Madeira Sisters

He left all, rose up and followed Him. Lucas 5:28

4/29/13

I love this scripture.  It is clear, short and simple.  I like to apply it to my mission in that I am leaving all- leaving the world behind, my old self, my family, to rise up and follow the Savior.  Luckily I will be able to be with my family again, but I don´t want the other things to return in my life.  But it is a great scripture and I know we can all apply it!  Here are some other scriptures that came to my mind this morning, (I would write them out, but I don´t have my English scriptures with me here on the island- sorry!)  John 16:33, Revelations 12:(7-10) 11*, First John 4:19.  Think about them and then tell me some thoughts!  I received a blessing last night form my district leader Elder Richins and he quoted the John 16:33 scripture to me in the blessing.  Revelations- I think I might have shared it already but it is an awesome missionary scripture (I thought about Abby!)  esp. verse 11- that we fight and overcome Satan by the atonement of Christ and that we love others more than ourselves.  President Fluckiger shared with us John 4:19- that we love God because He first loved us.  Powerful and interesting to think about.  I LOVE THE SCRIPTURES!!! I know that we can find answers and comfort and whatever we are looking for in the scriptures!!!  I always feel the spirit so strongly when I read them.  I have had many difficult times on the mission and I have always turned to the scriptures and I have ALWAYS found solace in them.  I know you will too.

President Fluckiger gave us a Book of Mormon challenge a couple of weeks ago.  To take a clean, new copy of the Book of Mormon and highlight in diff. colors where it says Christ’s name or reference to Him- what He did, etc, anything He says, His attributes and His Gospel.  It is truly AMAZING.  Every page is full of color because the Book of Mormon is ALL about Christ!!! I am so grateful for this challenge because it really shows to me what a testament the Book of Mormon is about Christ.  Christ is truly our Savior and through His grace we can become perfect, even as He and his Father are perfect.

There is an investigator named Jacinta who was baptized almost a year ago but never received the Holy Ghost.  We have been working with her but then she went to Porto for a couple of weeks but she just returned this week.  Our first meeting with her this week she told us she had a dream and in the dream someone told her that people can´t see angels in real life- only in dreams or only the voice.  So therefore Joseph Smith couldn´t have seen God and Jesus Christ.  And she said she didn´t want to read the Book of Mormon any more.  She usually writes notes of what she read in the Book of Mormon and her feelings and so we invited her to read what she wrote lately and as she read I took a deep breath and said in my head ´Okay Heavenly Father, this lesson might make it or break it, how can I help her see this dream wasn´t from thee?´ And then it all became clear of what I needed to say.  At the end of her BOM notes she wrote about how happy she feels when she reads the BOM.  So I asked her how she felt when she had that dream- was it full of light? happiness? peace?  No, she said it was full of fear.  And then I asked her how she feels when she reads the BOM and she said she always feels good- she even wrote it is the best book she has ever read!  So we explained to her the fruits of the Spirit- and things of God are always things of happiness, hope, peace, comfort, etc. and that Satan works too and we can tell when things are from him if it is full of fear, anxiety, darkness, etc.  She understood and we felt the spirit and she said she would continue to read the Book of Mormon and we invited her to church and she accepted! (She hasn´t been to church in forever!!!) and she came yesterday!!! woohoo!!!  And to help her be more involved, we invited her to do a special musical number next Sunday! YES!!!  I am so grateful to be helping people come unto Christ.  We had 24 people in church yesterday!!! WOOHOO!!!  FOUR menos ativos that we have been working with and 2 investigators!      And one of the counselors from the District presidency came- so that also helps with the numbers, haha :)  

My huge focus with this area is to involve the members in the work.  I want this to happen so bad!!!  We are praying and working really hard for this.  We had an activity yesterday with our District- with their branch and our branch and we talked all about missionary work and working together!  I talked about Elder Ballards talk on the bees- ´Ocupar-se Zelosamente!´ from the  October conference- and how all of our efforts put together make a big difference!  It was really fun and I think everyone liked it- esp. the games and food at the end. hahaha.  Our Branch Presidency said we can have conselho de ramo next Sunday! WOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!  By small and simple things are great things brought to pass, right?!!!!  

Please Pray for: Jacinta that she will keep coming to church, understand the importance of the Book of Mormon and become a true member, Beto and Lourinda that they will come to church and pray to now for themselves, Mario that we can find him again and that he will continue to progress, Familia Abreu, Familia de Mônica e Manuel, Familia Gouveia, José Correia (MA), Alberto ( forever investigator), Nelio (MA) that he will come to church, Louis (MA), e Manuela, e Maria.  

Thank you for all of your examples!!!  Thank you for all of your prayers.  Thank you for your faith.  I know that Christ suffered for each one of us in the Garden of Gethsemane.  I know the Atonement is real and that we all need to use it every day.  I love Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.  I am so grateful for their love for me and for you all.  I am so grateful to be here on the mission.  I am so grateful to serve others.  I am working to ingrain these lessons into my nature to become a forever missionary- truly converted to the Lord.  I know you all are too.  Miracles do happen.  LOVE YOU LOVE YOU LOVE YOU!!!!  HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

com muito amor,

Síster Tingey

Little Miracles Make Big Miracles

April 22, 2013

I forgot to tell ya´ll but an investigator that I was working with in Braga was baptized the week after I left- Amarildo!  woohoo!!!  At one point this week I was again feeling down about my follies- my weaknesses and I was really sad that I can´t just do things right- or be perfect, but I read in Nephi- ´Nephi´s lamentations´ and was surprised that even Nephi felt that way. Nephi- prob. one of the most faithful people ever felt super down about his weaknesses and sins and follies.  I am not happy that Nephi felt bad or had weaknesses, but I am glad to be reminded that I am not the only one that feels that way and that even a Prophet of God felt this way and that this is why we have the Atonement!!!  I can´t be the perfect missionary, but I can do my best every day and rely on the Lord to compensate for my weaknesses.  Isn´t the Atonement awesome?!  Isn´t Christ so merciful?! I gave a talk at church yesterday.  I decided to talk about the Restoration to light the fire of missionary work here.  I am so grateful for the Restoration of the gospel!!  I love In D and C 128 I think it is verse 22- Shall we not go on in so great a cause?  I want to do ALL I can to help this area grow.  Sometimes I feel like I am doing handstands and crazy things with no results but I know that no effort is wasted.  Me and my comp. had a long chat last night about what our plan is going to be.  In my personal prayer I felt to focus on Accompanhemento with the members. Follow up.  We found this young man named Mario this week and we taught him the first lesson and he came to church yesterday!!!  He is really timid and very humble and I am so grateful that he has a desire to learn more.  As we were walking to church we saw him ahead of us.  He walked into the door and then walked out and started walking away- I yelled his name and he stopped and turned back and entered with us. phew.  I know we were there at the right time to help him feel comfortable and enter the church.  On Friday we went to Caniçal- a little town on the other side of the mountains.  All of our compromissos that we had fell through and we were ready to catch a bus back to Machico but I felt like there was a reason that we were there and we needed to find out who needs us.  So we were standing outside of the house that we just knocked- some people from the area book, not knowing where we needed to go so we said a prayer to know who needs us and as we were standing there the door opens and the mom of the family comes out and says she was at a neighbors house and we can come in.  We entered and found a FAMILY!!!  A mom, dad, and 3 kids.  The dad has already gone to church!  I think it was about a year ago.  It was so exciting!!!  I am so glad we listened to the spirit and waited.  It is a bit tough for them getting from Caniçal to the church in Machico, but we will work with them and with lots of prayers comes miracles.  When the dad is on board, it makes a huge difference for the whole family.  Familia Gouveia invited us over for a chicken dinner and I was a bit worried that they were going to kill their own chickens for us, but no, they bought it from the store.  They are so awesome and fun!  We are really helping them be activated and we really want to help the rest of the family be baptized!  Thanks for your prayers in their behalf!  Little steps in the right direction are better than no steps at all, or steps in the opposite direction.  I love these people and I love this area.  I am so grateful to be a missionary.  I am so grateful to be able to focus on others all the time- the more I do that, the happier I am.  I am so grateful for the fullness of the gospel that we have and I want to share it with the whole world!!!  I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real,  I know that this is truly His church.  Continue to read the Book of Mormon every single day.  Say your prayers.  the Little things make the difference.  Be obedient.  Pray for charity.  Love others.  God loves us.  I love you all.  I am so happy to be here.  LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!  HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Sister Tingey

