A Sister Missionary Prep Day........and Pizza Hut!

What a wonderful week! I cannot express how wonderful it is to serve a mission. I have so much to say this week, and not enough time. Of course it always is like that yesterday we had a Sister´s prep day. Or in other words, a little bit of Heaven. We started the day with cinnamon rolls close to the beautiful beaches of Brazil. Then took a ton of pictures! A little shopping for tourist stuff, and then....PIZZA HUT! I cannot express how wonderful it was to eat normal pizza! The pizza here is a bit weird.. After we went to the mission president’s house and had an extremely spiritual testimony meeting, and after hung out. I cut hair while others did nails. IT was so fun! It was wonderful to get to know the other sisters and spend some time with my mission president.

This past week was wonderful. We worked really hard and have truly seen the blessings of the Lord in our area. Actually, we have too many blessings and people to teach that I am overwhelmed and feeling insufficient. But what a wonderful problem!

I can truly say that the Lord is right next to us as we work. I have seen miracles and had very special experiences that have helped me understand how close the Lord really is in our lives. I love testifying about the happiness we find in the church. We still have hard times, and challenges, but we always have a sure peace and a friend to turn to, our Savior. I am so grateful to be serving!

I hope everyone is doing well! Please let me know how you are- send letters! It’s been forever since I´ve received one, and I want to know how life is treating ya´ll!

Congratulations to Kim Harrison who is getting married this week. Kim- you´re in my thoughts and I am so happy for you. It breaks my heart that I won’t be there, but you have a friend in Brazil that is so happy and proud of you. I love you Kim! Congrats Jesse- you´ve got a wonderful future wife!
I love you all, and pray for you. Keep me in your prayers!
Love,
Sister Steph


Cinnamon Rolls! Yum!!




This is the point of brazil that is closest to Africa! Cool!


Do you think I'll ever be as tan as he is?!

Joao Pessoa


BRASIL!!!

Pizza Hut....Americana!

This is how I look everyday...notice the sweat mark across my shirt! Ugh! It's HOT HOT HOT here!

Working hard.......

Hello everyone!

I am tired. We worked so hard this week. Walking all day in the hot, hot sun really drains you out. We have been receiving many references, and trying to contact all of these people. Lately I have been feeling really overwhelmed though- let me explain. This area I have been in is extremely big. We take care of two wards, which is a huge area. One ward is really strong and trying to split- so wanting the missionaries to help. The other ward is really weak and needing some serious missionary help. So, it’s been difficult trying to use our time evenly for these two wards. I can’t even explain how much we walk here! I am praying that our mission president will put another set of sisters here soon, because it´s becoming too much!! But I am working and time is passing faster than ever. Crazzzzy! But I am not complaining, it’s wonderful to have stuff to do, people to contact and teach, and members who help! It’s too big of a blessing that I can´t handle all of it alone!

I had one experience that was special this week. About two months ago, we visited a less active member and her 13 other family members who are less active as well. We marked a FHE with her, but for some reason we forgot and never went. The other day, I was passing close to her house, and strongly felt that I should stop there and say, “HI”. I had felt really guilty for what happened, and almost didn’t want to say anything at all. But we talked to them, found out that they had planned a special FHE for us to come, and we didn’t show up. I felt AWFUL! But we talked with them, and apologized. That week we visited them, the Bishop visited and other members as well. She came to a ward activity with some other members of her family. This Sunday, she got up and bore her testimony. She said that she had been passing through a difficult time in her life and had prayed for direction. When I showed up that day, it was an answer to her prayer. She had been strong in the church for 14 years and less active for 10, but now she knows that this is the right place and I had been a great answer to her prayer! It felt so wonderful to see her there with her 4 grandchildren and I hope they continue strong.

Well I hope everyone is well. Christmas is coming up sometime in the future and I would love to get your Christmas cards! My letters are dwindling- so if you have extra time, PLEASE WRITE! I love to hear from you.

I love you all and you are in my prayers!

Love, Sister Gordon

Surviving the heat.............

