Camboriu, Week 50

This week was amazing guys, As always, I am so grateful to be a missionary here in Camboriú (I finally spelled it right haha)

Here is what happened this week:

• We had zone conference in Itajaí this Tuesday, so that was motivational, we learned about finding hope in Christ and leaving behind pride. It was awesome!
• We found an ELECT this Thursday....his name is Enio. we were trying to find an investigator, but she was sleeping, so we talked to her neighbor's brother, Enio! I asked if we could come in and sit down because my back was hurting...hehe, and we taught him about the restoration! It was a great lesson and the spirit was so strong! We asked him to say the closing prayer, and he said, "thank you God for sending these missionaries, I was about to leave my brothers house, but felt like Ishould stay, and then they showed up...it was really a thing of god" We went back on saturday taught him about the book of mormon, then we invited him to be baptised. he said he believes our message is true. Then we invited him to church, he came and LOVED it. It was amazing, and I know he is prepared from God. 
• Then we set a date for baptism with Isaura, our other investigator (14th of sept) and we are so excited, she is so special.
• We taught the girlfriend of a less active this Saturday Marli, and the first thing she said when we started to talk was she asked if she had to get baptized again to be a member of our church... we were like just wait a sec, let us explain about the restoration. We talked about marriage and she really wants to get married and baptized. The sweet spirit was really strong, and she has such a strong faith in Christ. She said she could tell these things are good because they help strengthen your faith in Christ!
• We taught a Less active that we didn't know was a member, her name is Mercedes and she is 85, and remembered recently that years ago she was baptized! This is the first contact she had with members in years! Just goes to show that Christ is the Shepard who looks out for his sheep! 
• This week the prophet is coming to Brasil, so we have a bunch of transmissions that we are going to watch, I am so excited to hear what God wants us to do to continue in this work!

That is about it! just to leave my testimony, I know God lives, that Christ is his son, and this is his Church. I have never been so happy in my life!

Love you all!

Love, 

Sister Crofts 

Beautiful flowers

Zone Conference!

Camboriu, Week 49

Another great week here in Camboriú! This city is the best, and I love being a missionary! Here is what happened!

Knocking doors, knocking doors, knocking doors and more doors! Lots of nos a few yeses, but Istill feel motivated to knock more because it's the only way we find the elect!

Speaking of elect, a lady named Cibelle that we met last week was home on Saturday and we visited her. She lives alone and doesn't have a religion, but has a strong faith in God! We shared the message of the restoration, and she cried, saying we were an answer to her prayers to find a path to follow. The spirit was so strong testifying of the truthfulness of the gospel, and I know we are going to help Cibelle receive even more answers!

We taught Janio and Neli, which was awesome! Janio has a hard time stopping drinking, so we are trying to help him realize the importance of nourishing our spirits to be strong enough to overcome addictions! It was cool to talk to him, because it was the first time I saw him not drunk... but they are awesome and for sure elect.

This Friday, we had a hard time, because we were teaching this super cool teenager, Jennifer, when her dad drove, up, told her to get inside and said, "we are catholic, you are done here, leave and never come back..." We felt sad after that, but God lifted our spirits when a member that has a bakery gave us whatever we wanted for freeeeeeee... #blessed

Sunday we went to an orphanage and got to play with and talk to the sweet kids there, it was such a special experience, and made me so happy to be there helping these kids the little that we could!

The most of the pictures I send my mom are food, because the food here is amazing, and super cheap, and my comp is dying this transfer so we are making the best of her last weeks in Brasil! #thebest

We had this one day knocking doors in the bairro municipials where we seriously just talked to and taught crazy people/possesed people/people that wanted to be possessed. We also talked with this one conspiracy theorist who said that women who wear pants will go to hell....because of this one scripture that is in the bible that says women cant wear men's clothing...we started talking about how in the time of this scripture, Jesus and the apostles and all of the men used skirts/dresses (tunic) and said, "so you sir, should be wearing a skirt right now!" It was the funniest thing in the world...I'm still laughing.

I love you all, I know that Christ lives, and this is his gospel, lately I have been studying a lot about the preexistence. It is way cool to learn about where we come from, to know why we are here, and where we will go! It strengthens my faith in Gods plan! Learn more too!

