January 16, 2008
Óla! Óla! Tudo bem com vocęs?!?! Iīm doing great here in the Missão Brasil Cuiabá!
This week has been well...different. Like I mentioned last week...Sister Ramos had surgery..she was able to leave the hospital Thursday morning and has been living at a members home...our neighbor, because she canīt climb the stairs to get into our apartment. She is doing great. We have been taking turns taking care of her, and I spent a day packing all of her bags so that she could return home tonight. Its sad to see her go...but the funny part is I`ll be traveling with her to Cuiabá.
Yep thatīs right...transferred again! Iīm starting to be able to feel when Iīll stay in an area or not...of course Iīm willing to go and do what the Lord commands its still hard to say good-bye.
Sinop has always been a challenging area for me...and this transfer I was tried and tested more than just about any other time in my mission. Well I can see how the Lord always prepares us for more. I caught myself many times this transfers questioning in my mind...Why does it have to be so hard? Why am I passing through so much suffering? I guess maybe the Lord got sick of my complaints and decided to transfer me...so hereīs how the phone call went.
"Sister Stevens you are going to be going to Cuiabá, you will return to work in President Milderīs ward....you are going to be training for the second time." At this point I thought okay...I can handle this...I had no expectation to train again, mainly for the fact that there are missionaries who havenīt trained yet. But then he dropped the ball...."oh yeah Sister, you will be working in a trio....your other comp is Sis. Ribeiro...you are trainer to one and senior to both...good luck"...she is a curto prazo missionary...or this means that she is 19 years old, never passed through the MTC, and has only 2 transfers in the mission. Yep, one fresh from the MTC and one who never went! Oh dear?!?!
Well everyone, you heard it right...I was in shock too. Iīm so grateful for the chance I have to train again...I know that training once is a privelige, twice truly will be a great blessing. At times I wonder why our Father in Heaven trusts and loves me so much to allow me so many blessings and chances to grow. Iīm not going to lie...I never wanted to work in a trio...Iīve heard very few, if any, success stories about working in a trio...but I know that the Lord has a plan. I know that all will go well and that the Lord is trying to teach me things that will help me for the rest of my life. Iīm grateful for this chance.
If nothing else, my 2nd companion used to tell me (joking of course) that the more suffering you pass through on your mission, the better looking your husband will be. So...well you all get what I`m trying to say. :):):)
So anyways, me and Sister Ramos will leave tonight at 10pm to catch our 10 hour bus ride to Cuiabá...my comp(s) will already be in Cuiabá waiting for me.
Sinop was great...Iīm grateful for the things I learned. With Sis. Ramos getting sick I had the chance to teach and be a part of 2 baptisms this week. Luis and José....Iīm grateful for what these 2 humble men taught me this past week.
I will be writing everyone from quente cuiabá again...and who knows MAYBE iīll end my mission there. Iīve turned into a traveling sister so who knows.
I pray that you are all well and ask that you will keep me, and my news comps in your prayers.
Love you all,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis. Peshlakai Date: January 17, 2008
January 9, 2008
Well hello everyone...this week has been crazy, funfilled, lots of challenges and trials, but of course in the end its all worth it.
To start off with the good news, we had some great people at church on Sunday. Edson and Leonilda, a couple, legally married (rare) came to church and LOVED it! We stopped Edson on the street a couple of weeks ago and have been teaching them...they have been progressing well, but never showed much interest in visiting the church. Finally they agreed to visit and ended up loving it...I hope and pray that they will return.
Also a guy named Silvaldo came to church Sunday. He was a contact I made at the bus station before Christmas...the last time we traveled to Cuiaba for a zone conference I made a contact with him before we got on the bus. He gave me his address and number and the date he would be returning home from his trip. He forgot about it when I called him, but was super excited to have our visit. When he visited him the first time he invited neighbors, family, friends, about everyone on the street to hear our message it was rad. He came to church and also loved it.
With plans to visit all these people we had some difficulties happen Sunday night. As you know I live with my comp and 2 other sisters. Sis. Santos and Sis. Ramos. Well Sunday night Sister Ramos who is a part-time (curto-prazo) missionary from Cuiabá, started having pains in her stomach on the right side...she was screaming with pain and her comp and my comp started freaking out. As you all knwo I like to boss people around, at least my sisters would agree...and so I just kind of took control of the sitution and started giving orders...YOU call a taxi, YOU pack her an overnight hospital bag, YOU etc. etc. etc. Well we took her to the hospital and she spent sunday night in the emergency room (me too) and then monday night admitted her to the hospital to consult with a surgeon. Well she was admitted to a wing in the hopsital that didnīt allow visits, but they thought I was her sister (we look a little alike) and let me in to stay with her. Well Monday night she had to have emergency surgery...appendicitis (spelling?) I spent the night taking care of her and finally yesterday got to come home a rest a little bit..they finally let her real companion stay with her last night. Anyways...it gave me an idea of what it would be like to be a nurse and decided that the Lord was showing me that truly nursing is the field I should enter when I get home.
Sadly...because she had surgery her part time mission was cut short and in the next 5-10 days she will be returning home when she is well enough to travel. She has been quite a light to me here in Sinop...she loves to laugh and has made the hard times a little easier, so I will miss her greatly. She is doing good, already walking, and talking, and sad to leave, but recognizes that everything has a purpose. I will go visit her before I return home for sure.
So this puts me in a trio...yep me, my comp, and Sister Santos. I never wanted to be in a trio, and still donīt want to, but we will see what happens at the transfer which is Monday. Who knows maybe I`ll be writing you next week from another area with a new comp..who knows?!?!
Its become quite apparent this week as the trials keep on coming, how real the adversary really is. He attacks those who are weak, but even more those who are strong. I know that trials are part of the mission and am grateful for each one that helps me grow in my personal relationship with my Savior.
I thank you for your prayers and hope and pray that wherever and with whoever the Lord sends me in this next transfer I can find those he has prepared.
I love you and hope you all have a great week!
LOVE,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis. Peshlakai Date: January 17, 2008
January 1, 2008
Hello everyone! Happy New Year!! Wow this year sure went by fast didnīt it? Its crazy that to look back and think about 2007...I spent the year in Brasil...doing the best thing anyone could do. I am a Missionary....wow...it doesnīt seem real at times.
I canīt really tell you how Iīm feeling because the end of the year causes us all to relect on all the things that happened and well there are just to many. Our mission president sends out a newsletter this week with the words of the hymn "Count Your Many Blessings" my favorite part is..."and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."
Truly...as I refect it surprises me how blessed I have been.
I decided today to write what I wrote in my journal...the last day of 2007.
31 DEC 2007
"Well its the last day of the year and Iīm sitting here reflecting on how blessed Iīve been this past year of my life. How did I spend 2007? Doing only the will of the Lord, seeking to help others find the right path, forgetting myself while helping others find their testimonies. And after reflecting about the changes made in the lives of others its obvious that who was changed more in these last 12 months was me. Thatīs whats amazing about his work...you are here to help others and consequently you are helped. If I could think of the greatest blessing that was given to me in 2007 it would be...I found my real testimony."
This is just a small part of what I have to be thankful for...but to sum it all up into one thing...it truly is that in 2007 I found my testimony...it was always there...a seed planted long ago by loving parents and relatives. But what I found in 2007 is that I KNOW that I KNOW. Its amazing.
I had the chance this week to see a few "fruits of my labor" I got to church here in Sinop on Sunday and who was there...Pablo..a recent convert from Sorriso. He spent the whole day getting to knwo the members and that night came to the choir that Iīm directing (oh dear) and then participated in the meeting with the ward missionaries. After which he asked if he could talk to me and my comp really quickly. He opened up a notebook that we had given him to study the scriptures when he was baptized..it was full of notes, scriptures, quotes, thoughts...and then he turned to a page entitled "missionary work"
He sat there for a minute and then read what he had written. After which he looked up with tears in his eyes and said how grateful he is to be a part of the true church of Jesus Christ. How grateful he is that we knocked on his door that day and showed him how to find true happiness. He described the changes that occured in his life...saying that he is overall a much happier person...and then said I came here to tell you that because you helped me...Iīm going to do the same...Iīm going to be a missionary. Iīll never forget what you did for me.
It was a night of lots of tears and laughter and as I got home that night..I thanked the Lord for one of the greatest gifts he has ever given me. It was so awesome to see the changes that occured and to see how strong his testimony is.
Also...remember Mislene and family....we were preparing them to be baptized in Sorriso...we taught them everything and were able to get them married for free there in Sorriso before we were transfered.. We just had to wait 30 days and they could be married, and baptized. Well we were transferred and left them with the Elders...The 30 days ends tomorrow and they will be married Friday, baptized Saturday, and confirmed members of the church Sunday. i got a letter from her last week talking about the first night we visited them...the changes that have happened since, and the great hope she and her family have to strive to go to the temple in a year. She said the greatest present she could get for Christmas is if we could come to her baptism.
Well I called my mission president...and seeing how much he loves me...we are going to Sorriso Saturday to see this family enter in the waters of baptism. They donīt know yet...we are going to surprise them...Iīm singing at their baptism too!
I can just feel the love of our Heavenly Father as I think about how prepared and ready these people were to hear the gospel..and how grateful I am Iīve had a small part in bringing them these truths.
Sinop is going good...like I said before its a hard area...but despite the trials we are getting through. Meeting lots of people...a few are progressing, many are not...but with lots of faith and prayers I know that we will soon have lots of success. I ask for your prayers...that we will be able to find a family who is ready and willing.
Iīve made some great new years resolutions...those for the rest of my time as a missionary, and those for when Iīm thrown back into the "real world" yep its only 4 months...I hit 14 months yesterday...its sure flying by.
have a Happy New Year! And know that there is a missionary in Brasil who loves you all!
Love,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis. Peshlakai Date: January 17, 2008
December 26, 2007
Hello everyone...well I hope and pray that you all had a wonderful Christmas and that the Christmas spirit continues to dwell in your hearts and your lives as we all start this new year.
My first and last Christmas in the mission field ( last year I was in the MTC) was a great blessing for me. Christmas is a little different here....midnight on the 24th everyone has their "ceia" its a huge dinner with lots of food, drinks, lots of people, accompanied by fireworks and lots of music and dancing. Well as you can see this happens at midnight so I was sound asleep in my bed, but I was able to hear a little of the "festas" outside.
Since we had to be in our house at the regular hour 9:30pm...we decided to make our own christmas ceia sooo...being poor missionaries...hehe...and with little time we made macaroni and I made deviled eggs, something they donīt make here. My comp and my roommates thought that deviled eggs was about the best food they had ever tasted in their lives. It was pretty funny.
Christmas Day we woke up as usual and went running in the park...needless to say after the parties that night before we were the only ones awake at 6:30am here in Sinop. i made french toast, another food they donīt have here....they loved the maple syrup! Our zone leaders called us from Sorriso and sang "Silent Night" in english and portuguese. It was pretty good...Iīve recieved lots of packages there in Sorriso and in Cuiabá and I think they want to get on my good side so Iīll share with them. :) We studied as usual, and at noon I was able to call home. Its was GRRRREAT!!! It was soooooo good to hear my families voices and to hear a little bit about what is going on up in the states. Everyone sounded good and happy.
After we got done my comp talked to her family and then we went to work...I did alot of thinking of how we were going to convince people to let us interrupt their family Christmas time to share a message about the gospel and prayed that the Lord would help us find more people to teach. Well as always the Lord attends our prayers. We wrapped up a bunch of Books of Mormon and a new Christmas DVD the church put out this year and went to work.