The Lord qualifies who He calls

4/16/13

Oh Madeira.  I love you.  This week has been awesome- full of adventures and I am exhausted.  But a good exhausted. :) Yesterday for our P-day we had Zone Conference so we couldn´t e-mail.  The zone conference was incredible.  I was asked to bear my testimony on what I learned from conference and how we can apply it- I talked about obedience and also how the Lord knows each one of us- He knows our investigators and all we have to do is trust in Him and we can know how to help them.  Me and sister Olson gave a little treinamento also about finding people and working with menos ativos to strengthen them and receive references- and help them get more involved with the work.  I know that Christ is working right alongside us- this is His work and He loves us.  I am on a division right now in Funchal with a Sister Nigri.  She is from Brazil and she is so fun and cute!  I am pretty sure I am learning more from her than she is learning from me.  She has so much energy and love.  My first sunday with the branch went pretty well.  For being so small they are pretty self-sufficient.  We teach principios do evangelho but they do the rest- play the piano, direct, etc.  They are so awesome!  I love that about small branches- that everyone can have a calling and a purpose and a means to help and serve.  We are really working on strengthening the members because we know that through them this area can and will explode with growth.  But it takes everyone.  Awesome and interesting things that happened this week:  we met the padrão de excellencia for new investigators and lessons taught to investigators!!! woohooo!!!!  The other week we talked to three people on the side of the road- a woman and her husband and her mother.  They told us we could come back and their house will be full of people.  So we did and it was!!  It was so awesome!!!  We taught a room full of people a simplified lesson of the Restoration and the spirit was so strong!  They have a lot of faith in Christ and I think a couple of them will really progress.  Only problem is they live kind of far away so it is difficult to meet with them often.  But I am so excited to see the gospel bless and change their lives.  There is this awesome family we are trying to teach.  We aren´t sure how interested they are in the gospel and/or changing, but they are such a strong family and we can see them as being the future leaders of the branch.  But we knew that they needed more than just sitting and teaching, so we decided to serve them and they excepted- they took us to their campo (bigger than a garden, but smaller than a farm) and we worked- pulled weeds, watering, etc.  It was a lot of fun and I think it made a big difference- I think they are more apt to listen and try to help their seed of faith grow.  I am really excited for them.  We taught a woman that is convinced that Mary Magdalene wrote the Book of Mormon. yep.  I was praying for the spirit and patience and love the whole time.  Someone walked up to me with a pigeons body missing the head that he had just chopped off moments before.  We see lots of goats and chickens on the side of the road.  The woman that feeds us all of the bread is named Maria and she is just so sweet and as we taught her this week she was so sad about the death of her husband and I just felt this huge love for her and desire for her to be sealed to her husband, so what else could I talk about but baptism?  So I did because she needs to make this first step to receive the other blessings and at first she didn´t really accept it but then she was more interested as we read scriptures and things and I am really happy to see her progression.  I am so grateful to be a missionary and picture everyone in white- like President Monson keeps talking about- to see people as they can be.  In Relief Society the women talked about the pioneers and how much faith they had to up and leave and how they think they wouldn´t have sufficient faith to do that.  And I sat there thinking " well with that attitude!" and Then I told them that I think they would have enough faith because the Lord qualifies those He calls and that they know the church is true and that the Prophet is called of God and so I think they would follow him.  I really felt the spirit and I could see their countenances change.  Our thoughts and attitudes are so important!!!  I know that President Monson is truly a prophet of God and that when we follow His counsels we will be blessed.  When we are almost obedient, we almost receive blessings.  I know this e-mail is very sporadic; hopefully you can get something out of it.  I am so grateful for the experiences I am being blessed with.  The church is true.  I want others to know the same so they can receive the same blessings.  Some major lessons I have learned on the mission are: Trust in the Lord.  Forget yourself and give yourself to Him.  Live, love and learn.  Repent always.  Obediencia and diligencia.  Demand excellence of yourself.  I know Christ lives.  HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Sister Tingey

We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet!!!

4-8-13

I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!  FOGO!!  What a spiritual feast!!  I wrote down a couple of questions/concerns and they were answered.  I testify that Heavenly Father answers prayers and truly speaks through His servants.  The Portugal mission scripture of the month is Amos 3:7.  The Lord ALWAYS uses His servants, the prophets, to help us.  Heavenly Father loves us SOO much and if you aren´t feeling his love, get on your knees and ask to feel it because He does and I know that that will help everyone have much more happiness and peace in their lives. Conference is proof of that love.  I loved Elder Ellis´s comment ´you milk the cow when it needs to be milked, not when you want to milk it.´ The Lord has HIS way of doing things and our lives are so much happier and easier when we do things HIS way.  I LOVED the comments about the African people.  I LOVE AFRICANS!!!  I have worked with a ton here on my mission and what a delightful people they are.  So humble.  There is a joke in our mission that if someone is black they are elect.  If someone is Brazilian they are elect.  If someone is brazilin and black they are SUPER elect.  We joke that when we are walking in a crowd of people and see a black person we go running to the black person because we know they will be more likely to accept the gospel.  I guess it isn´t really a joke- because that is really what everyone does. hahahaha.  And with the couple of talks that mentioned the members in Africa one of the Elders said ´It´s official!  It was mentioned in Conference! Africans are elect!!´ I loved all the talks on obedience- when we are obedient, we see miracles.  And of course they had to talk about marriage a bunch.  my last conference before going home.  claro.  i knew it. hahahahaha.  I loved Elder Holland´s talk about being true to the faith you have and then fanning your flame to grow.  ah.  I just love Conference. I was truly really sad when it ended.  But I am SUPER excited to read print out the talks and read and study them more!!! I am SOO grateful that we have a living prophet and 12 apostles.  I know they are truly called of God!  And that they truly have authority.  We got to stay in Funchal (the stake center where we all watched conference) for the last session which here they played from 9-11 and we stayed over with the Sisters in Funchal and then came back to Machico this morning.  I LOVE THE MISSION!!!!

