When you are seeking to invite the Spirit, you can overcome any differences that you may have.

Chicken Cor Don Bleu (An Arthur family favorite)

Lunch with the missionaries from Embare'

NEWS!

My companion got transferred to Casqueiro and now I have another Argentinian companion. I don´t yet know how to spell her name, because we haven´t made the switch yet, but I am staying in Embaré! I never thought I'd be excited to stay in a city, but we have so much to continue that I couldn't bear to see it all fall apart if everyone got transferred, but seeing as we are getting all the members involved, that wouldn't happen anyways. Our English classes are going to sing in the Christmas sacrament meeting! We´re going to sing "Joy to the World" Sadly, no one knew hardly any of the Christmas hymns. They said it´s not a big thing in Brazil to sing at Christmas time. HOW SAD! I said "That´s okay. We can change that." They seemed to be happy with that response.

Luiz, one of Elder Stokes English students, got baptized Saturday. He said "I don´t want many people at my baptism." My companion was absolutely not okay with that, so she told every member we came into contact with. The turnout was alright and Luiz was very happy with the warm welcome to the ward. 

Sunday he showed up in a suit and everyone was like "Are you sure this is the same man that was baptized yesterday?" It seems like he´s a lifelong member. Some people just come prepared. He is the one who said he wasn't actually looking for an English class, but an opportunity to get to know the church. He introduced himself to the missionaries. On his baptism day, he gave each of us a keychain so that we will never forget him. We had just told him about transfers, but I can promise you that none of us will need a keychain to remember Luiz. He's just that amazing.

Last week, Sister Tabraj and I gave a training on how to invite the Spirit when you teach and I think we learned more than anyone present and it helped us to have a more enjoyable last week together. Really, when you are seeking to invite the Spirit, you can overcome any differences that you may have. It´s still not easy, but I know that the Lord is on our side.

This Sunday will be our first Christmas presentation! Gulp. It´s gonna be great!

Have a great week! Oh my gosh. Thanksgiving hasn't even happened and doesn't even happen here, so they just go straight to Christmas at the end of October. No lie. It´s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,....except for the palm trees and the heat waves that can be seen rising off the sidewalk.... but there´s red and green and sparkles.

LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Love,

Sister Arthur

Can't we all find Something to be happy about?

       This week was very hard companion-wise. After sharing the experience that I wrote in the blog letter last week with Sister Cabral in an email, she said And I love you so much! You are the perfect companion to Sister Xxxxx! Your faith and work will change her life forever! She needs you more than you can imagine! 

With President Cabral

Sometimes it is really hard to be her companion. I don´t get why she is always mad when people haven't done anything to offend her or why she gets mad at people for misunderstanding her, but never studies Portuguese or how every little thing bothers her and it seems like she´s never happy. Sometimes I think about praying to ask if Heavenly Father will transfer her next week, but then I worry that she will have another companion like the ones she´s had in the past who didn´t have any patience with her and didn´t care how she was feeling, but just worried that she was messing up what they wanted to be doing. It is hard that she doesn't run at my speed yet (she needs to sit down and take a break every once in a while and she can´t eat and run because she gets sick and the heat makes her go slower and her feet are always killing her.) but I see how hard she tries to do more every day. One day last week, we got home late and I was so mad at her, because she refused to run, but I didn´t say anything, because I´m not a yeller. The next day she apologized and told me how much her feet had been hurting her. She apologized for being so rude when I told her that she should be happy because she is representing Jesus Christ. She apologized and told me that she knows that sometimes she´s hard to work with. I know she wants to be better and I hope that my example and teaching can help her.

      Every day in my personal study, I look for things to share with her that can help her to progress and develop into the missionary she wants to be. She hasn't had an easy life and I am so impressed with where she is today. I have never had a companion as difficult as her, but I know this is helping me to grow as well. I developed a lot of patience in my first area and now I am learning to extend it. I am learning to be more sensitive to what she needs and what makes her unhappy. I'm also trying (and generally failing) to give constructive criticism in a way that it doesn't offend her, but helps her to see that I'm concerned with her well-being and want to help her to grow.

I wanted to send a picture of zone french toast and blister surgery and planning (all separate) but my new camera card is a major hater. I tried to buy the one that isn't a micro SD that fits into an adapter, because I know that the adapter only works for a little while, but apparently they don't make regular SD cards any more. I knew it wasn't the same, but I bought it anyways. So now I have pictures, but it´s seemingly impossible to do anything with them. How joyful. Oh well, at least I can take pictures again (& Mumma will probably insert some from the Mission page for you.)

Love,

Your Little Missionary

I will make weak things become strong unto them

     This week was a wee bit hard here in Embaré. We talked to a lot of people (although not as many as we should have) and a lot of appointments fell through and my companion was getting very disheartened. She said "We are talking to so many people and no one wants to listen. We marked a lot of appointmetns, but when we get there, they aren´t home. We are tired and it´s hard to keep going. We are doing so much, but nothing is happening." She is a little newer as a missionary and a recent convert too. I explained to her that sometimes we are going to have very very hard days, weeks, months or even years, but Heavenly Father is watching out for us. He knows we are doing hard work. He knows we´re tired, but He also knows how strong we are, and with Him, we are unstoppable. She gave a little smile and we kept walking. 

