Letters Home – Sister Aundrea Evans In Sao Paulo

THE TIME I ALMOST DIED and other grand adventures

February 21, 2017 dreainbrazil

P.S. I heard my new area wrong the first time. I am now in Pilar Do Sol, in Zone Sorocaba.

THIS WEEK WAS FULL OF MIRACLES

Basically I have done more cool things during this week than I have in my entire life. First of all, I almost died. Let me explain.

There we were, walking down the street in the late afternoon, watching the beginning of a storm that we had prayed for because it felt like a drought all week. The thunder and lightning was getting increasingly closer to us, but as there isn´t much we can do about that, we kept walking. We stopped for a moment to look at the rain that was falling in torrents except for where we were, and my companion (Sister Gonçalves) pointed out towards the clouds and BOOM!!!! CRACK!!!!!! The earth shook with thunder and lightning flashed, as I felt electricity surge through my body and crackle in my ears. I was doubled over for a moment and Sister Gonçalves had fallen to the ground. It took a second to realize what had happened, but we got up and ran to the dirt on the side of the road to get off the street. It turned out that as sis Gonçalves pointed, lightning struck, and an electric shock hit her finger, and as we were standing shoulder to shoulder, it went through her and into me. I felt it go through my body and out my right foot. Thank goodness for rubber-soled shoes. There were no side effects, except for the fact that I now have super strength, no big deal. Really though, we´re fine, and afterwards we were laughing and freaking out about how cool it was and telling the whole world about it. But really we could have died, but the Lord truly protected us, and we didn´t die. Woohoo!!

But basically, I got struck by lightning and survived. You know, the usual.

Also, we went to visit some recent converts, and they live in a place called a sitio, which is basically a country home outside the main city with lots of land and a great view. It´s gorgeous up there. Anyway, we went to visit, and they brought out this tupperware full of HONEYCOMB. They told me to eat it, and I was hesitant at first, because what even is honeycomb? Anyway, I put a piece in my mouth, and bit down into WAX. Immediately my tongue was coated in sweet honey and it was glorious. And you just chew until the honey is gone, and spit out a chunk of wax. I now know where beeswax comes from.

Also I ate a banana straight off the branch, and held this huge tortoise, and saw a huge spider almost as big as my hand. It was incredible.

So the more important part, this area is incredible. The members are so helpful and have the desire to help us, and people actually progress here! It is so different than Cerquilho in the best ways possible. It´s still freakin hard and freakin scorching, but I can honestly say I have never been happier in my entire life. I didn´t know I could feel this happy. I almost feel bad being this happy, but not bad enough to stop. Here´s a miracle:

We were knocking doors when we realized we had an appointment with a woman 2 hours earlier that we had missed. We ran over there, and she wasn´t home. We didn´t know if she had been there waiting and left, or if she had been there at all. We started walking back, and we saw a young lad sitting on a bench looking off into the distance, and decided to invite him real quick. We sat down and started conversing, and it turns out this kid has already done a year and 7 months of prison and he´s only 22. He was separated from his mom and sister for 9 years for some reason or another, and just found them, but his mom lives in a crack house and his sister lives with another woman. But he was sitting on this bench having just fought with his sister, contemplating what he´s gonna do with his life now. Later we talked to the lady we had an appointment with, and she wasn´t even home that day at all. All this happened to find this kid Daniel. And so we´ve been talking to him and teaching him and he came to church on Sunday. He´s super great. Last night we stopped by to talk to him and follow up about church. He was receptive and everything, just normal, and then my comp said with firmness, “This is the only true church of Jesus Christ on the earth.´´ and Daniel got nervous saying, do you know what you´re saying, and the responsibility you are taking on by saying that? He looked like he was expecting lightning to come strike us down (haha that already happened) but we bore our testimonies, that we know what we are saying, and are assuming this responsibility because we know it to be a fact with everything in our heart, mind, and body. Afterwards, the spirit was so strong, and he felt it to be true too, as we walked down the street, he was practically jumping for joy because “this is the one!! This is the true church! This is the way!!´´ We reminded him that it´s not the church that is the way, it is the ordinances under the authority of god, and our ability to do our part. As long as we have faith in Christ and His atonement, repent, are baptized under proper authority, receive the Holy Spirit, and endure to the end (or strive to be better every day) we will live with God again.

