These past days have been CRAZY. Carnaval is a mess that is all i have to say. pretty much a majority of our investigators were travelling. well a majority of the people in Bebedouro were traveling or drunk in the street. I will give you all an image to relate to what carnaval is.
So a bunch of people buy a shirt to be in a certain "block" and then they follow a a truck with a banner dancing to really really loud music and on some of the trucks they have men spraying everyone with water. I dont know why but it seems like with carnaval it is the same 3 or 4 songs over and over again for 4 days straight. Most of the time members of the church go to some sort of conference for the weekend or travel because it is pretty crazy. Yesterday I watched this party in the middle of the day from my bedroom window. Then what was really funny was when a church really close to wear i live, i think they are kind of fanatical (ie a majority of the people shaved their heads a few weeks back as part of their worship) started their own little parade with loud speakers and people singing gospel songs, carrying a large banner that said, Repent ye, Jesus is returning. And they competed with the carnaval partiers for a good 15-20 minutes until the police arrived. Crazy.
BUT we were able to work. Sunday Sister Murbaki was sick so I went on a division with a member from the ward. I taught 4 lessons and made over 30 contacts! The member carine helped a lot, I am so blessed to work in a ward where the members really love to help the missionaries. It was great, yes a lot of the people were drunk, but we met a lot of really amazing people too. I have come to realize that it is a lot easier to give our message to people living more humbly than the people who are living more comfortably. Needless to say, I learned a lot.
Sunday Presidente Beynon and Sister Beynon came to our church. By the way, I love those wonderful people. He gave both me and sister Murbaki a blessing. In the blessing he said he felt impressed to say a few words about me concerning the work. These words were exactly the words i needed to hear. Needless to say, this work is still very intimidating. I still have days where i feel like i cant speak or that when i can i dont say the right words. The blessing confirmed to me that my Heavenly Father is VERY aware of my feelings and concerns and that He loves me and He is happy with me. Knowing this i feel like i can conquer the world literally. I am so grateful for the Beynons, such wonderful and loving examples to me. What a priviledge to serve in this part of the world with them!
So Thursday we taugh Andre and Andrea the plan of Salvation. Andre is a ten year old boy who seems much older and is ready for baptism, but we are waiting to baptize him with Andrea, his mom. Andrea has a little bit harder of a life. She is a very good and awesome person, but she has a lot of problems and sometimes she is so worried about her life that it is hard for her to understand and learn what we are teaching. So we taught the plan of salvation, a lesson that is hard to teach and for most people even harder to understand, but we prayed and Andrea understood so much more than i expected. There was one part when we were explaining about Jesus Christ and His atonement. Sister Murbaki gave an example if Andre was infront of train and Andrea pushed him out of the way to save him, even if she herself would die. Andre looked straight at us before we said anything and said, "that is what Jesus Christ did for us, isnt it?" The feeling of the spirit was almost indescribable. Everyone learned from that lesson. Andre, being the intelligent 10 year old he is pretty much understood it all, and Andrea recognized that she needed to make some changes in her life. This lesson was so peaceful. I know in anyother circumstance this lesson wouldnt be understood, but the Spirit makes up for everything. Amazing.
I love this work. I am happy. I guess you could say i live the good life, even if it is so hot sometimes that i feel like i am melting.
As always,
proud to wear the tag,
Sister Jessica Ruth Peterson
PS FELIZ ANNIVERSARIO TO EMMA AND JAROM! I LOVE YOU!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Feb 10,2010
New day new transfer and Sis Murbaki and I are staying 6 more weeks in Bebedouro. I was terrified of staying here without her and a little less terrified of leaving this place that feels almost like home in a very strange sense of the word. I AM SO STOKED!
Sunday we witnessed miracles and the thought of leaving right when the work was picking up left me feeling sad. For the past two transfers we have been working with a mother and her 10 year old son who seems like he is 14. Andre, the son is ready for baptism, and Andrea has a lot of problems, but Saturday night we marked a day for baptism for Andrea. She has never really showed that much of an interest in going to church so when she said, yes i would like to be baptized, i was floored. Presidente decided that it is best to wait for her also before we baptize Andre. She had never been to church before, i had my doubts but she went on Sunday and loved it! She has a lot of things to work on first but she is progressing and it is awesome.
This week was less stressful but we were still worried that Geni wouldnt come to church to be confirmed but we prayed a lot this week. Heavenly Father poured out his blessings on us. We walked to the gate of our church and right behind us was Andre and Andrea. I smiled and was happy. We walked into the chapel, there was Geni in her ironed dress ready for confirmation. I smiled bigger. I looked at this small congregation and found three new faces. One of them was a less active member who that day just felt the need to go to church. This is almost unheard of, especially with the fact that she has two small children. It is really hard for a lot of people to come to church sometimes especially with small children because no one has a car and walking is sometimes a huge hassel. And a lot of people dont care to make the sacrifice. She made it and we are now meeting with her. I WAS EVEN HAPPIER.
one of the other two faces belonged to a man we worked with almost 12 weeks ago. We never really made progress with him, but about two weeks we saw him on the bus, he said he would go to our church in two weeks and HE ACTUALLY CAME. everyone says it, but HE CAME and brought a friend. we had 4 non members in sacrament meeting. This is the most we have ever had! I thought i was going to have have a heart attack i was so happy. They all liked the church and say they will come every sunday. What an awesome experience.
