Loving being a missionary in beautiful Portugal!

Goals

June 4, 2012

I have a testimony of goals.  love them.  Elder Ballard said if we don´t make goals we will look back on our life and realize we didn´t reach our potential and could have done and become so much more- or something like that.  See Preach my Gospel ch. 8.  Well sadly no baptisms this weekend.  BUT we met our huge goal of 24 new investigators this week!!!  WOOT WOOT!!!  And we wanted to get 10 recibidas (don´t remember word in English, means phone numbers/addresses) per day, and we got pretty darn close- 57!!!  YEA!!!!  Yesterday we were left with 6 new investigators to find before the end of the week.  We found the last one at the very last minutes before we needed to return home and it was a miracle- an eleita- nossa revelada por essa semana!!!!  Okay and we get a mission newsletter every transfer with the numbers of the mission and last transfer our mission had 173 baptisms!!!!  CRAZY AWESOME!!!!!  The work is moving forward so fast!!!  Isn´t that SO EXCITING?!?!?!?!  In zone conference irmã Torgan said that President Torgan received revelation before they came on the mission that there goals for baptisms for their mission should be 2,000.  When President told Sister Torgan this she called him crazy.  They will leave next transfer, and last week they were up to 2,009 baptisms.  2,009 people have been brought into the fold in three years.  These are the last days and the work is moving forward like a freight train here in Portugal.  Many humble people prepared.  The Lord blesses us when we make a goal WITH HIM and then do all we can to accomplish it!

Photos:  Don´t know what order they are in but one picture is the baptism of Telmo the ELEITO ELEITO ELEITO!!!, one is me freaking out after an AMAZINGLY spiritual lesson with Hertz- an investigator that we have been teaching FOREVER and will be baptized soon!  One is what a street in an area we lovingly call ´little Africa´- most of the people who live in this area are from Africa.  And one is of a statue in the city- not my area, we had to go there for Irmã´s Brazilean bank- notice the cobblestone!  oh and one pic is of a home with a tile of Fatima- see tiles like these everywhere, and people have a tile on their homes with ´Vivenda ...`and the name of the family.  Did I ever mention there are tiles EVERYWHERE!!! VERY beautiful!!!

I am so glad to hear Jack is banging salad bowls.  Reminds me when he was little and banged pots and pans to ´That Thing You Do`.  I love you bud, you are a stud!!!  ha rhyme.  That is SO cool that the London gang saw the QUEEN!!!!  You are official Londoners.  Titi will actually be in London for 6 months!  She is there now.  Her e-mail isalbinaticiane@hotmail.com.  I gave her all your info. but she is a little nervous to contact you all.  She is living with a family member that speaks English so she is going to ask her to help.  She said she would contact you and I really really really hope she does!!!  

Portuguese is getting better.  This has happened to me a couple of times- some people in church speak to me in English but I don´t realize it is English for a while and then I wonder if I was speaking english in return or still Portuguese. haha.

Lot´s of amazing, spirit-filled lessons this week, but also lots of heart breaking things.  Opposition in all things.  I am so grateful for Revelados- they are teaching me how to push myself and be a better missionary.  I am so grateful for all of your examples!!!  I am so grateful to have this privilege to be a part of the Lord´s work.  This is His work.  I want to submit my will to His totally.  This is the best thing EVER!!! I LOVE MY MISSION!!!! I love every day.  Every day miracles occur.  Heavenly Father loves us so much.  That is a fact.  I know this is His church.  Jesus Christ is literally at the head of this church.  I am so grateful for modern day revelation.  I LOVE YOU ALL!!! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Irmã Tingey