Okay, Madeira!!!!  WOW.  this place is incredible.  The flight was only about 1 hour and 45 minutes.  (side note- I got to go to the mission office before my flight and got to pick up all the Liahona´s we hadn´t received yet and I found Elise Osorio in one of them!  I think it was from January or February! cool! )  Our beautiful area is surrounded by mountains- except for one part is open to the sea.  it is absolutely GORGEOUS!!!!  It is a natural stair master.  The hills are pretty steep- I am pretty sure everyone here must have legs of steel.  There are tropical flowers everywhere with fruit trees and lots of gardens and cute houses painted different colours.  Our apartment has an incredible view of the ocean- we sit in front of the windows during studies and you would think it would distract me from my studies but it actually adds a really nice spirit.  The water is so calming.  Our area is country. country. country. country. chickens and goats along the roads, little streets and paths...I was going through a bit of a cultural shock- leaving the big city of Braga and coming to this country side. But of course I LOVE it.  The people are so wonderful!  And they have an extremely thick accent! Oh my goodness my first day here I felt like it was my first transfer on the mission all over again- I could barely understand.  I actually could only understand 1 sentence out of every 7 sentences.  I couldn´t believe they were speaking Portuguese.  Sometimes it sounds like an Irish accent with the Portuguese, but now I understand a lot better and I like the accent- it is endearing.  We had a lesson with this sweet old woman named Maria and she set a basket full of bread and told us to eat it all.  She also gave us hot chocolate and bananas and then packed us a bag of food to take home.  there goes my diet.  There is a wonderful family that we are working a lot with, with 3 people already baptized but they had become in-active and we are working to activate them again and to help more of their family be baptized and active!  They have TONS of animals- rabbits, pigeons, more birds, lots of dogs and cats and chickens, rats, and lots lots more.  They are HILARIOUS and I LOVE THEM!!!  I love this area so much already. We have a small branch here- about 13 regular members.  My companion is Sister Olson- she is SO cute and fun and has lots of love for the people here.  Her mom is Philippine but Sister Olson is from Utah.  I told the Lord that I will lift where I stand and to send me where He wants me and I know that I am here for a reason.  I am working to continue to demand excellence every day.  I love this work and the Lord deserves the best of me.  I know this church is true.  Let´s continue to fan our faith!  HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

com muito amor,

Síster Tingey!

MADEIRA

4-2-13

Hey family! I only have a couple of minutes again today to write, sorry!  I arrived in Madeira yesterday and WOW it is absolutely gorgeous!!!  We have a beautiful view out our kitchen and study room windows of the ocean.  We live in the city of Machico and there is a small branch here.  I am SOO excited to tackle the work.  There is a lot to be done and I am super stoked!  This past week in Braga has truly been amazing and one of miracles.  Some of the highlights were teaching that family of 6- LOVE THEM!!!  They are so loud and boisterous and fun and I feel at home.  I love those kids so much.  We walked with three of them to church on Sunday and on the way back- what a beautiful Easter morning it was too!  I was able to read about the Resurrection in each of the four gospels that morning and was filled with the Spirit and lots of joy and peace.  Jesus Christ truly was resurrected.  And because of Him, we will be too!!!  It was really hard saying goodbye to that, but we will keep in contact. :)  It is always so hard saying goodbye to people- Braga is family.  I will miss them a TON but I am excited to get to know and love the people here in Machico.  The longer time I have on the mission the more and more I realize how imperfect I am and how much I need to rely on the Lord.  I am so grateful for this because it is SOOO much better to always rely on the Lord 100%.  One of my district leaders in the past, Elder James, once said that we need to pray to the Lord as if everything depends on Him and then after the prayer we need to act as if everything depends on us.  So true.  I am so humbled to have this blessing of serving the Lord 24/7 in Portugal.  I love this country and its people and I love the Lord and this gospel.  I know that when we live the commandments we are blessed and happier.  I know this is the true church of Christ.  The more I learn the less desire I have to be in any way ´part´ of the world.  If anything takes me away from the Lord I will cut myself off of that thing.  It is just not worth it.  Love you all so much!  Hurrah for Israel!!!

Sister Tingey

I´ll go where you want me to go dear Lord...

4-1-13

Today is transfer day.  And I am sad to be leaving Braga but I am super excited because I am leaving the continent to a sunny paradise- I have been transferred to MADIERA!!!!!  WOOHOOO!!!  I am in the office right now- awaiting my flight to the island, so I don´t have much time- hopefully I will be able to write more later!  I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

EASTER!!!

3-25-13

I will just say Happy Easter now because I won´t be able to write until after!  so.... HAPPY EASTER EVERYBODY!!!!  HAPPY EASTER TO THE WHOLE WORLD!!!! I may love Easter more than I love Christmas- which is a big deal.  Because I really,really love Christmas.  But Easter is the celebration of the Resurrection!  THAT CHRIST LIVES!!!  This means more to me than anything.  That He died for me and lives for me.  I know that Jesus Christ was resurrected and that He truly Lives- as a glorified, perfect being that loves us and that fights for us and has His hands always outstretched to help.  I know that He is our Savior, Redeemer, He is the Messias, the Great Jehovah, the Wonderful, Counselor, the Prince of Peace.  He died so we could live.  The Advocate.  I love Jesus Christ and I know He loves me too.  That is why I am preaching His gospel everyday- because I love Him.  And He helps me to love His sheep more and more every day.  He has held me when I have cried, He has strengthened me when I was low, He has softened my heart to be humble, He has made my load lighter, He has granted me experiences to grow closer to Him.  I will always be in His dept, but He will always make up the difference.  He truly suffered in our place and rose so that we can all arise.  I know that Jesus Christ lives.  ... Happy Easter. :)

Also, GENERAL CONFERENCE IS COMING UP!!!!! AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!  I AM SO EXCITED!!!!  My goal for reading all the conference talks from last conference is going pretty well- almost there!  Also, only 6 more days till we can take the Sacrament again!!!!  YES!!! Even better news.  Something that I have learned better here on the mission is that small things bring about great things.  Every card you hand out, and every contact you make counts- it affects people’s lives no matter what.  Last transfer a member gave us some names of some menos ativos.  We kept calling them and they came to church.  And they haven´t stopped coming to church.  The ward missionaries have been able to visit them. 2 of them have now given talks.  They are much more firm in the gospel.  All it took was someone to realize they were missing and then a couple of phone calls.  

Amarildo dropped a cigarette everyday and he has now gone 2 days without smoking!!  We are still working with him a BUNCH to keep strong.  We call him every two hours and read a scripture in the Book of Mormon with him.  ALSO we have been praying A TON for him to be baptized this transfer but he also says ´ In my own time, I am not ready, etc´ So after church we got some faca from the District leader that left me to really ponder on the walk home and a chapter from the Book of Mormon came to my mind and I knew exactly what to do to help Amarildo accept to be baptized this transfer.  We prayed a lot and we went to his house to talk to him.  The spirit was very strong.  We read those scriptures, talked to him and invited him to pray about baptism for next weekend.  He said a really humble and sincere prayer to feel to know if he is ready for baptism and after the prayer we all stayed in silence and we all felt an incredible feeling of calm and peace. IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!!  It made me sooo happy.  AND...  he said he would be baptized next weekend!!!!  AHHHHHHHH!!!! SO EVERYONE PLEASE PRAY THAT HE WILL STAY STRONG AND NOT SMOKE!!!!  He needs lots of prayers.  I am sooo grateful to a part of Amarildo´s spiritual growth.  What a privilege!  I LOVE this work!!!  I am SOOO happy!!!

