Boa tarde pessoal, como vocês estão? Tudo tá ótimo aqui em Candelária. Porém, essa semana recebemos as notícias que nossa área vai fechar pra Elderes Eu cheguei recentemente e estava amando Candelária mas tudo bem. Deus precisa de mim em outras áreas então aonde Ele me manda, eu vou.

Enough of Portuguese, let’s get into the week. It was fun but we lost a lot of time working in our area because of surprises and setbacks. On Tuesday we had interviews with President. Usually, we lose like 3 hours of the day traveling, interviewing, and eating with other missionaries. This time however we lost 8 hours and I’m still not entirely sure how. I think everyone just talked for a really long time with President so by the time it was my turn, I was already tired and had a very fast 10-minute interview. But it went fairly well so tudo bem.

I got called to play the piano on the Saturday session of stake conference because the only guy in the stake who knows how to play works on Saturdays. I had to learn 6 hymns and 1 special musical number with a choir. For 30 minutes – 1 hour every day this week I was practicing. I’m actually very grateful for this time though because music always has a way of drawing my focus back to where it needs to be.

We also had 2 emergency baptisms in our chapel from other missionaries. One on Saturday where we went, filled the font, put up chairs, and then left again to work. The Sisters afterwards sent us photos and everything turned out really sweet. Then, Sunday afternoon, we got a call saying that the Elders needed to use our font so we went to the church to fill it back up. But, after stake conference, the whole chapel was trashed so we spent a good hour sweeping and mopping before setting up all the chairs. Sadly, we got a return call saying they didn’t need it and we had to take everything back down.

Overall though, it’s been a good time. I would like to share this scripture I heard this week which is John 21:25

“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written everyone, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen”

This scripture helps me remember that we don’t even have half of the records or accounts of everything Christ did. There is so much we don’t know but one day will be revealed. We don’t have all the answers because we aren’t capable of handling all of the information right now. With time and endurance, all things will be made known and everyone will know exactly who Christ is.

Not much else I have to say other than please pray for my friend Mateus. He has come so far and everything is finally starting to work out. Pray that his baptism happens this week

That’s all folks, Tchau tchau for now!

Com amor, 

Sister Alyssa Grace

Jaboatão Dos Guararapes, Brasil

Hey!!!! This week was really something, because…

We had 2 baptisms!!! Lemme tell y’all about ’em.

First, we had our friend Pedro. He’s 18 and first heard about the church through a member who stopped to help him one day when he got sick in a hotel. They exchanged contacts and started dating months later. She told him a little about the church but never forced it on him. A few months later, after he learned that one of his professors (a member of the bishopric in our ward) was a member he received an invite in passing to come to church. Surprise to us when this unknown person walks into church and following the spirit, we invite him to be baptized and he accepts on the first contact. It’s been so incredible to teach someone so excited and eager to learn about the gospel.

Next, we had our friend Zezinho who is 56 years old. Sister Zurita met him 5 months ago during an exchange and she can testify that he had a problem with pretty much every commandment in the book. After a few weeks of him not progressing, the first Sisters stopped teaching him. Then, out of nowhere, we run into him and he’s completely changed his life and is looking for a way to follow Christ. We invite him to be baptized right then and there and he accepts. Although he is the son of a Baptist Pastor, there is a lot he’s forgotten or never learned about the kindness of God. One thing Zezinho taught me is that we all have gifts and Zezinho was blessed with the gift of change.

Gonna finish with just a great scripture from Alma 31

34 O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ. 

35 Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.

These are our brethren we are out here to help. We can all make it back, thanks to the mercy and love of our perfect Savior, Jesus Christ.

That’s all folks, Tchau tchau for now!

Com amor, 

Sister Alyssa Grace

Jaboatão Dos Guararapes, Brasil

Boa Tarde! This week was really fun and really tiring and I figured I’d just give you all the highlights from it.

– We reorganized our house and now are collecting photos from old church magazines to make a cool wallpaper

– Our 2 friends, (Pedro e Zezinho) are all ready for their baptisms this Saturday!

– We talked to 20 new people every single day this week and we’re getting quite well-known out here

I finally saw the beach, I can’t go to it but I got a few pictures 

– After 3 weeks of not getting any media references we got 10 last week!

– Someone completely unknown just showed up to church and now we are gonna start teaching him and his whole family

– An old man asked me if I was Albino

– Lots and lots of cows, pigs, and horses loose in the streets

I’ve really felt closer to my companion this week than ever before. Not because anything spectacular happened, we just spent more time talking and joking around. It was fun and unstressful and still very productive. 