We had a wonderfully HOT week! I think my body is starting to get used to the heat here, or I am just getting used to sweating A LOT. Either way, it’s still pretty hot. My companion and I have been working like crazy and I hope it will pay off. Having Sis. Machado as a companion has been really different. I feel a lot taller, (in fact, several people called me `tall` this week- Are they craaazy???) I have more seniority because people already know me, and I know the area. I am also teaching, talking and scheduling more than I ever did before. It´s been great! I have improved with the language; still have a lot to learn, but am feeling more and more comfortable every day.

I don’t really have TOOO much to say, seriously, I am getting so boring! We had Lulu’s baptism yesterday- it was so amazing. This girl has truly changed her life and felt so much joy in the gospel. She already was a happy person, but to see the huge smile she has at church is so wonderful. I have known her for a few months now, and we have become close friends. It´s so great to meet new people here and make true friendships. I am so happy for her!! I hope her twin ZeZe gets baptized next week- they are just great girls.

I have to say that seeing Elder Bednar talk last week changed a lot for me. It was such an incredible experience! One thing that meant a lot to me was his definition of Faith. He talked about how most people pray and just ask for things, and then are upset when they don’t happen. He proposed that we pray in a way that we first tell the Lord how we are going to act, or what we will do to receive the blessings we want. This week I have started to do this, and I have worked hard. The incredible thing is that when you follow through with what you tell the Lord you will do, He blesses you with that specific thing you asked for, as long as it is his will too. It’s been incredible! Now, every time I see the word Faith, I think Action. We need to act, and show the Lord that we deserve his blessings. It’s truly changed how I pray.

I am so grateful to be here. It´s my life now, and I am so happy here on the mission. Time isnt too important to me, or my own self isn’t too important. If you saw the way I am dressing, and wearing my hair, you would realize that I don’t care anymore! Ha ha sad I know. But the best part is seeing the smiles on people´s faces when they feel the Lord´s love in their life. Read your scriptures- say your prayers- Go to church- and ACT. I love you all! Till next week!

-Sister Gordon

OO- I totally forgot about Halloween yesterday. They don’t celebrate it here, and I was kind of sad when I remembered. Just because I really would like some good ´ol American candy right about now. The desserts here aren’t that great.. But I hope you had fun!

New Companion

Hello everyone!!

Wow. I can´t express how wonderful I am feeling right now! I have so much to say, and have time to write today!

Yesterday we had the wonderful opportunity to see Elder Bednar and hear him speak. It was an incredible experience. He taught so many things that I can use on my mission, and he was so down to earth. When he bore his testimony at the end, about Christ and the church, I felt the spirit so incredibly strong and knew that what he was testifying was 100% true. That was an addition to my testimony, and now I can truly testify that this gospel is real and not even stop for a mille second to think otherwise. It was extremely wonderful!

Other than that I have been working really hard! I´m liking my new companion- She is Brazilian and has a little more than a year on the mission. It’s been okay so far; she is great but is very different from my last companion. Just getting used to her and increasing my patience! I pretty much act like the senior companion- I know the area, everyone talks to me, and it’s great! I’m talking more, and working like crazy. The days pass faster when you’re working hard.

We have a baptism this weekend of a very amazing girl. It has been wonderful to see the absolute happiness that the gospel brings. She is so happy! She’s full of joy and just beaming. I love moments like this, because it truly comes down to bringing people to the church to find happiness. I am so extremely grateful for my mission- it´s everything to me! I think every day, who would I have been without my mission?? I don’t want to know, but I do know that I am changing, becoming a better and stronger, more wise person. It is incredible! I encourage everyone to go on a mission- you will love it if you want to. That’s the trick- You get out of it what you put into it!
Well have a good week everyone. Pray for Lulu and her twin Zeze- I hope they get baptized this week. I love you all and have a wonderful week!

-Sister Gordon


Me, Thais, Lulu (she will be baptized this sunday)and my companion


Me and Sis Maughan!


Me and my new companion- Sis. Machado




Hanging outside of the bus, close to the beach.

A new companion! Good Bye Sis. Pozete, I'll miss you my friend!

Hello everyone!

 This will be a quick letter. So this week was great! I wasn’t transferred, but I received a new companion. She just got here and I don’t know her well, so I don’t really have much to say. I hope it will be good- Sister Pozete and I were good friends. So I hope the same happens here too!

