Imbituba, Week 20

Another great week! Yesterday I had someone ask me where I was from, how long I have been here and how long I have been speaking Portuguese. When I told him about 4 months he said, "NOSSA! And you already speak Brazilera!" It's the little things in life. ha ha Love Portuguese! I still sound like an Americana speaking Portuguese but I'll work on that!

This weeks highlights:

• Another dog story: Sister Sousa is deathly afraid of dogs and the other day a huge pack of dogs came running down the path we were walking up and stopped right by her. It was hilarious, and I stopped to take pictures. 
• Tuesday was Sister Sousa's 21st bday! I made sure to mention it to everyone so she would get more presents hahaha. We bought and cut up fresh shrimp for lunch, and that night Thaina surprised her with a cake!
• We bought a huge tub of acai that was dirt cheap and have chowed down on that stuff all week. This food is going to make me fat, but it is kinda the best ever...
• Fruit! I love how many strange fruits they have here, even Sister Sousa doesn't know a lot of them! So far tried: acerola, sitanga, butia, guiaba, papaya, star fruit and more!
• BATISMOOOO!!!!!!!!Best thing ever. Tomas was baptized and I felt like a proud mom, I know the love and pride I felt was just a portion of what Heavenly Father feels for him, one of His sons making this amazing decision. Tomas was baptized in a pool in the church, it was quite the sight. It was so so special, and he got emotional (never happens!) after his confirmation.  I saw him wipe tears! was amazing. 
• Taught the Word Wisdom to an investigator, and she promptly told us we were wrong and so were the scientists, and that smoking is GOOD for us. hmm.
• LAST NIGHT WE FOUND A FAMILY! Good: They are awesome and so receptive. Bad: They all smoke. Buuut through Christ lives are changed so we will see where this goes!
• Made devils eye (dad you would be proud) for sister Sousa and I.

My week was great!! Very hard, lots of walking and not a ton of success, buut I have learned that a huge chunk of my mission will be planting seeds (this is the lowest baptizing mission in Brazil) but I love it!. I can't say how grateful I am to be here. Seriously, so grateful for everyone that helped me make this decision to be here. Wow! I love my mission!

Spiritual thought:

I have never been through something so humbling as learning a language--one of the hardest things I have ever done. I Have to let go of my pride and be open to correction all the time, which is hard! Sometimes people say I don;t speak well, or that they can't understand me. Which can be discouraging! The scripture "By small and simple things do great things come to pass" is a motto for every aspect of my mission. With everything the small things matter and make the biggest difference over time. Also through our hard times, God's hand is there preforming small miracles every day, and it can make the biggest difference in your attitude that you have through trials if you let it! I have a testimony that because God loves us, there are miracles every day! We just need to have our eyes open to see them! Also never suppress a good thought, you might be the small and simple miracle in someone else's life!

I love you all!

Sister Sarah Crofts

Brazilian Crepe!

Yasmin

Someone does not love dogs!

Tomas's Baptism!

Sister Sousa's birthday!

Cooking Shrimp for Sister Sousa's birthday

NOT a bad place to serve a mission!

I love Imbituba

Imbituba, Week 19

Oi familia e amigas! 

Eu Amo Voces!

 I have been in Imbituba 3 months going on 4! Woohoo! 

I can hardly believe it, this place has definitely become a home to me. I Could not have asked for a better place to start my mission. And since it is Sister Sousa´s last transfer, I think I will stay another transfer after! But you never know, we will see what happens. Gosh I love it here, love the people and the place, and the language! 

Highlights:

• Sister Sousa is DEATHLY afraid of dogs, which is hilarious, because 1. she is Brazilian, 2. there are dogs everywhere! I think because she is scared of them they chase us more...
• Sometimes I accidentally speak English to her in half Portuguese half English and it is hilarious (she doesn´t understand) haha!
• Not a highlight: But just as we were leaving our investigator Zuma´s house, she fell and hit her head hard on a wall. Luckily as we left we thought to turn back and try a different house, so we were there to help her. She was fine after a while, but is prone to falling, so I hope the doctor figures out how to help her! Know it was HF´s hand in having us be there. 
• Had a lady tell us that she thought we were just talking to people and writing down there addresses to spread it all over the world, then she said we were like Hitler... 
• Sister Sousa walks so fast that literally my legs feel like they are going to fall off every day. And I am taller than her!
• Teaching sister sousa English is hilarious, I don't know why she doesn't laugh at me all the time learning Portuguese!
• We have had 3 straight days of knocking doors of the CRAZIEST people I have ever met. 
• Found the Cristo statue de Imbituba. 
• Taught Tomas who is getting BAPTIZED this week! Is is 18 years old and was introduced to the church through another member.  He is very prepared. 
• Had this crazy dog jump up on Sis Sousa a bunch of times, and she was just yelling "SIster....SISTER.........SISIIIIIIISSSSSSSSTEEEEEEEEEEEER" all the while I was dying laughing. Don't worry she laughed about it after hahaa!
• We ate delicious cake, that has a bad name with my favorite Thaina! I also had a lot of fun trying to get her grandmother to pronounce my last name. (everyone has problems with it)

Spiritual thought: 

Mathew 15:13-17

(Read it first)

"Whom say ye that I am"

I encourage you all to read this set of scriptures, it has caused me to reflect and ponder on who Christ is to me. I have my answer, do you have yours? Whom say ye, that he is? Study ponder, pray and reflect on who Christ is to you, and what significance he has in your life! It will bring more joy and purpose into your life! 