The Marinho´s invited us over for P-day!  They are so much fun.  Everyone thinking of going on a mission- just do it.  

In our Zone conference we talked about the difference of testimony and conversion.  Conversion is a process- we must work on it every day. every day.  Remember to read the Book of Mormon.  I know it is true!!!  We talked to a woman really quickly on the street and got her address and phone number and we stopped by- she wasn´t home but her 6 kids were!!!! It was so much fun!!! A FAMILY!!!! With six kids!!! I almost cried.  Remember to FOLLOW UP with all the people you have talked with about the gospel.  It makes a big difference.  I testify that this is the true church of Christ here on the earth.  I know Jesus is the Christ.  I know the gift of tongues is real.  Keep praying for me :)  I appreciate it.  I have been thinking about Jerusalem a TON and every time my eyes tear up.  I love the Lord.  I love his work and I am SO grateful to be a part of it.  I love you all SOOO much!!!!  HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!

Com muito amor,

Sister Tingey

Fasting

March 18, 2013

I have fasted in this area of Braga more than any area and time on the mission.  It is a bit more difficult to find people who are interested and will progress than in any of my other areas, but I know that when we show the Lord we are willing to do what it takes to see miracles, He will bless us.  When we are faithful and obedient, He HAS to bless us!  We just need to find the price we must pay and pay it to see the success.  All we can do is do our best and then leave the rest up to the Lord.  Our district fasted together on Saturday to Sunday to help our area and our few progressing investigators get baptized.  Every time I fast I feel so much closer to the Lord.  I feel happier and thing become clearer to me.  I am so grateful to be in this area where I am learning to strive to give my all for little successes and miracles.  I know that I may not see the fruits, but someone will in the future.  I must do everything I can for ´the one´.  

´The One´ this transfer may be Amarildo!  Amarildo is a man we found at the beginning of last transfer.  He has some difficulties with the Palavra de Sabedoria and we ended up dropping him because he wasn´t keeping compromissos or really progressing.  But he has kept coming to church for the past 2 months.  A couple of weeks ago we felt to pick him back up as an investigator and wow!!! What a difference.  The spirit has truly touched his heart and he is now ready to act.  He has been reading in the Book of Mormon and He told us he wants to stop smoking- and he really meant it. YEA!!!  So we made a program for him to stop smoking by next Sunday.  He would smoke 7 cigarettes yesterday and then minus one each day until the big 0 on Sunday!  When we called him to follow up last night he said he only smoked 4 that day!!!  When we made the program for him we told him that we would give up some things to- I said I would only eat 4 sweets this week and my companion did something similar.  Last night he asked us how the sweets were going and chuckled as he said he is interested to see how this whole sweets thing turns out. hahaha.  We told him we are here to support and I am so grateful to be making sacrifices right along with him- even though mine isn’t as big of a deal. We tried to mark him for baptism for the 30th of March but he was a bit scared and declined.  BUT he said he would pray about it and we will pray with him and I am praying and praying that his heart will be softened and touched that he will be baptized that day because I want to see it!(transfers are the Monday after and I don´t know if I will stay)  But if I am not there, it is okay- He will still make an eternal covenant with the Lord. :) Every sacrifice is worth it to help people come unto Christ- especially by making covenants.  

I am learning more and more how to really lean on the Lord.  We have been talking to lots and lots of people- tons of people and we have lots and lots of contact information that we are trying to follow up on.  Many times people aren´t home or never answer the phone, etc.  So in order to make sure we don´t waste time chasing people who aren´t ready for the gospel at this time, we prayed to know the people we should focus on- because we KNOW we already talked to SOMEONE who is ready for it now!  We felt some people and worked to contact them throughout the day and wouldn´t ya know it we contacted ALL of them which is a miracle because normally people don´t answer our phone calls or see us at the door and won´t open, etc.  I am so grateful for the Spirit that can guide us and help us find all ´the ones´ here in Braga.  I truly adore this work.  It is so much fun!  I love serving others and praying everyday to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord!  I know without a doubt that this is truly Christ´s church that HE restored.  I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet.  I know the gift of tongues is real.  I know that when we sacrifice blessings come.  I am grateful for the Lord´s love for each and every one of us.  I testify that Chris lives and that He loves all of you and knows all of you individually.  I know He will come again!- SOON!!!!  I look forward to the day when I will be able to fall down at His feet and worship Him.  I love you all.  May we all stay firm and faithful and meet at Christ´s feet together- worthily, clean, and true.  HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Sister Tingey

Believing Christ

March 11, 2013

I am not sure if I already talked about this before, but I read this amazing talk about Believing Christ.  The point was made that yes, a lot of believe IN Christ- we believe He is our Savior, we believe He died for us, we believe that He has risen and will come again, but do we believe Him?  Do we believe Him when He says that He can make us pure in heart, white as snow- that ALL of our sins can be washed away?  Honestly, sometimes I have a hard time with that one.  I think, how could I, being extremely weak and make mistakes and sin ALL the time, how can I be as white as snow?  But that is the true power of the Atonement.  And we must all work on our individual testimony that the Atonement works for US just as it does for other people.  Please, BELIEVE CHRIST!

I read the talk from last conference about the Temple- i can´t think of what it is called in English but in Portuguese it is ´O Padrão do Templo´by Elder Scott D. Whiting.  And it hit me a lot more than it did when I heard it.  that our lives need to be held up to the padrão of the temple- that we may have some walls that need to be sanded to perfection, or windows that need to be substituted- little things that make a big difference that we need to completely uproot out of ourselves, our lives, and we need to substitute them for better.  Elder Whiting points out that we won´t be perfect while we are here, but as we strive for this and keep the commandments and do our best we will be better disciples of Christ and we will progress and become more of who He wants us to be.

We have a friend that lives by our house- her name is Maria but she doesn´t like her name so we call her Irmã.  She is very old and has lots of problems with her feet and legs and she walks with two crutches and very very very slowly.  One day it was raining super hard and we were walking down the road and saw her under a lip of a building without an umbrella.  So we decided to stop and help her.  She wanted to wait until the rain let up a bit to start on her journey to a café.  So when it let up a bit we started walking with her- very slowly.  We got about 10 feet away from the building- which took a good amount of time and strength from her- that it started to rain really hard again.  She immediately turned back to the building.  Me and Irmã Layton looked at each other with looks like ´oh this might be awhile.´  When the rain let up again we started out and got a little farther when it started raining super hard again, but this time she kept going until she got to another lip of a house to wait it out.  It kept going like this for a while until we finally got her to the café as dry as possible.  After this experience me and Sister Layton talked to each other about how this must be how Heavenly Father feels some time.  How He is standing right next to us- protecting us in the middle of a storm but how we get scared and turn back to the safe haven- what we knew before.  But how it is so much better to keep going, trusting in the Master to keep us warm, dry and protected and He will lead us till the next safe haven and then help us through another trial and on and on until we progress to where we need to be.  But we must trust in the Master and be willing to take the steps of faith.