Sometimes we forget that this life is more than just the numbers or the work we do. We came to this earth to experience joy. If we find ourselves serving and struggling to feel the happiness God offers, we need to review our efforts and realign our will with His. This is a work of love, peace, and joy. We don’t have to wait until the end to start feeling it, we can experience his promised blessings today!

“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” 2 Nephi 2:25

That’s all folks, Tchau tchau for now!

Com amor, 

Sister Alyssa Grace

Jaboatão Dos Guararapes, Brasil

Feliz Aniversário Pai!! In case you didn’t know, today is my Dad’s birthday. As such, this email is about him.

About 20 years ago, I made my Dad a father again for the third time. 8 years after that, my Dad helped me enter the covenant path by being a worthy priesthood holder and baptizing me in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1 year ago he stood by my side as I opened the call that told me where I would be spending the next 18 months of my life serving God. And just 8 months ago, he gave me one last hug and waved me goodbye. 

My Dad is one of my best friends. He is smart, funny, spiritual, and loving. I loved every moment of fishing, hunting, working by his side, singing in the car, watching him play drums, or listening to his dumb jokes. As a missionary I’ve treasured the opportunity I have to talk with him every week, seeking advice, comfort, and strength. Even today, on his birthday, he sacrificed his time to listen to my problems and help me work through them.

I’m motivated to be a more dedicated missionary and disciple of Jesus Christ because of my father’s example. He’s not perfect, but I couldn’t imagine a better earthly father for myself.

Love you Dad

Com amor, 

Sister Alyssa Grace

Jaboatão Dos Guararapes, Brasil

How is everyone doing on this fine P-day we’re having? I hope we are all great! This last week was pretty fun: I got sick, did an exchange, got some new people to church, and invited 2 people for baptism!

Last Monday while on a call with my parents I started getting really sick and ended up having to go to the doctor. Infelizmente, the doctor took one look at me and decided I probably wouldn’t understand whatever diagnosis he’d give me so he chose not to explain. Tudo bem, he gave me a shot and allergy medicine and I am feeling much better so can’t really complain I guess.

On Thursday I went over to a nearby area called Jangadeiro to do an exchange with Sister Fisher. Come to find out she’s from Saratoga Springs and we have the same birthday. We got lots of work done over in her area and it was a nice day to meet someone who’s been practically my neighbor my whole life.

We had 6 people come to church yesterday. Of the people we invited, only 1 came but the ward here is proving just how powerful member missionary work is ’cause they brought the other 5 new friends. One of them we chatted with just a bit after church and he straight up said “I want to be baptized” and we were like, “We know somebody who can help with that.” Boom, Pedro’s being baptized Mar. 16! We also reconnected with an old friend this week who’s finally gotten over some bad habits who will also be baptized Mar. 16. Pray for Pedro e Zezinho.

Something Sister Zurita told me on my first day here is that the work on this side of the map isn’t very physically exhausting. The area is about 1/5 of the size of my last one, there isn’t a single hill, and I’m already pretty adjusted to the heat. She then went on to explain that here is all a mental game and I really felt it this week. There were times I was extremely frustrated with myself or with others, I felt alone or wanted to be alone, and didn’t understand how I could be feeling all this while still trying my hardest to serve God. The words to Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail ring true for all of us.

“My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.” (D&C 121:7-9)

My afflictions really are temporary because of the infinite and eternal Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know I have people supporting me and praying for my success. There is nothing I can’t do if God has commanded me to do it. I’d do better to remember and live by all this, as I’m sure we all could. I challenge us all to endure just a little better and to recognize the hand of God in our day-to-day struggles. I promise as we do so, we’ll feel the peace he promises in our souls.

That’s all folks, Tchau tchau for now!

Com amor, 

Sister Alyssa Grace

Jaboatão Dos Guararapes, Brasil

E aí pessoal, como vocês estão? Things are pretty good over here. Sorry, it’s gonna be a short one ’cause we are pretty busy today. I got to my new area, Candelária with Sister Zurita. She’s from Bolivia and we have about the same time on the mission. The first day we spent running around getting things ready for a last-minute baptism which turned out really good. 

Sunday was a fun day getting to know the ward and all our new friends. We got lost a few times ’cause I know nothing about our area and she isn’t familiar with everything but we’re having fun. What’s been a little hard is the work is pretty different on this side of the mission. We have apartment buildings to make visits in and very few parks to make contacts at. I feel like I’m being trained all over again adjusting to this new style of work, but I’m excited for it.

I still haven’t seen the ocean but she has plans on taking me past there sometime this week so get ready for some pictures next Monday. Anywho…

That’s all folks, Tchau tchau for now!

Com amor, 

Sister Alyssa Grace

Jaboatão Dos Guararapes, Brasil