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!!