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.

Week 46 -- EAIIII 'ee-ay-ey'

EAIIII (pronounced 'ee-ay-ey' and is how everyone greets each other here)

Just wanted to send out some of the miracles/funny moments from the most amazing and special week of the year!!! 

1. Ok so maybe a mix of a miracle/disappointment - EASTER as we know it in os Estados Unidos (the United States) just does NOT exist here. No Easter bunny, no colored eggs (would be kind of hard given that almost all the eggs here are brown), no competitive and adventuristic Easter egg hunts that sometimes include climbing the roof or tall pine trees.  

However, it DOES include: 

 - LOTS of 70 year old senhoras (ladies)  found in literally EVERY praça,(square) sitting in large prayer circles and wearing these incredibly bright and bedazzled Maria Mãe de Jesus camisas (Mary, mother of Jesus shirts). They all sit there CHANTING with a figurine in the middle.

- Because it was Semana Santa (Easter) and ALL the catholic holidays are huge here, no one had work/school so how do they celebrate? …………………SLEEPING.  #whoopwhoop 

- Without all the hubbub, I was able to really study day-by-day about the last week of Christ's life and the significance of it was just so much different. Like wow TODAY was His last day with the apostles or TODAY was the day He suffered for us, or TODAY was the day that changed the history of the world when He rose again. It was pretty impactful. 

 

2. Long story short - Caio's mom ACTUALLY SIGNED the form for him to be baptized!! I don't think I have ever felt that much happiness in my entire life oh my gosh my heart felt like it was going to burst. 

3. I taught everyone what it means to be a "borboleta social" (social butterfly) because yesterday, we brought probably the most cutsie and hilarious, humble miracle of a family to church for the first time. OKAY FOR REAL I JUST HAVE TO TALK ABOUT ANSELMO.  So Anselmo is the pai (dad) of the family and just to show how important he is, God put him in our path 3 TIMES before we finally consented to go visit him and his family. He is way talkative stopping to talk to literally EVERY person on the street (which is why he usually takes about 4 times longer to get someplace XD), watches a TON of Discovery and always asks a lot of questions about the states, wears these adorable thick blue glasses, and just is the humblest of the humble. The first few times we talked to him, I don't know why but I didn't really get the impression that he would be that receptive/interested in the gospel right (even with him saying 'hey come visit us" - which happens a lot but without real interest right #everyonewantstoknowhowlifeisintheUS #doyouguyshavepineapple?). But after seeing him on the street walking with his 2 sons and then AGAIN on the street a few days later, I consented and we went to visit what has become my favorite family. We went and taught them about the Book of Mormon and about how we have a living prophet hoje (today) and the spirit in that tiny and humble home was just powerful. When they said that they would all go to church (Elizete mãe, (mother) Ezanael (18) and Daniel (14) and their super sharp amigo Osea (28)), with giant smiles and excitement glimmering in their eyes, and then seeing how everyone at church the next day just straight out EMBRACED this humble and innocent family.. it was just a real miracle you know? 

You know those days when everyone is just so ridiculously happy and you just think, wow, this is what it means to live. Yeah even though I am without sem (the) chocolate or colorful Ukranian Easter eggs, and thousands of miles away from the people I love more than anything else in the world, this Easter will always be marked in my heart. 

Heavenly Father is so good guys, just incredible. 

The Savior of the world really is Jesus Christ and He lives and loves us. 

Sending my love and gratidão (gratitude) for all of you beautiful people - I hope you squeeze your family a little extra-tight and send a prayer of gratitude to Deus (God) thanking Him for all the tiny miracles in your life. (and don't say that you don't have any because there isn't a person on earth that doesn't have at least a dozen)

<3 Sister Staheli

Week 45 -- feeling grateful

NOSSA GENTE. 

This week has been filled with many awesome things that make me grateful for being alive here in Mossoró Brasil - 

RAIN

I love the rain

1.  You know how much I love fruta (fruit) right?  So knowing exactly how fã (what a fan) I am, multiply that by like 10 MILLION and you have how much Sister Arámburo loves fruit - it’s not even funny. We had the prime opportunity of gaining 4 mamões (papaya) and 5 melões (honeydew) from this guy Germano that we met for the first time.  And we're hauling this MASSIVE sacola of fruta (bag of fruit) back home and passing melon here and there for random people on the street, but we still arrived home with a good quantity of fruit to be enjoyed (perfeito) (perfect). Well so while we may have arrived home and gone to sleep with 3 goodly sized melões (honeydew) and 3 huge mamões (papaya), I definitely woke up in the morning to find that my sweet Mexican companion had eaten an ENTIRE mamão SOZINHA (alone) and later consumed an entire honeydew. ALSO SOZINHA (also alone). We have been buying food as a casa (house) and sharing the cost but we have unanimously decided that it wasn't such a good idea because an entire sack of apples disappears in a matter of an hour if you're not paying good attention. #whatdotheyputinthefruit? 

