Brasil: Week 55 - Keeler

So, my District Leader found out why a ton of my companions have gotten sick.... because my last name is Keeler. ha.....ha.... For those of you that arent brasilian, when you say Keeler and Killer it sounds the same to non-english speakers. THerefore, my nickname is Sister Serial Killer. Yes, that is what I call a PERFECT nickname for a representative of Jesus Christ :)

This Sunday we had the "Sunday that no one missed". and we challenged everyone to bring a friend, member or nonmember (sadly, a lot of people werent there....) But, we had 88 people! I have been here for 6 months and that is the first time EVER that we have had that many people in church! I wanted to cry because I was so happy! This lady has 3 sons (that are all married with children) that havent been to church in YEARS and they came yesterday! It was a miracle!!

We had the opportunity to watch the General womens conference this weekend and it was AMAZING!! My favorite part was the video where they sang "The Family is of God"

 

Our Father has a family. It’s me!

It’s you, all others too: we are His children.

He sent each one of us to earth, through birth,

To live and learn here in fam’lies.

2. A father’s place is to preside, provide,

To love and teach the gospel to his children.

A father leads in fam’ly prayer to share

Their love for Father in Heaven.

3. A mother’s purpose is to care, prepare,

To nurture and to strengthen all her children.

She teaches children to obey, to pray,

To love and serve in the fam’ly.

4. I’ll love and serve my family and be

A good example to each fam’ly member.

And when I am a mom or dad, so glad,

I’ll help my fam’ly remember:

[Chorus]

God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be—

This is how He shares His love, for the fam’ly is of God. 

I absolutely LOVE this song!!!!!! The words are so beautiful and it makes me cry everytime I hear it because I am reminded of the wonderful family that God gave to me. Being away from my family for a year and a half here in Brasil has made me value my family more than ever. I am so greatful for them. I am so greatful for the support they give me, the prayers, the love, but most importantly, helping me become the daughter of God that He wants me to be. I would not be the person I am today with out my family (especially my Parents) I love you sooooo much :)

For those of you that dont know or forgot, this week is GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!! ITS THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEARRRRRR!!!!!!! You NEED to watch it because the Prophet is going to speak to the whole world! how can you miss that!!!!

I love you all and I hope you have a great week!!!! 

P.S. For those of you keeping track. Today is transfer day but we wont find out what happens until tonight.....at 8:30. I am dying here!!!!!! #lasttransfer

P.S DO NOT SEND LETTERS! THEY WILL NOT GET HERE IN TIME!

P.S. For the first time ever, our mission baptized 100 people this month!!!!!! 100 almas à Cristo!

 

Sister Keeler

Brasil: Week 54 - Brasil

This week we had interviews with our Mission President which were really good. sadly this is my last interview with him in the mission field. But, he gave a lot of good words of comfort and words of wisdom. I love President Canuto and I know he is an inspired man of God. 

He asked all of us to reread our mission calls and to look at all of the promisses and blessings. I was amazed how much I had forgotten! I made a list of all the promises and blessings.

Promisses: 1. devote all of our time and attention to serving the Lord leaving behind all personal affairs

2. serve with all my heart, might, and strength

3. humbly and prayfully serve the Lord in the labor of love

and my favorite part! BLESSSINGS!!!

1. bless with increased konwledge and testimony of the restoration and truths of the gospel

2. lead you to those who are prepared to be baptized

3. reward you for the goodness of your life

4. greater blessing and happiness than you can imagine

It is amazing to look back at the time I have spent here and see all of these blessings be fulfilled. Especially about happiness. I have been happier here serving the Lord than I have ever had in my whole entire life! Serving a mission is litterally the best thing in the world!

I hope you all have a wonderful week!!!!! BE HAPPY!

P.S. For the first time ever I heard two people speaking ENGLISH in the street!!!! So, of course I ran to go talk to them :)

P.S. We met an Italian! He had a really strong accent! It was really funny! He said he is "kind of athiest" I still dont know what that means....

Sister Keeler

Brasil: Week 53 - Nossa!

So, I almost had a heart attack this week because my watch that Ive had my whole mission fell on the ground and parts splattered everywhere! I was like "NO! YOU HAVE TO WORK FOR 6 MORE WEEKS!!!" But, when I went to pick it up and put it back together it WORKED!!!! WOOHOOO!!!! Milagres sao reais! This watch was definitely worth the whole 2 dollars that I spent! 

The lady that went to church by motocycle has a baptismal date for this weekend! She told us last week that she doesnt have a job and we promised her that she would find one that she wanted and on Saturday she said that she got a job that she doesnt have to work on Sunday!!!!! The other night, her son was really sick and her little daughter suggested that they pray and they prayed all together and he imediately felt better. This family has never been to church and have never been really religious but their lives have completely changed because of the gospel. Its incredible to see the change in people!

My companion has been really sick lately and we have also been busy with doing divisions with the 5 companionships we take care of, 2 of which are 2 1[2 hours away......... but as I was in a division we taught this lady that would be baptized the next day and I asked her what has been the happiest moment in her life and she said, it will definitely be the day I get baptized. Yup, I started crying. What a testimony.

I love you all so much and I am TRYING REALLY HARD NOT TO COUNT THE DAYS but,....... see you in 6 weeks :) ha

I hope you have a wonderful week!

P.S. unless you are in Brasil, DO NOT SEND ME LETTERS AFTER WEDNESDAY. because they will not get here in time. Thanks!!!

Sister Keeler

Brasil: Week 52 - Sorry

I am super sorry that I didnt write last week (For those of you that actually noticed.....) But, I was writing and reading a bunch of emails and super stressed and when I got off the computer I realized that I hadnt sent my weekly email.......sorry.

This past week we had a really short lesson with this lady and her two little girls and she said she would come to church (everyone and their dog says that) but she really did! She only has a motorcycle but she made two trips to the church so her and her two kids could go! Wow. I was really impressed. She loved church and started crying in Gospel principles when we were talking about how God answers our prayers. It was really special. Sadly, this week she could go to church because she was sick BUT we had a miracle happen! A member brought a friend to church! And his friend said he is ready for a change in his life because he is going down the wrong path and wants help. (Ask the missionaries! We can help!!! :D)

Our area, if I havent already explained, is a really rich area and we get rejected..... A LOT. The other day, we were exhausted with all of the rejections so we decided to say a prayer. When we finished the prayer this guy came up to us (I have no idea where he came from because there is never anyone in the road...) and told us that he is having a hard and trying to go to Campinas to his family. We talked to him for a bit then asked if we could send the missionaries to his house in Campinas and he got super excited! I love getting answers to prayers!

"GH moment" I finished the Book of Mormon in Portuguese for the second time! I am super excited! 

I want to thank everyone for all the support, love and prayers that I have received throughout my mission. Thank you for remembering me and thinking of me. I am really sad that it is coming to an end but I know that the Lord has a lot instore for me. Serving a mission was the best choice I have ever made in my life and its something that I will remember forever. The experiences that I have had and the people that I helped have eternally changed me. I know that my Savior lives and He loves us, so dearly. I know that the gospel has been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith and I am so greatful to have this gospel in my life. A mission is litterally indescribable. Being a representative of Jesus Christ is indescribable. The love I feel for the people I serve is indescribable. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week! :) I love you! I really do!  

P.S. My favorite icecream is called Romeo and Juliet! Its icecream with goiabada and cheese!

Sister Keeler