Feliz Anniversario minha compinhera!  Yay!! A fabulous member made this beautiful cake for Sister C!

Yay! Birthday breakfast surprise at a members house! Mom, we made your yummy french toast and banana recipe, she loved it!!

Huzzah, cheesecake from the Cheesecake factory, she's obsessed with it. . .:)

Huzzah!

District Activity, bowling!! At the second largest mall in America. . . nbd:) Let's just say I was definitely winning for the first three rounds. . . The Elder next to me in the black shirt is going to my mission and got his visa and leaves for Brazil tomorrow!! Gah! Mom, Sister B got her Visa too! She left yesterday!

"Cleave to your Covenants"

I absolutely LOVED the women's broadcast! I really thought it was interesting and wonderful the emphasis they placed on the covenants we made and are making, something we definitely all can relate to and work on! I was so excited the whole week, and conference? Don't even get me started, it's like Christmas up in here! Mom, there was was a grandma, mom and daughter all in our ward that came and it made me think of you, Kali and Tayler (except not Tayler I guess!) and how we all could've gone together!! In a bit:) I possibly did get a little bit teary eyed, it's ok, it was a good teary eyed, Winnie the Pooh says it best, "How lucky I am to have someone that makes saying goodbye so hard."  To expound on that a bit:

This past week I have been wondering why in the world I have been so extremely lucky my whole life, growing up in the Gospel, having a healthy, stable family life and childhood, the knowledge and lifestyle the Gospel brings is what everyone deserves and I do not understand why I am one of the lucky ones , you know?  Mandie has had some people from her past pop up this week and they are trying very hard to ruin her life, and everything she's working for. The same night we saw Mandie we went to visit a less-active, Ratesha, who asked us to go take her to visit her boyfriend who's in jail. . . agian. These two girls deserved lovely family situations, the Gospel, confidence, knowledge, people treating them like daughters of God just as much as me or anyone else. I wish I could give it to them so badly, I wish I could fix the many messes! Anyway, I see so many situations here that make me realize over and over and OVER, just how blessed I am to have the Gospel. We are all so blessed, I want to share this message of perfect happiness with everyone that's hurting and broken. Well we all are actually, just in different ways. I'm in the right place, we all are! We all can share, and as we come unto Christ ourselves our desire to bring His other children to Him will increase! (Mark 4:19)

Street contacting is the hardest thing for me right? Well the other day, I kept passing up opportunities (bad!) but kept praying that Heavenly Father would help me and He did! I learned that's it's easier to just be myself and ask funny, questions, rather than try and be a "missionary." These are the ones that I came up with, no  joke: Hey do you know where that stairway leads to? Led to a lovely, long conversation fyi. Another one:" if you were a missionary and you were trying to start a conversation what would you ask people?" This guy was a pastor from England, gave some legit answers and then began to walk away. . . oh no you don't! I asked him his own question and we had a great conversation! This experience was eye-opening! I just need to be myself and Heavenly Father will be able to work through me so much more effectively! 

My testimony that Heavenly Father is so aware of us and our righteous desires is growing every day. I've had some very specific questions and He has answered them to the T through so many people. The Atonement is something I've been praying about and wanted to KNOW for lots of years, Haha, silly me:) But, I am learning about it every day:)

I want you all to know that I know that the scriptures will give us an eternal perspective on life. Studying them every single day will bring and new peace and happiness into your life, I promise that, it's absolutely the coolest thing.

