Week 15: Heigh HO!!!

Haha hello my wonderful people! It has been a crazy hard week, but in a totally different way. Sister Dille and I have worked so hard this week, and it TOTALLY paid off!! The hand of the Lord was so manifest in our labors. The gospel is SO GOOD!!! The Lord is SOO GOOD!!!

The Work!!

Everything we do lately is to try and know our area better, so this week, we contacted like MAD. And honestly contacting is really hard. It's long, it's hard to make conversation, but it totally pays off. We have gotten to know so many people, we know our areas better, and we're LEAPING out of our comfort zones, and truly the Lord has consecrated our efforts. I know He will continue to do so as we continue to put our hearts, heads, and hands into this holy work!!

Maria, or in other words, MIRACLE:

So, Maria is an investigator from my last transfer that was progressing, but I was a little unsure if she would get anywhere. But we went and visited her on Friday, anticipating to teach her about baptism. I studied for that lesson that morning, collecting all sorts of rockin' references and such. But, long story short, I was prompted to share all the scriptures I didn't plan on sharing. They were a little rougher, doctrine-wise, but it ended up being one of the most powerful lessons I've ever had. I feel like I'm finally working WITH the Spirit. In the beginning it was hard because I was trying so hard to understand the language, so recognizing the Spirit was almost impossible. But now, I depend on the Spirit for EVERYTHING!! And I have never been let down, truly truly. BUT ANYWAY, we challenged Maria to come to church and SEE. She just kept saying that she had things to do or things like that and kept saying, "Seu poder, Seu poder," or "by His power." AND GUESS WHAT!!! His power is great and she came!!!! We did NOT expect it at all, but she came! She came just the same!! And it was so awesome!! I can't wait to meet with her again and ask about it. MILAGRES SÃO REAIS!!

Spiritual:

I love my personal study so much. And my cute companion has this super awesome system where she'll write a question on a sticky note and study in the scriptures to receive an answer. And I kid you not, it works every time. I started doing it and I just continue in my reading in the Book of Mormon and somehow all of my questions were answered in the war chapters of Alma, crazy right?! But the Lord is ready to teach you when you're willing to learn. My favorite find was about Captain Moroni. In Alma 48:11-13, 17, it talks about the incredible man Moroni was in leading his people to do good, defend their lands, liberty, wives, children, and religion. Fighting for all the right reasons. Constantly encouraging his armies and strengthening his people. And I soooo needed his encouragement this week, a true reminder of what I'm fighting for, what I'm serving for: My family, my religion, my brothers and sisters all over the world, my liberty, my EVERYTHING. I owe it all to the Lord, every bit of might I have. And the best part is, the part that only comes from the sweet mercy of our Lord, is He promises to be on our right hand and on our left; to preserve us from our enemies; to consecrate and magnify our efforts; to meet us where we are weak and make us strong. That is the way of the Lord. In the words of Jacob, "Oh, how great is the mercy of our God!" Oh how great it is indeed.

I love you all so much!! Remember our dear Savior this Christmas season and ALWAYS!! He won't let you down. Give my sweet fam a hug for me if you see them, I sure miss them and all of you!

Sister Melo

1. Noite Familiar with our awesome members Zacarias e Maria de Luz