Week 56 - a week in pictures

Anne didn't have time to write a letter this week - so she sent pictures instead.....

Anne's district - they are sitting in order of how long they have served.  Sis Silva will go home next transfer so she is holding the flowers because she will (die) first.  

This is in Anne's apartment where they study.  Sis Colleoni painted the wall pink for them.

Jady - a recent convert

Marylicia - a local girl they worked with who just received a mission call to Sao Paulo, Brazil

 Sister Faria and Malgalaes - 2 sisters waiting for visas to go to Portugal, Sis Silva, Anne and Julianna at the corn festival

Sis Silva and Anne

Week 55 - Festa de Junina

Oi familia!  This week’s got a ton of pictures because it was the long awaited Festa de Junina (June Festival) – or also known as the party where everyone finds different ways to cook corn.  I have been hearing stories about this Festa practically since the day I got here in Natal.  And boyyy, I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest (although I wasn’t able to stay in the Interior – Mossoro where it’s apparently WAY bigger).  I’m going to be completely honest and say that I have NO idea what exactly we are celebrating, but right now on every street corner and in front of every 5^th casa you can find blazing bonfires that the locals have built on the sidewalk.  “DontKnowWhatThey’reBurningButItsNotTheTypeOfSmellYouWantOnYourClothes&Hair  

The huge festa they throw is composed of this type of music they call forro (specific songs and folk dances – the songs originated from farmers and workers who would sing to the cows, each other and the crops as they harvested sugarcane, corn, vegetables etc) and have a quadrilha (which is like line dancing that tells a story) and Mesas Cheias de comida (tables full of food).

Sis Colleoni and Sis Silva

To give you an idea, some of the foods typical for this festa include but are not limited to cuscus tempurado (has the texture and appearance of rice but is straight corn that they put chopped sauteed onions, tomatoes, cilantro, sausage, scrambled eggs, garlic and salt served hot)  #NewFavoriteFood, arroz doce (kind of like rice pudding with cinnamon on top), canjica (this sweet creamy corn pudding also with cinnamon on top), corn bread (which they call bolo de milho), bolo de macaxerra (which is a starch we don’t have in the US but is in the same family as potatoes), pipoca (popcorn), corn on the cob and as always coca-cola and fresh suco (juice) made from the native tropical fruits they have here.

Now for the quadrilha – the youth here get all dolled up with traditional Nordestina clothing – tons of bright colors, plaid and brightly checkered fabrics, straw hats for the boys and braids and ribbons for the girls.  It’s been such a long time since I’ve done something like hair with my hands that it took like 40 minutes to do the first girl’s hair, but ficou bonita a gente (It was beautiful people)

In the quadrilha, it’s like this type of line dance that tells the story of a bride and groom at their wedding feast and you have all of the girls on one side and all of the boys on the other side and the girls start, one girl grabbing a broom and sweeping and dancing in front of 2 boys.  She will throw the broom to one boy and then dance with the other.  He then sweeps while they dance and then he gives the broom to another girl who repeats the process.  It makes for some drama and suspense… i.e. the girls choosing the 12 year old boy instead of the 17 year old.  Girls refusing to enter the middle to dance etc.  It was seriously so funny.

And it was cool because we had a ton of people we’ve been teaching that came, mingling with todo mundo (everyone), laughing and having fun, eating corn in all its forms.  Man I love how the gospel brings people together from all different types of backgrounds and just makes them happy.  I felt really truly happy this week – and let me tell you – com certeza tinha its dificuidades (of course it had its difficulties).

My Brazilian sisters

There was a member this week that after we said that we had already been companions said “aah, toda vez que voce repete companheiras, e porque wee ainda neto aprendeu a que voce precisava a primeira vez.”  (Every time you repeat companions. It’s because you didn’t learn what you needed to the first time.)  And I think I’m beginning to figure out what it is that Heavenly Father wants me to understand.  