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS IS THE SAME CHURCH THAT JESUS CHRIST ESTABLISHED DURING HIS MINISTRY, RESTORED IN THESE DAYS. I know this to be true with everything that I am, and I will never deny it. When we doubt, we need only to study it out in our hearts, (the scriptures help too) and pray unto the Lord with a sincere heart and real intent, and the truth will be manifested unto us by the power of the Holy Ghost. This gospel brings true joy. I testify that these things are true. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love, Sister Evans

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4 months & getting transferred

February 13, 2017 dreainbrazil Comments 0 Comment

OLA!!

So I officially hit 4 months Friday!! Passa rapido!! AND I´m officially done being trained!! Woohoo!! Except for now I have to be like actually responsible and know what I’m doing and stuff so this ought to be good. I probably know more than I think, because the Lord´s work is the Lord´s work, no matter where we are. Anyway, my new area is called Morado do Sol, in the Zone Itu. I don´t know much about it except for the word ´sun´ is in the name so here we go. I’m excited!! I’m really gonna miss Cerquilho, because I was born there and my first mission fam is there. But it will be okay. I’m nervous to start a new area, but this time I can understand Portuguese and speak sometimes and I know how to teach and so it should be okay.

As I looked back on my past 2 transfers, they were really hard. I baptized once, and he hasn´t been to church since. I can´t help but think it was my fault that he hasn´t stayed firm, but I also didn´t really know what I was doing. But we talked to him yesterday to say goodbye, and I got some closure. He was struggling earlier in the transfer because he hadn´t talked to his family and stuff and just more stuff. But we talked to him and he is happier and will be going to church. So things are looking up there. But this transfer was especially hard because it has been the hardest I have ever worked in my life, and we have had very little to no fruits. We knocked doors for hours on end, around 40 per day, and that was a lot for me.

But I remembered that I was placed here for a reason, and I will be able to use these experiences to help me through new ones. And that´s really what life is. Learning from our past to be better in the future. Our past mistakes can be forgiven, and we can move on. We should constantly be looking to progress. We should never be content with our current position, because there is always room to improve. But it´s also important to step back and look at your progress, because it is easy to get discouraged when you feel like it is never enough. Realize that you are a child of God, and He has sent you here for a reason. Strive to become closer to Him, and you will be so much happier. You will see your progress and motivated to do even better. I can´t believe where I am today compared to only 4 months ago.

I know that Christ always has his hand stretched out to us, and we just have to take it. When we do our best to fulfill our part, He will always do His. “…For I know the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a ways for them, that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.´´ 1 Nephi 3:7 SÓ VAI!!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!

Sister Evans

Pics: my mission fam (irma Jô , kerollene, douglas)

Cerquilho sunset; cool building

“many people follow me, but only God stays with me´´ something like that

lol toilet paper brand

we had to go buy toilet paper for this little market so we could use their bathroom and we used their money and counted it as a service project haha

a majestic snow tiger

shadows of victory

abel my recent convert and me

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God’s Love

February 7, 2017 dreainbrazil Comments 0 Comment

*unedited- meaning no grammar, punctuation, or English were corrected this time around by mom 🙂

Boooooooooooa tarde meu povo!!!

This week felt like 7 years, and felt like we did nothing even though we were freaking busy as heck.

It all started last P-day.

We weeded the yard of our Ward Mission Leader as a service project and it was hot. Then our investigator Jessica invited us to eat lunh with her and we ended up teaching her the 10 commandments, during which the mision secretaries were caling us every 3 seconds saying it was urgent. So we finish the lesson and learn that we have to be In São Paulo at 8:00 that night to sleep some other sister´s house to renew Sis B´s visa the next morning. so we go and blow 60 reais each on that, but it was so fun. We hung out with Elder Brum, Christensen, and Alves. It was so fun they are hilarious and basically my long lost cousins except for 2 of them are brazilian haha.

