Hello!

Aaah! 

No time! My computor froze and shut down today, so I'm basically already out of time. But I really don't have much to say anyway! I promise I'll write another letter for you all today. 

We had Sisters Conference, which was great! It was sooo fun to see all of the Sisters and learn from them. It was wonderful to catch up with Sister Garner and hear about how all the people I love are doing in Cerquilho! (They're all doing great, btw) 

We have transfers this week. I think I'll stay here, but you never know. I really love this ward, so I kind of hope so! Either way, it should be good. 

Mom, nothing with the bus driver yet, sorry. He's only at home crazy hours of the day, which makes it hard to visit him. But it'll be good! We did teach Roberto a bunch this week, and he's now come to church the last three weeks. So has Adriana...this is really, really cool. I will never take for granted having investigators in the chapel after having served in Cerquilho! 

I was thinking about how it would be fair to compare the early church to a small branch (such as Cerquilho)...and really, what a miracle it is that this small group, barely knowing what they were doing, has grown into the world wide church that it is today. It truly is the kingdom of God, reestablished here on the earth! It's evidence to me that the Lord's hand is in this work, and it's empowering to think about it. 

I love you all, and hope you're doing great!

Sister Fuller

Count Your Blessings!

Dear everyone,

How's it going? So good to hear from so many of you. I treasure every email/letter/whatever it is that allows you to communicate with me! 

Things are chuggin´ along here, just like always...life is really, really good, and we're being so blessed. I'm getting to know more of the members in the ward, which is great. I love this ward. So much. :) Oh, here's an interesting tidbit--missionaries are almost always the backup speakers when people don't show up to church. So normal...and happily, I'm getting used to speaking on a moments notice! But yesterday, the Bishop came up to me and asked me to speak 5 minutes before church started. Sure, no problem...only to walk in and realize that both the stake president and a member of the 70 were sitting on the stand. Bahaha. I was a little nervous, I'll confess. But it went well! Lots of prayer, and a little inspiration during the sacrament, and I decided to stick with the basics and talk about the importance of covenants/obedience.  I'm grateful for the moments I have that show me that really and truly, the Lord is on my side. I may not be as qualified as other people to do everything I need to as a missionary, but when I trust in the Lord, he accepts my small offering, and consecrates it for His purposes. 

Do you remember our miracle of the bus driver who gave us a ride last Sunday? We had left him a pass along card with a short testimony and an invitation to learn about the gospel...and he called us!!! (This never happens.) "Hello? Is this the blond missionary or the brunette?" (I'm blond now. Blegh) hahaha. It was really exciting. 

This week I was the tiniest bit unwell the first couple days (not sick. Don't freak out) and it made it a little harder to keep going at certain moments. But I prayed to recognize opportunities to serve others, and I was really blessed! We ate lunch with a woman from the ward, and I felt that maybe she was a little overwhelmed or sad or something. So for our thought, I changed what we had planned and shared a scripture I had read that morning--I think D&C 64:33? But she started crying, and opened up to what was bothering her, and just using the scriptures I'd studied the day before, we were able to help her to feel the love of the Lord, and know how she should continue through her struggles. I really do have a testimony that when I am struggling, there will always be someone who I can help. Sometimes, it's because of our trials that we're able to be there for others, and really sympathize with them. I'm grateful for all I'm learning on my mission. It's not easy, and many times I feel stretched farther than I've ever been before...and then comes the moment where I exercise my faith, and see the hand of the Lord set things right. We're not alone, not ever. And as we participate together in this great work,with all of our diligence and faith, we will have the help of the "Lord of the vineyard" at our side (Jacob 5). I'm grateful for my Savior, and for His great love for us. 

I hope you all have a great week!

Sister Fuller

Changes!

Guess what!!!

New mission office! The new address is 

Missão Brasil São Paulo Norte

Avenida Nova Cantareira, 1146  fundos
Tucuruvi
São Paulo - SP - 02330-001

Effective immediately!!

Guess what--WE KNOW WHO'LL BE THE NEXT MISSION PRESIDENT!! And he's american!! Whaaat? 

President Timothy Farnes and Linsey Farnes. They're from Bountiful. But I'll only be with him one, maybe two transfers before I go home. Interesting, right? 

Anyway, this week was good. I'm loving, loving, loving seeing the change in Thiago, and in Sonia's family. Thiago is just doing so, so great! He's giving rides to our investigators to come to church, participating in all the classes, and introducing people to other members. Haha it was awesome. He was talking to a visitor and then turned and saw an Irmã--"Oh, Irmã Fatima! This is Alex! He's visiting from Itu!" "I know, he's my son!" Hahahaha. I love it so much. Thiago went to the temple in Campinas this week with the ward! He said he just loved it, and has never felt that way before. I wish all of you could see Thiago's "thinking face". It's my favorite thing--he just listens, entirely captivated and wide eyed, as if trying to absorb everything he can. He is so, so happy and just trying to learn it all! I don't know if I mentioned it last week...he got up and bore his testimony! 

