So this week was pretty swell again! There's been a drought here in Brazil, but it finally rained this week, which is good for the earth and plants and stuff, but bad for missionaries. We were trying to be diligent and obedient, and we were caught in a straight up tempestade, and the streets started flooding there was so much water and the lightning was going and everything. It was awesome. We decided that it was probably stupid to be walking in the middle of a thunderstorm with a metal umbrella, so we went to the house of a member nearby, and when we got there she took good care of us. She made us tea and gave us towels and everything. It was absurd how wet we were, but it makes for a good story, I guess :) Something funny about people here, people don't let us come in when it's raining, other than members, and they just stand at the door and shout, "don't you know it's raining?!" Like we don't know! Anyways, it's just pretty funny :)
This weekend was awesome! I sent you pictures of Danusia at the temple! It is so amazing to be in an area close to the temple where we can bring our investigators. Danusia just adored it! She loved being there (despite what she looked like in the pictures, she really was happy - she just really hates pictures!) We bought her a triple [combination] in giant print and wrote a little note in the front, and she loved it! She also asked if she could buy 4 copies of the picture of the temple to give to all of her kids. It was really cute! She absolutely loved being there, and she felt the spirit without a doubt! It was awesome!
Later that night, we had an awesome lesson with Alan and Leni! They are so golden! The lesson we taught was at the chapel, and a couple from the ward, Karina and Robson, were there as well. It was the most amazing lesson I've had on my mission so far. It was so awesome! We taught about the plan of salvation, and Alan and Leni just loved it! Alan made a comment that we were teaching the same things that his mother had taught him when he was little, and that he knew it was true. Both Karina and Robson are converts, and they bore their testimony at exactly the right time about their conversion. They talked about how the missionaries found them and everything. After they were done, Leni started talking about how much she loved us and loved our lessons. She said that she and Alan were talking about how honored they felt that we chose their door to knock on and they don't understand why them, but that they were so happy to be introduced to the gospel. They said they felt like they've known us forever, and that we're family. It was awesome, and a definite tender mercy from the Lord. At the end of the lesson, Robson, who recently returned from his mission, invited Alan to offer a kneeling prayer. It was such a sweet, and simple prayer, but it was sincere and powerful. He stopped in the middle to ask his wife if there was anything she'd like to add. They're absolutely golden and I love them so much!
On Sunday, we had 6 investigators at church! That never happens! It was such a miracle! We found this one man, Neto, while we were walking in the street. We invited him to church and said a prayer with him in the middle of the street, and then he actually came to church! It was such a miracle! He's so excited about church, and excited about baptism as well! He's just flippin' adorable! He always says, "opa!" when he's excited. We asked him if he wanted to be baptized, and he said, "Opa! yes!". It was just too cute. Of course Danuisia was there with her friend, as well as three other people. We also had 7 less actives there! The ward was so excited to see everyone, and they were so great about going up to them and introducing themselves. It was so awesome!
This area is going so well, and we had so many tender mercies this week! As we know, the Lord loves to throw us curve balls, so tomorrow, both Sister Howell and I are being transferred and the area is switching to elders. It's going to be so hard to leave, especially since we've been having so much success. But, there are a lot of young returned male missionaries who will be able to work with the elders much easier than they can with us. I think it's actually a very inspired decision. I'm still going to be so sad to leave! I've learned so much from the people in this ward, and from the wonderful people we've had the opportunity to teach. I've also learned so much from my wonderful companion, Sister Howell! I just love that girl! She's amazing and I'm going to miss her so much! We even have a cheese-y companionship handshake! Good thing is, she lives in Gilbert, so we can see each other when I get back home!
I love being a missionary so much, and I know that this is His work. I'm excited to serve Him wherever he needs me!
Love you all!
Sister Pennington
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