Also, we got to the federal police place to renew the visa, and the diversity there is incredible. there were peope from the USA, Africa, Syria, Jamaica, and all over. We talked to this amazing lady from jamaica, a guy from india, and a guy from africa that spoke french. So i got to speak english to people from other countires!! it was AWESOME. we played this game i learned in the ctm with them while waiting in line. It was an incredible experience. We then ate lunch with the elders and they said we might have to come back in 2 days, but we went home anyway so we could work.

so we got home, slept, worked the next day, and got a call again saying we had to go back to São Paulo. Sooo we went back, slept at the sister´s house, woke up the next day and went to go finish the stuff with the elders. (all this traveling includes taking buses and trains and escaltaors and it´s very complicated, but i´m sure i know my way around the stations now.) and it was so fun. thistime in the federal police place we talked to a syrian family who came to brazil because of the war there. It was so sad to see all these people who are so good fleeing their home country because it is not safe there anymore. definitely made me think about how blessed i am to have grown up during a peaceful time in a great country, and now to be serving in another peaceful, free country. people have it a lot worse.

We finished tht up, had lunch, and went back again. so we didn´t meet our goals this week, but we worked hard, and figured out some things that we realized we could fix to have better results in the future. also, the investigator tht invited us to lunch cut us, saying she didn´t want to be baptized becuase she doesn´t feel like she is ready, even though she is so prepared. sigh.

BUT we have another guy named flaviano who we are teaching, and helping stope smoking and drinking, and he is doing so good!!!! he was a reference from Dr Julio who lives in campinas but comes everyonce in a while to give us references. and out of the 115 he gave us, only flaviano came through, but it has been awesome. he is progressing so much, and he came to churh for the 2nd time yesterday and he bore his testimony !!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Talk about God´s elect. he will be baptized next sunday. he is so good, i´ve never experienced this before. i have so much love and concern for this guy who i´ve known for 2 weeks, i can only imagine how much he is loved by our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Miracles are real, people. I know this church is true, and that this is th gospel of Jesus Christ, exactly as He established when He was on the earth, resotred in this day. i know that we are children of God, and that He loves us more than we can ever imagine. i know that there is life after death, and that if we do all we can to become closer to christ in this life, we can be with him and our families in the next.

Eu amo vocês!!!!

Sister (McDanger) Evans

Pics: family that had escaped the war in Syria learned Arabic and drew them; one of the many bus rides, Sister McDanger & Sister McSavage 🙂 Beautiful Cerhquillho

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Hard work = Blessings

January 30, 2017 dreainbrazil Comments 0 Comment

Bom diaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

This week was hard, we worked our butts off. But it actually paid off because we finally got 2 people to church this week!!! AND THEY ARE THE LORD´S ELECT. They were seriously both prepared to receive the gospel at this time, and they are going to be baptized next weekend! One is named Jessica, and she is 16, she is so cute and so interested. She believes everything we´ve taught, and she came to church yesterday in a dress and brought her book of Mormon and everything. Plus she got really well integrated with the youth, they all loved her. Ugh I am so excited. We found her knocking doors. The other is named Flaviano, and he was a reference from this awesome dude, Doctor Julio, who lives in Campinas usually, but works in the hospital here in Cerquilho sometimes, and he and his wife are from Peru. They are so great. He comes to church here in Cerquilho every once in a while and gives us like 10 references every time. We have contacted all of them, and only flaviano was the one prepared, but it is awesome. PLEASE GIVE THE MISSIONARIES IN YOUR AREA REFERENCES. Literally give them a list of all your friends and their phone numbers and house addresses. Please, in behalf of missionaries everywhere.

But anyway, yeah, this week was normal except for that it stopped raining and got super-hot again. But the good news is that January is more or less the hottest month of the year, and it´s almost over!! But I’ve also heard that February is the hottest too so I guess we´ll see. But it´s okay.

Also we had a multi zone conference last Thursday and it was so awesome I learned a ton. Also we are having a ton of changes, and it´s beautiful. We now only have to keep track of our goals for new investigators, baptisms, confirmations, and marked dates. It´s amazing. It really helps us focus on our purpose, and helps us teach people, instead of lessons. because when we had to track lessons, we tried to have lessons with people, and pray with them on the street, even if they weren´t interested, just so we could meet the goals, but now we can focus on our new people and really teach them and that matters. It’s great. Also we are allowed 3 30 minute breaks throughout the day before 6 in which we can study the language, do training, and companionship study. It’s pretty nice.

But yeah that was this week, sorry nothing profound this time haha. But I did learn a new word: “pezada´´ which means heavy or deep, so like when someone says “life is short´´ you can respond “pezada´´ like “deep.´´ language lesson of the day.

Love you guys so much!! Thanks for the emails and stuff!!!!