OPPOSITION IN ALL THINGS

5/28/12

What a week!  I cannot tell you how much it helps me to hear from you all!  I LOVE your e-mails and letters!!!  They mean the world to me!!!  So Thursday we had a zone conference and I GOT THE PACKAGE!!!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!  I had to guard it from the elders- everyone knows there is chocolate in packages and I knew there would be GALAXY!  haha.  Thank you so much for the pictures!!!  What a BEAUTIFUL family I have. :)  Everyone looked especially beautiful and happy- especially the bride and groom!  Very classy.  Thank you so much for the hair clips, the Lindt, FRUIT SNACKS!!! :) Thanks Gram!, and the SHIRTS!!!!  They fit perfectly and me and Irmã dos Santos LOVE them!!!  Thank you so much for the bridesmaid bracelet- it means so much to me.  I cried.  I seem to cry a lot lately.  My wits are always on end. :)  And the letters!!!! Thank you to all my friends and of course family that wrote me letters!  Congrats to Pono and her mission call!!!  SOOO exciting!!!!  I don’t think I know of anyone that has been looking forward to a mission more than Pono Santos.

This week has been full of miracles, awesomeness and of course opposition- sempre.  Oh before I forget!  One of my recent converts- Titi, will be visiting London for a class!!  I think she is going to go to the Portuguese speaking ward that meets in your building!!!  AH!!!  I will give her the London number, but unfortunately you don’t speak Portuguese and she doesn’t speak English, but maybe someone in the ward can help.  I hope you guys can get together at church or sometime, that would be CRAZY AWESOME!!!  Yesterday we had a BAPTISMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Telmo- the most golden person I have ever met.  We contacted him on the street last week on Friday I believe, he came to church for the first time last Sunday, and the whole week we taught him and he was baptized after church yesterday!!!!  The great thing is we didn’t do anything.  It was all him and the spirit.  But boy he was so prepared.  We marked him for baptism the first lesson.  We gave him a Livro do Mormon on Sunday at church, by our first lesson on Tuesday he had been reading and MARKING it- starting with introduction and testimony of Joseph Smith.  With all the lessons we gave him pamphlets to read and he read them all and MARKED them.  He came with questions and made sure he understood everything he could.  He just drank everything in.  By Thursday he was REALLY sure about his baptism.  Friday he was a little worried, but still strong and Saturday with his interview with Elder Wiseman he was SOOO pumped!!!  We talked to him about inviting friends, what food he wanted, who he wanted to baptized him etc, and he kept saying it didn’t matter as long as he is baptized.  After the baptism and meeting yesterday i talked to him over cookies (which i made! haha) and i asked him how he was feeling.  He said He feels ´saved´. HAHAHA.  I LOVE HIM!!!! He is so awesome!!!!  I will send pics next week!

Unfortunately we were supposed to have more than one baptism, but he chose not to.  We have been teaching Hertz for forever and he KNOWS the church is true.  This week was FULL of extremely spiritual lessons and fire!!!  But he will get there.  Bruno is the name of the 17 year old we met on the bus- we haven’t been able to teach him yet.  