Krey man: good job on your piano festival, champion!! Coltran buddy, I wish I could've been there for you band concert! Kali, I wish I could've gone to the broadcast with you and Mom! Did you like it?? Tayler!! I better hear all about Tour!! Dad, did you get my letter last week? I haven't read your e-mail yet, you might mention it:) Wow, so much excitement^  I love you guys!! Can't wait to hear from you next week and get your letters some time this week!:)

Love,

Sister Ventura Alma 25:16

Family!!! Look!! We went to have lunch with Winifred Rose Philips and Owen Phillips this past Wednesday. They are absolutely the most adorable old couple from England. They were all kinds of excited that I had lived there for a bit and we spend lots of time reminiscing over all of the yummy treats and foods that aren't anywhere else but England! Their home is fantastic, filled to the brim with lace and trinkets and wood paneled floors and lovely wall papers, I was very happy:) 

They had the R.S b-day party this past Saturday and we were able to go for a bit. Look how lovely it is! It was really nice to be with the R.S sisters for a bit, we always go to the branch during that hour and we've been wanting some way to get to know them better:) Mom: they had Il Devo playing and I was geeking out! And then I was listening to my Mp3 and you put the "Mama" song on there, Perfect!

Struggle Busin'

Yes, the above phrase is something unique to N.Y when you're. . . yes struggling:) This week was a bit of a struggle as it turns out. Probably the toughest so far, but that's OK because that means I'm getting tougher too:)

We had 6 cancellations, all with investigators and all lessons that we were so excited about. Because of that we spent a lot more time finding, which is good but it was in the windy rain for hours and nothing seemed to come of it! We were feeling pretty discouraged.

BUT! Never fear! I've been keeping a little "miracle journal" and writing down at least one little/and or big miracle every day. This is a wonderfully healthy practice and I invite you all to do it! We've been having all of our lovely less active ladies do it and I decided to do it along with them:)  Here are some miracles for the week: 

-We had lunch with the Phillips' (see picture:)

- I was able to bear my testimony of my knowledge     that the Book of Mormon and all of the scriptures are the word of God. This is something that I just know from personal experience and I had to share! You know that feeling when you know you should bear your testimony but for reasons completely unbeknownst to man you just sit there for like 10 minutes pretending that you don't have to? Aaah, bearing your testimony is one of the most sure ways of strengthening it! I have a testimony of that! (boom) I was really grateful for that opportunity because It was good for me to realize that yes, I do KNOW some things, I've been kind of feeling like I don't, so that was really wonderful.

-We had no money left for the month (don't ask) and yesterday at church one of the sisters slipped us an envelope with a note, "Thanks for being missionaries" and $20.00!

-The elder’s quorum president came up and told sister C and I that he's heard some really good things about us lately and just wanted us to know that our hard work wasn't going unnoticed. We both needed that so badly. And, although only 2 of our 10 investigators could come to church (never has happened=the worst!) A less-active family came that we visit religiously every Saturday and hasn't come since at least before Sis C has been here (October.)

So, as you can see, this really has helped me realize just how aware Heavenly Father is of me, especially yesterday after a stinkin’ hard week there were so many little miracles because people followed promptings they received, and they helped me out when I really needed it. Follow those promptings people.

Whhiiich leads me to some really great goals we've made for this upcoming week (and forever!).

-Follow promptings instantly! This is a great, very hard practice that I'm going to try so hard to work on. I had a couple of times where I didn't this week and it left me feeling very discouraged, just always do it!

-Right along with that- I'm going to go outside of my comfort zone, like REALLY outside AT LEAST once every single day. I've come to realize that that's how I'll be happiest, with continual growth and not regretting things I could've done to learn or help others or whatever it may be. That's what this mission thing is all about, changing, and growing, I should never be feeling comfortable, plus that's boring! We watched this oober-pump-you-up-type basketball video about Kevin Durant. . .along these lines. . .:)

We had some really great experiences with Mandie this week that I wish I had time to tell you guys about! She is still doing well although still living with her boyfriend but weaning herself off of tea! She's continuing to progress and we are praying for her boyfriend, Collin, that his heart will be softened and he will have a desire to learn more! Please keep them in your prayers! 

