IT'S WINTER TIME...

...But the weather is EXACTLY THE SAME! Hahahaha struggles of being on the equator. Haha. #i live on the surface of the sun

Another good week here in Parnaíba! We've been getting a lot of new investigators, especially through references from our members (: Already have a couple baptism dates. Especially grateful for the members

Crazy story from the week:

We were talking with a woman in the front of her house, shared a quick message and marked another day to return. About 30 seconds after we left, her daughter got home from work, and they were assaulted by a man on a motorcycle with A GUN, who stole her purse/lots of important things inside. The woman was freaking out, so we ran back to see what happened.

I know without a doubt that the Lord was protecting us. The fact that nothing happened to us, or our bags, is a miracle. Grateful for the protection we receive as missionaries.

This is the last week of the transfer. I am finishing up training Sister Beraldo, and I'm pretty sure I will be transfered for a different place. I have spent 6 months here in Parnaíba already, so it will definitely be very bittersweet to leave :')

Two words that have really hit me lately: 'eternal perspective'. Exactly what we need to have in this day and age. When we have this perspective, the small meaningless things don't take up so much space in our lives. We are quicker to go to the temple or read our scriptures, rather than sit on our phones. This perspective affects all of the choices we make, because we realize that our goal is to live again with Heavenly Father. And we focus on the important things. On our faith, on being more like Christ. On serving one another.

I hope that this week we can remember to have an eternal perspective.

And I hope that each of you will really think about and ask yourselves - "what is an eternal perspective for me?"

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Keep praying and reading your scriptures and serving and GO TO THE TEMPLE. I honestly miss this more than anything!

Love,

Sister Rio

No investigators? No problem - just sing for people in the road. All will be well!

Yes. As my subject line states. This happened. As we were trying to find new investigators, we met this girl (long story short, there was a choir at church a few weeks back with non-members. She was there, and lots of people saw I was american/asked me to sing a little something aka Adele. So I did. Everyone loved it. The end.) But as we came across her and her family, they all asked me to sing Adele - so I did. In the middle of the road. hahahaha my life.

But we've really been struggling to have our investigators just come to church *sigh* just come to church people.

So we cut a lot of our investigators, and really focused on finding new people.

Really hoping that these new people we met will progress!

Tiny miracle in our day yesterday - as we were heading home, I was a tad bummed as we hadn't yet hit our goal for new investigators for the day. As we were about to turn into a certain road, I had a feeling, 'No, continue a little bit further.' So we did. And as we continued down a different road, we met a man that we had had a brief conversation with in centro the other day! We were able to get his information, and set up another day to meet with him this week. Grateful for little reminders from the Spirit to guide us (:

It's crazy to see, as we contact new people, and ask about if they have heard about the LDS church, so many people are less-active, or have family members that are mormon, or have visited the church in the past. It's sad to see that these people don't understand the importance of these things. The urgency of the gospel message that we have. I think this has been one of the hardest things for me in my mission, to know that this is the medicine to cure whatever difficulty or problem - but people just don't choose to apply it. So advice for anyone and everyone reading this: never pass up the opportunity to invite. Maybe they'll turn you down, say they're not interested. But we need to be bold and loving with inviting people! To really live the gospel. To come to church every Sunday, read a conference talk, share what we know to be true.

So grateful for the gospel in my life. Wow, where would I be without it.

Keep praying, and pressing forward with faith.

Boa semana!

Sister Hill

1. The day before 6 mêses, the other sisters planned a surprise for me #blessed

2. Sister Sanches and I went on divisões today... and when we got back the other two surprised us - with my baptism. HAHAHA. Luckily it wasn't by immersion, so nothing to worry folks..

