Blessings in Disguise

First of all, wanted to apologize that when I wrote my email last week, I think it was pretty obvious how frustrated I was feeling with our new situation. I was exhausted and sick still and problems seem a million times bigger when you are tired. Also want to thank the many people that responded with encouraging emails and support. Sometimes I forget how many people I've got in my corner and I love you guys.

As for the subject line, this new change has been a blessing, until now at least! We saw miracles this week and I will name a few:

1- Tamires, a woman we started teaching last week, works until noon every Sunday. Now that church starts at 2, she is able to attend!! Yesterday she spent easter out of town with her family but next week comitted to come and I am really excited. When we taught her about the Restoration of the gospel and the Book of Mormon, it was as if she already knew it. She understood everything perfectly and the Spirit was so strong.

2- Our ward is pretty weak and I was worried this would make it worse but our bishop was able to rent a bus to take everyone to church and if we continue doing it, I think it will really help the unity in our ward here. And it makes for great time to introduce the people that we bring to visit! It was pretty funny when almost our entire ward arrived at the chapel and we got some pretty great looks from people on the street.

3- Nazaré, another woman we have been visiting, finally came to church yesterday and loved it!! Her grandson left for a mission when I got here and up until now, she has never really wanted to come to church. But we taught her the past couple weeks and out of nowhere she started progressing more than we even expected. She lives the next street over from us and is like our substitute grandma here. She always makes our favorite foods when we go to visit her <3

4- Since I started in my new calling, I have had barely any time to study. We have district meeting every week, and with at least one division every week and church at 8:30 on Sundays we were usually left with 1 or 2 days to study in the morning. It was the only thing that I really had a hard time with and was praying to somehow find more time without taking away from my other responsibilities because I want to take advantage of the time I have here to study and strengthen my testimony as much as I can. So, with this new change, I have now 1 hour, but THREE to study every Sunday morning. It makes up for the time lost in the week and I am so so grateful for my tender mercies.

Sad news is that Marisa and Messias told us they dont want to attend church anymore. They didnt give us a real reason why, but I am almost certain that the pastor of their other church, Assembleia, said something about us. Not the first time it has happened... But it still amazes me that someone can have so many answers, even a dream, from God, and still decide not to follow what they have recieved. It was sad because I grew to love those two but also find comfort in the fact that we did everything we were able to do.

This week just goes to show that we see so little in comparison to what God has in store for us. It always, always works out. Again, grateful for the experiences in my mission that are helping me understand that.

Love you all,

Sister Lauren Mather

Pictures:
açai on pday(of course)
the zone
sister hiddleston <3
more pics from zone conference
fantastic 4 reunited
celebrating a great lesson with ice cream
ward bus
my best friend atchurch <3
nazaré!!
a cat i saved from the middle of the road