BRAZIL!

What a week!!!! There have been so many ups and downs and adventures and I usually dont have any idea what is going on! haha. I arrived in Brazil with 2 other American Elders on Tuesday night during Zone Conference after close to 24 hours of traveling. The Mission President brought us to the front and had us bear our testimonies in Portuguese! 

My companion is Sister Araújo and she is from Forteleza! We live with 2 other Sisters who are both from Brazil. Not one of them speak a word of English. It has been interesting to say the least. I think they think I have a mental handicap haha. But my companion is the sweetest, most patient person! 

Wednesday was really hard because I was still really tired and jet-lagged, and I couldn´t understand anything. But we had lunch at a member´s house and they had a monkey just running around! So that was pretty exciting. It even climbed on me! 

It is really warm here, but I don´t mind the humidity at all. I am so happy to be in the sunshine after the freezing cold of Utah!

A couple days ago we were walking in a neighborhood with tons of kids running around. One little girl came up and was talking to my companion. I had my sparkly star stickers with me so I asked if she wanted one. She was so excited! She told all her friends and pretty soon about 10 kids were all around me asking for adesivos (stickers). One girl asked where they were from. When I told her the United States, she couldn´t believe it! So now all the kids think I am the coolest person in the world :) And there are a few boys´ bikes with sparkly stickers on them haha.

Some of the best things about Maceió are that the fruit is amazing (and cheap!), we have the yummiest fruit juice with every meal, and the sun is always shining when we wake up so it´s really easy to get out of bed.

Something I read this week that I want to share is found in 1 Néfi 4:1. It says, "ele é mais poderoso que toda a terra." This translates roughly to He (meaning God) is more powerful than all the Earth. This is a part in the Book of Mormon when Laman and Lemuel are afraid and want to leave, but Nephi is saying why are you afraid? We have the Lord on our side! And he is more powerful than all the Earth.

We all face challenges that may seem impossible. (Like going to a foreign country for 16 months and trying to teach the Gospel when you can´t speak the language.) But we have the most powerful being in all of existence with us! So how can we fail? 

I know that God lives and is very mindful of us and each trial we face. He is there for us whenever we need Him through prayer. I know this is His work, and I am so happy to be a part of it. I love this Gospel! Thank you for your prayers and love. Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Lopez (pronounced Seester LAHps)