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

December 30, 2019

Feliz Ano Novo

2019 is coming to an end and so are the goals, but new ones are being created to make this year a good one too.


Christmas was really special talking with my family, I love them! It was a blessing being able to be together after the passing away of our sweet and dear dog, Zuko. God is merciful and kind for giving us such sweet spirits to be our friends for all eternity.


A neat experience I had this week was yesterday! (by the way Sister Conceição and I gave talks in church yesterday about Ministering and serving our brothers and sisters like Christ showed for us, it went well!) As we left lunch, we felt the Spirit whisper very quickly that we needed to visit our investigator Rafael. We walked to his house and he came down and he began to explain how he was doing. He is having problems with his mom and with life. As we listened, I felt that God was really watching over him and that Rafael needed us there to hear him. So we set goals with him to talk for 10 minutes everyday with his mom and to pray together with her every day. I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ that brings so much peace and love in our hearts. What a blessing it is to know that God is our loving and caring Heavenly Father and that His Son, Jesus Christ, lives!


I encourage you this new year, 2020, to set goals on ways you can grow closer to Heavenly Father this year and how you can learn and become more like Christ. I testify that He will help you achieve these goals and that you will be more happier in all aspects of your life.


HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!


love, Sister Giles


1) we had splits with the Sisters on Christmas eve
2)an apple pie by Irmã Sirlete
3)our district did a Secret Santa- I got lots of chocolate
4)I love church!
5)us with Rafael

December 23, 2019

Happy Christmas!

What a special season and a special week we are in! As Ron Weasley once said, ''Happy Christmas, Harry.''


Yesterday the twins received the gift of the Holy Ghost and are officially members of the Church of Jesus Christ! I was pondering on how powerful the influence of the Holy Ghost is in our lives and how much happier we are when we follow His guidance and counsel. He really testifies of Christ and the Father. At this Christmas time, I feel the Holy Ghost testify more clearly and fully about the birth and ministry of Christ here on the earth. He was born in a manger to earthly parents who would do all in their power to raise Him to reach His full potential as the Son of God and Redeemer of the World. 

One of the greatest gifts that Christ gave us was His example of Love. He served endlessly and with full purpose of heart. I think my favorite book in the Book of Mormon is 3 Nephi because the people here in the Americas really had personal experiences with Christ. He taught them the same things He taught in Jerusalem and He blessed them tremendously. I encourage you to read about the signs and marvels given to the people here on the earth in preparing for His birth in Helaman 14 and read about His ministry in 3 Nephi 17 to 26.


With the busy time of buying gifts and presents for family and friends, don't forget to give Christ a gift that only He can receive from you - giving your all to Him. 

'' Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.'' 

May you have a very Merry Christmas and light the World with His Love and testimony. Love to all!


-Sister Giles


photos:
1,2) a member family have a Banana tree so we got to cut down the bananas, it was super heavy and the bananas were super good freshly picked
3) service project
4) a holiday food tradition here in Brazil
5) pretty flower

December 16, 2019

A Covenant making people

Hello!!!

This week was crazy, but special!! As Sister leader I am doing splits with every set of Sisters in the zone, so the Sisters came on Tuesday but it ended up pouring rain in the evening so our work was cut short. For Christmas I made little presents for the sisters and they seemed to all like them.

Then Thursday we went to the São Paulo Temple for our Zone Conference and it was full of revelations which was incredible!! I love the temple! It is a place of peace and a place to remember the strong covenants we made with God. Also, the SP temple is super tiny. but it has a cafeteria. On the ride in the bus back President and Sister Miller had us all sing Christmas songs using the hand bells, it was a little off-key but it was fun hahaha.

Saturday the ward had their Christmas party and the little kids did the nativity which was super cute. Hahahha Joseph came in pulling pregnant Mary on a toy horse on wheels and ended up bumping into the chairs lined up, so it was a very graceful entrance.

On Sunday the twins João and Maria were baptized and it was awesome! Right before they got into the water they played shoots to see who would go first, João lost so he went first, they are adorable. BUT that morning we were not sure if they would be baptized that day......because Sat night their mom, Adriana, stayed to help clean up after the Christmas party and ended up falling on the stairs and twisted her ankle and went to the hospital. Sunday morning we get the call that she had gone to the hospital and in that very moment Sister Conceição and I said a prayer together that everything would go according to the will of the Lord and that Adriana would be okay. We arrived at church and during the Sacrament we prayed unceasingly that a miracle would happen and that her and the twins would show up. 5 minutes after the Sacrament, she comes hopping in and the twins helping her. Thoughts of peace and joy and gratitude flooded our hearts and I knew that God is a God of miracles and a God of love. Adriana is a super incredible example to me, to have gone through with this for her kids to make a commitment sacred with God. She told them,when you guys are baptized, you are making a promise not with me, not with the Sisters, but with God. So you will keep your side of the commitment and will every single Sunday go to church for the rest of your lives.´´ Their parents are not members but their aunts and cousins are, and their mom made a comment about her baptism in the future so we hope one day they will all be sealed. It was a crazy week, but ended up good.

I was pondering about this, how well do we keep our side of the covenants we make with God? How prominent are theses promises in our lives? I want to show to God that I did my side of the promise when I go to meet Him at His feet and say that I followed His Son, Jesus Christ, in all things and in all moments.

I hope you all will think about your covenants of baptism and the temple and set goals on how you can better improve your worship, especially this Christmas season.

Have a special week and remember the gift of Christ!

love, Sister Giles

1) I love this Christ statue!
2,3) photos of the temple
4)playing the bells on the bus
5)can you spot the giant frog?
6,7)baptism of João and Maria