Olá querida família!
What a great week! The biggest news of the week is that the amazing double (Sister Gibson and me) is now an amazing triple!! Yup, last Wednesday in the middle of companionship study we received a call from President Pavan. He told us that an american sister who had been serving in Chicago had received her visa and would be arriving later that day. Sister Rebecca Cidre from Las Vegas!!! I knew her in the Provo MTC for 5 days before I left for São Paulo...and now we would be companions in Brazil! How exciting and happy....:) It´s been really different working in a trio, but I really like it. Sister Cidre speaks Portuguese soooo well....I remember having a LOT more difficulty when I arrived :) It´s really great to have someone to do language study with and to practice new vocabulary....
Since Sister Gibson is training again, we knew that she would be going to Porto Alegre on Monday for the meeting they have every transfer for leaders and trainers....and I was very excited to spend the day again with the sisters in Bom Sucesso... But on Sunday when the zone leaders called they told us that Sister Cidre and I would stay and work in our area. Alone!! For an entire day!! And Sister Cidre not knowing the area at all....!!!! haha, I was scared! Yes, I´ve been here a long time now, but I´ve always had Sister Gibson to rely on and I was nervous that I wouldn´t be able to find my way around the area or understand Portuguese enough to be able to teach.....
But what a great day it was!! I´m pretty sure it was my favorite day on my mission so far...so so so great! Sister Cidre is so great and fun and loving and kind....haha, and very patient when I took her down a wrong road and we had to backtrack a few times :) It was such a great day.. The lessons that we taught seemed more powerful and personal than normal....full of the Spirit!! Almost as if Heavenly Father knew that we needed some extra help and was filling in our stammered Portuguese with a huge abundance of the Holy Ghost :) The best lesson was with Ana Carla and her husband Andre. We were teaching about the Holy Ghost and how we can recognize promptings...Ana Carla shared an experience that she had the night before when her daughther, Nicole was sick with a high fever. She prayed and felt a powerful feeling of comfort and assurance that she didn´t need to worry. As Sister Cidre and I testified that this was the Holy Ghost the feeling of peace and love in the room was soooo strong.....so we decided to invite them to be baptized, and they both accepted!! :D Haha, after the lesson Ana Carla asked us what our church believes about the lingua de anjos (gift of tongues) and I laughed as I told her that it was what she had just witnessed! It´s the promise that we all have from our Heavenly Father that when we put our trust in Him and open our mouths to share the gospel, He will give us the words that we should say and He will give our words the power to touch hearts. :) What a great day...I have a strong testimony of that now...
Silvio is still doing great and is super excited about his baptism this Saturday! He still calls us daily to let us know that he is reading the Book of Mormon....haha. I´ve never met anyone so anxious to do good and to follow Jesus Christ. You can really tell how grateful he is to have the gospel in his life and how much happier it has made him. He carries his Bible and Book of Mormon with him wherever he goes and is always always always telling everyone he meets about the gospel. :) A good example for us all...
Oh! And along with Sister Cidre arrived the two packages that you sent....Thank you sooo much!!!! I was so so happy to open them. :) The candy bar letter was so cute! Thank you so much...mmm, and it was so great to eat american candy! The letters made me so happy...I was smiling for hours and hours after reading them! You are all so great and I´m glad that you´re all loving school and staying so busy and happy! The sweater came in perfect timing too because Thursday was a coooold day to travel to Novo Hamburgo. Thank you so much family!!! I love you!
Well, we have to run because we have a appointment marked with Simone and Adelar and family.....Irmão Adão (the mission leader) is coming with us! I´m so excited. We also have a churrasco planned tonight with another investigator....Sister Cidre´s first! Haha...it seems that I am writing about churrasco in every email these days!! Lucky lucky me :)
I love you all so much! Thank you again for the letters...and for all your love and prayers. Remember to always be grateful and happy....we are so so blessed :)
Have a wonderful week!
Love, Sister Jamie Gee
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Dog bite! (with a smile)
Olá querida família!
What a crazy busy exciting and wonderful week! I am loving being here in Montenegro and can´t believe how quickly the time is flying by... Today is Dia das Crianças here in Brazil....which means no one had school/work all weekend long! Everyone is enjoying the last day of vacation today.....you can smell churrasco in every back yard :) I love Brazil. It´s been a very relaxing P-day...churrasco with the Primary this morning and we spent the afternoon with Rita and Alex.....which is good, because we needed a calm day after this week!!
Quinta-feira (Thursday) both Sister Gibson and I woke up feeling veeeery queasy. We think it was some left-over "bolinhas de chuva" that Leoni had given us the day before (they´re like scones....but with sugar :D) It wasn´t too terrible...but we also had an hour bus ride to Novo Hamburgo for district meeting that was not very enjoyable with a queasy stomach. We made it to the chapel, greeted all the other missionaries, and had just started the meeting when Sister Gibson grabbed my arm and ran with me to the bathroom....She definitely had food poisioning and threw up over and over. We spent the rest of the district meeting there in the bathroom :) Poor Sister Gibson...
