"This Week Will Be Normal"...

... was what i said to me companion on Sunday. It proved to be the craziest one yet but it was a really fun week. Sad to say bye to some people and we lost some sleep but I love the craziness that happens in the mission.

Juliano is still coming to church but his wife is having some doubts so we are fasting with him today and hoping that we can work with the whole family. He told us yesterday that he is 100% in the church now and doesn't plan on leaving anytime soon. I stand all amazed.. seriously, we do almost nothing and this is really the Lord's work. We just help Him out a little bit so that we can be witnesses of the miracles that he is capable of realizing.

Edlene is reading the Book of Mormon and we were able to help her understand this week a little more about the death of her spouse and where he is now. It was such a spiritual discussion and when we left she told us we were 'very special people to her'. We love her.

Adriana already knows the church is true and has felt the Spirit so strong but has stayed in another church for so long she doesn't know if she wants to leave. We told her she needs to pray and get an answer from God... it is sad to see people give up so much just because of fear.

Lots of crazy experiences this week but I was thinking alot about how being in this calling has helped me develop a greater apacity to love. When I got ot the mission, it was a little hard for me to love these people without speaking the language and with the knowledge that I would leave them someday. I think I naturally held myself back from loving them because I knew I would have to leave someday and what would be the point? But I think I realized that it's not about me- we are just placed here to show love that Christ would show for them if He were her in person. And because we are called of Him, we have the gift of feeling that pure love that He has for us. And even though it is so hard to say bye to them when you leave, it is all so worth it because of how much came from that love. And right when I felt like I was getting used to that I got called to care for the sisters too and it is a challenge sometimes but also a whole new level of that love. And all of this sounds really cheesy but it is true and these experiences always challenge me and always make me learn something new. AGH I love being a missionary.

But the part I don't exactly love is transfers.. I am glad I will be staying here but sad to see my companion leave. President told us he wanted to keep us together but also needed her in another area. She will leave tonight and my new companion Sister Barco gets here tomorrow! She is from Mexico and I am reallllllyyyyyy hoping she knows how to make mexican food... :)

Love you all so much and love hearing and calling and talking to you guys on Mondays, it always starts my week on such a good foot.

Muito amor,

Sister Lauren Mather

photos:
hospital day
the cutest
our attempts at takinga picture with the missionary road sign
breakfast with sister alves before she eft to mexico :(
ice cream, a necessity
fabi <3
amigaaaaa
ust casually stealing some pomegranat
our friend that waits forus to come home every night