Hello my family!!!
This past saturday was my second baptism. We were really nervous about it. Juan is 11 years old, and loves the gospel! His mom likes to drink, so he has a different up bringing. He was excited to get baptized! All week long we were trying to get a hold of his mom to make sure that she would be at the baptism, and to get all the information we needed. Friday night, we still hadn't been able to find her. so Saturday morning after secretary work we went to their house. We found the mom, and we talked to her, and got all the information needed. We then asked her if she would be attending the baptism. She said no, she was going to be gone. So we pushed the baptism back two hours so she could make it. Maria ended up coming with us to the baptism, and felt the spirit really strongly. My comp talked a lot to her about baptism, and what it means to her son. Sunday, Maria came with Juan to church, and also his older sister. They loved church, and again, they felt the spirit really strongly. In RS we talked about eternal marriage, and then in SS we talked about the second coming...it was perfect for them! Oh, and then in sacrament....I gave a talk on virtue....my first talk! I tried not to read it, but A-it was in portuguese and B-I don't speak portuguese....so pretty much I read the whole talk I had prepared! But let me tell you next time I give a talk it will be a lot better!
We also had Lu and Zildo at church, which is a big step...now we just have to convince them that they need to get married! They love the gospel, and they love learning about it, but they just won't get married. You can tell they love each other, so I don't see why they won't get married! They have been together for at least 18 years. But we are going to stress eternal families this week, so hopefully something happens!
Erica and Edson are progressing slowly, but they are progressing. Turns out they both read the 3rd Nephi 11 this past week, and they both felt something. But Edson is dragging his feet, so it makes his daughter question what is going on. But we are hoping to get her wet this Saturday or Sunday...oh dad...my comp, bless her heart, brought up the option of getting her baptized after church, then giving her the Holy Ghost right then too. I made sure to put my foot down and say no. She wasn't too happy with me. But in the end we decided tonight we will talk to the bishop, but we won't push anything. We are thinking that because most of the people stay after church anyways that they all could just come to the baptism, and then get the Holy Ghost then too...who knows! But we will see.
Everybody! I had a mishap! I accidentally left all my pictures of friends, family, and grandparents in the Brazil MTC...so please send me some pictures!
The language is coming along nicely....I don't know how else to put it. I am understanding more and more everyday, which is good. It is still hard to talk, but the more I try the better I get. So I try a lot! My comp makes me speak Portuguese a lot! She will speak in english to me, because she is learning that, and I speak in Portuguese to her...we both sound like little kids trying to talk to each other!
It is bloody hot here! Even when it rains, it is hot! Don't worry I use a lot of sunscreen and insect repellant! The bugs really like my blood, I guess it is just new to them! But on one leg I have 19 bites, the other leg 16-ish....and on my arms combined about 8...but that is a lot of itching! Every time I sit down I unconciously start itching! I have to really think hard about not itching. But other than the itching I am completely healthy!
I don't really know what else to say...usually I get to write an outline of what I want to talk about, but today we were at a party, so I didn't get to do anything...then all of a sudden we were here.
Oh! I have a pet...her name is Lizzy...actually I have about six of them...all named Lizzy. I have lizards galore in my apartment! You have to be careful when you pick stuff off the floor cause who knows if there will be a lizard on it or not. I also have a lot of bugs...I mean a lot! Everywhere....and where there are not bugs there are spiders....I have a lot of spiders! And where there are a lot of spiders there are a lot of lizards! So mainly we have a little bug problem. Yesterday I killed six spiders in about a five minute period! It was disgusting! Lizzy's aren't doing their job!!!!
Family I love you! Thank you for your emails. I love them!
I'm glad to hear that Kara is okay, I'll make sure to keep her in my prayers!
Love you all! I love this gospel! And I love this work!
Love, Sister Rounds
Monday, November 28, 2011
2nd Week in the Field-Written on July 11
Hey family!!! Life is great here for the most part, the only thing that would make it better is if I spoke this language. But other than that I absolutely love it! Saturday was my first baptism. Sis Moraes and I didn't really do anything, it was the elders before us, but we claimed him anyways. He is an 18 year old man/boy, and we are hoping to get him on a mission! He became interested in the church with his girlfriend, she was baptized three weeks ago, and he followed her. And on Saturday we have another baptism, Juan.
The language is the most difficult thing right now. I am trying my hardest to not get frustrated, and I am trying to rely on the Spirit to help me. My comp makes me speak Portuguese with her every hour of the day, so it is helping me some, but I am not really learning any words that I need. But when I should ask I can't think of the words I want to know. Their accent is nothing like anybody said it would be. They shorten all their words, and they almost talk with a Portugual accent mixed with a black accent. Yeah it is hard to describe, and hard to understand. But it is coming little by little. All of our investigators know I am learning, so they usually speak a little slower for me.
The members in the ward are all super nice. They feed us lunch every day...and yes every meal I have had involves beans, rice, and some sort of chicken. But it is all good, because their beans and rice aren't like dad's beans and rice. Dad, I hate to break it to ya, but you haven't quite figured out the seasoning to them...there is something different they do with their beans and rice. I am trying to figure out the recipe they use. We have one investigator, that is writing down all of her recipes, so when I come home, I will have a lot of Bahian recipes. And let me tell you, everything they make is super good, and comes from scratch!!!
