GOLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!

First off...

I survived the first Brasil game. There is another tomorrow. Even Burger King closed during the game. We were almost run over by 2 buses and 3 cars trying to get back home before 5. But otherwise we were fine. We got McDonalds like 3 fine Americans and 1 Ecuadorian who is outnumbered (so we paid for her) and sat on the front room floor listening for the screams. Sure enough....the whole entire city erupted in GOL!!!!! and other outbursts which I shall not include here because they are offensive. We understood why later when we learned that a ball was shot by Brasil into the wrong goal. How embarrassing. hahaha. Anyways it was incredibly interesting to be in the middle of it without really being a part of it. The entire country Literally stops....and they all scream in unison. Many movements anti-copo happened but....not close to our house so it was fine. After the game everyone floods the streets honking and partying and dancing and yelling and it is really intense. I have to admit I found it very thrilling. I might actually like soccer a little more now. 

Second off...

My companion is Sister P from Ecuador! She is 19 and teeny tiny and adorable. I love her. She is really quiet. But after a transfer with me that should go away. Like Mother like Daughter. We are trying to work our hardest amongst the laziness that a world cup brings. 

Third....

SISTER W HAS COME BACK TO ME! :DDDD Yep....you read that right. My querida amiga is living in our house once again. I can’t believe it myself. Obviously living together for 5 months of our missions wasn’t enough! We are ecstatic. But I have to control myself because my companion needs me. haha. With her came a lovely sister named Sister S from Kansas and graduated from BYU this past winter in Middle Eastern Studies and speaks Arabic and Hebrew....the odds that she knows Ariel by sight are ENORMOUS. Can someone send me a picture of Ariel? <3) She is hilarious. And amazing. 

Fourth.....

 This transfer is already flying by and once it does it will leave me with only 3 transfers left before I go home. I am FREAKING OUT. But it’ll be good. It’ll be good. 

Fifth.....

I am officially singing in the ward choir. Oh joy. It’s us 4 Sisters and like....3 other people. hahaha. But its going GREAT! :) 

Well....thats about it. I love you all. Pictures to follow. Have a wonderful week! <3 Boa Sorte EUA tonight! <3 

Sister Heyer

It's a girl!

One year on mission!

Well.....the big news.....I will be a (mission) mom! Got the transfer calls and I will be staying in Castelo (yayayayaya!) and I will be training a new missionary! Straight from the MTC and Brasilian. Sister L, Sister S, Sister R, AND Elder S were transferred. So just me and Elder N will stay in this ward with a bunch of new people. Once again three left and just I stayed. I hope that is not some sign about how I drive people out. ;( haha. All I know is that two American Sisters will live with me and my new "filha" and that I will "be very happy" is what Elder N said. Of course I will...The gospel is true and I’m a missionary! Elder S is getting ready to go home so he will step down....well not down just out....as assistant. So the singing days are up. :( But it´ll be okay. Maybe the new assistant knows how to play the piano. ;P haha. Sister L will move on to be with a Brasilian companion who will teach her more Portuguese than I did. 

This week we contacted a reference and were not able to teach her but just from the door contact we made with her....we all almost started crying the spirit was so strong. I am so excited to teach her. There is something really special about A. So that will be fun this week.

With the world cup starting this week....we are on strict rules to stay in our houses during Brasil games. A little before and after. These orders came from the first presidency and are for all missions in the whole country. Apparently it may get a little crazy. I am not worried though. We live in a really safe area. The unfortunate part is the staying home almost all day part. We are supposed to study. I am excited for more study time. But the not working part is a little rough. Even if we were to go out in the street though we wouldn’t get any work done. No one comes out of their house and the ones who do are drunk. We are NOT allowed to watch ANY of the games, nor are we allowed to go out in public wearing ANY team shirts or even the team colors. Not even Brasil. It’s going to be crazy! I’m excited but I admit I was a little bummed we can’t watch...I wanted to see the experience and we even had a less active family invite us to an alcohol free night at there house to watch the game and they agreed to a lesson after.....we will have to find a way to just go to the after part. The rule makes sense though. No one was surprised. 