The next day Sister Gibson was feeling much better and we were excited and ready for a very busy day with a lot of work....and then 15 minutes after leaving our apartment I got bit by a dog! The first appointment we had was a reference from the sisters in the center, in a poorer neighborhood with loooots of dogs....everywhere! Sister Gibson knocked at the first house (here in Brazil you stand in the street in front of the house and clap your hands...very fun :) and I think the noise frightened the dogs and they all went crazy! One ran up to me and clamped down on my ankle... It didn´t hurt very bad and there wasn´t very much blood....but because it was a street dog Sister Pavan wanted me to get the rabies vacine. We had to leave our area to go to the health center and then spent All day waiting to get the vacine....and I have to go back 4 more times! haha...funny and frustrating. :)
So after 2 days of not getting very much accomplished, we were Very anxious and excited to get to back to work on Saturday. We had a goal to get our investigators to church this Sunday, something that has been difficult in the past, so we made that our focus all Saturday....but because it was a holiday weekend, we didn´t have much success. Everyone was going out of town, or expecting company.....it didn´t seem like we would have a single investigator in church this Sunday. But Sunday came and we were surprised and super happy to have 2 new investigators that we´ve never even taught before show up to church! One already asking to be baptized! Haha...it´s great how when you try so hard and work and work and see very little results, the Lord steps in and blesses you so much :)
Sílvio is 38 years old and showed up in the chapel wanting to know when he could be baptized. :) He was taught by the sisters before, but wasn´t ready to accept the gospel then. But I think some things happened in his life that humbled him and made him turn more to Jesus Christ. Sílvio has so much faith...we gave him another copy of the Book of Mormon and he has already read all of 1st and 2nd Nephi! He seemed nervous to stay for all 3 meetings at first, I think he felt a little out of place with all of the other members in suits and dresses.....but the members were so great and loving and made him feel very comfortable. I´m very excited for him!
Andrews was the other investigator that showed up on Sunday. He is so awesome! :) Andrews is 15 years old and we contacted him on the street a few weeks ago...but he didn´t seem very interested so we just gave him the address of the church....and didn´t see him again until yesterday :) Andrews knew a lot of the young men and young women in the ward, and I think he really liked the meetings. He didn´t want us to visit him at home because he said there was a lot of contention there with his parents...so we taught him the 1st lesson with Sílvio....haha, and then the rest of the day he went with me and Sister Gibson on all of our visits! He told us that he liked being with us more than he liked being at home... I think he´s going to be baptized and serve a mission someday...he´s already practicing being a missionary! :)
This Sunday was also testimony meeting! Sister Gibson´s last testimony meeting here in Brazil.....the members here love her a lot and everyone was crying when she bore her testimony for the last time here in Timbaúva. I´m going to miss her a lot...she is a great companion and friend. :)
We found many great investigators this week....I am most excited about Ana Carla! She is amazing. Right now she and her husband are building a new home, so we´re hoping to get the elder´s quorum to come and help them some day this week. Ana Carla has so much faith and confidence in Jesus Christ... She is reading and praying about the Book of Mormon and I know that she has a sincere desire to know if it is true. She told us that she still hasn´t received an answer, but that she knows that she will if she continues to read and to ask. Wow...a very faithful and humble answer...I know that Heavenly Father will answer her prayer!
Heavenly Father is so good and kind. I know that He is constantly blessing and guiding us. Thank you for your love and your emails and your prayers family....I miss each one of you!
I love you all!
Love,
Sister Jamie Gee
What a crazy busy exciting and wonderful week! I am loving being here in Montenegro and can´t believe how quickly the time is flying by... Today is Dia das Crianças here in Brazil....which means no one had school/work all weekend long! Everyone is enjoying the last day of vacation today.....you can smell churrasco in every back yard :) I love Brazil. It´s been a very relaxing P-day...churrasco with the Primary this morning and we spent the afternoon with Rita and Alex.....which is good, because we needed a calm day after this week!!
Quinta-feira (Thursday) both Sister Gibson and I woke up feeling veeeery queasy. We think it was some left-over "bolinhas de chuva" that Leoni had given us the day before (they´re like scones....but with sugar :D) It wasn´t too terrible...but we also had an hour bus ride to Novo Hamburgo for district meeting that was not very enjoyable with a queasy stomach. We made it to the chapel, greeted all the other missionaries, and had just started the meeting when Sister Gibson grabbed my arm and ran with me to the bathroom....She definitely had food poisioning and threw up over and over. We spent the rest of the district meeting there in the bathroom :) Poor Sister Gibson...
The next day Sister Gibson was feeling much better and we were excited and ready for a very busy day with a lot of work....and then 15 minutes after leaving our apartment I got bit by a dog! The first appointment we had was a reference from the sisters in the center, in a poorer neighborhood with loooots of dogs....everywhere! Sister Gibson knocked at the first house (here in Brazil you stand in the street in front of the house and clap your hands...very fun :) and I think the noise frightened the dogs and they all went crazy! One ran up to me and clamped down on my ankle... It didn´t hurt very bad and there wasn´t very much blood....but because it was a street dog Sister Pavan wanted me to get the rabies vacine. We had to leave our area to go to the health center and then spent All day waiting to get the vacine....and I have to go back 4 more times! haha...funny and frustrating. :)
So after 2 days of not getting very much accomplished, we were Very anxious and excited to get to back to work on Saturday. We had a goal to get our investigators to church this Sunday, something that has been difficult in the past, so we made that our focus all Saturday....but because it was a holiday weekend, we didn´t have much success. Everyone was going out of town, or expecting company.....it didn´t seem like we would have a single investigator in church this Sunday. But Sunday came and we were surprised and super happy to have 2 new investigators that we´ve never even taught before show up to church! One already asking to be baptized! Haha...it´s great how when you try so hard and work and work and see very little results, the Lord steps in and blesses you so much :)
Sílvio is 38 years old and showed up in the chapel wanting to know when he could be baptized. :) He was taught by the sisters before, but wasn´t ready to accept the gospel then. But I think some things happened in his life that humbled him and made him turn more to Jesus Christ. Sílvio has so much faith...we gave him another copy of the Book of Mormon and he has already read all of 1st and 2nd Nephi! He seemed nervous to stay for all 3 meetings at first, I think he felt a little out of place with all of the other members in suits and dresses.....but the members were so great and loving and made him feel very comfortable. I´m very excited for him!