Sonia told us she no longer has any desire to smoke or drink coffee! Miracle! Her husband was telling us about all the changes they've seen in this week after her baptism, and just about cried he was so emotional. He said they've never had this kind of peace in their home, in all their years of marriage. The spirit is there. Everyone has more respect, and patience for one another. They really are so, so happy! 

This week I've been thinking about the importance of really consecrating this time that I have to serve as a full time missionary. I'm so grateful to be here. I'm so grateful for all the Lord has done for me, and I want to remember that throughout every moment of the day. I want to dedicate this time to him, once more...I was thinking about the story President Gordon B. Hinkley shared about after he recieved the letter from his dad telling him to "forget yourself and go to work". He kneeled down and prayed, and re-committed his service to the Lord. And that day made all the difference in his life. 

One of my favorite scriptures is Alma 37:6-7. "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass...and the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls." Looking at the time I've had so far as a missionary, and the time I still have, I know that this really is true. It's the smallest of choices that I'll make every day that'll make the difference in the end. I know that dedicated service is key to receiving the Spirit, to teaching with the power and authority that comes with my calling. So I'm trying to remember to be happy--joyfully share the gospel with all people! It is a message of good news! The best news, if we think about Elder Oak's talk from a few years ago. I'm here to serve as a disciple of Christ.

We've really had a great week--we've found almost a record number of new people to teach, and are seeing changes in the lives of so many. All coming from this simple things....to read the Book of Mormon, pray, go to Church...the primary answers because they really are the things that make all the difference! In our lives, and in the lives of our investigators. 

I hope you're all doing great!!! I love you sooooo much!
Sister Fuller

Crazy fruit--Jacá. Yiiish!

Rainstorm...already on our way home. Perfect :)

batismo :)

The giant saint we visited in our city

how a random man understands my name when it's said over the telephone...hahahaha. Especially because "sugar" doesn't mean anything in portuguese

Only because it looks cool. I still don't like coconut, I promise. But sometimes it is better here!

Haaaaappy New Year! (again)

Dear Family, 

We had another great week here in Salto! The Mont Serrat ward is INCREDIBLE and I'm in love.... :) This week was the baptism of Irmã Sonia!!!! Remember I told you about her last week? It's been so great, because her whole family is coming back to the church because of her decision to follow the Savior, and be baptized. It was really, really special. What's ever neater is that it was our very own Thiago that performed the ordinance! After his baptism last Saturday, he was interviewed by the Bishopric and that Sunday, he recieved the Preisthood. And on Saturday, exactly one week after his own baptism, he baptized Irmã Sonia. And it was perfect!!! We all felt the spirit so strongly. Leide, Thiago´s girlfriend/fiancee (I'm pretty sure it's not official yet, but they're planning on getting married), was so touched by it all. You can see it in her eyes--all of this is an answer to her prayers, and seeing Thiago just loving everything about the gospel like he is really is a miracle. He also blessed the Sacrament on Sunday, so that was special. :) 

Yesterday was ridiculously awesome. They were a couple of things that I've been praying about all week that I just received answers to, plainly and clearly, as if Heavenly Father just handed them to me. It was really special. One of them was a "small" thing, about the logistics of our day. Earlier that week, Sister Pereira had mistakenly told me that the couple we'd eat lunch with on Sunday lived close to the Chapel, so we marked our appointments around that. ButSaturday night, she remembered that she was thinking of a different family, and that where we'd actually go was on the other side of the city-- 1 1/2--2 hours walking from all of our appointments. Clearly, that wouldn't be the best way to use our time that is so precious. So I prayed and I prayed and I prayed...I really, really hate to waste time, so this really was something more important to me. I started thinking of what we could do--maybe rearrange a couple of visits, maybe ask a member for a ride, etc. And so we planned, and went at it. We were on our way walking to a house of a member after lunch when I wasn't paying attention and almost walked into a bus that was driving by...but it caught the drivers attention, and he waved at us. We waved back (we had already talked to him before a little, too) and he started motioning to us. "Do you want to get in?" "No, we don't have money" (true, and easier to say than we don't spend money on Sundays) "Come, get in!" 

Soooo...we got a ride for free from a BUS. This doesn't happen, just so you know! But we talked to the driver and invited him to church, etc...and hopefully the spirit will help him to decide to visit next week! But it was neat. I know that Heavenly Father hears, and answers our prayers. And I know that the miracles come after the trial of our faith--when we've done all we know how. 

Well, I'm out of time. And this computer can't send pictures...so another week to wait! Sorry! Love you all so much!

Sister Fuller