Into Thy Hands

July 23, 2012

First of all I want to share this AMAZING quote from a talk in the May Liahona- from General Conference.  It was in the Priesthood session.  The speaker is Adrián Ochoa.  It totally lit my fire:
´I add my voice to the call Elder Jeffrey R. Holland made to you six months ago from this pulpit. ´I am looking´ he said, ´for men young and old (I will add women) who care enough about this battle between good and evil to sign on and speak up.  We are at war.´ He continued, ´...I ask for a stronger and more devoted voice, a voice not only against evil... but a voice for good, a voice for the gospel, a voice for God´ Yes, Aaronic Priesthood holders, (and I will add missionaries, members, visiting teachers, home teachers, seminary teachers, etc.) we are at war.  And in this war, the best way to defend against evil is to actively promote righteousness....You cannot be passive when Satan seeks to destroy that which is wholesome and pure.  Instead, stand up boldly for what you know is true!  When you hear or see anything that violates the Lord´s standards, remember who you are- a soldier in the army of God Himself, empowered with His holy priesthood....You will gain respect and trust of Heavenly Father because you used His power to accomplish his purposes.  I call on every Aaronic Priesthood quorum presidency (and I will add again: missionary, Bishop, Sunday school teacher, mom, sister, brother, father, member, child of God...) to once again raise the title of liberty and organize and lead your battalions.  Utilize your priesthood power by inviting those around you to come unto Christ through repentance and baptism.  You have the mandate and power of Heavenly Father to do it.´ 

It is so true.  We are at war.  But we already know what side will win!  Who´s side are we on?  Sometimes we chose differently- when we sin and make mistakes, but lets decide now to be on the Lord´s side.  But we can´t be passive about it.  We have to speak up and out.  -But with the Spirit.  We need to be bold and fearless, but speak and teach with love and with the Holy Ghost.  

Thank you so much for praying for my investigators!!!  VANESSA WAS BAPTIZED!!!!  WOOHOO!!!!  It was incredible.  The Elders in our ward also had baptisms, so there were lots and lots of people who came to support!  Vanessa wouldn´t enter the church building for awhile- she was so nervous! haha.  I gave her some scriptures to read.  One of them was D&C 10:55- love it.  Simple and clear and true.  But she came in and got dressed in a beautiful white dress and we took pictures with everyone and the meeting was incredible and then she was baptized.  And once again The spirit testified to me how important and beautiful baptism is.  How sacred and special a covenant it is.  How necessary it is for our salvation, and how happy Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are when someone is baptized.  Vanessa received the Holy Ghost yesterday in church and then later that day taught a lesson with us.  She gave SUCH an incredible testimony to this girl named Maria (who I talked a little bit about last week).  And I realized that Vanessa is perfect to help Maria.  The Lord´s timing is incredible.  I know that we needed to find and teach Vanessa first, so she could help Maria get baptized also.  Vanessa is a rock.  And we didn´t do a thing.  It was ALL the Lord.  It is always the Lord, we are only the instruments.  We are the ones that get to watch the miracles happen.  I watched and listened to Vanessa testify and almost bawled with happiness.  I saw generations that would be in the church because of her conversion.  I saw friends and family now that will come into the church because of her.  

It was very difficult to find Carlos all week and he was in Lisbon Saturday and didn´t return in time for his baptism. So sad.  And Helena was very sick and went to the hospital the day before and so was not baptized either.  But they will be.  I will do all I can to help them enter the waters of baptism.  Paulo Silva finally admitted that he ´respects´ the Book of Mormon.  This is huge!!!  And Sian Joana is doing well, but we couldn´t talk to her very much this week, and Vitor- he is struggling.  Keep praying for them all!  Thank you so much for your prayers!!!  I have some others to add to the list- Carlos dos Santos Andrade.  We talked to him once before, but saw him again yesterday.  He was drunk, as per usual.  The conversation started humorously, but then turned emotional and serious.  He looked at us and said ´Eu não estou bem.  Ajuda-me.´ Translation:  ´I am not good.  Help me.´ We promised we would, but we told him he needed to make some decisions and change.  We wrote down our next appointment on a card so he would remember when he comes out of his stupor and we wrote ´não beber antes!´ ´Don´t drink before´.  He said he wouldn´t.  I sure hope he chooses to listen and turn his life around.  He has a broken heart, and Jesus Christ can fix it.  But he has to let Him.  As do all of us.  Pray for Sergio and his mom, Jorge, Manuela, Leonel and Marriette (that they will return to church, as well as Carla Domingos and her mom), and Alice and her family.

