Here is a beautiful site to lift anyone's spirits. There we were,walking down our street when we came across this beautiful group of jovens, laughing, talking and heading where? To the Temple with family names that they had done!! They church is perfect, is growing, is guiding the youth and gives so much hope! I love these kids!

B E A U T I F U L

Sister Barker! Isn't she just glowing?! I always love seeing her! This was at a mission conference. Probably the last time I will see here before she arrives in the mother land of West Mountain, crrazy!

Alegria da Verdade

25 August 2014

So. Wow. This week was so happy. I felt so much true joy!^We didn't have a baptism, we didnt teach a bajillion lessons, I cant even name one big, awesome thing. I am just filled with happiness and grattitude:) Last week for one of our weekly goals we made a goal to stay positive, to stay happy and excited about our responsibilities as representatives of Jesus Christ. I made personal goals to laugh every day, and to just let things that were hard or discouraing roll of and away. I'll tell you what. I was filled with the grace of Christ. Grace,( the def in the B.D is great) Is the capacity to help others, beyond what we could do alone. This capacity comes only through the Atonement of Christ and is dependant on worthiness and effort and brings true joy! I feel like I could just close my letter there, haha:)

Some great people:

-The pic of the jovens da Igreja that I sent:) at us ( they were huge!)

-Tereza- we were knocking doors when a Senhora answered. After about 2 minutes she started crying telling us that jus that morning she had been praying for Heavenly Father to send her someone one, some sign that she wasn't forgotten. She said she knew right then, more than ever, that Heavenly Father lives and loves her. There is nothing better to hear than that. That Heavenly Father used you to be an answer to someone's prayers! She has really  bad legs and was said that she couldn't let us in because her dogs bite and there was no one there to put them away. We were about to leave with her crying but I felt like we should just enter anway and have faith that the dogs would'nt attack us. Sister Cox was wary because she's already been bitten by a dog here, buuut. It was fine! We just calmly walked past as the dogs growledat us ( they were huge!) and preteneded that we didn't want to run screaming into the house. Hahha. Tereza is a Testimony of Jehovah and isn't going to change anytime soon, but we were there right when she needed it and it was an experience that strengthened my faith. 

-Sueli- is a recent convert and we are working with her to prepare to enter the Temple to be baptized for her dad and sister!

-We have two baptisms marked for this Sunday with Jonice and Vitoria ( her 8 year old daughter)! Her 16 yr old son has been baptized for at least  monthis- ish and is so firm in the church and  it will be so great to have the whole family baptized!

- Coisas Culturais (dad this list will rock your world)

-the frogs here, they look the same but make the weirdest noises. They noise is a mix between a cat, a crying baby and a mourning spirit forever lost. It is so creepy! I took a video so you can hear one day:)

-lots of people use toilets that aren't being used to plant flowers and then stick them in their front yards. The other day we were contacting a guy but it wasn't really going anywhere so I decided to ask him how many toilets he had. He didn' t know, i counted 18 though. . .. record status.

-We were talkling to a member about her less active sister and her non-member husband. Turns out he's not interested int he church because we believe in the second coming. Why is this a problem? Because he works at a cemetary. OK, makes a little bit more sense right? Wait for it: Here they don't bury dead people. They have sepulcures (?) above the ground like in Europe... . . But they bodies only stay in these nice litttle houses for about 5 years after which point they are mostly discomposed. This is where our friend enters in. It's his job to move they old dead people to make room for the new dead people. He puts them in big sacks at the bottom of the sepulcure. So. He's scared that if it's really true that we will all be resurrected at the 2nd coming that if he accidently misplaces an arm or something now that the owners of those arms won't be too happy and will come to have a chat with him. I'm mean seriously, it's a legit fear, I would probabely think that same thing if that was my job! I was just soooo grateful that i could understand all of that in Portuguese, something I will never forget! hahahah

- Ok, more to come at a later date.