Andrews was the other investigator that showed up on Sunday. He is so awesome! :) Andrews is 15 years old and we contacted him on the street a few weeks ago...but he didn´t seem very interested so we just gave him the address of the church....and didn´t see him again until yesterday :) Andrews knew a lot of the young men and young women in the ward, and I think he really liked the meetings. He didn´t want us to visit him at home because he said there was a lot of contention there with his parents...so we taught him the 1st lesson with Sílvio....haha, and then the rest of the day he went with me and Sister Gibson on all of our visits! He told us that he liked being with us more than he liked being at home... I think he´s going to be baptized and serve a mission someday...he´s already practicing being a missionary! :)
This Sunday was also testimony meeting! Sister Gibson´s last testimony meeting here in Brazil.....the members here love her a lot and everyone was crying when she bore her testimony for the last time here in Timbaúva. I´m going to miss her a lot...she is a great companion and friend. :)
We found many great investigators this week....I am most excited about Ana Carla! She is amazing. Right now she and her husband are building a new home, so we´re hoping to get the elder´s quorum to come and help them some day this week. Ana Carla has so much faith and confidence in Jesus Christ... She is reading and praying about the Book of Mormon and I know that she has a sincere desire to know if it is true. She told us that she still hasn´t received an answer, but that she knows that she will if she continues to read and to ask. Wow...a very faithful and humble answer...I know that Heavenly Father will answer her prayer!
Heavenly Father is so good and kind. I know that He is constantly blessing and guiding us. Thank you for your love and your emails and your prayers family....I miss each one of you!
I love you all!
Love,
Sister Jamie Gee
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
October already! General Conference was wonderful
Olá família!
October already!!! Time is flying here in Brazil.....I am loving and learning every single day! We have been finding many many new investigators this week....it´s keeping us very busy....and very happy. :)
General Conference was wonderful!!!....as always. It was different...and a little sad...to be away from home during General Conference. I thought about you all at home, watching together, and it brought back so many great memories :) I miss you all a lot! It was so great though...the internet wasn´t working in the chapel, so we had both our ward (Timbaúva) and the Montenegro ward gather together in an empty warehouse to watch. We only got to go to the Sunday sessions....and really, I only got to see the Sunday afternoon session because they were having a lot of problems with the volume for the morning session. It was veeeeery quiet...Sister Gibson said she only understood about half...and I understood almost nothing :) haha...But luckily they fixed the problem in time for the afternoon session. It was great! It is amazing how inspired the talks are...I had some specific questions that had been on my mind, and every one was specifically adressed and answered. And I only saw 1 out of 4 sessions :) I know that Heavenly Father knows and loves us....He answers every prayer. I´m so grateful that we have living prophets that are called by Him to lead us and guide us. I especially loved Elder Bednar´s talk about the gift of the Holy Ghost....what a powerful talk! We really can have the companionship of the Holy Ghost with us every second of every day, if we continually desire and do the things that will invite him into our lives. I´ve really learned the importance of having the Holy Ghost with us when we teach...it makes all the difference. You really can feel his presence in the room and you know when the investigators are feeling that what you are saying is true. There is no better feeling....there´s no place in the world I´d rather be when we have lessons like that! I love being a missionary :)
Alex came with us to both sessions....it was a little difficult to convince him to come because he was feeling tired (he works night shifts) and a little down. But he came after much prodding....and Loved it! The talks about the Holy Ghost and the priesthood were perfect for him because he was confirmed last Sunday and will be ordained next week. He told us that it answered all of his questions and made him very excited to receive the priesthood. It was amazing to see the difference in him....he went from being a little depressed and sad to being super upbeat and smiling from ear to ear. The gospel really does bring so much happiness into our lives...we are so blessed! :)
It´s been really difficult to teach Anderson this week...he works until 11pm at night and seems to sleep all morning long :) And when we mark an appointment with him, he never is at home! We´re not sure if he´s hiding from us or if he really is just forgetting... haha, kind of frustrating. But he´s going to play in a band in a Talent Show that we´re having this Friday in the chapel....we have a ton of investigators that play musical instruments or in bands, so we thought a talent show would be a good way to get them to meet people in the ward :) It should be fun! Hopefully we can figure out what he is thinking then....
We are teaching a wonderful family right now....Daniel and Leoni are soo sweet and fun. They´ve been taught by the missionaries before and Daniel has a testimony of the Book of Mormon. The only problem was Leoni...she is much more hesitant about the church and never wanted anything to do with the missionaries before. But I think that right now she is feeling that something is missing in her life and her family and she told us that she wants to learn more about God and the church :) I´m excited for them... They didn´t watch General Conference because it would have been loooong for their two young boys...ages 2 and 3...but they said they´ll come this Sunday!
