May 14, 2018 - Marcilio de Noronha

It was so good to talk to you all last night!! Hope you all got all of  your questions answered, and no one was too frustrated from having to wait for lunch!

I already talked quite a bit about my area, and I'm gonna send pictures too, but summary is that the area is really pretty, but a little more rural and a lot more hilly, and the ward seems to be really great, but a little smaller and a lot less formal. Also, being in Trio is awesome! And now about my week:

So I found out Monday morning that I would be leaving Cobilândia, and I spent Monday and Tuesday frantically packing. Monday night we had a little FHE, and then Sister Farias and I literally ran to say goodbye to Joana Vitòria. We made it home by 8:57, which totally should not have been possible, since we didn't even leave until 8:30, so I'm putting that on my list of mission miracles! Luis Arthur and Luis Phelipe were at their grandma's house, so I had to say goodbye on the phone, which was super sad!

After transfers on Tuesday, we spent the week cooking tons, listening to music every possibly moment, laughing lots, and working like crazy. Here's a couple of the people we're working with:

Ana and João Pedro: a rather crazy but lovable senhora and her grandson. She hasn't made it to church yet because of her health (physical and emotional) but she surprised us the other day with her progress in the BoM! Marilda we found knocking doors looking for a bathroom haha, and Aparacida was a street contact by the sisters before I got here, but both absolutely loved the spirit that we bring. Actually Aparacida, Marilda, and Ana have all been drawn in by the hymns. Sister Sena absolutely loves it haha. Every lesson, she's like "and now my americans will sing you a song!" hahaha.

We've spent quite a bit of time knocking doors, but we've also gotten pretty into contacting on the bus lately. Haven't gone to teach any of them yet, but we've had some really cool experiences! Oh and Sis Levie also got caught in the closing doors because we were already at our stop but we hadn't finished our contact haha. That was hilarious, although it probably shouldn't be hahaha.

Oh and I almost forgot about Railom and Richard! Railom was another street contact that came to church last week. We taught him just once this week, and met his friends Richard at the same time. We invited them to mututal and they came--except that mutual was cancelled...awkward... but it worked out well cause we invited a young man in the ward to come teach with us instead. Except we ended up just eating french fries and playing games because we couldn't find a quiet enough place to teach. But whatever haha. I'm excited to keep working with everyone, and to keep finding more :)

Saturday night we had choir practice, and a devotional with two 70's, which was super cool! Lot's of awesome mission stories to get us all hyped up. Basically the theme was that it's worth it to be a missionary. "Vale a pena"

Ok the last thing I have to share is Fernanda, the miracle. See my journal page that I'm going to send for more details, but basically she showed up at church out of the blue wanting a book of mormon and to know more about the church! Super cool.

Oh and a funny story: we're here in this internet cafe, quietly listening to hymns and writing emails, with a whole bunch of youth playing games and yelling and then all of a sudden the power goes off hahhaha. It was like being in a movie theater, at the climax of a film, the whole room filled with tension--and then someone pulls the plug. But anyway, it came back on after a few mins, so we're all good :P

Anyways, I'm running out of time, but I'll be back next week :) Love you all!!! Have an awesome week!

-Sister Kirkham

May 7, 2018 - Transfers

For the first time in a while, it was a really good week! I was still struggling with my leg until about Wednesday, and then all of a sudden it wasn't bothering me at all. It was really good to get back into the flow of things, and meet some awesome people on the street, and teach some really good lessons. It's been a week of really awesome Almoços, and endless jokes by Sister Sena (more on that later), and just an all around good mix of missionary work!

Probably my favorite thing we did this week was a family home evening with a family of less actives/recent converts. We brought our favorite Irmã Fatima (I think I mentioned last week that she'd been complaining about not getting to go on walking tours with us anymore) and the Primary Pres and her kids, and everyone brought a little bit of food and a lot of enthusiasm. We struggled a lot deciding what to do/teach, but in the end, we taught the plan of salvation as a series of skits/improv. It was hilarious, and kept all of the kids/youth engaged, and the Irmãs loved it! Here's a short clip:

Sisters: Maison, be the snake! We'll be Adam and Eve, but we need a snake!

