May 30, 2016

The latest...new transfers this week:

This week was a week full of miracles! We were teaching a woman with two children a couple weeks ago and it was amazing and they were progressing greatly, but suddenly dissapeared. It was devestating, but we felt so strongly that this family would still be baptised before transfers. We prayed and prayed and prayed and fasted and fasted more truly asking for miracles and continued going to her house, trying to find them. It was really hard as well, because they live in a part of our area thats pretty far that we have to go by a small boat. Suddenly on Wednesday we received a call from a member that lives near her that she'd run into her and that our investigator, Ana Carolina, wanted to see us really badly. Needless to say we RAN there hahaha and by so many miracles, that I don't have time to explain all of it, she and her oldest daughter were baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday!!! I LOVE this family and I am going to miss them soooo much because I've been transferred to Enseada in Guarujá!!! I'm going back to the Guarujá stake and I am really excited to get to know Enseada, but VERY sad to be leaving Areia Branca. I truly feel at home here and love the converts, members, and investigators here and only cried a little bit yesterday hahahahha......But life continues and the mission is great and SÓ BATISMO!!!! 

This computer isn't letting me send photos, so until next week everyone. 

Love,

Sister Neal 

                                               Sister Neal at May Mission Conference
                                                                at 9 Months Served

                                           Mission President Giving Instruction

                                              Role Playing at the Mission Conference

                                             Role playing at the mission conference

                                                      May 2016 Mission Conference

May 23, 2016

Letter to Mom:

I will use the avon bug lotion for sure, because really my problem with bug spray is that its greesy and smells bad so hahahah itll be good for me! Also, let everyone know that NO I will not be wearing those pants approved for Sisters in some parts of Brasil, I think its only in the missions closer to the Amazons where the bugs are REALLY bad! Here, we'll stick to skirts;) which I'm still super happy with because I havent seen any pictures, but I'm sure the pants approved for sister missionaries are terribly ugly and not flattering, and ya know what, I like skirts! Can you believe that I haven't worn real pants, like jeans, in 9 months now? We look for so many service projects but nobody asks Sisters to do anything, they only ask Elders! We know how to paint and tear things down too you guyyyyssss! 

Yeah, I'm going to miss Areia Branca A LOT!!! But it is good and I think I need a change.

My dream is to be transferrred to Ubatuba, the part of our mission more north that is SUPER rural and far away. I hear it is beautiful and is completley different from the rest of our mission. Pray for me;) haha I'll have news next week for sure, though if I'm actually transferred to ubatuba I might not have time to write hahahah LOVE YOU!!!!!

Sister Rodrigues made a Happy 9 Months sign for me and I had to take the classic Sister missionary halfway mark- 9 months pics hahahahahaha

Letter to Dad:

Awwww Dad you're just saying that because I barely wrote to you guys last week, how rude trying to manipulate me and make me feel bad;) Good to hear that all is going well there and I hope that the funeral was nice. Thanks for your prayers and keep praying for miracles for us, because lets just say WE NEED THEM! Ana Carolina disappeared and we try to visit her every day, which is really hard because she lives on the other side, where we have to go by boat, but I don't know what happened or where she is, but just pray for miracles, miracles, and MORE miracles! It was funny this Sunday, because after going to pick up 6 investigators to walk with them to Church (only two actually woke up and answered the door) we entered the church at like 8:58 hurrying to arrive on time, but also trying to stay calm and explain what the church is like for the investigators and not rush them, and Boom Presidente Cabral is in the door way greeting everyone! hahahaha it was funny just because it was a shock that he and Sister Cabral decided to visit for our ward conference, but it was cool, because they got to meet some of our investigators and the ward conference was Amazing!!! And during Gospel Principles the teacher showed this great new version of the Prodigal Son (I don't think it was from the church) and everyone was just crying and it was a great lesson on repentance! The video was one with no dialouge and it starts with this guy packing a stereo and some suitcases into a car and leaving the big fancy house with this dad and brother in the doorway and during one part there's a song I think by One Republic....that's all I've got  hahaha good luck finding it! This week was good though and we have transfers next week, so we'll see what happens! I don't think I'll stay here, but we'll see. I've truly loved this area SO MUCH. I have so many investigators, recent converts, less actives that we reactivated, and members and leaders here that I truly want to come back and visit. What a life!!!!

