Sister Aundrea Evans In Sao Paulo

Not much of an email this week but she sent pictures.  2 Nephi 4:15-35  sums up how she’s feeling lately :

15 And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learningand the profit of my children.

16 Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.

17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.

18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.

19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.

20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.

21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.

22 He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.

23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.

24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.

25 And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.

26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?

27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?

28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.

29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.

30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

31 O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?

32 May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!

33 O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.

34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.

This week was literally exhausting. idk how I’m alive. We tried our best to use all of our resources this week, and it didn´t work very well. Maybe we were doing it wrong. We just ended up with painful legs and backs. idk. We´re going to plan a little better this week so that we don´t have to run everywhere anymore. Because running sucks. Okay no, not running… speed walking. Speed walking sucks. It´s worse than running. You actually get there faster when you run. But it´s okay, we survived. Barely. We switched focus areas like 4 times this week, so maybe you have an idea of what I’m talking about. One neighborhood one day, another the next, and another the next. And appointments in the other neighborhoods, so yeah. It was a lack of planning on our part, but we´ll do better this week. It kinda hit me this week that I’m getting old, as I will officially be 20 1/2 years old this week. I still feel like I’m 16. And mentally 11. What the heck. 

But anyway, yesterday was a miracle. We almost didn´t bring any investigators to church. We went to 2 other people and they weren´t there, and so we went to the last one, which is a wonderful fancy lady, who happened to bring along her granddaughter, who is also super fancy and 17 years old. And also, several members brought family or friends, and so we marked with them to visit this week. We also had ward council meeting where we discussed only the missionary work. Like how to get more references for the missionaries, to do divisions with us, to visit investigators with us, and it was super productive. I learned a lot, especially what the ward expects of us, and they learned what we expect of them. It was awesome. It´s gonna be a blast. But anyway, that´s about it. 

I know that our Heavenly Father loves us, and blesses us more than we deserve. When we do our best, and yet think that we failed, He blesses us, and helps us to know what to do to be better. We just have to remember that we are not perfect, and He knows that, and He will help us to become like Him. 

Love you all!! boa semana!!

 

 

This week was indeed a defining moment in my mission. It started out normal, and in all honesty, going through the motions. Except for one thing. Bruno. We were knocking doors Friday afternoon, and were having no success whatsoever. When we came to this door and a guy answered. His name was Bruno and he accepted our invitation to go to church, and we prayed with him and continued on our way. We didn’t expect him to go, because everyone who says they´ll go visit our church but we don´t need to pick them up, never goes. But come Sunday, who was there? Bruno. That same day we taught him the Restoration and afterwards he went with the men to a priesthood conference meeting at the stake center. That week we followed up with him every day, and he said he really enjoyed church and the conference, and was making friends and texting other members and everything. We had originally marked his baptism for the following Sunday, but we felt he was ready, as he accepted literally everything and more, and moved his date for Thursday. And it was a beautiful baptism. There was a ton of members there to support him, which was a miracle, because we thought nothing would work out. But it did. 

Friday we had a muti zone conference with the president of the area aka a general authority, and he totally burned us but it was great. I learned a lot and I left there wanting to be a better missionary. I wanted to change the vision I had of the work. When I got home I pondered and meditated and studied about what he said, and began to change my perspective. Then Saturday we had lunch with this couple in the ward. This brother was inspired from God, and it was just what I needed. He talked about the work, asked if we were doing certain thins or not (he was a bishop in another ward) and he didn’t burn us on purpose, but I felt burned. And he helped a ton. He reminded me what it is all about. I remembered what I was missing. It was the Spirit. I had grown accustomed to the Spirit and unconsciously began to rely on my own knowledge and abilities to guide the work. He gave us some tips and we applied them, and it worked. 

Then Sunday, Bruno was confirmed, and as it was fast and testimony meeting, he went up to bear his testimony, and my comp and I almost had heart attacks. He went up there and I felt like I was in one of those beautiful mission stories that I’ve always heard about but never experienced. He talked briefly about how before, he wasn’t leaving the house at all, he was kinda sad, annoyed with life, basically falling into depression. He decided prayed to God for help, and a little later we knocked on his door. And everything changed. He said he felt himself become happier as he came to know Jesus Christ. And we cried. Just a little. And then the same brother that helped me rethink my life bore his testimony and I cried more. Then later I was so full of gratitude and awe and belief in miracles that when I tried to thank the brother I kinda broke down and so I just said thanks and ran out of the chapel. 

But I really am grateful for this week. I now have a testimony that miracles are real, and that Heavenly Father answers our prayers, oftentimes through other people. I had in fact been praying for help to change my vision or perspective, and it happened. The sad news is that this all happened the last few days of the transfer, but the good news is that nothing changed and sis Benitez and I will stay here in Eden together for 6 more weeks!! Also like I prayed for!! 

But all in all, I know that this church is true, and I know that it is my duty as a representative of Jesus Christ to teach repentance, and baptize converts. This gospel changes lives, and it is the gospel of \Jesus Christ. NOTHING CAN STOP THIS WORK. No matter what anyone does, it will never stop. God doesn’t permit anyone to disrupt it. Satan and his followers can throw everything they´ve got at the church, but this work will never stop. 

BOA SEMANA! AMO VOCÊS!!!

PS. there´s a ton of Brazilians praying for yáll in Houston.

Sister Evans