I just want to say that I don´t really bible bash.  well, I try not to.  I try and focus on the Book of Mormon ALWAYS.  

I LOVE this ward.  I love Setubal.  I love these people so so so much.  They are my family.  I want to have them except Jesus Christ and His gospel with all my heart.  Because that is the best medicine- the best thing that we can have and follow.  Jesus Christ heals every wound.  I testify that this is true.  We need to always repent, order to continue to be close to Him.  I am so grateful for the atonement.  I know that Jesus Christ took upon Himself all of our sins.  I feel like I have gone through a little bit of my own garden of Gethsemane here, and I am so grateful for this experience.  Do give of myself more and more to the Savior.  To feel his love for these people.  To feel His pain when they don´t choose the right, or when I don´t choose the right.  I always want to strive to do what He would have me do. 

I love you all.  This week is the last week of the transfer.  what the?!?!  I think I will stay.  I want to with my whole heart.  I LOVE Setubal.  I love it here.  I love my family here.  Irmã Campos Da Silva already has 6 months here, so I will most likely stay.  I love my French companion.  I LOVE when she tries to speak English. :)  She is sooo patient and so loving and sweet and so hard working.  This week we will have a missionary day with the young women!  I am STOKED!!! We will meet at the church for comp. study and practice contacts on the street.  We will visit the girls that aren´t coming to church and we will visit their friends and our investigators!  The work is always better when members are involved.  ESP. when it is a friend of members.  I love you all with my whole heart.  This is the church of Christ.  Joseph Smith truly saw Him and our Heavenly Father.  Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today.  The gift of tongues is real.  HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!

Irmã Tingey

Mum- THANK YOU THANK YOU for the pictures!!! I used them a couple times this week to teach about eternal families!  IT was great!  You all are so beautiful and handsome!!  When does baby Ian come?! It was SOO exciting to get cards in the mail box! wow!  I used my card today!!! YES!!!  But it would be great if you could still send me some light clothes- my area is VERY poor and hardly has any shops.  The weather is still SUPER hot!!! Our DL told us President wants everyone drinking tons of water. And I guess August is worse.  Don’t know when our next zone meeting will be, but first week of next transfer is next week.  It really could be any week in the transfer.  They don´t tell us way ahead of time so we keep focused. haha.  Any specific things you want me to talk about in my letters?  love ya!!!

Bleeding Hearts of the World Unite!!!