Mom, your questions:

- Something we can do as the school year is starting? Read the Book of Mormon every, single day! Awww, boring answer huh?! But really. And my challenge is to not read it five mintues right before you sleep. Yes that's better than nothing, but ( I know, I did this all through High School!) you really don't learn  a ton or find  answers. Presidnet Benson has a quote that says that the"Book of Mormon answers the questions of the soul." This is oh so true! I promise you guys that if you will read the Book of Mormon with questions and a desire to recieve answers and then act on those answers, the answers will come! Always! Answers about anything! Not just about what is the purpose of life ( although it has those answers too:) I started reading the Book of Mormon in Portuguese for Personal Study a couple of days ago, it is soooo cool! I love the Book of Mormon with all of my soul! 

- They other one about how we can have missionary experiences in Utah. .. this is definitley a hard one, but not impossilbe! The first thing I thought of, was, stand up for the things you believe in! Be bold! It doesn't matter if it'swth your friends from church, seminary ( hahhah because it probably will be;) just be an example indepent of what others do and it will be such a good reminder to themThe.other thing: look for "the one." There is always that one person in anysituation that is lonely and feels out of place. Lots of times we are that "one." Just talk to them and get to know them and all of a sudden both of  you will be happier:) Also, Family, i know it will be hard but I thought that it would be awesome if you guys could contact the missionaries ( I don't know, in our stake??) That have west mountian in theirarea and have them for dinner! Invite them to invite an investigator if possible and have the missionaries in our home! We have almoço every day with a family in the church and it's always so special! For us and for the family! Let me know about he progreess on that one!

Well, the time has come my people! I love you guys! I'm so thankful for you!

Boa semana!

With muchly ,much love,

Sister Ventura:) 

The next step. . . banco.

18 August 2014

Hello my lovely, lovely family! I hope that all is well there! I can't believe that ya'll are staring sch ool already! Looks like your little get away trip was so much fun!

Ok, this week's letter will be a little bit different.

First of all, this week was pretty stinkin' cold. We worked so hard,walked A TON! And felt the spirit, invited our brains out (you know, that missionaory thing, inviting the world to make changes!) And arrived in church yesterday with no one, nada. Yikes! But we are learning a lot about faith and patience and trusting in the Lord's timing and ficando positivo:) Oh, we did have a pretty big vicory yesterday actually: 15 minutes before church started, ( we were running around like chickens after getting their heads cut off trying to gather all of our investigators for church) our ass. to the ward mission leader called saying that he was sick and could we please teach Gospel Principles? Yuuuuuus. So. 2 Americans taught a class of 25 + brazillians the lesson yesterday about the Word of Wisdom. It was actually really fun and I'm glad we could do it. It made me feel better about our day:)

Ok Mom your questions:

1 (the one from 2 weeks ago about how I apply the Atonement in my life on a daily basis. Actually, many days the hope of the Atonment and the reality that because of the Atonement I will live with my Heavenly Parents again is what gets me through. The general Plan of Salvation concept of the Atonement is for the day to day! I've learned a lot during the mish abou the "Eternal Perspective" that we need to have, it helps with everything! Moroni 7:41 talks about this perfectly! Also, there is a phrase in PMG on pg 11 that I love! It says that by working with all of our might, mind and strength is the way we can show our Savior our appreciation for His Atonement. Wow. Also a coupel of pages before it says that to the extent that we give of ourselves and work show our understanding of the Atonment, the harder we work, the more we are learning about the Atonment! This week especially. When i thought I literally could not take another step, when I thought I could not handle another person not showing up, falling through, lying to us, feeling the spirit and then STILL choosing not to change, I rememberd those phrases in PMG. I remembered why I am here, and remembered my Savior and His Atonment for me. That through the grace of His Atonement I can be so much greate, help so much more, than I could ever do alone. Teaching the Plan of Salvation in it's most simple form many times a week has helped me realize this so clearly!

