May 12, 2010

I got the luck to get the really slow computer today, so I´m just going to write an e-mail to all of you if that´s ok......sending only one e-mail = not having to click so much.  I´m avoiding clicking as much as possible....it takes the computer forever to figure out what´s happening every time I click...bleck

Talking to you all on Mother´s day was so much fun!  Weird too.  You all sound really good!  Sorry about my rusty English....I think I only slipped into speaking Portuguese 3 times though.  Did you notice?  Weird to think that was my last call.  We had interviews with President yesterday.  He was telling me about a program called Skype? (something like that) that he uses to call all his family at the same time (his family is split between brazil, spain, utah, and arkansas) it´s a program online that costs 20 cents a minute.  He said it´s really good and you can hear everyone super clear and if you have a webcam you can see everyone too.  He said we could use it next time to have us all talk on the phone at the same time, with you guys me and Dale.  haha...then I reminded him that I don´t have a "next phone call home"...bout blew him off his chair.  He didn´t realize I have so little time left.

Things have sure been a challenge with Sister Sales.  She is a sweetheart and I love her to death.  But working with her has been rough.  Her family at home isn´t doing very well at all....and she is super worried about them.  She can´t sleep...think, focus...anything.  It´s been really rough.   I´m running out of ideas of what I can do to help her.  I have a feeling I need to learn a lot about doing my best, even in situations that not ideal, and accepting my best effort, even though I know I could do better if the situation were different........because that´s been my life for the past 3 months.  The Lord is teaching me patience. 

Even though things have been rough, I am doing well.  I am happy.  I know I´m supposed to be here in Brazil (the Lord confirms it every time I need a reminder)  and I am truly so grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary.  I can´t believe how much I understand now that I didn´t before....how much I´ve grown.  I feel so much more dedicated to the Lord. 

I love the Book of Mormon.  I love that I can feel Heavenly Father teaching me personally when I read it.  I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost, that helps us know truth, and brings divine guidance in all our decisions and choices. 

I love the gospel!  And I LOVE YOU GUYS!  :D  Famílias podem ser eternas! 

Amo vocês!  Tchau!

Sister Hulse

May 3, 2010

So......the last few weeks have been hard.  BUT I am finally starting to get to know the area, which helps us plan a ton more effectively.  Also, we have been focusing our work on incomplete families in the ward, and we are finding a number of really good people!  Yeah!  I love completing families! 

Funny story....so here in Brazil, most people´s names have both a female and masculine form.  You just change the letter at the end to change the gender.  For example.....Rafael (boy), Rafaela (girl), Fernando (boy), Fernanda (girl), Luciano (boy), Luciana (girl), Claudio (boy), Claudia (girl)....and so on.  Anyway, we went to visit this older lady who is inactive yesterday.  We told her we were the "Sisters"  but she kept calling us the "Elderas"  hahaha...I loved it.  We laughed so hard when we got home.

Also, I have a sweet story.  First I have to give the background though.  When I was in Cantanduva with Sister McGary and Sister Vieira, there was this bakery that made this unique type of bread, made with corn (different than corn bread).  I don´t even know how to explain it, but it was so so good!  We bought it all the time, and I just loved it!  After getting transferred, I´ve never seen that bread again, I assumed no one else made it.  Very very sad, but I´d learned to accept it.

Ahhh!  gotta run!  Love you all!  I love being a missionary!  The church is true!  Tchau!

Sister Hulse