Imbituba,Week 28

Oi!

This week was a good one but hard one!

Here is what happened:

-We went to the beach pday! Always a blast and way refreshing to the soul. We went to Praia do Porto, this beautiful beach close to the port, we did a hike to this was cool rocky area that had a bunch of shells and cool things.

-This week we knocked doors ate o po (until dusk) we cut a lot of people (always a process) and so we had to knock a lot more doors! We met a lot of way cool people this week which is always motivating!

-This week sister Aguiar lost our phone about 5 million times, some of the times just on a couch or in her bag, and two times in the tall grass! We did see the hand of God all of the times as we said prayers and followed the promptings of the spirit to find the phone. Really in the dark it was a miracle from God! Gosh I miss I-phone tracker, but I am sure learning a lot from all of this haha!

- We had Mission tour! We woke up at 2 in the morning to get ready, and the bus picked us up at 4! We got to Floripa and the conference was so good! It really renewed my soul, and made me more motivated to be a better missionary! Also it is the best to be around other missionaries!

-This week we met this awesome lady named Melani, and she had already heard about the church through a book she read that was written by a member. She loves the restoration, and is so prepared. I am way excited to teach her about the gospel, and help bring more joy into her life!

-We had cake night in the branch and it was fun, I just love the members here, they have become my family over the months! We are trying to help them be more unified and get involved in the work!

-Had a cold week (the beginning) which was a nice change.

Spiritual thought:

In Moses he talks about the visions that God showed him, of the worlds, and all of the people in them, the creations, everything. And after that he said, something along the lines of "Now I have realized that man is nothing. Something I have never supposed." and a little bit later in chapter one, God says, "But this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." I love this contrast, that Moses, humbled himself enough to realize that really, with so many people, so many things, man should be nothing. BUT we are as God says, his work and glory. Every one of you, YOU are his work and glory. His glory is to bring to pass your eternal life. How special is that? We need to see this great potential in ALL others, and in ourselves. I love you all! I know that Christ lives, and this is his church!

Love,
Sister Crofts

Mission Conference!

Sarah was so happy to see Sister Kener!

Someone in their branch made these dresses for the girls for $6!!

The visiting 70

Star fruit!

Cake night!

Pday hike!

After hike Acai dish!!  How has Sarah not gained 50lbs??

imbituba, Week 27

Sarah wrote her group email for this week and sent me a picture of it...but the writing was so small that I couldn't read it.  She did have a very scary experience this week.  She was walking with her companion down a dark road and saw a man in a car approaching.  He went past them, slowed down and did a U-turn, driving back towards them.  At that point Sarah and her comp felt strongly that they should get off the road.  On the side of the road was a big field with a path through the middle of it that Sarah would sometimes take as a short cut.  They turned off the road and hid behind a tree--only to see the man get out of the car and come towards them.  At that point Sarah and her companion both felt that they needed to get out of there and run away immediately or their lives would be in danger.  They started to run across the field and the man started to chase after them.  They were getting tired when all of a sudden two men on horse back appeared in front of them and said, "Hello, young ladies!"  The seemed kind, but the girls were too scared to stop, and ran past the men on horseback--who blocked the man who was chasing them.  The girls were able to run to the end of the field and to an investigator's house.  Sarah really feels that they were protected and that the men on horseback were there for a reason.  After this experience she is a lot more cautious.  I am so thankful that is being watched over and protected and thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who is watching over my girl!--Julie

Awesome 6 month banner made by Thaina

So spoiled by Thaina on Pday!

Pday fun!

Can you tell she loves the beach?

Imbituba, Week 26

This week was so good, but very exhausting--so tired that I have been falling asleep as I pray!

Highlights:

-Bought a tub of Açai and we ate it in 3 days! #addicted
 But on our way home from buying it we met someone that was crying and really needed to feel God´s love. Turns out that my açai cravings are a part of Gods plan!

-Had a branch bonfire FHE on the beach during Carnival, which was the best, we looked at the things around us and remembered stories of Christ that relate it was so special and soul refreshing!!

-We had a hard thing happen with one of our investigators, but after that we were walking. We almost passed him by, but I had the thought that really everyone needs to hear the gospel, it doesn't matter if they look a little rough around the edges. So I talked to him and we shared the restoration, and when we were done, he told us that he had gone home after work and felt drawn to the view point, so he went, sat down and started smoking. And that is when we came and talked to him. He said he really needed it, and felt like it was the hand of God in his life. BLESSINGS.

-We opened up a new Bairro in our area, Nova Brasilea, it was way cool to go there and start knocking doors, and meeting all of the people that are prepared to hear the Gospel.

I don't really remember much else, I will try to write more next week!

Thought:
One thing that I have noticed this week is how perfect God´s plan is. Really His hand is in everything, there are no coincidences. When we are doing what is right, following the gospel of Christ, we will be able to walk the amazing plan and path of Joy that  He has planned for us. We have Prophet and Leaders to help us walk this path, when we are listening to their counsel we are really allowing God to work more and more in our lives, and to allow His everlasting joy fill our hearts.

Love you all!!

Sister Crofts
Brasil Florianópolis Missão

Bonfire fun FHE during Carnaval!

Lemon tart oreos--she said they were so good!

Imbituba, Week 25

Oi! This week has kind of been the best and craziest week ever.!

Monday, we had an amazing lesson with Marlene full of the spirit, and we set a date with her to be baptized, 30th of March! Please pray for her that she will be able to progress and be ready to be baptized on this date.

We set another date with Luiz for the 6th of April. Please pray for him too!!

Tuesday we had a very tender experience with one of the people we teach, Zuma. She is 65, but looks a lot older. She has had a hard life, and we visited her house and found out that she was very sick, had the flu and a high fever, sore throat everything. She let us in and we knelt next to her and prayed with her. Then I asked her what she ate that day and she said banana, and she also ate flour and water because she has NOTHING. I said I would make her a smoothie for her throat, but she didn't have milk. So sister Aguiar and I went to the mercado and bought milk, rice, and a ton of food, chicken and veggies. We came back,told her to sit down, drink some tea and we made her chicken soup with veggies and rice. She was crying the whole time. I have never felt such a pure pure love of God and Christ. I felt that what we did was what Heavenly Father really wanted for one of his daughters, who was sick, poor and alone. We left her with a big pot of soup to eat over the next few days, and very full hearts.

On a very different note, I almost got eaten by dogs this week. I was a little too cocky and confident, and ended up running fast away from 3 dogs chasing me and Sister Aguiar laughing on the sidelines. Memories!

Ate some great acai to celebrate 9 meses de sister Aguiar (her 9 month mark)!

Knocked sooo many doors this week! Which is the best--I actually love clapping at gates and sharing the good tidings of the gospel!

I love being a missionary. I have never felt such great purpose and joy in my life! It is the best. Remember the joy from service is really irreplaceable. When you see someone in need, just serve, and don't just serve and do the minimum, go the extra mile. I challenge each one of you to do an act of service that is out of the norm for you for someone out of the norm. Pray about it! You will feel so much joy, and so will they!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!

Love,
Sister Crofts
Brazil Florianopolis Missao

Celebrating Sister Aquiar's 9 month mark!

5 months (actually almost 6 now!)

At church

Constant yummy desserts!