Love you all!

Sister Sarah Crofts

In front of the Cristo Statue

Sister Sousa and Sister Crofts

Beautiful Sunset!

The Church building

It was a very rainy week!

Imbituba, Week 18

So this will be a short one, I haven´t had any time to write a group email because of transfers!

This week we set two new baptismal dates, one with Marlene, and one with our investigator Tomas!!

Luiz is still having lots of problems getting over smoking, but we are going to keep working with him.

This week was good, we taught a lot of lessons for it being the last week of the transfer! We taught someone this week that was so humble and sweet, we found out that she got married when she was 12!!!! ahhhh. Also I met the chunkiest baby I have ever seen in my life. It was a two year old but looked like a 5 year old!! Crazy.

We got kissed on the forehead by a drunk guy this week. It was extremely awkward. We also did a whole lot of good old door knocking! Which always brings great results, because people are so receptive to hearing what we have to say here!

I don´t have time for much else, but my Mae, and comp Sister Kener left me today for Rio Tavares. BUTTT I have my first Brasilera companion! I can communicate just fine with her thus far! She is awesome, and so sweet. I am excited to get to work and that I get to stay in my favorite place, IMBITUBA!

I love you all, I know this gospel is true, that Christ lives, and that through him we can accomplish everything!

Love you all!

Sister Sarah Crofts
Brazil Florianópolis Mission

Irma Jane and Irmao Enio

Teaching Kevin!

Finished Training!

Super Churro to celebrate the end of her 12 week training!

Getting a cheap pedicure on pday!

Happy 4 months from sister Kener

Sarah with the Stake President.  Paul Richards (in our ward) baptized him on his mission!

With Marlene

Yum!

Going to miss sister Kener:(

Imbituba, Week 17

Feliz Ano Novo!

This week was a hard one. We walked a lot, had some rejection, it was hot, it was cold, and I’ve never done anything that has been more difficult. More fulfilling. More full of JOY. Oh how grateful I am for my mission, even though the journey is still at the beginning, I have already learned a life times worth of lessons.

Highlights for the week:

-Sister Kener and I throwing gross fatty meat to the cat when no one was looking. Oops!

-Ate some chicken heart (my favorite) always a good time.

-Got picked up for almoco (lunch), thinking it would be quick (she lives far) but it turned out they just started cooking when we got there. But they gave us appetizers, fresh coconuts, and Kener and I bought Cangas (Beach wraps) while we waited! We felt very tropical.

-Struck a deal with our investigator Anselmo that if he went to our church we would go with him to Mass. So we did! All I’ve got to say after it: I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church of Christ on the earth.

-Our recent convert, Thaina, had her Bday! So we ate cake and brigadero, and with Vo (Her grandma). We would talk English with her to mess with her, and she would yell back gibberish and we all just laughed. This went on for awhile. She is hilarious!

-FIRST LESSON TAUGHT IN ENGLISH. To our British friend, John. It was a very powerful lesson, full of the spirit. It was surprising to me how EASY it was to teach in English, and how much it all flowed! I am excited to get my Portuguese to be like that some day!

-Taught 11 lessons in one day on Friday! Was a great experience.

-BEST part of the week: BAPTISM OF JEFFERSON! He was baptized in the Ocean, and we had a nice service at the Beach. It was soo cool to see someone that we have been teaching for awhile take those first steps of baptism, and change his life!

-Before the baptism we had a hard day with zero lessons. But right at the end we found the house of a lady we had been looking for for along time! We wouldn’t have found her house had the people we were going to visit been home. Hand of God is always there!

-Tried two new juices: Butia, and Acerola at the house of our investigator, Laida. Her husband kept bringing us juice and fruits to try!

Spiritual thought:

I love that we are studying the New testament this year as part of the “Come, follow me” learning at home program. In my time on my mission I have learned so much more than before about our Savior Jesus Christ, and I know that you all can too this year! I would like to specifically speak about Helaman 5:12. I love this scripture, especially when it says the importance of building our foundation upon Christ. Wherein if men build they cannot fall. I know that studying the new testament this year is a way that we are strengthening our foundation in Christ, our Lord and Savior. Through studying about him, we will gain more knowledge, love, and appreciation for him--and the will to follow him in all things. This Ano Novo, come, follow him, learn of him, listen to his words, walk in the meekness of his spirit, and you will find peace, in HIM.

Much love,

Sister Sarah Crofts

The girls in modeling their "Cangas"

Silly girls!

This picture makes me smile:)

The "Secret Cove"

Jefferson's Baptism