We visited an inactive member we call, Dona Gloria....at her house we 3 families visiting for the day....after our special message we prepared on the birth, life, and atonement of Christ...we were able to get the address and interest of all 3 families, as well as the trust of an inactive member and her family.
We then visited a couple of our other investigators in which we also met another family...Mauro and Cleide...a young couple who are in their words "seaching for something" ....funny...they donīt know exactly what they are searching for, but I do.
So our Christmas Day and work as missionaries was richly blessed with 4 new families to teach about the greatest of this perfect gospel.
How grateful I am for the blessings my Heavenly Father has given me in His service.
As Iīve mentioned before my comp has been pretty homesick....at times its true I just want to shake her and say "get over it" but with the counsel of my mission president Iīve learned to treat ths situation with Love...he told me "love her as Christ would love her, even when its hard"
Christmas Eve we went to the store to buy sprite for our "ceia" and when she saw all the families in the grocery store she broke down in tears right in the middle of the store. Poor thing. For those who really know me you know that my first thought was "oh céus...again?" But I tired to remember what our savior would do....i just hugged her in the middle of the store and told her I loved her. When we got home I said a silent prayer and asked for help on what I could say to help her. The Lord literally put thoughts in my mind and words in my mouth. After talking, laughing, and crying I had the impression to make some goals with her for our Christmas Day work.
One of the goals I made with her was to remember the purpose of Christmas, I told her that Christ gave His life for us...we can give Him this Christmas. I helped her realize that noone made her serve a mission, she chose because she wants to help people.
After making lots of goals and then analizing them last night...we met all the goals we made. I was nervous about her talking to her parents and being more homesick...but after she talked she told me...I think now I have a bigger desire to serve then ever before.
The lord really does bless us when we strive to do His will.
Iīm grateful for so many things this Christmas season...but espiecally for the chance I had to be able to wear the name of whose birth we remembered.
I love all so much....I may have the chance to say an extra transfer which would put me home in June instead of May. If its what the Lord wants Iīm going to do it...Despite all the challenges and problems that I face everyday..I love my life...Iīm a missionary..what could be better?
Have a wonderful week, and a happy new year...make goals for what you all want to accomplish this next year and then ask the Lord if thats what He wants for you...according to His will he always is there to help.
Thank you for all of you who sent presents...Iīll be getting 2 tomorrow (Aunt Julie/Uncle Ryan & Josh) Iīm super excited...THANKS SO MUCH! For those of you who sent them to Cuiabá...they should be here soon. I thank you all so much for your love and support.
Love always,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis. Peshlakai Date: January 17, 2008
December 19, 2007
Hello everyone! As this Christmas season arrives what a wonderful time we have to reflect about the birth, life, and atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.
This week has been busy and Iīve learned alot. Sinop is good...its a challenging area...as I already knew, but despite the challenges I am finding success and happiness in my work. How could I not be happy wearing the name of our Savior everyday?
This week we met some great people...we are starting here from zero which means, lots of doors to knock and contacts to make. Through our diligence we have met some great people...and had a wonderful couple Nilton and Julia come to church this Sunday. When we got there I was prompted to teach about eternal families and as I testified about the temple and the chance they have to be a part of Heavenly Fatherīs plan for his children, they made the simple question " This includes everyone in the family, living and those who have already passed right?" Of couse i smiled and promised that it did. To which they revealed that the 4 children they said they had...they actually had 5 and had lost an 18 year old son some years ago in an accident.
I had no idea but am grateful I was able to follow the Spirit and teach them according to their specific needs. How grateful i am for preach my gospel that gives us this privilege.
I see them progressing and becoming great members of the church...it might be a process, but I believe that they will accept the gospel. They loved the branch here and said they felt great there, they plan to return and we are working alot with them and their family.
One of the greatest things that happened this week was a zone conference with President and Sister Milder. It was a conference a little different, where instead of preparing a powerpoint and lecturing (which I love) President Milder prepared a talk on the atonement of our Savior.
He talked about His birth, his life, and specifically about his last week and the great atonement that was made for us.
I have to say that the thing that touched me more than anything was the testimony of my wonderful and inspired mission president. I testify everyday about the Savior, but in that instant I heard the humble, yet burning testimony of a special witness of the Lord. I felt at that moment more than at any other time in my life...the truthfulness of this gospel. The greatness of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and how personal it really is to each of us.
In the CTM I heard that "its always Christmas when you are on your mission, because you are here to give and not to receive."
Iīve found this to be true and although at this time of year it would be nice to be with my family and friends...i know without a doubt iīm where I need to be. I know that I Lord needs me here in Sinop.
I hope you all have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
You are in my thoughts and prayers, each and every one...
With love at Christmas time...
Sister Stevens
FELIZ NATAL E PRÓSPERO ANO NOVO
Posted by: Sis. Peshlakai Date: January 17, 2008
December 12, 2007
Hello everyone.....well you wonīt believe it, but Iīm writing from Sinop. yep thats right I was transferred yet again! It seems to happen alot and Iīm constantly faced with change in areas, but its these times I have to remember thats my thoughts and desires arenīt always the same as the Lordīs...He knows best.
So I thought nothing would happen, but late Wednesday night we got the phone call saying that we would be going to Sinop and splitting this area with another dupla of Sisters. And that 4 Elders would replace us in Sorriso.
It was the hardest trasnfer by far...it reminded me of leaving home, except this time I know I wonīt be returning home in a year and half. I donīt know when Iīll see these people that I love so much again.
We went and said good-bye to all our recet-converts and donīt remember crying that much in the airport when I left.
The members had a hard time accepting it, and in fact the Elders arrived before we left Sorriso and one of the members said.." So they had to bring 4 Elders, to do the same work as 2 Sisters huh?" HAHA I couldnīt help but laugh.
We left behind Mislene and her family with a baptism date marked for Jan 5...another family. The Elders called and said that they went and visited them and all they talked about were the Sisters. They told the Elders that from the first time we arrived at their house that day in the rain, they knew the church was true...mislene said " I saw it in their faces when they spoke about the church." Iīm sad I wonīt be able to see them enter in the waters of baptism, but Iīm so grateful that the Lord gave me the chance to plant the seed of this wonderful work.
Saying good bye to our recent-converts was the hardest. They couldnīt understand why it had to be like this. We went to Pabloīs house and I shared a scripture with them and then sang "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." We were all crying when I finished and I couldnīt believe how much it hurt to say good-bye to people Iīve know for such a short time. He told me that everything changed in his life that day that we knocked on his door. I canīt help but thank my Heavenly Father for my mission...for saving me from the life that I could have had before and giving me the chance to dedicate this time to others. It has changed me to see the changes in others. I KNOW this is the true church of Jesus Christ. It becomes more apparent to me day after day. I KNOW I can return to His presence. I KNOW that this is the way to eternal families.
We had a ton of people come to the bus station to see us off, we were all crying and everyone must have been wondering why. I got some cool presents from members and recent converts, including a soccer jersey with "Sister Stevens" embroidered on the back...its sweet! As well as lots of other things to remember people by. It was a kind of one of those bittersweet moments.
I studied in Moisah 5 today about conversion. Conversion comes from feeling the spirit, people are converted when they exercise their faith, and the result is that they make covenants that help them return to the presence of their Heavenly Father. What a powerful chapter in the Book of Mormon....
Iīm pretty emotional today...I miss Sorriso and everyone there, but know that the Lord has a plan for me in Sinop.
Iīm glad to be back in Sinop...the branch here is great...the members are great. The area is hard. The people here are very set on the matieral things of the world...Iīve never received so many "NO" answers in all my mission (other than the other time i served in Sinop) haha, but I also have a testimony that there are some of the Lordīs "choosen few" here in Sinop. I just need to work my hardest to find them.
Iīm still with Sister Flores....its going good. She is still super homesick, but they say that the best way to get rid of that is WORK WORK WORK....soooooo the Lord sent us to Sinop. HAHA.
Before I forget you can send letters to this address:
Sister Stevens
R. Aroeiras, 170
Centro
Sinop-MT-Brasil
78550-000
Iīll just make a plea that your favorite sister is dying to get handwritten letters...does that make anyone feel guilty enough to write? I hope so :):):):)
Who knows...maybe Iīll end my mission here in Sinop...I hope so because iīm TIRED of transfers. haha. Iīve decided there are 2 things I donīt like about a mission (if its possible to not like something)
1. Wearing a skirt every single stinking day
2. Transfers
Iīm hoping that my next transfer will be to the United States of America.
I love you all so much and thank you all for all that you have given me. If you sent packages or letters to Cuiabá or Sorriso...donīt worry Iīll still get them. Our Zone Leaders are in Sorriso now and we see them every week and Cuiabá I always get them. So no worries about this.
Have a great week! And remember that you have the power to bless the lives of many of our Heavenly Fathers children.
"You can count the seeds in one apple, but you canīt count the apples that come from one seed."
Youīll never know how much you can affect the lives of others..and so give selflessly this Christmas season and you will be bless beyond words.
With Love,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis. Peshlakai Date: January 17, 2008
December 5, 2007
Hello there friends and family....well I hate to break it to ya but I donÂīt have much news for ya this week. Let me explain why. IÂīve been in Vera...its a little town about an hour away from Sorriso. My comp has been sick with some stomach problem and unfortnatly here in Sorriso the doctors couldnÂīt figure out what it was. Soo....our branch president is a doctor in Vera so we spent the week in Vera at his house with his wife while my comp had tests done and we waited for all the results. Well heres the funny thing...we still donÂīt know what it is. OH CÃUS!
But we have some ideas and so we are treating what it could possibly be and they sent us back to Sorriso for now. She is good...we are able to work now which is a huge relief because I about went crazy not working and teaching.
Made me realize really how precious this time as a missionary is. How many of our Heavenly FatherÂīs children are in need of this message and how with the little time i have left I need to work hard and be the most effective missionary I can be. I got some good advice from someone very dear to me that said "many missionaries hit their "peak" at the half way mark, but you will never be more effective than at the end of your mission"
I donÂīt want to get lazy, I donÂīt want to let up...because I know there are many people needing this message.
Transfers were suppose to be monday, but Presidente milder hasnÂīt said yet what is going to happen...we should find out today. I donÂīt think anything will change so I`m not to worried about us.
I wanted to share with you a part of a general conference talk I read while at the branch presidents house. I want you to know how much I love each one of you!! Its the following:
I recently read a text which expresses the urgency of not leaving for tomorrow what you can do today. In July of this year Brazil witnessed the most devastating aircraft accident in its history. There were 199 people killed, including passengers, airline workers, crew members, and others who were at the site when the accident happened. The text I mentioned was said to have been posted on the airline communication board by the husband of one of the flight attendants who died in the accident. It is entitled "Tomorrow Never Comes" and is based upon a poem by Norma Cornett Marek.
If I knew this would be the last time I would watch you sleep,
I would hug you tighter. I would plead with the Lord to protect you.
If I knew this would be the last time I saw you walk out the door,
I would hug and kiss you and call you back to hug and kiss you one more time.
If I knew this would be the last time I would hear your voice in prayer,
I would record every gesture, every look, every smile, every one of your words,
So that I could listen to it later, day after day.
If I knew this would be the last time,
I would spend an extra minute or two to tell you, "I love you," instead of assuming you already knew it.
If I knew this would be our last time, our last moment,
I would be by your side, spending the day with you instead of thinking,
"Well, I'm sure other opportunities will come, so I can let this day go by."
