week 50 -- Semana/Vida Consagrada

 SEMANA/VIDA CONSAGRADA <3 (WEEK/CONSECRATED LIFE)

Ok so what a week of tender miracles. (wow I know I say that a lot haha but it's the truth!)

So this week all of the members in the ward organized a caravana (caravan) to head to Fortaleza (3 hours away) to visit the new temple that took 10 years to build - anddd was a whopping 5 HOURS CLOSER than what used to be the nearest temple in Recife!!   (Fortaleza is at the top, Mossoro where Anne lives is around #304.  And Recife where the next closest temple is around #408 on the bottom right.)

 See pictures inside and outside of Brazil’s 7^th temple  -  the Fortaleza temple….

https://www.lds.org/church/events/fortaleza-brazil-temple-open-house?lang=eng

Fortaleza, Brazil temple

It was a tender mercy because Francione, a filha dela E o namorado dela foram pra visitar and Francione absolutely died of felicidade. (Francione, her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend went and she absolutely died of happiness.)

The temple is a place that when you enter, you automatically feel different. You enter and you feel with every fiber of your being that it's the house of the Lord because of how strong the spirit is - WAYYY more than any normal church building you find. Like Heavenly Father always asked His people to create and visit temples in the past, they are places that still have HUGE significance for the members of the church. And because God just loves us more than anything in the world, these temples are where He has given us the ability to be married not just for this life but for eternity, allowing us to live with our families forever. 

It's always my favorite part to be able to teach people about…eternal families. I remember one contact on the street we made with this man holding his 2 year old crinançinha and we asked him the question - "If you could really have and live with your family forever, even AFTER this short earthly life, what would that mean to you?" And he just gets serious, looks so lovingly and caringly at his little daughter and goes… "wow.. can you imagine?  It would mean the world to me." And it's just like one of those things I always took for granted and thought everyone already knew about, this wonderful promise Heavenly Father gives us. 

We always set it as our goal to share with the people we teach, and it just completely changes the way they think and approach the gospel. 

God really is perfect in that way, creating the world and our spirits, putting us in a family that never is entirely perfect but who we still somehow love no matter what... 

But because temples are so holy, they usually aren't open for the public to be able to enter any normal day, so it was pretty amazing for everyone to be able to visit and get to see the rooms where people are married as well as the baptismal font. Needless to say Francione ADOROU (LOVED IT) and got super excited because, when they saw the baptism font Gabriel (namorado da  (the boyfried of) Ana Clara), who ALWAYS is completely joking about getting baptized goes "heyyy seria legal tomar banho naquela piscina" (“hey it would be nice to bathe in that pool”) and I think Francione's heart just about exploded in excitement.

#NoteToSelf:NUNCABRINCASOBREBATISMOCOMfrancione #elanâoconsegueaguentar (#NoteToSelf:I am going to give you a chance to learn how to live with them forever.)

Just sending out a shoutout and saying how much I love my family and how grateful I am that God has given me the ability to live with them forever.

LOVE YA GENTE 

<3 Sister Staheli

look up more pics of other temples if you want! There's one in almost every state in the US and there are tons being constructed every year in the US as well as countries around the world! #youlldie 

Here is a picture of the Denver temple where my parents were married.

Denver, Colorado temple

Frankfurt, Germany temple

Temple where my mom served in Frankfurt Germany

Seoul, Korea temple

Temple where my dad served in Seoul Korea

Brennan served in Romania and the Rome temple would have been one of the closer temples to him.  Here is an 11 minute video giving a tour of the Rome Temple.