Apart from transfers...nothing really happened this week. It was a slow week. We had stake conference which was excellent! I sang before the meeting and the actually meeting was a broadcast where ELDER SCOTT spoke in PORTUGUESE! And Elder Ballard spoke. But he had a translator. haha. It was really neat to hear Elder Scott speak Portuguese. He speaks really well! Even if he did mix a bit of Spanish in it....it was understandable and very inspired. (I thought Grandpa would like that story) It was a wonderful conference. At the adult session at night Sheila and Ricardo bore their testimonies! It was beautiful! They are by far the most beautiful new member family that ever existed. ;) I love them so much. They taught me how to Samba and basically adopted me. <3 

The Boxer's baptism

Well I love you all and have a good week! Check out the really neat talk that I will put a link too! Changed my whole perspective on revelation! The other link is my SECOND favorite talk ever....second only to the first. It is very inspiring and motivating. :) 

Sister Heyer

Favorite Quotes and scriptures: 

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? . . .

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. . . .

. . . They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. [Isaiah 40:28–31]

"The simple fact is that our Father did not recommend Eve or Moses or Nephi or countless other magnificent exemplars for this dispensation—He recommended you and me. Do you think God would have left the last days to chance by sending men and women He couldn’t count on? So how will you live up to our Father’s recommendation? Happily, though we must each walk through life on our own, we don’t have to do it alone. "

http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=568

http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=984

The Boxer was Baptized!!!

N, the boxer, was baptized yesterday!!!! And confirmed! :D It was AWESOME. It happened all so fast. We taught him on Thursday night with a great ward family and after the lesson he just casually told us, as he biked away, to fill the font for 8:00 Sunday morning! So we did! It was a really neat baptism. We sang "Come Thou Fount" a verse in Spanish, English, and Portuguese. The "welcome" from the Elders Quorum was in English and a testimony was given in Spanish. It was really neat and he was smiling from ear to ear. After the baptism he came to our lunch appointment with us and the Elders. It was fun. He was already such a different person! It was really neat to see him so calm and happy and more himself. The ward has already invited him to three family home evenings and lunches. He was instantly adopted. He is quite the iron man though….didn't even plug his nose. And he practically rose out of the font by himself! hahaha. It was great. 

Other than N, this week was pretty normal. Except for interviews with President. But that was nothing new or crazy. I will be singing at Stake Conference next week. Transfers are next week and I will probably be transferred. Sister H will go home next week. :( (Because she finished already....good grief, time passes fast). The last person from my district is coming to Brasil!!! :D I learned how to Samba. Officially. I LOVE latin dancing. So that’s a new thing. The police force went on strike for 2 days and people went nuts with stealing and committing crimes...we didn’t see anything though thank goodness. We did a service project for "Mormon helping hands" at the Taquaral and pictures of us Sisters are apparently on the church site somewhere. But I still haven’t found it. They might be in the Liahona. :D 

Oh and....on Thursday....I WILL HAVE ONE YEAR ON MY MISSION. :O CRAZY.

Well I love you all loads and I wish you a great week! If you have a minute you should check out this AWESOME speech by Elder Holland. :) 

Sister Heyer

http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=873

 

Making chicken feet for Minute to Win game with Zone.
It was GROSS!

Too short to reach the ground at the bus stop

The Spider

The Reaction to the Spider

A Punk with a Cold

Well....this week was FREEZING. Except on Tuesday and Friday morning where it was so hot we were dripping sweat... for about 2 hours until suddenly it dropped in temperature drastically....and then rained for 3 days straight. My companion and I are sick with colds....again. I now hate vitamin C.

But that’s okay because T was CONFIRMED on Sunday finally. :D It was such a miracle. She was going to try and get out of it again but I’m a sneaky little punk. She told us she wouldn’t need a ride and that it would be fine....except her husband was out of town with the car so THAT was a lie. I told her if she didn’t show up by 9:15 we would send someone to get her. She laughed. I wasn’t kidding. Well...9:15 the relief society first counselor, Isabel, showed up at her door to pick her up for church. She patiently waited while T got out of her PJs and ready for church then swearing our names and mumbling not so nice things about me and Sister L (but especially me because she knows I’m a punk and Sister L is an angel) she came to church. She stormed in (dramatically...she wasn’t TRULY mad just kinda mad), sits down by me and turns to me and says "I will hit you". hahahaha. She was serious though. Then she refused to go up to be confirmed because she was so embarrassed. So Isabel came up and held her hand and went up there with her. Isabel is the best. I would’ve done it but she wanted to hit me. hahahaha. After she was confirmed she of course was crying and super happy but refused to admit it to me. She told me to come get a drink with her and when we got into the hall I stood there with my eyes shut and said "Go ahead and hit me now". She didn’t. But I think she thought about it. She was happy though in the long run. She even cheered out loud (really loud actually and threw her arms up) when everyone raised their hand to welcome her as a member of the church. It was awesome. T is going to liven up this ward and make such a fun difference. Sister L and I wrote down all we could remember that was said in her confirmation and gave it to her. She had some AMAZINGLY inspired blessings given to her. It was beautiful. :)

