Baptisms and Burnt Cake

First of all, the shift button on this keyboard is significantly worse than all of the other keys, and the rest of the keys stink, so bear with me.

We had a cake contest. One of our pesquisadores ended up winning, fairly. That was awesome. Brenda, the one that won, brought her neighbor, Simone, who has not been coming to church. This was her first time being in the church building!!!!! Gaaaaaahhhh, Brenda is so elect, it's crazy. When we heard that Simone was already at the church building with Brenda, we basically cried. It was awesome. And then, the next time we visited Brenda, her whole family decided to listen. WE FINALLY HAVE A FAMILY!!!! Man. Only 2.5 weeks in the field. I'm a little worried about maintaining enthusiasm. It seems like more and more people are uninterested as time goes on. That's pretty hard.

Part of my letter to President today (excuse my poor grammar- still learning!):

*"Esta semana, tivemos uns poucos dias difíceis e eu estava desejando a saber como missionários podem continuar nesta obra por um ano e meio ou dois anos. Eu recebi uma resposta. No Sábado, eu e Sister de Souza ouvimos que nossa pesquisadora Iasmin passou a sua entrevista batismal. Então, decidimos a visitar ela. Ela foi MUITO animada para ser batizada. Minha resposta é que posso continuar nesta obra por causa da necessidade ajudar estes pessoas tem o mesmo animo!!! Então estou muito animada para continuar trabalhar muito diligentemente. Estamos esperando um outro batismo esta semana. " 

*This week we had a few difficult days and I was wondering how missionaries can continue in this work for a year and a half or two years. I got an answer. On Saturday, Sister de Souza and I heard that our investigator, Iasmin, had her baptismal interview. We then decided to visit her. She was VERY excited to be baptized. My answer is that I can continue in this work because of the need to help these people have the same happiness!!! So I'm very excited to continue working very diligently. We are expecting another baptism this week.

Iasmin was baptized this week! Man. It was so great. The day before was her baptismal interview. We visited her house afterwards and she was sitting outside with her family. When she saw us, she jumped up and ran to us, yelling, "I passed!!!!!!!!" It was so great- she was so excited and the spirit so strong when she was baptized. And she is still super pumped to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost next Sunday. :) (Baptisms happen a little differently here). The members were so supportive and Sister de Souza made a (unfortunately ugly and slightly burnt) cake; it was just a great Sunday. :)

We had a lot of answers to prayer this week- we had a few difficulties. Apparently this is not normal because Sister de Souza was getting a little frustrated. We prayed and, it happened a lot this week, then we would find a new pesquisador right before having to stop looking for *novos. I think every time this happened, "Man. It's super great that the Lord is helping us!!!" (Although maybe this week we can find people a little faster?? Please??????) *New

We travelled to Pelotas this week for a training. It was super great to see the other missionaries in the south of my mission! And I got to see a lot of the other verdinhos, like Elder Chowen and Elder Mello! Yay! We also had my first district meeting. That was cool. Our numbers definitely need to improve. Looks like the other companionships are struggling rn too. We have a lot of work to do. I'm really excited for this next week. I love this work and I love being a missionary!!!!!

I don't think I am homesick, but I definitely miss you all very much. So many things remind me of each of you. An example about Grandma Dayley: every day we pass a house that sells Avon and so I always remember when Grandma and I sold Avon together. There are lots of other things but I don't have time to write them all. I love you all so much! I hope thanksgiving and Black Friday were awesome. (Here, Black Friday is the whole month. fun fact.)

Until next week! #SejaALuzDoMundo Woo! Christmas is on it's way!!

-Sister Hartman

Not gonna starve here. Members are GREAT!

Yup, MCD's is EVERYWHERE!

As are beautiful sunrises.

Freckles, Drugs and: *Parabéns, BUBBA!!!!! (Birthday Shoutout to Bubs:18 finally!)

First things first: 

Happy Birthday to Bubba this week! I'm so sorry I missed it. Just know that I was celebrating your birthday from Brasil and that I was aware all day. (*I hope Mom didn't forget to give you my gift.) Love you lots! (*Rest assured, I remembered.)

Man. This week. There's so much to say. It's been a super hard week. It's been such an amazing times. Best of times, worst of times, yeah. It's real.

