My week:
● Had caldo de cana 🧃 and tapioca for the first time. 7/10
● Finished the Book of Mormon 10/10
● Spoke in church 0/10
● Divisions (different area & comp for the day)
●Made a new friend in church, a young girl who was so excited to show me she's been learning English in school.
3 weeks left in this transfer. I've been here in Jaraguá for close to a month! There's tough moments, but I have learned so much.
Speak in church: I gave a talk in church this week. I'd compare it to when the Sunbeams participate in primary programs. Not sure how much was actually understandable. My companion informed me I pronounced a word meaning something unfortunately too close to the English word that rhymes with duck. Happens.
Quick story- we were giving a lesson to this older couple, and they had 3 dogs, all of which had 0 neck. Pug pit bull type. We start talking to them and the husband informs us she is hard of hearing and doesn't understand well. So he told us we have to yell. Back to the dogs, the dogs were insane. Licking us jumping on us and these dogs were hefty dogs. With no necks. But the best part was they were breathing, panting the loudest I have ever heard. So now, we are giving this lesson, while yelling. But they couldn't hear us because of how loud these dang dogs were. (Did I mention they had no neck) Picture us, in this house. With these 3 dogs, with this couple who when anytime the wife would answer a question, he'd have to answer again for her because she had no idea what was going on, trying to give a lesson while yelling, while being assaulted by these 800-pound pugs. I was in the corner silently laughing so hard at my life.
Divisions: my first division! We got up at the great hour of 3am to catch a bus to Joinville. I was with Sister Poff, an American from Kentucky. We worked a lot, walked about 15 miles and I learned a lot. It was really nice to talk to someone in English all day, too. At first, I was dreading divisions, I didn't want any more change and to leave my normal day-to-day and was kind of nervous. But it ended up being something I really enjoyed. She took me to this boujee bakery (honestly, they're all boujee here) and while I was ordering I heard across the building, "AMERICANA" The waitress told him I was an American and he was so excited. He worked in Boston for a few years and wanted to talk to someone about America. He kept trying to make references and jokes that only Americans would know to look more like an American, but they honestly made no sense. He paid for our food, it was very kind. But it's true, being an American here, people are very intrigued.
Misc.
My companion and I don't argue, but obviously sometimes we have disagreements we have to work out. When this happens, we use google translate to ensure there's no miscommunication. We both pull out our phones and Siri just talks back and forth with herself for a good 10 minutes. Or charades.
I had churrasco, Brazilian barbecue and was like, wow this flavor is so good! I was wondering what they used to season it. I looked a little closer and saw that, said flavor was now crawling. A bug, yes.
I gave part of a lesson in English this week, and it was so weird. (He understands Português but always responds in English.) But I was able to bring the Spirit a lot easier. Felt weird though. It felt good to remember I actually do know how to speak.
One guy we were giving a lesson to, at the end we we're going to end with a prayer, and I was going to say it. We asked if there was something specific he wanted in the prayer and he asked if I could pray for him to get a wife. I respect the effort.
Literally as I'm writing this, a bird dropped a gift on me… flashback to London when Ella b had to wash the seeds out of my hair.
Anyway
Another guy we are teaching went to church yesterday and we were so happy to see it from his social media story. I think he really enjoyed it! The next slide was him celebrating at a club! With some shots! Only 20 minutes apart. 😍
As you can see, the work is good here in Brazil!
Now, something really great happened this week, I finished the Book of Mormon. I started it around the time I got my mission call in February. It was a huge comfort to me before and even more now on my mission. I felt the Spirit so strong every time I read it and I felt the love God and Jesus have for me through it. At the end, Prophet Moroni invites, and promises us that if we read, ponder and pray it will be confirmed unto us through the Holy Ghost. The feeling that I had once I read the last chapter and verse was so distinct. It wasn't a huge thing, but it was piercing. I sat in the feeling quietly and journaled about what I felt. It was a feeling very peaceful and one that I could not deny. I'm happy I did this at the beginning of my mission, because I want to share it even more now.
Moroni 10:4,5 "4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."
The talk I gave was about walking with Christ. It depends on us, what degree of relationship you want to experience with Jesus Christ. We can be lukewarm, or we can be completely dedicated to him. Yes, God allows us to go through trials, but he never said we had to do it alone. Trials are necessary in this life to grow. But we have the gift of the Savior to do it with us. To walk with us. Think about a time in your life where you were really struggling, now picture the same time but with Jesus Christ standing by you, weeping with you. That's exactly what happens. The closer we draw near to him, he will to us. I know through covenants we can have a deeper relationship with God. That's why I'm here, to help people on their covenant path and create a relationship with their Savior. I am very grateful for this purpose. I wouldn't be able to do this if it weren't for the comfort I find in my Savior. I am very grateful for him.
Miss and love you all so much, send me an email today.
I know it's probably hard to be away from me. You're in my prayers.
🩷 Sister Copeland
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