Home Means Nevada............

Hello Everyone!

 So many things to say this week! I am LOVING my new area Pombal (po (as in pony) -m-bow (as in take a bow!) Pombow! It’s about 7 hours from João Pessoa and one of the farthest away areas in the mission. It’s really hot because it’s the desert! The landscape reminds me of Nevada- Which is weird to feel a little at home but in another country! The town is clean, has a cute little center with parks and trees, and two Old Catholic churches which are just very neat! The people are loving and a lot more open here. I can walk around with my camera because it isn’t dangerous here. Funny fact- The people here don’t have much to do (they don’t have a mall, or movie theater- nothing!) so they dress up at night just to walk around the city square. It reminds me of the olden times a little bit! But with modern clothes of course...

  The church here is fairly new- it’s only been here one year. Mostly all of the members are new and learning how the church works. The people are loving, and I am really excited to work here. They are really needing a lot of help, and I know that the Lord sent me here to do just that!

   My companion is Sister Arruda. She is from Mato Grosso, and used to live with Indians there for a while! She´s teaching me some of the xavante, or the Indian language.  It’s pretty sweet! I’m happy to serve with her! It was her birthday last Friday, so we ate açai and sang to her. I didn’t have much to do because I’m new here, but I think she enjoyed her day!

   I am being eaten alive by mosquitos these past few months. I think they follow me and stay in my suitcase! Ugh… just pray that they go away!

 Well I am happy and ready to get to work. I love you all! Pray that I won’t die in this heat here!

 Love, Sis. Gordon

 Eating Acai for companion's birthday...new companion on right, former companion on the left back

 Transfers..........all packed ready to go!

 Acai, a yummy treat!

 New Companion

 Countryside in Pombal

 Our new roommate in Pombal...Sister Toad.

 Mode of vehicular transprotacion...

 On the radio...........

 Animals on the tracks at night

 Stop, Look and Listen about the Book of Mormon

 Sunset over Pombal..........

Goodbye Mangabeira, Hello Pombal!

Hello everyone!

 I would love to say that I am the happiest person right now, but I truly am pretty sad. I am being transferred to Pombal, a city in the middle of nowhere tomorrow. I am happy about the new change, but really sad to leave my area. Let me tell you why-

 Last night I went to the church for a meeting. I said goodbye to some people and then when we entered into the meeting `Surpriseeeeeee!!` It wasn’t a meeting at all! So many members were there to say goodbye and thank me for everything, which is silly because I needed to be thanking them. But I felt so loved. I have to admit that I started to cry the moment I walked in. So many people were there, and they have little gifts for me. I felt so special and very loved. I couldn’t believe that they had done this for me. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve these people here.  To know that even though it appeared like I didn’t have much success in Mangabeira, I was able to help the members love one another. I believe this area will change dramatically as they show this love to others. Most of the credit for this actually goes to my companion! But I felt truly loved. I will send pictures next week.

On Monday I will tell you all more and send pictures. 

Love ya´ll!

Sister Gordon

I Can See Africa

Today was a good day. We had a zone prep day and went to a tourist point near the beach. It was pretty fun to go with everyone and take pictures. This point is the furthest point east in South America, which puts us closest to Africa. Cool huh! We have about 10 sisters in my zone and it’s always fun seeing them!
I am not trunky, but I am getting tired. Sometimes its hard to work hard, be exhausted, and talk with everyone but not see too many results. We received new sisters here and for the first time I can focus on one area.

we have been focusing on showing love and bringing a new attitude to the branch. After five months of being here and with the help of Sister DeSouza we are finally seeing some great results!! We planned an activity for this week and invited everyone personally, and reminded everyone until it got annoying, but everyone was really excited about it on Sunday. I’m pretty sure it will be a success. But it’s great to see some results with our challenges in this area, now we just need to start baptizing more! We can make 100 contacts, or knock on 100 doors, and maybe 1 will be baptized. But out of 10 referrals we receive, the odds are that 3 will be baptized. So our goal is to help the members and motivate them to help us.

I am doing really well and am happy. ITs crazy how fast time flies. I will give it my all until the end. I have to admit that I am pretty tired, but we still work a lot!

My companion is pretty funny, and she has been telling me that I am really cheap and frugal! She´s always saying `Lighten up a tiny bit! You can spend 10 cents more on this  every now and then!` They call people like this `Mão de vaca` translated, cow hand, because they are tight with money. I thought it was pretty funny because I didn’t think I was like that, but most of my companions are calling me this! You would be proud of me dad :)

Love and miss you all! Please send letters!

Stephanie