I sang last night with Elder S accompanying me at a Single Adults activity. "Lord I would Follow Thee". It went well except I was a bit out of breath b/c I couldn’t breath out of my nose. ;P But it went well. :) 

Apart from that nothing really happened this week. Lots and lots and lots of doors. And no novos. -_- But....faz parte. We are doing the best we can and have some new ideas to do with the ward to get more references. Everyone is getting excited. Almost the world cup. Then the country just STOPS. Hopefully not the work too though...

Well I hope all is well. :) I love you all and have a great week! 

Sister Heyer

Short But Sweet

ANOTHER EXISTS!!!! I totally remember these from
Grandma and Grandpa U´Rens house!!!! I was so excited
when I saw them at a members house.
I dont know HOW she has them. 

Well I dont have a lot of time so this may be a short one. Sorry! (Actually I feel like half of you are like "YES finally a short one....") ;P

This week was pretty good. T got sick and wasn’t confirmed yet (heart attack when she didn’t show up but she is okay now) and lots and lots of meetings this week which was a little frustrating but necessary. I did my very first division with a Sister Trainer Leader. It was alright. I like her so it was fun to chat and work together. But it was exhausting. Anything that changes up the schedule is exhausting. haha.

Needless to say it was a long week. I think I could sleep for at least a month. But….can't. So...I bought a lot of chocolate. ;P hahaha

At the temple this morning with the zone!
Or some of the zone....the ones who showed up on time. ;) hahaha

Gave a talk on Sunday. The topic was "Why I choose to go on a mission". I plan on rewriting it in English and sending it to you all next week. It went really well. It was fun. I like giving talks. Neat experience. After the meeting a lady who has been inactive came up to me and goes "I came today not knowing why I was coming...and after hearing your talk I know why. It was all for me." She was crying which made me cry and then we both just cried and marveled over the love of our Father for a few seconds. It is really the small moments that make my mission. 

Anyways I think I better go. We still have a ton of stuff to do today so that we can work better all week. Sorry for the shortness but that doesn’t mean I love you all less! Have a wonderful week! <3

Love

Sister Heyer

Before and After

[Mother's day put a kink in my plans to post Emily's letter.  So this week you get a 2 for 1 special!  Enjoy!]

WALKING ON SUNSHINE   [Written May 5]

HELLO! 

Well this week has just been AMAZING. 

On Tuesday we prayed to find a mom with little kids. Then we picked a street and knocked on every single door in it. EVERY single door. We found no one. So we went one street down and went door to door again. The third to last door and we were about to give up when, T answered the door. She is a mom of two little girls, legally married to her great husband C, who told us she listens to everyone. She asked us to come the next day to share a message. 

The next day, we were at the hospital in the morning (because the other sister that lives with us passed out and we had to take her to the emergency room…she's okay now. Just stress.) and T walks out of a room with her little girl! She saw us and immediately shouts, "You guys are still passing by later today right?? I’ll be waiting!". We of course confirmed. A few hours later we got there earlier than we had planned so we decided to knock on a door to wait out the time. We were knocking at a door in her street when she pulled up in her car and goes “I'm going to the supermarket super quick but I’ll be back in just a few minutes! Pass by!" (Keep in mind seeing the investigator two times in one day BEFORE even getting to her house is super rare....). We visited with her little old lady neighbor while waiting and then went over. 

She let us in super happy and was so excited to hear what we had to testify to her. We taught her about the restored gospel and at the end asked her if she were to know it’s true if she would be baptized. She said of course and then told us how she has been living hearing everyone and believing that there must not exist the church of Christ on the Earth because everything she has heard doesn’t make sense to her....until now. She was very surprised and very excited. She asked us to come back in two days. So of course....Friday we came back. She hadn’t read anything in The Book of Mormon because she had school at night and her daughter got pink eye and she didn’t find the time. We were pretty disappointed but went on with the lesson. 