These were such dramatic answers to our prayers that there is no question that HF was literally saying, well here ya go. It is so interesting. This transfer i have been praying for a lot of things to strengthen my testimony. Well we have been teaching this girl, Ronessia she has 19 years and is a mom and ´married´ She keeps all her commitments as far as reading and praying. We are working with her on the word of wisdom, but she is really amazing. I know that she probably doesnt understand everything she reads in the BOM but we had an awesome experience with her. I asked, ar eyou still reading in the book of mormon and how do you feel. She said she liked it a lot and then asked me a question that once again floored me, she asked: Sometimes when i read it, I cry, why do i cry? That Book has power, it is the word of God, I know it and Ronessia knows it. I will never be able to deny the power it has had in my life and in the lives of our investigators. It is true, it is power.
irmã Elba, I think I have talked about her before, is a recent convert of about 7 months. This woman is amazing and very humble. She has hands down had the hardest life i have ever heard of anyone having, and a majority of the problems she has had were from circumstance. I had the amazing opportunity to understand what the gospel truly means to someone with so little. For her, it is everything and it what lifts her. I love this woman and am so grateful for the example and her testimony.
all in all God answers my prayers. Dont think for a second that it´s just because i am a amissionary. It doesnt matter He hears us, He loves us. Sometimes we have to wait a little bit, but it is in His infinite wisdom. He wants to help us in anyway that will really truly help us. Like in Matt 7:11 if we being imperfect have the instinct to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our PERFECT Father in Heaven give us. This last transfer the attribute of Christ I was trying to develop more fully was love, for God for others. From all this I think i just became more aware of the Love the God and others have for me. What a blessing.
This week is carnaval so i dont know how much we will work, last year presidente took the sisters out of this area to stay with the other sisters for a week. we will see.
i love you all.
proud to wear the tag,
Sister JESSICA RUTH PETERSON
Sunday we witnessed miracles and the thought of leaving right when the work was picking up left me feeling sad. For the past two transfers we have been working with a mother and her 10 year old son who seems like he is 14. Andre, the son is ready for baptism, and Andrea has a lot of problems, but Saturday night we marked a day for baptism for Andrea. She has never really showed that much of an interest in going to church so when she said, yes i would like to be baptized, i was floored. Presidente decided that it is best to wait for her also before we baptize Andre. She had never been to church before, i had my doubts but she went on Sunday and loved it! She has a lot of things to work on first but she is progressing and it is awesome.
This week was less stressful but we were still worried that Geni wouldnt come to church to be confirmed but we prayed a lot this week. Heavenly Father poured out his blessings on us. We walked to the gate of our church and right behind us was Andre and Andrea. I smiled and was happy. We walked into the chapel, there was Geni in her ironed dress ready for confirmation. I smiled bigger. I looked at this small congregation and found three new faces. One of them was a less active member who that day just felt the need to go to church. This is almost unheard of, especially with the fact that she has two small children. It is really hard for a lot of people to come to church sometimes especially with small children because no one has a car and walking is sometimes a huge hassel. And a lot of people dont care to make the sacrifice. She made it and we are now meeting with her. I WAS EVEN HAPPIER.
one of the other two faces belonged to a man we worked with almost 12 weeks ago. We never really made progress with him, but about two weeks we saw him on the bus, he said he would go to our church in two weeks and HE ACTUALLY CAME. everyone says it, but HE CAME and brought a friend. we had 4 non members in sacrament meeting. This is the most we have ever had! I thought i was going to have have a heart attack i was so happy. They all liked the church and say they will come every sunday. What an awesome experience.
These were such dramatic answers to our prayers that there is no question that HF was literally saying, well here ya go. It is so interesting. This transfer i have been praying for a lot of things to strengthen my testimony. Well we have been teaching this girl, Ronessia she has 19 years and is a mom and ´married´ She keeps all her commitments as far as reading and praying. We are working with her on the word of wisdom, but she is really amazing. I know that she probably doesnt understand everything she reads in the BOM but we had an awesome experience with her. I asked, ar eyou still reading in the book of mormon and how do you feel. She said she liked it a lot and then asked me a question that once again floored me, she asked: Sometimes when i read it, I cry, why do i cry? That Book has power, it is the word of God, I know it and Ronessia knows it. I will never be able to deny the power it has had in my life and in the lives of our investigators. It is true, it is power.
irmã Elba, I think I have talked about her before, is a recent convert of about 7 months. This woman is amazing and very humble. She has hands down had the hardest life i have ever heard of anyone having, and a majority of the problems she has had were from circumstance. I had the amazing opportunity to understand what the gospel truly means to someone with so little. For her, it is everything and it what lifts her. I love this woman and am so grateful for the example and her testimony.
all in all God answers my prayers. Dont think for a second that it´s just because i am a amissionary. It doesnt matter He hears us, He loves us. Sometimes we have to wait a little bit, but it is in His infinite wisdom. He wants to help us in anyway that will really truly help us. Like in Matt 7:11 if we being imperfect have the instinct to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our PERFECT Father in Heaven give us. This last transfer the attribute of Christ I was trying to develop more fully was love, for God for others. From all this I think i just became more aware of the Love the God and others have for me. What a blessing.
This week is carnaval so i dont know how much we will work, last year presidente took the sisters out of this area to stay with the other sisters for a week. we will see.
i love you all.
proud to wear the tag,
Sister JESSICA RUTH PETERSON
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