Monday, March 24, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD AND DEVIN!!!!!!!

Dad!!! Happy late birthday! I love you so much!!!!! And Devin--happy early birthday!!!! Awwww I love you both so much. What I would give to be able to hug you both right now...but hey, let's not get trunky. :) Anyway, I'll be writing you today, and I'm going to find a post office in this little city, I promise! (Sister Pereira should know. Maybe. haha)

Dear everyone else, 

This week was INCREDIBLE! I've said it a million times, and I'll say it again....I LOVE being a missionary. So much. I never want to do anything else. (Ok, maybe not...I really do plan on seeing you all someday. Then we're just going to all be missionaries together!!! YIPEE!!!) I can't even explain how much happiness comes seeing someone just really get it! Did I tell you about Marli and Antonio last week? I can't even remember. Oops, yes I did. I just checked my sent mail. Anyway, they are so incerdible! After that first visit, things just got better and better. They believe it, they just do! They have been to so many churches, and have ended up so confused, and then one day talked as a couple and decided they needed to start praying specifically for God to show them the truth. Then one day, Antonio was coming home from work in another city, and saw the Elders at the bus stop, and he went over to talk to them! He said he wanted to know who they were, and what they were doing. And then in his happy Antonio little way, he started peppering them with questions. The Elders (fubecas) didn't ask for his adress that day, but the next day they were there again, he talked to them again, and they wrote down the adress and passed it to us! :) So yes, then we visited them and everything that I told you last week...and this week, they've just progressed a ton! They're reading the Book of Mormon and know it's true, and have such an excitement and thirst for learning more. I love them so much!!!! 

Rogério and Cristina are going to get baptized!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!! :) I LOVE THIS FAMILY WITH MY WHOLE HEART. Literally, I've felt love for our investigators before, without a question. But this family is really special! Opa, I just remembered. Do you remember what I told you about Aline, the woman who showed up at church out of nowhere and says that she wanted to get baptized? It turns out that she is 100% nuts. Nuts. We were in her house and...it was exciting. She was screaming and attacking the washing machine and ripping down curtains...but a harmless nuts, because she likes us. It's actually really sad, and her Dad said that 2 years ago, she wasn't like this. Really sad. But also kind of hilarious--for example, she showed up at church again and walked into Relief Society late. She found a spot, kneeled down and crossed herself, and then started to pray...I will admit, it was hard not to laugh. No one really knew how to react....but hey, at least she wants to do what's right!

We also had parts of 2 other families we're teaching at church! I love it so much. We are finding and teaching families, and more than ever I'm learning how to testify to them openly and clearly about why they need what we have. I really do know that it's true, and I feel such an urgency to help other people to feel that for themselves. 

Sister Pereira and I have really enjoyed our last week together. She's really grown so much, and is such a powerful and strong missionary. I love her....it's been a blessing to be with her again! Tomorrow I'll meet my new companion. President didn't tell me which one it'll be, but he said all three of the Sisters that arrived have already served for a big chunk of time in the States. My job will be to help her perfect her Portuguese. Don't worry, the irony's not lost on me. :) I'm determined to actually help with that! I learned with Sister Cristoffersen what a temptation it is to speak in English, but it's true--the language really is a part of the calling. I was called here and I was called to speak Portuguese. So I better learn as much as I can! (That's another thing that's fun about being with S. Pereira...she speaks a ton of slang and things--not that I'll use it, but it's good to understand it!) And I know the Lord will help us. Maybe we'll speak English sometimes inside of our house sometimes...I want to still be able to communicate with my companion and develop a relationship in the first few days! Oh, but actually, President said that there's been a little bit of a delay with the new house in Povilho, so the 4 of us (3 americans and 1 brazilian) will be living in the same house for 3-4 days. Yippee!  (But I love S. Pereira too much to speak English with them in front of her, so I guess we'll hold off on that one too)

Anyway, I love you all. I hope you have a great week! 

Sister Fuller

P.S. Just one more fun little detail that is not even important--do you remember that one actor who's Max (I think that's the name) in Get Smart? He's also in the office...well, I found out something. He's actually Brazilian. And he's my ward mission leader. SERIOUSLY, I will get a photo one day...but even more than appearance are the mannerisms and they way he talks. It's identical, and...oh bother, if you could see me now. I can't even write about it without laughing! It's SO FUNNY! 

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Santana de Parnaíba!!!

Oi família!!! E todos minhas pessoas tão queridas!!!!

