9-17-12
Okay, so I know I said all this stuff about how
I love Setubal and how I am going to miss it- which I love it and I DO miss it,
but wow. I LOVE Olhão. This area is INCREDIBLE!!!! So white
washes are insane. We got off the bus and just kind of stood there like
´Where are we?´ We didn´t know anyone and it was so fun!!! Our noses were
in the map all week and it was such an adventure! We had so much fun
discovering this new little city- and what amazing discoveries we have
made!!! It is soooo beautiful and old here and it is on the water so we
see the ocean and we can smell it everywhere and one day we found this
beautiful dock with boats and ate sandwiches and Portugal pastries. You
just got to have little moments of felizidade and relaxation like this on the
mission. It is weird having an English companion. I must admit I
have been speaking a lot of English, but I will get back to speaking portuguese
all the time. One day I locked myself in the bathroom on accident and it
was hilarious. The handle just wouldn´t work so we prayed and we got it
open and laughed some more. Who locks themselves in the bathroom?!
Okay, this branch is OFF THE HOOK!!!! I LOVE THESE MEMBERS!!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!! I don´t know how in the world I was blessed to be here. WOW. Let me just explain. First off our Branch President. He is from São Tome- off the coast of Africa- and he has been a member for 2 years. 2 YEARS!!! And he is INCREDIBLE!!! He is so humble and trusts in us like crazy. he gives us bones- or pounds us (fist to fist) all the time. The first counselor is originally from Cabo Verde and is HYSTERICAL!!! His name is Nato and He and President are hilarious together. They are best buds and joke and laugh all the time. They are truly happy in the work of the Lord. They had a meeting with us our second day- just them two. I have never had that happen before. Bishops usually don´t ever talk to us unless we ask for a special meeting. I am learning so much about the member I want to be and how the work should be- with members. They discouraged us to contact in the street- unless of course we are prompted to- but to just work with the members- that every one has references and are willing to give them and are excited about the work. EVERY MISSIONARIES DREAM!!! They are just so humble and we shared some of our ideas and they got super excited and the meeting was so awesome- the spirit was so strong and I was prompted to just bare my testimony at the end and tell them that we are there to do the will of the Lord. And then Irmã Boshard and Nato and President bore their testimonies and it was awesome!!!! Sunday was INCREDIBLE also- I have never worked with members like this- who LOVE the missionaries and who want to give references and want to teach with us and help us. We marked apts. with everyone we talked to- we are going to go to every members house a couple of times this transfer and just work through them- that is how the work should be. This branch is teaching me for life. There were only about 40 people in our little chapel- the norm., but we are going to visit the menos ativos. Yesterday we walked with the Branch President and Nato and his wife who is the Relief Society President to visit a menos ativo. They were laughing and joking the whole way and dancing- Nato took a hold of a stop sign and lifted himself parallel to the pole- like a break dancer. It was awesome!!! hahaha. I love these people so much!!! We went to the menos ativos house and wow. THAT is how you re-activate people. They were just friends with them- laughing, cracking jokes again and just speaking and testifying with humility and from the heart. They asked if the missionaries (us, who were there with them) could come and visit them and help them out. It was SO effective- they got to know us, people in the ward, they felt the spirit, our love, our friendship, it was just amazing. I will never forget that. I just love these members and the people here. Oh and guess what. I am playing the piano for the Branch. yeah I know. what the heck!!! I don´t know what got into me- usually I hide the fact that I can play a bit and pretend I can´t. But the Holy Ghost just opened my mouth and I told Nato I would play every Sunday because no one does. And get this- there is a working key board in our apartment!!! When does that ever happen?!?!?! SO I practiced everyday this week before bed and I played Sunday. It wasn’t horrific, but lots of room for improvement. :) But I am determined to try and help this branch out as much as I can. The small things make a difference.