July 16, 2012

This week was full of miracles, sad choices, laughs, bible ´study´(bashing) and interesting experiences.  We talked to a young woman on the street named Maria João Duarte.  Eleita.  And the whole family is elect also.  They have hearts open.  They are Catholic- and there was a time in my mission where I dreaded Catholics because of the whole Í can´t be baptized because I am Catholic´- only reason they can come up with.  The whole tradition thing blows.  But now I welcome Catholics.  These couple of weeks of been full of Testemunho Jehovahs and Aventista do setimo dia (´God rested on the seventh day, we have to have church on Saturday’s well read Atos 20:7.)  These guys do not have hearts open and believe that the Bible has everything and that we do nothave prophets today with authority.  Been a long week concerning these things.  But many other people ready to accept prophets and the Book of Mormon! YEAH!!!  These week with our Revelado Vitor, who I wrote about last week, was tough.  He believes in everything and knows it is true, but just can´t give up drinking and smoking.  we need to help him understand that there is NO sin that the Atonement doesn´t cover.  That even though we sin, we need to come to church- that is where we will be healed.  Needless to say his baptism fell through yesterday.  Our other revelado, Carlos- we haven´t been able to talk to him ALL week!!!  But you NEVER give up on your Revelados, so Saturday we finally encountered him and we had a nice chat.  He knows without a doubt the Livro de Mórmon is true.  YES!!  That means he has a base testimony about everything else!  He kept saying he will be baptized by Hélder, a recent convert in the ward and his good friend.  We said okay, for sure Hélder can baptized you! He didn´t understand that Hélder has the authority now to do that!  So... we invited him to be baptized the next day and he accepted!!!  It was incredible!!!  The spirit was SOO strong.  We prayed together so he would feel that that was the day Heavenly Father wanted for him and he said he felt so good and FREE.  We had him write down his feelings so he wouldn´t forget.  (it is good to show investigators what they wrote when they have hard times or don´t want to get baptized that day that they initially felt).  We were SOO happy!!! Then comes the next day, Sunday morning-. yesterday.  We see Carlos and he said he can´t come to church be cause of work.  And he said he talked to Hélder and Hélder ´counseled´him that he should wait to be baptized to study more.  AHHHHHH.  Satan works just as hard, people.  And He is so cunning.  He uses members all the time to stop people from being baptized.  Okay Carlos, we will talk to you after work at 4:30 and help you know that you are prepared. Then we went to go pick up other investigators and revelados and NO ONE wanted to come.  It was horrible.  If this was a physical war instead of a spiritual war, at this point in the morning- before Sacrament meeting we would be bleeding profusely.  The thing was I was genuinely sad that no one came to church.  ( we actually ended up with 4 people, but initially was awful...)  I sat in Sacrament meeting and cried.  I felt like a failure.  I prayed and asked Heavenly Father what specifically I needed to change to help others come unto Christ, specifically through baptism.  I received lots of answers.  But as I was taught in the MTC- I needed to shake it off and step up.  So I repented and turned positive.  I read Alma 17:11 that says if we are patient with the Lord´s time and we are obedient and faithful, many souls will be saved.  No one was baptized yesterday, but they will be.  We have three marked for this week and I am totally PUMPED!!!  I am so grateful to be doing the Lord´s work.  I know that we need to do our part.  But when we do our part and bring the Holy Ghost, individuals need to chose to follow the Holy Ghost.  99 times out of 100 when people don´t follow the spirit, it is because they don´t want to give up a sin.  I don´t want to be like that.  I want to get rid of anything that may stand in my way from receiving exaltation.  and I want to help others get rid of anything that may stop them from receiving exaltation.  NOTHING can stop the work from progressing.  All hope is never lost.  It is important to always look UP.  We work hard, but Satan works just as hard if not harder- but this should never b ethe case, we should ALWAYS work harder.  I love our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is the way.  I love  2 Néfi 25:24-30.  I absolutely LOVE the scriptures.  I LOVE general conference!!! I am so grateful for the words of Prophets TODAY!  Read Elder Scott´s talk about revelation and Elder Holland’s first talk- INCREDIBLE!!!  I know that when we are humble and have pure hearts and are faithful, obedient and dilligent miracles WILL occur, even with opposition (which will always come).  I am sorry that these stories are sad, but many miracles happened this week also.  But remember to always work on your testimony.  Read the Book of Mormon EVERY day and pray constantly for continued confirmation that it is true.  Our conversion is the most important one we need to work for.  Satan is cunning.  We need to be strong to withstand his blows.  But he has no control.  We are ALL stronger than he is.  

Vanessa, Helena, and Carlos are marked for baptism for this Saturday.  Please pray for them to stay strong and to continue to keep the commandments and read the Book of Mormon.  Pray for Vitor that he can overcome his difficulties with the word of wisdom and his family´s hearts will be softened, Maria and her family that they will continue to have open hearts and accept the Restored gospel, Sian-Joana that she will feel the Lord´s love and have faith and trust in Him, Paulo Silva that he can have no doubt that the Book of Mormon is true. 

Thank you for your testimonies and examples.  I would love to hear about what you are reading in the scriptures.  I would love to hear from return missionaries about helpful things they learned on the mission.  I know that Jesus Christ lives.  I know that He loves us.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  I know that Jesus Christ is the head of this church and that we have authority- the Priesthood.  I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true Prophet.  I know that we worship on Sundays because we worship Christ who was resurrected on Sunday and we remember that he died for us, but that He LIVES and that we can live with him one day.  :)  I know that Jesus Christ is Jehovah.  (ha ha I am sorry, but it is good to bear testimony of these things :))  I know that I am here for a reason and I pray that I am doing all I can to fulfill those reasons.  I know that Jesus Christ is at our side when we keep the commandments and he is always ready and willing to reach out his hand- just like he did for Peter on the Sea of Galilee- when we are sinking, all we need to do is yell out to Jesus Christ and he will catch us IMMEDIATELY.  I love you all.  I love my mission.  I am so happy to be here.  HURRRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Irmã Tingey

Miracles

7-9-12

WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!  What a week!!!  I am writing first before I read your e-mails, to make sure I spend at least 30 mins- it is prob more fair for you all.  :)  Jack- I have a project for you that I think you will like.  Can you enlighten me on the history of Portugal?  What happened to them in world war two?  What do they export?  Famous explorers etc.  You are awesome!!  Sure love ya!  