Revelados.  I can´t remember what I have explained about them before, but I have learned more about it.  I will try to explain.  On Friday we have our weekly planning.  We pray who is ready and can be baptized for the next Sunday- these are our revelados.  We actually pray for the number first, and then the name.  We make a plan of how to contact or teach everyday to prepare these people for baptism.  Revelados do not change.  The number does not change.  If your Revelados aren´t baptized that week, it was your fault.  Sometimes it is because of their choices, but mostly it is on us as missionaries.  We repent all the time.  Throughout the week Revelados take priority over other pesquisadores.  To have the Revelados be baptized the missionary must have FAITH.  Pure FAITH.  Whatever opposition comes, you work through it and just know that this person is supposed to be baptized this week.  Sometimes it is easy to say Óh, they won´t stop drinking before Sunday, or they wont move out of the house with their boyfriend, etc.  You must have complete faith and trust in the Lord to carry on.  I am really learning how to use the Atonement- all the time.  And I am learning so much about having Faith in the Lord.  I wonder all the time why revelados when some people aren´t baptized- and Irmã dos Santos thinks  it is because we need to see what could have happened if we worked harder and did more if we really brought the spirit and did everything we could (which actually we never can because we are weak and not perfect, but that is where Grace comes in) people will be baptized.  If we are exactly obedient, have faith, love, pray and fast.  We really need to give our all for miracles to occur- to help save souls.  We need to give ALL of ourselves.  Sorry, I think I am writing thoughts from our zone conference and it might not make sense.  Revelados have given me lots of stress and anxiety, and it has been hard for me to find joy in the journey sometimes, but I am learning.  President Torgan said Moroni 1:1 says (it is actually HIS scripture because his first name is Moroni! haha) Missionarios existem para tinham alegria. (don´t know if that is correctly spelled) in English:  Missionaries exist to have joy.  This IS joyful work!  And President Torgan says to repent for 10 seconds hard core and then move on and keep smiling and working hard.  I am still learning- about everything- about how to be a good missionary, a better person and sometimes it is frustrating because I can never be perfect.  But I know that Heavenly Father loves me.  I want to be my best for him.  One of my zone leaders said that a leader of the church said that there should be a point in the mission when you don´t recognize yourself- because you have changed for the better.  The Lord will take you and mold you to become who He wants you to be- if you let Him.  I am working on changing for the better every day.  Everything I learn I am trying to Apply IMMEDIATELY.  I repent immediately.  Changing for better, becoming who we need to become is all about our choices.  Choose to change every day.  Change means not going back- just like repentance.  I am also working on my thoughts- changing my thoughts to complete faith. 

Lots of thoughts in my head from this meeting and from my experiences on the mission, sorry. haha.  Hopefully they help in some way.  I love being a missionary.  I love being here.  I am happy.  I love the Lord.  I love His church.  I love my family, the Book of Mormon, chocolate, bread and butter, chapstick, palm trees, my Brazilian companion, hot showers, toothpaste, and YOU!!!!!  LOVE YOU LOVE YOU LOVE YOU!!!!  Jesus Christ LIVES!!!!  I am so excited for Him to come AGAIN!!!  Hurrah for Israel!!!

Irmã Tingey (wont be Irmã for long :( will change to Sister- to match the other Portuguese missions)

MIRACLES

5/21/12

The work of the Lord is just bursting with miracles- always!!!  We have the Lord´s promise that when we do our best, when we listen to the spirit and do His will, miracles will happen.  Many times when me and my companion feel the need to visit someone, often times it wasn´t that person we needed to talk to- it was the women standing next to us at the bus stop that doesn´t believe God exists, it was the man stealing a lemon from the tree that needed some hope, it was the young man at the back of the bus that feels the need to be baptized because his father didn´t allow him to when he was a baby.  -Okay this story rocks.  It was late and we were on our way home.  It was only us and the young man on the bus- red flag!  Normally there are more people, so of course we needed to talk to him.  He is from Brazil and he is 17 years old.  He got off at the same stop as us so we continued to talk and we brought him to the church (close to our apt.) and showed him around and basically taught him the first lesson.  His heart is the most open heart than any I have talked to so far.  He is so ready for the gospel its insane.  He asked where he could get a Book of Mormon- I love that question.  He was very respectful and asked really sincere questions.  I am pretty sure he will serve a mission.  I am so excited to teach him!!!  AH!!!  Me and Irmã Dos Santos felt so much love for him.  Irmã Dos Santos said he will be our ´son´of the mission. haha.  

SEVEN people came to church yesterday!!! WOOHOO!!!!  2 of our revelados- better than normal.  Ildafanso, Telmo, Iolanda, Jelciley, Ari, Felipe and Angela.  I was sitting next to Titi- the recent convert that was baptized last transfer, and this little girl came to sit next to me.  I asked her name, age, etc. and asked who her parents were.  She said she came with a friend and her parents aren´t members.  She is 10 years old and so, so, so sweet.  During Sacrament meeting she asked me for paper and a pen.  I was thinking she wanted to draw or something to pass the time but NO- she passed me a note that basically said Í am not baptized but I want to be.  Do you know how to help me be baptized?´ I just about cried.  She showed me her Book of Mormon that she has- which she has marked!!!  She has read up to Alma 22!!!  She said other sisters had taught her before.  Remember that she is ten years old.  I was filled with so much love for her- Ari is her name. But red flag- huge desire, was taught my missionaries before but not baptized- must be the parents.  I talked to the mom of her friend and sure enough she said her parents don’t want her to get baptized.  But she will talk to them and we will talk to them.  