 This week Thais was baptized. It was one of the biggest trials of my faith and a miracle. It’s a whole wonderful story, and I would love to write it all, but I don’t have time.  I will soon though! But thank you for your prayers.

My goodness, I have so many cool stories to tell and no time! Bummer!! But maybe I will next week. I hope this week goes well. We have an incredible opportunity this week- Elder Bednar (click for information on Elder Bednar) (an Apostle) will be visiting, and we will hear from him Monday. I am sooo excited!!!  So my prep day will be different again, I think. But sooo neat!!!!! 

I am doing well but not looking forward to the rest of this day. Sis. Pozete left earlier than normal, and no one knows she has left. So I will have to see a ton of sad faces today, but looking forward to this new change.

 I have to say that I can truly see the Lord blessing my life. But, most of the time the blessings and miracles come after a huge trial of my faith. Chapter 12 in Ether, the Book of Mormon, (click to read Ether) talks about this, and I love it. Read it- okay?? But I think the Lord loves to test every one of us, and then bless us with more than we expected. Whenever we need anything, he is there. Whenever you have a doubt or question- just pray! Heavenly father helps us with everything. I am so grateful to be here. I am melting, yes, but being blessed at the same time, I think it will be weird to return home and not be constantly sweating! Have a wonderful week! I love you all and am so grateful for your prayers! Until next week!

Love,
 Sister Gordon



Thais´s baptism! Such a wonderful experience.

I'm addicted to this candy!



Twin sisters I am teaching...they are so cute and cool.


She's so cute!


Thais, a new member now



An awesome investigator, Vagna is her name.


We rode to the bus station in a packed car- backpacks, suitcases, and 6 people! I had to hang out the window!


Transfers!

Sisters I spent the day with, so fun!

HAPPY 6 MONTHS TO ME!

Hello everyone!

 I just have to start out by saying, “ HAPPY SIX MONTHS TO ME!!!”  Wow, six months. My goodness! One third of my mission is done. WOW. A year is still a long time ahead, but it passes by soo fast! I still have a lot to do here, and a lot to learn, that is for sure. But I feel like its a little accomplishment! ha-ha I’m sure elders just laugh at this because they stay so much longer, but O well! I’m happy!

 So what happened this week that is worth talking about?? I don’t even know. After 4 months in the same area with the same companion, I am starting to get ready for a change. I don’t have any more cool pictures to show you guys, or anything too fun to say. Sad! But don’t worry; I will transfer at some time. Maybe next week? Next week is transfers and I’m way nervous. We are getting a bunch of new sisters on the mission, so I´m almost positive something will change this transfer! Aghhh, so nervous! But I trust the Lord, so whatever happens will be for the best.

Let’s see...  You all say my life is exciting, but I have nothing to say! O- So the church is encouraging the missionaries to find families and men to teach. My companion and I have been doing just that. The BIG PROBLEM- No one is married. NO ONE IS MARRIED. A few weeks ago we had 7 families we were teaching, and none of them married. They have to be married to be baptized! And the reason why is because they have to pay here. When people can barely buy food for their family, the last thing they want to do is pay $152 to be married. That is a lot of money for them!! So, its very difficult to baptize these families. And on top of that, people are very lazy and fall through with commitments really fast. But, the good news is that we have one couple who is just wonderful. The man is a member, and the girl isn’t, but they are very committed and she has a strong desire to be baptized. I have a feeling it will take forever to marry them and then baptize her. We´ve already had been teaching them for more than a month! But pray for us to find married families to teach!

 This week we taught a woman named Vagna. She started telling us about how she frequented another church for 8 years, and started to not feel good about their teachings. She fell away, and now a while later felt like she needed to find a church again. So as we answered her questions about tithing, or fasting, she completely agreed with everything we taught. We taught her the first lesson and felt the spirit strongly. After, she had a smile on her face, and said that she really enjoyed our message, and loved that she agreed with everything. She started to cry and said that she felt so good about what we were teaching, and felt so happy. We told her that it was the Spirit she was feeling, and that the things we were teaching were true. It was such a wonderful thing to find someone ready to hear about the true gospel of Jesus Christ, and to feel the Spirit testifying that what we were teaching was true. I love moments like this! This is why I am here, to bring this happiness to others.