Lots of amazing stories of miracles this week.  Let me tell you the story of Vitor.  One day as we were walking on the street I was having a battle within myself of how I need to work better.  So I prayed to Heavenly Father of who on the street I needed to talk to right then.  I saw Vitor coming towards us and knew i needed to talk to him.  He was so happy talking to us and we marked a day to meet him.  Unfortunately that day we totally forgot to meet him because one of our other investigators was having trouble and needed to talk to the bishop and we stayed with her in the chapel, etc. I never forget compromisos so this was strange and i felt AWFUL.  So another day we visited his house and talked to his family and left him a note.  Apparently he lives on the street and only comes home for soup at night.  The next day he called us (no one ever calls us!!!)  and we talked to him 20 minutes later.  We showed him the chapel and the spirit hit us like wave.  It was SOOO strong.  I felt we should sing I am a Child of God- he started crying.  He cried pretty much the entire lesson.  He is the most humble man I know.  He wants to change his life around so bad.  We talked to him about Jesus Christ and the Atonement.  I saw the knowledge of this change him.  I cried because I felt the love of God for him and I knew that Christ led us to this man.  It was such an incredible experience that I will never forget.  We talked to him about the Word of Wisdom because he drinks alcohol and coffee and smokes.  He said he will stop.  The next time we talked to him he said he didn´t drink coffee- only chamomile tea we gave him, and he only had 3 cigarettes and a little bit of wine!!!  he said he started drinking at the age of 7.  He told us about how when his family never had much and when he was little he used to steal things from the lunches of rich kids.  He still feels so bad about it.  I am so grateful for this priviledge to know Vitor.  The other day I imagined him totally changed- with a shirt and tie and with the Priesthood.  And then I saw the rest of his family changed and coming to church.  And guess what?!  He brought his brother to church yesterday!  We have Vitor marked for baptism this weekend.  I am SOO excited!!!

Next huge miracle- Sian-Joana.  We were running to an appointment with one of our Revelados and I saw her in the window.  She smiled and I smiled back and waved.  I felt we should talk to her but we were SO late to our other appointment, I kept on walking.  During the appointment I couldn´t think of anything else but that woman I saw.  I felt horrible.  I repented and realized that she needed Heavenly Father and Heavenly Father needs me to act for Him.  I repented sorely and prayed that she would be in the window when we passed again.  She was.  I immediately stopped and talked to her.  She said she travelled with missionaries and maybe was a missionary for another church.  But hard things happened in her life and she doesn´t know if she believes in God anymore.  I testified to her that God exists and loves her so much.  I was able to tell her how strongly I felt to talk to her and testify that it was because Heavenly Father knows her and knows exactly what she needs.  She cried.  I cried.  I felt the love of Jesus Christ for her.  I promised her that this gospel will change her life.  In our return visit she called us her angels.  And she told me that she felt something when she saw me and that she sat back down in the room to watch TV after she saw me, but then got back up to go to the window- that was because I prayed for her to be at the window!!!  I am SO grateful to be a part of the work of the Lord and to teach of His love and help His lost sheep.  

We were visiting a recent convert- Hélder.  He is incredible.  He said when he received the Aaronic Priesthood his head was in the clouds and he was so happy.  He said he felt like the king of the ward! hahaha.  He has been studying so hard to receive the Melchezidek Priesthood- he has been so stressed for his interview with the Bishop because he realizes how special it is and what a responsibility it is.  What an amazing example.  In his house was a bunch of family members that are here visiting for the holidays that i have never seen before.  Me and Irmã Campos da Silva testified to the whole room of adults that Jesus Christ lives and that this is His church and we invited them to all come to church.  The spirit was SO strong!!!  I was intimidated for a second, then remembered that I am a missionary and a representative of Jesus Christ and all I need to do was talk with the Spirit- say what He would have me say.  So I did.  It was amazing.  I felt the spirit so powerfully and testified with no reserves.  We handed out Book of Mormons afterward.  They were excited.  It was INCREDIBLE!!!  But sadly they didn´t come to  church the next day.  Faith without works is dead.  But we will work with them more this week!