I have to go minha familia! I love you guys so much and tell sis C about you daily:) Good times, good times:)

Com amor,

Sister Ventura 2  Nephi 32:3

Annnnd this is what the weather is like here in lovely Syracuse:) On Wednesday we had the biggest storm ever! IT was the worst especially because the day before was so warm! (47)

 With our non- existnt art skills we made these adorable little puppet, visual things for our lesson with Malou and Cielle (11 and 6) we keep running out of ideas for kid lessons, we had so much fun making these and well. . . they're obviously professional!

"You really have to sell the sizzle to get the bizzle!"

The great thing is, is that that quote actually didn't make any more sense when given in context. 

We were at branch council yesterday and pres. Stutz (he's a character for sure!) Was trying to explain to us what we really need to do to involve people more, ie. less-actives, investigators etc. and make them feel welcome. He was demonstrating some examples of missionary work and fellow-shipping, aaaand that was my take away. Please apply that one to your lives this week! ( But actually, really!) 

This week was another week jam-packed with miracles, laughs, learning moments and joy!

Tuesday: This was just a golden day! As in, it was actually sunny and and we taught uma pesquisadora de aureo! It's just a lovely happy haze in my mind! I don't remember if I talked about Prakash last time but. . . We taught him the restoration lesson and it was just beautiful! It was the first time I said the First Vision in English and I definitely messed up! Just a little bit but it didn't even make one bit of difference because the Spirit was so strong! Something I've noticed as I teach these basic principles over and again is that I'm learning them just as much as anyone and being able to testify of them over and over again strengthens my testimony so much! I realize the clarity and truth and simplicity of what I'm saying as I say it, It's an amazing opportunity I have right now! (Yoda style, why not.) Anyway, Prakash is from India, and just moved here in January to start working at one of the universities here. This is COMPLETELY foreign to what he's used to and he doesn't know a soul! But, he's the kindest man, and just wants to be friends withe everyone! He said he was feeling lonely right before we came and then when we came and gave him a book of mormon he knew it was an Answer from God! We'll meet with him again this sat. and he said he would have read the entire Book of Mormon by then because he's going on a business trip this week! Ay carumba! We'll see about that one:) Stay tuned! I can't wait to someday tell you guys all the details and amazing things about these fantastic people I'm meeting minha familia! I wish you could all meet them! 

Wednesday: This was the day that it snowed literally like 3 feet. The entire city shut down including buses! We had to trek home and switch our weekly planning day so we could still be productive:) It's sad that now I consider 45-50 F to be warm but Tuesday that's what it was and we were bathing in the sunlight, we could actually see the grass and then. . . this had to happen! Mom, like I was telling you, because of the weather 2 sisters got to stay with us and one is also a visa waiter so we had legit language study! It was SO great! She's a native spanish speaker so she sounded almost fluent and it was SO good to be able to talk with her! We practiced teaching lessons to each other quando nossas companheras pobras (disculpa, when I talk, little phrases that I can actually say in Portuguese pop into my head and I just decide to use them because. . . why not? Realize, I'm not exactly sure if they're spelled right and I don't know how to do accents on here. . . :) tried to participate, they gave us lots of good study ideas and it really motivated me to be better at my Portuguese study and SYL! Falar em minha lingua todas vezes!

Thursday: Belinda! Another completely prepared person! I know this because she was just given to us and I know she's been waiting. We taught the restoration again, she had never heard of the BOM or Joseph Smith and kept saying how much sense it all made, how so many churches had come to be etc. She's on a quest for the truth because she wants to teach her children the truth! Her husband (she's married!) is also religious but a different christian religion and they're trying to figure out what to teach their family. They have three beautiful kids, and are just this great little family trying to do what's right, it's beautiful. Sister C and I were talking about how amazed and grateful we are that Heavenly Father is blessing our are so much and allowing us to see all of these miracles, it is so exciting and so humbling.

