Camboriu, Week 55

OIIIIII Tudo bem?

This week was a good one, but a hard one! 

We made 126 contacts, with only 23 successes. But we got the most in the zone so that was pretty cool! But one thing Ihave learned in the mission, is that the numbers don't matter a ton when you are working hard, and trying to be an instrument in the Lord's hands. you could talk to a million people, and none of them but one will listen, and it for sure is worth it to talk to everyone to find that one. Like Christ searching to find the one lost sheep, we are doing the same thing! There are a ton of lost sheep in the world, but we are looking for that one lost sheep that is ready to be found. 

Here is what happened this week:

• We taught Enio a couple more times this week, every time we mention baptism...he is SO ready! buuut every time we invite him he says, "I think I will read the book a bit more and go to a few more meetings." 🙄 hahaha every time. But I know he will get there, "all in the timing of the Lord"
• We were knocking doors all day one day, and we went to visit an investigator from the Dominican rep. We climbed up three flights of stairs, and found this couple from são paulo. They invited us in, and we taught about the book of Mormon, they love reading the bible and were so excited to have another testament of Jesus Christ. During the lesson the spirit was so strong. I was sad to find out that they were in the process of moving to São paulo, but i know that we were in the right place at the right time to find them and start them off on the path! It was awesome. 
• We had an awesome lesson with a MA Liziane who is passing through a rough patch in life (rough years) we talked about how when our priority is aligned with the priorities of God, everything will go better in our life. It really isn´t a question of time, but priorities. We then saw her at church with her family, which was an awesome surprise.
• We met a new lady named Valdete, and taught her about the plan of salvation, it was way cool, and the spirit was way strong. Lesson learned to talk to everyone, it doesn´t matter if they are on the third floor of a building with their head out the window!
• We taught Isaura, running from one bairro to her bairro, because she said she was feeling sad and wasn´t sure if she wanted to go to church. We got there taught her and set a date for baptism! dia 26!!It was awesome. and she made me yummy pavé which made it even better haha!
• We took an Uber to one of our far away areas and the GPS took the drive on the weirdest dirt paths and crazy roller coaster hills. We were laughing so hard, as our old man driver Nivaldo said "carrrrumba! What crazy weird hills!"
• Saturday night in my prayers I was praying to God to bless us with a surprise person at church. The next day at church our surprise showed up! Her name is Carol, and she is from Italy! She said Sunday morning at 1 am she got a message from her friend who is a recent member living in Canada. She sent her a message inviting her to church, with the address and time and everything. So she went! It really was an answer to our prayers! We taught her later that day and it was super powerful, we really testified in the love that God has for each one of us, and the plan he has! 
• Also amazing moment, Carol said that when I started talking to her she thought i was a brazileira until I said my mom is from Canada.... AHHHH i felt so happy! Haha it was the first time someone said that. #TOP

Anyway, that is about it! Tomorrow we have zone conference, and I am so excited to be spiritually renewed! And to see my friends! 

Also gente! Remember to watch general conference, it is always so amazing to hear from the prophet and apostles and leaders!

Love, 

Sister Crofts

Missão Brasil Florianópolis

Local Wildlife

Tired Sisters

Hungry!

Camboriu, Week 54

Hey everyone! This weeks email will be a short one...

I got my new comp! My daughter-sister Cardoso is AMAZING! We are Bffs. She is a recent convert, and was baptized just a year and nine months ago, but is way spiritually powerful. She is such a trooper with her first week on the mission being a ton of rain, knocking doors, and cold! But we have had a great time here in Camboriú preaching repentance to all ;)

Highlights this week:

• Tuesday I picked up my daughter! It was funny how nervous I was haha. I had a great time being comps with sister piaciroli Sunday-Tuesday! She taught me to be fearless and bold at all times, especially when talking to people. I learned a lot!
• Our first day together I fell and cut up my leg a bit. It hurt, but the mission is giving me as my dad says "wolverine like healing powers" so it's all good, and made for more than a few laughs!
• We had a funny experience Sunday night when we were knocking doors, a teenager answered and said that her parents don't let her talk to strange people... sister Cardoso responded, yelling "we aren´t strange people, we are missionaries, representatives of Jesus Christ! Do you know Jesus Christ!" we all (including the girl) started laughing, and she told us we could come back!
• We taught some really cool lessons this week that were blessings from theLlord! This wonderful mom and daughter (josi and andrea) let us in and we taught a very special lesson on the restoration. The spirit was super strong, and it made it all worth it to knock doors in the night, rain, and cold!
• We had a good lesson with one of our investigators, and talked about Joseph of Egypt, and how he ran away (literally) from sin. We need to be more like that! 
• We taught some bible bashers this week, which is always interesting. But the spirit always helps us a lot to testify of the truth, then get out of the situation. 