I have a (not-so) secret admirer, Elder Moura, who told me, in a very elegant nonLove Letter, that he thinks I'm gonna kill it in Brasil because I don't have an American accent. Haha. 

Me and SB are so so so focused on the work, but don't worry, we're still having a ton of fun. Usually.

I get so many compliments on my sardas (freckles). They're not common in Brasil. Luckily, people think they're beautiful and don't think they look like a disease, like *Grandma Dayley did when she was young. :)  (*Grandma tells stories of not loving her freckles when she was a kid.)

Some of the troubles I have been having include things that I need to change and a lot of things that I'm learning about myself and companionships. Companionships aren't hard though. We are a BOMB companionship. Some days, she sings SO LOUD in the shower and everywhere. It's awesome. I love those days. SB is super awesome. One particular day this week, we were having a good day (I think it was yesterday? The days are long and hard to keep track of!) We gave this lesson about the Word of Wisdom and it was the LITERAL best lesson I think I ever have given. We didn't forget anything, there was a good amount of discussion between us and Nielly, we had perfect answers for all of her questions because the Spirit was so strong, and in the end she agreed to live the word of wisdom. Man. In the provo MTC, they told us that our companionship matters to lessons. I didn~t believe it much because we still gave decent lessons on days that we were ehh (*tbh, many days) but when I see how well we work together on really good days, it makes me way more motivated to be more understanding and make an even greater effort towards our companionship. I would really appreciate some prayers though because I still have 3 weeks left. :>)   (*TBH= to be honest)

Elder Ostler rapped the entire song, curses and slurs discluded, of *Rap God this week in class. Yep. 

(*FYI- it's a reallllly long rap song by Eminem, with not much of note to say. )

If you thought Utah weather was bipolar, come to São Paulo. It can literally rain 6 separate times in one day. Sometimes I don't super feel like running for the entire time of Actividade Física so I'll lay down on the bench and just watch the clouds. They ZIP by. I swear I can see 3 separate black clouds go by. Some days are really hot. Some days are really cold. I love it here!

The food here continues to be great. Dessert is always gelatinous. Usually it's good. There's a lot of meat, beans, and rice, and bread. They always put something in the water. Like fruit slices, or rosemary or something. *Idk why. I have been having some serious stomach issues and other discomforts this week. Luckily, the drugs here are awesome because the laws aren't as strict. I heard that the highest dosage of one pill that you can have of Tylenol in the states is 500 or something but here it's 700. Anyway, the meds here are super great. (*IDK= I don't know)

My zone is super awesome. Elders Chowen, Sackett, Ostler, Welling. Teachers are Irmão Peres and Irmã Andrade. We're going to get Açai with Irma Andrade at 3:30 (in 10 minutes). I'm so excited! Anyway, my 45 minutes are up so they're kicking me out. They have quite a system for emailing. 

This week I memorized Alma 32:21 and Mosiah 3:19 and John 3:16. Actually, just read all of Alma 32. And 2 Nephi 31. I have started reading the book of mormon in portuguese. I know about 90% of the words now. It's pretty awesome. Love you all so much! I'm feeling the prayers every day! I miss you all so much. :)

Andy, thanks for your letter! I was so happy to get it. I miss you so much too! I am definitely having a wonderful time at the MTC. I'm so excited for when you get to come here too! I LOVE YOU! It's so nice to hear that you learned that lesson at Sister Nielson's about how we can pray to God for help. That is sooooo true. There are so many blessing we can get when we are obedient. Don't forget to pray to Heavenly Father every day for help! I know He loves you, almost as much as me ;) (Just kidding, a lot more than me). Be good for Mom and Dad! Love you!

I love you all!! Don't forget to remember that God loves you and that the church is super true!!

*Bubba, be a good 18 year old. Love you!  (*Don't y'all love getting a special shout out from the sis?? Maybe it depends on the message, hehe. Of course she did get you a not-to-be-topped gift and told Andy God loved him more than her. And she's 2000 miles away. She can say what she wants.)

-Sister Hartman

Me in my new digs in Brasil. (Thanks, Santanas for my flag!!)

Outside the CTM: Sao Paulo, Brasil

Me with Pres. Paulo R. Grahl and Sister Zuleika M. Grahl

Sao Paulo at night- so beautiful

Elders just chillin.

Opened a gift sent in the suitcase!