The Latest Brazilian Adventures of Sister Crofts, CTM and Imbituba, Weeks 6 & 7,

HEY ALL!!

It's has been awhile, but let me update you on everything that has happened! Hold onto your hat, because this is a long one....

-Last pday at the CTM! Temple, hamburgers, Cupuaco, pasokita!

-Saying goodbye to my CTM FAM/brothers was heartbreaking. 

-Heading to Floripa (Florianopolis)! I found out my new area is called Imbituba. It is this beautiful city on the coast! I have two Americano companions! NOT what I expected, but good nonetheless!!

-I got to Floripa, we ate, got some materials and info then were bused off to our areas--mine was a two hour bus ride by myself! I got there, got settled into our apartment then went to bed. The next day I got to see the beauty of Imbituba as we taught lessons, clapped at doors (you don't knock, you clap), and walked, a lot! My apartment is a 5 min walk from the beach, so pretty! And pretty much every area we go to is super close to the ocean, which I love. We have a big area though and walk sometimes two hours just for a lunch appointment! Imbituba is beautiful, with lots of fields, vegetation, colorful houses, and ocean! I love it! It is literally a breath of fresh air embodied!

This week it rained a ton, and so we were pretty much wet every day all the time. Thank goodness I brought rain boots! Lifesavers! We also had a small cyclone come in which was crazy haha! We teach so many lessons and meet so many new people every day. It is awesome. My Portuguese is definitely rough, but I can feel and know that God puts words in my mouth so often! Every day I'm learning more. 

Crazy things from this week: 

-We found a group of wild puppies, so cute, and I tried to speak Portuguese to them and feed them a banana!

-Proselyting in the pouring rain, and teaching lessons in the pouring rain.

-Found fish in our freezer and I made an attempt to scale and cut them up before we got too grossed out by the smell.. haha!

-I have been told I look like a 15 year old multiple times,  German, Scottish, trouble maker, and magrenia (tall little one). haha!

-Here is the big kahuna of crazy:

Saturday my comps said we had a final appointment at a investigator named"Christian's" house. So we get there and say a prayer with him and his family. Then my trainer says that I need to invite him to be baptized right off the bat. I do my best in Portuguese, and he says no. Then I talk to him for awhile about how we recognize answers to prayers, and shared scriptures on recognizing the Holy Ghost. All the while my comps say nothing and I am teaching in Portuguese by myself. Then he tells me he is into macumba-which is a black magic, witchcraft vooddoo  that is popular in Imbituba. I talk to him about it and say that things like that aren't of God, etc. And then he says he likes to sacrifice animals! So I explain why that isn't good--all in Portuguese by myself for about thirty mins. He finally reveals that this was one giant BRINKADEIRA (JOKE) and he is actually our branch president, Bruno!! Greenie (new missionary) pranks... (Sarah said she was pretty mad for about 20 minutes, but then blew it off and laughed).  My branch (church they attend) is good! It's very small, probably only 50 people at most.  We only get fed meals at lunch (which is the big meal of the day) and by the end of the day we are starving! The food is so good here! I love it!

Spiritual experiences: I feel Christ's love for the people in Imbituba, and I have to share my testimony often, which I love. I know people feel it even though they can't understand me sometimes. I have had some special experiences with that this week.  We are teaching over 50 people! Here are some of the ones that stand out:

Braulio: 80 year old man, who is the cutest/sweetest! I really see potential in him. He asked me how I know that the church is true and I told him about my experiences with the holy ghost. Then he asked how it is that I can understand him if I have only been here for over a month.  I told him it is through Christ, through his grace, and through the holy ghost.  It was a really powerful moment. It is hard to get him to church though, so we are going to try this week. 

Micoln: cutest 11 year old boy ever!! His siblings and mom were baptized, but they are inactive. 

Renato and Selete: Not married, older couple that have testimonies, but have problems with the word of wisdom and Selete cant read! 