Friday: We taught Duane and Ke two of our Chinese investigators and Ke said his first prayer! It was the cutest thing! He was SO nervous, (he's never prayed in his life!) but he he said the opening prayer and it was just so simple, and sincere and perfect. It's really strange teaching people that have absolutely no previous concept of ANYTHING we're talking about! Kind of nice, but also kind of strange. What a leap of faith though. We also taught Mandie and wow, every time she surprises us with something new! The time before we asked her to pray about the Lei de castidade. Well she is, and she really wants to be baptized and she told us that the only two options she can see are tying the knot with Collin or breaking it, which she really doesn't want to do. Aaand they weren't planning on getting married for 2-3 years , but she doesn't want to wait that long to be baptized, which is good! It's quite a complicated situation, and it's real life. It's not easy. We are continuing to teach her and pray for her. Please add her to your prayers, she's so close and completely deserves and is ready for this happiness. Wowow moment: When we were teaching she said, " just a minute! I read something about this!" Pulls out her BOM to her most recent reading and applied a verse to what we were talking about! It was the best ever! I can barely do that! She is the coolest!

Saturday: Today was basically like Christmas because we went to ta baptism with Duane and Mandie and Ke! We had a really great mini lesson on baptism in the Chapel right before, it was awesome! We had dinner with a little Italian less-active, Sister Hakes. So she has these 2 cats and there is hair everywhere, what's new right? I sit on a stack of magazines, put my bag up high, it doesn't matter, we leave with hair everywhere! I learned this trick with a squirt bottle that Sis Hakes has just for that reason, it works pretty nifty. Just hold the bottle in the cats face and it is out of there! It got to the point that I would just look at "baby,"  reach my hand toward the bottle and he was donzo. I was feeling pretty powerful. One time Sister Hakes saw me and just starting laughing her head off and said, " you're going to give my cat a complex!" It was classic. There was also the time when she spit here water out because I called her special Italian macaroni stuff noodles on accident. .. it was hilarious. I wish I had time to share all of the other hilarious/disgusting, animal inspired humor that I now posses! 

I absolutely love the scriptures and I want everyone to know it. I have never known or understood how much is in there. I know without a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true and that the Bible and Book of Mormon compliment each other so much! I wish everyone could see that! My Book of Mormon study is one of my absolute favorite times of the day! 

Eu amo voces muito minha familia!

com amor,

Sister Ventura Alma 17 <3 

I was given a Greenie Dinner! This crazy lady in the ward does this for all new missionaries. She dyes EVERYTHING green (like who knew it was possible to die peppered steak dark green?) And then gives it all these disgusting convincing names like, lizards, worms etc and makes you eat a TON. So yes, I was officially initiated into the Syracuse East mission as of Thursday:)

sick nasty

This lady seriously worships this little bird and has taught him to "give kisses." Yeah, NO. She insisted that we keep trying till he actually kissed us. He never did. He did poop on me though. She wiped it off and then kept telling me to try harder until he kissed me! For real!

I went on exchanges this past weekend to Auburn with Sister Mcgregor! It was so much fun and I learned so much from her! This is in a little town called Skaneatles (Skinny altas!) Which is the cutest. I was geeking out basically the whole time. She may have thought I was a bit much haha:) This is at a place called "Doug's Fish Fry."  Right?? Fish! It was a great experience:) We actually did quite a bit of tracting but it was in the sunshine this time and it was amazing what a difference that made! We had some really cool experiences, learned a lot and talked to some really cool people!

"After all is said and done, the greatest responsibility is to share the Gospel" Joseph Smith (D&C 15:6 I think. . .:)

Date: March 10, 2014 11:28:54 AM MDT

 That quote up above says it perfectly. So. If nothing else go away after reading this with that imprinted in your heart and mind. 

Wow.This has been the most fantastic week so far! I have learned SO much.

I will now attempt to convey some of it to you blessed people.