Of course there will be a day to revise things,
And we would have a second chance to do things right.
Oh, of course there will be another day for us to say, "I love you."
And certainly there will be another chance to tell each other, "Can I help with anything?"
But in my case, there isn't one!
I don't have you here with me, and today is the last day we haveâour farewell.
Therefore I would like to say how much I love you,
And I hope you never forget it.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old.
Today might be your last chance to hold tight to the hand of the one you love and show all you feel.
If you are waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today?
Because if tomorrow never comes, you certainly will regret for the rest of your life
Not having spent some extra time for a smile, a conversation, a hug, a kiss,
Because you were too busy to give that person what ended up being their last wish.
Then hug tight today the one you love, your friends, your family, and whisper in their ears how much you love them and want them close to you.
Use your time to say,
"I'm sorry,"
"Please,"
"Forgive me,"
"Thank you,"
Or even,
"That was nothing,"
"It's all right,"
Because if tomorrow never comes, you will not have to regret today.
The past doesn't come back, and the future might not come!
And so.....I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! HAVE A GREAT WEEK...AND I PROMISE IÂīLL HAVE ALL KINDS OF NEWS FOR YOU ALL NEXT WEEK. THIS IS THE WORK OF THE LORD...I AM ONE OF HIS SERVANTS AND I AM GRATFUL FOR THE PRAYERS ON MY BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF MY INVESTIGATORS.
LOVE,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis. Peshlakai Date: January 17, 2008
November 28, 2007
Hello dear friends and family...
Things are going great here in Sorriso and the Lord is truly blessing me and my companion in His service. We are having our daily challenges of missionary work, but constantly we can see the blessings and guidance.
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving....Christmas is just around the corner..i have to admit Iīm pretty dang excited to talk to my family...I just hope I`ll be able to speak english...right now when I try its pretty broken and sad..haha...I guess we will see.
I gave a talk in Church on Sunday about being converted unto the Lord and how deciding today to keep the commandments will help us when the temptations arrive in the future. It turned out to be a great talk and as it happens often in our lessons, I planned one way and the Spirit took it another....but I felt very good about it and am so grateful for the teachings of the prophets and the scriptures and the lessons we learn when we study and apply.
Pablo recieved the Priesthood Sunday and showed up to church in full church dress...shirt, tie, everything...something he told me he didnīt like to do. He looked so cute and everyone made such a big deal out of it, that I told him I could see his head growing by the second. He likes to joke around alot, so I just kind of give it back to him. I told him he better get used to using a white shirt and tie because in a year it will be his wardrobe...he agreed. :)
We are starting again from scratch, knocking doors and contacting references from the members. I know and trust that the Lord will provide his "eleitos"
The work is moving forward and the adversery is working harder....but it strengthens my testimony of this wonderful work and truthfulness of this gospel.
I love you all and hope that you are all doing great and happy. The time sure is flying by and people keep asking me how Iīm feeling getting so "old" in the mission. I just tell them that I just want to work as hard as I can, not get lazy this last 5 months, and let the Lord use me as His instrument. I have the confidence that if I do this, the Lord will provide all that I need when my time a a missionary is done.
In my constant thoughts and prayers,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis Peshlakai Date: January 17, 2008
11-22-07
Anyways, this past week has been super crazy and super great! First of...remember Pablo...he was that 18 year old that I said I felt would make a great missionary. Well Pablo was baptized and confirmed a member of the church Sunday. It was an awesome baptism and we all felt the Spirit really strongly. He got there way early and said that he was soooo anxious that he hardly slept the night before. He loves the members and has been bringing various family members and amigos to participate in church ativites and family home evenings with the members. Apparently him and his friend stayed at a member house until 1AM playing UNO...i let them borrow my Uno cards my mom sent me because they donīt have them here, taught them how to play, and they spent the whole night playing. He loves the church, and studies the Book of Mormon like crazy. He truly will make a great missionary someday.
Monday we got the phone call that we were having zone conference tuesday and that we needed to catch a bus to cuiabá ASAP. So...Monday we spent 8 hours on the bus, arrived in Cuiabá about midnight. Tuesday we had an amazing conference with Presidente Milder about free agency and our freedom to choose what we want in this life and in the life to come. I have such a clear understanding now of a Father in Heaven and his perfect plan. Presidente Milder explained that of everything we have the only thing that actually belongs to us is our free agency. Our bodies, our families, all the material things we have arenīt ares until we prove that we deserve them. But our Heavenly Father gave us all the knowledge we needed for our lives here on earth to be able to return to live with Him eternally and then he gave us our agency and we are now free to choose for ourselves as Alma said "salvation or destuction" (Alma 29:4)
What a loving Heavenly Father we have and how lucky we are.
This week we had our challenges, but from each of them we learn. Iīve learned the best thing to do is to love all of those around you. I donīt want to go into details but I guess after this week I have a better understanding of the counsel the Savior gave when he said in Matthew 5:44
"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."
After the counsel from my mission president I spent hours today studying from Chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel about developing Christlike attributes, particularly about Charity, the pure love of Christ. I found it interesting that the Savior said shortly after this counsel, which at times is difficult in verse 48
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
Nobody said it would be easy...but in all things and in all moments we need to become perfect, or become like our Father in Heaven. I read today that "just as vital as what you do is who you are."
Iīm grateful for the counsel and teachings of our Savior and for his perfect example of Charity and love for others. I`m grateful that we can follow the counsel of Mormon and "pray unto the Father with all energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love." And that the Lord will grant us the help we need to become more like our Savior.
This gospel is perfect. I love you all and thank you for your prayers.
LOVE YOU,
Até mais,
Sister Stevens
p.s. email me back at this email at least for this week, or until further notice.
Posted by: Sis Peshlakai Date: November 28, 2007
11-21-07
Hello everyone....well i just got back from a zone conference in Cuiabá. I didnīt realize it but my inbox was at 100% and if any of you tried to send emails this week I didnīt get anything. I`m super sad and wanted to cry. But..........today really ísnīt p-day because we spent all day on the bus....so we had time to just look at the emails today, but our real p-day is tomorrow and soooooooo......if you could all re-send your emails or write me back tonight or tomorrow morning I would appreciate it. I hope that they go through this time.
I love you all so much..until tomorrow.
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis Peshlakai Date: November 28, 2007
November 14, 2007
Hello everyone, well the work here in Sorriso is going Great! We are working hard and seeing the Lordīs hand in everything we do. Well let me start out with some great news.
Pablo, is being baptized this Sunday. We have spent alot of time this week, praying, fasting, and teaching Pablo and he has progressed amazingly. He told us that he loves the church, he feels good when he is there, and doesnīt want that feeling to go away. We taught many of the commandments to him, and surprised us with how prepared he was and is to live these commandments. Things that arenīt easy for an 18 year old kid who never heard of such things, he accepted it as thought it was something he learned as a child. What a great example to us all. In our last appointment, he said the closing prayer and as part of his prayer he said, "Father in Heaven, Iīm anxious to be born again and be a part of your church." I feel so blessed to have been a small part in bringing the gospel to Pablo and can already see the great changes that are happening in his life.
We had a great Sunday this week and had 11 investigators in Sacrament Meeting...The chapel was sooooo full....and the members did a great job of making everyone feel welcome. As we talked to the investigators afterward and asked them how they felt and if they liked the meetings the response overall was, "it was great...we will come back next week." Iīm way excited to see the growth happening here in a branch that when I served here the first time if you remember, our first sunday had 17 people at church, including us 4 missionaries. What a blessing! This Sunday I would guess had about 50-60.
We met lots of great people and are teaching two families who have GREAT desires to be baptized...the only problem. They arenīt married. Here in Sorriso to get married costs between 200-300 reais. Which is about 100-150 dollars. Doesnīt sound like much, but 200-300 reais, is more than they pay rent on their houses each month here. Its very expensive. I know that no matter what if they have sincere desires that the Lord will open up the door for them, but its going to be a challenge.
Umm....more news. We found lots of "critters" in our house this week. Including more cockroaches, lizards, and this week a frog. It was funny. My comp woke me up in the middle of the night because she went to get a drink and found a frog on our kitchen sink. Well...i was like lets just chase it outside...she said we couldnīt because they are dangerous and throw this milky substance that can blind you. Ohh céus. We sat and stared at that frog for 15 minutes until we saw a light turn on outside in our neighbors house, who is also a member. So in the middle of the night we went and got our neighbor, Michelle, to get the frog out of our house. Well she thought it was hilarous, becuase apparently it wasnīt the kind of frog dangerous and when she saw it she picked it up with her hand and threw it into the other neighbors yard. HAHA....it was a little embarassing to say the least, but a funny story to tell right?
Anyways, I hope that this week finds you all doing great. I love you all so much and thank you for your constant prayers and support.
Até mais,
Com amor,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis. Peshlakai Date: November 15, 2007
Nov. 7, 2007
Hello Everyone.....well this week went by super fast and we had alot of things happen. The branch here threw a super cool Halloween Party, even though they donīt have Halloween here...they had a coffin shaped cake, and everyone dressed up, and they had a dance. Well I stayed there to welcome our investigators who came to the dance, and when I dance started I jetted. Haha...missionaries donīt dance remember.
Our investigators loved the party, and they all were at church Sunday too.
We are still teaching Pablo, who this week brought a friend, David to church as well. Pablo is now preparing to be baptized ont he 18th of this month...I ask for your prayers because I know that he is getting a lot of slack for his decision. But I know, as he does, that it is the right way and the right thing to do. He hadnīt received an answer yes as to whether Joseph Smith was a prophet, so we encouraged him again to pray and read the Book of Mormon, promising that he would receive an answer. We visited him Sunday, and he told me that he was reading the Book of Mormon, and decided that he would pray again to know. He said as he prayed his heart started beating so fast, he could hardly believe it...when he stopped praying it stopped and he was in a complete state of peace. Wow...he is a great kid...The adversary will work hard against him...beacuse I know that he will do great things.
We had alot of prayers answered this week...Anilson, one of our investigators, the brother of Allan who we baptized a few weeks ago...has been receiving all the discussions with Allan, but never received an answer. We visited him Saturday and he too received a very clear answer to this question he has had for the past 3-4 weeks. He had a dream that he was standing by a river and a huge fight broke out...he was in the middle of it but didnīt know why. He got taken to jail..and while he was getting put in jail he told the guard. "I`m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints." With which the guard responded..."then you are free to go."
Talk about a prayer answered!!! Anilson suffered a motorcylce accident 2 years ago and still has the metal bars in his left leg...they get taken off in December...and with this he has the goal to be baptized in December.
The best thing that happen this week was the baptism of Ana Claudia and her husband Elimar. We have been teaching them since I got here in Sorriso this time, and this past week...they finalized the marriage...got married...and were baptized Sunday. It was such an emotional expierence for everyone...because its been a long time coming. Ana is Fabioīs sister...Fabio was our first baptism here in Sorriso this past transfer...and he was able to baptize his sister Sunday. It was amazing to see the growth and love of each of them.
I got a phone call Monday from my ZL, who said that we were the only missionaries in the whole Cuiabá Mission that baptized a family (husband/wife) this week. I can see so clearly how much the Lord is blessing the work here in Sorriso.
Allan received the priesthood this week, and passed me the sacrament Sunday. I canīt describe how great this week was. Iīm overwelmed with happiness and joy to see how well the work is progressing here.
Iīve seen truly miracles as the Lord has so wonderfully placed his children in our path.
