Week 50 - June 29, 2026

 Lucas was baptized!

He and his now wife were married on the same day of his baptism. 

Great couple that I'm so happy for!

The elders had found him and put him on date and we finished up his last lessons and then he was bapped!

Anytime I get a beach area I feel like it's a tender mercy to give me more joy

I'm still trying to get accustomed with this area. Still feel new and getting back into a rhythm with new area, comp and ward but it's been pretty smooth!

One of the best advice I got for my mission was "be comfortable with being uncomfortable"

I got so comfortable in biguaçu, so of course I left haha

This week

-Described the bachelor to my comp

Describing it outloud in a different language to a non-american made me realize how bad it really is

-I don't know if america they're doing this but here everyone's trading world cup player cards. So I told a little boy at church I'd bring mine to trade. He ran up and found me at church then after we traded he said "I threw up today" then walked off. 

-Turned 20! 🥳💌🎊🎂Thank you for all the emails and sweet texts. Made my day. Days like this on the mission are weird but you all make it better. 

I feel good about being 20. 

I think back to myself a year ago and wow I'm so grateful for the change. I really think (and hope) I am not the same when I come back. 

19 was sacred, stretching, unique, hard, and special. 

I'm excited for 20

That's all for this week. But this upcoming week is exciting because we have zone conference and I'll meet my new president! 

The assistentes texted me telling me I was picked to be the pianist. 

That'd be great if I played the piano! 

Ok love you all!!! So much

Sister Copeland 

Week 49 -

 A quick happy father's day shoutout! I remember growing up and him always saying, "Ella, do you know how much I love you"

and I'd roll my eyes because he told me every day

I'll never take that for granted 

Dad, I hope you know how much I love you. 

this week felt 5 years long

it was a lot of getting our feet under us, unpacking, trying to get to know the members, get the know the area and all the people. 

piçarras!!

this area is golden we walked in with a baptism date already marked and we marked 2 more this week

this week I went to the island for the training for all the trainers

since 13 sisters arrived that means 13 of us sisters were all together on the island. 

we got put into like a support house which you walk in and its just like 30 bunk beds in every square inch of an apartment. 

but I was in heaven getting to see some of my girls 

then I picked up the sweetest girl, Sister Coutinho from Brasilia. my second filha! 

this week was a lot of settling in since we're pink washing the area. (two new sisters at the same time)

we cleaned out the house 

oh yeah did I mention we have a house?

not an apartment but a 2 story house... with a garage. unreal. 

cleaned out the entire thing and found books from like the 1800's, about the year my dad served his mission. 

first Sunday here we had zone conference 

official last time I saw President Finholdt. he'll be going back to São Paulo and our new ones arrive on Thursday. 

President and Sister Welbrun. Americans. 

this week is my moms birthday 

I remember in the beginning of my mission and all I wanted was to put on my pajamas, go in the theater room, make our dirty sodas, special popcorn and charcuterie board and go binge-watch our favorite tv series. 

on my best days, and my worst days. I always knew she was up for a show and a treat. 

or my worst days she was there, to pick me up from school, take me out to lunch, and ultimately just not take me back haha. 

or my worst days when she would drive an hour to go try all the new Crumbl flavors

or when I found out I was cheer captain and 10 min after I let her know, I came home to a decorated basket to congratulate me

or when we went to the London taylor swift concert, and after spent the entire night at the airport to go to Italy, and we spent it taste testing all of the England airport's version of starbucks pastries. 

she's there every p-day when I have nothing good to say and I just need to sit there and talk to someone

but one of my most cherished memories is when I went through the temple, and that day there was no bride. 

so they took me and my mom to the bride room and let the two of us stand in front of the eternity mirror. 

mirrors facing each other to show a never ending reflection.

I remember us both in white, tearing up. 

I am just so happy she is my mom for eternity. 

at times it feels wrong to have so much time away from my mom, but I remember I can help others be with theirs forever.

and I know how much that means to me, which makes it all worth it. 

or how abba says it

when donna sings to sophie

my love my life 

I can see it all so clearly

all my love so dearly 

memories passing by 

like a reflection in your eyes 

my love my life 

and I know I don't possess you

with all my love, God bless you

you are my love and my life 

you're my one and only 

she's the best of the best

happy birthday mom, I love you from Brasil and back

I can not wait to see you again

🩷

love you guys, 

next time I'll talk to you I'll be 20! 

e-mail me! 

sister copeland