We had a zone conference this week with our new President!!!!  ‘twas amazing!!!  He is great.  But the mission now has a TOTALLY different feel.  Not better or worse, just different.  I love him and his wife- I talked to Irmã Fluckiger (Floo-kee-grrr) a lot she is so great!  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PACKAGE!!! I LOVE EVERYTHING!!!!  It made me SOOO happy!!!  Thank you for my visa card!  Thank you for the pen!  I needed a pen and I love that it has the English flag!  I LOVE all the English things!!!  Thank you thank you thank you!!!!  President Fluckiger and the area presidents want us to visit all the recent converts7in- actives of 3 years and help them return and ask them for references!!!  Already we have lots of references!!  I want to challenge you all to make a list of twenty friends you think are ready/and or can benefit from hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ and then pray and ask Heavenly Father who you should focus on and talk to them about the church.  Just open your mouth and the Lord will help you know what to do and say.  In Relief Society yesterday the teacher read a story about two friends in the pre-existence.  They both received letters- one letter said that person would be born in a family that are members of the church, the other no.  The friend that would not be born in the church asked the other to promise to find him and bring the gospel to him.  I believe that we all had many friends like this.  We have the responsibility to share the gospel and find these people.  I don´t want to return and see these friends and have them look at me tearfully and ask ´Why didn´t you help me?´ Ponder and Pray and they Lord with bless you.  

I love you all SOO much!!!!  I have no doubt whatsoever that this is the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I have no doubt that He lives.  And I have no doubt that He loves you.  HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!

Irmá Tingey

PS- Setubal is in the Liahona! But I forgot what page number!

way oh way way oh way way oh way ohhhhh ahhhhhhh OH AFRICA!!!!

June 25, 2012

I knew I was part African!!!!  Well, apparently only a few areas in Portugal have tons of Africans and I am being sent to them all!  Odivelas was one and Setubal is DEFINATELY another!!!  I knew my fascination and connection with Africa was for a reason!!!  Setubal is full of People from Santo Mé, Guninea, Angola and Cabo Verde!  I absolutely LOVE it here!!!  I don´t know why the Lord keeps blessing me with the best areas in Portugal.  This ward is amazing.  I hear it is one of the strongest in Portugal.  This area is poor poor poor, lots of drunk and drugged people, our beds are on the floor of our apartment, BUT I LOVE IT!!!!!  The people are sooo kind and so humble and willing to listen.  We had a day this week where we found 9 new investigators!!!!  INCREDIBLE!!!  I absolutely love this area!!!  We have the ocean in our area!  There is a nice sea breeze- helps so much with the heat.  I can glimpse the ocean every day and it fills me with so much joy!  Although Satan uses it against me a lot to remind me of beach reunions, but that’s okay.  There are a bunch of tables on the side of the roads where people sell snails- people buy huge bags and cook them and I guess suck the snail out.  I have had some exciting meals of sea food.  The Europe futbal tournament is going on and it is CRAZY here!!!  You know there is a game because everyone dresses up and then no one is one the street at night.  We are walking along and then an explosion of cheers, horns, trumpets, screams come from every direction.  It is so FUN!!!  Portugal Portugal!!!  I absolutely LOVE my companion.  Irmã Campos da Silva is from France- as I said last time.  Someone tell Ben Portwood!- he lived in her house at one point on his mission! I guess the Lord really really wants me to learn Portuguese.  I spoke only Portuguese with Irmã Dos Santos last transfer and now only Portuguese with Irmã Campos- except this time is a bit harder because when we can´t understand each other I can´t just show the word in the dictionary to Irmã Campos because she is learning too.  It is fun.  I am so grateful for these opportunities to have companions from different countries to learn from their cultures and to learn Portuguese very fast because i am forced to speak it all the time.  She has a VERY thick French accent, but after a couple of days I got used to it and now can understand her Portuguese. :)  I love the mission.