As for Sorriso, the weather is driving me crazy...it rains and storms every single stinking day. Makes it hard to ride bikes because alot of the neighborhoods that we work in are all dirt roads. I have to wash and shine my shoes every single night. haha. (what a complainer)
One of the member made an interesting lunch the other day...it was a sort of stew made of vegetables and cow stomach. yep you read that right. served over rice. It had a very intersting texture. haha.
I love you all so much. Iīm learning how to make brazilian food so I can cook for you all when I get home...donīt worry, Iīll avoid the cow stomach.
Hope you all have a wonderful week and that the Lord continues to bless each one and your families
Sua missionária,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis. Peshlakai Date: November 15, 2007
Oct. 31
Happy Halloween!!!!!!
Okay, so Halloween doesnīt exist here in Brasil, but thatīs okay...I hope you all have a great Halloween in the States. Eat a caramel apple for me!
But what Iīm thinking about today has nothing to do with Halloween, but the fact that one year ago today I was leaving my life back home and heading for Brasil. Crying my eyes out at the airport. Saying good-bye to the Vaclaw boys before they went to school..and Jackson asking me if I really had to leave, and if he could come with me. Hugging and saying goodbye to my family and friends at the airport. Wow.
I couldnīt imagine at that point being as happy as I am now...how blessed I have been this past year. This offically makes me feel "old" in the mission, as my comp reminds me that she has only 16 months left...as compared to my 6! Thank you all for helping get to where iīm at today!
This week has been full of wonderful things to tell. We found another one of the Lordīs elect...prepared and ready to hear the message. Pablo is 18 years old...we knocked on his door Saturday and invited him to church with us Sunday, he said yes. As we sat teaching him that first day i coldnt help but picture him in a white shirt and tie as a missionary preaching the gospel. I told my comp when we left his house...he is going to be a missionary someday.:)...I woke up early Sunday morning and it was raining outside....which basically shuts down everything, and makes it almost impossible for people to get to church..especially investigators. Well I got to my knees before my comp woke up and just prayed that it would let up enough for us to convince Pablo to ride his bike 15 minutes to the chapel. Well the Lord answered my prayer. It stopped raining soon after and we went and picke dup Pablo, who was waiting for us and as we got 2 blocks away from the church, it started pouring rain again.
The Primary did their program Sunday and Pablo loved it. We taught him the first lesson Sunday night and I asked him why it would be important for him to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. His answer.."Because if he really saw God and Jesus Christ, then this really is Christ true church, if it really is Christīs true church I need to be baptized and follow what the Lord is showing me."
Wow...he is amazing. Iīm way excited for him. Keep Pablo in your prayers.
We are having a few challenges in the fact that there is one church here in Sorriso that doesnīt like "the mormons" Well everytime we teach, they are there that same day or the next day teaching how we worship Joseph Smith and all kinds of lies. Its becoming a little difficult, because now they are starting to stop us on the street to see if we are the missionaries that they are hearing about in their church. And when we introduce ourselves they just want to yell and argue...something that we donīt do. I know this is just a trial, but itīs getting old. I recieved a talk before the mission from my Uncle Jeff called "Missionary Work and the Atonement" I also recieved it in the CTM from Carlos. There is a part that say
"When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out and made a hiss and a byword, you are tsanding with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions. The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane and on to Calvary. The only way to eternity is through Him...the Way, the Truth, and the Life."
Iīm so grateful for the chance I have had this past year to carry the name of our Savior. To stand with Him in this great cause. Once again this talk helped me understand the need to the trials.
I love this gospel and I love you all. Thanks for you support and love this past year.. Only 6 more months to be the best I can be.
Love you,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis. Peshlakai Date: November 15, 2007
Oct 24, 2007
Hello everyone...well its been a great week....full of exciting things to tell. I hope and pray that you are all doing great and that the Lord is richly blessing each of you.
This Sunday we had another baptism!!! YAY!!! His name is Allan and he is 15 years old. His older brother was baptized in the Northeast of Brasil about a year and half ago...and this brother, Ailton, moved home and his family saw the change and immediatly wanted to hear the missionary lessons. His mom had to travel this week, but is very excited about the church as well as his other brothers. We are teaching the whole family, but Allan was prepared and ready and itching to be baptized as soon as possible.
He is the cutest 15 year old ever...he is SUPER shy...but has a strong testimony of the truth. After his baptism he came up to me and said, "Sister Stevens, I want to serve a mission ...do you think Iīll be able to since I`m so shy?" ooo céus...I got tears in my eyes and bore my testimony of the many changes and blessings that a mission brings and told him that he has 4 years to prepare and that the Lord would bless him to be an amazing missionary and instrument in His hands.
He got the hugest smile on his face, and is going to be a huge asset to this small branch.
We had a small conference here in Sorriso with the Sisters from Sinop, and the assistant to Presidente Milder..Elder Youngberg. Elder Youngberg and his comp travelled to give us a treinamento on how we are planning and using our time wisely. It was definatly an inspired topic and I`m grateful for the things I learned and will apply in our work here in Sorriso.
We got the phone call about transfers...my comp started crying before they even said who was being transferred because she said she isnīt ready to have another comp...she too thinks Iīm kind of a big deal. HAHA...so we got the call and the Zone Leaders said.." NOTHING IS CHANGING." haha...my comp about died because she thought she was getting transferred. And so we are staying together for at least another 6 weeks...Iīm excited because I really enjoying working with her...at times its a challenge because she is new, but Iīm learning alot and it is great seeing her progress and growth. She will change the lives of many people.
We are teaching a couple, Ana e Elimar....their marriage will be finalized on the 30th and they will be getting baptized on the 3 or 4th of November...this marriage was a long time coming and they are super excited for their baptism.
Also we found another family while we were knocking doors in the rain...it started to rain the minute we left one appointment, and so I said Sister lets get into someones house quick before we get soaked. We knocked on the door of Mislene and her family...as soon as we started to teach the rain stopped and the sun came out...the rain lasted just minutes...but in this minutes we knocked on the door of a choosen and elect family who are ready to recieve the gospel. THey want to be baptized they want to go to the temple...they said they would go to church and they came...they loved it and are now going to give up going away on the weekends to be at church. The only problem..they arenīt married, but no worries I`m an expert at marrying people now, (marrying other people...getting married in 6 months might be another story or challenge)
after Ana e Elimar, so this one should be no problem. I`m really excited about this family.
Hereīs some great news...not really...Elder Youngberg brought helmets to use with our bikes...I about died. But let me explain why.... my comp knows how to ride a bike, but doesnīt pay attention when she is riding...it about gives me an ulcer riding bikes with her everyday because she stresses me out. Well I`ve tried everything and so the other day we were riding and she was directly behind me and all the sudden I heard her scream...I looked back and saw a car stopped in the middle of the road and my compīs bike under the car...I jumped of my bike and ran to see what happened...well it was a minor accident...my comp is fine, she was a little scared, but the bike got a little beat up. Anyways to make a long story short....donīt worry Mom...Iīm safe. We are now having to use helmets with our bikes and everyone laughs at us. Yesterday we used the helmets for the first time and the little kids on the street who call of "Tia" it means Aunt....they all stopped and pointed and laughed. So basically itīs pretty embarassing. But at least its made my comp realize the importance of watching what she is doing....and iīm so embarassed Iīm knocking more doors to stay in peopleīs houses teaching and not on the street wearing my "too cool for school" red and black bike helmet. I think Presidente Milder is a inspired man..this helmets are serving more than just protection.
Anyways gente...this was my week...I love being a missionary....I love seeing the lives of people change as they come unto Christ. It is the greatest priviledge of my life to be a messenger of the restored truth. I hope that you all are having your own missionary expierences back home...be a light to all those around you...be an example..its the best thing you can do.
WIth all my love,
Com Carinho,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis. Peshlakai Date: November 15, 2007
Oct. 17
Hello everyone! Wow...can you believe how time is flying by?! I know I basically start my emails every week the same, but it kills me to think that Iīve been in Brasil for almost a year!
This week has been great. We had 9 investigators at church on Sunday, it was great.
We found and are teaching a great family...Eva e Cosmo...they are legally married (something very rare here) and have 2 kids. She is the daughter of a Pastor of another church, and he was baptized in a different church, but feels that something is missing.
We taught about the Restoration of the Gospel and invited them to pray...they said they would, but Cosmo re-assured us that he doesnīt receive answers to his prayers, something iīve heard alot of lately. I promised him as the scriptures say that if he would pray with 1. A sincere heart, 2. real intent, 3. Faith in Jesus Christ, that he would recieve an answer that he wouldnīt be able to deny. Well they prayed that night in family and the next day we were greeted with HUGE smiles and the first thing they said to us, even before we sat down was, "we got an answer, we got an answer!!"
It was great...they also recieved the same answer praying about the Book of Mormon. They came to church on Sunday and loved it...they are progressing very well. Of course there is opposition in all things...her dad..obviously is very against it, and Cosmo works 20 days away from home and returns to see his family for 5 days. So he already left for work, but in tears sunday night asked us to pray for him and take care of his family, and promised that the first place he would visit when he gets home is the church. I have great hopes for this family...they really are very special. It might be a process, but I ask for your prayers.
Also we visited jorge, our investigator who had the problems last week. Well we visited him yesterday and he told us again that he wants a new life...I want so much to help him...and I wonīt give up on him yet, but he also needs to earn my trust back...so we are going to be working on that this week. Iīll keep you all posted on Jorge.
As for my comp, she is almost through her first transfer, as transfers are the 24th, and so far she loves the mission, but misses home. Its normal...but she misses a little more than normal, the comforts of São Paulo. At times its a challenge for me, but I can see very clearly why the Lord put us together. She is growing and progressing as a missionary very quickly, and I have no doubts that she will change the lives of many people. Iīm so grateful the Lord has given me a chance to share with her my testimony of this work, and the chance Iīve had to learn so much.
Well gente, I love you all and appreicate so much all that you guys do for me. Your prayers, your thoughts, letters, and emails make this work so much easier. Iīm so blessed, and hope that I can continue to serve and work hard until the last day of my mission, to show my thanks for the many blessings I`m recieving.
Iīve had several people ask me what I want for Christmas....well...I decided that if anyone is goign to send things for Christmas I would like things that I can give to members and investigators...things like pictures of Christ, temples, CTR rings, games, stickers....things that you donīt find here. If you donīt take it the wrong way, I donīt want anything for me...and so for those of you who asked...This is what I want for Christmas. I thank you so much.
With all my love and thoughts and prayers,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis Peshlakai Date: October 20, 2007
Wed, 10 Oct 2007
Hello again from the great city of SORRISO!!! This week has been full of many marking expiernces! One thing I`ve learned this week is that challenges are given to us for our own spiritual growth and progression. If we didnīt have challenges we would never grow enough to deserve a place in the presence of our Father in Heaven. How great the Plan of Salvation!
So as you can see we have met some challenges this week. Jorge, wasnīt baptized this week. We went and visited him the other day and found that he had fallen into temptation and back into old habits of drinking. We got to his house and found him sitting alone in the dark on his front porch because he was too drunk to figure out how to open up his house. Iīve had alot of disappointments and seen alot of sad things in the past 11 months, but this hit me hard. I had him give me his keys, sat him down, and opened up his house for him. I talked to him a little, but in this kind of situation there wasnīt much I could do. We returned home and I barely made it in the front door before I fell to the ground in tears. My heart hurt for him...to see him suffer. As i sat crying, my heart turned to our Savior, i thought of his suffering, of the persecution and mocking and loneliness that he went through, on behalf of each one of us. For maybe the first time, I felt, a little, a tiny piece of what He felt. Of course we canīt imagine what he felt or what he went through..but if it is possible, I felt a tiny piece.