Sending my love,
Sister Staheli

I made a balloon animal

Natal sunset

Natal rain

Week 54 -- transferred to Alecrim

Wow gente (people), so it happened.  They pulled me out of my beloved Mossoro and from my beloved Mexican daughter and put me back in the capital – Natal.  But this time in Alecrim (Rosemary in Portugues), which is the same area as the mission office where 4 elders are also working.  That means at least 2x’s this past week, we ate with 8 missionaries (4 sisters and 4 elders).  We also live 5 blocks from the largest and busiest shopping centro da cidade  (center downtown) – the sidewalks are crammed with small stands that reach over your head and sell anything from I-phone cases, yummy coscuz tempurato (couscous) to hammocks.  Another crazy fact is that I’m back with Sister Silva, who helped finish my training when I only had 3 months in the mission.  And now it’s her last transfer and it’s the first time that I’ve been with someone who has more time than me in the mission in about 8 months.  She is a Sister Training Leader which pretty much means she cares for all of the other sisters, calling to check in on how they’re doing and visiting their areas to help in whatever difficulty they may be having as well as finding weak points and making them strengths.  So you could say that about 110% of the time I just sit in complete awe like, oh my gosh how is she so amazing?  #PumpedForThisTransfer  #AlreadySeeingTheMiracles #SoMuchToLearn

I want to quickly talk about someone we’ve been teaching this week:

Diego is a man we’ve been visiting diariamente (daily) who struggles with a dependence on alcohol and cigarettes – who used to be at about 20-30 a day but has narrowed it down to 4-5.  It’s been a trial of my faith and patience because I’ve never taught anyone like him before.  I’ve never been burdened with a consuming addiction, so sometimes it’s hard to understand and not be like “Man, he caved and drank again”.  Or to not get discouraged when we arrive and he quickly throws away the cigarettes he promised not to smoke that day.  But time after time I have also been impressed with his persistence in reading the Book of Mormon or meeting goals he set for what he wants in his life, or even how after everything – we did not need to pass by and give him a call to make it to church on his own this week.  Something that really gets me and that’s been able to help him a lot is that in reality – Sister Silva and I will never understand completely how hard it is to be him.  To fight that bodily dependence and overwhelming urge he feels to revert back to old and destructive habits, no matter how much he wants to quit.  We can’t just say “Hey eat a banana (he likes bananas) and say a prayer every time you feel the urge to smoke!”

But we do have the ability to say, “Hey Diego there is one who understands.  One who never gives up on believing that we can succeed, even when no one else seems to be able to, including ourselves.  One who already passed through every pain and weakness, both physical and spiritual, that we may ever know in our life time.  And why do you think He did that for us?”  Exactly for when we feel like Diego – alone, overwhelmed by our inadequacies to do what we know we should, discouraged and without the ability to see our life getting any better.  Aka how every single one of us has felt at some point in our lives.  He did it to understand all that we would go through and to give us His strength.  He did it to save us, both from the world and also from ourselves.  He did it because He loves us.

John 14:27

 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 16:33 

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Learning a lot folks – try to have a bit more faith and patience this week.  Whether in yourself or in those around you.  I promise you’ll be able to see a difference.  God always keeps His promises.

AMO MUITO VOCES (LOVE YOU SO MUCH)

Sister Staheli

Saying goodbye to these people was super hard...

Kaio's dog had puppies

Sister Silva is the BOMB

Our district leader that only lasted uma semana (one week) 

week 53 -- Pres. Colleoni finishing mission

Eaiii gente!  (Hello people)

Sorry for not writing this past week.  My body passed through literally every type of enfirmadade (disease) you can imagine and I hardly had strength to make it to the computer to talk to my family.  But God is misericordioso (merciful) and still managed to bless the life of small e pequena (and insignificant) Sister Staheli more than she deserved this week (and always).

President Colleoni

Sister Colleoni

My mission president is in the last 3 weeks of his mission and we had our last conference with him and Sister Colleoni.  There’s never been a shadow of a doubt in my mind that Presidente Colleoni is a man who knows his Savior.  He has always loved us like unto the love of the Savior, humble and trusting, yet also not afraid to queimar (correct us) when we need it.  I am so grateful for my time with him because I know I never heard his words, but the word’s and inspiracao (inspiration) straight from my Heavenly Father.

