You're Happy, We Know It, But Please Don't Clap Your Hands...

Yesterday was probably the Sunday I have laughed the most since I got here. This week, we taught someone new and as we were finishing our visit, her brother, Edilson, came in. As usual, we invited them to our activity on Friday night and to church. I honestly didn’t expect much but to our surprise, Edilson showed up to our activity Friday night with his 10 year old niece, and then yesterday he showed up to church as well. You guys should know this guy is just strange- I don’t know how to describe him but he has a personality alllll his own. During a class at church, the teacher was teaching about the signs of the second coming. Edilson asked to speak and when called on, he got up in front of the whole class and started showing us, on his hands, the signs of the second coming. It looked like a failed attempt at sign language but he was making all kinds of signs and explaining that they were the same signs that Jesus made and that when people make these signs at you, you will know that the second coming is soon. At one point he started jumping and making different signs with his feet as well. We really couldn’t help but laugh, it was quite the speech. Later, during sacrament meeting, we were listening to the speakers and one of them started talking about how he has to ask for forgiveness from his wife and how he is grateful for Christ’s example of forgiveness. Out of nowhere, Edilson started clapping his hands and YELLING ‘she forgives you! We all forgive you! Congratulations!!!!’ I had to grab his hands and explain to him about reverence. We were sitting on the front pew and behind us were lots of laughs trying to be contained. Then, during the last song we sang, we all stood up to sing. Edilson proceeded to march in place to the beat, as if he were in a marching band, for the entire hymn. Like I said, we spent a lot of time laughing yesterday both during church and after, talking with different members about their points of view as well. Definitely a Sunday to remember.

As far as the other people we are visiting, I felt a little discouraged this week. Olivia didn’t come to church again this week- the 3rd time she said she would and didn’t. We are trying to help her and her family but we can only do so much without effort on her part.

Had such a good lesson with Jaiton about the commandments and he committed to try and live all of them. He is still reading the Book of Mormon and so ready for baptism but this week, he started helping his sister at the market every Sunday in a city 3 hours from here. He will work there every Sunday until March, which was really sad to hear. He is making so much progress and one little thing is holding everything back. We have been bringing members of the church to every lesson so he has plenty of support from the ward and I am hoping we can find a way to bring him to church on Sundays.

Still waiting on Gabi to finish finals, and Eduardo and Jacira to finish the remodel…

BUT we had a little miracle yesterday. 2 new people showed up to church, and when we introduced ourselves, we found out that Paolo, the husband, is a member of the church but hasn’t attended in years. His wife, Betania, has never come to church before and finally agreed to come with him after 4months of him asking!! We are visiting them tomorrow morning and very excited.

I am just going to be honest in saying that this week was a little harder for me. We spent all week planning a ward activity and on Friday, when it came time, only 3 families showed up. We also weren’t informed that there was soccer at the church that night, so the space we wanted to use outside was already taken. The activity went well with the little group we had, but I came home feeling down. We are working so hard and I really am giving my all but I don’t know why we aren’t seeing the fruits of our labors. It seems like every time we start visiting someone who wants to learn more about the church, something gets thrown in the way of their progress. Friday was kind of the last straw, per say, and I think when my optimism fell, the rest of my body did too. I woke up sick Saturday and after lunch came down with a fever. We went to all our visits scheduled that day but when we came home the fever had gotten worse and I went to bed with body aches, sweating, and feeling very cold for the first time since I got here hahaha. Thankfully it only lasted through the rest of that night and I was able to go to church on Sunday. I am feeling great now, just tired. But I learned how much of an impact a positive attitude makes- literally affects my physical health. Yesterday I was reading in 3 Nefi about the Saviors visit to the people in the Americas. He teaches them to pray and there is a passage that explains ‘’that Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him, and his countenance did smile upon them…and they did pray steadfastly without ceasing, and he did smile upon them again…’’ I felt the Spirit so strongly reading these verses, and felt as if Christ was doing the same and ‘smiling upon us’. He is the reason I am here and I have had to rely on him an his help more than any other time in my life. I am grateful for the relationship I have strengthened with him during my mission so far and I know for a fact that he is in the details of this work. He sees every one of my efforts and I have faith that in His time, we will bring more people to the knowledge of Him and His gospel. This week had a few harder days but I really am so happy here. I am so grateful for my companion who is more of a friend than anything else. I know we are doing everything we can and for that, I feel so much joy and see so many tender mercies every day.

Speaking of tender mercies- got my Christmas package this week and must say I think my mom outdid herself. She collected letters from family, friends, etc for me to open every day until Christmas. I put up the paper Christmas tree she sent(see picture) and with every letter, there is a paper ornament to add to the tree. And we finally got MUSIC!!! In her letter this week, she said she hoped that through the distance, I feel the love of everyone more strongly. It is very true- in the almost 6 months I have been here, I have felt so much love and received so much support from you guys. I know I don’t have much time to write emails and sometimes my responses are short but I am so grateful for each one of you. Sending much much love from Brasil!
Love,

Sister Lauren Mather

Pictures:
Package!!
Picture to remember the joy of receiving music
Made all the soccer players participate in one of the games for our activity
More pictures from the ward activity
Random horse wandering the street- common here
Christmas tree from mom <3
Collection of letters from my people