Category: Jardim America – Sister Villatoro (Page 2 of 2)

We did it! Another week, another P-day. This week felt really long and had its ups and downs. We had lots of success in some areas and lots of perseverance in others. Shall we jump right in? We shall!

First, we had a pretty normal start to the week. Mon-Wed was just the usual preach, teach, and be trying not to choose the streets with the most sewage flooding (I’m very bad at that). More than once this week I’ve made my poor companion, who just wants to finish her mission in peace, walk through blackwater puddles because we were running late to a lesson. She was doing ok with it until we saw a rat run through the very same puddle we’d just gotten out of. After a few moments of her speaking in tongues, the only word of which I understood being “Ratatouille,” it was agreed no more plague-puddles and I bought her a pastel to make up for my poor route-planning. 

On Thursday, we had ZONE CONFERENCE! It was really inspiring about uniting with members, more effective planning, and magnifying our eternal callings. We had a great family night afterward and felt so empowered to work so diligently the following days.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. My comp ended up getting sick, she blames it on the rat water but I’m confident it’s got something to do with climate change. We ended up staying home all day Friday doing references, then most of Saturday in the hospital. It meant we had poucas pessoas in church this week but we still saw miracles. For instance, more than 15 people answered the phone, accepted return visits, and 2 of them accepted to be baptized!! I might not be the one to baptize them, but I’m a part of their conversion story.

Today my companion is having a P-day with President and Sister Martins because she’s in her last transfer so I’m here with Sister Lima e Sister Santiago. They say they have some crazy ideas planned for today so I’m pretty excited but also have no idea what we’re doing. Because of this I’ll end soon with a quick scripture from Come, Follow Me.

Romans 1:16

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;”

Don’t be afraid of what you live and know to be true, it’s God working His powers of salvation in your life. 

That’s all folks, Tchau tchau for now!

Com amor, 

Sister Alyssa Grace

Jaboatão Dos Guararapes, Brasil

Let me explain. Our house of 4 Americanas has the affectionate title of the White House, for obvious reasons. This week we had transfers and we were all so worried that one of our quad would leave us. When they finally sent out the mission map it was discovered that not 1, not 2, but 3 of the White House would leave for Garanhuns leaving only a very sad Sister Grace behind.

Anyway, I am still here in Jardim América, and my new companion is Sister Villatoro from Guatemala. This is her last transfer in the mission so my first kill. She says she’s tired but we’ve worked so hard this week that I don’t believe her. We’ve got 2 friends preparing for baptism on the 25th and lots more with potential for June.

The other two Sisters in the house are Sister Santiago and Sister Lima, both from Brasil. The whole house dynamic has completely changed and I’m just here for the ride. They all have more time than me and I’m learning lots. 

Before getting broken up, me and sister Tadje were able to take one of our recent converts to the temple and it was so special. I loved helping him find out who his family was so he could take their names to do their baptisms. There is so much about a mission that is hard that we sometimes forget just how good it is too. I love meeting new people, learning about them, and then getting to share what I love with them. When they don’t accept it’s their choice, and when they do accept it’s everyone’s happiness.

Anyways just a quick scripture from a great conference talk by Elder Bednar that I studied this week. 

Psalm 46:10 

“Be still, and know that I am God”

How will you be still and know Him this week?

That’s all folks, Tchau tchau for now!

Com amor, 

Sister Alyssa Grace

Jaboatão Dos Guararapes, Brasil