We had ZTM on Friday and it was just simply fantastic. It was this much needed re-energizing, re-motivated meeting that got all of us even MORE pumped to just go out and share the good news with every single person! This quote from a guest speaker and convert says it all. "Don't waste one moment, one second; the Lord has so much that he wants you to see!" Isn't that beautiful? We learned about three temptations that we have as missionaries, studied them and then taught each other about how we can continue to overcome them, and turn them into strengths. They were: Time, indecision and My will vs God's will. Interesting right? Especially indecision. Time IS a killer! After the meeting and throughout I just kept thinking how cool it was that I with all of these 20 somethings and we're all trying so hard to do our best to help others and forget ourselves. Of course it's so hard and that doesn't always mean that we're actually doing it but we are out here working and trying to change the world! It's such an exciting thing to be a part of:)  Mom: A realization that I had because of this meeting: Remember how I was telling you I was scared to change and didn't want to come back a different person? I didn't want the mission to change ME?  Well. I realized that that's what I want more than anything. If I can work hard enough, learn enough, change enough to create a solid foundation for the rest of my life, become truly converted, than I will have obtained my goal. Of course I don't want to come back a different person, someone that no one will recognize but I want to have the light of Christ, you know? Be the best me, and we can only do that through coming unto Christ every single day.  I guess what I'm trying to say is that when I come home, my mission will not be over! I will continue to progress:) It's exciting stuff. I hope that made sense. It does to me, so that's good:)

I've also been learning a lot about obedience. We all know the scripture, " For I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say. . " right? (D&C 130:120 or 121 expounds on this)  Well, that is so stinkin true! It's such a comforting thought. To the degree that we are obedient we are showing our trust in Heavenly Father's way instead of our own. Someone said in zone training meeting: Obedience is "true repentance." I've never though about it that way but it totally makes sense! When we are obedient we can EXPECT to see miracles. I know for myself that that is true. Just like the scriptures say, it's true! It's so cool! Treasure hunt time: might seem unrelated but it's actually not. Look up "faith" in the BD and read what it says, this miracle thing goes farther than just obedience. It's good stuff:)

Miracles: Yesterday was a day of miracles. We had an hour and a half to tract and I (surprise) had to use the bathroom. We used the gps to find the nearest member's house. They weren't there but the guy living downstairs was this oober nice Indian man that we had actually met before at a bus stop. He was seriously begging us to come in. WHAA? That doesn't happen! Long story short, we have an app for next Tuesday, he's pumped, we're pumped. We left. I told Sis C, I had a though while we were there to give him the Bom  I had, she had to. Back we went. He read the testimony I had written on the spot. He said he knew it was an important book and that he felt so good about it and would read it and have questions for next time! Idk, writing it it doesn't even sound so cool, or different from another missionary experience. .. but I felt SO happy. It was the coolest miracle. I really think that that man (Prakash) Has been waiting for us and Heavenly Father simply used us because we are missionaries and that's what we are for and we were there! I'll keep you updated:) Also we had 3 Chinese students at the branch yesterday which was so exciting but guess who didn't come for the first time? Mandie. When I saw that she really wasn't coming I felt so sad. Like crying. I'm amazed at how much I can feel for and about these people that I know hardly anything about. I know that it's a gift from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I love loving people; feeling the tiniest bit of what They feel for each of us. I love it here so much!

Lots of other great experiences but no time!!! TIME. MOM, IT'S THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE!:) 

Here are some "cuse" moments for you all: The first counselor in the EQ presidency in the branch is active, a worthy priesthood holder the works right? Well, he is also an acting pastor (not sure of the actual name) at a different church! Seriously. I've seen him in the get-up. Some of the elders even went to one of his services. . . what? I think it's the most bizarre thing. 

Next: the other day we went to contact a referral right? So we say hi to everyone and get weird looks sometimes. This lady up the street, like too far to up be socially acceptable to say hi so someone, yells out to us.  Ok, cool! We soon noticed that she was staggering around and what was that in her hand? She literally waved to us WITH A SAW IN HER HAND. Aaand she was walking towards us. My brain automatically began to plan out how I would run in the said referral's home and go hide under the bed or something. It might not sound that creepy but, trust me, we were bordering north side and it was SKETCH. Hilarious too, though. There's the cuse for ya!