Two Apostles Lead a Virtual Tour of the Rome Italy Temple

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhWgPwEQQ98

Rome, Italy temple

Los Angeles, California temple

Jonathan served in California and his temple was in Los Angeles where my grandparents were married

Week 49 -- HAPPY DIA DAS MÃES

HAPPY DIA DAS MÃES. (Happy Mother’s Day)

Getting to talk to my family yesterday was just the most tender blessing ahhh :) I know that we can talk with them every week but it almost never works out, so talking and laughing, teasing each other about the types of foods we were both missing out on (I may not have Ruffles Dad but how many fresh guavas do you eat on a daily basis?? #HAH), and just being there was such a normal thing. I thank my Heavenly Father every day that because of our Savior, we have the promise of being able to live with our families forever <3 #ManAreWeBlessed

It's funny to think that the last Dia das Mães (Mother’s day) was my farewell talk with all of my grandparents and family in Colorado before going on the mission.  #WhatIsGoingOnItsAlmostBeen1Year. 

- This week we had a HUGE slumber party on the veranda. Because we had transfers -- there were 6 sisters staying in our house. And what happens when you have 4 beds and 6 sisters? You drag all of the mattresses outside and sleep under the stars. The mission has an intensity of stresses that I've never experienced in my whole life, but then you also have those moments that you just go.. my life is so blessed. How could anyone sit there looking up at the great expanse of space and not think about the creation of everything, and not acknowledge that there HAD to have been One entirely intelligent and infinitely loving Being who created it all just for us? I just am so grateful for Heavenly Father and how much He really loves us, how He does EVERYTHING so that we can return back to Him and our heavenly home.

- With transfers this week I found out that I was here to stay and that I get to finish the training of minha meninha mexicana (my little Mexican companion) Sister Arámburo! And we also got a newbie Sister Forsyth - the first missionária escocês (missionary from Scotland) to hit Brasil!! Tall, ginger, blazing blue eyes and entirely HILARIOUS -- you could say that although it’s only been 5 days, we've already passed hours laughing and getting real about life and the mission; like friends who've known each other for years. Everyone gets starry eyed and always asks her a million questions about Scotland, and apparently a Scottish accent in ingles (English) is WAY easier for them to understand than from the states..??

- Other funny thing that happened is we were getting ready for bed one night and everyone's kneeling down to say their individual prayers, I knock out but Sister Vega and Arámburo continue to talk right? When Sister Arámburo finishes her prayer she looks over to see Sister Vega just sitting there waiting and Vega goes "I waited for you to finish because I'm afraid that if we pray at the same time, I don't know which prayer Heavenly Father will choose to listen to".  J

- This week is going to be really different for me. You know how there's always things that everyone needs to improve right, and I'm hit in the face a lot of the time with everything I still have to grow and learn. But this week as sisters, we have decided to make it our week of consecration. We were challenged to have a whole lot more fé (faith) and a whole lot more consecrated and diligent effort, knowing that in the end, God would bless us and the people we have been teaching with a whole lot more miracles. 

I found a scripture that I really love that talks about this in the Book of Mormon - 

"For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them, wherefore, he showed not himself until AFTER their faith." (Ether 12:12)

Yes, God wants to bless our lives, but like all of the people in the scriptures who followed Christ and were only healed AFTER their trial of faith, we must do the same. We have to show God that we are willing to work for the miracles, that we are willing to take that blind step into the darkness, that we are willing to put our faith and trust in Him to the test by doing something that is unknown or scary. 

It's only AFTER this faith that He will make weak things become strong (Ether 12:27), or rather weaknesses and faults that we have to become strengths.  

I know that if you put your trust in Him, He will never let you down!! Trust in the promises of the Lord!

love you with all of my heart <3

LOVE AÇAI. 

LOVE BRASIL. 

LOVE THE LORD. 

Sister Staheli <3

week 48 -- Feliz 5 de Maio Gente

FELIZ 5 DE MAIO GENTE.  (Happy May 5^th people)

I think it's super funny because I've managed to celebrate this day almost EVERY YEAR with a mexican buddy #SeriouslyLuckyIKnow - whether Delanie, my best bud from high school or Sister Arámburo minha filha abençoada do Guanajuato (my blessed daughter/companion from Guanajuato, Mexico). Oh my gosh did you know they celebrate because of a battle they won in Mexico?  Also did you know that there are parts of Mexico that get snow?? #NowYouKnow 

Sorry for not sending out a letter last week, I spent all of my time skyping my fam and catching up which I haven't been able to do in a while. #ManILoveThem <3 

-My grandparents on the Staheli side were visiting my family and apparently haven’t been able to hear from me in 5 months (aside from a few handwritten letters) because of computer problems. But because I called home, I got to talk to them…. received a TON of counsel about drinking water and wearing pants and could wish my grandpa a happy 90th birthday!! 