Iīve spent endless time on my knees praying for guidance and have recieved it. How grateful I am, how deeply grateful I am for my Savior and His Atoning sacrifice. I know that no matter what happens, the Lordīs hand is in it all.
We have been knocking alot of doors these days and have been very blessed to meet many great people who are searching for the truth in their lives. More details next week on their progress.
I was able to watch a little bit of General Conference on the internet in a members home, but it wasnīt the same. I couldnīt see the speakers and it was all in Portuguese. Thankfully I understood every word, and was able to understand everything, at least when the computer wasnīt messing up. Iīd appreciate a Conference Ensign as soon as it comes out...thanks! :)
Well....I want you to all know that I love each one of you so much. I pray that the Lord may bless each of you. The Atonement is real....Christ suffered for us, so that if we repent we donīt need to suffer as He did.
My mission means everything to me, and so do all of you!
LOVE,
Sister Stevens
P.S. Thanks to Mike Tupa for the package...it was GREAT!
Posted by: Sis Peshlakai Date: October 11, 2007
Oct. 3, 2007
Hello everyone, well another week has passed and this week I hit my 11 month mark in the beloved country of Brasil...again I caught myself reflecting on this great opportunity Iīve been given and am filled with gratitude for my Heavenly Father and for all of you who helped me get to this point.
This week has been definatly a good one with a few challenges along the way. For the past few days Iīve been working in a trio....Me, my comp Sister Flores, and another Sister who was waiting for her comp to arrive from a long transfer by bus.
She was here for a couple days and it definatly had its ups and downs...But we were all able to work good together and it worked out fine.
We are working alot with a man named Jorge...he is 53 years old, but to look at him you would think he is about 70...he had alot of problems with drinking and smoking int he past and it really aged him. We met Jorge knocking doors and it definatly was the will of the Lord.
I was praying the other night and when I finished my pray I got this strong feeling and I told me comp..."Sister, we are going to meet an "eleito" tomorrow." Then we slept...
Well the next day we knocked on the door of Senhor Jorge and found someone with the desire and will to have a new life...the new life that only the true gospel of Jesus Christ can give someone. He told us about how 7 years ago he lost everything, job, house, wife, kids, because of his drinking problem. We taught about the Word of Wisdom and the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the healing process of the Atonement. We invited him to pray and his response was "I will, but Iīm telling you I`ve never recieved an answer, its like my heart is a rock...I donīt feel the feelings you are promising me." We told him we had faith that he would feel something and he agreed to pray.
Well to make a long story short, we have been visiting Jorge everyday, he got an answer to his pray, we taught the story of Joseph Smith and this humble man, sat with us outside his house and cried, saying that he never felt this feeling before. He came to church with us Sunday and as I was leading the music I looked at Jorge, sitting in the 2nd row, he looked at me with tears in his eyes and I just started crying leading the music for the sacrament hymn. He told me later that is was that same feeling again. Its been an amazing blessing to see him progress and grown. When we met Jorge he smoked 25 cigarettes a day, the day after we taught that first lesson we made the invitation to stop smoking and drinking he agreed and said he would try. We walked away with all the substances that would make him break this commandment, and it was ALOT of cigarettes! The 2nd day we visited him he had smoked 2 cigarettes, and after that he hasnīt smoked again, and has given up drinking all together. I can definatly see what miracles the Lord is working in his life, and it makes me gratful to be a part of this change. Yesterday we got to his humble house and Jorge gave me a keychain of an alligator that he made...said that when I go home to my family, that he hopes I`ll never forget him, becaues heīll never forget what we did to help him.
It has been such a blessing to watch him grown. We are preparing him to be baptized this Sunday if all goes as planned. Keep Jorge in your prayer please!!!
Fabio recieved the priesthood this Sunday and passed the sacrament, it was definatly another expierence I wonīt forget, like when I saw Douglas the first time. Wow. Fabio is way excited and all he wants to talk about is a mission....its fun to see him to excited about this change in his life.
Well this is pretty much the life of your favorite missionary...yes missionary work has its challenges....Just about every single day....but those things kind of disappear when you think about how many blessings the Lord is giving you. Well I love you all, I thank you all for your love and prayers and support.
Have a great week!
LOVE,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis Peshlakai Date: October 11, 2007
Wed, 26 Sep 2007
Hello everyone...another week and many more things to tell. This week was busy busy busy... We are still knocking doors like crazy and meetings lots of people to teach and help.
The most exciting thing that happened this week was Fabio was baptized Sunday....we held the baptism before Sacrament meeting and he recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost Sunday as well. He is about the happiest 18 year old I have met. He invited his other sister and she came to church with her family and really liked everything. She pulled me aside after the meetings and asked me how we were able to change Fabio in such a short amount of time...she said we have all seen such a drastic change in him...I was happy to be able to have the chance to tell her that it wasnīt anything i did personally, but that Fabio was prepared and he allowed the Spirit of the Lord to guide his steps. I told her that the Spirit doesnīt convince someone to change their lives, but the Spirit converts someone to a better life than what they had. And this is what happened to Fabio. When I got here they had taught him the Word of Wisdom...and so I started from the beginning teaching him...I asked me soon after why he wanted to be baptized and he looked me in the eyes and said, "Sister, Iīve done alot of things wrong in my life, and I want a better life. "
Wow...Fabio is great. He asked us after his baptism if we could teach him and help him prepare to serve his own mission...we made goals with him last night and he is like a little kid all exicted. Iīll try to send pictures of his baptism soon...it was definatly a really special day for him and for me as well. I love being a missionary and being part of this work.
We traveled Sunday night at 11:30pm to Cuiabá to have a confernce with Presidente Milder and Elder Obata of the Quorum of the Seventy. It was AMAZING! Elder Obata is a very spiritual man and I felt very strongly the spirit testifying to me how sacred his calling is as a special representative of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We traveled back to Sorriso Monday night and arrived here yesterday 5am...Iīve grown accostomed to traveling by bus...but it still pretty much sucks. Somehow Iīm always close to the snorer and the person that kicks the back of your seat the whole night. But...faz parte!
I got to see Sister Wiscombe for possibly the last time until we end our missions because she is going to Acre, the farthest area for the Sisters...Iīm way excited for her.
I got another package when I got there...THANKS JOSH!!!!!!! Your the best! All the Elders complained that everytime I go to Cuiabá I return home with a package...I just simply explained that Iīm kind of a big deal. It was pretty funny.
Anyways, things are going good for us...my comp is a little homesick, its normal so I`m making the extra effort to help her have a positive attutide and not think of home. All the little things that happen she almost has a breakdown poor thing. Some drunk guy stopped us on the street and tried to hug her....she just looked at me and I jumped in and explained he canīt hug her cause sheīs a missionary. It was funny, but I think it scared her a little. But I`m working extra hard to have a positive attitude amidst the challenges of missionary work. She expresses to me how grateful she is and so I`m really glad that I am able to follow the Spirit and do my part in helping her grow and progress.
I want you all to know how special you are to me. I love you all, family, friends, I`m soooooooo blessed.
I love you all beyond words.
Com muito amor,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis Peshlakai Date: October 11, 2007
Sept 19, 2007
Well I just spent almost 15 minutes writing an email and lost it. Test of patience I think. MAN!
Well can you believe I`m back in Sorriso? I canīt and neither could the members. I was greeted with hugs, kisses, screams, tears, and lots and lots of food. They kept saying, "I canīt believe you came back!" Well I guess the Lord has more work for me to do here. Things are going great with all of them, they have a new chapel here, with a swimming pool/baptsimal font...sweet. The biggest and greatest joy I found here so far is when I went to church all of the people that i had the chance to teach and baptize were at church and are going strong in the gospel. I donīt know if you can understand this joy, but my eyes filled with tears when I saw Douglas, remember him? I saw him in a white shirt and tie serving the sacrament...its a pretty undescriable feeling...its an amazing feeling.
My newbie Sister Flores is doing great. She is from São Paulo, but was born and raised in Bolivia for many years. She speaks Spanish and Portuguese. She is here to work and to learn, which makes being her trainer a lot easier. She is pretty much lost and scared out of her mind so Iīm trying to act like I know what Iīm doing....haha. No actually Iīve seen a huge difference in myself and what Iīm doing to recognize and follow the Spirit...I guess understand a bigger responsablity makes me strive to go the extra mile in all things...its made a huge difference.
We are teaching some great people...including Fabio who will be baptized Sunday. He is 18 years old and sooooo prepared. He asked me last night what his nametag would say when he served his mission...Elder da SIlva...sounds pretty dang good to me.
And pretty much all the rest we are doing is knocking doors because him and 2 others were the only ones left from the other sisters. I taught my comp yesterday how to make contacts and knock doors, and to make it fun I had her act out knocking doors during our practice time...she told me yesterday night she loves knocking doors...what:?! I didnīt know that was possible...but Iīm glad cause we are going to do alot of it. We taught 14 lessons yesterday knocking doors and doing a family home evening at a members home..it was a pretty successful day.
I really like my new comp, I like my new responsablitity and can already see the Lord working through me to bring success to our work here.
Iīm running out of time and canīt say all that I say in the email that I lost, but I hope this gives you an idea of the amazing week Iīve had.
I have a talk by Jeffery R. Holland that says
"A mission is the greatest gift our Father in Heaven can give to a 19, 20 and 21 year old."
This is so true...I am so blessed.
Until next week.
LOVE YOUR MISSIONARY-
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Date: September 22, 2007
Sept. 12, 2007
Well gente...its been another crazy week in the life of your favorite missionary. Things are going great here and I have some HUGE news for you this week.
First off...Deilton came to church this Sunday and loved it! He loved the classes and said he espeically felt good during sacrament meeting. We went and taught him again on monday and invited him again to be baptized on the 22nd of this month. His response..."there isnīt a baptism date sooner?" It was awesome. He truly is searching for the truth and has found it...he seems really happy. His family really likes us and made lunch for us the other day...his family will definatly be blessed for his desire to do what is right.
Secondly...me and my companion wrecked our bikes Monday...it was ugly. We were riding to our first appointment and my companion grabbed some caramel popcorn that I received in a package recently to eat on the way. Well she had the popcorn in here hand and extended her hand for me to grab some. Well somehow in this process our handlebars got hooked together and when she saw it she screamed and instead of calmly separating them...she jerked her handle bars the other way and ended up falling and taking me and my bike with her. Well we were going pretty fast and fell hard. But we got up laughing and only a few people saw the wreck. It was pretty funny! Everyone says that you will take a fall at least once during your mission...and at least its true...and at least we made it a good one.
Third...Hereīs the big news for the week. We got the call about the transfers yesterday night at 9:30pm from our Zone Leader.
It went like this...."Oi Sisters, we just got the call about transfers....Sister Oliveira you are being transferred to Cuiabá and will end your mission there. And....Congratulations Sister Stevens you are the new trainer in the mission....you will be training Sister Flores from São Paulo who arrived here from the MTC yesterday. You will be training her back in your old area of Sorriso."
Well Iīm a little in shock to say the least with this transfer. I didnīt think I would ever go back to Sorriso and I definatly didnīt think, or feel ready for that matter to be training someone fresh from the CTM.