Maison: ahhh I don't know, the snake is evil, I don't want to be the snake

[The other kids keep encouraging, but Maison gets a little embarrassed so we decide to drop it]

Narrator/Sister Kirkham: ok so we're in the garden, with all of our animals (I'm acting this out btw) eating our fruit

Eve/also sister Kirkham: Adam try this fruit, it's really good!

Adam/Sister Rodrigues: Eve! You know God told us not to---

Maison: WAIT! YOU CAN'T EAT THE FRUIT YET BECAUSE I DIDN'T COME GIVE IT TO YOU

[Histerical laughter from everyone, and a look of confusion on my face--he said he didn't want to be the snake!]

So then we had to start the garden scene over and include the snake...

Anyways, we also visited quite a few recent converts this week, including our friend João. He was really unsure about callings and just church responsibilities, so we taught about that and he is willing to accept a calling, but he still won't say public prayers! Oh João...

Oh yeah Saturday Luzinete (João's wife) picked us up early and took us to the street fair (farmer's market) to buy pastels and caldo de cana (google it) because João was appalled that I'd never tried caldo de cana. Then we helped them clean  up their house and get ready for her son's birthday party, which was basically a repeat of their wedding, and also our second time this week eating churrasco at the Rochas. Have I mentioned this ward is awesome?!?!

In awesome (but expectable) news, Luis Phelipe and Luis Arthur were confirmed yesterday and recieved the Gift of the Holy Ghost! And Luis Phelipe also recieved the Aaronic Priesthood, and is now officially a deacon. He's thrilled haha. Now he just has to get to church on time to help pass the sacrament! I wasn't doing so well Tuesday, and neither was Sister Sena, so Sister Farias and Sister Rodrigues taught them plan of salvation (that's where the skit idea came from actually haha) and then me and my comp worked with them the rest of the week. They continue to be awesome and intelligent, but were super sad when I wasn't there on Tuesday (sister Rodrigues said that I had been transfered--it's funny how many times we freak people out like that) and now I'm going to have to say goodbye!!

Which brings me to.... Transfer day!

And yes, I'm going to be transferred.

It's been a super good week and I'm excited for the next one :) And for mother's day!! See you all soon!

-Sister Kirkham

Haha jk... I won't leave you all hanging. I'm going to be serving in Marcilio de Noronha, which I'm pretty sure is as far interior as you can get without leaving what we call the Grande Vitória, which is the center of the state, and of church activity. So I'll be a little far away, but I'll still get to participate in the multi-zone conferences and activities! And I'm going to be in a TRIO, with Sister Sena (my crazy tia who has already served there and is thrilled to return) and another americana, Sister Levie, who is just about at the end of her mission, and has served half of it there haha. It should be pretty fun! Marcilio is generally know to be hot and hilly, but at least it's (kind of sort of) winter haha.

I'm sad to be leaving Cobilândia, but I know it's time, and I'm excited to get to know new people. I'll tell you all about it next week!!

-Sister Kirkham ;)

April 30, 2018 - Tropical Disease

So it was a pretty interesting week! And by interesting, I really mean long and painful haha, but it had its highlights.

Oh, and a housekeeping notice. I mentioned in my journal page that my package arrived, because that's what my District Leader told me, but I got to the office today and it wasn't there :(((( Buuut I have to go back to the office on Thursday for Visa stuff, so I hope it comes by then!