Heloiza

A miracle that happened this past week was being able to see Heloiza.  Just to recap, when I was still starting off the mission and was hardly speaking/understanding Portugues, we met this woman on the street and started to teach her.  Now this woman at the time was dating this super shady dude who lived in Dubai and was always having some random accident or needing hospitalization, or some type of expensive incident that she was constantly sending money for.  Did I mention they met online?  And that she found another account on facebook with the same dude but a completely different name?  Yeah “ShadyRight?  For quite a while we just sat and listened to her vent, but there was one lesson that was incredible.  We taught about how the evangelho (gospel) is the unreo caminho pra voltar a viver com nosso pai celestial (is the only way we can return to live with our Heavenly Father again).  My companion left the end of the lesson for me to teach.  Although I stumbled, and was completely inadequate, God gave me His words and spirit in that moment and she accepted the challenge to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized.  Long story short, soon after she disappeared and no one knew where she had gone or what happened to her.  Well it turns out, she moved to Mossoro, found the church and the missionaries and not only was she, but also her 2 nephews were baptized.  Needless to say, seeing her out of nowhere at the temple dedication, worthy, with a recommend was more than Sister Staheli could handle. 

Last miracle was Kaio.  Remember that rapaz (boy) that’s caused me more agehia e alegria, (aging and joy), tears and laughter, frustration and love than any other person I know?  Anyways, after 4-5 meses (months) he was finally baptized on Saturday.  Never have I met anyone who had more obstacles in being baptized.  And he is 13 years old!  I have never met someone with a more pure and innocent love for the Savior in my life.  Afterwards I asked him how he felt and he just goes “Sister Staheli, I’m so happy, I’m so, so happy!  It’s like before I always had this angustia (anguish) and heavy and oppressive feeling hanging on me and when I went under the water to be baptized, it all went away!”  And then he just ran off so giddy and feliz (happy) with the other rapazas.  (boys)

Man, I love my pai celestial.  (Heavenly Father)

Look for the miracles folks.  They’re real and they are in your life.

Sending my love.

Sister Staheli

1 year mark

Week - 52

No letter -  Anne skyped us instead.  She has been feeling a bit under the weather as she caught a nasty bug this past week.   

Week 51 -- Let your Gatinho Frolick

This week I got thinking a lot about comparison.

What happens sometimes is that we get so focused on what is happening in the life of someone else, that we forget to be grateful for all of the things we have been blessed with. 

The tendency to compare and compete with those around us is one of the adversary’s most powerful tools in making us forget about our own personal value; making us feel inadequate or worthless because we aren’t a carbon copy of our neighbor.  When we start to compare ourselves with others, we blind ourselves to all of the unique talents and abilities God has blessed us with, using our lives like a "spot the difference" painting, where one is “perfect” while the other is lacking in one aspect or another.  Thinking that every difference in color or position of the gatinho (kitten) in our picture vs. that of someone else, represents some type of failure or defect.  Falling into the trap of thinking why isn’t my gatinho (kitten) drinking leite (milk) on top of the geladera (refrigerator) like his, instead of frolicking in the catnip like there’s no tomorrow?  (You see the ridiculousness in the question?)  Who says that he has to be?  How boring would it be if all we had were gatinho’s (kittens) drinking the same dish of leite (milk)?

Maybe in the beginning it starts as something small, but comparing has a tendency of self -replicating…exponentially.

Embrace who God has made you to be, and trust in Him to help you become more.  I know He will guide us if we only open our hearts sincerely and humbly enough to ask.

Homework assignment:  Look up “Who Says” by Selena Gomez and sing it at the top of your lungs (or at least listen with a singing heart to understand just how unique, important and valued you are by our loving Heavenly Father)  #Works #SpeakFromPersonalExperience

LET YOUR GATINHO (kitten) FROLICK. 

love you all!!

<3 Sister Staheli 

fotos:

What happens when you buy everything needed for a solid açai (banana, granola, leite em pó, leite condensado (powdered milk, condensed milk)) EXCEPT.. cups!  #3cups16missionarios #ThrowItAllInTheBox #AteAçaiOutOfAPlasticBag

The beginnings of "festa de juninha"(June Festival) - aka the biggest carnival to hit Nordeste that consists of every type of corn-based food you can imagine and lasts an entire MONTH (more pictures to come)

Divaneide and Nicole (6 aninhos (years)) - the literal BOMB.COM of Mossoró and have been such a blessing to see them progress in the gospel

the aftermath of a lunch where I actually thought I was going to die #MomIThinkSheMadeMeEatAnEntireLASAGNAsozinha #passeimal 

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.