Well, I am very happy and well here in Montenegro. Thank you soooo much for your emails!!! They made me soooo happy... You are all so wonderful and great and I love you and miss you. Keep being good and remember to be grateful for everything we have. We are so so blessed :)
Have a wonderful week!!!
Love,
Sister Jamie Gee
October already!!! Time is flying here in Brazil.....I am loving and learning every single day! We have been finding many many new investigators this week....it´s keeping us very busy....and very happy. :)
General Conference was wonderful!!!....as always. It was different...and a little sad...to be away from home during General Conference. I thought about you all at home, watching together, and it brought back so many great memories :) I miss you all a lot! It was so great though...the internet wasn´t working in the chapel, so we had both our ward (Timbaúva) and the Montenegro ward gather together in an empty warehouse to watch. We only got to go to the Sunday sessions....and really, I only got to see the Sunday afternoon session because they were having a lot of problems with the volume for the morning session. It was veeeeery quiet...Sister Gibson said she only understood about half...and I understood almost nothing :) haha...But luckily they fixed the problem in time for the afternoon session. It was great! It is amazing how inspired the talks are...I had some specific questions that had been on my mind, and every one was specifically adressed and answered. And I only saw 1 out of 4 sessions :) I know that Heavenly Father knows and loves us....He answers every prayer. I´m so grateful that we have living prophets that are called by Him to lead us and guide us. I especially loved Elder Bednar´s talk about the gift of the Holy Ghost....what a powerful talk! We really can have the companionship of the Holy Ghost with us every second of every day, if we continually desire and do the things that will invite him into our lives. I´ve really learned the importance of having the Holy Ghost with us when we teach...it makes all the difference. You really can feel his presence in the room and you know when the investigators are feeling that what you are saying is true. There is no better feeling....there´s no place in the world I´d rather be when we have lessons like that! I love being a missionary :)
Alex came with us to both sessions....it was a little difficult to convince him to come because he was feeling tired (he works night shifts) and a little down. But he came after much prodding....and Loved it! The talks about the Holy Ghost and the priesthood were perfect for him because he was confirmed last Sunday and will be ordained next week. He told us that it answered all of his questions and made him very excited to receive the priesthood. It was amazing to see the difference in him....he went from being a little depressed and sad to being super upbeat and smiling from ear to ear. The gospel really does bring so much happiness into our lives...we are so blessed! :)
It´s been really difficult to teach Anderson this week...he works until 11pm at night and seems to sleep all morning long :) And when we mark an appointment with him, he never is at home! We´re not sure if he´s hiding from us or if he really is just forgetting... haha, kind of frustrating. But he´s going to play in a band in a Talent Show that we´re having this Friday in the chapel....we have a ton of investigators that play musical instruments or in bands, so we thought a talent show would be a good way to get them to meet people in the ward :) It should be fun! Hopefully we can figure out what he is thinking then....
We are teaching a wonderful family right now....Daniel and Leoni are soo sweet and fun. They´ve been taught by the missionaries before and Daniel has a testimony of the Book of Mormon. The only problem was Leoni...she is much more hesitant about the church and never wanted anything to do with the missionaries before. But I think that right now she is feeling that something is missing in her life and her family and she told us that she wants to learn more about God and the church :) I´m excited for them... They didn´t watch General Conference because it would have been loooong for their two young boys...ages 2 and 3...but they said they´ll come this Sunday!
Well, I am very happy and well here in Montenegro. Thank you soooo much for your emails!!! They made me soooo happy... You are all so wonderful and great and I love you and miss you. Keep being good and remember to be grateful for everything we have. We are so so blessed :)
Have a wonderful week!!!
Love,
Sister Jamie Gee
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Happy and healthy and smiling here in Timbaúva
Querida família!
Hello dear family!! How are you all doing? I am happy and healthy and smiling here in Timbaúva and I hope you are all the same :)
First of all...I´m sorry this email is so late today! Today has been a craaaaazy busy day...I feel like I´ve been running all day long..and today is P-day!! haha...it´s always funny when you´re day off ends up being the most tiring day of the week! :) But it was a wonderful kind of busy... This morning Sister Gibson and I went to the "forum" with Valdemar and Iracema to see if we could find out more about the divorce papers. Valdemar and Iracema are the cutest couple ever....Valdemar is very old and doesn´t walk very well, but Iracema takes such good care of him...always taking his hand and helping him walk and making sure he is comfortable :) It makes me happy to watch. They have been going to church every Sunday for almost 2 months now....even before I got here! Their testimonies are very strong and they always talk about how excited they are to be baptized someday...but first Valdemar needs to be divorced from his ex-wife so they can be married. And it´s been taking a loooong time. But we found out that the papers have already been signed and hopefully it won´t be much longer until they arrive! I hope I´m still here in Timbaúva to see their baptism....I love them so much!
