Hello From Natal.........

Oi ya´ll!
This week was good. We had a zone conference and heard some wonderful advice from our mission president and Elder Godoy of the Seventy. It´s always refreshing to learn and get excited to work again.
My goodness. I feel like I don’t have much to say again. I PROMISE this week I will write things down to say. I always have stories, but I forget when the moment comes. One thing that was amazing was Francisco´s baptism. He is 70 and was a drunk- I think i already talked about him. But over these past few weeks, he has stopped with every addiction he had and has been reading the Book of Mormon every day to help him. I can’t tell you how much of a change we have seen. My companion and I have seen him change completely- he looks more youthful, is talking clearer, has more energy, more confidence, happier, and more light. It is just wonderful to see a miracle like this happen. From a drunk falling down in the middle of the street to a baptism. And when people see us walking with him down the street to church, they always say `Goin to church Francisco? That’s great!` I can’t help but think of Christ helping the people that needed it most, and that’s what our job here is as representatives of him. So that was great!
On the other hand, we are still having problems with people not keeping their promises, and people not reading or praying. It’s so sad! We can’t help people any more if they don’t do their part, and I´m sure the lord feels the same way. We also have been finding many families to teach, and out of the 5 families we are teaching, none of them are married. Of course. It takes forever to marry people here and money too. So we might not have some baptisms for a while. Pray that this will work out!
But I love you all and am so happy for everyone at home. I keep hearing good news, and It makes me so happy. I love ya´ll and keep you in my prayers! I will try to think of more things to say next week.

I can testify that the mission changes people. I hope I come back a changed person, for the better. I cannot even begin to describe the number of things I am learning here on the mission. Things you could never learn at home, and I’m starting to think `How would I have turned out without my mission??` Even though I have times where I want to be home, or eat normal food, or see you guys, or even just sit on a comfortable couch for a few minutes, I still am grateful that I am able to be serving here and that the Lord seriously trusts `ME` to take care of these people. It´s a big responsibility, but I´m trying to be a good missionary.
Love,
Steph



Zone Conference....How's my momma look? Your momma got troubs! (That's for Aunt Crystal)


The bus to Zone Conference...4 sisters and a ton of Elders





Francisco's Baptism

New Blog for Sister Gordon

For some reason, I cannot sign on Stephanie's previous blog, so it has been changed to this new one....

Last week's letter:

Oi tudo mundo! (literally- Hello all the world- or just Hello everyone!)
 
  This week was good, and short. Not too much happened! We had a baptism.. well sort of. Technically it was our baptism, but here´s the story. A young woman in the ward wants to go to the temple, but they couldnt find her record! So we had to baptize her again in order for it all to work out. Hahaha So, we baptized! (but i dont count it..)

  Francisco, the drunk, is doing well. He hasn't drank, and has stopped drinking coffee and smoking. I am so happy! If he stays strong this week, we will baptize him on Saturday, which will be a miracle on the mission.

We have a conference this week with a Seventy, Elder Godoy. I am excited! But other than that, I don't have too much to write. I have a really funny story, but no time to tell it! Sorry this week is soo short.
 Have a great week everyone!

-Sister Gordon





A HeSheSpecie on the bus... he was advertising for helping children in hospitals. I had to take a picture.. and my face is scary!


Playing soccer with the Elders. Ooops! I lost my flip flop!



Prep day with our zone and normal clothes! Jeans!! (first time in 5 months! It felt weird!)