I found out some notices from Setúbal!  There aren´t sisters in Setúbal anymore, instead the Líderes de Zona live in our old house and are working with the Setúbal 1 ward AND the Setúbal 2 ward.  They are trying to re-activate Setúbal 2 while other elders are focusing on baptizing in Setúbal 2.  They are working super hard so that they can split the ward! woohoo!!!!  AND the Elders said they had an amazing lesson with Arlete and her FAMILY (!)  in their home with awesome members and she bore her testimony to her family.  I know that me and Irmã Suzarte will one day see them be sealed in the temple!!!  Also, a girl that me and Irmã Suzarte found while knocking portas is getting baptized and told her friends that she will no longer go to the evangelical church but only the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!  I LOVE THIS WORK SOO MUCH!!!!!!  We have been talking to TONS and TONS of people this week but the first part of the week we didn’t see much success but by the end we got lots of new investigators through the contacts we made earlier and then people that those contacts know!!!  YES!!!

I know that Jesus Christ lives.  I know that we can ALWAYS repent.  I know that this is the only true church on the earth with the authority of God.  I know that President Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet of God today and that He has all the keys.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and it is the most powerful book on the earth today and it was written for US.  I love this gospel with all my heart.  It makes me so HAPPY.  I hope other people can see our happiness and know that they can have it too.  I´m a Mormon!!!!  I want to tell the whole world.  Thank you all for your love and prayers and support.  HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Síster Tingey

Falar com o Todo Mundo!!!

March 4, 2013

One of my favorite things as a missionary is talking to people on the street.  You feel the zeal and fire for missionary more and more with the MORE people you talk to!!!  And the more people you talk to, the more the Lord blesses you and the more people you have to teach.  Not to mention the more you get to bear testimony that makes your testimony grow, the more you teach the lessons which helps you personal learn and understand more, and the more people hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ and come to church!  And then the more that enter the waters of baptism, more love you receive for people, the more people to love and get to know, and the more friends that will be with you in the Celestial Kingdom!  I LOVE TALKING TO THE WHOLE WORLD!!!

Something that I and my comp. have noticed is that when life gets hard, people quit.  That when relationships get difficult- when someone gets health problems, or lose a job, or don´t forgive, people give up and families fall apart.  I am so grateful to have grown up in a family where no one is a quitter.  A huge example I thought of is Grandma Hales.  Grandad got sick when he was pretty young.  Grandma had lots of kids to take care of and could have been upset with the situation and could have divorced or found some way to get out of caring for Grandad.  But because of her love for Grandad, her family and the Lord she has been lovingly and selflessly caring for him and everyone else around her with a heart full of gratitude and faith and happiness- always busy and quick to smile.  What an incredible example she is!  Thanks Grandma!  Something that kind of hit me this week in my studies is that yes, Jesus Christ gave His will to our Father, but he also didn´t hold any grudges about it.  He accepted His calling and willing fulfilled it.  His relationship with Heavenly Father didn´t weaken and He didn´t become angry that Heavenly Father still made him suffer in the garden of Gethsemane even though he asked if the cup could be passed.  He willingly and lovingly did all the Father asked of him.  There is a family in the ward here that will be moving to Montreal soon!  It has been fun telling them all about it and helping them be excited.  The dad, Paulo Jorge, is leaving today.  He introduced me to Angolan piri-piri- wowza!  When he told us this past week he was leaving I was super sad and he said its okay sister!  I will be at your wedding in Utah!´  I was so happy to hear that! hahahaha.  He is hilarious and I love that family so much.  As he kind of said goodbye to the ward yesterday I was filled with so much love for everyone and his words echoed in my heart that everyone here is family.  i have family here.  A bit different from my blood family, but my family all the same.   I love the pepole here with my whole heart.  I am so grateful for every moment I have with them.  You should all look up a video from the Mormon channel called ´Cabo Verde:Terra de Luz´ it is awesome.  I have gotten to know many many Africans here in Portugal and I feel a huge urge and desire to work in Cabo Verde someday.  Africans are probably the poorest people, but the happiest.  And I am so grateful for what they have taught me- that material things don´t matter one bit but that family and friends are the most important. (me and Dad have also been talking about it a bit)  What an amazing culture.  Remember to pray like Nephi- not just asking for what we need, but how can we act to then receive what we need.  Cristina said I can share an experience that she had.  a bit before we got to know her she lived with this man that treated her very badly.  They split up and she was so mad about how she treated her that she did something to his car that she is ashamed to say.  She felt really bad for letting her anger get over her, but she repented and knew she needed to be honest and confess.  So she went to the tribunal and told everyone that she did it.  But because of her honesty and because there were no other witnesses against her she got off innocent and free- with nothing to pay or do or anything.  She showed so much faith in the commandments of the Lord to be honest and do the right thing- to make up for her mistake.  I am so proud of her.  What an example!  The Lord always blesses us when we repent and keep the commandments.  I love you all with my whole heart!! Stay FIRM!!!!!  Invite EVERYONE you know to hear about the truth.  HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!

Síster Tingey

LET ME TAKE YOU TO RIO, RIO!!!!

I can´t get that song out of my head- prob. not the best for a missionary, but I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!
RIO DE JANIERO!!!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! OH MY LANTA!!!!!!!!  ESTOU TÃO FELIZ E ANIMADA E EU NÃO POSSO PARAR A DANSAR E FALAR SOBRE SEU CHAMADO!!!!!!  FOGO PA!!!!!!!!!!!!  Eu acho Abby vai ter difficuldades a entender meu sotaque mas eu vou conseguir entender ela!!! muahhahahahah!!!!  Abby will probs. have problems understanding my accent but I will be able to understand her!!! heeheehee!!!!  OH MY GOSH.  I AM SO HAPPY!!!!  A wonderful member here e-mailed mom and mom told her Abby´s call and then she called me and I FLIPPED OUT!!!!  BRASIL!!!!!!  I spazzed as you can imagine!  João- the guy who was baptized last week is from Rio!!!!  OH ABBY YOU ARE GOING TO ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!!!  FOGO!!!!  fixe!  Abby, the Brazilian people are incredible.  They are SO happy and so energetic.  Some say they are the happiest people on earth.  When we talk to Brazilians on the street they are so open and friendly and become your best friend for life in about 5 mins.  They are so FUN!!!  You are going to have so much success!!!  And the world cup!!!!  WOW!!!!  I wanted to visit my Brazilian comp. in Rio during the world cup but I guess now we will have to see. hahaha.  Irmã dos Santos- my Brazilian comp., said she will take you to cool places for P-day! hahaha.  you will love her!!!  And the food!!!  I LOVE Brazilian food!!!  You are going to eat rice and beans A LOT- but it is soooo good the way they make it.  And carne, french fries, salads, fried bananas, hmmmm.  Oh my goodness. SOOO excited for you Abs!!! You will do amazing!!!!  Your new name is ´Sees-ter Ching-ay´- that is how the Brazilians have pronounced my name. heehee.  I am so excited to be on the mission at the same time as you!!  It will be really special.  Although it is said we miss each other by a month, but tudo bem!  Someone needs you.  The weather will be amazing.  I bet you can wear chacos.  I´ve heard awesome stuff about the Brazil MTC- (funny story actually Irmã Lynda Marinho first told me that you were called to São Paulo, but then later in the day I saw her husband and daughter and they both said Rio de Janiero and later she called and said yes, its rio de janiero. hahaha.  She was so sweet- she called me early in the morning and just confused it. haha)  You will get cool scripture covers that you can put your mission and name on the front.  You are just going to be thrown in the country and culture right away and that is the best way to do it I say!  Forget English and just go for it.  You will love it, abs.  I am SOO excited for you.  