We used little cut out pictures to explain the Plan of Salvation to her. It was great because her little girls weren’t there so we could put them on the floor in front of her and explain in peace (it was a miracle really!) She listened very intently to each part and when we finished....she started crying. She said never before had she seen God´s plan for her and her family so clearly. She said for the first time she has found someone that understands what she has always believed, who has answers that make sense. She said how she has been struggling for years because of past mistakes and has been repenting but just can’t seem to get rid of the burden that is sitting on her shoulders. She was desperately looking for a change. She said the day we passed by and invited her to church she knew she should hear us out. She said that the day she had come back from the supermarket and hadn’t seen us in the street (because we were in her neighbors house) she went inside and cried because she thought we weren’t coming anymore. 

I invited her to be baptized on Mother´s Day. It’s so soon but it was what I felt was right! She looked up in shock and said exactly what I had thought "Wow. That’s so soon!" And I don’t know where this came from but the words just fell out of my mouth. I said "If you could get rid of this burden you are feeling tomorrow, would you do it?" She said "Yes. I would. Of course I would." And then I said, "Well then May 11th is a really long time away....". She looked at me and didn’t say anything. Then before she could....the phone broke the silence and her husband was on the line. He told her he was on his way home to get her and pick up their girls from Grandmas. She told him that the mormon girls were visiting with her....I don’t know what he said but when she hung up, she started crying. We thought he had told her to kick us out (wouldn’t be the first time), but then she shocked us when she looked up and with tear filled eyes almost shouted...."I will get baptized! I want this! I want this so bad! I KNOW its true! I feel it! Yes, I’m going to be baptized. Lets do this." 

The sweet silence was incredible. I couldn’t believe it (yes I know I’m a regular old Thomas). Then she started asking a ton of questions. Logical questions. We answered all of them. And then we said a prayer. In the middle of the prayer (literally) her husband walked in. He is a normal guy! Works hard, looks like a future bishop. He was super nice. A little wary but super nice. He has already been to see the temple! She told him that we had explained beautiful things to her and she knows it’s true. He said "Well that’s wonderful"(but not sarcastically....) and then agreed to hear us out another day too. It was awesome. They are....going to be the biggest miracles of my mission. We will do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING to help them and make this miracle come true. We are so excited. And praying sooo hard. haha. 

On top of this incredible experience....our olympic boxing english speaking miracle N is almost done with 1 Nephi already in only 4 days of having the Book of Mormon. And our investigator who comes to church every week but never marks to meet with us, was super nice to us and actually expressed her desire to have us come over! It might have been because we made her a huge plate of cookies (that cake cookie recipe mom and grandma is the BEST) and left them with the apartment manager to give to her when she got home from work Sat. hahaha. She was previously taught by the Elders before we got there and on Sunday she went up to them and goes "YOU never made me sweets....." hahahaha. It was hilarious. Even the Elders thought so. I think....

Oh and to TOP off all that (sorry guys....said it was a good week)....we were authorized to go to the temple on the 20th! So on that week I will send an email on Tuesday not Monday. I’m SO happy. I have been praying so hard it would be our zone´s turn. :) I cant WAIT. I LOVE the temple. Oh and I get to talk to my family on Sunday for Mother´s Day!!!! Walking on sunshine here. :) The gospel is true! :D 

I love you all and hope you have an excellent week. <3 Happy Mothers Day! Love your mothers….they really do do everything. Everything. 

Sister Heyer

COLD FEET, LITERALLY  [Written May 12]

Well this week was insane! 

T was baptized!!!!!!! But not after a TON of work and pain on our part. She was interviewed and everything was good to go....and then she called and said she was too nervous and wouldn’t do it. We immediately ran to her house and sat outside her house for 2 HOURS waiting for her to get home. We were freezing by the time she pulled up. We talked it through. She basically was nervous to disappoint and embarrass us because she is different and has tattoos and is really far from perfect....and so on. We told her she was being ridiculous. I think she needed to hear that. Then she went to church on Sunday and LOVED IT. Then about 2 hours from her baptism....she sent us a text saying once again that she is terrified and it was not going to work out and she couldn’t be baptized. Once again I called her and we talked it out. She calmed down finally and we picked her up at 3:30 for her baptism at 4. When she opened the door she started crying. I let myself in and gave her a hug and looked at her.....and I went "You are crying because you are happy!" She looked at me surprised and then started laughing. Then she goes “You're right! I’m happy! Terrified! But happy!" Then she got her stuff and we went to the church. 