Felipe just walked in because his father is a member in-active I think) and he was curious. SAWEEET!!!!  Earlier this week we were stuck in the rain with no protection.  Usually we always have an umbrella, but with summer beginning we thought we didn´t need anything.  wrong-o.  But we prayed for the rain to stop so we could see an investigator and it did.  Blue skies.  Power of prayer is real.

We were able to eat with some families this week with lots of kids!  It made me feel like I was home- lots of people, talking, chasing, yelling.  I felt at home.  One family- the Dad is from Bulgaria.  He was very interested in my genealogy- the first person that has asked me.  I am so grateful for the blessings of our ancestry- there is so much power of the spirit in it.  We have found a lot of less actives this week- just from contacting on the street!!!  Miracles!!!  

I am learning so much about faith.  About not giving up.  About demanding my best even when I am tired and hungry and sweaty.  When I keep the Savior in mind, I can do anything.  It is truly incredible how the Lord uses us to be instruments.  All we really have to do is be at the right place at the right time and listen to the spirit (easier said than done, right?) and WOW.  The Spirit is what works the miracles.  

We might not be called Irmã any longer! :(  We will get new plaques.  All the other Portuguese speaking missions are Sister, so they might change us to have it be unified.  The new mission president with decide for certain.  This is our last full transfer with President Torgan- So sad.  But I am excited for the new mission President also.  President Fluckiger will come in the middle of June.  Did I mention I absolutely LOVE my area?  I LOVE this ward and I LOVE the people here- so many open and humble hearts.  We have a zone meeting on Thursday so I will get your package!!!  I am SO excited!!!  And can´t wait for the surprise!  Oh and it will be easier on me if i don´t know when the Family beach Reunion is going to happen.  I would love to hear about it after, but not really before if that is possible. :)  I love you All with my whole heart!!!  This church is the church of God- with Jesus Christ as the head.  The Book of Mormon is the word of God.  It is SOOO powerful.  I absolutely LOVE the Book of Mormon- the more we use it to teach, the more strong the spirit is.  I am learning to love Portuguese- still hard for me, but getting better.  LOVE YOU LOVE YOU LOVE YOU!!!!  HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!

Irmã Tingey

PICTURES

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

TRANSFERS!

5/7/12

Okay, so it was Mother´s Day here in Portugal, but Mother´s Day in the US is this coming Sunday I guess so I will talk to you all this week!!!  CRAZY how fast time flies!!  I have your numbers, I don´t know what phone I will be using, I will buy a phone card, and I will try to call around 8:00.  

Transfers are today!!  The whole mission has been in an up roar because I guess we usually know Sunday night or Monday morning but no one has found out the whole day!  We have gotten some calls of a few missionaries, but for the most part people don´t know.  Me and Irmã Dos Santos will probably stay here in Odivelas.  Irmã Boshard is with us right now because her comp. (Irmã Wilde! my comp. in the MTC!) went to Madiera!!!  Irmã Boshard will train again- her fourth transfer training!!!  WOW.  She will stay with us until the newbies come on Weds or Thurs.  This has been a crazy but awesome week!  During our District Meeting earlier this week we made District goals and then our district leader told us of the Zone goals.  I was just filled with FIRE and the desire to Testify to the whole world and so i suggested we split the zone goals in half and make those numbers our district goals.  They agreed.  So we had big goals this week that really helped lift our numbers and we talked to TONS of people and I LOVE it!!!  I am happiest when I am talking to people about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  When I am feeling down, I just talk to someone and I become much happier :).  I know that when we have goals and push ourselves miracles happen and we grow and change and become better.  Remember to Demand Excellence!!!  I try to remember every day.  I have some new goals to do this better for next transfer.

