Back to My Birthplace (One Year Ago!!!)

Here in the mission, we call your first area the area you were 'born' and found out yesterday that I am being transferred to the area neighboring my 'birthplace!' I am really sad to be leaving Sister Seumanu but we will be coming home together and also will both be in Utah in January so it's more of a see-you-later. But it will be sad not to spend every day together, these 2 transfers went SO fast and I am so grateful for her. I will be companions with Sister Dias, who arrived with me and is Brazilian(yay!!). We have been friends the whole mission and I am sad to leave but also very excited to be companions with her and to have someone to helpp me with Portuguese again. I'm a little nervous but it helps that I already know what to expect, more or less.

This week was such a good one and so many things happened that I am just sending all the pictures in one bunch and hoping you guy will figure out who is who. Wednesday we celebrated ONE YEAR in Brasil!! I wa more excited than I was on my own birthday and we got to celebrate with Elder Swensen and Sister Hiddleston who got here with us too. Cannot believe it has already been a year. Someone make the time slow down!! After our meeting that morning, we had lunch with Nazaré and she even bought us a cake to celebrate. She lives by a huge park and in the middle of lunch those cute little monkeys appeared on her balcony so we got to feed them!! Probably infested with diseases and infections and such but so far, so good and it made for some awesome pictures and videos hahaha.

Last division of the transfer with Sister Dimande- she is from Mozambique and one of the coolest people I know. The best part about being a leader is getting to know and learn from so many great people.

Highlight of the week: Joyce(16) and Jorge(17)!! A few weeks ago, we walked 40 minutes to an appointment we had scheduled to find that the lady had left right before we arrived. As we started walking back in the rain, I felt so strongly to knock on a door we passed. We literally turned around and went back to knock and ended up meeting Jorge and Joyce. They are some of the most prepared people I have met here and every time we visit the Spirit is so strong. They came to church for the first time yesterday and loved it. Usually our ward isn't too proactive in welcoming visitors but yesterday they all made an effort to introduce themselves and make them feel welcome. They loved church and first thing after it ended, asked what time it will start next Sunday because they want to come back. I can't really explain the joy that comes from helping people so perfectly prepared to take the steps to follow Christ but it is pretty amazing how God places certain people at certain times in our paths to help us with exactly what we need if we choose to accept it.

I love my mission and am so grateful for the year I have spent here being the Lord's hands. It's the best thing ever.

Love you all!!

Sister Lauren Mather