Wow.  My heart is bursting with joy!!! Such amazing news!!!  I LOVE missionary work!!!!  Oh thank you so much for my Valentines package!!!  I LOVED it!!! I love the things from England and I FLIPPED over the chocolate frog!!! It made me so happy and excited.  And the pencil case is perfect- I needed one!  You are the best Mum!!!  Well family, I just love you all so very very very very much.  And I love the Lord.  When we make our will in line with His will we are happier and able to do HIS work better.  We just need to trust in Him- it is as simple as that.  We have really been working on getting references from members and this week we finally got some and they are amazing- lots of potential!  Esperança and her daughter Joanna were references and they came to church for the first time yesterday and really liked it!  Cristina- the recent convert- gave her first talk in Sacrament meeting!!!  She did great- she spoke about the power of prayer and how before she talked to the missionaries she would pray from her heart all the time and just talk to God and would ask Him for help.  When we came and when we prayed with her she was so excited that we pray the same way she does- from the heart and she knew that God sent us to help her.  After her baptism one day she was praying for help because she and her daughter didn´t have any food and then 10 mins later a member of the bishopric called her and asked if she needed help with food and she was so surprised that Heavenly Father answered her prayer so fast!  Prayers are powerful and are always answered when we have faith and show our faith.  A lot of times me and my companions pray to find the right people- the people the Lord would have us find and it is amazing how He just puts them in our path, or we feel a building to knock, etc.  When we ASK, we will receive.  I and Sister Layton have noticed that a lot of the work we are doing here is with the members- helping the hands that hang down and the feeble knees and the ones that just need a friend.  Members that have been members for many years still need support and visits- that is why home teaching and visiting teaching are SO important.  My testimony of those two organizations have grown a ton on the mission- not that I didn´t have a testimony before, but now I really see the NECESSITY of it.  It is really a NEED.  I am so grateful to stay here in Braga!!!  We had transfers and I and Sister Layton are staying!!! WOOHOOOO!!!!!  I am SOO happy.  I LOVE this area and I LOVE my comp. and we are pumped for another awesome transfer to build the Kingdom of God among these good people.  I am so blessed to be here.  This is really paradise for me.  Oh and about last week’s e-mail- I realized that because you all don´t know João and the whole story some things might seem weird- but his conversion was a total team effort that was so amazing and we only had the opportunity to teach him and prepare him for baptism because he lives in our area.  I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves us.  I know that He cares about even the small things in our lives.  I know that we are really nothing without Him and the more we trust in Him and follow Him the happier we will be.  I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that President Monson is the Prophet of God.  I am so grateful to be  a part of this marvelous work!!  HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!

com muito amor e um caração cheio de agradecimento,
Síster Tingey 

2/18/13

Se Tendes um desejo de servir o Senhor, vos sois chamados ao trabalho

OOOOHHHHH MYYYYy GOOODNESSSSSSS!!!!!!  WHAT A WEEK!!!!  I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK!!!!

João Carlos Ribeiro Marcelino promised the Lord he would keep the commandments and do all he can to follow him yesterday through the beautiful covenant of BAPTISM!!!

We really tried to make the Baptismal meeting as spirit filled as possible- and it was absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! (I also realized one of my mission dreams- to sing at a baptism- I usually have plans to, but something always happens that stops me, but yesterday I would not be stopped!  I wanted the meeting to be as special for João as I could make it and so when we got the news that a member couldn´t come that could play the piano and that Sister Layton would have to instead and so she couldn´t sing with me, I asked everyone who wanted to sing and finally the Bishop said he likes to sing and would do it with me and it was great!!!  We sang ´Mais Perto Quero Estar` - I forgot what it is in English.  My dream came true!!!)  ANYWAYS we invited João beforehand to bear his testimony after his baptism and he did and I want to relate everything he said that I can remember because I think you will really feel the spirit and those who are thinking about serving missions, waiting for their calls (ABBY!!), serving, fresh off the mish, and all those interested in missionary work can feel the fire of this work and how wonderful it is to be a tool in the hands of the Lord!!!  this is what missions are ALL about:

I will obviously rephrase and do my best to translate into English- by the way he is Brazilian and HilArious and awesome.  ´My first experience with the missionaries was with the Elders- I stopped them on the street somewhere over there (pointing..) and asked them if they were of the church Mormon.  They said no that they were from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  They gave me a pamphlet and I gave them my phone number.  I went home and read the pamphlet and thought ´they are lying to me!  They ARE Mormons!´ and I was really annoyed and decided I didn´t want to talk to them.  But they kept calling me- they are so annoying!  And they kept persisting and calling and finally I decided to just talk to them and show them how they are wrong and get them to leave me alone.  So we met here in the church and I talked to them and they were interesting and tried to give me a Book of Mormon but I wouldn´t take it.  After I talked to Nelson (a member) and got to know him and we talked a bit about the church.  He invited me to come over again to the church to talk another day so I came again and was sitting in that room when the Sisters walked by the door.  I saw them and I got goose bumps all over- you know, when you take all the feathers off a chicken and but the body in hot water- those bumps that come up on the skin?  Yea that is what I felt- I am feeling them right now!  They came walking in the room with lots of energy and brought a light and I felt that they had something to offer me.  The part of me that was closed before was opened a little bit and we talked and they said to take a Book of Mormon and I took it. I thought I knew what the Book of Mormon was- just writings taken out of the Bible and I decided I would talk to them and read the book and find all the errors and then fight with them and show them how they are wrong.  I tried to get them with questions but they kept answering them and I read and talked and realized that everything was true.  That this church must be true.  (He got emotional here)  Before I would wake up every day and wonder where I would be- I would have fear of the future (by the way he is 59 and without a job and not living in the best conditions) but now that fear is gone.  I have a purpose and joy and happiness in my life- I have found the right road and no one can take me from this road.  In this short period of time the Lord has changed my life- I feel light- the heaviness has gone.  This is the truth.  These young people- the elders and sisters- they are annoying.  But they (got emotional again) they give from the heart.  They give and teach with charity and love.  They leave everything behind to give us all light and this knowledge that changes our lives.  They bring a light that just gets transmitted inside of us.  They give up everything- their homes and families to help people like me.  (great, now I am crying) I am so grateful for these young people.  I know this is the true church and the true road to follow and I will walk in front.´´ 

It was such a privilege and a joy to serve and teach João and watch the atonement and the spirit work within him and change him.  The gospel takes good men and makes them better.  I am forever grateful for this experience- this opportunity.  This privilege.  Everything is worth it.  Everything is worth experiences like this.  Every slammed door in the face, every no in the street, every disappointment, challenge, frustration with the language, stress, unkind words- everything everything everything doesn´t matter if it all means I get to experience things like this.  I don´t even remember those bad experiences anymore in the light of these incredible experiences.  This is real happiness and joy- to bring people to Christ.  To help people on their way to exaltation and joy.  I AM SO HAPPY!!!!  I LOVE the Lord.  I don´t know what I did to be blessed with this blessing to serve here.  To serve at all.  When we have a desire to serve God, we are called to the work.  And what a marvelous work it is!!!  This is why we serve missions.  This is why I am here- to serve the Lord e então my fellow men.  

