Hello everybody!

So Ive written this email 3 times now and for some reason it just loves to erase itself. So with much patience and attempts- here is the weekly update haha.

This week we saw miracles.

Lots of people said they would not be able to come to church. We arrived on sunday and had 6 investigators there who we had invited weeks ago, and this week all there and they LOVED church! I was praying alone and with my companion to see miracles this week at church because we did not have a lot of people to bring to church and the Lord truly touched these 6 people to show up. It was a wonderful sunday full of classes inspired and taught by the Spirit that touched the hearts of our investigators. 

We ate lunch with the bishops family on sunday and the two daughters were playing with their cousin. One of the sisters was being left out. I loved the moms response to her daughter who was excluding. She said, Are you a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or just a normal little girl? The daughter responded that yes, she was a member. and then her mom asked, is this something that a member of the Church of Jesus Christ would do? Is this the right choice? The other sister was quickly included.

I thought a lot about those questions this week and am grateful for the opportunity to apply them in my life. Is this something that a follower of Jesus Christ would do? Would say? Would think? Would want? What a great lesson for all of us.

The Church is true. Miracles are real. The gospel can change our lives if we let it. When somebody is visiting at church, go sit with them. introduce yourself. How many people in your life are ready for the gospel and are waiting for you to open your mouth or be an example? 

We love doing an activity with members here. Lets imagine that we are in Noahs ark time again and you have to tell all of the people that you love that they need to get inside the ark to be safe. The water is coming and you need to tell everyone. Right now- make a list of all of the people you would want to make sure are in the ark and safe. Family, friends, neighbors.

Now- after making your list. You will invite all of these people in some form to visit the church with you this sunday. If you really love them, dont keep the best thing you have (THE GOSPEL) from them. They need our help!

Mathew 5: 14-16 Let your light so shine...that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. We are the members of the Church. We are followers of Jesus Christ. Let us act accordingly.

I love you all!!!! Have a fantastic week!

Sister Penni

Pics from this week. Teaching a convert how to tie a tie.

After getting rained on and sprinting home.

A cool brasil sign i found.

P Day!

FAMILY!!!

Another week in Maringá. Miracles are happening people.

To be completely honest, i was super down this week because we are working super hard with lots of people and families and not having a ton of results. Then we met Emmanuel. We were knocking doors and Emmanuel came out and i asked if i could leave an invitation with him and he said no. (Turns out he just didnt understand) because he is from Haiti. We brought him to church sunday, taught him all this week, and he went to stake conference on sunday and was baptized! What an example of faith! He was already baptized but didnt understand that it wasnt from a man with authority and after receiving more knowledge and an answer to his prayers, he decided to be baptized. What a miracle from the Lord and an answer to my prayers. Let us all be a little bit more like Emmanuel- willing to act according to our answers to prayers.

Things are going great here in Brasil! Its freezing cold (strange) but we are doing well! I make 6 months this week on my mission. I feel like a left home a long time ago but that im still super `young`on the mission. and im not! AH!

I read Our Search for Happiness these last two weeks and it was so great. I highly recommend it!! Read it. There are so many books we have access to to increase our knowledge of the Savior.

I testify of the reality of a loving Heavenly Father and of the perfect life of the Savior.

Have a great week.

Sister Penni

A BIRTHDAY PIZZA!

HELLO FAMILY!!! Another week down!

I am still here in Maringá and loving serving with Sister Bilhalva. I dont have a ton to report this week but my birthday was fantastic! Skyping you guys was fantastic! Its cooling down here a ton! Rainy and gray skies- it reminds me so much of Oregon.

We met a family this week!! We met Mauricio knocking doors this week and when we returned, we met his wife, and 2 grandkids. Mauricio said they would go to church and when Sunday came- they actually came!!! He brought his wife, 2 grandkids, and their mom (his daughter) all in a tiny little car to the chapel and they enjoyed all of the meetings of church. They are such a special family with questions that the gospel of Jesus Christ can answer. Amazing!!!

We are working really hard to find more and more people to teach here in Maringá. We have stake conference next week and our mission president will be there. They are leaving in June and we will be getting a new president and wife. Sad and cool at the same time.

This week i have been studying and learning  A LOT about the Atonement. It is such a deep and complex yet beautifully and profoundly simple. My companion and i started personal progress together and we finished faith this week. We are working on memorizing the Living Christ in portuguese together (she already speaks portuguese though so thats good lol). Faith is the foundation of everything.

I testify of the reality of the living Christ and His perfect life and example. What a privilege it is to pass through challenges in His name. 

I love you all!

Love Sister Penni

Me and my comp on my birthday.

Transfers and Mother's Day!

Bom Día!

Today we had transfers and i am staying here in Maringá but my companion was transferred to Londrina, so I will be receiving a new companion! Thank you all for the emails and Happy Birthdays this week! This week was great and full of a lot of work! I love the people here in Brasil and it is a privilege to know their lives and stories. 

This week, one of the members called and asked me to come and speak at his english school and answer questions about life in the United States. That was a super cool experience. Outside views of what it is like to live in America are really funny. 

Also, this week it was SUPER COLD! what? Yes. Super cold. But it was a good week and I love my companion Sister Rocha. Here are some pictures of us this week. 

I have been thinking a lot about prophets this week. I heard a cool story about a group of people who walked by this house and saw a cat sitting in front. The Cat said warned the people that the house was going to fall. Everybody stood in awe that the cat was talking and continued walking. Another group walked by the house and saw the same cat. The cat warned again that the house was going to fall. They all were amazed that the cat was talking and moved on. One day, the house fell. Nobody was prepared because everyone was so stuck on the fact that the cat was talking, that they neglected to hear what the cat was saying.

Thomas S. Monson and all of the prophets, talk with God face to face and give us warnings and counsels that we NEED every single day. Are we spending our time in awe that he talks with God, or are we really listening to what the prophet says. 

I testify that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet of God on the earth at this time and that he talks with our Father in Heaven face to face and he knows what is going to happen. We must listen to his counsels because they are the counsels of God. I fully support our prophet and his counselors and all of the leaders of the church and I know that if we follow and obey with exactness, we will be protected.

I love you all!! Have a fantastic week!!

Sister Penni

Brooke, here! We got to Skype with Megan for 2. HOURS on Mother's Day. We were so blessed! It was seriously the greatest thing ever. We were a little unsure of when she would be calling us (we had heard a few different things) so we left church after Sacrament meeting to come home and be ready just in case she called. We are sure glad we did! I was eating jellybeans in the kitchen, Mom was making sandwiches, when suddenly from the living room Kendall yelled "she's calling!" Watching her face appear on the screen was one of the happiest moments I can remember. There were lots of tears mixed in with lots of laughing and telling stories. We miss her so much, but could not be more proud of her! I can't speak for my mom, but I would guess that this was the best Mother's Day yet. :)

Short Update and Pictures!

Hey everyone! Another week has passed! Today marks 5 months on the mission!

This weekend Dieujuste Mileon from Haiti was baptized. I already explained a little about him but he is a true miracle! He doesnt speak ANY portuguese and goes to church every singlesunday and accepted the gospel fully and was baptized. What faith!

This week we will be super busy as usual but things are going really well. We already have transfers again next week! I love my investigators and recent converts and love and miss all of you!

In the photo, we were eating lunch with a member and her pet came out and i thought it was pretty cool! Only in Brasil man...

Love you all! Have a good week!

Sister Penni