Thursday, September 12, 2013

Arrived in Brazil


Tudo bem? 
So i made it after 27 hours of airports and airplanes i made it alive. So much to tell and not a whole lot of time. Just go watch the beginning of the best two years for me;) so my new companion is sister Johnson, she´s great! I love her! She is American, which means she does know English Que Benção! (What a blessing). Right so i got to Natal on Tuesday afternoon. We had dinner with president Soares and sister Soares who is an amazing cook! And spent the night in Natal. Then the next day we registered with the police and I’m legal here) Que Benção! Then we had a 5-hour bus ride to Mossoró, which is my first area for at least the next 12 weeks. it´s really hot here;) I’m not complaining, literally everyone we talk to says that, it´s like the small talk. Instead of asking oh how is the weather they just state it’s hot. So winter here is ending which doesn’t really change much it goes from hot to really hot:) Que Benção! Better than going somewhere really cold;) the people here are really nice and it´s not taboo to talk about Deus. If anything that is one of their favorite things to talk about other than the weather. Que Benção! Also today after our district meeting, sister Johnson and i needed to buy some paper to make thank you cards. A man who worked at the store who is also a recent convert went across the street to buy us ice cream, and then the lady checking us out gave us a discount on our paper! Double Que Benção! So ya I’m still alive. Half the times i don’t know what is going on but the people are wonderful and willing to work with me. Well we have a city to convert. Love you all. 
Sister Leonard.

Sister Aleah Leonard
Brazil Natal Mission
Av. Interventor Mario Camara 2066
Dix - Sept. Rosado
Natal - RN
59062-600
Brazil

A lizard in Natal
Clouds over Natal.  The field is white already to harvest

ou were right mom, it's just like girlscamp, really hot and I'm not allowed to flush the toilet paper...my favorite!
Some pictures from the plane


Tuesday, September 10, 2013

And she's off!

Sister Leonard leaving the MTC... bound for Brazil

One Month Down


Oi!
It's been a really great week here at the MTC. I got to host on Wednesday and that was really really fun because i actually felt like i was helping sisters feel welcome. In other news we started teaching two new young men, hunter and Carlos. While continuing to teach Mateus and Stepherson. Hunter and Carlos are roommates with very different backgrounds and it's a little hard to prepare one lesson for two very different people, but luckily for us the Gospel applies to EVERY person's life. So Carlos accepted the invitation to be baptized, hunter is still learning how the things we teach can help him but he feels it is important and is very interested in learning more. Stephenson went to church last week and really enjoyed the family focused meetings. We taught him about why we keep the commandments and asked if he would keep the Sabbath day holy-- his work is very important to him but he said he would ask for Sundays off. And finally: Mateus, he has been on vacation for the last week but while he was gone he read the Book of Mormon and prayed to know if it was true. We asked him what it would mean for him in his life if these things were true. He told us it would mean that joseph smith was really a prophet and that he really saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. It means that they really did restore the Gospel to the Earth and that he needs to be baptized. So we are really excited about Mateus and we will be inviting him to come to Church on Sunday. So the work is going well! The language is coming slowly but surely. 

Things i learned from devotionals this week:

Sister Carol F McConkie:
-missionary work is not easy because Salvation is not a cheap experience.
-cast everything at the Lord's feet every fear, doubt, worry, concern, distraction, and give yourself more fully to the Lord.
Brother Steven B Allen:
-Satan hates missionaries, i make him really upset, and he wants me to fail
-trials temptations and difficulties -all apart of the growing process

Neil A Anderson:
-we sacrifice for the things we love and we love the things we sacrifice for
- the greatest sacrifice of all was that of God's Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. He suffered because he loves me; He suffered so I wouldn't have to
-Don't hold back, be bold.

So great stuff:)
Te amo
Sister Leonard

Sister Riding and Sister Leonard.  I forgot to mention Jen was my Sister Training Leader.  She is now been reassigned stateside awaiting her visa



The Orange Sisters before Devotional
Proof that it does rain in Provo!