Gente, that is it for now, sorry about the short email, but I love you all! 

I know that God lives and that we have a prophet who lives today, he is our connection with God, listen to his councils, he will never lead you astray! 

Love you all!

Sister Crofts

Missão Brasil Florianópolis

Welcome Sister Cardosa!

Sarah put together treats and notes for her new companion!

Working hard in the downpour!

Camboriu, Week 53

This week I made one year on the mission! I also found out that I will be training again! My comp will be sister Cardoso #brasileira #secondchild

This week was awesome, here is what happened:

• This Monday the members threw sister Borrowman a going away party which was so cute! A member called us saying there was an emergency and that they needed our help so we rushed over there and their was a surprise FHE! 
• On my one year mark we ate açai (thanks sis B!) and Schwarma!!! (remember from marvel, Avengers) Also when we were walking home it started POURING rain, and to protect my back I took off my jacket to cover it, and got soaked. It was the BEST thing ever, I love the warm rain of Brasil, everyone that knows me, knows I am that crazy person that runs out to go walking or dancing every time it rains, and so I'll let you know i am no different on the mission! :)
• We knocked a lot of doors this week, like always, but met some really cool people! We listened to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and had some cool experiences! When we were in the bairro municipios we were walking by this house with a Haitian outside the porch. I had this thought to go talk to him, but I ignored it. Again the spirit said go talk to him, so we turned back, talked to him and found out that he is a member of our church! He was baptized about 6 years ago in another state of Brazil and didn't hear about the church again until now. He let us in and we taught him and his wife about the restoration. It was way special!
• We followed the invite of president Nelson and talked about when Christ visited the Americas as the first thing we say when we talk about the gospel, and after many attempts, yesterday we had our first success, with a guy from Argentina who had a ton of interest to read the book that talks about when Christ visits the Americas! Always follow the councils of the prophets. 
• We taught Enio this week about commandments, and it was way cool, because everything we talked about, and the things that he was searching to receive answers from God, were talked about in Sunday school...coincidence? NO! Divine design! We talked about that after, and Enio said, "God really does talk to us!" yes he does. 
• We ended up cutting Janio and Neli, they really decided that for now they didst want to give up the world to follow the gospel... But for each one God has a plan!
• We had this cool experience with this one Guy in our bairro nova esperança, he said he knew our church, and that her knows a lot more about Christ then us. He started saying that Joseph smith was a crazy person, and I started bearing my testimony, started telling him all of the things he didn´t know, and that none of us know everything, he said that he could tell  if something was of God because he feels it in his heart, and we said, "yep that is the Holy Ghost!!" and in the end he ended up saying that we knew more then him! haha! But he didn't really have interest, and we left. 10 minutes later when we were walking on the road, we had a car stop by us, it was him, Mario, who said that he would like us to come back to talk more. It was awesome, I know for sure God touched his heart! That the first time he didn't recognize it, but the second time he did (when we left!)

I would challenge you all to read and ponder about the experience in 3 nephi 11 when Christ visits the Americas! The greatest and most important part of the Book of Mormon. 

I would just like to bear my testimony that I know the Book of Mormon is true, ever word. As Elder Holland said, "no good man would write it, and no bad man could"

I love you all!

Write me! I would love an email!!

Sister Crofts

Missão Brasil Florianópolis

Farewell Party for sister Borrowman

Saying goodbye to sister Nielsen

Transfers

One year!

Sister Piassaroli

Camboriu, Week 52--ONE YEAR!!

This week was great, I can´t believe I have one year on the mission. It has gone by so fast!