Ok pause. My companhera just died laughing for like 5 minutes. Red in the face everything. when I finally asked her why??? Ok, story time. She was writing to her family about an experience that happend to yours truly earlier in the week. oooooooooooooook. Everyone ready? So. it was dark, we were walking from one app to another and had just passed a group of drunk men outside of a bar. " Oi, tudo bem? Tudo, otimo." Ok. We noticed a little comotion on the other side of the street, with some police men and a dude, they were looking in his back pack etc. In my defense this was REALLY interesting, ok? Remember that. I was watching this all go down when my foot caught on the cobblestone. Seriously, next thing I know I'm laying flat on my stomach with my hands still in my pockets staring down a bench. Yes. I literally walked and then fell right exactly onto a bench. It actually was incredible. My toe hit it, I made a sound like a dying cow and fell, face first onto a bench. I stayed there for a couple of seconds wondering where I was and Sister Cox was dying laughing. After I had time to compose myself I was laughing my head off too. Only in my life! We were lauhing and reinacting the scene for like 10 minutes. Eventually some policemen passed by and asked if everything was ok.. . . . no! Aaaand the word for bench in portuguese is banco^:)  

Rest assured, I'm still my special self over here!

Ok,Mom, i don't know why I thought I could answer all of your questions. . . the rest will have to wait, I really thought about them and have answers all ready! 

Here is your list pops!

There are sooo many churches here. Seriously, every road has like 5. Everyone is part of a church and some of them have services every night of the week! Lots of them have rules like you have to wear skirst and you can't cut your hair etc. Lots of times walking down the street you can tell what church people go to. The thing is though, they all have people yelling, chanting or singing weird stuff. . . . During the night  walking a long you can hear like 5 church services happeing at any given spot.

Lots of people here still use horse and buggies! Or there will be a teenager just riding his horse down the road, it's awesome!

They don't have speed limit signs here and so just have these really annoying speed bumps, or lampadas ( i think. . . . ) riding in a car is annoying! Luckily I don't do that very often:)

Well that's a wrap folks. Someday I'll be able to tell you guys everything I want to. . . 

I finished the Book of Mormon this week! I love that book with all of my heart and am so greateful for the testimony I have of it. I will never let it weaken or die! Please read the Book of Mormon with a prayer to learn and you will!

I love you family! To the moon and back!!

Sister Ventura:)

This is a photo with Orlando (Maria's husband:) and queca virada. We had to take it sneakily because he refused to taked a picture with me and queca! Why? They have these little pastries here ( i'm holding one of them) that are called queca (men's underwear) virada (inside out) because they look like a pair of long johns all twisted up that were hung up to dry. Hilarious right?! When I asked Orlando what they were called he couldn't speak for like 5 minutes because he was laughing so hard. When I finally figured out why we were all laughing  so hard for like 10 minutes, we couldn't stop! It was delightful. We were there in their tiny house, with the sun streaming in, they were sharing the only food the had in the house with us, and we were laughing with this old Brazillian couple until we cried. Beautiful:)

 Yesterday gathering the troops for church, I got roped (hahha get it?!) into playing pular acorda ( jump rope:) It was good times my friends. Sister Cox took this without me knowing but I am so grateful because it really shows a lot. Afterwards when we were trying to leave they were all saying "Tia tia (aunt in Portuguese) look at how many I can do! Tia! Come play with us again!" Those moments my friends. . . .

Happy Times :)

“Thy Faith hath Made Thee Whole."

August 11, 2014

First off: Thanks for the prayers folks, my legs are better and I apply repellant like a crazy person now:)

COLTRAN BUDDY! Gosh, looks like your birthday was a smashing success. Write and tell me all about it! I cannot believe that now you are a worthy young priesthood holder AND you can go to the Temple. Wow:)

Ok, this week we worked really hard. REALLY. We had  a district meeting last tuesday where we learned more about teaching with power and authority, teaching more clearly for understanding and helping people see that THEY have to act after receiving our message. It was great. We are improving our teaching together a little bit more every day. Man it will be SO hard when we're not companions anymore! I think this week may have been the week I've worked the hardest in my mission, physically, with my find, my will, everything. I felt so good! But the thing is when you work so hard, when you realize that you CAN work so hard, there's no going back:) I mean that's alwyas an option but a very sad one! So, I'm excited to work even harder this week, it's deeefinitely possible:)