I love you all!!! I hope you've all had a great week. It sounds like St. Louis has had some pretty crazy weather! The weather's getting a lot better here. Holy cow, I'm so grateful. I'm pleased to say I never take "less hot" for granted. I will never forget January 2014...

So this week was transfer week. And, being the queen of unexpected missionary life twists, I pulled another crazy one out of the hat. I'm with Sister Pereira again!!!! 

I know it. We just work really well together :) 

Our area is Santana de Parnaíba, which actually covers three cities. (So if I thouht I was poor before...goodbye money! Hello buses!) I'm pretty sure it might be the largest area in the mission. It was recently turned into a Sisters area and it's so, so good! The members are incredible. They always are inviting people to church, which is a constant source of new investigators! We had14 investigators at church yesterday! The last Sister that was here actually just went home because of some serious health problems, which had made them almost incapable of leaving the house last transfer. So we're almost literally starting from scratch--on wednesday we only had 2 investigators. But our teaching pool has quickly increased, and as we've been fasting and praying for the Lord to help us find those who are ready, we have had some incredible experiences!! I'm serious, my testimony of fasting has become so strong the last 2 months. 
  • Aline--she showed up at church by herself. One of the first things she said to us was, "I want to get baptized". She had met with the Elders 2 years ago, and hadn't been baptized because her family didn't support her. They had gone as far to burn her Book of Mormon. But she says she hasn't been able to stop thinking about it, and wants to be baptized more than anything. So we're going to help her! She's living with her Dad now, and he's actually receptive as well!
  • We found 7 people just through doing contacts that have already been to church before!!!
  • We received a referral from the Zone Leaders of a man they had talked to on the bus. It's a couple (Antonio and Marli) with two little boys. (3 months and almost 3 years) They live in one of the cities ridiculously far away, so we got a really great couple from the ward to give us a ride and visit this family with us. They were so receptive! We were talking about Prophets and Antonio told us about his theory--it doesn't make sense for God to only have called prophets in Jerusalem. He thinks God must have called prophets in other parts of the world too, just that we don't know about them because they weren't written about in the Bible! :) He said, "there must have been prophets in Africa, in Spain--probably here in the Americas too!!" I can not even tell you how excited they were about the Book of Mormon. They really, really got it! Aaaaaaah I love that what we teach is TRUE!!!!!
  • The two investigators we started with--Rogério and Cristina--are so great! They have a little daughter named Clara, who loves the Sisters :) They came to church, and looooved it. So much. And it was wonderful!
  • We met with Eliane, the "wife" of a less active man. We honestly are just the happy Sisters who lucked out to be here at the right time--they were already planning on getting married, and she's been coming to church for years. But on Saturday they marked their wedding date in the Cartório! (I still haven't learned how to say that in English. But it's the place you can get legally married! haha) So then we marked a baptism date too, for the day after. Woohoo!!!!!!! 
I'm really liking bullet points lately, they're so handy. But yes, we are seeing MIRACLES and I LOVE IT!!!!!! I have the best calling in the whole wide world. Everyone should be a missionary. Ok? Ok. :) 

Have a great week!

Sister Fuller

P.S. Here's some fun speculation for you...there's a planned special transfer next week. They've made a new rule that the visa waiters who've been in the states for 4 months or more will come stay in the São Paulo MTC for 14 days once they get their visa. The first of them got here, and will be coming to the mission next week. So apparently Pres. Martins told S. Pereira (and also the Zone Leaders) that with this special transfer, he's going to divide our enormous area. So, just so you know...we're actually only companions again for 2 weeks. Less. But we're going to make it count!












Monday, March 10, 2014

Don't believe in Miracles...Depend on them!!

Dear Family, 

Wow, I loved reading all of your emails!! You are all incredible! Karalee and Scott, I'm just so happy to hear from you and the wonderful life you're building....you're so good :) Ster, parabéns for Solo and Ensemble!!! How awesome!!! And DEVIN I just love you so much. Way to be a missionary. Keep going! And Mom and Dad are just incredible, but everyone already knows that. :) I love my family...

Guys, Bernabé and his family were baptized this week! It was so beautiful! Bernabé has so much faith. It's breathtaking. Bernabé is a sweet old 62 year old man. He has 5 children, 11 grandkids (the other day he turned to Cleusa, "Is it 10 or 11? I think it's 11"), and 2 great grandkids. They've been to a ton of churches, just trying to find one that "felt right". In his quest for truth, Bernabé had already overcome his addiction to alcohol and was working on stopping smoking as well. Cleusa has some serious back problems that have been plaguing her the last year and 2 months, and has been pleading to God for Him to send her some relief, some way to help. 