Sister Gibson and I ate lunch at home and quickly cleaned and washed laundary...and then the rest of the day was spent with another friend that I love...Maria Idelina. :) Maria Idelina is pretty much our adopted grandma here...she is a recent convert and LOVES visits from the missionaries... The only problem is that it is hard to leave once we are there...so it is better to plan for P-day when we have more time to stay and talk :) Today she taught us to make bread and rolls....it was so fun. Maria Idelina is so sweet and loving...but she is super lonely and she worries constantly about her 8 sons who live far away... It makes me happy that we can cheer her up with our visits, but it makes we wish we had time to visit her more! It´s important to realize that we can be a blessing to people´s lives...just with a visit and a smile and a hug! I know we´re here on this earth to be the Lord´s hands...He has confidence in us that we will help His children that need comforting or lifting up!
The rest of the semana was wonderful too....we had a Great lesson with Anderson on Saturday! The Spirit was strong and he was participating a lot in the lesson. Éder, a recently returned missionary from the ward, came with us and shared a powerful testimony about his conversion...it was so great! I could tell that Anderson was feeling the Spirit too...and he said he´d definitely visit the church the next day.....but Sunday came and he didn´t show up :( I was pretty disappointed. Oh well....next week!
Oh! Next week will be General Conference! Wahoo....I am very very excited. How was the RS session Mom and Melissa? Are you going home for GC weekend Melissa? I´ll be thinking about all of you!
Simone and Adelar and their family are doing great! We have been reading the Book of Mormon with them every time we visit....and it´s really making a difference! So much that Simone even started reading the Book of Mormon on here own and is already halfway done with 1st Nephi! I´m so excited....I love that family so much and I´m happy that they´re slowly starting to progress. Simone went to church one week...but it´s difficult for the rest of the family because they own a transportation company and always have a looooot of business on the weekends...especially Sunday mornings. They are an amazing family though....I know they´ll be baptized someday :)
Well...I have a lot more to talk about, but no more time....so until next week!
Remember that I love you all so very very much. You are always in my thoughts and my prayers...it is true. Thank you for being the best brothers and sisters and parents and for always loving and helping me want to be better. I know that Heavenly Father loves us so much. He is always with us.
Have a wonderful week family!
Love, Jamie
Hello dear family!! How are you all doing? I am happy and healthy and smiling here in Timbaúva and I hope you are all the same :)
First of all...I´m sorry this email is so late today! Today has been a craaaaazy busy day...I feel like I´ve been running all day long..and today is P-day!! haha...it´s always funny when you´re day off ends up being the most tiring day of the week! :) But it was a wonderful kind of busy... This morning Sister Gibson and I went to the "forum" with Valdemar and Iracema to see if we could find out more about the divorce papers. Valdemar and Iracema are the cutest couple ever....Valdemar is very old and doesn´t walk very well, but Iracema takes such good care of him...always taking his hand and helping him walk and making sure he is comfortable :) It makes me happy to watch. They have been going to church every Sunday for almost 2 months now....even before I got here! Their testimonies are very strong and they always talk about how excited they are to be baptized someday...but first Valdemar needs to be divorced from his ex-wife so they can be married. And it´s been taking a loooong time. But we found out that the papers have already been signed and hopefully it won´t be much longer until they arrive! I hope I´m still here in Timbaúva to see their baptism....I love them so much!
Sister Gibson and I ate lunch at home and quickly cleaned and washed laundary...and then the rest of the day was spent with another friend that I love...Maria Idelina. :) Maria Idelina is pretty much our adopted grandma here...she is a recent convert and LOVES visits from the missionaries... The only problem is that it is hard to leave once we are there...so it is better to plan for P-day when we have more time to stay and talk :) Today she taught us to make bread and rolls....it was so fun. Maria Idelina is so sweet and loving...but she is super lonely and she worries constantly about her 8 sons who live far away... It makes me happy that we can cheer her up with our visits, but it makes we wish we had time to visit her more! It´s important to realize that we can be a blessing to people´s lives...just with a visit and a smile and a hug! I know we´re here on this earth to be the Lord´s hands...He has confidence in us that we will help His children that need comforting or lifting up!
The rest of the semana was wonderful too....we had a Great lesson with Anderson on Saturday! The Spirit was strong and he was participating a lot in the lesson. Éder, a recently returned missionary from the ward, came with us and shared a powerful testimony about his conversion...it was so great! I could tell that Anderson was feeling the Spirit too...and he said he´d definitely visit the church the next day.....but Sunday came and he didn´t show up :( I was pretty disappointed. Oh well....next week!
Oh! Next week will be General Conference! Wahoo....I am very very excited. How was the RS session Mom and Melissa? Are you going home for GC weekend Melissa? I´ll be thinking about all of you!
Simone and Adelar and their family are doing great! We have been reading the Book of Mormon with them every time we visit....and it´s really making a difference! So much that Simone even started reading the Book of Mormon on here own and is already halfway done with 1st Nephi! I´m so excited....I love that family so much and I´m happy that they´re slowly starting to progress. Simone went to church one week...but it´s difficult for the rest of the family because they own a transportation company and always have a looooot of business on the weekends...especially Sunday mornings. They are an amazing family though....I know they´ll be baptized someday :)
Well...I have a lot more to talk about, but no more time....so until next week!
Remember that I love you all so very very much. You are always in my thoughts and my prayers...it is true. Thank you for being the best brothers and sisters and parents and for always loving and helping me want to be better. I know that Heavenly Father loves us so much. He is always with us.
Have a wonderful week family!
Love, Jamie
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Dia do Gaucho!
Hello Family!