I have to tell you all about this amazing contact we made this week. Actually first off I LOVE Irmã Boshard!!! SHE IS WONDERFUL!!! So so so powerful. She is helping me so much. We are helping each other demand excellence in ourselves and we are both just invested in the work and are on the same page. I just love her soo so so much. I am so blessed to be with her! Okay, so we were walking around with our nose in the map trying to find someone´s house and these three guys were sitting outside a cafe and called us. You have to be careful in these kinds of situations but we felt okay with talking with them. Two of them are recent converts- one of those RC had a beer in his hand. The other not RC also had a beer. So we talked to them, got to know them, taught a bit for the guy who didn’t know anything about the church and then I asked if I could take away his beer (but actually I messed some words up and I actually asked if I could take some beer like if I could drink some of it, but Irmã Boshard saved me hahahahaha - for those Port. speakers I said tomar instead of tirar. it was pretty funny) but he dumped his beer and the recent convert dumped his beer and we helped them decide to not drink again. It was AWESOME!!!! I love this work. I feel Heavenly Father´s love for these people. and for me. I am so grateful for these members. There are some young adults who are giving us tons of references and drive people everywhere and bring us food and I want to be just like them. They are rocks in the gospel. The architecture and scenery here is just breath taking. Portugal is so gorgeous! I am so blessed to be here!!!!
Pray for: Gomes, Nuno, Claro, Marina and Marcus, Familia Moreno, Carlos, Eugenio, Grandma of Maura, Paulo´s friends, and these members.
I learned so much from Pres. Torgan, and I am learning so much from Pres. Fluckiger! i LOVE working through the members. I am curious mom, what did that women say about Pres. Torgan? I love you all with my whole heart. Sometimes I think ´How can I feel more love than I am feeling now?´ But my heart just keeps growing and makes space. I LOVE my mission. I LOVE Olhão. I just love this. This church is true and it is worth everything we have- every sacrifice. The Lord is with us in everything- make sure you open the door and ask for help. The Book of Mormon is true. The Lord will use our talents, like he used Ammon´s. We are in the places we are in for reasons- there are people we need to talk too, there are hands and hearts we need to lift. Ask Heavenly Father every day how you can help someone. How you can help build the Kingdom. Nato, a couple of years ago made a goal to get to know 2 people each day. at least. I want to make that goal. And whenever we walk with him pretty much every other person talks to him, waves at him, shakes his hand, honks there horn, it is awesome. He is off the hook. Work with the missionaries in your ward. Feed them- have them in your home. Make a list of 20 people you think are ready for the gospel and then ask Heavenly Father who you should focus on. Give references. If every member did this the earth would explode of missionary work and I personally think the Second Coming would come right afterward. Let´s do it!!!! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!
com muito mutio amor,
Irmã Tingey
PS-we could get our sister plaques any day now. so relish the time you call me Irmã. haha
Okay, this branch is OFF THE HOOK!!!! I LOVE THESE MEMBERS!!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!! I don´t know how in the world I was blessed to be here. WOW. Let me just explain. First off our Branch President. He is from São Tome- off the coast of Africa- and he has been a member for 2 years. 2 YEARS!!! And he is INCREDIBLE!!! He is so humble and trusts in us like crazy. he gives us bones- or pounds us (fist to fist) all the time. The first counselor is originally from Cabo Verde and is HYSTERICAL!!! His name is Nato and He and President are hilarious together. They are best buds and joke and laugh all the time. They are truly happy in the work of the Lord. They had a meeting with us our second day- just them two. I have never had that happen before. Bishops usually don´t ever talk to us unless we ask for a special meeting. I am learning so much about the member I want to be and how the work should be- with members. They discouraged us to contact in the street- unless of course we are prompted to- but to just work with the members- that every one has references and are willing to give them and are excited about the work. EVERY MISSIONARIES DREAM!!! They are just so humble and we shared some of our ideas and they got super excited and the meeting was so awesome- the spirit was so strong and I was prompted to just bare my testimony at the end and tell them that we are there to do the will of the Lord. And then Irmã Boshard and Nato and President bore their testimonies and it was awesome!!!! Sunday was INCREDIBLE also- I have never worked with members like this- who LOVE the missionaries and who want to give references and want to teach with us and help us. We marked apts. with everyone we talked to- we are going to go to every