Friday, June 1, 2012

OH WHAT A WONDERFUL LIFE!


5/14/12

FAMILY!!!  

It made me SO happy to talk to yesterday!  I felt new energy and love and excitement!  Thank you!!!  It was so good to hear your voices and to see the London clan for a short time on Skype!  Sorry the speakers didn’t work, haha.  It gave me quite a thrill that Ian was kicking!  Thanks bud.  My sobrino is awesome!  I can´t wait to see him!  I can´t believe school is almost over for everyone!  Time FLIES!!!  I cannot believe it is already May! WOAH!!!!  Thanks for your patience with the phone yesterday, it was pretty crazy, but SO worth it!!!  You are all the best EVER!!!  And I forgot to wish Mum a Happy Mothers Day! haha sorry Mum, I love you and HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!!!

I hope you enjoy the pictures :)  Pedro, our ward mission leader, just returned from his mission and he baptized Titi and Barri.  He and Titi are now DATING!!!  YEAH!!!  Not only are helping people to make baptismal covenants, but temple covenants- as in temple marriage! woohoo!!! hahaha!  The mission is great.  I am still in Odivelas with Irmã Dos Santos for my second transfer and we have just hit the ground running!  I LOVE her!!!  She gives everything she has- and I mean everything.  It was really nice to have Irmã Boshard with us for a couple of days- just to see how another missionary does it.  Irmã Boshard is American, so I was able to speak English! Yea!  It is nice sometimes to not have to think really hard with everything i want to say.  But I am SOO grateful for a Portuguese speaking companion- I have gotten so much better at speaking- the gift of tongues is so real! (in more ways than one, right mom? cheese!!!  can you believe it?!)  Irmã Boshard reminded me to have fun and to enjoy it and that it is okay to relax.  I am so grateful for all that she could teach me in those few days- she really strengthened me.  After a transfer with he same companion, I have figured out more what I need to do to be happy- such as run in the morning, take an actual break for dinner, etc. :)  I LOVE this mission!!!  love love love love love!!! It makes me SOOO happy!!!  Okay family and friends, I would like to here some advice you learned on your mission. -about anything that you wish you knew earlier or whatevs.  I want to be my best for the Lord.  Dad, I always think about that letter you wrote- to be my BEST, not to run myself into the ground with sacrifice.  When I am my best, I can do the work of the Lord so much better and happier.

We had a baptism on Saturday!!!  YEA!!!  We breathed a HUGE sigh of relief after this one- I hate Satan!!!!  Laurentinho has been coming to church since Novembre!!!  He has had a baptismal date twice before with two other companionships in the past.  A recent convert named Mariano is a friend of Laurentinho and he was the key.  he is incredible!!!  We tried to talk to Laurentinho every night this week.  Finally Friday, Mariano called us and told us Laurentinho would be outside this mall at this time.  So we went and waited- like spies :).  Mariano called us when he saw him and we walked over to him and then Mariano came and we were able to take him to a park and talk to him!| hahahaha.  He felt the spirit and said he would come Saturday- mind you he picked this date for himself.  he as commitment issues.  So Saturday he was late to his interview with the elders, and then left to take a shower- this was at 4:30.  (His baptism was scheduled for 5)  He came back at 8:00- only because Mariano stayed with him the entire time and helped him come.  And we was baptized and he was so happy!  And he was looking extremely dapper yesterday for sacrament meeting to receive the Holy Ghost.  Yea!  Mariano baptized him and pretty much threw him in the water! hahaha.  I am so happy for Laurentinho!

Me and Irmã Dos Santos and the Lord have big plans for this transfer!  i am So EXCITED!!!  And it is always an adventure with Irmã Dos Santos-- you never know what is going to happen. :)  It is so HOT.  We can wear sandals!!!  Do you think Grandma could send me my chacos?  Or would it be better if I just bought some sandals here?  It is only may and I feel like my face will melt off every time I walk out the door.  Did I ever tell you that people here don´t have heat or air conditioning?  So in the winter we are freezing and have our personal study with sweatshirts and scarves, and in the summer we have the windows open with the hope of a breeze. I love Portugal!  Also, I have a green skirt I took with my to Jerusalem that I would absolutely love to have here, but if it can´t be found or sent, no worries, I can buy a skirt here.  Oooooh my cards- Mum, my cards aren´t working.  I can try to find a calling card for the US and call the bank, but I don´t think I will be able to for a while, do you think you can call them and see what is up?  i need to buy some cotton, short sleeve shirts pronto! haha.  you are the best!

We visited a recent convert family from Ecuador this week- the Lamanitas.  I absolutely LOVE them!!!  They are so humble and so kind and faithful.  I watched them write a tithing slip yesterday and was just filled with love and the spirit- so much faith.  They have nothing.  I am just filled with the Love of the Lord for them.  The Area President wants the missionaries to visit a recent convert every day.  We are to look up all the recent converts from the past three years.  i am excited- lots of work to do!

I love you all with my whole heart!!!  Seriously.  I don´t let myself think about you guys very much because then I get homesick and can´t focus as well.  I love this work- this mission.  I witness miracles every day.  I love the Lord with my whole heart.  The atonement is real.  Jesus Christ wants us to use it!  The Book of Mormon is the word of God!  I LOVE it!!!  I am so grateful for this privilege to preach the Gospel- to be a tool in the Lord´s hands!  I love my Savior.  I am working everyday to be more consecrated to Him and this work.  I love you all SOO much!!!!

CONGRATS TO MALLORY and BRIAN!!!  I am SOO excited and happy for you!!!  More family! YES!!!  And Ali and B-ran, I had a dream last night that Ali was pregnant.....

Irmã Tingey

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