Sister Evans

Pics:

I did divisions with our sister training leaders and we worked Indaiatuba and it was great this is sis. Caten and this is her last transfer and she is freaking amazing and super good at missionary work.

We tried to take a picture on the bus together driving back from the multizona but it didn´t work.

The sky is on fire

Meeeee

A bunch of us after church in Irmão Antonio´s Mormon wagon

Our investigator Jessica, and Vilma, the branch president´s wife

Brazilians speaking English ´´it´s revolution babe´´

The sky

Me and the Brazilian horizon

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CAUTION: EXTREME REALNESS AHEAD

January 25, 2017 dreainbrazil Comments 0 Comment

[FYI- Aundrea said last week lightening hit the internet company tower so that’s why no letter. Also, her feet are doing so much better- thank you for your prayers]

This week I realized why the mission is the most difficult and yet most rewarding years of one´s life like everyone says it is.

Let me explain.

You go into the mission knowing it´s going to be difficult, because everyone tells you that. They say it will be the most difficult, yet happiest and most rewarding years of your life, and you think you know why, but not really. In reality, you have absolutely no idea what to expect. Maybe you will be in a third world country speaking a foreign language. Maybe you´ll be in another state speaking the same language. Either way, all you know is that it will be the most difficult, yet most rewarding years of your life. And you walk in without any idea of what´s to come.

You´ve prepared for this for a long time. Seminary, Sunday school, mission prep; all this you´ve got behind you, but you still don´t feel ready. What even is the gospel about?

You enter the MTC, and you find it is nothing like mission prep, except for maybe having to memorize D&C 4.

Everything feels like a dream.

Are you really going to do this? Move away from your family and friends for 18-24 months, to a completely foreign territory, to convince strangers to join this church?

Are you CRAZY?

And yet here you are, beginning this journey into the unknown.

Your time at the MTC is up, and you are thrown out of your comfort zone into the missionary field.

The first week is so hard, and seems to last 6 months. You really wonder if you can actually do this.

You have no idea what you´re doing.

Why are you here?

You walk and walk and walk and try to talk, but you´re afraid you´ll mess it all up.

What are you doing here?

You´re walking and panting and sweating and breaking, trying to find someone to accept the message you´re bringing.

What is the message?

What are you doing?

Can you do this?

Will you do this?

Are you worthy enough?

Are you strong enough?

Why are you here?

WHY ARE YOU HERE?

Wait.

You know why you are here.

You´ve known all along.

You are a servant of God, and you have been called to do His work.

You have been called to bring eternal life to the children of God.

You are here, in the name of Christ, to bring them closer to Christ.

You will introduce God´s plan unto His children, so they can have the purpose and the joy in their lives that you have in yours.

THIS is why you are here.

`Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord, thy God is with thee, withersoever thou goest.´

This is His work, and He will see it done.

And you finally realize why this is the most difficult, yet most rewarding years of your life.

You are putting everything you have into this work; mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. You´ve never exerted yourself this much all at the same time.

And it´s hard.

But it starts to feel real.

In fact, it starts to feel like it is the only real thing left.

And you know why you are here.

You don´t know how you make it through each day, but you do, and you LOVE it.

You love it so much.

Everything aches; your body, your heart, your mind, and your soul,

But there´s nothing else you would rather be doing.

What am I doing here?

I´m preparing the world for the coming of our Savior.

I am preparing the way of the Lord.

Love, Sister Evans

Pics: New companion Sister Bernsten from Salt Lake City, Ut; ceiling in bedroom is leaking; delicious ice cream here; Love the people!

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Joy & Faith

December 22, 2016 dreainbrazil Comments 0 Comment

Disclaimer: Aundrea writes to both of us with different details & answers to questions so I’ve mixed & matched them but I don’t want to change the way she writes. 🙂

We´re going to draw out the plan of salvation on the side walk next week and explain to people. It will be great!

2 Ne 2:25. “…men are that they might have JOY!” I was thinking that one of the perfect gifts we can give Heavenly Father & Jesus to be happy, joyful, & grateful.

It´s true mom, men are that they might have joy. And even though life sucks a lot of the time, we have to remember that without the sorrow there would be no joy. That’s why Adam and Eve had to eat the fruit. Without opposites, there would be nothing. I have been able to feel true joy this week, as I finally was able to watch two men accept the gospel into their lives. I got to watch them at church and see them feel the spirit and the joy that it brings. Holy cow there is nothing like it. I didn´t know I could feel like that. They both may be in their late 40´s, but they are my little chickens that I will spiritually feed the gospel to. I LOVE THIS WORK!!!!!!!!!! .