There are 3 sisters older than me in the mission, and none of them have trained yet...so I found myself in a little state of shock. I donīt know if you ever feel ready for things like this. But as I was praying last night I felt and great peace come over me and the verse in 1 Nephi 3:7 kept coming to mind...I know the Lord doesnīt call people to fail and I know that he prepares the way for us to be successful, especially when we are doing the work He called us to do. Although I donīt feel exactly ready, and I have no idea how to train..... I know the Lord knows, and I trust that He will help me to fulfill what He has called me to do. I hope that I can help Sister Flores love to work and help her become a great messenger of the truth.
I have no idea why the Lord is giving the great opportunity to return to Sorriso...I know that Iīm way excited to see those people who are so special to me and to go after and find those the Lord has prepared.
As always its hard to leave behind an area and those you have grown to love. Iīm sad to be leaving Sister Oliveira, but it is very clear to me what I needed to learn in our short time together...he prepared me for this next step by letting me learn from her. I`m sad I wonīt get to see Deilton enter into the waters of baptism, but Iīm grateful that i had the chance to plant that seed in his heart.
This truly is a great and marvelous work...I love being a missionary. At times its hard and you have challenges you think are impossible to overcome. And its exactly at that moment that you submit even more to the Lord, ask a little harder for His help, and He is always there. He never leaves you alone....he knows exactly the challenges we need to learn and grow. I love being a missionary...my life has changed. Iīm a different person than I was 10 months ago. How grateful I am for all those back home who continue to support, pray, and write.
I love you all....next week Iīll have all kinds of news from Sorriso and all kinds of news about my new "greenie" haha.
LOVE YOU ALL,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Date: September 22, 2007
Sept. 5, 2007
Another week and many more expierences to tell. The weeks just keep flying by faster and faster...10 months in Brasil and my mission President told me I was getting old...I told him I didnīt like it that he should keep me here longer.
I wish I could say that Sunday all our problems went away and that all our investigators went to church....but I canīt. Deilton, our golden investigator wasnīt able to go to church this Sunday which was really sad because I know that once he is there he will feel the Spirit so strong. I hope and pray that he will be able to make the sacrifices and be there this Sunday. We have all the support in the world from the members here and Iīm confident that the work will take off soon.
This really is our biggest challenge right now is getting people to church on Sunday. I talked to President Milder this weekend about it, and he gave some advice and counsel which I think will make a huge difference. Iīm so grateful to have him as my mission President.
We got a call Monday as we were doing our weekly planning session that we would leave in 2 hours for zone conference...we didnīt have time to finish our planning because my comp had to go pick up a skirt so she would have a new outfit for conference. Okay i know your all rolling your eyes, and i wish I could say it was just her...but conferences are the only times I get to use make-up and really do my hair, and look half-way decent not riding a bicycle all day...so you have to take advantage of these opportunities. :)
Okay enough of that....we had a wonderful zone conference with President Milder...he is amazing. He and Sister Milder taught about our pre-mortal existence...it was pretty awesome..pretty deep stuff. Our last conference was about the purpose of our lives here in earth, and understand more about our lives before, gave me a deeper understanding about my purpose. It was pretty amazing.
Its a 10 hour bus ride each way to Cuiabá...that kind of sucked, becuase for some reason I have a hard time sleeping on the bus...its probably because we hit huge pot holes every 10 seconds and the man in front of me was snoring like crazy. Makes me laugh thinking about it now...but 3AM last night I wasnīt laughing. I know these will be memories Iīll think about 10 years from now...I love the mission!
Well gente, transfers are next week. Being transferred to Sinop just weeks ago...you would think i would be safe and sound, but Iīve learned not to get to comfortable around transfer time. We have 2 new sisters coming in, one will only stay for 6 weeks, but will still need to be trained and we have 1 leaving. So who knows what will happen...this is the last transfer for my comp...so she has a pretty good chance in training because she hasnīt trained before. Which means..I have no idea where Iīll end up and with who. But....Iīll let you all know next week...Iīm just grateful that I know this is the Lordīs work...and I truly will go where He wants me to go....even if its Acre which is a mere 42 hour bus ride from Sinop. :)
It was great again seeing Sister Wiscombe in Cuiabá and the other Sisters and Elders as well. I got tons of letters and a package from Grandma...THANKS GRANDMA!!!!!!
I want you all to know that I love each of you and thank you for your love and support. You are all amazing! Hope you all have a great week full of the blessings of the Lord.
LOVE,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Date: September 22, 2007
Aug. 29, 2007
Ola Ola!!!
Well this week was filled with....well....tests. Yep thats about the best way I can describe this week. Mission life canīt always be easy...well its never really easy, but I guess there was some things this week that I needed to learn and so the Lord gave me..us.. a little test of faith and the chance to grow and learn.
Friday and Saturday my companion got really sick and wasnīt able to get out of bed. Some stomach problem and she was in a lot of pain....and so obviously we couldnīt leave the house to work. It was hard to stay at home all day, but I resisted the urge to sleep while she was sleeping..haha..and spent these two days studying the scriptures and finishing the Book of Mormon in Portuguese....and studying more about the life of our Savior. It was a great opportunity to me..and although I wanted to be out working, I was grateful for the Spirit that the Lord gave me to be able to find out some things that have been on my mind lately.
It was funny...each week we make companion and personal goals for the week...this week one of my personal goals was to serve my companion more during the week...doing the little things ya know...washing her dishes, making her bed.....well the poor thing got sick and I had the chance to take care of her for two days. We laughed about it later...she said it was my fault...haha...but it definatly gave us a more solid companion relationship. I didnīt know we could be closer...I feel like Iīve found a long lost friend in Sister Oliveira...we work together and teach together like we are the same person..its great.
We did put on a activty this week it was a comedy talent show called
"Palh@ssadas e Palha Cruas" it was a pure success. We found some t-shirts and painted them with our names and we painted our faces, did our hair all crazy...and when we got there the members laughed and gave us the huggest hugs saying how much they love "their" Sisters. We have some awsome pictures...iīll be sure to send them soon.
The Viana Family had some struggles this week and didnīt make it to church again...it was a huge disappointment...their oldest daughter isnīt living at home anymore, and well its a huge mess and a huge trial for them and for us. I ask continued prayers on their behalf.
We did a lot of knocking doors this week to find more families and well Iīve never heard so many responses that include the word "NO"....when I speak of being a test of faith..this was a big one. We went through just about everything this week as we were contacting new people. It was the first time Iīve felt a challenge in getting into peopleīs homes.
But we didnīt get discouraged and the Lord blessed us.
We recieved some references this week and contacted them all. We had a reference for a kid Deilton, 21 years old. We went to his house...3 times....and he wasnīt home...but we didnīt give up and went back yesterday and finally found him at home. He is AWESOME! We taught the 1st lesson and it was great....he is now preparing to be baptized the 15th of September. He kept saying that he has been searching in and out of different churches for 2 years and hasnīt found anything that made him feel the way he felt during that lesson. He said that one thing that made a huge impression on him, was how many times we returned to his house...he said you didnīt give up on me and that tells me that the Lord has a purpose. He works 2 jobs to help his family and when we invited him to church he said he works Sundays...but that it is his "other" job that requires him to work this day and that he is willing to give up that job to follow the feelings he had....can you imagine? I found myself thinking...do I have that kind of faith? Espeically here...as we sat in his little humble house, made of wood...we sat in that living room about the size of a bathroom in the states...I got tears in my eyes thinking of the sacrifice he is willing to make to follow the Lord. A sacrafice that wonīt be easy for him, or his family, but one that I know the Lord will reward with blessings.
And so after a tough week of sickness, challenges, NOīs, and much much more...the Lord blessed us with a miracle. We didnīt give up, we didnīt get discouraged and we truly saw a miracle. President Milder always says "Fé + Obras = Milagres" "Faith+ Works = Miracles"
Iīm grateful for these tests of faith...that make me grow and love this gospel all the more each day. I LOVE this gospel...I KNOW its true. I KNOW that it was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I KNOW that Christ lives and that this is His Gospel.
I love each of you and thank you for your prayers and support.
LOVE,
Sister Stevens
p.s. I told you about Rubens...a contact we made on the street in Cuiabá right? Well I invited him to church and he went while I was there...and 2 days later I was transferred....well I got the news that he was baptized Sunday!!! :):):):)
Posted by: Date: September 22, 2007
Hello everyone...is it just me or do the weeks fly by? It seems like yesterday I was writing about my transfer and now Iīve been here over a week. Sinop is great! I love my companion, sheīs amazing, and Iīm learning a ton from her. Its already very clear in some aspects why we were put together, and tells me, yet again, that the Lordīs hand is in this work.
Well as far as this week goes, we are working hard and loving every minute of it. We have some great families and people we are working with. One of them is the Viana Family. They are married and have 5 kids ages 4-15 and another on the way. They are GREAT!!! They are really progressing and loving learning about the gospel. They are inactive in their church of many years, for some reasons that really arenīt important to write, but reasons enough that they recognized that something was missing. The kids came to church with us this week, but their parents didnīt make it, we were way disappointed. We visited them again last night and they all agreed to come to church this Sunday....they all want to be baptized, but are a little unsure because of the things they went through with the other church...(it wasnīt a good expieriece for them)...but Iīm convinced and know that as we continue to teach them and help them progress that the blessings of baptism and confirmation in the true church of Jesus Christ are not to far ahead. I ask now, probably more than any other time in my mission, that you keep this special family in your prayers. THANKS!
We are finding alot of people to teach....here in Sinop every Sunday we do splits with some members of the church, to knock doors and find new investigators. Me and Irmã Eva found a awesome family José/Elismar Sunday...we are going back tomorrow to teach them the first lesson.
The members here are absolutaly amazing...its just a branch here...small, but the members are strong....really strong. They are so willing to help.
We are putting on activites every tuesday night, so that the members have an opportunity to invited their friends...last night we had a "war" between the Nephites and Lamanites....I know sooo...lame....haha...but they so loved it. Iīve never seen such an exited group of people. We had a family home evening with a members family, in which they invited another family...that family came to the activity last night and LOVED it. Iīm just now beginning to understand the power of members in missionary work..and hope that when I return home and donīt use a nametag anymore I can still keep the missionary spirit and fulfill my responsablity wherever my life takes me.
We had a conference with President Milder this week...usually we would travel to Cuiabá but it was kind of a surprise conference so can came to Sinop and the Sisters in Sorriso came here too. We got to have zone conference just the 4 of us...it was rad. He taught about the purpose of our lives here on earth...wow....I always learn so much from him. It was awesome.
Hereīs some funny news for the week...we have 4 bikes..mens bikes... well we are riding mens bikes in skirts...horrible I know...well 2 of the bikes are broken and then Sunday the 3rd one broke and the only working bike is mine...and its hanging on by a thread. Sooooooo....for the past few days we have been using one bicycle....I carry sister oliveira and when I get tired she carries me on the back of the bicycle...its horrible and really hilarious...everyone laughes at us. But I think alot of it is because we are laughing the whole time...partly because of embarassment and partly just being its really funny. So we called President and he bought us new bicycles...womens bicycles...yay!! They get here tomorrow.....I`m way excited. But the only downfall is that we have to sell 4 broken bikes...and so not only are we missionaries but we are sales people as well. Beleza... So I have another goal that we were forced to make with the Sec. Finances to sell the bikes before the transfer is up...thats 2 weeks. Oh céus!!!
Anyways...its been a great week. I hope that all of you are well and that the Lord is blessing each of you.
