Best Week of The Mission

Fofa Familia

One of my favorite weeks on the mission, so wonderful. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve with Sister Felartigus, she is truly amazing.  I love the way she works with the people and truly shows she cares for them.  There is such a special spirit in every single one of our lessons and each day it gets better and better.  I really don’t want to leave!  I will probably only stay here for this transfer and then head off to a new place next month, ah I don’t want to think of that!  But the reality is next transfer will be 3 transfers almost five months in one area.   I will most likely say goodbye to my beloved St Antonio de Jesus next monthL But onward and upward!  And for now I will enjoy my favorite city in BrazilJ 

Highlight of the week: one of my favorite people that we have been teaching, Luana got baptized on Sunday!  It was truly a miracle. Saturday I was on splits with an awesome girl from our ward and we went to visit Luana, we started talking about her concerns regarding baptism and the girl I was with, Adriana answered every question so perfectly.  At the end, she said, “ I want to be baptized tomorrow”. I almost cried when I heard that.  The spirit testified so strongly that she was truly prepared and I know that she had finally heard the answer she had been searching for.  We’ve been teaching her over a month now, but she’s been scared of baptism, but everything changed Sunday, ah it was truly a miracle.  I cant remember if I already shared with you how we met her, quickly in case I didn’t, her story is truly miraculous.  I was walking in Rua ds Lina with Sister Oliveria and there was a young girl walking behind us.  I thought we had already talked to her on the street and I found out later that Sister Oliveria thought she was a friend with someone in our ward.  We were both wrong haha, but for some reason she did look very familiar to both of us.  She walked behind us for a while then Sister Oliveria turned around and introduced us.  She told us that Sisters had already taught her and started talking about the Word of Wisdom and the Restoration.  She invited us into her house and we taught her the first lesson, it was amazing.  We kept saying she felt medo (afraid).  It wasn’t until Adriana bore her testimony and answered her questions did she feel ready to be baptized.   What a blessing, the testimony of  a church member!

Her baptism was so beautiful, Sister Grundvig sang a perfect song. And the ordinance itself was so beautiful. It really made me think what my own baptismal covenants that I made.  Seeing her totally clean through baptism, to see her with such a strong desire to follow Christ, it was truly amazing. I feel so blessed to have been a small part in helping her make that decision. I think of the blessings in my life, all the best things trace directly back to the day our family was baptized. I know the covenants that we make in those waters are truly the doors that open the pathway to eternal joy for each one of us.  I feel so blessed to be one called, “to invite others to come into Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost  and enduring till the end”. I could not think of a more wonderful call. To truly be a disciple of Him.  He is directing this work and it is through His power that I see miracles everyday.  This is our message of joy to all: that He lives. I know this to be true. I love you all and I pray for you sempre (always). God be with you.

Love Always,

Sister McKenzie

This is Spider dog. They see this dog every day standing on this fence