Well, I love you all so much and always love to hear from any and all!

May we all continue on in our own journeys to come unto Christ each and every day,

com amor,

Sister Ventura 2 

#foreverfreezing

3 March 201

Mom, feel free to edit any comments you think should be edited (aka deleted haha:) Also, please delete this comment. . . 

Remember that time I didn't think it was as bad as everyone told me because it was in the forties my first week here? Yeah, well that sure changed! Literally the only times I'm warm are in the shower (usually) and while I'm sleeping and exercising. With the wind chill it's in the negatives all the time!  It snows todos dias and I don't know how Spring will ever come because there's a permanent 3 feet of snow here! It is pretty though, hopefully I'll have time to attach a picture I took, I love the New England houses that are everywhere!

Tuesday: Ok, the people are interesting and full of diversity and surprises for lack of a better description. We were walking to catch a bus and met this great old guy named David who was out shoveling the new foot of snow we got over night. It was his 60th birthday and he had heard of us before, agreed with a lot of stuff etc. etc. It was great! I was so gung (pretty sure I didn't spell that right) ho about him, I just knew he was ready! Well, he might be, he just doesn't know it yet! We went to his house the next day and he didn't answer so we just kind of waited because we had just seen him outside! (That's like our major door approach, just wait until they finally come and see what we want!) He came to the screen door (they conveniently all have those, which makes for many great miming, "I can't understand you, I'm really busy with my dog" moments. Yes, that happened.) As you might be able to tell I had some tracting experiences this week. . . more on that later:) Anyway, he was not near as friendly as the day before (Birthday high?) and said he was super busy and that they were leaving soon and then just shut the door! Oh yes, that was the first of  many similar experience this week. The stinker never left! Not that we were stalking him, but we were contacting a reffereal across the street and he wasn't answering so. . . . we were on his porch for a while. Naturally. Some great members fed us that night. They really take care of us here, it just blows my mind that they all sign up to feed a bunch of 20 somethings each week! Anyway, it was spaghetti, good enough but I wasn't drooling over it or anything and she gave pretty generous portions.  When I was done I was all ready for the homemade chocolate chip cookies (drooling!) and she asked if it was good, so of course we raved.  She then asked if we wanted more. . . uhhhh "I want cookies!" ( Is that what he says?) I looked to sister C, like " how can we get out of this?" And the member said, "don't look to your trainer for permission! We don't do that here!" She then grabbed my plate and gave me just as much! Rough life right? You'll all be glad to know I eventually got the cookies! OK, no clue why I just spent so much time on that! We taught Karen and Eric that night (or as I fondly call them, Karic.) They're students from China studying at SU. At the end of the lesson we both felt prompted to bring up baptism again. One of their 2 main concerns is that Christianity is western and that they don't know want to abandon their chinese culture. Totally understandable. It was kind of of frustrating because I don't know how to help them and didn't really know what to say! Not that I should have the answers but I don't know how to help them find an answer to that huge question and well. . . that's kind of my job! That idea in general has been kind of frustrating me lately:) We also saw Sister Merchant- she's one of the 7 ( yes 7!) slightly crazed, gross (not her the animals) animal-loving, offended and therefore less/inactive ladies that we visit. Bless them, the love us to visit but whenever we bring up church they turn off. They all have animal hair everywhere (including my clothes when I leave) and feed us sketch stuff that we give to the elders or members.  And (grandma and grandpa Ventura) they ALL love my bag! I don't know what it is! They rub up against it, love it, scratch it sniff it but it's indestructible! I don't think one of the qualifications was animal proof? It's great! Sis M has this horrendous chiwawa (sp?) and I have to eye him down during the prayers, one time I had to violently grab my bag away, nuh-uh, not today foxy. Not today.