3. #soaked #feliz6mêses

4. Actual 6 Meses (:

5. Din Din = little packets of ice cream stuff = glorious. The other sisters know a woman that delivers these to their apartment

6 Months? Already?

So crazy to think that this week is my 6 MONTH MARK. Wow. I remember when I arrived at the MTC, and I already have 6 months? Time really does fly. But time is also real slow some days... but yes, all is well. It's especially incredible to see how much I have progressed with the language in just 6 months. Man, the gift of tongues. It's real. I definitely have a real love for the work now that I actually understand what I'm doing hahaha #thestrugglewasreal

This past week was a tad difficult. As we were walking to get on the bus, Sister Beraldo tripped in the middle of the road, fell, and sprained her ankle. And cried and cried. And the ambulance came and we went to the hospital and long story short, she sprained her ankle, and can't walk for 4 or 5 days. I am really hoping that by the end of today she will be feeling a bit better, but as we try to walk, she still has a lot of pain. Pray for us here in Parnaíba!

But the day that she fell, I was a bit panicked, thinking about our investigators - how we would follow-up, or get them to church, or teach some lessons, etc. And it was awesome to see how some of the members were so willing to help us out! I was able to go with a member to Family Night, and share a message, and met João, who is interested in the church. The Lord really does prepare a way to make this work possible. Hoping to teach João more this week, will keep y'all posted.

Spiritual thought for the week: Read over a talk from General Conference (thanks mom <3) that I absolutely loved, called 'Confide in God Unwaveringly" by Elder Ulisses Soares. It talks about how yes, we will have hardships and trials during our lives. But the Savior overcame the world; and through the Savior, we can overcome the world, and all of our pains that we experience. He also talks about how it is through our faith in Him that we are blessed, and I love this phrase: "Faith is the source of living with divine purpose and eternal perspective."

We always need to remember to have this eternal perspective through our day to day lives, and keep our focus on what really matters.

Amo vocês! Have a wonderful week!

Sister Hill

1. I love this church and I love being a missionary. Through good days, and through really really hard days, it is all worth it in the end.

2. Mural that we passed in our area

3. Hulk = this transfer. Yes, you could say that this transfer has been quite eventful...

4. The lovely sprained ankle of Sister Beraldo. Grateful for members who were so willing to help us out and stay with her/work with me.

STAKE BOUND

This past week has been packed with lots of changes. Our district just changed the leaders, and our new President - Presidente Silva - is awesome. They are so determined to grow our district --> to be a stake., and have set goals and created plans to have a stake here in Parnaíba by November. (I know I won't be here when they're officially a stake, BUT I am so so excited to work until I drop for this to happen!) Seeing all of our members working so hard, with so much faith has been such a testimony builder for me. Everyone is so willing to run the extra mile, visit less-active members, serve our investigators, and do whatever they can to move the work forward. It's been a bit harder now that we have just 1 missionary dupla in our ramo - but I am working até o pó to boost our frequencia and strengthen our members (: Pray for me? 

But all is well here in Parnaíba! I really have grown to love the area where I am serving, and especially all of the members. Will be hard to say goodbye to this beautiful city I now call my home (cliche, I know, bear with me).

This week, we have been working with family, especially Dani. 

Dani is 21 years old, with 3 kids. She has had a lot of hard things throughout her life, and when we first met her, wasn't very open to hear what we had to say. But after an incredibly spiritual lesson about the Plan of Salvation, she shared with us about one of her daughters, who almost passed away as a baby, and some of her hardships. As I shared with her about our family, and how this gospel has blessed our lives so much, I couldn't help but tear up. This gospel is incredible, and blesses us individually as well as our families. We live in a world where Satan wants to destroy the things we love, our families, Christ, really everything that is good. We can't, and won't, let him win. Continue to serve, love, and strengthen one another this week, especially in our homes. Dani has already begun to change, she has a new light about her (: Excited to continue with her this week.

Please pray for all of the members here in Parnaíba!

Beijos!

Sister Hill

1. Last week, had a Conferencia Parnaíba, with all 4 ramos, and the members of Piripiri, at the portas das barcas

2. You're welcome.

3. Lunch today featuring Sis Beraldo