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Category: January 2018

Hard Work Pays Off

Hard Work Pays Off

This week we worked our butts off. And we used literally every resource we have access to. And it paid off. we have been working with this girl who was baptized alone when she was 8 and her parents weren´t because they weren´t legally married yet, but then they moved states and they moved back and now she´s 18 and her family always went to church in Epoca. But we´ve been working with them and we had a spiritual lesson on Saturday and the whole family, (her, her mom, step dad, and sister) went to church and it was the most beautiful thing. Wow. Her mom and step dad are now legally married and are progressing and will soon be baptized. I will not go home until they are baptized. They love the church, especially the mom. The step dad is cool too, but he drinks a lot, but we´ll help him understand that it´s worth it to leave behind something we enjoy for something bigger. And that´s a principle I understand well as a missionary. It´s gonna be great. I love helping people see their potential and the eternal perspective. For example, fasting. We sacrifice food and drink for 24 hours with the intention of becoming nearer to God or to invoke a blessing for a specific cause. And it works. I know that sacrifice truly brings miracles into our lives. I am grateful to be here, to be able to give everything that I have and want to the Lord, and know that He will give me something better. I know that we are children of God, and we need to remember that. He loves us, and we are never alone. 

Amo vocês!!!! Boa semana!!!

Sister Evans

Burger King in Brazil

This lazy cat kept lying down so we’d play with it

 

we got scared because of the large amount of people in the street

Hello Kitty whahhattt
Best fudgesicle I’ve ever eaten
Freeeee Pizzzzzzzaaaaaa
This dog gives hug- it’s hilarious

 

I went to New York

Little Signs of God

Little Signs of God

This week I got sick. It was real fun. My stomach just didn´t want anything near it. Maybe it´s a parasite, maybe it´s Maybelline. But I’m better now. Things are staying still. For now. Anyway, this week was kinda slow for me, because it´s been a while since we´ve had a baptism I got kinda down. But yesterday my comp and I made plans to consecrate ourselves 100% until the end, and it´s gonna be good. I’m really excited. I want to finish the mission giving my all. Until the dust. 

This week I looked a lot for the little signs of God´s hand in my life. For example, the wind. You can´t see wind. You feel it, see it touch the trees and the leaves and your hair, and if you listen hard you can hear it. And God is the same way. We mortals don´t have the privilege of being able to see God, but we know He exists because we feel Him, we see His works, we see Him touch the lives of people around us, and if we listen hard, we can hear Him. I know that God lives because of the love I have for my family, and their love for me that I feel. I know that God lives because there are so many good people that do good things. I know that God lives because people have died and suffered for His cause, teaching His gospel. I know that God lives because I have felt His love for those around me. Sometimes we have hard times, and it seems like we´re all alone with all the odds against us, but we are never alone. There is always someone there cheering us on. Our family, friends, our future family, and our Heavenly Parents and our dear brother Jesus Christ. They love us. 

It´s weird when all your friends get back from their missions, and all your friends that you made on the mission are no longer there, and you´re just there still. But it really puts things into perspective. This life goes fast. No matter what happens, everything will pass. So we need to make the most of the time we have so we can look back with content on what we accomplished. We just have to be a little bit better every day. 

Love you all!! Boa semana!!!

Last day of the New Year
Fireworks celebrating the new year
Kitten
Daughter of a recent convert
Results after walking in a rainstorm
real scorpion
Leafbrella
!st day of the New Year

 

The only monkey I’ve seen in Brazil & it’s in a cage
Yummy hamburger
Bruno & Starlin my Haitian child
we did a division in Eden and I saw my familyyyyyyyyy
New Year, New Beginning

New Year, New Beginning

This week, so many things happened that it feels like a month since I emailed everyone. first of all, 2018 started, the Lord´s prophet went home, I did a division in Eden, my other area, we cleaned a recent convert´s house so he could move in, we found some new people to teach, sister Gonçalves finished her mission, other friends finished their missions, I have a new companion that actually came last week and we were in trio until Gonçalves left yesterday…. yeah. I’m kinda exhausted. 

But anyway, transfers happened again, and I’ll be staying in Trujillo (probably for the rest of my mission) with sister costa from Portugal. She´s cool, we´re gonna have a blast. And now I have to train my comp on how to be a sister training leader even though I’ve only been one for a little over a month and I don´t know anything and I’ll probably die but that´s okay. I’m grateful for the members here that are so loving and willing to help. I’ll for sure need to lean on them a bit this transfer. I also have like 4 moms here so that´s fun. All I know is that I’ll probably have white hair when I get back. And not just because the sun bleached it. 

But I am excited (and nervous) for this New Year; I have no idea what will happen. It´s really weird when your mission friends finish their missions and you´re left alone with the greenies haha. You get a bit trunky but also you put the mission into perspective and realize that your time is coming to a close and so you work even harder. I made a promise with the Lord that these last two transfers of my mission will be the most consecrated transfers of my life. I’m going to be more obedient, more loving, more Christ like. I’m gonna give it all. 

Sometimes it´s hard for me to keep focused. Sometimes I get stressed and forget why I’m here and what I’m teaching. But then I have a self-evaluation and I set goals to get better. Then I study harder, bear my testimony more, think less about myself, and it gets better. 

I am so grateful that I could be here preaching the gospel. I love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and I know that they love me. I know that if we do our best and strive to progress, God will take care of the rest. (“all of this is true… because it rhymes´´)

boa semana e novo ano!!!!

I’m sorry that there are no pics idk what´s happening with my card but I’ll get it fixed soon. 

— Sister Evans

 

FELIZ ANO NOVO!!!

FELIZ ANO NOVO!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! 

Wow this year flew by. I can hardly believe it´s already 2018. I remember back in 2016 saying that I’d be going to Brazil and only would be back in 2018. How crazy. Well, I’m officially old. I know this because I no longer walk like I used to. And also my body pops in new places every day. But I could work another 6 months. 2 year mission let´s go! Anything to procrastinate that 14 hour plane ride!! 

But wow have I learned a lot this year. I learned to appreciate cars, how to talk to people, how to like people, how to deal with the problems of other people (I’m actually still learning that), how to apply Christ´s Atonement in my life, how to win the trust of people (muahahahaha), how to make changes in my life and in my attitude, how to work hard, how to go until there is nothing left, how to not cry when wanting to, how to laugh and smile when not wanting to, how to recognize the spirit, how to recognize the enemy, how to talk to my Heavenly Father… there´s more but that´s enough for now. 

This year was awesome. There were good times and bad times, difficult times and less difficult times, but it was great. I have changed a lot. My 2018 self is so much different than my 2016 self. It´s like I leveled up or something. But I am working to change even more, because we can´t stay stagnant. Change is necessary in our lives and in God´s plan. We all have huge potential.

My goal and challenge for everyone is to visualize who you want to be. What kind of person? What you will do? What do you want to accomplish? What qualities do you wish to develop? Etc. then make a list, or draw a picture or something to visualize the future you. Then make plans to become. There´s a scripture in D&C 58 that I found that basically tells you how to make goals.  

27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;      

 28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

So you can do what you want, as long as it´s righteous and does good to you and others. This helped me a lot these days, as I was stressing out about what I will do when I get home, but then I read this and I got calm and felt that it will all be okay, I just need to worry about what´s happening right now, and make myself better today. And take it all day by day, one day at a time. Like my mom always says. 

But anyway I hope we will all try to be better in 2018, because this New Year brings hope and change. And also probably the 2nd coming of Christ. Just sayin.

Amo vocês!!! Boa semana!!!!!!!

Sister Evans