Brazil: Week 17 - The song for this transfer.. It's the climb

Seriously, I dont know how we do it, but we are constantly climbing up a mountain and never descending...... At least by the end of this transfer I will have legs of steel :) ha

We have been working really hard at finding new people to teach because a lot of our old investigators dont want us to come back.... But! Some really cool things happened this week! 

As Sister Gomes and I were contacting one day, we met this guy E. waiting for a bus. Since the bus was coming we only had a little time to talk but inviting him to church. He seemed really interested. WELL! about 2 hours later that day, we ran into the SAME GUY! He was in a hurry to work so we didnt really talk. THENNNNNNNN!!!!!!! Later that day, We were walking doewn this street and I had the feelings to knock on these two doors. First door, was this 15 year old girl that we are teaching now and she is an eleito. Second door, was E.!!!!! THE SAME EXACT GUY we saw 2 times earlier that day. We could not believe it!!! 3 times in one day! That my friend, is a magic number! He couldnt believe it too! So, we started to teach him and made an appointment to come back. Well, we went back and he was alone in his house so we went to his grandmas house, the house under his house, to teach. Well, his grandma started preaching to us and bible bashing and she wouldnt give us room to speak. Then, E. was like "Grandma, these missionaries are not here to tear down our religion! They are here to talk about Jesus Christ. That is what they were sent here to do. Please let them speak. I NEED to hear them. The other day I ran into them 3 times and I know that it is a sign from God that I need to hear their message." The grandma stopped talking. And we were able to teach and the spirit returned. OH MY GOODNESS!!! it was really cool. Really, cool. 

The other story I wanted to share, is I was walking up this mountain (Like every other day of my life) and this old lady was walking down the hill. I started to talk to her and she was like I will be back in 10 minutes, I live right there. See you in 10! Woah. Okay! So, we came back in 10 minutes and were able to teach her! She was super interested and even said that she is catholic but goes to another church because she knows the catholic church is not true and the other church that she is attending she just likes how the preacher speaks. Well, afterwards she was like can you come back in two days? SURE! We went back but she wasnt there.... Well, we went back last night and come to find out that the reason she wasnt there at the time of our appointment is because she was in the HOSPITAL and almost died!!!!!! But you know what she was concerned about while she was almost dying in the hospital? That we were at her house and she wasnt there! She was so worried that we would think that she didnt want to hear our message! 

This week was hard, but when you work hard miracles happen! 

I am teaching my companion English :) Yup, Brasilians (trying) speaking english is the funniest thing ever :) hahah 

I hope you have a marvelous week! Know that God loves you and is watching over you. Always. 

Sister Keeler

Brazil: Week 16 - El cupo mundo!!

Well, I have successfully lived in ALL of the farthest cities in our mission! WOOHOO!!! It took  5 buses  to get here in Poços de Caldas. Talk about longest trip of my life! But, I love it here!! It is so beautiful! My new companion is Sister Gomes and she is from João Pessoa, Brasil. Our area is litterally a mountain and I dont know how we do it but we are ALWAYS subindo never descending! I guess I will get stronger....yay? :) 

The ward here is really fucused on missionary work! It is great! I have never had a ward so involved in the work. Its truly a blessing and it changes the whole dynamics of missionary work. They help with lessons, references, everything. 

Incase you didnt know, the world cup started this week! (BRASIL!!!) Even though we have to stay inside while Brasil plays, we still know whats going on because we can hear the WHOLE CITY cheering everytime something happens!!!!! Its the coolest thing ever!!! Everyone is inside watching and it is EXTREMELY loud every time Brasil makes a goal :) But, sadly, because of the world cup, it is SO hard to teach people. No one answers the door when a game is on. :/ But! We did have an investigator go to church that had SO much vergonha! That was a miracle! And, também, we visited a member that has been inactive for a year and he came to church !!!   WoohooO!!!!

Wow, I am out of time but I will write more next time! Have a great week! 

Sister Keeler

Brazil: Week 15 - IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!:D

Who has two thumbs and it's her birthday today?
THIS GIRL!!!!

For my email this week, I decided to switch things up a bit! This week I wrote 20 reasons why I love being a missionary since this is the only opportunity I have to have my birthday as a missionary! HOW COOL!

