BIG, BIG NEWS! Drumroll, Please.
April 22, 2013
DRUMROLL PLEASE............................ drrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. |
MEMORY LANE I LOVE ALL THESE GREAT SISTERS AND LEADERS! |
Sister Elise Nelson has been called to be a Sister Zone Leader for the Niterói zone! Yes, this is new. Why? It’s especially needed here because there will be a lot of newbies training newbies, like Sister A Santos training after just 6 weeks. These newbies will be needing direction; and since the elders can’t go on exchanges, we will be going on exchanges with the sisters. But we’ll be doing the same work. Sister Soneghet and her “daughter” will be reunited “and it feels so goooood,” and they will be sister ZLs in MACAÉ. Sister DeOliveira (MY MOMMY) and Sister Taylor will be the ZLs for Juiz de Fora in… what’s the state? Minas? [Minas Gerais] My brain’s not working. SO MUCH TO SAY! They will open a new area. Sister Carvalho (MY LOVELY DAUGHTER) will be a ZL in CAMPO GRANDE—where I was “born”—with Sister Cidade. That will be a lovely pair. Poor Carvy cried in every house she went to yesterday. Then she cried in our house. Then she cried when we were taking pictures for the last time outside the house, then when I gave our last prayers, then in the bus. I think by now she’s dehydrated. :) It was strange to be in an apartment full of change, a change for firsts, history in the lives of my family. Forever. Sister DaSilva (MY GRANDDAUGHTER) will TRAIN after 12 weeks! I’m a GREAT GRANDMA!!!!! Sister Esteves will leave her daughter prematurely and train again. (Train or trane? No... train.) She was trained by Sister Diller. Sister A Santos, who was being trained by Sister Cidade, will grow up PREMATURE AND TRAIN. My lovely daughter, Sister Romão, who talks like Janelle Selfaison [Gomez] and recently picked up the habit of mumbling and walking in her sleep, will finish being trained by Sister Harrison, who left HER daughter prematurely to be trained by I forgot who. Sister Romão cried a lot when she found out. We got the call when we were in Licurgo’s house, and he cried AND his WIFE cried and promised to send me a dress. :) I woke up this morning from a nice 5-hour nap (instead of sleeping) and what came to mind: “This is the last time you will sleep in this bed.” What a TERRIBLE thought to wake up to! Then, what else? The song of the WEEK has been: Never mind, I’ll find someone like you, I wish nothing but the best for you, too. Don’t forget me, I beg, I remember you said: Sometimes (transfers) last in love, But sometimes it hurts instead. What a MESS! Firsts Sister Romão, sadly enough, is overloaded with the thought of trying to bus around without me. Sister Harrison, poor thing, will be flooded in. Needless to say, I made a TON of post-it notes explaining ALL buses and routes possible. It’ll all turn out well. After all, only the strong are called to serve in Rio. After semi-successfully closing my 2 suitcases, 2 backpacks, and one bag of food (I was selfish and couldn’t leave food of mine, especially imported food. Wink.) and putting them in and out of the storage area in the Rio bus, the other sisters decided to splurge and buy a van..... I didn’t want to. Maybe it was instinct, maybe it was the penny-pincher in me, maybe it was the athlete in me wanting the workout, or maybe it was watching my bag of food being crushed under one of my suitcases that I thought it was a bad idea. When we were getting the suitcases out of the back and me buzzing around the driver, calling out, “deixe, eu levo” [I’ll take it.], I saw the most unfortunate sight. The stupid latch of the trunk was already digging into a hole made in my suitcase........................................ >.< God’s really testing my patience. It’s a good thing speaking angrily in English hasn’t come to mind as an option. This is the first time there will be sister ZLs. Why? Because the majority of missionaries coming into the field to FIGHT are sisters. What I’ve heard is the new mission will be a good portion of sister missionaries, so President Lima has to have a majority of sisters who are seniors and who are prepped to divide. So, let’s make like mitosis and DIVIDE! This is the first time there will be tears for my District Leader. Elder Lamb rrreally was sent for me… for my time of being sick, suffering from “desânimo” [lack of enthusiasm], and baptisms falling through. His lackadaisical way of leading was refreshing for me, not that I slacked off, but that I was able to search for success in indicators OTHER than in numbers. I feel like the quality of ME improved, and that is what Elder Lamb was looking for. It’s interesting that he waited a year and a half to take a position of senior companion and leader; but it was because of me, for my benefit. A Beautiful Thing I think the most beautiful baptism I’ve participated in was the one of Lorivaldo last week. He stopped smoking, drinking, and using drugs. He wants to change. He’s 56 and tired. He’s gold. And WHO baptized him? EBERT! Ebert is the recent convert who got married and baptized in October. It was so CUTE to watch the impromptu coaching in the background of the baptism before the ordinance took place, and even IN the font. “No, hand like this.” THIS is the gospel generation. This is how to apply repentance and make it a chain reaction. I will be serving in Fonseca, Niterói, with Sister Céspedes, a Bolivian. I’ve heard a lot about her, and I have already lived with her and loved her. I know her weaknesses, and I know that God is preparing her to receive the highest blessings possible. So... let’s get to work and stop gossiping about what might happen. I choose love. Hahaha! What a soft shell I’ve turned out to be. |
Sister Soneghet
Sister Taylor
Sister Cidade
Sister Esteves
Sister Céspedes
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Sister DeOliveira
Sister Carvalho
Sister DaSilva
Sister Harrison
Sister Romão
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Regrets
So, since God has always taken me away from an area before I was expecting it, He is reminding me that I NEED to live free of regrets. I have to do everything TODAY, NOW, so when the day of repentance (transfers) comes, there won’t be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.
So, loved ones, stop leaving for tomorrow what you can do TODAY. That is what I’m learning... still.
I really loved Cabo Frio and wished I had shown my love for the members more. I DON’T have to repent of my lack of writing in the Area Book, thankfully. I feel confident that if Sister Harrison wants to get to know our investigators before teaching them or visiting them, she can go to the Area Book. At least I have improved there. Baby steps.
LOVE,
Sister Nelson
So, since God has always taken me away from an area before I was expecting it, He is reminding me that I NEED to live free of regrets. I have to do everything TODAY, NOW, so when the day of repentance (transfers) comes, there won’t be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.
So, loved ones, stop leaving for tomorrow what you can do TODAY. That is what I’m learning... still.
I really loved Cabo Frio and wished I had shown my love for the members more. I DON’T have to repent of my lack of writing in the Area Book, thankfully. I feel confident that if Sister Harrison wants to get to know our investigators before teaching them or visiting them, she can go to the Area Book. At least I have improved there. Baby steps.
LOVE,
Sister Nelson