members house a couple of times this transfer and just work through them- that is how the work should be. This branch is teaching me for life. There were only about 40 people in our little chapel- the norm., but we are going to visit the menos ativos. Yesterday we walked with the Branch President and Nato and his wife who is the Relief Society President to visit a menos ativo. They were laughing and joking the whole way and dancing- Nato took a hold of a stop sign and lifted himself parallel to the pole- like a break dancer. It was awesome!!! hahaha. I love these people so much!!! We went to the menos ativos house and wow. THAT is how you re-activate people. They were just friends with them- laughing, cracking jokes again and just speaking and testifying with humility and from the heart. They asked if the missionaries (us, who were there with them) could come and visit them and help them out. It was SO effective- they got to know us, people in the ward, they felt the spirit, our love, our friendship, it was just amazing. I will never forget that. I just love these members and the people here. Oh and guess what. I am playing the piano for the Branch. yeah I know. what the heck!!! I don´t know what got into me- usually I hide the fact that I can play a bit and pretend I can´t. But the Holy Ghost just opened my mouth and I told Nato I would play every Sunday because no one does. And get this- there is a working key board in our apartment!!! When does that ever happen?!?!?! SO I practiced everyday this week before bed and I played Sunday. It wasn’t horrific, but lots of room for improvement. :) But I am determined to try and help this branch out as much as I can. The small things make a difference.
I have to tell you all about this amazing contact we made this week. Actually first off I LOVE Irmã Boshard!!! SHE IS WONDERFUL!!! So so so powerful. She is helping me so much. We are helping each other demand excellence in ourselves and we are both just invested in the work and are on the same page. I just love her soo so so much. I am so blessed to be with her! Okay, so we were walking around with our nose in the map trying to find someone´s house and these three guys were sitting outside a cafe and called us. You have to be careful in these kinds of situations but we felt okay with talking with them. Two of them are recent converts- one of those RC had a beer in his hand. The other not RC also had a beer. So we talked to them, got to know them, taught a bit for the guy who didn’t know anything about the church and then I asked if I could take away his beer (but actually I messed some words up and I actually asked if I could take some beer like if I could drink some of it, but Irmã Boshard saved me hahahahaha - for those Port. speakers I said tomar instead of tirar. it was pretty funny) but he dumped his beer and the recent convert dumped his beer and we helped them decide to not drink again. It was AWESOME!!!! I love this work. I feel Heavenly Father´s love for these people. and for me. I am so grateful for these members. There are some young adults who are giving us tons of references and drive people everywhere and bring us food and I want to be just like them. They are rocks in the gospel. The architecture and scenery here is just breath taking. Portugal is so gorgeous! I am so blessed to be here!!!!
Pray for: Gomes, Nuno, Claro, Marina and Marcus, Familia Moreno, Carlos, Eugenio, Grandma of Maura, Paulo´s friends, and these members.
I learned so much from Pres. Torgan, and I am learning so much from Pres. Fluckiger! i LOVE working through the members. I am curious mom, what did that women say about Pres. Torgan? I love you all with my whole heart. Sometimes I think ´How can I feel more love than I am feeling now?´ But my heart just keeps growing and makes space. I LOVE my mission. I LOVE Olhão. I just love this. This church is true and it is worth everything we have- every sacrifice. The Lord is with us in everything- make sure you open the door and ask for help. The Book of Mormon is true. The Lord will use our talents, like he used Ammon´s. We are in the places we are in for reasons- there are people we need to talk too, there are hands and hearts we need to lift. Ask Heavenly Father every day how you can help someone. How you can help build the Kingdom. Nato, a couple of years ago made a goal to get to know 2 people each day. at least. I want to make that goal. And whenever we walk with him pretty much every other person talks to him, waves at him, shakes his hand, honks there horn, it is awesome. He is off the hook. Work with the missionaries in your ward. Feed them- have them in your home. Make a list of 20 people you think are ready for the gospel and then ask Heavenly Father who you should focus on. Give references. If every member did this the earth would explode of missionary work and I personally think the Second Coming would come right afterward. Let´s do it!!!! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!
com muito mutio amor,
Irmã Tingey
PS-we could get our sister plaques any day now. so relish the time you call me Irmã. haha
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