This week was a wonderful one in Montenegro! We taught some great lessons and found some new investigators Í´m really excited about. We taught Anderson, a 23 year old, who is really excited about the church! His grandmother, who he lived alone with, passed away last week and now he lives alone. We taught him about the Plan of Salvation and I could tell by his questions that he really loved his grandma and that he already has a lot of faith in God.
And the best part of a wonderful week was that it ended in a baptism!!! Alex was baptized Sunday afternoon after church! It was such a great feeling to be there and to watch him be baptized. The ward was really supporting too, and we had a big group there to watch and to welcome him into the ward. Sister Gibson and I sang "Sim, Eu Te Seguirei" (Lord, I would Follow Thee) afterwards, and Alex had tears in his eyes while we were singing. Alex has such a strong testimony...he´s an amazing example to me! After his baptism he came with us to visit Anderson and teach about the Restoration (haha...he´s already a missionary!) and he bore his testimony about the Book of Mormon and his baptism. Powerful!
Yesterday was Dia do Gaucho here in Rio Grande do Sul....and wow, is it a important holiday for everyone here! It was a lot bigger holiday than Indepence Day was. I was amazed at how much pride everyone here has for their Gaucho culture...it was huge! Parades, dances, music, fairs, Everyone in traditional costume, and churrascos!!!! (my favorite part...:D) It was awesome! We finished the night with a Noite Familiar (Family Night!) with the Bishop and his family and Alex....the Bishop wanted to get to know him better and to welcome him into the ward. We talked about prayer and ate cheesecake that Sister Gibson made.....mmmm. It was great!
Transfers were yesterday......annnnnd...Sister Gibson and I are both staying here in Montenegro in the Timbaúva ward. :) I´m very happy....and not really surprised since this is my first area and Sister Gibson´s last transfer. So..I´ll be her last companion here in Porto Alegre Brasil! It´s strange to hear her talking about going home.....she is getting excited :) But she is a very hard worker too and a very very loving person....it´s amazing how easy it is for her to become immediate friends with the people we meet here! I love her and I´m glad I get to be her companion for 6 more weeks :)
Well family, I only have 30 minutes today because the Internet cafe closes at noon.....everything here closes at noon! From noon until 2 pm everything closes so everyone can eat a huge lunch at home with their families. Lunch is probably the most important time of the day here....haha, it´s a good tradition :) mmmm...
I love you all! Keep doing well in school and in work and having fun!! Remember that Heavenly Father loves you and that He is always there for each one of us.
This week was a wonderful one in Montenegro! We taught some great lessons and found some new investigators Í´m really excited about. We taught Anderson, a 23 year old, who is really excited about the church! His grandmother, who he lived alone with, passed away last week and now he lives alone. We taught him about the Plan of Salvation and I could tell by his questions that he really loved his grandma and that he already has a lot of faith in God.
And the best part of a wonderful week was that it ended in a baptism!!! Alex was baptized Sunday afternoon after church! It was such a great feeling to be there and to watch him be baptized. The ward was really supporting too, and we had a big group there to watch and to welcome him into the ward. Sister Gibson and I sang "Sim, Eu Te Seguirei" (Lord, I would Follow Thee) afterwards, and Alex had tears in his eyes while we were singing. Alex has such a strong testimony...he´s an amazing example to me! After his baptism he came with us to visit Anderson and teach about the Restoration (haha...he´s already a missionary!) and he bore his testimony about the Book of Mormon and his baptism. Powerful!
Yesterday was Dia do Gaucho here in Rio Grande do Sul....and wow, is it a important holiday for everyone here! It was a lot bigger holiday than Indepence Day was. I was amazed at how much pride everyone here has for their Gaucho culture...it was huge! Parades, dances, music, fairs, Everyone in traditional costume, and churrascos!!!! (my favorite part...:D) It was awesome! We finished the night with a Noite Familiar (Family Night!) with the Bishop and his family and Alex....the Bishop wanted to get to know him better and to welcome him into the ward. We talked about prayer and ate cheesecake that Sister Gibson made.....mmmm. It was great!
Transfers were yesterday......annnnnd...Sister Gibson and I are both staying here in Montenegro in the Timbaúva ward. :) I´m very happy....and not really surprised since this is my first area and Sister Gibson´s last transfer. So..I´ll be her last companion here in Porto Alegre Brasil! It´s strange to hear her talking about going home.....she is getting excited :) But she is a very hard worker too and a very very loving person....it´s amazing how easy it is for her to become immediate friends with the people we meet here! I love her and I´m glad I get to be her companion for 6 more weeks :)
Well family, I only have 30 minutes today because the Internet cafe closes at noon.....everything here closes at noon! From noon until 2 pm everything closes so everyone can eat a huge lunch at home with their families. Lunch is probably the most important time of the day here....haha, it´s a good tradition :) mmmm...
I love you all! Keep doing well in school and in work and having fun!! Remember that Heavenly Father loves you and that He is always there for each one of us.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Brasil! Terra Amada....
Another wonderful week in Montenegro! I am really loving being here and being a missionary! It´s such a happy life :) Constantly meeting and teaching wonderful people about Heavenly Father´s love and plan for us, His children!