Wednesday: We met Chris at the Bus Stop. Yes, he knew who we were, " I call ya'll the feeles (fearless) people!" Ya'll be walking around the projects, ya'll the feeles people! Yes everybody, I am in "the 'cuse!" These people are great. We also taught Mandie. She's the one investigator that we've been teaching as long as I've been here so I feel like I know here a little better than all the others. Anyway, she's fantastic. Seriously, she teaches us, her drive and her testimony is amazing! 3 weeks ago, she caught a taxi to church because she had been reading up on mormon.org and "felt like she should come!" What? She's had the roughest past that I can possibly imagine for a young women, she's only 20! Seriously. Every single horrible awful thing that is a girl's nightmare has happened to her and she is just so prepared. She's been using the Atonement kind of unconsciously and it's a beautiful thing to see. I feel the light of Christ and the Spirit every time we talk with her!  She has a bap date for the 22 of March, is progressing rapidly but JUST moved in with her boyfriend, there has to be something right? Please pray for her! She's doing so well! I feel so grateful to know her! This same night we went to a YSA Joseph Smith movie night at the University. This Chinese kid came in sat next to me and started louldy spouting off questions and how he was "really interested." At first I was like, "sweet, a new investigator!" But it quickly became apparent that there was something very off about him.  Like really. Sister C and I both got this like warning wall of apprehension come up at the same time.  It was so strange. We could tell that everything he was saying was a lie and he just had very alterior motives. It was sketch. Anyway, long story short, we were smart and eventually ended up being invited unto Islam and given a Qu'ran. Haha in exchange for a BOM of course! It took a while to shake off the weird feeling though. Not that being invited to a new religion is bad at all! ( how ironic would that be!) But the feeling there was not a good one.   I'm so grateful for the Spirit of Discernment that we are all given and how enhanced it is as a missionary! 

Thursday and Friday: Only thing you need to know, "The Blitz." Knocking on doors for 4 hours each night=rough stuff! Thurs night it was pitch black, windy, in the negatives and yikes! People would crack open their doors or just yell to us through their screens. Including this one JW minster who was trying to bible bash with me while I freezed my toes off. Really? Can't we at least bible bash inside? Jokes! I totally didn't participate! Just bore my testimony and told him about some cool verse in the BOM i read that morning:)  A couple people let us in though and I could just basically see their potential bursting from them! They may not be ready now but now they know a little bit more about the church and that's pretty great:) I had to keep telling myself that on Friday when my toes felt like little rocks in my shoes and not a soul let us in! The 2-3 nice people made it worth it though, it's crazy how that works! All you former missionaries know exactly what I'm talking about-this is nuts! I questioned everything a couple of times and then just laughed it off and kept going! Deceptively looking nice grandmas, to slammed doors, to miming that their dog was keeping them too busy (really?!), to peeking at us through the blinds! Pretty hilarious stuff and COLD!!

Heavently Father has my back, it’s crazy. There's another visa waiter for Curitiba in my district, the branch mission leader served in Brazil and there's tons of members who served in Brazil! I ask them questions, pray and speak it as much as socially acceptable:) Whenever Sister C and I practice in the mornings I always get so excited! I just love that language! I try and translate random things throughout the day as well:) Right now I'm working on memorizing Moroni 10:3-5. EU AMO PORTUGUES MUITO!!

Also, I LOVE the scriptures! I look forward to reading the BOM every morning and I ALWAYS learn something great! If nothing else, I already know that i gained a testimony and love  of the scriptures while on my mission, which is awesome:)

I've been reading "The Fourth Missionary" this week, it's blowing my mind! It's not just for missionaries, mom I think you will like it!:) I'l glad you're watching M and the SW. jealous! Did Kali get my letter?:)

Family, I love you all so much and think about you all the time! I hung up a bunch of pictures above my bed and I love looking at them:) I'm so grateful for you guys:)

vamos para frente com fe,

Sister Ventura Alma 26:12