Other joys this week:  Rosa Afonso, a menos ativo we have been working with came to church yesterday!!!  She told us last week that she would come only if it didn´t rain.  So we prayed that it wouldn´t rain and it didn´t but she still didn´t come.  This week we told her we prayed that it wouldn’t rain and she didn´t come, so she has to come this week.  She said again that she would come only if it didn´t rain.  Well it was sunny all week except for yesterday for Sunday.  Well, the Lord´s will be done.  We thought this must be a test of her and or our faith.  So she called and said it was raining and before she could give up or give another excuse I told her a member was going to come pick her up.  Her visiting teacher came and she had a great experience!  At first she was a bit annoyed that we had her come in the cold, but then her heart was softened and she said it was like the first time she came to church.  I love re-activation!!!  We are having her read the Book of Mormon all over again- starting at the beginning and she is loving it.  That book is the most powerful book on earth- miracles happen when we read it.  We taught this man named Rashed from Yemen and he is legit.  Even though he has a Muslim background he has an open heart and is truly searching.  I know he will find what he is looking for. :)  i truly love this work and thank Heavenly Father everyday for letting me be here.  I love being a missionary.  I am so grateful to be an instrument in the hand so the Master.  I know this is truly His church.  I have no doubts at all.  if you have doubts, talk to me to about it.  I love you all!!1 Hurrah for Israel!!!

with a heart full of love and gratitude,
Síster Tingey

2/11/13

Fogo!!!

I am feeling so much FOGO (fire) for the work and for the Lord!!!  This message is rolling through the earth like a storm and I am so grateful to be a part of it!!!  President is really training us and pushing us all to be better.  To step it up and be leaders- because with all the new missionaries coming in we all need to be leaders- we will all pretty much be trainers and leaders!  President gave us a challenge to memorize all the points (and invites) of the lessons and a scripture with each one before the end of March.  We have already started and I have already seen a big difference in the work!  We are blessed when we listen and act on the words of our leaders.

Cristina was called to be in the Primary presidency!!! woohoo!!! And Catarina bore her first testimony yesterday during Sacrament meeting and it was so sweet!  They are doing soo well!!! I am SO happy!!!  It has been such a privilege being a part of their conversion.  I think back of when we first spoke with Cristina- she was truly depressed and crying and had no light in her eyes.  Now she smiles and laughs all the time and is so happy!!!  The gospel changes people- the atonement changes people.  I am so grateful to be able to witness this and be an instrument in the hands of the Lord!  I have a testimony of simply asking.  The Lord is so ready to bless us with answers and other things we need if we just ASK specifically.  We have been asking specifically to find families and receive references and we have been praying very specifically for our investigators and WOW.  miracles miracles miracles.  A menos ativo and a couple of investigators said they wouldn´t come to church if it was raining. oh brother.  so what did we do?  We prayed for there not to be rain and guess what?  blue skies all day!!!  That has happened a couple of times for me on my mission- we prayed the rain would stop and it did.  I know that Christ truly created this earth and commands it.  And we have the power to call down the powers of heaven in our favor with this calling.  I am so grateful to be working together on the same team with the Lord. :)  This week I have been reading a lot ABOUT and in the Book of Mormon and have once again felt how true and powerful it is.  And I am again, focusing all my teaching and contacting with the Book of Mormon and the Restoration- because that is our unique message to the world and I have seen a huge difference in the work!  The Book of Mormon is the key.  It is either true or false.  There is no grey area.  And I testify that it is TRUE.  And therefore Joseph was a Prophet of God and this is he true church of Jesus Christ on the earth.  I know this without a doubt.  I am so grateful to be here.  We are teaching this man named João- the guy that tells everyone how hard I am- but in a funny, teasing way- we have a fun relationship, every time I call him to ask if he read the Book of Mormon yet that day he laughs his head off.  I don´t know why.  Anyways, he is just eating the gospel up. He is reading the BoM each day- I am making sure of that- it is the key to his conversion- but he still doesn´t think he knows it is true.  Pray for him and Amarildo- that he will stop drinking and smoking, and pray for us to find the elect!!  LOVEYOU ALL!!!! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!

Sister Tingey :)                                      2/4/13

Eu AMO a missão!!!

I LOVE the MISSION!!!!  SOSOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!

Wow.  What a great life.  I studied Helaman 5 this morning: have you ever felt like you are stuck in a dark spiritual cloud?  Remember the talk on putting pavilions in between ourselves and the Lord?  Well, what do we do when we feel that way?  We turn to the Book of Mormon- the book of answers.  Hel. 5:40-47 is an incredible story full of the spirit and it explains what we need to do when we feel like we are stuck in a dark cloud and we feel like light or revelation can´t penetrate- the answer is this: repent.  Have faith and pray until the cloud leaves or the pavilion breaks.  Simple yet effective.  i LOVE repentance!!!  i am so happy and grateful to cry repentance unto this people.  The Atonement is the best thing that has ever happened to me.  For our zone conference last week I came with the question ´I have 6 months left on my mission.  What goals should I have to finish strong and the way the Lord wants me to?´ And the answer came: study and focus on the Atonement.  Again- simple and effective.  One of the major things we as missionaries learn on the mission is how to use the Atonement- and it is basically the fundamental thing we are teaching everyone- how to use the Atonement.  We must ALWAYS be repenting- because unfortunately we are always sinning, but the faster we repent and change; the faster we get back on track, have the spirit and we can progress.  repent repent repent.  It is the best!   When we repent we are not only changing our behavior, but our NATURES.  We are repenting for good.  So I invite all of you to study more about the Atonement and Repent!  Being completely clean and pure ALL the time is the BEST!!!!

Random thoughts and stories:  Remember the currant bush and remember who the gardener is and trust in Him.  He might have to cut you done a lot to build you back up to who He wants you to be.  We need to be completely consecrated to the Lord.  It is not what we are giving, but HOW that makes the difference.  I don´t know if I already talked about this- but something that I really learned with my experience of reading the 4 gospels before Christmas was that we can read and read and study about Christ and learn a lot about Him, but we won´t REALLY get to know Him until we do act like Him and do His works- what He would do.  Things start to happen when we are willing to sacrifice.  This week we found this man in the church one night and turns out he had talked to the Elders on the street and he came to talk with another member.  Anyways we have seen him a couple times since then and we always get into awesome gospel discussions.  He told me that he feels like I have answers for him and he was disputing with me about the Book of Mormon and I asked him if he had read any of it and he hadn´t and so I told him too and he kind of chuckled and said ´you are right I need to read it first.  I am hard.´ and I said ´I am hard too.´ which made him chuckle harder and now he tells everyone how I am pushing him and annoying him but in a good way. hahahahahahaha  just a funny story.  One day we were knocking doors and we knocked this one door and a short petite woman answered from Brazil and immediately invited us in and then called her friend from the kitchen and her son from his room to come listen to us!!!  It was sooo awesome!!!  We taught about the Book of Mormon- turns out this lady had picked up a Book of Mormon from someone’s trash pile and had read a bit of it and said she would NEVER through that book away!!!  saweeeeet.  We felt to go find this old investigator from the area book named Fatima and she is SO cool and she said ever since the elders had talked to her she has been reading the book of Mormon!!!!  WOOHOO!!!  That is a sure sign that she is ready.  I have a huge testimony of the Apostasy and the Restoration.  The Bishopric gave us some names to look up and so we went and visited this one menos ativo named Rosa and she pretty much gave us a huge list of reasons why she doesn´t want to come to church anymore but we helped her see that the base question that she really has is are our prophets truly called of God which actually is reflecting on her testimony of the BOok of Mormon.  The BoM is the answer to everything- any doubt is based on that testimony.  I LOVE the Book of Mormon and I KNOw it is true.  We taught this really sweet lady named Fernanda (we first talked to her on the street earlier in the week) and she is super humble and also ready for the gospel.  Every time we teach about Joseph Smith and the Restoration the Spirit fills the room and every person in it.  At the zone conference this past week I talked to one of my old comps.- Irmã Suzarte- I served with her in Setubal- well she just recently left that area and she said that one girl we found knocking doors will soon be baptized!!! YEA!!!!  I know this church is TRUE1!!!