I’m doing great, and GUESS WHAT. I AM FINALLY GOING TO BE A PART OF A BAPTISM FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!! I´VE WAITED MY WHOLE LIFE FOR THIS MOMENT. His name is Abel (ah-bell) and he´s really smart, but he is so willing to learn, and is willing to change his life for this gospel. we have another named Francisco and he´s a little softer on the baptism thing, but when he came to church yesterday he said that he felt the spirit and we explained that that was the spirit telling him that the church is true.so this is so exciting!!!! he´s going to be traveling on Christmas, so he can´t be baptized then, but he may or may not go to the beach on new year’s so he could probably be baptized then so we´ve been praying that he won´t go to the beach for new year’s so we can baptize him this transfer.

I love eating bananas here, no problem. My legs don´t cramp, it´s my feetsies. I AM SO EXCITED FOR NATÁL (CHRISTMAS)!!!!! THANK YOU FOR SENDING shirts I really need that haha. Mom you´re the best wow I will open my presents under our paper Christmas tree. I’ll send you a pic of it next week, it´s all pictures of Christ it´s awesome. I get my packages this weekend at the Christmas conference. So I’ll get to bring them home and open them on Christmas!!

I’m doing great! I have calluses in between my big toe and next toe, and they both blistered over again, so that´s fun. I’m also running out of band aids but they sell them here so I should be okay. I love my roll of moleskin though. Wow. I haven´t had any other sunburns, my face is breaking out like it´s my job, but it´s fine. Other than that I’m good.

The important thing to remember is that faith is not something that you muster up within yourself – Faith is a gift that is given to you from God – it is earned. He gives you faith based upon your obedience and actions. That is why those who wish to see, will see, and those who don’t won’t. The other important thing to remember is that faith leads to hope and knowledge (remember Alma’s teachings on Faith?)…

Thanks for that thing about faith, I really needed that. I need to remember that it is still the lords will. Wow also I cannot believe the transfer is almost over. I still don´t really know how to do things, but I feel like this is normal life now, so that´s cool. This church is true let me tell you. No matter what we go through, the savior knows exactly how we´re feeling and how to help. I love this gospel with all my heart.

PICS: * Sis robbi and I showing off our style

*I wore socks with my shoes because of pain

*Pele vermelha= red skin (which is prolly a derogatory term for someone, but I have red skin because of my sunburns and pinkish complexion so it is my wall and it means we´re almost home too so I love it)

*Sis robbi and I having fun

*Yeah I’m a thug

*Someone painted this on a telephone pole. Don´t ask.

*Our AULA DE INGLES!!! (English class) I don´t look like myself in this picture it´s weird.

*We got some guarana and a coconut sweetbread roll it was divine.

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Random Answers & Growing Testimony

December 14, 2016 dreainbrazil Comments 0 Comment

Things are hot and humid here in Brazil. Yes, that´s our church. (We google earthed it- it’s above a pharmacy.) About 25 people are active in our branch. If we don´t get more people, we lose the building and go back to having church in a house. We found one lady who has cancer and a son and husband in prison, but she is golden. We´re teaching her and her daughter and her niece. Wow you´re actually going to study Portuguese for reals? Boa sorte, pai. Hey it´s been raining here too! Like torrents. Like the street floods. It’s awesome. That´s cool about Wilford woodruff! I couldn´t read all of it though because I don´t have time. Sorry. Satan really tried to stop him didn´t he. Well, if he can make it through all that, I guess I can get through this too.

My feet hurt so badly. I have a shooting pain that goes through them when I think about moving. You think I’m exaggerating, but I’m not. That´s awesome about that couple! It´s so cool to hear stuff like that! I haven´t actually seen the gospel change anyone yet, as I don´t have any converts. Wait actually. We have 2 women who have been baptized, but still need to be confirmed. They struggle with smoking, but they have progressed so much, and have been able to understand the atonement and utilize it. So that´s cool.

Yes we travel to Tatuí and Itapetininga for zone and district meetings. We do not work with elders except for over the phone. We teach a lot of discussions usually, but this week has been slow. Also most everyone fell through. That´s cool about trump, I’m glad it´s working out okay. Everyone in Brazil hates him. But I’m glad to hear that everything is good at home.

