Wow! I wish wish wish I hadn't forgotten my camera cord, cuz I want to show you pictures of this beautiful, amazing Sister I'm working with! Seriously, I think I'm the luckiest trainer ever. Sister Lima is straight from the MTC, fresh from Brazil! She was called on a PORTUGESE speaking mission. Ahem. So in all technicality, I shouldn't be her trainer, and she shouldn't be able to speak a lick of English. She didn't go to the MTC for English or anything. But she started learning a couple months before the mission, on her own, just in case. I'm pretty sure Heavenly Father was preparing me for a language barrier with Sister Godoy, because Sister Lima is still in the process of learning English.
BUT if you could all hear her you'd be SO impressed with how much she already knows! She's learning rapidly and eager to be a wonderful missionary. I absolutely love her. :) :) :) I was so excited when we went to transfer meeting. Usually we get our greenies in a meeting before transfer meeting, but the newbies were late, so DURING transfer meeting, in front of all the missionaries/members piled into my old chapel, President called for each of the new missionaries to stand and meet their trainer. :) :) So I came running down from the very back of the chapel to give her a big hug! It was so awesome!!!!!!!!!
Oh, I also saw Kevin and Katie!!!!! Sister Hoellein was transferred, so all of their original missionaries are gone now. :( But it was wonderful to see them! Kevin had typed out his testimony and gave it to me. It's seriously one of the neatest things ever. Makes all of this work so beyond worth it.
I have to tell you just a little more about Sister Lima. She is all smiles. Seriously. Nothing could ever depress her. Everything I told her about the area or about our plans or the apartment or the Elders we work with or. . . ANYTHING, she responded, "Oh, that's awesome! I'm the luckiest missionary EVER!" In her cute Brazilian accent. It's basically the best. <3
And her FIRST day, we got (get this) 6 new investigators! It was amazing!!!! Her very first appointment was with a high potential investigator. As soon as we read a verse from the Book of Mormon with her, she started crying. She said, "I knew that you were going to read something about that." It's so amazing, how the Spirit can touch people. <3 Elizabeth is 20 and a single mom. :( Her friend in the single's ward called us up to have her meet with us. I'm so glad he did. She has the cutest baby boy and came to church this Sunday. It was so great!
That night, we got the other 5 investigators. Cool story: Brother Frandsen, our ward mission leader, invited his co-worker to bear his testimony in our ward for Fast and Testimony meeting. His co-worker (Roque) is not of our faith, but had an incredible story he wanted to share to the world. His mother was dying of cancer, and finally the doctors called him and told him his mom had 2 hours to live. He rushed to the hospital, knelt by her bed, and poured out his heart to God, begging him to spare his mom. He said he knewGod was listening. He felt Heavenly Father strengthening is mother as he knelt there. It is now 3 weeks later, and she's doing great, on her way to recovery. It was an amazing story for him, and he didn't know how to tell it to everyone. That's why Brother Frandsen invited him to speak! And he DID! And I asked if he wanted to learn more, and he readily accepted, so on Sister Lima's first day, we met with him, his girlfriend, and his 3 daughters at the Frandsen's home. It was an amazing lesson! They all committed to start reading the Book of Mormon! They're so excited to learn more.
We taught Tiffany again. With her fiancée Lovelle. They are so neat! I am really excited for their progress! They came to church on Sunday and brought 4 kids between them! We're so excited to bring this family to the truth!!!
One more thing! Lovely was baptized Sunday. Elder Garrido baptized her, Sister Lima and I did a musical number, and she bore her testimony. It was beautiful! What an amazing miracle. We're so proud of her and that entire household. <3
I love it here. I love all of the people. The members, the investigators, the less-actives. The missionaries I work with and my dear companion. She's truly a rockstar. She makes me laugh and is pretty much the sweetest sister I've ever met. Thank you all for your prayers in behalf of me and the people I'm working with.
I love you all so much! My niece is two! Jocelyn is in the MTC!
Everyone--read your scriptures 20 minutes longer than usual the next time you do! It's truly a conduit to heaven.
Love,
Sister Merkley
MBM Missionary
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
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