful, charming, handsome, content.
On the other things she's learned:
I've learned how to play the accordion a little. I don't know. I feel like I'm learning a lot. Exercises, etc. I learned, kind of, how to knit, but I really do not have the talent for it. I'm fantastic at cleaning and keeping the house organized and everyone tells me I should be a veterinarian because I'm obsessed with animals. President BANNED Me from touching animals for the rest of my mission because my rash is still bad and probably caused by touching the dogs in the street. I cried.
On how she and her comp are together:I help clean up and I taught my companion some card games. She buys me chocolate. We get along well. :-) Not a single problem so far!
On who feeds them and who their 'people' are:
We eat with members every day. The special people in my life are the members! They're all related and I feel part of the family already. Seriously, they're all so incredible, faithful, helpful and awesome. If I could marry into this family, I would!
On what we should send her for Christmas:
I don't think I need anything for Christmas. I think I'll end up buying a ton of food and some new shoes*, I don't know. But I would like to give BYU shirts to my companions and American food- they all think it's awesome!
*Shoes are a constant issue cuz they walk so much and it's often unpaved.
On her comp's family:
My companion is from Fortaleza. Her sister will be starting her Mission papers soon. Sister Braga was super excited for Bubba with me. :-). She's a great example of Charity and Service to me. They write her, she gets stuff every once in awhile (she's new on the mish; she got here with sister Lins, whom I trained.)On receiving packages:
Mom, being in Arroio Grande means we get packages never. I just got a package that you sent in July. There was no stamp so I don't know when it arrived. But it was opened by Customs. We never go to the mission office or the temple because only the people in the Northern Division of the mission go. I have spent the whole mission in the southern Division and currently live closer to the Uruguay Mission home than our mission home. But, I'll be able to get the shade shirts* to Gotuzo, no problem. It'll just take a little while. I'll send it via missionaries, AKA for free. Don't worry!
*One member wanted shade shirts. Another wanted garments. That's usually what's been filling our packages to her. Plus a few little treats for her and her comp.
On her health:
Don't worry. My feet are fine. The rash* is still there but more on my arms than my legs now. I'm in general just fine. Sometimes my ankle hurts but it happened at home sometimes, too, so nothing abnormal.
*She's allergic to Brazil. JK. She's had it all over her legs for months, which has spread to her arms.
On why her hair is so long:
I want to sell my hair and make Bank.
On what inspires her:
The thing that inspires me is the faith of the members. It's not easy being part of a tiny Branch. It's what motivates me to work extra hard. This Branch deserves more converts.
On the weather conditions:
The weather has been fine. Just a lot of rain which is bad because it means our investigators don't go to church: no one has a car here. Sometimes it gets really hot or kind of cold I don't know. It's spring, luckily.
On travel:
We're planning a lot better so we don't walk as much. Probably only 10K* at maximum. We are totally in the middle of nowhere.
* About 6.2 miles
On coming home:I should be getting a call soon with details about my return flight. It'll probably be mid-March. But, I was thinking about staying one more transfer, so I don't know yet.
The Miracles continue to come. Bub will love the mission. I pray for you guys. I don't think about you guys much during the day because we teach so much but you guys live in my heart! Keep living a Christ-centered life! It's what will make us happy and protect us from difficulty that could come. I love you all! I love my future Eternal Family!
Until next week.
Love,
Sister Hartman