We found and taught a new lady this week named Neia. When we returned for our second lesson we felt that we should teach about the Word of Wisdom. She was so excited to set goals and is actually doing them! And she really loves the Book of Mormon. How refreshing! She told us that she isn't sure but she thinks that we were sent from God to help her. . . . GAHELKJBNMAERUM,VW4E3983488 I cannot express how that phrase feels as a missionary. Seriously. So rare, so great! The only thing is, she wasn't able to make it to church and she works EVERY DAY from 5:00 am until 11:00 pm. . . . . of course haha:) We'll find a way. She's awesome:)

Some experiences that weren't so awesome: There's a family that we've been working with for 3 + weeks. So much of our time and planning went into helping them. Their baptims fell through twice. The two kids really want to be baptized,the Mom, Duce does too but isn't willing to make the sacrifice because of her work. She works so much to support her family so Sunday is the only day to rest. True, very difficult. But she told us time and time again that she knows this is right . . . :( We had one last lesson with her on Saturday. It was rought. During the middle of the lesson I felt very strontly to promise here that if she would take this step of faith in the dark with her family that she would find a new job shortly thereafter that would enable her to to be happier. I knew and still know that that promise was from Heavenly Father. I've never felt  a prompting to give such a specific, powerful promise. Man, what a bummer. For a moment she opened up, her face lit up, but then she closed up again. It's really heartbreaking. For right now that whole family is cut off from the blessings they could be recieving, the help they NEED. Man. It's really easy to start thinking we're horrible missionaries when things  like this happen. Especially because the same thing happened with Branca and Ari this week :( Literally you can feel your heart crying whent these things happen. I love them so much! And mom, the thing is, with the way our mission is structured, if someone isn't progressing you really can't "waste time" visiting them. It's something that's hard for me. . . .

I don't want you guys to think I'm really discouraged, I'm not, I'm happy:) Those experiences ^^ are very sad but I'm glad I can really love the people I'm trying to help and I am trying to learn all that I can from them so I can do better in the future:)

I just realized that I have nothing funny to tell you guys this week. . . I mean, don't worry, we laughed alot but I can't remember what about. So anyway, don't worry I'm laughing over hear and I really hope that you guys are too and sorry that I couldn't be of more help!

The reason for my title- I learned a lot about faith this week, how absolutely necessary faith is, it really is the first step for EVERYTHING! Entao. . . . read Ether 12! It is so full of faith stuff! Also Moroni 7:33 :) Also, I know that we can pray for more faith. . . We have to have faith for miracles to occur, but we can pray for our faith to be made whole throug the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I love the story about the man in the Bible, "Help thou my unbelief." He will.:)

Amo voçes minha familia, com todo da minha coraçao!

love,

Sister Ventura

oi!!!

i´m the companion of your daughter..... p.s. she´s a doofball. i mean just look at this picture! yep.... this is what knocking doors is like, all. day. long. pretty much just have to bang with all your might for the people to hear you. its a good time :)

hope your family is well and livin it up, we´re always keeping you in our prayers!

sister cox 

Nosso Noite familiar with Eny and an awesome family in our ward! I'll write more about it in the letter:)

Nosso districto from last transfer! (The new transfer starts today:)

This cool kind of tree that we only have here in Curitiba and in Santa Catarina tamben. It's called araucaria, grooovy eh? Sis cox took this photo:)

Looooove. Sis C. seriously, inspired by you!! Mom, coverphoto? :)

Member Miracles-Brazillian Style

4 August 2014

Oh, my very dear family:) This week was very great and very fast and I am excited to tell you about all of the miracles I got to see, but especially with the members here. (Don't tell the other ward but I'm pretty sure I'm serving in the most willing and wonderful ward ever:)

Ok, Segunda: We had and FHE after p-day w=that was epic. Seriously. There were members, recent-converts and  investigators, so fun! After the lesson Sister Cox and I taught everyone how to make s'mores. It was a smashing success. They were all doubting the awesomness at first but after the first bite. . . .hahha. it was really hard to find all of the stuff here, but oh so worth it:) MM #1 ( member miracle)

Terca: Zone Conference was good. Our leaders are really great and called for a reason. I learned so much about consercrating myself even more which allows my companion and I to recieve more revelation for our investigators ( we are entiteld to recieve reveltion to helpt them, how cool is that?!) Anyway, always a little more every day.  Consecrating my thoughts more, my actions, my time. Truly giving everything I have to Heavenly Father and allowing Him to use me. It's a process for sure. And not just for the mission. Nope, forever!