-So because life has a great sense of humor, I have contracted another lovely tropical disease. ok that's a little dramatic haha. Basically, I had this little rash on my legs that all of a sudden got super bad this week, including swelling up (the sore/puss ball swelled up, not the leg) and turning purple and hurting like crazy on the back of my thigh. Made it seriously hard to walk, and yet harder to sit. When it was little rash, I was taking care of it myself, but when it took a turn for the worse, I (and by "I" I mean my companion hahahah) called Sister Mazzagardi, and long story short, I had to wait until today to have a 5 minute dermatologist appt. Basically, I have a bacterial infection in the skin, which is generally caused by sweat and humidity. Super simple, except now I have to take an antibiotic 4 times a day (which includes waking up at midnight--super thrilled about that) and use an antibiotic ointment (a different one, because I already was using one) twice a day, and shower with antibiotic soap, and use a hot pack 3 times a day on the one that's super swollen. I'm super thrilled, trust me. But anyways, I pretty much gritted my teeth and winced the whole week, cause you know, we have stuff to do, but by Saturday, I could barely keep standing, so we ended up staying home Saturday and sunday night. Yes, I realize that was a lot of pointless details, but whatever haha.

-In good news, this week was also my birthday!! Friday was pretty hard pain-wise, and also just kind of a difficult day in general, but we took a break in the middle for ice cream and strawberries (it's not my bday w/o strawberries!) and then that night we had the baptism interviews for Luis Phelipe and Luis Arthur (they LOVED the elders--go figure) and THEN a couple of families in the ward threw a surprise party for me!!! Sorry I don't have pictures of the party yet, but I promise I will get them! But I did send my journal pages detailing the day. Hope it's legible hahaha.

-Also because life can't be eventful enough, Sister Farias and Sister Sena were emergency transfered back to Cobilândia. They were robbed (like stopped on the street with a gun and lost their mission bags and scriptures and cell phone and everything) on monday night, which was already super crazy and shocking, and then Saturday afternoon, in broad daylight, on the same exact street, a man on a motorcycle started following them, doing very inappropriate things. They got away (my personal opinion is that one of the 3 nephites, or maybe john the revelator came to save them, but I won't go into details) but President was like "yeah no that's not going to work." So literally one week before transfers, they had to pack up and leave--even though they'd already been promised they would be staying for next transfer too, and then our district leader and his comp had to switch areas to take over for them. No one is exactly happy with the move, but at least we're going to have a hilarious last week! Sister Sena really is ridiculous hahaha. I'll try to remember a specific funny story for next week, but right now you'll all just have to take my word for it.

-Aaaand the last thing is baptisms!! my comp should be sending me the pics any minute now, but Luis Phelipe and Luis Arthur were baptized!!! Their grandma (who has custody) and their mom (who has lifestyle issues, but they love her very much) both came!!!! And, because they're actually long-lost members, they found a couple of old friends :) The baptism was stressful, but wonderful, and involved cake, cookies, presents, all of their family, and the baptism/rainbow song in portuguese. I really hope it was special for them, cause it was very special for us :)

We didn't really do much else this week. (oh but we did start practicing English on the street! That was fun haha) Just focused a lot on the boys, and tried not to walk too much because of my leg. But this week will probably be lots and lots better! Thank you all for the birthday wishes! Suuuuuuper excited for skyping on Mother's day!! And nervous about transfers cause everyone tells me I'm gonna leave :/

Lots and lots of love, all the way from Brazil!

-Sister Kirkham

April 23, 2018 - No Kayaking.

I hope you all enjoyed my pictures of the rain! Especially since I don't really have pictures this week haha. But anyway, those were from last p-day, and it (thankfully) got better from there and not worse (even though it kept raining for a bit and then stopped for a few days and started again last night. This country is crazy! Oh and btw, someone on the street was commenting about the floods and told us it was like São Paulo! hahaha. Sis Rodrigues laughed but said only zona leste floods like crazy--how is it there, Jacob?) so we were able to work without too much trouble. Oh and Vitória was much worse! We have interviews with Pres this Wednesday, and he showed us a video of a man using a kayak in the street! I was so jealous! Oh but the elders couldn't leave their house, and also the church flooded, so maybe I'm not THAT jealous.