 I know that God loves each and every one of you! That is why I am here to share Gods love, to share the truth! All the while strengthening my faith, and helping others to do the same! 

This is the hardest thing I've ever done by far. BUT I would not want to do anything else!! 

Love you all!! Email and send letters!!

Love, 

Sister Crofts

Saying good by to CTM Brazilian friends!

Saying goodbye to CTM best friend, Sister Walker

Last Pday treat from Mom

Boarding the flight to Florianopolis

Beautiful Imbituba

Apartment kitchen

The Trio: Sisters Gruwell, Crofts, and Kener

CTM Week 5!

This week was a good one!  Wednesday was pday! We got up super early because my Brazilian roommates have weird beauty routines haha. Then we got on the bus to go to the Campinas temple.  Our bus started making weird sounds so our driver pulled over and checked it out a bunch of times.  After sitting on the side of the road for 30 minutes we got a new bus--and the driver was a little less crazy, which was good! (In Brazil the drivers are the most insane I've ever seen! When we got to Campinas temple it was raining, which I loved!  The temple was good, but everything was in Portuguese which always hurts my brain a bit!  While we were in the temple our 2nd bus broke down and we had to wait for a new one.  

When we got back to the CTM we only had two hours to explore.  We got these funky hot dogs--they were loaded with mashed potatoes, salsa, chips, and more!  It was definitely a one time experience!  After that we walked around which was fun. I love pday because i can walk around and exercise! I am excited to do lots of walking and hard work in the field. I hate how enclosed we are, it really is a spiritual prison haha! I also do not like the CTM caffeterio desserts... they are always so weird and usually have gelatin in them even when they shouldn't! haha! Brazilian sweets are AMAZING (a little too much) though. 

My favorite thing about the CTM is the people!! I love the people I talk to on a daily basis, I love the Elders in my District, and all of my other Brazilian friends, instructors, and SIS WALKER, my BFF here. I love the spirit felt here, and how much I feel myself changing daily through learning how to preach the gospel in Portuguese. I have gained a stronger testimony than I could've anywhere else at this time. 

The elders in my district have been going bonkers being in a classroom all day, so they'be been having rubber band wars all day--everyday!! They have a hard time staying focused, but I love and will miss them all so much!  It's definitely been a unique experience being the only sister in a group of elders!  My district song for the CTM is "Nearer My God to Thee." My roomies are great! I love them to death, and we get along well. Communication is hard, but they are patient and willing to help me and laugh with me! I feel like Iam learning again at night when we are all together, and I love to see different aspects of Brazil--like their weird beauty routines haha!!. 

This week I was also able to go proselyting!  We thought we wouldn't get to go, but we did--este sabado!  It was a good experience!  I was a bit down after it because my Portuguese isn't where I want it to be, but then I remembered men are that they might have joy! So I stopped being stupid and looked for the positive! That is one thing I am really working hard at doing is being more faithful and positive!! We talked to a lot of people and even though I couldn't understand a ton, we got four contacts--and tons of sweet old lady hugs and cheek kisses!  I talked to some wonderful people!  We drove on Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo on the way back which was way cool because apparently it is famous!  

Sunday was really good! It is the one day when we can relax and I can spend time with other sisters.  We had testimony meeting and the spirit was so strong! We also had a devotional in English by one of the heads of the MTC department.  It was awesome! I was literally was complaining right before the devotional how I'm sick of listening to the translator!  Answer to prayers!  This week I have been especially studying and reading the Book of Mormon.  I love it so much! I am trying to finish the BOM by the end of October, I am in 3 Nephi 11 right now.  I just love the Book of Mormon, it has become so real to me. I cant get enough!! Christ is mentioned so often.  The purpose of the BOM is to help others come unto Christ and be perfected through Him. I can  feel Christ work through me to make me a better person as I read, and apply with faith the verses I read.  I know you will feel that too!

