Sister Sarah Elizabeth Crofts: 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