Intermediate English Class
with Sister Arthur

    The next day we had english class. We got there super early, hoping that someone would come early and want to hear about the gospel, but no one came until 4:57. That was okay, because at least they were excited to learn English. I love my class and it seems that because of them I am liking being an English teacher more and more every day. They are so excited to see me and they all call me "teacher." It´s adorable. I think my youngest student is 40 years old, but they all take me very seriously, because my English is so good. We had a few funny moments this past class. I had to talk to my companion briefly in Portuguese and when I turned my attention back to the class, they started giggling and whispering to each other "no, no just wait and see how long it takes her." I reflected while I continued to talk. What I was doing? Then I realized....I was accidentally speaking in Portuguese. One of my classmates (the smart alec of the class) said in his Brazilian accent "teacher, please speak English." We all laughed a lot about that.

     At the end of the class, I invited everyone to the baptism that would be happening a half hour after and as is the custom, everyone left immediately following english class. I was so happy when one of my students asked "Is it right to say ´I appreciate you?´ I said yes, because I think it is, but I´m not totally sure what´s right in English any more. She put her hand on my shoulder and said "I appreciate you very much." What a sweetheart!

     After everyone had left,  we talked to the Elders, who said that the same happened in their class. Only Luiz had stayed. Sister Tabraj and I had to go pick someone up with some members and arrived just as the baptism was about to start. We were so astonished when we entered and saw Maura (the one who appreciates me) and Oscar (a couple from my English class) sitting in the back of the room! They were talking to Elder Maia and looked very happy to be there. We sat next to them and they asked so many questions and loved the baptism and asked us if we would visit them to teach them what it is we are here to teach! It was amazing! I have never been happier to be American in my life! (I love being American, so that means I´m pretty darn happy.) Everyone had a great experience at the baptism! As missionaries we had a lot of "face-palm" moments, because the member directing the baptism turned it into a comedy act, but I know that when we are in the right place for the right reason with the intent to learn and have a spiritual experience, the Holy Spirit will whisper truth to our hearts and that is just what happened with those who came to see just "what is a Mormon baptism like?"

     Shortly after the baptism, my companion said " I guess I shouldn´t have been so quick to complain." He is always here to help us.

      Tonight, we are going to teach them about the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

     This whole situation of teaching English....again...reminds me of a scripture, Ether 12: 27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them theirweakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble;and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

     Teaching English was a weak thing that I hated and I used to hope for a reason to end the class....and according to my desires, people stopped showing up and I stopped teaching English. When I realized how much it could really help people to come unto Christ, I decided to give it a real effort. I told Heavenly Father that I don´t like teaching English, but if He wants me to teach it, I will give it my all and I will find a way to be happy. I know this promise found in Ether is true. I am not the world´s best english teacher, but look at what ´s happening!

     We have 31 students (basic and intermediate) and the members (who didn´t have much confidence in the missionaries when we got here) are impressed and people are coming unto Christ. In short, I love being American.

      I would tell you about all the other cool things that happened, but everyone probably already stopped reading half way through. Just kidding. Maybe.

I LOVE YOU! Remember! Your good efforts are not useless, even if you feel like you didn´t touch anyone´s heart.

Love,

Sister Arthur

"Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up." ~Jesse Jackson

We started English class this week. There are a lot of excited people. I hope I can teach them well and keep them excited. Oh my goodness it was so much work! The elders don´t usually stay in our area, and my companion doesn´t speak English, so I had to do almost everything. It was exhausting, but it will pay off. Already, there was one man who said he´d been looking for an opportunity to get to know the church. English class was just a bonus. The elders are teaching him already and he came to church on Sunday. Luiz. He´s cool.

Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up ~Jesse Jackson
My companion and I were completely blown away when a member said that it was hard to integrate a recent convert, because she's of a lower class (we were both pretty offended by that one as well, because we don´t come from high society either...) After speaking with them about that they were much more helpful and loving. I think everyone needs a little reminder every once in a while, but it´s good to know that there are some people out there who actually change when they realize they are not doing what Heavenly Father wants. There is good everywhere we look. Sometimes it´s just a little disguised.

I remember we had a fireside about family history when I was in the youth program. Brother Whitney dressed up as one of his forefathers and talked about him as if he were this person. I will never forget the spirit that I felt as I watched. The people who have gone before us really have an effect on where we are and who we are. We don´t usually realize it, but literally without them, we wouldn´t be here. We are planning an activity to get everyone fired up about family history and we´re going to do a "Brother Whitney" theater piece to start it off and really get everyone feeling the Spirit of Elijah. I am so excited to show these people why it´s so important to do family history. I wish I´d been more diligent in doing this before the mission.

One hard thing. I'm still experiencing the broad shoulder curse...Every blouse I have ever owned has been too tight on the shoulders and the clothes I have are getting tired of all the stress on the shoulders. We're supposed to dress "professional." What´s worse is that I´m in Brazil and it´s almost summer, so modest clothing is almost impossible to find. Sorry about the rant, but this is really frustrating. Any suggestions?

It´s funny that most missionaries look forward to Pday. I´d rather skip it all together. It´s way more stressful than proselyting.

Love,
Sister Arthur