 It is so cool to see how much we can relate the Book of Mormon to our lives today! I think one of my favorite parts of the Book of Mormon is Alma 56--specifically verses 46-48 and 56.  "We do not doubt, our mother's knew it."  I have been reflecting on this scripture a lot lately.  I feel like I can relate to the stripling warriors as a missionary.  This is the hardest thing I have ever done, and I know it will get harder.  BUT, if I have faith, nothing wavering, nothing fearing, nothing doubting, God will deliver and strengthen me to become the person he needs me to become and to do what He would have me do--to bring JOY (Alegria)to those around me through inviting them to come unto Christ.  The part I quoted has also struck me hard and gratitude fills my heart when I think of my own parents, family members, leaders and their unwavering faith through affliction (especially my Mom and Dad).  Without them I would not be the person that I am now.  I thank God for the blessings He has given me, and for all that that have helped me along the way develop Faith in Christ.  

Monday we sang goodbye hymns to the sisters leaving (Sister Phelps:().  That is always sad!  Today (Tuesday) we had class, cereal for breakfast (yay!) and TRC--where you teach members.  Life is good!  Mission life is great here at the CTM, but...I am ready for FLORIPA (Florianopolis) and to see all of the people I love so much already! I love you all so much!  Remember I pray for you always and remember Ether 12:6, and Helaman 5:12.  

Love, Sister Crofts

P.S. My elder's favorite words (they say them all the time!):

mofo (mow- fuu) aka mold

alcashofra (spelled wrong) artichoke! 

Sarah and her Elders in front of the Campinas temple

Sister Walker and Sister Crofts

The American sisters in the CTM (I think)

Sticky notes on Sarah's dorm room door

CTM Week 4!

This week was good! I am still pretty sick so that's hard, but it isn't keeping me down!!  I should've gone to the doctor last week and today, but I keep forgetting! Cough is better, but I just started getting a sore throat again.. oh well! The CTM is literally like a petri dish! So hot and enclosed, everyone is sick! But we are healthier than ever spiritually! It doesn't get me down, and I am still able to study and everything so its all good!! 

On Pday I tried chicken heart and got bags and bags full of fruit at the fruit market!  On pday we did tons of exploring! We looked in tons of shops, got AMAZING Brazilian candies! I am not even sad that they don't have Reeses Peanut Butter Cups because they have a candy that tastes just like the inside but BETTER! Makes me so happy, can't wait to get more tomorrow!
The Sao Paulo temple was beautiful as always!  

My new roomies are so nice! They don't speak any English, but are soso sweet, and I just love them! Every day we get closer! We have roommate prayer in the mornings and evening, and they teach me lots of weird things! One thing that I have noticed is Brazilians shower and wash themselves a lot and don't like to sleep with the fan on which is hard because it is hot!! haha!

Conference was amazing! I loved every single talk!  I felt that Heavenly Father answered many of my questions and concerns. As a missionary I especially felt the spirit, and just felt so renewed and re-motivated!! I loved Elder Brough's talk.  I believe it was on fears and hard things. That one really hit home, and I know heavenly father needed me to hear it!! Women's conference was my favorite thing ever, and it personally hit home!

My elders were doing bicep curls except with their scriptures and were singing "scripture power keeps me safe and slim!"  hahahaha I love these guys even though they make me crazay sometimes. I need advice on how to survive being with elders all the time! haha!!  I love sis walker, she is my bestie here!

The language is hard. I am getting better, but it is reallly, really hard !! I love it, and I love speaking it, but they speak so fast here and I speak like a two year old! I do love it and am progressing, I just need to set more metas and study harder!! My favorite word in Portuguese is Alegria! Which means joy! Life is that we may have joy!!! I teach two lessons a day and am getting better and better at speaking on the spot lol!!! We don't get to go street trackting because Sao Paulo is too dangerous right now from the election going on. So they canceled it! Super sad. I hear screams at night from the city which is scary.

Keep up the scripture study, it brings the spirit! I have been reading over an hour or two each day and it is such a blessing! It has become so real to me, and I feel the blessings of reading every day! It helps my investigators too! I love it!