The most exciting news of the week is.....we´re going to have a baptism!!! :D On Monday we had a Noite Familiar (Family Night) with Alex and Rita (his cousin, who is a member) and watched The Restoration DVD and afterwards we invited him to be baptized, and he said yes! So Sunday September 19 we´ll be having his baptism in the afternoon after church. I´m so excited :) Alex is a great guy and he already has a strong testimony of the gospel...he is going to be a strong priesthood leader for the ward too. It´s good timing too...because the 21st we have transfers! I´m am very sure that Sister Gibson and I will both stay here though....I only have 5 weeks in Montenegro and this will be Sister Gibson´s last transfer, so it´s unlikely that either of us will be transferred.
The ward here is so great...the members are very loving and they are very willing to help the missionaries, with anything we ask! Especially the young women in the ward...there are 2 girls, Rita and Luana, who are constantly helping us.... coming to teach lessons with us, giving us references... They are both the only members in their families and have very strong testimonies....and even though they´re young (17 and 14....yes I know, perfect huh, Jared and Kyle :) They want to meet you...) they are already talking about when they will be "sisters" :) They are such sweet and fun girls! We just started a new "Integration" activity with the ward...every Friday we´re going to have classes in the chapel....crafts (Young Women), carpentry (elders quorum), music (young mens) cooking (relief society), english (us!).......last Friday was the first one, and it was so much fun! It´s also a great opportunity for us to find new investigators and for the investigators that we are already teaching to meet the ward and start making friendships.... I think it is going to help a lot!
We´re still teaching Simone and Adelar and family....they are such a strong, good family and they love having us come over to visit...they always feed us, and perform for us (Felipe and Adelar play Rio Grande do Sul songs for us on the guitar every time we visit...they´re so great!) Simone is like our mother here...she´s always making sure we have warm clothes and full of food before we leave :) They are an amazing family!! ...but it´s been hard to get them to keep commitments to read and come to church. Yesterday Sister Gibson and I made Book of Mormon calendars for them....haha, just like we did as a family last year, remember? :) I hope it helps them start reading as a family every day...I know that they will feel the difference and the Spirit that comes when you read the Book of Mormon daily. I really love this family and I hope that we can help them start progressing more...
I love you all! You´re in my prayers every night :)
Love, Sister Jamie Gee
The most exciting news of the week is.....we´re going to have a baptism!!! :D On Monday we had a Noite Familiar (Family Night) with Alex and Rita (his cousin, who is a member) and watched The Restoration DVD and afterwards we invited him to be baptized, and he said yes! So Sunday September 19 we´ll be having his baptism in the afternoon after church. I´m so excited :) Alex is a great guy and he already has a strong testimony of the gospel...he is going to be a strong priesthood leader for the ward too. It´s good timing too...because the 21st we have transfers! I´m am very sure that Sister Gibson and I will both stay here though....I only have 5 weeks in Montenegro and this will be Sister Gibson´s last transfer, so it´s unlikely that either of us will be transferred.
The ward here is so great...the members are very loving and they are very willing to help the missionaries, with anything we ask! Especially the young women in the ward...there are 2 girls, Rita and Luana, who are constantly helping us.... coming to teach lessons with us, giving us references... They are both the only members in their families and have very strong testimonies....and even though they´re young (17 and 14....yes I know, perfect huh, Jared and Kyle :) They want to meet you...) they are already talking about when they will be "sisters" :) They are such sweet and fun girls! We just started a new "Integration" activity with the ward...every Friday we´re going to have classes in the chapel....crafts (Young Women), carpentry (elders quorum), music (young mens) cooking (relief society), english (us!).......last Friday was the first one, and it was so much fun! It´s also a great opportunity for us to find new investigators and for the investigators that we are already teaching to meet the ward and start making friendships.... I think it is going to help a lot!
We´re still teaching Simone and Adelar and family....they are such a strong, good family and they love having us come over to visit...they always feed us, and perform for us (Felipe and Adelar play Rio Grande do Sul songs for us on the guitar every time we visit...they´re so great!) Simone is like our mother here...she´s always making sure we have warm clothes and full of food before we leave :) They are an amazing family!! ...but it´s been hard to get them to keep commitments to read and come to church. Yesterday Sister Gibson and I made Book of Mormon calendars for them....haha, just like we did as a family last year, remember? :) I hope it helps them start reading as a family every day...I know that they will feel the difference and the Spirit that comes when you read the Book of Mormon daily. I really love this family and I hope that we can help them start progressing more...
I love you all! You´re in my prayers every night :)
Love, Sister Jamie Gee
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Dia de Independencia!
Hola querida família!
Another wonderful week here in Montenegro, Brazil! Sorry I didn´t write yesterday...every internet house was closed because September 7th is Brazil´s Independence Day! :) Sister Gibson and I are teaching some wonderful people right now....I really love them. This week was a veeeery cold one too....it rained every day, all week long. I had to re-wash all of my clothes yesterday that I had washed the week before...because they molded instead of drying :) It´s sunny and beautiful today though!
Alex is really making great progress! He came to church last Sunday (we borrowed a white shirt and tie for him to wear from another member) and really enjoyed it....He even told us afterwards that he was just about to get up and bear his testimony, when the Bishop got up to end the meeting! Oh, and then he called us on Monday and asked us if we could come over that night for a few minutes because he had a "surprise" for us. haha, Sister Gibson and I were very curious....so after our last appointment of the night we went over to his house...and he pulled out a pair of calças socias (slacks) that he had bought to wear to church from now on! Wow...it´s amazing to me how prepared some people are to receive the gospel... I´m very excited for him
Simone also came to church this Sunday! Simone and Adelar are the parents of Felipe and Priscila....and they are a great family that we´re teaching right now! Simone came alone....because Adelar and Felipe had work and Priscila had to stay home with their grandma...but she said she really liked it and that she wants to come again. This Sunday we have Stake Conference in São Leopoldo....which makes it a little difficult for our investigators to come...but hopefully we can get the whole family to come sometime.