Parents, I want to thank you for always paying your tithing and having such a strong testimony of it.  I am able to use our family as an example of always paying tithing and always having enough- it is so powerful.  Thank you for your examples and testimonies.  We have a large pool of investigators- Irmã Campos has been here for 4 transfers and knows pretty much everyone!  Thank heaven that there aren´t as many Jehovah´s witnesses here as there were in Odivelas.  But there still are a few- they are the bane of my existence.  ugh, i seem to find them everywhere.  We share the ward with Elders- our area is pretty small, but stock full of eleitos.  We taught this woman this week named Conçeição. She told us earlier this week that she knows the church is true!  She reads the Book of Mormon and has accepted everything!  She broke down crying one day and told us how her husband went crazy not to long ago and said he would kill their children- really scary.  It has been horrible, but the Savior spoke through us as we comforted her and told her about the blessings of the gospel and how growing closer to the Savior and baptism will bless her life immensely. It was a really tender moment. I am so grateful that I am able to promise these blessings from the Lord.  I am so grateful that I can be used to help others feel the love of the Savior.  Getting a new companion has been really different.  I like seeing how another missionary works.  I am learning a lot from Irmã Campos- she is SO loving and so patient and kind.  We visited a menos ativo named Edson.  He is prob 25 and drinks and smokes a lot.  He knows that he needs to change and a part of him wants to, but he can´t seem to do it.  As we were talking with him he said that he wishes he could be baptized all over again to start a new and be clean.  I was filled with the spirit as I talked about the Sacrament.  How I love the sacrament.  I am so grateful for this opportunity to learn so much more and appreciate the gospel.  When we partake of the Sacrament we renew our baptismal covenants- it is as if we ARE being baptized all over again.  We can repent, change, and take the Sacrament and we have the Lord´s promise that we will have the Holy Ghost if we keep the commandments and always remember Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful that I can take the Sacrament every week.  What a grand blessing!!!  I am so grateful for the Atonement.  I love my Savior Jesus Christ.  I know He died for me.  I am so grateful to get to know Him better on my mission.  He is always here for us knocking at the door- but we must let Him in.  I have been thinking a lot about Jerusalem lately- every time I think about it I almost cry and am just filled with so much gratitude and love for that life-changing experience.  

Can you find out Jessi Pitcher´s address for me?

This was our last full week with President Torgan.  I love that man- he is SO powerful and so spiritual.  I have learned a TON from him and from revelados.  President Fluckiger will arrive this week.  Don´t know how the mission with change, but I will do my best to serve however he says.  

I am so grateful for this adventure.  I am so grateful for the cultures and different people I am getting to know.  I want to give my heart to Setubal.  I want to give my heart to my mission- to the Lord.  I am always trying to be better.  Being in a different area with a different companion helped me realize lots of things that I needed to change, and as always repent.  Thank you for your support and love.  This is the ONE and ONLY true church of Jesus Christ with the FULNESS of the gospel.  I testify of this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hurrah for ISRAEL!!!!

Irmã Tingey

LOVE

June 18, 2012-10-11

As I was re-reading the first lesson in Pregar meu Evangelho this morning, I realized that there is an underlying current- a focus in every paragraph that I missed before.  The reason for everything that has happened, that we have is because Heavenly Father loves us.  I knew that before, but I realized I didn´t understand it.  We have prophets and scriptures because God loves us and wants to help us return to Him.  We didn´t have prophets on the earth for a while because we didn´t love God in return.  Bu God blessed us with the Restoration because He loves us so much and wants His children to come unto Him.  He gave us His only Begotten Son so that we can repent and return, clean, to Him.  This gospel is all about love.  God is all about Love.  Missions are all about love.  I am learning this more and more.  I don´t think it is hard for me to love, but I do know that it is hard for me to show my love.  I am so grateful that Jesus Christ can help me tear down these walls I put up to stop me from showing love and giving my all because I love the person I am serving.  I am so grateful for this privilege I have to share Heavenly Father´s and Jesus Christ´s love with people every day, as well as my own.  