Lots of opposition this week.  We had 4 people for this Sunday to get baptized but no one did!  So sad and frustrating.  This is war- serio.  But we will win.  I absolutely LOVE being a missionary!!!  AH!!!! love love love love love love!!!  Thank you for your letters!  I am so grateful for this privilege to be a representative of Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful for this opportunity to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord.  I want to be a missionary for forever!  I Know that Jesus Christ lives.  He will come again!!!  I want to shout that to the whole world- the good news that Christ is coming again!  I absolutely love the scriptures.  I feel like I understand the scriptures in a different way, here on the mission.  It is so incredible.  I feel like the prophets are talking to me and about the people of Portugal.  I am so grateful for personal revelation.  When we act, we invite miracles.  I am still working on being a totally consecrated missionary- to be willing to lay everything on the altar of sacrifice.  I testify that this is the church of Jesus Christ, restored again to the earth.

Mother- I love you with my whole heart and soul.  I cannot thank you enough for who you are.  Your example has taught me everything.  You have taught me to love everyone no matter what circumstance they are in, no matter what they have done in their past, but to just love them for who they are.  You have taught me to not be afraid to push myself and make myself do things that make me uncomfortable.  I remember in 4th or 5th grade there was a talent show and I told you about it and you asked me if I was going to do anything.  I said no, but you encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and not care about what others think- same thing with student council and many other things.  You have always pushed me to do good things and because of these experiences I am not afraid here on the mission to talk to people and do uncomfortable things that I know I need to do.  Thank you.  Thank you for teaching me to be polite and never to lose my cool with people, but to always respect people.  Thank you for teaching me to laugh and smile and have fun even when times are tough.  Thank you for teaching me to love.  That is the most important thing on the mission- I believe.  Thank you for teaching me to pray and read my scriptures.  Thank you for following President Hinckley´s council to read the Book Of Mormon before the end of that year- you helped inspire me to follow that counsel and because of that goal I have read the Book of Mormon every day since.  Thank you.  Thank you for helping me work hard in school.  Thank you for being so willing to move around so much to different places- because of these experiences I have learned so much about the world and people and your attitude has helped my attitude- to love wherever I am.  Thank you for teaching me to try and look my best when I get ready in the morning, and then to forget about how I look the rest of the day.  Thank you for building my confidence.  Thank you for loving me for who i am- even though I am stubborn and crazy, you always have patience and love.  I will always remember laughing our heads off in dressing rooms at stores, and our days together in Montreal when Abby and Jack were in school, our French lessons with Diane, our yoga in the mornings, you making smoothies for us for breakfast, you making cinnamon rolls for the seminary kids every Friday in Indiana, you playing the piano while we sing around you, you ´forcing´us to Christmas Carol :), teaching me to sew- even though i would always mess up the projects, you driving me home from practice after school, encouraging us to try everything- soccer, basketball, dance, gymnastics, singing, lacrosse, student council, cross country, etc., you coming to my plays and musicals- always supporting me and telling me I did a great job, always helping with school activities and field trips, and many more memories! Thank you for supporting Dad in his callings.  I love you so much Mum.  I can´t express how much I love you and appreciate you.  I think about you often- wanting to tell you about my day.  But the Lord is watching out for me here.  He promises you that He will watch over me and I know that He is.  Thank you for having such a strong testimony I could lean on until I got my own.  Your are precious to me.  You are the most beautiful woman I know.  I LOVE YOU LOVE YOU LOVE YOU!!!!  Happy Mother´s Day this Sunday!!! Can´t to talk to you!!!

I love you all, family and friends!!1  You mean so much to me.  Thank you.

Hurrah for Israel!!!

Irmã Tingey