Do you all remember what a miracle this family is? Here's a quick copy/paste summary for the other email:

"We received a referral from a man last week that just pulled over and said, "Sisters! I'm from Campinas, but I was working here today. I have a referral for you!" We felt so excited to visit this family. We decided that we should fast for them, that they would feel the spirit and act on it. We had a very short visit with them, and just invited them to pray to know if we really were sent from God, and if the message we would share with them was true. (There's another king lamoni´s father moment for ya!) We went back last night, and they were anxiously waiting for us. We went inside, sat down....and first thing. "Last time, you invited us to pray. I did, and God showed me that I should believe in whatever you have to tell us." He had this dream...that's way cool, but I don't have time to explain. But the whole family really felt the spirit. We taught them the Restoration, and they all accepted to get baptized!"

So we started teaching them, and they had so much faith that truly, God was answering their prayers through us. Another reminder:

"They went to church this week! They loved every second of it, and participated in all of the classes. Then it was testimony meeting...Cleusa was sitting next to a member and asked her if she was allowed to go up. The member took her by the hand and went up with her, where Cleusa told everyone that God had sent us to her as an answer to her prayers, and that she already feels the difference in her life. Then she started talking about how they've been to so many churches , searching for something more, and that finally, she believes that she's found the true church! We set baptismal dates with all of them :)"

They definitely have more to learn, but it's like Elder Andersen's talk: "You know enough." They know that the Church is true, and the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Now, they'll be able to learn and grow so much within the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and under the guidance of the gift of the Holy Ghost. What a precious gift it is that our Father gives to us! 

Cleusa and Bernabé are so excited to start bringing their family to church. They've tasted of the fruit which is most precious above all others...and know they want to share it! And we are so happy for them. I love being a missionary....and I love my Savior....and I love all of you! 

Hope you have a great week!

Sister Fuller

At the baptism 

With Thiago and Leide!!

Monday, March 3, 2014

Miracle Retention Week!

Heeeey! 
Ok, don't be mad. It's Carnaval so EVERYTHING is closed, and the place we're using doesn't have printers...so I have less time to actually write! But this week was incredible! We were trying really hard to help all of our miracles from last week to progress. We also spent two days in São Paulo to take care of Sister Cristoffersen's visa. Sidenote--I successfully made it from here to the Sister's house in Santana (São Paulo) without any complications! Dude!!! How cool is that! And then to the Polícia Federal, and then...we just followed the Elders back. Haha. But so cool, we felt like grown ups :) 

First off--I just LOVE being a missionary! It is literally the best calling in the world, and the very best way to be spending my time!!!!! I love it!!!!

Do you wanna hear some of our miracles from this week?? We'll just do bullet points again...
  • I think it should start with the fact I didn't get lost :) 
  • Cleusa, Bernabé, and Tiago (the family that prayed about us and everything) came to church yesterday. They loved every second of it, and participated in all of the classes. Then it was testimony meeting...Cleusa was sitting next to a member and asked her if she was allowed to go up. The member took her by the hand and went up with her, where Cleusa told everyone that God had sent us to her as an answer to her prayers, and that she already feels the difference in her life. Then she started talking about how they've been to so many churches , searching for something more, and that finally, she believes that she's found the true church! We set baptismal dates with all of them :)
  • A less active man told everyone in Gospel Principles about how last month he noticed that after we ate lunch with his mother, we asked to use a room to go pray and start our fast. Such a small, simple thing. But he started thinking about how long it had been since he's fasted, and thoughts about his past experiences in the church and on his own mission started coming to his head. He said he's not been able to stop thinking about it! Then, getting emotional, he said, "So the fast they started that day has been having its fruits." 
  • Marcos (the less active man we've started visiting) came to church again! 
  • Sonia came to church and the members made friends with her!!! 
  • President and Sister Martins came to our Sacrament Meeting. And it was PERFECT. Miracle :)

And a funny. In Gospel Principles the teacher asked, "Who knows the name of a prophet?" (Going for Adam, Moses, Noah) and our investigator raised his hand, "Joseph!" 

Hahahaha. Yesssss. :) 

Anyway, I love you all so much! Happy march!!

Sister Fuller