It´s going pretty well here, I’m just tired. Honestly my faith is being tried as well. I feel like I’m working really hard and doing my part, but I’m not seeing results. I always thought I had sufficient faith… but now idk. I’m studying faith, and how to strengthen it, and I guess it´s a matter of you have to cause things to happen. I’m still not exactly sure how that works so if you could help me out a little bit that would be great thanks. But I do have a testimony that this gospel is true, because it has brought me so much joy in my life. I have been praying so hard recently to know what we need to change in order to get more investigators and baptize more, because we have baptized 0. And last night while I was praying, I received a revelation that our contact invitations needed to be changed. I felt that we should focus primarily on the plan of salvation, because that is was is different about us. (also the restoration) but we believe that families can be together forever, and we have the answers to where we came from, what our purpose is here, and where we go after this life. We are children of god, and “men are that they might have joy´´. You can be happy without this gospel, but not truly happy, because you´ll always wonder what the heck is the point of this life, and why is it just heaven and hell, and is there more?

I can testify this day that the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints is the same church that Jesus Christ established on the earth during his ministry. We are led by a prophet and apostles called by god. I know that my life is the way it is because of this gospel, and without it, I would probably be dead. This gospel has pulled me out of some pretty dark places, and I am eternally grateful for that. I love Jesus Christ, and am so grateful for His atonement. Because of His suffering, we are never alone. We can always repent and be at peace. We can live with our Father in heaven again. This life is an upward struggle. Each trial you have makes you that much better than before. All we have to do is do our best, and strive to progress. I know these things are true, and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Love you all, keep me updated!

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CERQUILHO

December 8, 2016 dreainbrazil Comments 0 Comment

Thanks mom, I am feeling better. Foot pain is just a normal thing now. I already have a lovely farmer´s tan, and a tan from my shoes. Although that could be dirt. The dirt is red, so it blends in with my pink skin so who knows. Also I am visibly losing weight. Especially in my face and stomach. It´s great. It helps that I am sweating nearly non-stop and I don´t eat dinner.

We are the only missionaries in Cerquilho. We´re teaching a lot of people. 4 invest. Went to church yesterday! 2 have already been baptized and need confirmations and the other two are normal investigators. Except one is crazy evangelical haha. The other is Felipe and he is so great. We´ve been teaching this family with a mom, dad, 15-ish yr old daughter, and an 8 year old named Cadu. This kid is so great. They are reading the BOM, and I literally can envision them in their temple clothes together. But they didn´t go to church like they said they would, and it kind of broke my heart. So we´ll see how it goes. a typical day is assim: wake up like you got hit by a truck, do a few ab exercises, get ready, personal study, companionship study, training, leave, meet with investigators, clap gates, (everyone has gates and walls around their houses it´s great I want one), climb a couple hills, eat lunch with a member, ask people for water them smoothly tell them about the gospel while holding their cups so they can´t leave, listening to people tell us about how they´ve already been baptized, finding a couple people who would like to hear our message, meet with more investigators, stop people on the street to invite them, go home, plan, drink water, eat a banana, go to sleep, repeat. But it doesn´t get boring because we meet new people every day, and I’m a represent ante of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful to have the power and authority to bring god´s children unto him again.

Also the mangoes here are AHmazing. And I didn´t like mangoes before. Please keep sending pictures, I like seeing you guys. Guess what we get to skype in 3 weeks!!! Thanks for the packages! I’m so excited! I know I’m loved, I just sometimes forget because I’m across the equator. I think the biggest problem I am having is the fact that you can´t flush toilet paper here. You just put it in the garbage basket by the toilet. It´s disgusting. But at least it´s not on the floor. Here´s some pictures!!!

Aw thanks for doing a fast for me! I’ve already done 2 fasts here, and it´s been interesting. It´s not the hunger that bothers me, it´s the thirst. guh. But I have already seen so many blessings from fasting it´s pretty awesome. Haha at least people put up Christmas lights there. People here just put a tiny tree in their houses and call it good. It´s funny though to me, because it is summer. It´s not Christmas. Although I am excited, because maybe the hearts of the people here will be softened. Thanks for the packages, I’m excited. Hopefully they´ll be there in time for the Christmas conference. The zone conference was pretty awesome. It really helped me change my attitude. There was a whole section about not being a victim, and I was like ´´ok dad thanks´´ haha jk but it really was great.