Anyways, this week was also Tri-Zone Conference! It was AWESOME and AMAZINGLY SPIRITUAL. But I also learned that I've been counting some of our numbers wrong (which also influences our planning and just how we work) wrong my entire mission. But I'm happy because I feel like this change (well it's not a change, just me doing it wrong, along with half the mission) is really going to change things for the better! And oh gosh President played a clip of the solemn assembly, and the spirit testified SO strongly that President Nelson is our new prophet!! Not that I didn't know before, but it was really cool.

Here's an honesty note: My companion and I fought really bad this week (all about small, stupid things, but I sobbed for an entire hour and really dehydrated myself) so I called president and he sent our sister training leaders to help us (and split us up, if necessary, but obviously it's not). They were really pretty hard on us, but helped us do a really good comp inventory, and create a plan to improve our relationship. Just little things, like focusing on our comp prayers, singing hymns to bring the spirit, and not going too long without talking (we're both on the quiet side). And really, I think the best thing they did was help us laugh and have fun, and destress a bit (ok a lot). My comp especially has been making a HUGE effort, and we pulled ourselves together super well, and in time to have the BEST MISSION EXPERIENCE EVER with our progressing investigators...

Luis and Luis! Luis Phelipe (Felipe) and Luis Arthur (Artú) are 13- and 10-year-old nephews of a woman in the ward. Not sure if I already talked about them, but they are super duper awesome and smart and love the book of mormon and the church, but didn't think they needed to be baptized right now. Read my journal pages for more details, but long story short, Saturday night we stopped in the middle of the lesson for both of them to pray and ask God if Joseph Smith was a prophet. I'd never done that before in my life, but President taught us at zone conference that "leaving investigators with the challenge to pray" is wrong--we need to do it with them, while the spirit is there, and with the faith that they can get an answer right now. And it happened!!!!!!! Both of them, young as they are, got their answers plain and clear and undeniable. It was a HUGE lesson/witness to me and my comp, and also and experiene that I hope they'll remember for the rest of their lives. And they're going to be baptized this week!!!! Seriously can't describe how amazing it was :)

Joana Vitória! She's the special needs cousin of Luis and Luis, and she is adorable! She didn't want to go to church yesterday, which means her mom didn't waste effort in doing her hair, so we weren't able to take a picture (oh the whims of 13 year olds)  :)

Ok the only last thing is that we had an FHE transmission from the Area Presidency for all of Brazil last night. It was super cool, with original songs and everything, and all about the Book of Mormon. Clearly there's something in our study and use of the Book of Mormon that we need to improve!

Ok that's it for this amazing week (all in all, anyway). Super hyped up for life, and to read what you've all been up to. Love you all!!

-Sister Kirkham :)

April 16, 2018 - Six Months!

This computer is not working right, which is super frustrating, but I'll see what I can do!

Oh and I'm super sorry about [not sending a letter home] last week!! 

Happy birthday to Dallin!! 16 years old tomorrow!! Send me pictures if you do anything please! I miss my dessert for dinner...

Oh and also, that means I hit my 6 month mark :) Just one more year ;)

In other big news, all of Brazil was invited by President Nelson to triple our number of baptisms in the next 3 months. So we are kind of going crazy here haha.

This week has been a week of lots and lots of miracles. I can't even count all the crazy situations that led us to someone showing up out of the blue and accepting everything! So so so many people that are needed and wanting the gospel right in front of us! Unfortunately, none of these people went to church, but they will. One day...

Also, João was baptized on Saturday! He's absolutely hilarious, in case I haven't mentioned. We called to check in every day this week (if we weren't able to visit) and we always asked him if he's excited. His monotone response always came back with "oh yeah. I'm just full of happiness and excitement" or something like that--but don't let it fool you! He really is excited ahhahaha.

Don't know if I mentioned, but this transfer only has 5 weeks, so it is ending fast. We had splits this week with Sister Farias and Sister Sena in Ibes, and then this coming week we have interviews with Pres, and our tri-zone conference. super duper excited!

Ok my pictures are being difficult, so I'm gonna send this and go try to get them to work. But I'll have more next week, I promise!