BUT WOW. What another week of tender mercies gente (people)!

More Rain.......

Teaching more women how to make cookies.....

So rapidinho (quickly), I wanted to tell you about the miracle of Francione.

It has been awhile that we have been teaching her, but she is the mom of a girl who was baptized about 6-7 months ago.  We had marked the date for her baptism MANY times, but she always ended up changing her mind.  We gave her some space, but she would still bring her daughter Ana Clara every week for church and would stay to listen.  One day we decided to visit her and to tell her, "We're not going to even say the word baptism.  We just want to focus on helping you strengthen your testimony and faith in God."  And for a few visits, we only talked about who we are and what God's plan is for us here on earth.  His promise of being able to live with our family forever if we are obedient and trust in Him.   Then out of nowhere, she approaches us and says "When can I be baptized?"  :) 

 

Watching her faith and love of God strengthen and change her life, watching her embrace the restored gospel, but most importantly, seeing her get up to bear her testimony with a pure joy and one short phrase, "I know I can live with my family for eternity."  TOO MUCH TO BEAR, I LITERALLY CRIED FROM JOY

The gospel is seriously such a blessing - who would not want the peace, the rest and pure happiness that comes from it which isn't found anywhere else?

P.S.  Ana Clara, her daughter, has a boyfriend and the only thing Francione can say is "Oh my goodness, they HAVE to be married for time and all eternity.  Ana Clara just likes him so much, they just have to.  They have to have their family forever and be married in the temple” (where people are married for this life and the next life.)

So I had been getting hard on myself about the language these past couple of weeks, beating myself silly because I hadn’t been speaking perfectly and other nonsense right?  (I know silly mission stuff), but which really plays a huge part in like everything we do every day.  #WaitYouStopAndMeet&Teach25+PeopleEveryday?  And I just kind of broke and was like WHY AM I focusing so much on this and got down and prayed, confiding and venting my frustrations to my Heavenly Father and asking Him to forgive my weakness.  And asking and pleading that these people would not be affected by any shortcoming on my part, and was really like “Ok, I’m letting go now.  I trust you.”  What happened after that day and the next I think was just the most unreal thing.  I think there was about 4 or 5 instances that after talking with someone on the street or after a lesson they go….”Wait a second, how do you speak so well” or “Man you are already fluent - how long have you lived here?  You’re from the US?  I thought you were from here just listening to you talk.”  At first I was like yeah no, they’re just being nice.  Ha-ha, let’s all make the Americana feel good right?  But after the 3^rd or 4^th time, I was like wow, ok, I get it.  I get it.  Super easy to think – oh yeah I deserve this.  I’m just the best.  But there is a scripture that’s found in Mathew 5:16 that I have kind of set as my mantra:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

God doesn’t give us gifts/talents to feel good about ourselves, but to bless the lives of other people.  And when we receive praise, imagine how happy He gets when His children say “Aah no, I wouldn’t be anything if God had not given me my love of art, or passion for running etc.”  As you recognize His essential part in your talents, what does He do?....Bless us and makes us capable of so much more.  Feeling truly humbled by the tender mercies of God.  It’s real folks.  He loves us.  He listens to our prayers.  Trust Him and recognize His hand in your life and He will bless you so much more.

Shoes have lost their soles.  Bag is changing colors from getting wet daily and permanent tan lines .....

Life is good!

<3 Sister Staheli

Wearing pants grandpa Staheli  :)

Week 47 -- skyped

No letter.  Anne was able to skype with her family and in particular her 90 year old grandfather.