January 27, 2020

Out in the country side

Hi all!!

This week I did splits with Sister Flores, who we came into the field together, and it was fun catching up after more than one year (and the fact that I could understand her now hahaha) and we ran into a less active family and had the opportunity to share with them Mosiah 4:9. About how God is all knowing and loving and that we need to believe in Him and trust in Him. The house had these giant ants in random places and just the normal cockroaches, my buddies.

It rained a few days and now is getting hot again. Then on Friday we traveled all day to São Paulo for a leader training meeting and learned a lot about improving the mission and teaching about the principle of Planning our day. We got back at night to our area, but we were able to pass by the house of our investigator Heloiza and talk to her about family history and the importance it is for us to know of our ancestors.

Also, sat night we taught out investigator Adriana about the restoration and I got to share with her and my comp about my experience going to the Sacred Grove and my testimony about that sacred experience. My comp said the spirit was strong and Adriana said that everything made sense.

I love this opportunity to really learn how to improve and be more like Christ. It is a gift from a loving Heavenly Father that we have this ability to change because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I am grateful to be able to really learn this on the mission and to have this gift for the rest of my life. And to teach others about the change they can do in their lives to be more like Christ and have everlasting happiness.

Have a fantastic week and share a scripture with someone! I know it will give them the hope they are needing.

love, Sister Giles

photos:

- a singer on the Mutual album here in Brazil visited the ward yesterday so we took a picture with him and he helped teach our investigator, Feijão (beans in English, it is his nickname) and it was super cool

January 20, 2020

the country side

Hello all!

Well, one week back in the country side with my first ward and what a week it was! Very stressful!

 I forgot how much mosquitoes love me and want to suck my blood. We got here and the same house that I left clean was a disaster and messy and the sisters did not leave any registros or new people to teach, so we are starting where I left off. But it was super fun seeing the people again, like random people on the street that were the same. Ah, good times.

Some new members moved in since I was last here and there are some new places that are new too. Still there are friendly cockroaches that like our house and there was this snake thing that was down our street that someone had killed so that was good to know that some great dangerous animals live close. Fun times here in the country side. It was super hot but then rained and stayed cold, so that is good relief from the mosquito bites. We rode our bikes a lot and now my butt is sore. 

I have a ton more responsibilities as a sister training leader that president gave to us so now I am calling the sisters a lot to check in with them, I hope our phone has enough credits to last. And we will be doing splits with the sisters in my zone every week, it will be fun!

We made some contacts with new people and had many small miracles this week with help from the members. One was yesterday, after Sacrament meeting, an Irmã that was born and raised here, lives in Ohio and was visiting, and invited us to go with her to visit her friend that is going through a difficult time. We got to teach her about building a relationship with God and that He knows her individually. We read Alma 7:11-13 about Christ, that He knows our pains and sorrows and is here to help us feel peace and love.

I love being able to testify of Christ and how He really brings peace and a calm to our troubled hearts. If you are needing a quiet moment to breathe or regain focus, think of Christ, and say a pray to your loving Father in Heaven who is anxiously awaiting to converse with you.

Have a good week and share a smile!

love, Sister Giles

p.s. my camera doesn't work with this computer so I will try to send photos next week

January 13, 2020

There and back again

Well, I don't have much time to write, but I had a great last week in my area! I have been here for 7 months, so it is sad to say goodbye to everyone. Super sad, I loved the people here! Especially Rafael, who has been one of the biggest examples of change through the gospel of Jesus Christ for me, and who will be baptized next month!

I had a sister training meeting on Thursday and president moved some things so that we have more responsibilities now for the sisters, and where I am being transferred I will stay as sister leader, so aya, more work! It will be good though. 

 I will be going, drum roll please..................Vila Ema AGAIN! Yup, I am returning to my old area, well I only have 2 areas so......hahhahaa but I am still shocked but am excited to go back. It will be an adventure!


Yesterday, we had a miracle happen! A youth named Ian, walked into the church building 10 minutes before 11 and came to see what the church is about and what we believe in. We were able to talk to him and answer his questions and we gave him a Book of Mormon. He´s heard a lot about God and Christ but doesn't believe very much in them, but said he would read the Book and would like to come back next week.

It was really neat to see that the desires and curiosities of our hearts and spirits bring us to things related to God.

God lives! He knows us and loves us. We have our agency to choose and bring about righteousness or to do evil works. It is our choice. But we have a loving Savior who is our example and friend.

Follow Him!

Have a great week! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my lovely Mom!!!


love, Sis Giles

January 6, 2020

2020

Heeeeellllllloooooo!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We had splits with Sisters Beck from Colorado and Román from Aerporte, Peru on New years eve and it was super fun celebrating with them! We went to our investigators apartment, Silvia, that day and read 3 Nephi 11 with her and invited her to imagine what she would have felt being in His presence in that situation. Then we said she can feel that same way through baptism and coming to church. We felt the Spirit testify that Jesus Christ lives and that He ministers to all of God´s children. 

We had lunch with Irmã Vilma and Irmão David and they showed us a few ward videos that the youth did 15 years ago doing theater activities. It was so funny seeing how some of the members now look exactly the same!

At night, we watched the fireworks from our balcony and it was awesome! The whole sky was lite up with fireworks for 20 minutes. Yay New year!!

We got new pass-along cards and they are BEAUTIFUL! We were clapping at doors on Saturday and one lady answered. We gave her a card and she looked at the picture and said that she had never seen a picture of Christ like this one. All the images of Christ she has seen are of Him in pain or sorrow, but the one we shared with her is of Him in peace and with a smile. She was so amazed at this and she said we could return another day. Christ suffered for our sins, but He did so that we could have peace and joy in this life and for eternity. He is the Prince of Peace!

Only a few mosquito bites this week, they are returning (crying), but no other bugs. Only a dog that became our buddy for the afternoon. Zuko spirit. It rained almost every afternoon this week and Saturday we saw the storm coming and starting running to get to a members house for shelter. We didn't get there fast enough and got caught in the pouring rain. The streets were like rivers and my companion´s shoe got taken in the street river and she was chasing after it, oh it was so hilarious! We both laughed so hard that she almost lost her shoe.

Remember that Christ brings peace into our hearts when we let Him in. And He heals others through us a lot of the time, so look for those in need! D&C 19:23

love, Sister Giles

1) a nice river
2)the new pass-along cards
3)the storm coming
4)a sweet dog that became our buddy while he walked with us for 15 minutes and wanted to enter the members house with us
5)chicken pie!!
6)fireworks!
7)the 4 of us