Carlos Bento was baptized yesterday!!!  It was incredible!!!!  We have been teaching him for a couple of weeks and realmente felt that he needed to be baptized this past Sunday.  He is the elect of the elect.  He is the most humble and kind man I know.  We marked him for baptism on Monday and made a plan for him to stop smoking by Sunday.  He stopped smoking by Thursday.  He is incredible- he has faith to move mountains.  He was SO excited for his baptism.  On Saturday we showed him the baptismal font again and talked about how the meeting will go on Sunday.  He said that he remembers very clearly the first time he talked to us.  He said he remembers Irmã Dos Santos finishing talking to someone and me, Irmã Tingey, calling out a greeting, .  He said when I greeted him he felt something.  He said even though his son was running around and there were cars and people, he felt the spirit, he felt different.  I cried because I have been having a tough time these past couple of weeks- just Satan being an absolute jerk and me being too hard on myself and being stuck in a rut.  But when he said that I just felt the Savior put His arm around me saying ´See? You are making a difference.  I can use you to touch people´s hearts.´ It was such a tender mercy and such a special moment for me.  I am so grateful for Carlos.  I am so privileged to know him and to have taught him more about the Savior and about the Restoration and the gospel of Jesus Christ.  What a privilege I have to be here.  I am learning that when I repent I need to confess and forsake but then not continue to look back and continue to kick myself, but to move forward, trusting in myself and in the Atonement that I am changed.  It is also a mind set and a desire- telling myself that I will not do it again and trusting in the Savior for help.

Did I mention I love my mission?!  I feel the power of my call every day.  I feel the Savior walking along beside me, telling me what to do and who to talk to.  I love Jesus Christ.  I know that He lives.  I know that He loves you.  He wants to help you.  He wants everyone to be happier by using His Atonement.  I testify that the Atonement is real.  

I have been transferred to Setubal!!!  My comps name is Irmã Campos Da Silva- she is from France!!! I am getting to know every country one person at a time :)  My next comp will prob be from Cape Verde! - I hope!- sorry don´t have time to write more about it!

Happy Father´s Day Daddy!!!!  I can take a poll of us kids and can tell you that the person we want to become like most (besides Jesus Christ and of course Mom) is you.  You have always been a prime example- someone I look to for everything, because I know you follow Jesus Christ and you try your hardest everyday to become like Him.  You have helped us become responsible, to be independent and take care of ourselves.  You have encouraged us to explore and be adventurous and enjoy nature.  I told Aunt Holly and Uncle Greg that I am you in nature, and Mom in nurture.  I really feel like our personalities characters are extremely similar- how we like to be by ourselves out in the wild.  I think this is why we understand each other so well but sometimes butt heads. :)  Memories with/of Dad: Kayaking in the middle of the ocean with HUGE waves that almost killed us, swimming out to the dolphins, eating watermelon and spitting out the seeds over the deck, grilling hamburgers, sleeping on the trampoline under the stars, sharing love for riding horses and planning to have a horse if we lived in Vermont longer, hiking mountains and ´bush-wacking´it to the very top, scripture stories before we went to bed- with us as characters (jack: I´m hungry!), Saturday mornings everyone snuggling in the bed with you and mom, us making special breakfasts for mom, running half marathons, shoveling, MUSIC- night noise, coldplay, beatles, and many other names that I can´t remember at the moment but I know exactly what they are because we would always listen to it :)- I love dad music especially all of your playlists, Daddy-daughter dates!!!  and you making us feel like princesses and always talking with us about our concerns, I am so grateful for all the times I could talk with you and cry with you about the gospel and sacred and special experiences I had.  I am so grateful to have had the privilege of having you as my Bishop and talking with you about the gospel, the scriptures and the Atonement.  I am so grateful that you have always shown your love for mom and always talked about your love for mom.  There is no better thing you could have done for us kids than to have loved our Mom.  Thank you for the strength and safety you have given us because of this.  I am so grateful that even though you always travelled and always had a calling that demanded so much of your time, you would always call and have family prayer and prayer with mom and you would always have family time on the weekends.  Daddy, I love you so much.  I will always be your little girl.  I can´t express how much I love you and look up to you and respect you.  I know I can talk to you about anything.  Thank you for being who you are.  Thank you for demanding excellence of yourself everyday of your life.  Thank you for always working so hard for us and teaching us how to work hard.  You are the best Father on this earth.  Thank you for helping me grow closer to my other Father- my Father in Heaven. Thank you for teaching me to love. I LOVE YOU LOVE YOU LOVE YOU!!!!  
 

Love you all
Irmâ Zibby (Dad´s name for me! :))

On the Lord's Errand

June 11, 2012

Olá Familia!!!  Eu amo vocés!!!!  

