Packages, Baptisms, and Transfers!

I have to start out with an apology that I haven´t written the past 2 weeks. Last Monday I went to Maceió with a Sister who is going home. She wanted to visit some old areas and say goodbye so we spent the whole day there and I didn´t get a chance to email. Sorry! But now I have lots of things to write about. First off, I got a package from Aunt Lezlie with heaven (aka chocolate, peanut butter, and skittles) Packages and letters are like gold here in the mission :)

Two awesome miracles: we were walking home one night about 2 and a half weeks ago when I stopped and asked my companion if we could knock on a door. We knocked and a girl named Karine answered. We scheduled to come back and teach the next day. We taught the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and she ended up accepting baptism in the first lesson! Yesterday was her baptism as well and another young woman named Emilly. Emilly´s boyfriend didn´t approve of the baptism so she broke up with him and wants to serve a full-time mission when she turns 19. Karine and Emilly are two awesome girls and I loved teaching them. In the Welcome to the Ward, the Bishop said that the two of them promised Sister Moura and I that we would be the missionaries to teach and baptize them before this life. It was a really powerful experience and one that I will never forget.  The sad part about this week is that I was transferred. I´ll find out tomorrow where I´m going and who will be my next companion. I´m sad that I won´t be able to teach Emilly and Karine more, but I am so grateful that we were able to baptize them before I got transferred.

I just want to end with my testimony that I know that miracles happen. I know that God lives. He loves us and He knows us perfectly. Lots of times we have to be tested, but it´s always worth it in the end. A wise man once said, "When Noah began to build the ark there were probably lots of people who believed and helped him because it would be nearly impossible to build an ark alone. But after many years without rain, only he and his family  were left." Sometimes the miracles take awhile to happen. Don´t lose hope and don´t lose faith! Heavenly Father is in control and everything happens for a reason. Love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love,

Sister Lopez

Happy Easter! (And happy 7 months!)

Hello friends and family!

We had an amazing week! We found tons of new people to teach and had 5 investigators at church yesterday!!! It really was a miraculous Easter Sunday. The first miracle happened Tuesday. We went to teach a woman we contacted in the street and it turns out she was taught by the Elders 20 years ago when she was 13 years old. She moved to São Paulo and lost contact with the church for years, but about a month ago she had a dream that she needed to join the "Mormon Church" and then we stopped and talked to her a few weeks later! So now we are teaching her and her 3 daughters! :)

Another miracle is that a girl we have been teaching for a few weeks who refused to set a date for her baptism accepted this Saturday to be baptized! Her name is Lidiane if you want to add her to your prayers. I got the package my mom sent in January! I completed 7 months on the mission, and my companion and I bought "Ovos de Páscoa" (Easter Eggs) for each other. Here in Brazil a traditional Easter Egg is a giant egg made of chocolate! ;) There were lots of other little things that added up to an incredible Semana Santa (Holy Week). 

It really is true that miracles happen after the trial of our faith. Heavenly Father really is there every step of the way. When things don´t turn out exactly how we hoped or expected, it´s because we had something to learn. I am so grateful for this Easter and the opportunity to teach people about our Savior. I know that Christ lives. I know that he broke the bands of death so that we all may live again. He is our Redeemer, our brother, and our best friend. Hope everyone has a great week!

Love,

Sister Lopez

A Week of Trials

Oí família e amigos!

Well this week was a doozey. Lots of people stopped progressing and we had everything totally ready for a baptism when our investigator changed his mind (3 hours before) about being baptized. Talk about a discouraging weekend! BUT tomorrow starts a new transfer and we are ready to go out and find tons of new people to teach and baptize! Sister Moura and I are confident in the promise that trials bring forth the blessings of heaven. I know that there are people in our area who are ready to embrace this beautiful gospel :)

This is a typical day for us here in Arapiraca:

6:30am- Wake up

6:45- Devotional, which includes a hymn, prayer, message, and prayer with us 4 sisters

7:00- Exercise

7:30- Get ready and make breakfast

8:00- Personal Study Time

9:00- Study Time with Companion

10:00- Training (Every missionary has an additional hour to study for the first 3 months of the mission.)

11:00- Language Study (For me to learn Portugûes!)

12:00pm- Lunch at a Member´s house. We almost always eat the same thing: white rice, beans, spaghetti, meat, and a salad. And here they eat everything mixed together :) 

2:00-9:00- Visit investigators, knock doors, talk with people in the street, etc. Missionary work!

9:00- Plan for the next day

9:30- Shower, eat something like a mango or yogurt

10:30- Lights out!

Life is the mission definitely isn´t easy, but it´s awesome to know that we are really doing the Lord´s work. I know that this church is true and I´m so grateful to be apart of it :)

Love,

Sister Lopez