Love
Sister Crofts

Camboriu, Week 48

OLA!!! Como voces estam?? I hope you guys are all doing good! I am loving my new companion and new area! I'ts always great to be a missionary in the service of God! I can´t believe I have 11 months in the mission already!

Here is what happened this week:

Knocking sooo many doors. We made 123 contacts this week! It's has been the best, I love knocking doors and meeting knew people! We did dynamic contacts, where we gave each other a word to use in the contact (butterfly, brick, laundry, sandwich, etc) it made it even more fun!! Thanks LD for the idea.

We were going to buy ice cream in the town Areias but it was way expensive, so we started to walk away. When we started to walk away the ice cream man said, "wait, I will give you both an ice cream if you give me a book of Mormon!" He has a bunch of friends on missions, and we are so excited to start teaching him about the gospel.

This week we had this lady that said that there exists only 2 true churches, one the Catholic church, and the other assemblt of God.... ummmmm NO.

We found Açai for only 5 R!!! and shishkibobs for 2.50! miracles happen!

We have been teaching a lot of Haitians from one of our areas, they are so cool, and the majority are very open to the gospel. We have this one investigator who is super cool, and she braids hair in her house for a living, and lets us teach both her, and the person she is braiding!! It is the coolest and we always find new people to teach! Her husband sat in on the last lesson, and was so excited to visit the church. The last lady we talked to there wanted to bible bash with us, but we shared our message and the spirit was strong testifying of the truth, and she did not even want to try and ask God...but everyone has their free agency!

We taught a lady that thought that we won't remember one another after this life, and she felt sad because she thinks that she won't ever see her son again who committed suicide. We taught her about eternal families, and testified that God has a greater plan for us than people recognize. It was very special.

We have seen this week that God has been guiding our paths, leading us to people prepared, and so many miracles happen every day when we choose to be obedient and look for them!                                                                                                         
 I know that God lives, and that he sent his son to die for us. I know the book of Mormon is the word of God AND that we have a prophet who lives today. It is so important to share this with everyone, so get outside your comfort zone and share the gospel with someone today. Strengthen your own testimony, and ask God! He will answer your prayers.

I love you all so much!

Love,
Irmã Crofts
Missão Brasil Florianópolis

Sarah's new area is a mix of luxury highrises and poor surburbs

New companion: Sister Borroman!

This is a popular beach destination in Brazil.  It is winter now, but in the Summer this beach is crowded!!!

Ingleses and Camboriu, Week 47

SOOO lots has happened this week, but first, I got transfered to the city Cumbirú (up north) and my companion is Sister Borrowman who is in her last transfer! I am super excited to get to know this new area, but will miss ingleses a ton... and sister Souza my bebe!

Here is what happened this week:

We taught our new investigator Fransisca, and watched a part of the restoration film with her, she asked us if the gold plates still exist, and we said yes, then explained about the book of Mormon, and the spirit was so strong.

We had an awesome lesson with an uber that we met, Ricard and his wife Loisa, we taught them about the restoration, and talked about the importance of families.

We were teaching our recent convert,  Marco Antonio and when we left we heard weird chanting, and saw that these people in weird white dresses were doing a ritual and sacrificing a goat... :(

We had God save us sooo many times lately with getting home on time... His timing is perfect, and when we are running, and trying to get home on time, He always makes everything work out with the buses, and makes time slower sometimes haha

We had the baptism of Odete! Who we met and started teaching my first transfer, and the other sisters finished teaching her. When we first met her the first thing she said was, " I have been looking for a church." She is a bit shy and so imagine my surprise when she got up yesterday and bore her testimony in front of the whole ward!!

I said goodbye to everyone which was so sad, I love this area, and everyone in it! Especially my comp sister Souza! But I am excited for what God has planned for me.

Today I left at 4:50 in the morning and caught my omnibus at 6 (irmã Mario and Ladis drove me). I waited in the bus station alone for a bit, but then my friends sister Sanchez, Nielson, and comp sister Borrowman showed up! An awesome reunion.

Well sorry for the short email, I have to go! Love you all! I know this church is true!

Sister Crofts

Odete's Baptism!

Saying goodbye to friends in Ingleses!

Odete!