Love you all! Hope you're all surviving the end of the school year! (almost haha) Brazil is awesome, in case I haven't said it enough.

Love from Mariah :)

WATER WATER EVERYWHERE!!!

April 2, 2018 - General Conference WOW!

Sooo this week wasn't really any better than the last one. Maybe harder. Definitely more frustrating. I was feeling better Tuesday morning, so I went to work after lunch like usual (Tuesday morning was our last District meeting before transfers. Oh yeah it's transfers! But wait, I will get to transfers later) and long story short, it did not go well, and I ended up in Pronto Socorro, which is like Urgent Care. IV's are awful, in case you're all wondering. But anyways, there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with me, except that I've been super sick and nauseous all week and also feverish and ridiculously exhausted. So you know, just that. I took another round of anti-parasite medicine, and I think I've been getting better, but I haven't eaten lunch yet today, so we'll see how that goes. But anyway! Happy things. Between the nausea and the fatigue, this week was anything but productive, but it had some good moments.

Splits: This week we did splits with our sister training leaders, Sister Sena and Sister Gauto. I love Sister Gauto (although she was sick too, so she kept pretty quiet) but it was my first time meeting Sister Sena. She was trained by the same sisters as Sister Farias, so they consider themselves sisters (I know, we're all sisters, but they mean in the familial sense, not the missionary sense. Yeah, it's confusing haha). And also, she's absolutely hilarious. Took to me really quickly, although she thought I was super serious at first ahahhaha. But anyway, she's struggled with a LOT of health challenges on her mission, and she really helped me understand that health challenges not only have a part in our plan of happiness, but also that they don't diminish our value as a missionary. Everything I'd been needing :) Literally a Godsend! And a reminder that sometimes the other people we serve with are our biggest missions.

Personal Study: I never understood why people got so hung up on the Isaiah chapters in 2 Nephi--until I started reading the BoM in Portuguese. Now I understand. So anyway, I started jumping around this week, and ended up reading a lot in Alma and Ether. And of course, every single day, I found something I was really really needing. Personal Study really is my favorite part of the day! (Make it yours too!)

Aaaand that brings me to General Conference! Wow. Just wow. Solemn assembly, a new prophet, new "ministering" program, a temple in India and in RUSSIA! Like seriously, did you all hear that? They're going to build a temple in Russia! Ok I'll stop obsessing. Wait. One more thing. One of the new apostles is Brazillian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You all have no idea how excited everyone was haha. They've been talking about a Brazillian apostle since I got here, and they got their wish! I mean I know he's foreordained and called of God and all that, but he's also Brasiliero, so we're celebrating. haha ;)

Life can't ever get boring, so on top of new prophets, apostles, temples, and programs, we also have transfers! I haven't actually gotten the transfer yet because they Executive Secretary forgot about me I think (he's pretty busy, so I forgive him) but our very kind (or spoilsport, not sure which) District Leader called us and told us all about it. (Me and my comp are staying, of course). In sad news, Sister Farias (and also our entire district) is getting transfered, BUT she was called as a Sister Training Leader (because she's awesome) AND transferred into our sister district! I have no idea who our new district leader is, or who's coming to live with us, but I know it's likely to be awesome :P

Pascua! Oh, and I can't forget about Easter! Of course the best thing we did to celebrate was listen to the Prophet and apostles, but we also made chocolate eggs with a super awesome member, and also the elders made us some as a goodbye present, and also one of our favorite families gave us two boxes of Garoto, so yeah we have lots of chocolate haha. My favorite :)

We've also taken a TON of pictures this week, which I will get out as soon as Sister Farias gets them to me haha. But it won't be today, because she's in Jardim da Penha saying goodbye to her trainer, who goes home tomorrow. Oh, and I wrote about 6 letters this morning, so I'll send those as soon as my email time ends!

Ok I think that's it! Love you all! Have a great week :) Hopefully I'll have some great teaching stories next week!

-Sister Kirkham