2. I finally got the package that my fam sent for Christmas (shoutout to CONNER #obrigada (thanks)) and was able to read the adorable letters that my cousins wrote me about 6 months ago from Thanksgiving (#died "Anne where are you." "when will you come back" "Brennan says you have a super heavy Brasilian accent and talk a lot with your hands" @laura;) ) Also watching everyone gawk over what the heck a vegetable peeler was or trying almond butter for the first time was also pretty hilarious. OFFICIALLY I have music finally too because of my champ of a brother who spent hours downloading them all on a pendrive #JOHNO . also 2 words #pineconenecklace-Colorado

3. Officially joined the ranks of the time de futbol (soccer team) São Paulo (view jersey attached) - it's like a life or death battle out here on the mission which team you side with. It's funny because there's just a couple of crazy missionaries that get all of the estrangeiros (foreigners) to root for their team because we don't know any better #butttt #sãopaulo-soccerteam-ISTHEBEST 

4. I have seen some pretty amazing examples of faith this past week. Life really tries us sometimes and God tests us to see how much we are willing to sacrifice. There's this guy we have been teaching who has really been trying to be courageous and tell his parents that he wants to be baptized (his sister was baptized about a month ago), and Caio approached his parents this week to talk about it again. Beforehand, we talked with him about how his mom would really try his faith as she had with his sister. We said that it wouldn't be easy for him, and we asked him exactly WHY he wanted to be baptized and what he would tell his mom. His response consisted of "all I want to do is follow Christ. I want to serve Him like He's served me." He then asked if we would pray for him (on top of his personal prayers) and we knelt in that small side room of his humble home, asking God for strength to talk to his mom and that she would understand. When we returned the next day, we found that Caio had talked to his mom that very night, and after saying that he wanted to be baptized, his mom came at him with vehement "essa nâo é a igreja verdadeira" "vôce não ENTENDE o que vôce fala" "O Livro de Mórmon é FALSO" and lots of other whiplashs. (“this is not the true church” “you do not understand” “The book of Mormon is false”)  Joyce (his sister recently baptized) came back in rapid defense, bearing her sincere heart out that it really was true and that it wasn't all nonsense. She wasn't shaken with the doubts of her mother because the testimony she had gained hadn't come from the missionaries or from some other person, but was knowledge gained through the spirit from the One who knows all, God. There really was a test of his faith, and when we passed by to see him the next day to head to church, he made excuses and wouldn't come with us. I left his house just in tears because of how confused I was and how sad I was this is what he had decided. As we are sitting in sacrament meeting, I was thinking a lot about the Lord and how He must feel when we get so close to choosing to obey and then turn away - it just tears your heart right out because you really love these people and you know what decision will make them happy. 

But as we were starting the opening hymn, I looked around at all those that were present and glancing towards the back I see one last family slip in the double doors, shuffling in late into the last row. I see one green shirt and a bright smile, and I turn back towards the front crying again because it was Caio who had decided to come after all. 

I think there will always be those who doubt and question us in life, não importa (no matter) what your stance or belief is. We will always be tested.  That's kind of the point of our life - but I know that God always gives us strength to be stronger than the problems He gives us. He is always there for us.

Feeling grateful, even if there is a significantly less amount of mamão (papaya) in my stomach.

sending my love!!

Sister Staheli <3

Week 44 -- Gratitude

I am just so infinitely grateful to Heavenly Father. I have been immensely blessed in my life to be born in the place, time, and put with the people I call my family and my best of friends. Things just get super real on the mission. You appreciate the grand plan of salvation that God has made for us, the infinite love and tenderness and care that He has for us by sending his Son our Savior Jesus Christ to the earth; and just how miraculous it is that we can actually return to live with our Heavenly Parents again, even with all of our weaknesses and shortcomings, and Heavenly Father just forgives us for it all.

There's nothing that is more real or important to me than Heavenly Father and the Savior, nothing. It's because of THEM that I am here, that I have such a firm testimony and surety of who I am and what my purpose is here not only on the mission but in my life and existence, that I have been blessed with the gift to see clearly when so many are blinded by the darkness.

Listening to President Nelson speak, I just couldn’t bring myself to look away - it was like one of the moments when I really sat and absorbed the fact that he wasn't speaking anything of himself. But it was God who was speaking to us through him. I have really been able to see how much I have changed, and how much I’ve grown. The mission is the most tender mercy that I have ever had and I think one of the biggest things I have really been able to appreciate is…

1. Trust in my Father who knows infinitely better than me and 

2. Value and treasure those people that He has put in your life. 

We aren't expected to do everything on our own, neither was that ever part of the plan. But sometimes we just make it so darn hard for Him to help us. I am so grateful for the gospel and for having such clarity in this twisted and confused world. 

<3

Sister Staheli

Week 43 -- New companion from Mexico

WOWZA.

So I was talking to my dad on skype last p-day when we received "THE call".

THE call that comes every 6 weeks that determines whether you stay in the same city with the same companion, or if you will have 24 hours to pack all of your bags, throw sheets and dirty clothes and pillows into your suitcase and head off for another apartment with completely different people and new adventures (wow also everything that I write in English just looks so weird hahah) !! 