Thanks so much for your prayers, love, and support.....more news about this families next week!!
Com muito amor,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sister Peshlakai Date: September 22, 2007
August 15, 2007
Hello everyone...youīll never guess what happened to me this week. I got transferred AGAIN!!!! Okay...it happened like this. I got a call on our cell phone Monday night 5:30pm...we were knocking doors in our area when it rang. Elder Bertani for the mission home was on the other line and it goes like this:
E. Bertani:
Sister Stevens, there has been a transfer, you are being transferred to Sinop. You will be companions with Sister Oliveira, and Sister Wiscombe will come to Cuiabá to be companions with Sister Pereira.
S. Stevens:
Fala Sério Elder. Be Serious, its not nice to joke around about these things.
E. Bertani:
Iīm completely serious Sister, Presidente Milder asked me to call and inform you that you will leave tonight 10:20pm.
S. Stevens:
Let me talk to Presidente Milder about this.
E. Bertani:
(laughing) oh no...Presidente, Sister Stevens wants to talk to you.
Pres. Milder: Oi Sister! Stop by the mission home and we will talk.
Anyways, so to make a long story and little shorter, I stopped by the mission office and Presidente Milder met me with a huge smile. I said, "Presidente, whats going on? You do realize that you transferred me here only 5 weeks ago right?"
He said, "I know Sister, and I wish I could tell you why you are being transferred, but I canīt. The only thing I know is that the thought has been coming to my mind for over a week, and Iīve been fighting it off, but Sinop is where the Lord wants you. I just do what Iīm told."
So I said, "Well I guess Iīll do the same right?" He started to laugh and said, "yep, thatīs what I like to hear."
Anyways, so I didnīt have time to say goodbye to anyone in Cuiabá. I packed everything in about 1 hour, went and ate at McDonalds..(they donīt have McDonalds in Sinop) haha, and waited for my taxi. I had a 8 hour bus ride to Sinop where I was met Tuesday morning by my new companion Sister Oliveira and Sister Wiscombe, who left a few hours later to take my spot in Cuiabá.
I didnīt sleep on the bus trip so I had alot of time to think. Iīve learned not to question the Lord in where He wants me to serve. I questioned alot when I had the surprise transfer to Cuiabá, but soon learned that it really was the Lordīs will that I was there. In only 5 weeks in Cuiabá, the Lord gave me the opportunity to teach and help Graziela and Rosana be baptized and confirmed in the Church of Jesus Christ. With their baptisms, these families are now complete in the gospel, and planning on going to the temple with their families next year. As I reflected on the bus trip of the 5 short week in Cuiabá, I really felt like I had done exactly what the Lord sent me there to do in that short time. I grew alot in those 5 weeks, and was able to help a few of Heavenly Fatherīs children know the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Its a great feeling to know that you did the work you were sent to do.
And so now........Iīm in Sinop!!! Sinop is about 2 hours away for Sorriso, my 2nd area in the mission. Our area is the whole city of Sinop, which isnīt small. We ride bikes, yep bikes...one of i think 3 areas in the mission that you bikes. Well I canīt remember the last time I rode a bike, and when I got my bike here it didnīt have brakes. haha you can imagine. Its quite a sight....riding bikes in a skirt...not very lady like ya know. But....I think Iīll like it...we get around and lot faster, its a little harder to make contacts on the street, so thats going to be a challenge.
My new companion is Sister Oliveira for Fortaleza, Ceará...she lives near the beach in the north east part of Brasil. I love her! Its like serving with my best friend! She reminds me alot of my cousin Kara...(its almost like we are serving together Kara.) haha
She is full of energy and loves to work hard. She laughes at everything, always jokes around, and she has a strong testimony of the gospel.
Its only a small branch here, but the Branch President is amazing. Iīve taken over the position of choir director...ahhh no. Sister Wiscombe started it when she was here...so we will see how I do. Iīll also play piano in Sacrament meeting like I did in Cuiabá.
Iīm excited for this area, although its always hard to leave an area, companion, the members and recent-converts, I know the Lord has plans for me here.
It was really funny when I stopped by the mission home that day, I showed the Elders a picture of Rosanaīs baptism, because a large part of the Elders that work in the mission office, already taught Rosana at one point. One of the Elders made the comment to Presidente Milder that "the Sisters were the solution." Presidente Milder started to laugh and looked at the Elders and said.."The Sisters are ALWAYS the solution, its you guys that are my challenges." HAHA It was hilarious. Mostly beacuse its true..haha. jk. What can I say I`m kind of a big deal.
Anyways gente.....things were going great in Cuiabá we had alot of investigators and had some "eleitos" show up at church one their own Sunday. I know the Sisters will do great things there. Iīm excited for this new challenge and chance I have to learn and grow in the service of the Lord.
Thank you for all the Happy Birthday wishes...and thanks Mom for the package. Those of you who sent packages to the mission home, donīt worry Iīll get them, I made a deal with the Elders there to send them to me here so I wouldnīt have to wait until conference. haha.
I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week. Thanks for the prayers and love.
Love
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis. Peshlakai Date: August 17, 2007
August 8, 2007
Hello Hello again....Well Iīm offically 22 years old and in the best place in the world. One of my investigators asked me if I liked Brasil, and I told him after 9 months I feel really "em casa" "at home" here...the people are amazing and this expierence is really shaping my life.
Well I had my birthday yesterday...I got up yesterday at 6:30am, said my prayers, and decided my birthday present to myself would be a little more sleep...haha I slept through my 30 minutes of exercises and it was a glorious thing. Okay so I`m a slacker, but one day out of 1 1/2 years I think Iīll be forgiven.
My comp had made posters and cards and hung them in our apartment, it was way sweet. We went to lunch at the bishops house, whose wife Cliede made me the best chocolate cake Iīve ever tasted!
We had a district meeting that afternoon, I took a cake and the Elders in my district, they are way cool, brought pop and they went together and bought me a big box of chocolates and sang the happy birthday song in Portuguese and English, I`m the only American in our district so the English was pretty funny, but they did a good job. We had a little party after our meeting and took some funny pictures.
It was like any other day, we had appointments and went and taught after the meeting...I stopped by the mission home to pick up some letters and was greeted by my mission President who wished me a Happy Birthday, and who was way excited to get a piece of my birthday cake. Sister Milder called me later on that night too, it was almost like hearing from my parents....almost. They are great.
We taught Nora and her Family who are planning to be baptized the 19th of this month...they are way fun. I shared my chocolates with them and they were pretty excited about that.
We also taught a new family Fatima & Satiro that we met knocking doors. We taught the 1st lesson and the Spirit was so strong. I got finished telling the First Vision and asked each of them how they felt, if they felt it was true. They all said yes, Satiro said he felt a very peaceful feeling, and Fatima said she felt something different that she couldnīt describe, she couldnīt describe it and said she thinks she felt something different because of the way I explained it, because she could tell that I really believed what I was teaching. I asked her if she thought I had the power to put feelings into her heart...she thought about it for a minute and said..."I suppose not huh?"
I said no I definatly did not have that power if I did my job would be a lot easier. So i asked her who sent those feelings to her..after a little more thought she said she was sure it was God, through the Holy Ghost...it was awesome that she recognized that she had had an expierence with the Holy Ghost. They are way excited to pray about Joseph Smith and the things we taught, but said that they felt really good about our message. Keep Fatima and her family in your prayers and they will continue to progress in their search for the gospel.
Sunday we had fast and testimony meeting...I love this day! The members here are people very humble, almost all are converts, and its amazing to hear their stories and the trials they have faced to live the gospel. It really makes you appreicate all that we have in the states. The Bishop of our ward and some other members got up and bore testimones on the "Sisters Poderosas" that they have in their ward. President Milder was there this Sunday and after the meeting came up to us, looking like a proud Dad, and said he was so happy with the work we were doing in that ward.
The best thing that happened this past week was Rosana was baptized and confirmed a member of the church. Saturday night we planned the baptism so she could recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost Sunday, it was an amazing baptism, simple, but I have never seen someone so happy as I saw Rosana that night. As I looked at her that night, I could imagine how hard it was to change her beliefs after 38 years of believing and living one way, but she allowed the Spirit to work through her and because of an open heart and mind she recieved a witness to the truthfulness of this work. I will try to send pictures soon to show you all. Me and my companion sang at her baptism. Sunday she was confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. We went and visited Sunday night and asked her how she felt...she said for the first time in her life she really felt the Spirit, that she actually felt different. She got sick because the water from the baptism Saturday was so cold...but she told me "it just doesnīt matter cause Iīm just so happy."
Graziela was confirmed this Sunday too, President Milder confirmed her and she thought it was cool to be confirmed by a member of the Seventy. She is having her baby today!! Sheīs going to a great mom.
I canīt really express how happy I am to be a part of this work. In this short 9 months Iīve seen literally miracles in my life and the lives of others. With my growth with the language I can feel and see the Spirit working through me and can see the difference in the way people respond and react to the message that we bring. It truly is an amazing thing.
Well those are the novidades for this week...it was another wonderful week, full of blessings. I love you all beyond words!
Love,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis. Peshlakai Date: August 17, 2007
Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2007
Hello there family and friends....Well first things first...today in August 1st, 2007...today I have officially been in Brasil and on my mission for 9 months, thats half-way! Can you believe it? I honestly cannot....time is flying by sooooooo dang fast! And they say the 2nd half of the mission goes by even faster which scares me. Iīm loving this life and donīt want it to end, but I just hope that I can serve the Lord, do what He needs me to do, and make these next 9 months better than the first. It has been made very clear to me that there are people being prepared to hear our message and that the Lord has great plans for me, how grateful I am to know this.
I guess Iīll start by saying I love you all. Last week we got a new rule in the Brasil Cuiabá Mission. Until now we were allowed to write emails to family AND friends, well we were informed that last week the rule changed and that we can only write family now. Soooo....I was pretty sad to hear this because I love writing to all of you and appreiciate so much your emails. I can recieve emails from friends, but I can only respond through regular email. Iīll be honest, my first thought was, this really sucks. haha (really sister missionary like huh?) but I know that there is a purpose for all things, and if there is one thing Iīve learned on the mission its that you just need to be obeident and not ask why. One of my favorite scriptures is D&C 130:21
"And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law which is predicated."
Well...I need these blessings, not for me, but for those in which Iīm teaching and who are searching for the truth and gospel in their lives. So....I hope that I will continue to recieve emails from all my friends, and I promise that I`ll be writing more letters and sending them by mail. I hope you all will understand. (p.s. Sister Peshlaki, I got your DearElder.com letter..thanks so much!!)
So now that thats out of the way, Iīll get on to the exciting news from this past week. We had transfers and Iīm still in Cuiabá...I really love our area and am so grateful to be here for a while longer. My companion, Sister Soares, finished her mission and left this morning early for Rio de Janeiro.....I canīt express how grateful I am for her and everything she taught me. It was really hard to see her leave.
My new companion is Sister Pereira. She is 30 years old, and the sweetest person Iīve ever met. I actually met her in the MTC (she left a few days after I got there), but couldnīt talk to her because I didnīt speak portuguese...haha. When she got here and we talked she started crying cause I was speaking portuguese...haha. Hereīs a funny thing...remember how I`m only 5 foot tall (almost) well Sister Pereira comes up to my shoulders...haha..she weighs less than 80 pounds..yep she is tiny. I feel like a giant next to her, thatīs never happened before...haha. She is great and I think we are going to work very well together. She has a strong testimony of the gospel and teaches very well, we will do great things...watch out!