I love this gospel.  I love this work.  I love the Lord.  I know the Atonement is real.  I love Braga and my comp. and my mission.  I love all of you and pray for you!!!  HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!

com muito amor,
Síster Tingey                                                     1/28/13

Well, it has happened- I now am wearing my Sister tags

What a week!!!  I spent Monday and the beginning of Tuesday in Villa Real with the other Sisters there waiting for my companion.  Me and my comp. Irmã Layton returned to Braga Tuesday afternoon and we hit the ground running!  Watch out Braga because we are putting all we have into this work.  President Fluckiger had us all read ´A Consecrated Missionary´by Elder Callister this week and it has really helped me.  I already had the talk, but it was good to read it again.  Me and Irmã Layton are trying to do all we can to put all we have on the sacrificial altar- to give everything to the Lord.  The more we give our will over to the Lord´s will the more happy we will be and the more success we will have- in lots of ways!

This week has really been incredible.  I have had so many amazing conversations with the Lord that has made such a big difference for me.  I will reach my year mark this week and I am really trying to give everything I have for the rest of my mission.  It seems like I have only been here for a couple months- time FLIES.  I am still hoping for an announcement in General Conference that says sisters can serve for 2 years.  When we pray and ask the Lord for miracles and help, comfort and peace, or whatever we need He will respond.  I know it for a fact.  Try it.  I testify that the Lord knows us perfectly.  He has a purpose for us and He will help us reach it- if we let Him.  I am really learning to give everything to Him- esp. my will.  Sometimes I think I can do it myself and I don´t know why I keep falling into that trap- but we can only do it with the Lord´s help.  At the beginning of the year in Ward counsel we made goals for the ward.  We really stressed references from members because that is really gets the work going in the ward.  And yesterday the Bishop stood at the podium and told everyone to give us references and he talked a bit about missionary work and I WAS SO HAPPY!!!!!   This is a big deal.  And the Bishop said that this is really what the Lord has said He wants.  WOOHOO!!!  This week I have thought about the story in the Book of Mormon where the recent converts bury their swords and how the whole purpose of repentance is not returning to our sins and relying on the Lord.  I love the story of Abinadi- we really gave everything and he didn´t even know if had any converts- he just did what the Lord had him do to the end of his life.  But his one convert later baptized thousands and changed nations and generations.  All because of the testimony and spirit of Abinadi and him not having fear and just doing what the Lord asked.  wow.  what an example.  A little funny story- me and my companion both woke up at 1:30 one night this week and both thought the alarm went off so we got up and said our prayers.  We thought it was hilarious that we are so tired that it felt the same when we woke up at 1:30 as when we wake up the normal time every morning.  I translated in Relief Society for a woman from England and it made me miss the Brits so much- such awesome expressions!  ´A chappie´meaning a man, and ´brilliant´- my personal favorite.  We had TONS of rain and wind this week and still haven´t really dried out- the city was on red alert.  An old wall that was by our house fell over because of the wind- we think that might have been what woke us up at 1:30! haha

The church is true.  This work is incredible.  We had experiences everyday talking to tons of people we felt we needed to and making a difference in their life.  This is the best work ever!!!  i love Jesus Christ.  I love this mission.  I love you all.  HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!


Síster Tingey!!!                            1/21/13

choices

So I decorated my agenda for this next transfer with a wolf with the sides of the face completely different from each other.  Why you may ask?  Well you can read the Liahona from September (i think it was that one) or I can just tell you.  There is a story of an American Indian- an old Cherokee talking to his little grandson.  He explained to him that inside his head, and everyone else's, there is a fight underway all day every day of two wolves.  One wolf is the natural man; jealousy, greed, sadness, pride, hate, etc. and the other wolf is the good- our Heavenly Spirits wanting to do what is right to return to our Father; happiness, love, charity, hope, diligence, obedience, friendship, etc.  The young grandson asked his Grandfather ´Well, which wolf will win?!´ and the Grandfather responded ´Whichever wolf you feed.´ I am pretty sure I am going to be using my agenda to teach a lot this transfer.  But I love that story!  We really choose.  We choose everything.  There will always be storms, but we must choose the good in the midst of the storm by feeding the good wolf.  

Transfers!!!  are always stressful.  yesterday I was so nervous about what was going to happen, but no worries because I AM STAYING IN BRAGA!!!!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS AREA AND THE PEOPLE HERE!!!!  Oh my goodness I am so happy.  I prayed so hard- I told the Lord that I will really go and do whatever He wants, but if it was possible PLEASE let me stay in Braga.  My companion will be Irmã Layton- she is coming from the Açores today so i am staying with the Irmãs in Villa Real.  I knew Irmã Layton in the MTC- she is so awesome, I am super pumped for this transfer!!!!  

This past transfer has been crazy and awesome.  crazy-awesome.  The Lord has taught me to stop seeing success through my eyes, but through His eyes.  His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts.  Sometimes numbers aren´t what the Lord wants.  If we just pray and follow the spirit and do HIS will, we are fine and have nothing to worry about.  I am so grateful for repentance.  I LOVE Moroni 6:8- if we repent with sincere intent and a pure heart we will ALWAYS be forgiven- not sometimes, but ALWAYS!!!!!  I have felt the hand of the Lord more strongly these past two transfers than I ever have before in my life.  I am so grateful for all the experiences I have had and I can´t wait for the ones to come.  Okay, I want to share this quote from my studies this week that kind of explain these two transfers for me and what i have learned: ´...the more faithful service you give, the more the Lord asks of you.  Your smile is a happy one because you know that He increases our power to carry the heavier load.  The tough part of that reality, however is that for him to give you that increased power you must go in service and faith to your outer limits.  It is like building muscle strength.  You must break down your muscles to build them up.  You push muscles to the point of exhaustion.  Then they repair themselves, and they develop greater strength.  Increased spiritual strength is a gift from God which He can give when we push in His service to our limits.  Through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, our natures can be changed.  Then our power to carry burdens can be increased more than enough to compensate for the increased service we will be asked to give.`  President Eyring.

sometimes Satan says you failed.  But just listen to the Master and His opinion.

I love you all.  The church is true.  Jesus Christ died for us so that we can live.  Hurrah for Israel!!!

Irmã Tingey