Quarta: We had another FHE with Maria and and Orland and an awesome family in our ward. They were so excited. They had prepared everythig so nicely, food, hymns, they even invited a friend!!! Man, it's crazy how happy this makes us as missionaries! We had a great lesson about profetas that I won't explain in risk of messing up thos Lamanites again. . . ( hahh how embarrassing Krey and Coltran!) Just kidding,  I don't have time:( But it was awesome! I instigated a conversation with Orland and the Irmao that was hosting the FHE. They started conversing alone and I slowly backed away bursting with happiness! This is why I'm here! These kinds of momenst make everything worth it! This is my job! To help people come unto Christ, join the church and then become members with the members! I cannot describe how much I love seeing that happen, coolest. thing. ever!

Quinta: Kali bear, I think you forgot to pray this day. . . just kidding:) It was definitly me not being smart. I didn't wear tights becuase it was a little bit warmer, but I also didn't but on repellent because it's been cold. Oh boy. In one night I got 30+ bites. Worst. Thing. Ever. Seriously. My legs have been so fat and swollen and itchy and are just now improving. I will never forget to put on repellent again! I just want my ankles back, is that so wrong?! Boo-bear keep praying for my bug bites for at least one more week ok? Hopefully I've learned my lesson.

Sexta: We had a lesson with our investigator Duce. We are teacher her and her 3 kids, 16 and 2 twins that are 12 years old. She has a lot of problems with smoking and drinking cofee. This Irma, (Maragrita) got bapized only 6 months ago but quit smoking and drinking and drugs after doing them for yeeears. Seriously. If she had not been there the lesson would not have worked. 2 American 20 years olds ( almost! yikes. . . . ) telling this women to stop life long habits? Maybe. But with another women who had already done it?? PMG is so great! Working with members really is the best way, the Lord's way!

Oh man, I'm out of time:( Next week I promise another another list and pictures:)

Mom, your question: An experience I had this week where I felt closest to Christ, where I felt myself truly acting as  a representative of Him. Very simple: Walking with Maria to FHE. She put her arm in mine and was relying on my to help her up the road because it was a big steep hill. Just this. Talkling with this humble, loving, simple little women about her day, and her plans to go the temple with Orlando. What an honor. Turns out that those simple things and moments are usually when we  feel the happiness. This Gosple is simple, is beautiful. is happy:)

Christ says,"Come unto Me" Ether 3:14, 4:18-19 and be happy, be saved!

I love you guys so much! Have a lovely week! Thank you for your prayers, love and support:)))

Sister Ventura          

Waffles, Sister Cox and Piraquara

(Piraquara is the name of the city in which she is currently serving)

July 28, 2014

Dad, no, We didn't actually get to eat any waffles. . .. sad huh? The other day I was asking Sister Cox if she had ever had German Pancakes " Um. . . no, I don't think so. Oh! But I've had waffles!" I don't know, it made me so happy. I then was trying to explain to her your things with waffles, and biscuits and cheese. . .. .etc.Let's just say I'm not really sure how you came across especially because I was explaining in Portuguese, but hey! Good stuff.