Sister Walker and Sister Crofts in front of the Sao Paulo Temple

Lots of Studying!

Lunch out on Pday!

Chicken Hearts!

Silly Elders singing "Scripture power keeps me safe and slim!"

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The district--never a dull moment!

CTM Week 3!

Hi Mom!

Things are going good! The elders honestly drive me crazy sometimes, but I'm glad I am with the people I'm with.  We are like a family and don't get along sometimes, but we all love and support each other. I know I have 8 elders that have my back! We are all learning and growing together!!

The language is coming along.... it is soooo hard! I am working on doing more memorization this week and memorizing more scriptures. The lessons are easier and easier, but i still have so much to learn!! I understand soo much more than I speak, and it is helping a lot to have a bunch of Brazilian friends to talk to! And I am getting three new Brazilian roommates this week so I'm sure that will be awesome!!  I am so sad my old roommates aren't here, but all in Gods timing!! Tonight I am cleaning up the room. I made and set up my new roomies beds so they don't have to, and am giving them candy with a note! I am so excited for tomorrow!! Lots of changes coming this week! There is another american that came that I love she is also a solo sister and is in a different room (Sister Walker)!! 

For PDay we went to the Sao Paulo temple and that was beautiful. AMAZING! Beautiful temple, beautiful stained glass! Wonderful session!Then we went to a fruit market which literally was my favorite experience yet here in Brazil! I hardly understood them, but I bartered for some mangoes and got some sugar cane juice with coconut and lime!! Tomorrow we are going to the fruit market again, then our instructors are taking us to a meat place and we are also going to get ice cream and explore!! I love Brazil so darn much!!! My love for it and its people grows every week!!

Last night we did goodbye hymn singing in the halls for the sisters leaving and I just again felt so so much love for them all! I feel like my main spiritual experiences here have been with the people. I just feel so much love for them it is crazy! I was about to fall asleep last night when I had this strong impression that I had to write down that this is where I am supposed to be, that Heavenly Father has prepared me to be here, and that these Brazilians have been people I was meant to know and love as Christ would. So awesome. Really Mom, I have never found a more loving people, ever. I just feel so much love and peace about me being a missionary here. 

 Yesterday this kid in the cafeteria ate 22 jellos (each with one swallow) then proceeded to throw up in the hall. This about sums up the maturity of elders! Sunday I was called as an STL (Sister Training Leader) so that is exciting! I am partners with the new sister, sister Walker! It also poured (more than I have ever seen! It was AMAZING!!)while we were in a meeting on Sunday and I saw it raining then realized our room window was open!! haha! So I ran back, and closed it after sticking my head out and enjoying some! It felt so warm and I felt so alive!! Haha! I am crazy about rain! I also had splits for three days and had a Brazilian comp for half the day which was good! She taught me a lot about teaching!! 

One funny thing, MANY of the Brazilian sisters call me Princessa and Delicato, and Taylor Swift!!! They love my hair and eyes, and it is the sweetest thing ever, definitely boosting my ego a bit, but it is funny to me how foreign it is! There are only five American sisters in the CTM right now--we are a huge minority!

I miss being able to talk to you, but I have a Pai Celestial (Heavenly Father) who loves to hear wha'ts going on so that helps :) It has been hard to stay positive sometimes, but really what pushes me through is LOVE! If I Iove people around me and serve them, and realize that my purpose as a missionary is all based on love, it makes the days so much easier!! When we yoke ourselves with Christ our burdens truly are lightened!

I love you!

Love, Sister Sarah Crofts

Sarah's bathroom

CTM room

Sarah's bed :)

CTM hallway

The district!

Wonderful friends!

Departing Roommates!

American Sisters!

Fruit Market!

Favorite treat! Acai Bowl

Pday treat from mom!

Outside of the CTM as seen from Google Earth

In front of the Sao Paulo temple