Yesterday was especially fun....Dia de Independencia for Brazil! I was very glad that it happened to be on our P-day so that we could celebrate too :) Sister Gibson and I went to watch the desfila (parade) with Simone and Adelar and there family in the morning and then we went to a less-active member´s home for lunch and to learn how to make cuca....de banana! Nuri is 75 years old and has a very strong testimony about the gospel...but I think something happened with some other members years ago that left her very bitter with the church. She is so sweet with us missionaries though....always wanting to feed us and have us visit. She is pretty much our "grandma" here in Montenegro :) Oh, and Nuri is from Uruguay so it´s really fun to practice speaking spanish with her! It is hard to switch back and forth from Portuguese to Spanish! It really makes your brain work....haha
We finished the day with a Noite Familiar (Family Night!) with Alex and Rita and their family. It was so fun...we thought we would just be having a lesson and games, but they surprised us with a churrasco!! My first churrasco in Rio Grande do Sul.....and it was just as good as everyone had said :) Mmmmm....carne de galhina, linguiça, carne de vaca, coração de frango....it was great. I took some pictures that I was hoping to send today...but I left my cable back in the apartment.. I´ll remember next week though, so expect some great pictures of a real Gauchan churrasco!!
As I am writing this email I can hear Chicago playing in the streets..."I am the man who will fight for your honor....I´ll be the hero you´re dreaming of!!" haha...it´s reminding me a lot of you Dad and Ryan! :)
I love you all very much, my dear and wonderful family. Thank you so much for your prayers and emails and love....I miss you all, but I´m very happy to be serving the Lord here in Brazil. He loves us so much and He always always answers our prayers :) I know that is true.
Have a good week and be happy!
Love,
Sister Jamie Gee
Another wonderful week here in Montenegro, Brazil! Sorry I didn´t write yesterday...every internet house was closed because September 7th is Brazil´s Independence Day! :) Sister Gibson and I are teaching some wonderful people right now....I really love them. This week was a veeeery cold one too....it rained every day, all week long. I had to re-wash all of my clothes yesterday that I had washed the week before...because they molded instead of drying :) It´s sunny and beautiful today though!
Alex is really making great progress! He came to church last Sunday (we borrowed a white shirt and tie for him to wear from another member) and really enjoyed it....He even told us afterwards that he was just about to get up and bear his testimony, when the Bishop got up to end the meeting! Oh, and then he called us on Monday and asked us if we could come over that night for a few minutes because he had a "surprise" for us. haha, Sister Gibson and I were very curious....so after our last appointment of the night we went over to his house...and he pulled out a pair of calças socias (slacks) that he had bought to wear to church from now on! Wow...it´s amazing to me how prepared some people are to receive the gospel... I´m very excited for him
Simone also came to church this Sunday! Simone and Adelar are the parents of Felipe and Priscila....and they are a great family that we´re teaching right now! Simone came alone....because Adelar and Felipe had work and Priscila had to stay home with their grandma...but she said she really liked it and that she wants to come again. This Sunday we have Stake Conference in São Leopoldo....which makes it a little difficult for our investigators to come...but hopefully we can get the whole family to come sometime.
Yesterday was especially fun....Dia de Independencia for Brazil! I was very glad that it happened to be on our P-day so that we could celebrate too :) Sister Gibson and I went to watch the desfila (parade) with Simone and Adelar and there family in the morning and then we went to a less-active member´s home for lunch and to learn how to make cuca....de banana! Nuri is 75 years old and has a very strong testimony about the gospel...but I think something happened with some other members years ago that left her very bitter with the church. She is so sweet with us missionaries though....always wanting to feed us and have us visit. She is pretty much our "grandma" here in Montenegro :) Oh, and Nuri is from Uruguay so it´s really fun to practice speaking spanish with her! It is hard to switch back and forth from Portuguese to Spanish! It really makes your brain work....haha
We finished the day with a Noite Familiar (Family Night!) with Alex and Rita and their family. It was so fun...we thought we would just be having a lesson and games, but they surprised us with a churrasco!! My first churrasco in Rio Grande do Sul.....and it was just as good as everyone had said :) Mmmmm....carne de galhina, linguiça, carne de vaca, coração de frango....it was great. I took some pictures that I was hoping to send today...but I left my cable back in the apartment.. I´ll remember next week though, so expect some great pictures of a real Gauchan churrasco!!
As I am writing this email I can hear Chicago playing in the streets..."I am the man who will fight for your honor....I´ll be the hero you´re dreaming of!!" haha...it´s reminding me a lot of you Dad and Ryan! :)
I love you all very much, my dear and wonderful family. Thank you so much for your prayers and emails and love....I miss you all, but I´m very happy to be serving the Lord here in Brazil. He loves us so much and He always always answers our prayers :) I know that is true.
Have a good week and be happy!
Love,
Sister Jamie Gee
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