Portuguese e melhor.  bem, um pouco.  Mas porque eu tenho um otimo companheira- eu estou a aprender mais rapidemente.  :)  I can tell I am getting better because now people ask me if I am from Ukraine, Spain, or Italy.  Better than American, but not quite to Portuguese status yet.

Wow sounds like everyone has a had a great week!!  Good luck to Abs leaving home and walking into the crazy jungles of Virginia wrestling with Brigham, singing with Jacob, watching CARS with Caleb and snuggling with Mark...  You are going to LOVE it!!!  I did! :)  I think the person sitting next to me smoked weed before he came in.  blast.  As always, thank you for the e-mails!!!  I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!  Holy cannoli.  I am so happy.  

This week we had an Irmã Conference!!!  A conference with all the Irmãs- ONLY!  Best conference ever! haha.  But seriously, it was amazing.  I felt so much strength and support.  It was so nice to swap ideas and thoughts and best of all I saw friends from the MTC and other irmãs i met here that i thought i woulnd´t see until after the mission!  Irmã Torgan talked about all the main points in Preach My Gospel.  I am determined to be a Preach My Gospel Missionary.  President Torgan gave us faca (the knife) as always, but as always ended with love. This morning I read in Mosiah 5:1-5- King Benjamin´s people were so touched by the spirit that they repented and didn´t want to do anything bad ever again.  I feel that way on the mission.  I never want to go back to my old self.  I want to keep changing for the better.  The people in Mosiah made a covenant with the Lord to always remember Him and keep His commandments.  I wanted to make the same covenant right then and there.  But I thought about it more and realized that I made that same covenant at baptism and I renew that covenant EVERY week when I partake of the Sacrament.  WOW!!!  i am SO grateful!!!  i am so grateful for the privilege, opportunity, and blessing I have to take of the Sacrament and renew my covenants with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  President Torgan always says that people can´t come unto Christ without the covenant of baptism.  We can keep the commandments but Heavenly Father cannot bless us to the full extent if we do not first make a covenant with Him.  When we promise Him, He promises us.  I am so grateful for all the blessings that I have.  I am so grateful for the covenants I have made.  How special.  When we try our best to keep our end of the deal, we are blessed 100 fold.

We were walking on a road with a little bit of country and we decided to knock a door, actually it was a gate and we didn´t knock, the dogs let the owner know we were there... :)  We talked to a man without a shirt (that actually happens a lot) and we gave him a card and set a time we could return.  When we returned we talked to his girlfriend.  She has had the hardest life.  wow.  She said that her boyfriend gave her our card and she was going to through it away but Mario said ´Don´t!  you need to talk to them!´ She was so touched by the spirit, it was incredible.  She cried with us and talked with us for about an hour.  The gospel changes lives.  It brings so much hope and happiness and love.  Jesus Christ loves everyone and wants everyone to use the Atonement.  As we were walking back I had the impression to knock some doors.  We were in a hurry but followed the prompting and the first building we rang some bells and no one answered but then a window right  next to the door opened and a women was hanging up clothes.  We talked to her and come to find out my companion had already talked with her the transfer before I came, but it was fast and the woman didn’t leave any contact info.  The women´s name is Francisca and she had tried to come to church one Sunday but couldn´t find the chapel!  Heavenly Father knows His children.

Yesterday was crazy.  crazy awesome.  Six people came to church!  one of our old investigators who had disappeared has now re-surfaced!  And had a baptismal interview last night... at 9:45 pm.... long story. He will be baptized this week!  We have met so many amazing people!  So many miracles have happened!  I am so grateful to be a tool in the Lord´s hands.  His work is incredible. I am sorry I biffed (haha) the last email- actually President and Irmã Torgan are up to 2,400 baptisms so far!  Something President Torgan always says to do when you are feeling down, when something didn´t go right, etc.  is to repent.  Repent, repent repent and then get back up and try again.  We as missionaries are here to call people to repentance- to use the Savior´s sacrifice- the Atonement.  I am so grateful for the Atonement.  I am so grateful for the Sacrament.  i am so grateful for Covenants.  I love you all so much!!!  Hurrah for Israel!!!

Irmã Tingey

Transfers next Monday! ah! already?!?!

Loving being a missionary in beautiful Portugal!