November 27, 2017

Wow this week has been a rush!

I need to write fast, and I probably won't cover everything, but it's great here in Brasil! There isn't really Thanksgiving over here, just Black Friday shopping (for the whole month of November?)

Although we haven't had a turkey feast, we sure had a spiritual feast on Saturday! The day started off uncertain and emotional, but ended with a BANG! Last week with Sister Moura, we found Paloma, the daughter of a less active. With Sister Novais, we visited her again. and guess what? She was so prepared to hear our message! We taught her the first three lessons (The Restauration of the Gospel, The Plan of Salvation, and The Gospel of Jesus Christ) and it was so refreshing to teach with a different companion. Don't get me wrong, I love love love Sister Moura, but because we had been together for three months, we had fallen into a routine of teaching. With Sister Novais, I coouldn't stick to the script, hers was completely different from mine. It was really a time for me to go with the flow (spirit!) and say what I needed to say. It was a great experience for me!

Anyway, that's all I have time for, sorry it's so short! I love you all!

We finally bought coconuts again, and now they have sunglasses haha!

Final pizza night for Sister Moura, with Ana

Just a cute pic with sunglasses B))))) 

Sincerely,
Sister Carlson

November 20, 2017

Hello everyone!

I hope you're all doing well! This week has been good, a little sad at the end, but good!

My first experience is a little sad, but gets better at the end! So Sister Moura and I found an inactive couple on the member list, and we decided to visit them. They were really nice and we talked about their family, and about Christmas. We had a lesson about the plan of salvation, and we invited them to read the Book of Mormon. I felt confident that they would accept because the way Sister Moura asked was powerful, but with a smile, they said no. This is the firmest no I've ever gotten, and my heart actually hurt. I knew that if they would read the Book of Mormon, their testimonies would be strengthened, but they refused. The only thing I could say was "I know that this book is true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet" before I started to cry. Sister Moura put it into words: "We're crying because we feel pain. We feel this pain because this is not our invitation, but it is an invitation of our Savior Jesus Christ. When you reject an invitation of Jesus Christ, you refuse to follow Him." This experience was so important to my growth process, and my testimony has been strengthened because of it. This was on Saturday, and to our surprise, they came to church on Sunday. We don't know why because they left straight after sacrament meeting, but I pray that the spirit touched their hearts. I know that when we actually follow the invitations for the Savior, our lives will be blessed.

I also had a great experience with Sister Moura. Today was transfer day, so I have a new companion, Sister Novais. For most of my life, my attitude has been "I don't need friends, I have my family" I love my family so so much, so I reasoned that I didn't really need anyone else. But for Sister Moura, friends are essential. With these two different dynamics, I've really grown. I realized last night that in these past 3 months, Sister Moura has become one of my best friends, and I became so scared of losing my new friend. But this is part of our growing experience as well. We grow when we make new friends, and because of Sister Moura, I really want to be friends with Sister Novais. I'm so grateful to be serving here in Brasil!! I love you all!
Sister Carlson

P.S. A member gave me a jacket that says BRASIL on the back (I think it's a soccer jacket?) so now I'm a true Brasilian:) I'll take pictures and send them this week!!

November 13, 2017

Good afternoon everyone!!

Sorry, I'm emailing so late, we had such a fun p-day today! Sister Moura wanted to buy some clothes for cheap, so we went to Centro! It's a lot like New York City, but more hills, street vendors, and not a lot of cars. It was really fun to explore with my companion, another companionship, and our recent convert friend Luan!

Two exciting things before I talk about miracles! First, I finally received my new plaques! It's Just Sister Carlson now, but I'll always remember my Rollins side;) Second, I think I ate bull's liver yesterday!! Really garlic-y:)

An amazing miracle happened this week on Wednesday. We had lunch with an inactive sister, and it didn't start off too well. It was my turn to share the lesson, and I felt unprepared. As I opened my scriptures to a scripture I thought I should share, another scripture stood out and I knew I had to share it. (I think it's 2 Nephi 4:15) It's about how we can be eternally in the arms of the love of our Savior. The spirit was overwhelming, and the first thing she said after we both shared our thoughts was "Wow that was powerful." We were only able to do this through the power of the spirit. He knew what she needed to hear, and I was able to know through Him. It's so important to rely on Him when we teach but to also prepare beforehand. I had studied this scripture the morning before but had forgotten it in the midst of daily activity. Through the power of the Spirit, I was able to remember what I had studied and share it with this less active sister. It was such a blessing to see the spirit touch her heart!

It's really been an awesome experience to focus on less actives, and I know that everyone needs this gospel, whether they've listened to it beforehand or not.

Sorry, this is so short, but I love you all so much!!!
Sister Carlson

P.S. I think my Portuguese is getting better! I know that this is a gift from God because as my Portuguese skills increase, the members can have more confidence in me! It's so nice to have gained some of their confidence, I now really feel that I have friends here! Que bênção!
P.P.S. Transfers are next week! I'll probably stay here, but I'll let you know next week!!