Annnd. . ..  I will be staying her this transfer with Sister Cox!!! *cheers, of joy,happiness and relief* Yay! We are so pumped:) I love this ward, and Sister Cox and yeah, it will be great:)

Segunda: Remember the wacko picture with a bunch of people wearing bedsheets? Well, we were all Lamanites, duh! We had a lesson about Samuel the lamanite, and the Dad was Samual and held a huge umbrella with TESTIMONY written on the front. Everyone else was lamanites and we all wrote 2-4 temptations that are personally hard for us, crumpled them up and threw them at Samuel trying to hit him. We then read some verses in the BOM abou this story and how some of those lamanites repented, how we can ALWAYS repent and then we will revcieve bençaos! ( blessings) We bought some treats and stuck them in a container and labeled it BENÇAOS. It was really good times my friends. Feel free to use this activity at any church function, Sis. Cox and I would just really appreciate it if you would contact us first so we can work out the copyright details etc. The family, Sylvia, Carlos, Alan, Lujan e Melanie were only baptized like 8 months ago but they are so great, and so firm in the Gospel! It was great for Eny, she had a blast and met new friends in the church!

We had a really amazing, spiritual lesson with Branca and Ari where we finally got to talk with them together again, help Ari see the importance of going to church and just SEEING if this church really is different, the spirit was so strong, we worked so hard to help them, again, I felt impressed to say and ask certain things to help Ari quit being so stuborn, He FINALLY did, said he would go to church, everything was hunky dory, it was the day of avo's (grandparents) in Brazil, Branca had made us these cute little towel things that we said we liked, seriously it was just a really rewarding lesson/experience etc. Minus the fact that the DIDN'T end up going to church yesterday:( Yes, this happens, it's normal. But, I was so sure, the spirit was so strong and I really love them so much, I feel responsible for them, urg. It's just really the saddest thing ever when these things happen.When you invest so much spiritually, and emotionally in people, an experience, you KNOW what you felt, the impressions you had, and then nothing comes of it, it is a really bummer indeed. I wanted to write more about that lesson for you guys but I don't really have the energy to seeing how things worked out. . . :/ But I do have 4 pages in my journal written about it, so that's good.

Ok, I've been wanting to do this for a while but keep running out of time. I've compiled a list of  "Coissas Culturais" para voces, so you you guys can know a little bit better how it is over here!

-Like the picture we sent last week, we always clap when docking doors. Everyone has a gate and you clap to get people's attention. Sometimes this results in like 4 different people coming out, but hey, sweet!

-NO ONE has carpet here and it's the saddest thing, I miss it a ton! They all use tile, easier to clean and cooler in the hot months of the summer

-No one has a dryer here. NO ONE. not even the really rich people. So everywhere you go, you see clothes lines, people hang them everywhere , it's great!

-People strap huge speakers to the tops of cars and drive around the streets reeaaaally slowly blasting advertisements that are really loud and soooo obnoxious! They repeat the same advertisements like very 15 seconds, it's the worst!

-They greet each other here like they do  in Paris. Always kisses on the cheeck. Everyone with everyone, the only exception is grown men, thank goodness! It definitely makes for many awkward times as a sister missionary however. .. ..yikes!

-There are dogs EVERYWHERE. Seriously, they just live in the rua and asa result. ... . .there are always so many. Plus, everyone, EVERYONE, has at least 2 dogs. And when we clap they all go nuts and it 's the most annoying thing and I don't think I will every like a dog again in this lifetime. Seriously.

-They always make huuuuge almoços ( lunch) especially for us as the missionaries) And so after lunch we're always so full and tired and just want to sleep! They eat again at like 8:00 or 9:00 and always eat the same thing every day. Whenever the'yre not eating almoco they eat cafe. Or, cafe/tea/hot chocolate/ and mini white bread sandwhiches with some cheese and meat. They're not very creative with their food here,but I love it nevertheless:)

Well folks my time has come again. Time goes so fast here. Well the days are sooo long but time in general flies. I can't believe it's already August! Speaking of. . ..Coltran I sent you a package! It's, as dad would say, a little rare, but also super cool, just like me! ;)

I love you guys and miss you a lot. I feel like I'm really far away from you. . .. . . hmm;) But it's good, Serving a mission is really such a privilege. And yes, it really is for the missionary. We can change so much if we decide to. Missions are also so very hard. But you know what? Worthwhile things are. Very hard, very worth it:)

I love being a missionary and am trying every day to love it more, to improve and to be more like my Savior.

Much love,

Sister Ventura