So
this week I did splits for the first time, up in Vitória. I wasn't
looking forward to it, but I knew that meant it was going to be a great
experience, cause that's how it always works! I'm very grateful
that Cobilândia doesn't have mountains like Vitória! We climbed a lot of
stairs. But also ate a lot of chocolate, and talked to a lot of
people. It was cool to see how other missionaries work, and to find a
new companionship dynamic. Can't wait till we have more established
relationships in the area!
This week was also cool because I
feel like I can mostly understand people! Or at least I'm starting to
see improvement. I don't understand everything, but when people in
the streets are talking about their life or giving directions, I no
longer have a blank stare. Also, we did a training on Tuesday about
inviting people to be baptized the first time we talk to them, and it
was awesome. I always thought that was super weird, and like the hardest
thing in the world, but it's actually not! We've been inviting the
entire world to be baptized this week (haha). It really gets people
thinking about what they really want in life, and makes it easy to tell
if people are actually willing to learn more or not--and a lot of them
are!
Which brings me to people. Right now we're working a lot
with Thais, who is the 20-year-old daughter of two members who haven't
been to church pretty much her whole life. She really believes in
everything we've taught, but unfortunately, her parents aren't very
supportive, so she's struggling a lot with that. We're focusing on
helping her make friends in the ward right now. Rita is the mother of a
recent convert, and she is just the sweetest person ever. She really
loves the missionaries, and she's working on giving up drinking coffee
(everyone here is addicted. I thought California girls were bad...) so
she can be baptized. Pedro is another one of the people we visit almost
every day. He LOVES TO TALK
and I CANNOT understand him (hahaha). He's come to church twice now! and
is praying about whether he should be baptized.
This week we
ran into Rosangela, who is a sweet elderly lady that lives alone and is
looking for God in her life. We (and all of her neighbors) weren't able
to find her when we went looking, and she hasn't answered her phone, so I
hope she's ok...
And then Pedro introduced us to Lucia and
her daughter Luana. Lucia isn't quite as interested as Luana (she's 13
years old and adorable) but she told us she prayed for God to show her a
church to join, so I hope we can be an answer to her prayer! Luana has
never really been involved in any religion, but she, too, is searching,
and she really really loved everything we taught her, even though she
couldn't come to church. Her mom has a pretty busy schedule, and won't
let us teach Luana or bring her to church without her, so it's been a
little difficult, but I'm sure we'll work something out.
So
the main struggle this week (or at least the longest one) is that I've
been sneezing and blowing my nose like crazy. The first day was good,
because it meant my inflamed sinuses were draining, but it's getting
pretty old. Really old. Like
I-used-up-all-of-my-tissues-and-need-to-buy-more-asap kind of old (haha).
The
biggest challenge this week I can't actually share, but I will say that
I've been fasting and praying and thinking a lot about the story of
Esther. You should all go read it--it's in the book of Esther, in case
you weren't sure. Most of the time it's a lot easier to say "well it's
not my country, or my culture, or my language, and there's a heirarchy
that I'm not a part of, and really I don't have any consequence at all"
or however that applies to you, but it's important to remember that God
is greater than all, and if He is with you, you cannot fall (like it
says in Helaman 5:12).
I hope you all have an
awesome Christmas! If you haven't already, go look up the #LighttheWorld
campaign, and remember what Christmas is really about! And also email
me! But really, enjoy time with family and God, cause they're
most important :)
Much love! -Sister Kirkham
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