Last Month on the Mission

My LAST month on the mission! I am in an area named Boa Vista and my companion is Sister Paredes! She is from Peru! She is one of the hardest working missionaries I have ever met! 

Sister Parede and I

These past two weeks in the area have been challenging but wonderful! 

We are teaching a man named Joao who is 73. He speaks Guarani! He can understand Portuguese for the most part but he understands Spanish a lot more! So basically it was my first time trying to teach in Spanish, but then I ended up just teaching in Portuguese and he was able to understand. He has been coming to church the past few weeks and is really loving it! 

Family home evening with a family from the ward and João!

We are teaching this family and they are so great! A couple with 3.5 kids. We were talking about the Family Proclamation and trying to see if they would change their mind to get married! At one point Viviane said "Before I didn't want to get married, but yes, now we are ready. We want to get married and get baptized!" We also told Francisco that if he gets baptized before February when his son turns 8 he can baptize his son! The look in his eyes was so special! He was like "REALLY!?!?!?!" They are just the cutest! I almost cried 4 times during the lesson because I am so happy for them. 

One day we were teaching a less active, Anderson. We met him when we were knocking doors. He saw us and said "Sisters!," so we figured that he had already heard of the missionaries. He went on to tell us that he was baptized in another area about 12 years ago! and hasn't been going to church for about the past 9 years. In another visit later in the week we talked about the Book of Mormon. The Spirit was so strong during all of the lesson! The power of the Book of Mormon is truly incredible!!! He is super excited to come back to church! 

This week we also taught a grandfather of a member, and the father of the temple president! Fujino who is 96 years old! We sang him I Am a Child of God and it was a really special lesson. 

One of the sons of Viviane and Francisco who is 7 years old was talking about going on a mission and he said "I want to bring the word of God to the people in CHINA!!!" 

Sister Hancock

The Emilys! :) 

The Baptism of Luana and Francielle! 

We bought a watermelon on the side of the road

 Faith in EVERY FOOTSTEP!  Not bringing these home!

Victor Hugo and Pedro Henrique! We tried taking lots of photos but Victor thought it was so funny to not look at the camera! I love this family so much! 

November 6, 2017 - Last Transfer!

It has been a really long time since I have written a blog post email! Sorry! I never have any time anymore! But anyways! I just finished my third transfer in Castro and today I got transferred back to Curitiba to an area called Boa Vista! I have the amazing opportunity to be the Sister Training Leader here for the last 6 weeks of the mission! 

I loved all the time that I passed in Castro! So I realized I did not even write once this past transfer... But I had a new companion. Her name is Sister Vargas and she is from Sao Paulo! 

This transfer I learned so many incredible things and had so many incredible experiences!!! 

 Emily is 18 years old and the Elders found her when they were walking home one day. She was out in front of her house and the elder asked about directions for a street and then she told them and then asked "Hey are you the Mormons?" They said yes and then asked to return! They started teaching her and she accepted everything right away! She also invited lots of her friends to come over when the missionaries taught! We went with the Elders a few times to teach her and to help her! She is incredible! She says that she wants to serve a mission and become just like us! Her baptism was on Saturday night and it was so special! She said to the Elders that "the first two people that I want to hug after I am baptized are Suelen (Member) and Sister Hancock!!!" I love her so much! :) 

This past Sunday we got 16 people into one car!!! It was crazy and wonderful to hear everyone in the car talking and excited to come to church! 

The hottest day ever!!! We walked really far to get to the house of Emily and when we got there we were all worn out! 

I am so grateful for the time that I passed in Castro and for all of the people that I met! 

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and we can read it to find answers and personal revelation! I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and that He loves each and every one of us! 

I love you all! Thanks for the love and support!