It really is pretty clean here in Cerquilho, especially compared to other areas. We hung with the sisters in Sorocaba after the multizona, and there is trash everywhere. It also smells really bad. So I am grateful to be here. Although this area is fairly rich, the contrast to the US is incredible. The floors are either concrete or tile. The tap water tastes like dirt, but is safe to drink. I can´t really explain it. It´s just so different. The people here are all really nice, but also very stubborn and hard-hearted. Especially the Catholics haha. It´s tradition so they don´t change even if they want to. But sometimes we´ll get people who surprise us by saying, yes they would like to be baptized. we´re so used to hearing people be like ummmm I don´t think so, or not right now, or no. so it´s great when that happens. Also, we have this recent convert who has a major drinking problem. It´s complicated and his wife came to the church yesterday begging us for help. We talked to him, and he is just so stubborn. He comes home drunk, and she beats him because he keeps drinking, so he drinks to drown his sorrows. Repeat. It literally breaks my heart. And he will not stop drinking. He will not. as we were talking to him yesterday, I felt impressed to tell him, “(his name), I am a representative of Jesus Christ, and I promise you, right now, that if you do everything you can to change your life, God will do the same.´´ hopefully that sunk in. I don´t know what to do with him. But we also found a lady while we were fasting, who, when we invited her, immediately said, yes ii want to be baptized I want to change my life. Wahaaaaaaaaaaat. And then another lady accepted right after her, who has cancer, and her son is in prison. All I can say is the lord works in mysterious ways. That´s my testimony of fasting right there.

Anywayyyy, this is the letter I wrote to the prez, (weekly email to mission president), but it sounded like a normal mission email so here you go.

“This week was a lot better than last. We had 4 investigators come to church, two of which have already been baptized and need to be confirmed. We were hoping this family we are teaching would come, but they didn´t and it kind of broke my heart. I could literally see them in their baptismal clothes, and temple clothes. They were reading the LDM (Book of Mormon), but they didn´t come to church. But maybe next week.

I´m starting to get used to foot pain now, and although sometimes I have to limp along, we still get where we need to go. I´m pretty sure I have people carrying me sometimes though, because sometimes the hills seem unconquerable. They´re honestly not even that bad usually, they just look really foreboding when I´ve been sweating and limping for 13 hours already. But I always make it. Not gonna lie, this is really hard, but I have already seen the blessings. The other day it hit me that I am actually a representative of Jesus Christ, and it is my duty to invite people to accept the gospel. I usually am rather timid around others, and it takes a lot for me to talk to strangers, but I now know that it´s not me who is speaking. I am speaking for the Lord. And when I think of it that way, I am able to speak with the power and authority I need to penetrate people´s hearts.”

Anyway I love you guys so much, and I miss hanging out with you too dad. Your letters are great as they are, there´s always a part that makes me laugh out loud and people look at me weird. But it´s great. Also you think the pizza in the US is good? Weeeellll let´s just say they have a type of pizza here that is normal pizza, but inside the crust? Melted chocolate. Yeah. I know. I haven´t tried it, but it is my dreaaaaaaaaaaaaam. nossa. Also we have this investigator named Felipe that has been going to our English class, and he is super great, and he gave sis Robinson and I little finger puppets of batman and robin which is perfect because she is my trainer and batman is robin´s trainer!!

LOVE YOU ALLLLLL!!!!

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Blisters, Bug Bites, Sunburn Oh My

November 30, 2016 dreainbrazil Comments 0 Comment

Aundrea is now in Cerquilho, Brazil, about 3-1/2 hours west of Sao Paulo. Town of about 45,000 people. There are only 25 members of the church there right now. They walk everywhere- no bikes, or cars, & it doesn’t sound like there are buses. It’s Brazil’s summer so it’s hot & humid! Her new companion & trainer is Sister Robinson from South Carolina. It was rough week as it usually is the 1st few weeks of a mission while you get used to it- & there’s a lot for her to get used to. Please keep her, & Sister Robinson in your prayers. As with anything life throws at us, Heavenly Father is there for us & will give us tender mercies & miracles to help us through.

email: aundrea.evans@myldsmail.net

Here’s the mission home address if you want to send letters and/or packages:

Sister Aundrea Melanie Evans

Missão Brasil São Paulo

Norte Avenida Nova Cantareira, 1146 fundos

Tucuruvi

02330-001 São Paulo – SP Brasil

11/28/16

Well you know, my week started out great. I was excited to get started on the work. But this is hard. Like, really hard. I knew it was going to be difficult, but this is even more difficult than I imagined. I have 6 blisters on the bottom of my feet and in between my toes. I’ve got around 30 mosquito bites on my legs, and my blood vessels are showing. Remember when I would throw a tantrum when I was little, and I would get red dots on my eyelids? I have that all over my ankles and the tops of my feet. Whether it´s from the sun or pressure from walking everywhere, I don´t know. I have a heat rash on my neck, my face is always itchy and bumpy, and I have visible bags under my eyes. Really they´re not even bags, they´re straight up luggage. I have a sunburn so bad that it is blistering. I’m trying so hard to learn Portuguese, and I can kinda converse and teach, but people assume I know nothing, and ask my companion questions I can understand and answer just fine while I am right there in front of them. One asked my comp while I was right there; o que é o nome de sua companhera? (What is the name of your companion?) I was right there sitting in front of her. It hurts. All of me hurts. We had around 6 investigators this week, and none of them went to church, so we have to postpone all of their baptisms another week. It´s so hot and I sweat always.

But I have to tell you, there are some good things. Earlier this week, we were walking up a hill, and it was dead hot, no breeze, nothing, and my feet were in so much pain I wanted to die. I was on the verge of tears and I cried out in my head “Lord, help me get through this moment. Just this moment. I can´t do this anymore“ and almost immediately, a cool, gentle breeze passed by, and gave me a moment´s relief, enough to keep me going. That in its self is a testimony to me of the atonement. I sweat from literally every pore on my body, but imagine it being blood. The Savior went through so much more. He was whipped and spat upon, and then had to carry His own cross upon his back, up to the hill where He would be killed. It used to be really hard for me to comprehend the pain that he had to go through for us, but now I have the tiniest taste of what it must have been like.

But mom, the quote you said gave me hope. (Quote “Look to what the Book of Mormon says, which is ‘It came to pass’ not It came to stay”) That was so inspired because this week was long and really hard, but thank you so much for that, because maybe now I can make it through this week without dying. Or at least tomorrow. Actually tomorrow is our multi zone conference, so I think I’ll be able to live through that. I’ll use that quote the next day for sure though. Haha

I love you all so much. Oh by the way, my thanksgiving consisted of getting all the blisters, and eating instant mashed potatoes with white gravy and a piece of bland chicken. But it was delicious because food is not a thing that I have very often. Anyway hope you all have a great week!!

Meeting of Darini & trainer/companion Sister Robinson

Mission President & wife of Sao Paulo Brazil North Mission- President & Sister Farnes

new-missionaries-sp-north — Welcome new missionaries to the Sao Paulo Brazil North Mission

with-trainer-sister-robinson — 1st companion & trainer Sister Robinson

With Darini at multi zone conf. What a great boost after my 1st long hard week in Cerquilho

One Week Left in CTM (MTC) 11-16-16

November 22, 2016 dreainbrazil Comments 0 Comment

11-16-16

I AM SO EXCITED TO BE IN THE FIELD NEXT WEEK!!! MUITO ANIMADA!! How´s your Portuguese coming? My goal for the field is to be fluente in 3 months. I hope I can do it. I didn´t have time to do a letter this week and I prolly won’t be able to email you guys for like 2 weeks because I start the field and it’s a different p day and everything.

Yeah the Milanese thing was freakin amazing. I cried. Almost. Today in the temple was such an amazing experience. I got things out of it that I never have before. Really awesome.

I’m sad I missed the super moon- I have not seen the Southern Cross because I cannot see the stars in Sao Paulo. It’s the biggest city in the world, so you can imagine the pollution. It´s pretty bad. Always cloudy, but the rain here is amazing. It´s either a light mist, or a legit shower. I love it. Plus the lightning is freakin amazing.

I love this gospel, and I have come to love it even to the basic doctrine that we learn in primary. I get to teach this plan of happiness through the love of Christ and bring heavenly father´s children unto him. I’m so excited. Anyway, glad you´re all doing well.

eu amo vocês!

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