This week was still so busy but a bit cooler... thank goodness!!!
We had a cool expierence on Thursday: We were eating lunch at a members home and we asked him if he knew anybody we could teach close by. He replied, ```No, everybody already has their own religion or they are not interested, but I really wish I had someone for you all.`` My companion and I made a specific promise with him that according to his faith, the Lord would help him find someone that was ready to hear the gospel. Well, we were leaving his house and up walks his friend. The member than says, ``Hey do have time right now? These Sisters have a message for you.`` He agrees and we taught him right then and there!! The Spirit was so strong and he committed to be baptized this Sunday. He came to church with us, quit drinking and everything. It truly was a miracle!! This week as well is transfers!!! Sister Benicio got transfered and will now be my STL (Sister Training Leader)! And I am going to train!!! I am soooo nervous. Yesterday I finished my 12 week training and tomorrow I will pick up my filha (daughter). I am really nervous because I don´t feel 100% confident in the language yet, but I am trying to replace my fear with faith. I know that The Lord has confidence in me because he called me to train. It sure will be interesting though. Luckily I am training a Brazilian from São Paulo so she will know all the words I don´t! hahahha. Today I am in another suburb with another Sister because we are both without a companion for the day, but tomorrow we have a training class and our companions arrive from the CTM! I am really excited but need all the prayers I can get, hahaha. Training is great responsibility!!!! I hope you all stay safe and warm! Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sister Bailey XOXOXOXOXOXO
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I have so much to write and so little time, so this email may be a little jumbled!!! First, I just want to say that I am real jelaous that you all got snow!!!!! This week was soooo hotttt!! 40 - 45 degrees C.... that is over 100 degrees F. Not to mention the sun is so strong here and it is HUMID!! January is supposed to be a month of rain. All the people we talk to that have lived here their whole lives say that they have never seen weather like this in January :/ This week as well, my companion and I made a goal to involve the ward members, recent converts, less actives, and investigators all together... but we didn´t know how. We arranged to do a family home evening at the Bishop´s house Tuesday night. The Bishop´s wife called Tuesday and sounded a little overwhelmed so we decided to stop by to make sure everything was okay. Well.... her house needed to be deep cleaned, laundry needed to be done, food bought and made, her kids were fighting and yelling and on top of that Bishop had lost his job a few weeks back and they didn´t have any money. I felt terrible but we got right to work and cleaned her WHOLE house, washed the dishes, and got everything arranged for the big FHE. My companion and I promised her and Bishop that they would be blessed for their service and that the Lord knew their situation. Well yesterday she told us, with tears in her eyes, that Wednesday morning a friend called and said that she just wanted to give her family 5,000 Reis!!!! It was such a testimony builder to me that we will be blessed with EXACTLY what we need when we serve The Lord. Everyday my companion and I talk about how grateful we are for this opportunity to serve a mission. I have already learned SOOOO much!! I can´t even begin to explain all the things I have learned and the experiences I have day to day are life changing. I can´t imagine my life without a mission. I just ask that you guys send a little cold weather my way!!! :) hahahaha. I know that this church is true and that if we don´t feel a desire to follow our Savior then start doing the things he asks of us. Boa Semana!!!! I love yáll!!!! Love, Sister Bailey I can´t believe I am almost done with my training!!! I am finally beginning to feel more comfortable with the langauge. I am not fluent yet, but I am getting there :) This week we had divisions with the Sister Training Leader´s!! I stayed in our area with Sister Cidade and we worked really hard to mark baptismal dates with all our investigators. It was weird to me at first to mark a baptismal date the very first lesson, but it is so important that our investigators know our purpose :) Sister Benicio and I also worked really hard this week trying to get the members involved in the work because without the members, we can´t do anything. We had a big training with all the leaders in the ward yesterday, so hopefully we will start to see some progress soon! For some reason we are having difficulty with our investigators, but it has really shown me that I, as a missionary, need so much faith. Faith is not just believing; it is truly acting. Faith means going to all our investigators' homes Saturday night, inviting them to church, calling all the members and arranging rides, studying and preapring for all our lessons everyday, etc. I can´t just hope that the Lord is preparing people to magically fall into our hands. I have learned that we will only begin to see results and miracles after the trial of our faith. This week as well, I learned the importance of mosquito repellant!!!! I forgot one day and was literally bitten soooo much. I ended up having an allergic reaction and going to the hospital... let´s just it was interesting experience. However, I am all better now and have overcome my fear of needles! hahaha. I will never forget repellant again!! Wish I had more time to write. Praying for you all!!! xoxoxoxo Have a great week :) Love, Sister Bailey Pictures below: Many of the roads in my area are dirt and mud. Here is an example: Hello all!!!
This week was difficult because of New Years. A lot of people were traveling or with family, but we still worked :) We spent New Years Eve with some members in our ward. We ate lasagna, rice, meat with bacon in the middle, and some dessert that I am really not sure what it was hahaha. It was like ice cream but not... ahaha. By midnight though I was already in bed and asleep. I wanted to stay up, but I was so tired!! I can finally say I am coming home NEXT YEAR!! WAHOOOO. It will be the only year where I can fully dedicate myself to the Lord. I am excited for that :) Our recent convert, Daniel, is already progressing so much!! He is getting the Aaronic Preisthood on Sunday. He calls like every other day to say he hasn´t drinken coffee!! It is so funny but amazing to see how much happier he is now. Other than that our week wasn´t too exciting. We are working to reactivate a family with three kids that want to be baptized. The parents are already members, but the kids aren´t. It is really tough right now, but if there is one thing I have learned with Sister Benicio, it is FAITH!!! I know when we do our part, the Lord will help us. We visit them almost everyday, so I hope soon we will start to see changes in their family. I am feeling better though so thank you for the prayers! I love you all so much and I know 2016 will be a great year :) Have a great week!!! Love, Sister Bailey |