I know I am not supposed to have favorites in my investigators, so I don't. I just like two more than the rest....haha, not really, but there is something different about these two. It is a father, and daughter. The dad is Edson, and he is divorced, but his daughter, Erica(18) lives with him. Erica came to church on Sunday, so that was good! I'm hoping with all my heart that Edson decides to come too. You walk into that house, and the spirit is there, and they don't know it. I am hoping that we can make them recognize the spirit. Edson was contacted a few years ago by the missionaries, but for some reason didn't continue with the lessons. During the first lesson, you could just see his eyes fill up with understanding. All of a sudden he was asking a lot of questions about the gospel. Needless to say he was interested in what we were saying.
The nice little lady that we are renting from is also super cute. She is about 50-60, and is always bringing us food. She calls us her daughters. Missionaries have been renting from her for the past 15 years or so, but for some reason they haven't baptized her yet! We made an appointment with her, and taught her the first lesson. She was receptive, but not really interested. At the very end of our lesson she asked about where we go after we die, and where did we come from, and why we are here....yes in pretty much those words! Because we had another appointment, we had to reschedule a lesson with her. I have a good feeling about her...it may have taken 15 years to accept the gospel, but I have a sneaky suspicion she will.
There is another man, in his late 60s or early 70s that is getting baptized the 29th of this month. He has had all the lessons, and goes to church almost regularly(because we don't have a chapel in Mussurunga you have to ride a bus to get to the closest chapel, so when investigators come it is a blessing. This area is kind of poor). But last night we taught him the Plan of Salvation, that was a pretty neat experience. When it was my turn to bear my testimony, I couldn't put into words what I wanted to say. My comp prompted me with the question of how I knew it was true. I paused for maybe a minute, and the words spilled out. It took me completely by surprise at how strongly I love the plan of salvation that I just started to cry. Yeah, it was embarrassing, but an experience that I will treasure forever.
I absolutely love this gospel! I love sharing it with others even though I can barely do it in Portuguese. I can tell the more I try and rely on the spirit, the more I can say things I want to say.
Love you all! And I love it here! And I love the Gospel!
Love, Sister Rounds
The language is the most difficult thing right now. I am trying my hardest to not get frustrated, and I am trying to rely on the Spirit to help me. My comp makes me speak Portuguese with her every hour of the day, so it is helping me some, but I am not really learning any words that I need. But when I should ask I can't think of the words I want to know. Their accent is nothing like anybody said it would be. They shorten all their words, and they almost talk with a Portugual accent mixed with a black accent. Yeah it is hard to describe, and hard to understand. But it is coming little by little. All of our investigators know I am learning, so they usually speak a little slower for me.
The members in the ward are all super nice. They feed us lunch every day...and yes every meal I have had involves beans, rice, and some sort of chicken. But it is all good, because their beans and rice aren't like dad's beans and rice. Dad, I hate to break it to ya, but you haven't quite figured out the seasoning to them...there is something different they do with their beans and rice. I am trying to figure out the recipe they use. We have one investigator, that is writing down all of her recipes, so when I come home, I will have a lot of Bahian recipes. And let me tell you, everything they make is super good, and comes from scratch!!!
I know I am not supposed to have favorites in my investigators, so I don't. I just like two more than the rest....haha, not really, but there is something different about these two. It is a father, and daughter. The dad is Edson, and he is divorced, but his daughter, Erica(18) lives with him. Erica came to church on Sunday, so that was good! I'm hoping with all my heart that Edson decides to come too. You walk into that house, and the spirit is there, and they don't know it. I am hoping that we can make them recognize the spirit. Edson was contacted a few years ago by the missionaries, but for some reason didn't continue with the lessons. During the first lesson, you could just see his eyes fill up with understanding. All of a sudden he was asking a lot of questions about the gospel. Needless to say he was interested in what we were saying.
The nice little lady that we are renting from is also super cute. She is about 50-60, and is always bringing us food. She calls us her daughters. Missionaries have been renting from her for the past 15 years or so, but for some reason they haven't baptized her yet! We made an appointment with her, and taught her the first lesson. She was receptive, but not really interested. At the very end of our lesson she asked about where we go after we die, and where did we come from, and why we are here....yes in pretty much those words! Because we had another appointment, we had to reschedule a lesson with her. I have a good feeling about her...it may have taken 15 years to accept the gospel, but I have a sneaky suspicion she will.
There is another man, in his late 60s or early 70s that is getting baptized the 29th of this month. He has had all the lessons, and goes to church almost regularly(because we don't have a chapel in Mussurunga you have to ride a bus to get to the closest chapel, so when investigators come it is a blessing. This area is kind of poor). But last night we taught him the Plan of Salvation, that was a pretty neat experience. When it was my turn to bear my testimony, I couldn't put into words what I wanted to say. My comp prompted me with the question of how I knew it was true. I paused for maybe a minute, and the words spilled out. It took me completely by surprise at how strongly I love the plan of salvation that I just started to cry. Yeah, it was embarrassing, but an experience that I will treasure forever.
I absolutely love this gospel! I love sharing it with others even though I can barely do it in Portuguese. I can tell the more I try and rely on the spirit, the more I can say things I want to say.
Love you all! And I love it here! And I love the Gospel!
Love, Sister Rounds
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