References from the Lord;

Hello Gee Family!!!

How are you all doing? Life couldn´t be better for me here in Santa Cruz do Sul!

This was a really fun week for Sister Fernandes and Sister Ferreira and me. We are teaching some amazing people and finding new ones every day! It´s amazing how the Lord literally puts people in our paths... Just today when we stopped quickly in the post office to drop off some letters, a postal worker came up to us and started to ask us about the church and what we believed. Without us even having to ask he simply pulled out a piece of paper and wrote down his name and address and asked us if we could visit him to explain more. Perfect! haha...when this happens.Sister Fernandes calls them "references from the Lord" :D

Another night this week as we were heading for our last appointment of the day, we received another "referência do Senhor" It was already almost 8:00 at night and we were in a neighborhood kind of far away from our apartment that we don´t go to very often, so I was guiding Sister Ferreira and Sister Fernandes. We were going to visit Roberta, a family that I´ve already visited a few times, but in the dark it was difficult to recognize the houses and as we walked down the street I started to feel worried that I wouldn´t be able to remember the right house. Suddenly I saw a house ahead and immediately recognized it. I knew that it was Roberta´s house and didn´t have a doubt in my mind as I walked confidantly up to the door to clap. It wasn´t until AFTER I had already clapped at the gate that I looked closer at the house....and realized that it definitely was NOT the right house. It didn´t even look the same at all! I couldn´t even believe that I had thought for a second that it was Roberta´s house...but luckily, no one came to the door and I quickly told the sisters that I had been mistaken and started to continue to walk down the street....when suddenly Sister Fernandes said, "Wait, Sister Gee....Look!" She pointed to the house where you could see through the open window a picture of Jesus Christ on the wall. The picture of Jesus Christ in a red robe that only our church has...... "They must be members," Sister Fernandes said, "No other church has that picture. Let´s knock again!" I was very surprised...I had never heard anyone talk about members living in that neighborhood, so we clapped again. This time a man came to the door....and boy was he happy to see us! He shouted, "Élderes!!!!!" and ran to let us in! :)

haha... So, that´s how we met João Cláudio and his nephew João Anderson, members that hadn´t gone to church in over 15 years. And we also met João Cláudio´s mom, Míria, who also had heard all the lessons with the elders 15 years before and has already gone to church several times and still reads the Book of Mormon....but never was able to be baptized. I love references from the Lord! They are always the best ones :) Heavenly Father is so good and kind and every time that I feel His hand guiding us, my testimony is strengthened that this really is His work!

The rest of the week was wonderful too. On Saturday we had planned a ward activity (Noite do Cachorro Quente!) to help our investigators meet more of the members here in Santa Cruz. Sister Fernandes and SIster Ferreira and I had planned the activity especially with Guilherme (Cristiane´s boyfriend) and Nilmar (Ana´s boyfriend) in mind. Both Ana and Cristiane are really progressing...but Nilmar and Guilherme are more timid and hesitant to come to church. So we thought a fun activity with the other members in the branch would be perfect for them. Unfortunately, a few nights before the activity they both found out that they would be out of town that weekend. I was disappointed and a little worried about our activity...but it still turned out perfectly! So many members came! Even members (and missionaries) from the other branch here in Santa Cruz came! The hot dogs were delicious (Brazilian hot dogs are soooo amazing!) and games were simple and fun and everyone really liked the night. Geni came too and the members treated her like royalty! She is so happy!! She seems like a different person these days...you can see the light of the gospel starting to change her life. You can see it in her eyes!

This Saturday is going to be Geni´s baptism! We had been planning on having the baptism in a member´s pool, but the branch president, Presidente Walter, surprised us on Sunday when he announced that the baptism would be held in the new chapel!! It won´t even be dedicated until the middle of November and we´re already going to be using the baptismal font! :D All of the members here are super excited for the baptism...one, because this will be the first baptism in the branch since February and two, EVERYONE is anxious to see the inside of the new chapel! It´s beautiful.... So, we´re thinking that a lot of people are going to be coming to watch the baptism. :) Geni is very excited too! She is so wonderful...she reads everything that we mark for her in the Book of Mormon and more. And she is already taking us to meet all of her friends and family to invite them to her baptism....she´s already an amazing missionary!

So, yes, life is wonderful and I am very happy! There is no greater joy than helping people find the peace and hope that the gospel brings!
Be happy!
I love you all!!!
Love, Sister Jamie Gee

PS...Oktoberfest was super fun!! I ate chocolate-dipped strawberries and cuca and an amazing bratwurst with sauerkraut (called "chucrute" here) mmmmmm!