 Like I have been saying every week, it’s getting hot. I found the way to describe it. You know that feeling of heat when you have a fever? Your whole body is hot and uncomfortable, and its hard to cool down. And when you sleep, you wake up sweating a lot. This is my life here. For a majority of the day/week I feel like this. Uncomfortably, feverishly, sweaty hot. I can’t imagine what will happen these next few months as it gets hotter! It’s incredible to think that it’s getting cool where ya´ll are- what is cool?

   Well, I love you all and am so grateful for your prayers. Pray that all will go well with transfers this week! I miss you all and am so happy to be serving here. Have a wonderful week!!  Love, Sister Gordon

It's Getting Hotter!

So I promised a more interesting email this week. I hope you will like this. I can feel myself starting to turn into that churchy missionary who only has a testimony to bear and nothing interesting to say... o No!!
But first I must be this missionary and say that I LOVED General Conference. Unfortunately/fortunately I watched 3/4 of it in Portuguese. I still learned a lot and enjoyed it, but the one session in English was much easier to feel the Spirit. It is so much different watching conference when you are a missionary! You have your investigators there, or you are thinking about them during the talks. You realize the importance of having modern day prophets and apostles. You feel the spirit and totally pay attention. And it goes by so fast! I always want to be a missionary during conference, it is so uplifting. I hope you all learned a lot and didn’t sleep too much!

I will tell you about an investigator we have. I think I have already talked about her, her name is Thais and she is 18. It’s been months now that we have been working with her, and after all this time we still are on the first lesson, teaching her about the importance of the restoration of the gospel and how important the priesthood is. Of course, we have talked about a billion other things, but it’s been a trial of faith. She was raised Jehovah’s Witness, and has some pretty interesting points of view. But she is really open to learning about the gospel. It finally came down to her realizing that she was looking for the gospel of Thais, and not the gospel of Christ. The gospel of Christ means sacrifice, work, faith, and most of all happiness. She says she hasn’t received a testimony, but we all know she has. Last night we were finally able to mark her baptism, with her hesitance, and are so excited to prepare her for the next two weeks. She is so awesome! She even was talking about how she would like to be a missionary like us someday. It’s such a wonderful feeling. The story about her is so much more detailed, and so funny, but I don’t have the time to tell everything. Maybe someday!

It’s been getting HOT here. Everyday about 10am we are totally sweating with our fan on in the house. I don’t know how people like to live like this! You are always dripping sweat, it’s so wonderful. Today I calculated that I´ve taken about 160 cold showers here. Most of those were painful, but lately it´s so wonderful. We shower about 3 times a day here! My goodness! I seriously need you to pray that I won’t die here in the heat, because I’m starting to believe it. Every time people say òh this isn’t hot. Just you wait- it´ll get hotter!` I want to cry!! I keep thinking of a scripture in the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 3:7- “And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” The Lord called me here and he´s prepared a way for me to survive here. I don’t know how, but I will!

Well life is starting to feel normal here. It´s weird how you start to forget life at home, but at the same time you miss your life at home. I heard some Guns and Roses playing on the street today, and I had the strongest desire to play some Rock Band. But, now isn’t the time! I love being a missionary, and I am realizing how important this work is. There are people here that need me, and I am excited for the year and a little I have left here.

Thanks for your prayers! As it’s getting hotter, we are seeing more and more cockroaches running around. Soooo I hope I don’t have any interesting stories about them for you next week!

Love you all and thanks for your support. Eu estou orando por vocês! (I am praying for you all!) Tchau!
Love, Siiiister Melting Gordon

A note for future missionaries going to Brazil… They are having a HUGE problem with American missionaries getting their visa. I would be worried about it. This next transfer we only have one American coming to the mission. They changed the age limit for young men missionaries here to 18yrs old because they need missionaries so bad.

NOTE from Jenn: I sent a package on July 25th and she just now received it. So if you want to send anything for her birthday, December 4th or Christmas,do it now.Ha!

Laundry Day at our apartment

When the toilet troubles begin, we figure it out ourself! Don't you love how we don't have a seat?!

General Conference at our church building