20 Reasons why Sister Keeler Loves being a missionary:

1. You get to focus 24/7 on other people

2. You get to bare your testimony everyday

3. You get to help people become happier than they could imagine 

4. You meet incredible people!.......and some really crazy ones too :)

5. You grow spiritually (help others grow spiritually)

6. No one gets mad if you just want to listen to mormon tabernacle choir all the time

7. You dont have to worry about what you are going to wear because its always going to be a shirt and a skirt for every occasion

8. You actually get a tan for once in your life ;)

9. Every moment of your life is rewarding and has a purpose

10. You see people change their lives

11. Have interrupted time everyday to study the scriptures

12. You always are well rested because you go to bed early.......okay, maybe not WELL rested....

13. You get a new best friend about every 6 weeks

14. You feel more joy than you have ever felt before in your life

15. People love to give you free food!

16. You learn to live with someone 24/7

17. Dont have to worry about homework 

18. Learn money management

19. You always have someone to talk too. Sometimes its like always having a sleep over!

20. You have an opportunity to make your weakness become strengths

Honestly, I could keep going. I love being a missionary. It has litterally been one of the best decisions of my life. It wasnt easy to leave everything behind for a year and a half. And, its still not easy. But, you know what? Its worth it. 

I am so greatful to be a representative of Jesus Christ. I love my Savior. And, I am so greatful for His infinite atoning sacrifice. I hope you all have the most rewarding week ever!! 

I love you!!!!

Sister Keeler

Brazil: Week 14 - Sabe nada inocente

Sabe nada inocente is a popular phrase here that one of our investigators taught us. And, I LOVE saying it :) hahah I feel like a true  Brasilian when I say it :) ha 

The perfect scripture to describe this week: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understandings." Proverbs 3:5.

We have been working really hard and nothing has seemed to changed. Like none of our investigators were progressing and a lot have nos deixa. But, yesterday, a miracle happened! We had 7 investigators at church! Which hasnt happened in the longest time!!! (I have never had that many at church before) J., who gets off of work between 2-4 am everyday came with her 2 children and one grandchild. Talk about sacrifice! E., our investigator with cancer came. and also R. who surprised us and came to church!  I was so happy to have them all at church! I couldnt stop smiling! Blessings always come, you just have to be patient with the Lords timing. When you do your part the Lord will work out the rest :) 

We also met a lady this week that was like " Oh! You are mormons! I had a friend a long time ago that was mormon and I actually bought a CTR ring! " She has been wearing a CTR ring (It stands for "choose the right") everyday for 7 years! So cool! Now i feel bad that I always used to loose mine...... :) hahah

Sorry, that this is really short. I am spending my time sending pictures

I hope you have the most SPECTACULAR week ever!!!!!

FYI my birthday is this monday!! ah!!! :)

Sister Keeler

Brazil: week 13 - Brownies? I think yes!

Well, right now I am in Botucatu (Try to say that ten times fast! :) Because we had a P-day with the zone! Getting here completely used up all of our Money for the rest of the month but its all good because it was so fun to hang out with other missionaries. Sometimes we feel like we are so far away from everyone lá in Jau.

 

I have come to really love this área. Like I loved it before but when I realized we are halfway through the transfer I got really sad! The people we are teaching are amazing (Except for they have a problem with going to churhc...... that makes me want to cry) and everyday we keep finding and talking to more amazing people. The hard thing about this área is there is a lot of catholisism (which usually means they say they are catholic but dont practice or go to church) But, the great thing is the people that actually listen to us ACTUALLY want to listen to us. Does that even make sense? :) há

 

One of our investigators the other day was like, "you know what, I am going to start having a meeting with my Family where we pray together and we read out of the Book of Mormon. In fact I have already marked  a couple passages in 2 Nephi 31 about baptism that I really like" Yup, that was like the best day of my life! WOOHOOO!!!!!! Her name is E. and she has been battling câncer for about 7 years now. She is from Manaus and her husband just returned to go back and work up there. They are an amazing Family. Another one of our investigators, N., has been Reading the Book of Mormon like crazy! I am so impressed! He reads the passages we give him like 5 times because he wants to really understand what it is saying. Coolest person ever.

 

So, this week we had some bad luck with address's. It seemed like every address that people gave to us to return to share the gospel was the WRONG ADDRESS!!!!! UGH! But, its all good. Everything happens for a reason :) The great thing is, I am in Brazil and people here LOVE helping a brother out :) I seriously have not had so many people completely stop what they are doing to help find a person or a street for us. One time someone gave a us ride to the street we needed! The people here are really nice :)

 

I hope you all have a most amazing week! Someone this week said a really thought provoking question, that I want all of you to think about (and respond to me if you want:) "What would it mean to you to find Christs true church on this Earth?"

 

Sister Keeler

 

P.S. This week I was craving brownies SO BAD!! (That is the one thing I miss so much from the states) and we tried making them and it went pretty well! They arent like the box brownies but it definitely satisfied my craving :)