I had a break-through this week...before Sister Pereira got here, I woke up last week and looked at my companion Sister Soares and said, "Sister, I dreamed in Portuguese!!" She just laughed, but wow, I was pretty dang excited about that...Iīve been very blessed with the language. We had zone conference and in my interview with President Milder he told me I speak better portuguese than alot of people with alot more time in the country. That was great to hear.
We had a baptism this week, Graziela. She is 9 months pregnant and married to a member of the church, her baptism was sooooo great. Everyone was crying and it was a really emotional night for everyone, she looked awesome all dressed in white, and when she came out of the baptismal font, I donīt think Iīve ever recieved such a big hug and kiss on the cheek. She was crying and just kept saying thank you thank you.
As you know we had some other baptisms planned this weekend, but theydidnīt happen. Not last weekend, but they will happen this week. Manuel e Leonel are being prepared, Leonelīs daughter got sick and he couldnīt come to church Sunday and Manuelīs granddaughter had a Saturday. They came to the chapel to let us know that they couldnīt be baptized, but they next week they would be ready. Leonel is having some problems with his family not wanting him to be baptized, but he is determined to be the example and says that he knows the gospel will bless his famliy even if they donīt accept it right now. Manuel is doing great with the Word of Wisdom and hasnīt had a drink or smoke in weeks. Miracles I tell you, truly miracles. The greatest miracle happened with Rosana, she was supposed to be baptized Saturday, well last Thursday we went there to finish the teaching so she could be baptized and we got there and she had totally changed. Some "friends" had come to hear and been talking bad about the church, she was full of anger and doubt, and we tried to teach, but she just wanted to argue so it was impossible. She said she couldnīt be baptized until all her doubts were gone, and reassured us it would be a while. I walked home thursday crying, but felt really strongly that I wouldnīt give up on her that although it may take a little time, I know sheīll be baptized. So when my new comp got here I explained the situation and we decided to teach Rosana about prayer and personal revelation. We decided to study during our personal study and then put it together later. I study in 1 Nephi and about Nephi and his desire to see and know all the things his father Lehi had seen in vision, I studied about Nephiīs desire to know and how he sought the Lord in diligent prayer to know for himself. I shared this with my new comp and she just sat there smiling while I was explaining what I had studied, well when I got done I was like "okay, what did i say wrong? whats in my teeth? why are you smiling like that?" She got tears in her eyes (sheīs a cryer) and said that she studied the exact same story and chapters. We were like wow....so obviously we knew that it was exactly what the Lord wanted us to share with Rosana.
We went to Rosanaīs house last night and in the middle of our lesson Rosana stopped and looked at us, and said "I came to a conclusion....I need to be baptized so that I can recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost, thats the only way Iīll be able to understand." She said, "you guys speak with such conviction, you donīt doubt, I want that. I feel different when you are here, I feel something I canīt explain, but when your here its here, and when you not, its not, but I want this feeling to be here always, so I know now what I need to do." Rosana is being baptized this Saturday, so she can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost Sunday. This was truly a miracle, and was guided from step 1 by the Spirit. I canīt describe how I felt last night, or how I feel now thinking about it, but I just know that its right and true and Iīm grateful.
We had zone conference this week and Sister Wiscombe and the other sisters stayed in our apartment, it was way fun. Well I think I`ve already said enough, I could go on and on and on with all the wonderful expierences Iīm having here, but Iīll end it for this week.
I love you all! I can hardly believe that today marks 9 months in my mission...that next week I will be 22. President Milder told me I was getting old ;) I hope you all have a great week and that the Lord continues to bless each one of you.
Com muito carinho e amor,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis. Peshlakai Date: August 2, 2007
Hey there beloved family and friends! This has been an awesome, amazing, and just almost indescribable week. We have been working super hard and although my companion goes home next week, sheīs only a little trunky, haha, but wants to end her mission working hard, and so weīve done just that.
We are working with a ton of new people, we have 9 people we invited to be baptized that we are preparing for the next couple of weeks. Four will be baptized this weekend, and if all goes as planned the rest next weekend.
Let me tell you about one of people we are teaching that will be baptized this weekend, he is a changed person. We met, Manuel, a few weeks ago on the street. We were on our way home one night, and this old guy, about my height came up and stopped us, wanting to talk. It took about 1/2 second to see that he was drunk, really drunk. Well we talked to him and he asked who we were, we explained we were missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ, and we are here in Cuiabá looking for those people who are searching for the truth. Well he said he was one of those people, but he also said ab out a million other drunken things, but he gave us his address and we said we woudl make a visit. We didnīt really knwo if he gave the right address or what, but we decided to try to find the address and see if we could find him in a sober state. We went back the next day and found the house, he was there, but he didnīt remember us at all. We talked and he finally remembered, a little, who we were, and agreed to hear our message. Well the rest is history, Manuel, is a changed person. We started teaching him the gospel and he hasnīt had a drink in weeks. He says he has lost all desire to drink. He came to church and said he hasnīt felt important and loved like that in years. Manuel has been a huge example to me..he is one of the most simple people Iīve ever met. He owns practically nothing, and lives in a simple one-room brick "house." He has already talked to so many people about the church, and we are now preparing his brother-in-law Leonel to be baptized this weekend too.
I would have never imagined that he would be someone to accpet the message of the gospel, but it goes to show that this is the Lordīs work, not ours. That He prepares those, and I just have the priviledge of being an instrument in HIs hands. Its the most amazing thing to see the lives of people change, and see how the Holy Ghost testifies to them that this truly is the Lordīs Church. I ask for your prayers on behalf of Manuel. I know that Satan is already working on him, as he told us his "friends" are now offering him drinks for free and its a huge temptation for him. Ahh...the tricks of the adversary. Thanks for your prayers.
We are also preparing a family to be baptized here in a couple of weeks. We are teaching Maria Amelia and her family and they all accepted baptism and are way excited about the gospel. The problem is getting them to church, they have tons of family/relatives that love to party on Sundays and so getting them to church is going to be the big challege with them. It was way cool when we were teaching the 3rd lesson, Marciaīs boyfriend showed up and he wouldnīt accpet our invitation to join the lesson, but he stood outside the door listening the whole time, we just made sure to talk a little louder. The Spirit was so strong and as we invited each one of the family to be baptized, as we got finished he peeked around the corner from outside and said " ME TOO!! I want to be baptized in the true church." WOW! You can imagine how big my smile was. It was awesome.
Tomorrow is Zone Conference, Iīm way excited...I love conferences. And Sister Wiscombe..remember my CTM comp? I get to see her and she is staying at our apartment tonight...I`m so dang excited!
Well gente, Iīll be writing next week with a new comp and hopefully exciting news about the baptisms this weekend. Keep us all in your prayers!
So as you can see we had an amazing week, full of more expierences than I have time to write. 3 weeks ago I was asking myself, and my Heavenly Father why He sent me here early, why I had to leave the area and people I love so much in Porto Velho. Well if I didnīt get my answer before, I got it this week. It brings me to tears at how merciful the Lord has been in giving me this opportunity to preach the gospel, to see the Spirit working through me for the blessing of others.
I wouldnīt be here without all of you, for your love, support, prayers, and well...I just canīt explain it, in other words thank you family/friends for helping me get where I am. You are angels and answers to many prayers.
Love,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis Peshlakai Date: July 30, 2007
Hello everyone..well today has been quite difficult to find an internet place that is working. So iīm hoping I donīt lose this in the middle..for those of you I donīt get written back personally this week, Iīm sorry Iīll write for sure next week.
I have to say this week has been full of surprises. First of all it is cold here in Cuiabá. Who would have thought. For the first couple of days here it was hot like 102-105 degrees, pretty normal for this time of year and in one day it dropped down to about 55 degrees...okay so I grew up in northern Wyoming and should be tough and accustomed to this type of thing. Well I learned that Iīm not. I left the apartment in 3 layers of clothing and the only light jacket I brought on the mission. It was hilarious...because I was still freezing. My comp was even worse off and used her pajamas under her skirt to keep her legs warm. Quite the sight. The city pretty much shuts down, because the people here donīt see weather like this too often. So it was kind of a blessing because we found alot of people at home. Its starting to warm up its now in the 80s-90s and getting hotter everyday.
This week we have had some success in meeting more families to hear the message of the gospel. And we are teaching alot of lessons. We are working in an amazing ward with a bishopric that has a serious vison for missionary work. We are working alot with the members to get references and doing family home evenings with everyone. We have had amazing success with this and are seeing the confident of the members grow as well as their desire to talk and share the gospel with others. We are having a devotional Sunday night about missionary work in which I will give a talk, its going to be rad Iīm way excited. Things like this made me nervous before, but the language has really come and now I`m just excited.
The most exciting thing that happened this week is we marked the baptism of Rosana. Rosana is married to a member of the church and until now has not showed interest in the gospel. She is an active member of her church more than 38 years. We had a family home evening with them last Thursday in which we taught the lesson of the Restoration, she invited us back and so last night we went to their house and taught about 3rd lesson on the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. The Spirit was unbelievable and we invited her to be baptized. She accepted and is now preparing to be baptized on the 28th of this month. She said she "felt different, a big change". It was amazing to see the surprise and the tears in her husbands eyes when he heard her accept the baptismal invitation. I know that the gospel with bring great blessings to their family, as Rosana follows the promptings of the Spirit and prepares for this special day in her life.
I have been greatly blessed to be here in this area for this short time. I donīt know yet why I was sent her early, but am coming to understand how the Lord prepared certain people to be taught by me and my companion. This really is the Lords work and Iīm amazed everyday at the lessons Iīm learning. The people here have sacrificed so much for the gospel and yet they have a vision of how much more the Savior sacrificed for them. I hope someday to be the example to others, as the people here are to me.
I hope and pray that you are all well and that the Lord continues to bless each and every one of you. You are all so special to me and I thank you for your prayers and support on my behalf and on behalf of those that Iīm teaching.
Love,
Sister Stevens
Posted by: Sis. Peshlakai Date: July 30, 2007
July 11, 2007
Hello everyone! Well here I am sitting in the same internet place I used my first day in the field. Wierd huh? Whats funny is this time I understand what everyone around me is saying and I donīt look so lost. haha.
Okay so this week has been crazy with the change made, but wow how the Lord is blessing me in His service.
So we got the call last week that we were being transferred to Cuiabá, we had 1 day to say goodbye to everyone in Porto Velho, which isnīt always the funnest or easiest thing to do. I miss them. The members threw us a going away party with cake and awesome food. We had a little testimony meeting and the spirit was really strong, they are amazing people who have sacrificed so much for the gospel. I recorded all their voices so I wonīt ever forget them and the examples they have been to me. One of the members gave me and my companion each a real crystal and said " you shine alot brighter than this ever will, we will miss you but do all you can to bless the Lords children wherever you are sent." Wow, these people are amazing.
We traveled by airplane and wow what a difference it was than the lovely 24 hour bus ride I took last time. haha.
We still donīt know exactly why the sudden transfer, and when we got to Cuiabá President MIlder traveled so we havenīt gotten a chance to ask him why, although to be honest I trust him and donīt really need to know why. But apparently, we wernīt the only ones with the sudden transfer and many changes have been made with other missionaries as well.
Iīm not working in the same area that I did my first area, although it is very close. Iīm actually working in the ward of my mission President and his family. Can you imagine..."Sister Stevens, where are your investigators today?" yep its a littl