Have a great week!!!! And enjoy the climate that I'm sure is warming up! It is just raining a ton and pretty chilly here! Though, I don't really know what cold is anymore I think hahahaha

LOVE YOU!!!!!

Sister Neal 

Week of 5/16/2016

Letter to Mom:

I have to admit that it was a pretty big shock just now hearing about Cindy, but it is true that our knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and the Atonement can help us work through all things. But, it is strange to think that I won't see her again on this Earth after coming home from my mission. I hope that their families well, especially their kids,k tell them I love them and am praying for them.

Luckily the skin issues are getting better woohoo! My armpits are clear of bactérias and the strange funguses are leaving, but my face is still just a horrible zitty mess, like I have acne and it is horrible, but I know it has to be from eating too much chocolate haha members and investigators giving us chocolate and sometimes buying all of the amazing pastries that brasil has to offer and really its probably just my own fault, hahahahahahhah 

All is well and I did send Presidente a message about our little friend Kawê, so we shall see hahaha! Kawê is a really good person, I promise, the problem is that he sees me as the angel that saved his life and gets frustrated when I'm like nope you get no love from me, I'm just a misionary who is only focused on the work. The problem is his Family loves me too and sees me possibly as the angel who saved his life and helped all them soooooo it probably doesnt help that they encourage his love. Ohyhhhh welll! What a life!!!

LOVE YOU MOM!!!! And stop worrying, life is good, i am safe and happy !!!!

WOOHOOOO

Letter to Dad:  Week of 5/16/2016

Thanks for the shoes!!! Thatll be really nice for sure, because I stinking love these shoes hahahah! Life is good, I'm healthy and most of the bactérias have already gone away! hahahah What a good life!!! Sorry, time slipped and I dont have time to write much more, but I just wrote to mom so you'll have to read that too. Dont worry, no one is stalking me, I dont have a flesh eating disease, and my feeet are gooood!!!

Pray for Ana Carolina that she can stop smoking and be baptized on the 28th! She is a great new investigator with two little akids and theyve lived a hard life! I dont think I understood what a "hard life" truly was before coming here and seeing some things. Gratitude is what we all need to have!

LOVE AND MISS YOU TONS!!!!!

Letter to Mom:  Week of 5/9/2016

Oh man for sure I will probably just talk way too much about my mission when I get home, so good to know that youre prepared! hahahaha MOM only one more time are we going to skype before I come home! When did the time pass so quickly?

Oh and good old pal Kawê last night called us after I hung up with you and said he wanted to talk and his family lives really close to where we were so we talked with him and he apologized a ton and said his behavior was childish and he talked a lot about his past (not an easy life obviously, that one day Ill tell you all about haha) tried to hide that he was crying and talked about how he knows that we're doing what we're supposed to be doing and that he's trying to be better, so things calmed down and I'll still probably tell Presidente in my next email to him that I probably should be transferred this next transfer (I mean after 3 transfers in this place that shouldnt be too much haha) and explain a little bit, but Kawê is actually better and I said very clearly to him yesterday that we do what we do because it is the most important work we can do in our lives and it is what we WANT to be doing, so I think he's truly understanding a little more finally. 

NEVER DULL IN THE MISSION!!!

Love love love love love you SOOO MUCH and I want chocolate covereed strawberries too!!!

LOVE YOU

Letter to Dad:  Week of 5/9/2016

I just love talking to you people! hahahaha our family is great and it just brought gladness to my heart to see you and mom argue even a little bit about some little thing, hahahaha I felt right at home!!! 

I sent Mom an email about Kawê and explained that he talked to us yesterday and apolized and said he was sorry about how childesh he had been and that he knows we're doing the right thing, so it is pretty calm right now. I think the main problem is that theres a member in our ward who is getting ready to get married with the the missionary that taught him, so it gives him a little too much hope sometimes and he gets depressive when I'm not in love with him, but as is life!  so things have improved and I don't feel as much like I'm neglecting a small child who constantly needs to be holding our hands to make the right choice. Problematic yes, but not a stalker, promise;)

AND YES I JUST WANT TO COME BACK TO VISIT SO BADLY and I haven't even left yet, but its true it would be amazing! Though I don't think I would take you and mom to the favela because you guys are way too white, tall, and obviously American to not get mugged hahahaha;) But, it would be SO NICE to visit! Especially here where I love the ward and the members so much. Hope all is well and talk to you this Christmas;)

LOVE LOVE LLOVE YOU