Here are some things that have happened this week: 

• Some of the missionaries in our zone got to be a part of the independence parade in Camboriú! It was so cool to hold up Book of Mormons and sing "Called to Serve" in front of everyone! Now the people in our little city will recognize the church a bit more!
• Tuesday we had a district meeting which was great, love my district, and love learning more about how to listen to the spirit and how to find people to teach!
• We taught Enio this week, and he told us that he left his old church and left a group message telling them that he wasn't baptized with authority and so he was going to leave their church... he is so crazy awesome, and prepared! He keeps telling his friends about the church, and reads the book of Mormon almost every day! 
• We had this one lady yell at us and call us children because we said Christ was the founder of our church...another part of the mish haha!
• We had this one crazy day where we got super lost, walked on the highway and climbed over a hill all to get to our area...lesson learned. when you don't know where you are take the bus. But on the bright side we met a cool guy from São Paulo that we gave as a referral for other sisters... God always has a plan!
• We taught another referral named Suriel. She is so sweet, and is passing through a lot of hard things right now. She and her daughter had literally no food at home, and she has been trying to find work for awhile. We left a message with her, and it was really special how much she understood, and the experiences she had and questions she asked. After we were done we ran to the store and bought her rice and beans and pasta :)
• We had a family night on Sunday with the bishop and irmã nilzas family, with vinicios and isaura and enio! It was super great, because we feel like the members are really trying to help our investigators and help them feel supported and loved. Love the changes I am seeing here, but I think the biggest change is the change in MY perspective.

One thing I have learned on the mission is that is doesn't matter how hard it is, how far you walk, how much your legs and feet are hurting, because the mission is always a blessing. To be on the Lord's errand is such a blessing, I feel grateful for every experience that I have. What really matters is putting my all into what I am doing, strengthening my testimony, and helping and inviting others to come unto Christ. I only have 6 more months of this, but I know I will be a missionary forever. This has changed and will forever change my life.

Love you guys!

Sister Crofts

Missão Brasil Florianópolis

Independence Day parade!

Singing "Called to serve" while marching!

Camboriu, Week 51

This week was AMAZING, did I already say that I love being a missionary? I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!

Here is what happened this week: 

• This week we got to see a broadcast from president Nelson! Just for the missionaries in Brazil. It was sooo awesome, he gave us a new way to contact people that is hard, but I know it is going to be great! He also left us with a prophets blessing. I know that he is a prophet of God! 
• We had an activity called Cake night this week that was super good, we ended up having a ton of people come which was a huge surprise. We are feeling a greater excitement for missionary work in the ward which is a blessing.
• Saturday we taught institute! It was super cool because sister Borrowman and I got to talk about our pioneer ancestors and about the word of wisdom. Remember to obey is greater than to sacrifice. 
• Also we had this awesome lesson with this couple Laurice and Ricardo, Ricardo said that years ago when he was younger he had missionaries visiting his family, and he read the book of Mormon. He remembered a ton of things that he learned from the missionaries more than 20 years ago. He really has a testimony that everything happens for a reason, and that we are visiting them because they have something to learn! <3
• Enio is still super Elect, he went to our activity and to church, we taught him plan of salvation and it was such a cool lesson, because he had a bunch of people telling him his brother was going to hell just because he wasn´t baptized. The spirit testified powerfully of the plan of redemption.
• Yesterday when I went up to bear my testimony I saw Janio and Neli (investigator and Less active) that we are visiting for a long time, that haven´t come to church in forever, were sitting there at the back! I felt so so happy to see them, and after church they were so happy, they had a peace and glow to them! And Janio is 1 week without drinking....wooohooo!
• We taught Regia, Barbara, and Thaisi who are from the North east Brasil. We taught another powerful lesson about the plan that God has for us. They are so prepared by the lord, the spirit was strong, and after they asked when we were going to come back to teach them more...MIRACLE!

That's about it, there were so many miracles that happened this week that I can hardly remember them all! I know that God´s hand is in all things, and his plan is greater than ours, His thoughts are greater than ours. Trust in Him, and all will be well. LOVE YOU ALL!

Love, 

Sister Crofts

Someone came up to Sarah on the street and handed her bug spray and a pamphlet on bug protection!

Jesus is returning!

District!