HI (:

On one of your exchanges this week, it was the Sister's birthday, so we were forced to celebrate. (:

Ok you can't tell from this picture, but Mariana looks exactly like Kendra! It's insane! Just wait Kenj, you're next! (;

Flashback to your average Brazilian dog during the World Cup.

Flashback to my district that matched every single week. (:

What a fun week this has been! We went on 3 exchanges (one by emergency, which was exciting!) so the week flew by really fast!

Our little Family was baptized this week! I just can't get over how that even happened. Haha. They were so prepared. They were previously a referral from member friends, had just come from a difficult family situation and are looking for a new beginning, they were already basically living all the commandments (The woman doesn't even know how to make coffee and she is Brazilian!), and completely willing - eager to learn, accept, and practice everything we taught. They are so fun and impressive!

The first presidency has changed a few of the directions in teaching within the last few months. (At least in Brazil, I don't know about other parts of the world?) But to be able to teach all 5 of the missionary lessons (instead of previously the first 4) before baptism, we had been doing, as Sister Zapata and I call it, "intense daily follow up" for these last 3 weeks with Sheila and her family and we will continue working closely with them and the church organizations for the next few months.

It was so neat this week, we had a day that we wouldn't be in our area at all so we made arrangements for a member of the ward to visit her and cover the determined material of that day - and she did! This is a serious miracle people! When we got here in Votorantim, we soon recognized a...distrust... in Sister missionaries. Not everyone, obviously, but in general. There are challenges ahead, one of them being that we aren't allowed to speak in Sacrament meeting yet, but since the first day, we've started serving the members and organizations, and I'll tell you what, it's already changed a lot.  (And nothing does more for trust than baptizing a family of incredible individuals who are already contributing to the increase of the spirituality of the ward.)

Netto went to church yesterday! It was the first time he hasn't been working on Sunday. Actually he canceled plans in São Paulo with friends to be there! And he taught his dentist about the Restoration. He is awesome you guys!

The work is going great! The companionship is ridiculously incredible! Our Sisters are getting stronger! Our ward is catching the vision! HAPPY!

Thoughts:

"Do small things with great love." (Mother Teresa)

Ok. Bye. (:

Love, love, love,

Sister Vaughn