I was to find out that I would be staying in the area, but would receive ANOTHER NOVA (new) FRESH FROM THE CTM MISSIONARY. And get this -- unlike the first time, MY COMPANION TOTALLY DOESN'T ALREADY SPEAK PORTUGUES. 

DID YOU GET THAT. 

I AM TRAINING THE FIRST MISSIONÁRIA MEXICANA (Mexican missionary) TO HIT NATAL. 

EVER. 

It's the funniest thing, for the first time in the entire time I've been here - our house has 4 sisters from 4 countries diferentes (different) and NENHUMA (none) IS BRASIL. 

Sister Hernandez - 8 meses (months) da Colombia 

Sister Vega - 2 meses do Bolivia

Sister Arámburo (BEBEZINHA (baby girl)<3) - 1 MÊS do Mexico

e the única pessoa (only person) that's NOT hispanica ....

Sister Staheli - 10 meses dos Estados Unidos. 

ALL LIVING IN BRASIL - HOW IS THAT NOT CRAZY. 

#whoopwhoop

So this week has been hilarious as we are all freaking out like oh my gosh I am TEACHING her how to speak Portugues when even I was always asking my companions questions and practicing ainda (still) !! It’s SO FUNNY because the newbies are super cute and will speak a couple of words in Portugues but then will just turn into straight Spanish (which I can actually understand a majority) and I'm just sitting here laughing like oh my gosh this is going to be such an interesting transfer. 

View out their apartment

Sister Arámburo is also SUPER pretty and so as we are on the street talking to people, we had this one guy that we stopped and we introduced ourselves saying we're missionaries and he just stops, gazes intensely at Sister Arámburo and goes 'holaaaaaa Señorita' and just gets super close and we're like yeah PAZ E ALEGRIA TCHAU. (peace and happiness, goodbye)

But she also got pretty sick this week too with all the changes AND the fact it’s been raining nonstop every day, so we had a pretty crazy day on Saturday with Sister Vega when our companions stayed at home and we had to finish the goals of TWO DUPLAS for the week - MAN IT WAS CRAZY. #60contatos(contacts)-12newpeopletoteach-3hourstogetitalldone

ALSO MINHA FILHA (my daughter - she calls the new sister she trains her daughter and Anne is the mom) IS ACTUALLY THE SAME PERSON AS ME IT'S A MIRACLE. She loves to run every day (truly blessed), likes to eat a variety of fruit, pipoca, (popcorn) and amendoims (nuts) MUCH more than is common for the average person, and also speaks fluent Spanish (lol on the last one) but seriously is a weeee bit quiet but all the more querida (dear):) 

Eu amo vocês!! (I love you)

Yo amo ustedes!!  (I love you)

I don't know any more in English!! ;)

Sister Staheli

<3

Week 42 -- Week in pictures

So you know how I haven't taken like any pics in a long time? I decided to make up for it this last week and we managed to take I kid you not, more than 100 PICS with everything that we did!!

I'll spare you the joy of looking at every. single. one. But I will describe my week in terms of pics if that's cool with you guys :)

The slickest Sisters of Mossoró 

#açaifordaysss

Some of the wonderful people we see and interact with everyday:

Joyce - the only member of her fam, and still going strong while fighting depression with her adorable 16 yrs :)

Rebecca e Marianna - this adorable fam and menina that makes us die laughing, and also makes me excited for the day when I will be a mom <3

My Brasilian amores <3 (just look into the eyes of Neidinha at my side -- is there not a more loving and kind face in the entire world??)

Had this family that we've been teaching for some time introduce us to their pet parakeet that apparently is so loved that he never leaves the shoulder of his master, but so disregarded that it's been over a year and he STILL doesn't have a name. 

Moment of weakness:    -- disclaimer - you could say there may have been some pretty sketchy and traumatic bird experiences in the former life of Sister Staheli. #nevercompletelysafe #sheerterror 

A little taste of the beautiful Brasilian environment and the delightfully unpredictable way of changing every day

We spent the last p-day learning how to make gravatas (ties) from this member in our ward !! My companion had bought a ton of fabric and wanted to make them for assorted amigos  in the mish and it was a success! It's a trend here that everyone makes ties for each other (including the elders who are actually SUPER good #handsewedandeverything).

It was pretty funny because all they wanted to use was glue soooo I guess we'll see how long these bad boys will last lol 

The next model

SENDING MY LOVE.

Don't forget to send a hug/love to your mother! She is the most amazing person in the world and deserves to know it! 

(shout-out to the best mom in the world - LOVE YOU MOM. )

<3 Sister Staheli 

p.s. also feel free to send me an update of how you're doing in the mail!! #loveyouguys #dontfeelobligated

Brazil Natal Mission

Av. Interventor Mario Camara, 1904

Dix-Sept Rosado

59054-600 Natal - RN

Brazil

Week 41 -- phone call

It was our spring break, so Anne called.  She looked great and spoke with a Portuguese accent and hand gestures.

Week 40 -- Carnival

Anne was house bound so no emails.  They were to stay indoors during Carnival.

Here is a picture of her 9 month mark in their apartment, waiting out Carnival.

9 month mark