Category: Candeias – Sister Motuga (Page 1 of 3)

Last Monday I confidently stated to my family that this week would be pretty normal with no changes or large events. And I was mostly right, until Friday…

*Set the scene* Wednesday we were walking in the street (we do that a lot) when the Housing Secretaries called us. They told us that on Friday we would be moving apartments so we had to pack. The Elders unfortunately forgot to send us any details about the move, including the new address. We were quite literally lost. Luckily, with the help of some awesome members, we made it to our chic new apartment on the very, very far side of our area. I probably would’ve complained about the distance if it hadn’t been for Saturday…

*Background* Our President extended our last transfer so instead of being a normal 6 weeks it ended up being 10, making this next week’s transfer, a very anticipated change. Saturday President called a last minute meeting where he said almost every single missionary would move or receive a new companion. In my last interview, Pres. said I would finish my mission here in Candeias, but he must’ve received revelation because my transfer letter says me and Sister Motuga are being transferred to Caruaru this Wednesday! The distance to our new house doesn’t matter because I’ll only be here for 3 more days. That means I got to pack everything up again (this is the 9th time) on Tuesday. Why not today you ask? Because today…

*Reveal* Today is actually Sunday, but I’m not writing or packing on Monday because I’ll be at a Super P-day Halloween Party playing dodgeball dressed as the Angel Moroni. The things you do while doing the Lord’s work. Anyway, for these reasons the week was rather interesting and the email was hopefully slightly more dramatic than usual. 

Gotta blast, 🫡

Tchau Tchauuu 

Com amor, 

Sister Alyssa Grace

Candeias – Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Brasil

Things my companion has said this week that have stuck with me.

“I can’t be bothered … I’m unbothered … I’m unbotherable.”

“My dad is also good at maths” *she then had to spell it out cause I could not understand the word ‘maths’*

“Do yous have KFC over there? In America?”

“Do you know that one character in Harry Potter who looks like a witch?”

*after someone asks us not to come to their house again because their not interested* “Maybe they’re shy.”

“Você vai receber o Espírito Santos” = “You will receive the Holy Ghosts” *I still can’t work up the courage to tell her it’s just one Holy Ghost and not multiple*

“Let’s go knock at the blue house!”

Ok so that last one actually has a cool story with it. We had been knocking on doors for about 2 days straight and were having minimal success. We entered a street and knocked about 4 doors before I was ready to give up and head to the next street down. Sister Motuga goes over to said blue house and pronounces that she will knock. I, thoroughly not wanting to but also not having anything better to do, followed alongside her.

There we met Erika. She has recently been trying to come unto Christ by herself and with her husband and 3 kids. She’d been studying and reading a lot online and felt confused by the overwhelming doctrinal differences. She read about the Plan of Salvation and felt a deep desire to learn more about pre-mortal life and our mortal purpose. She prayed to have God send her a sign that she was looking on the right path. 

About 3 hours later, we knock on her door. Since then, we’ve gotten to know her whole family, and are working with them to help build their faith. They have so many sincere questions and bring powerful spiritual insights from their own studies. It is truly a delight to teach such elect children of God. We were all answers to one another’s prayers.

Thanks for your prayers, we feel them, and see Heavenly Father answering them!!

Gotta blast, 🫡

Tchau Tchauuu 

Com amor, 

Sister Alyssa Grace

Candeias – Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Brasil

Wow!! What a powerful weekend. In case you missed it, we had the marvelous opportunity to revive ourselves spiritually by listening to prophets, seers, and revelators. This was the first conference since April 2020 where I didn’t miss a single talk and it was truly a blessing. Due to what I’ll call, good planning, we managed to help several people watch Conference while also guaranteeing our own reverent time to enjoy Conference.

Everything else this week pales in comparison to this conference. I’m not really sure what we did every day other than talk about prophets and invite everybody to watch. My personal favorite talks were by Kristin M. Yee, who spoke about her experience with the painting, and Karl D. Hurst, he’s the one who talked about love (or luvf as said in his accent). 

If there was one thing I took away from Conference it was just this feeling of trust and confidence. I feel not only able to meet the upcoming challenges but excited for them. So many of the speakers spoke of repentance that I was filled with a strong desire and eagerness to repent and become better right here and right now. 

Sometimes we walk away feeling overwhelmed by the reminder of all the things there are to do and the little time we feel we have to do them. But the intent is to excite, heal, encourage, and advise. We are not called every 6 months to hear that the membership standard of excellence has been raised or receive nothing but chastisements for all our shortcomings. Just hearing these men and women who have spent months prayerfully considering the needs of us, the church, we feel the love of the Savior through them.

Please don’t wait until next conference to feel these feelings again, study and prayerfully consider the message of each talk and its application in your life. Remember, good times are coming!

Gotta blast, 🫡

Tchau Tchauuu 

What’s up Lehi!!! Hope everyone is good and ready for another week and new month. We’re entering the last lap of the year so let’s make sure we all start off strong by watching General Conference this weekend. This week for us was tough but this Sunday was incredible!!

First, we’ve had the opportunity to prepare two sisters for baptism and yesterday was such a blessed and happy day. They were baptized and their family, friends, and ward all came out to support them. They have my heart and I can’t wait to keep finding more miracles like them. 

Our zone decided to do a Book of Mormon photo contest where every companionship needed to re-enact a scripture scene, I’ll send some examples. Sister Motuga and I did Ammon teaching King Lamoni. We were quite busy all week and ended up submitting it Saturday night 5 minutes before the deadline. It was done late but it was done well as we ended up winning!!!

Finally, our mission broke two all-time mission records. Firstly, we baptized 85 people in one week, the previous record was 75. Then in the month of September, we reached 245 baptisms in a single month that had never been done before. We got a lot accomplished in September but I’m ready to rededicate myself to serving more like the Savior in these last few months of the year.

I close with the words of Ammon

Alma 26:11-12:

11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

Gotta blast, 🫡

Tchau Tchauuu 

Com amor, 

Sister Alyssa Grace

Candeias – Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Brasil