As she was looking at the baptism clothes she turns to me and goes "I shouldn’t have opened the door when you guys knocked last week....."hahahaha. I burst out laughing and said "God sent us to you. You opened the door because He sent us to you." Then in exasperation and almost bitterly she goes "I KNOW!" It was hilarious. hahaha. When she got in the water she immediately started crying. It was the most special baptism I’ve witnessed. She left that water a new person. Truly a new person. She even said so as she looked in the mirror. It was amazing. :) <3 Remember her in your prayers. She still needs to be confirmed next week and make more friends. But she is our miracle. After 1 week and 4 days....only going to church once...she was baptized. It was incredible. 

Apart from this it was just a lot of head cold (me AND my comp) and swollen foot (just my companion) but all that didn’t matter as T left the water. :) I love being a missionary. 

It was awesome seeing the family last night! :)) Only 6 months left until I’m home! Flies by. Anyways....love you all! :D

Sister Heyer

Cutest thing ever. :)

http://motherhood.mormon.org/?cid=HPTH050814094

Unexpected Miracle

This entire month just FLEW by. And now it’s two weeks until Mother´s Day (significant because of two reasons: 1. My mother is amazing and deserves AT LEAST one day dedicated to her. 2. I will see my family!!!!) 

Lizard skeleton...found in their house.  Surprise! 

This week was pretty...slow. But we did have one miracle that made the rest of the unexciting and unproductive week seem a lot better. Sister L and I were walking past the huge park that is here to go into a different neighborhood. A bunch of people were passing us on bikes as normal and runners were flying by on every side. This made it even more of a shock when a man flew past us on a bike....and then 2 minutes later pulled up from behind us and asked us in English if we speak English and if we are Mormons. We of course said yes and then he began to explain his story. 

His name is N (age 30). His dad is from the United States and his mom is from Argentina. He only speaks spanish and English (with a heavy spanish accent) and he moved to Brasil a week ago. He is a boxer and is training with the Brasilian team for the Olympics! He is trying to learn Portuguese and is looking for a church. He said he had been wanting to learn more about our church for years but because of moving and training for the Olympics he never got an official chance. He said he has been going to a few different churches but that the one he was really looking for was ours. He was so excited to find us! He asked for one of our books and wanted to know ALL activities that will happen so he can go. He said he has been "putting his life in order" to hear our message and join our church. He was married for three years and then 3 years ago they divorced because his wife was only interested in drinking and partying and he wanted to start a family and settle down and find a church. He said his dream is an eternal family and our church is the only he has seen that really focuses on that. 

Pizza!

We gave him ALL the information and then continued shocked at the experience. That night we prayed that he would actually come to the missionary dinner we had invited him to scheduled for the next night. We almost passed out when he showed up (on bike because he has NOTHING here and because he exercises 24 hours) and wandered down the hall and ran into us. After we picked our jaw off the floor we introduced him to as many people as we could and sat talking with him and eating pizza. It was so neat. It is a little difficult because he doesn’t know portuguese very well. But our ward is FULL of people that speak English and Spanish. He couldn’t have picked a better ward to be in. Then to top it off he asked to see how baptisms are done AND he came to church Sunday and made a ton of friends. He is....what we call GOLDEN. It is truly a miracle that we were not expecting (which we need to repent for...we should ALWAYS be waiting and expecting miracles or they won’t come!) and we are so excited to continue teaching him. :)

Noah's Ark?

 This week I studied something that really opened my eyes. I was studying about the atonement and I stumbled upon the true meaning of Grace. This word "grace" is something I have been studying and trying to understand better my whole mission. This week another piece fell into the puzzle. I learned that Grace has two definitions. Grace is the way of repentance, the ability and opportunity we have to repent of our sins because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for each one of us. But Grace is also....the power of Christ. It is a physical, mental, or emotional POWER that each one of us can pray for and have with us that helps us do things that are normally beyond our natural human capacity. It is strength and power to do what is right, to understand the spirit and God´s purposes for us individually, and the ability to overcome our weaknesses. I read a few scriptures that really opened my eyes to this power that is "grace". 

Jacob 4:7 

7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore wilI 

rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

I also found a talk that really put it all together for me in the Ensign of March 2014 (see below):

https://www.lds.org/liahona/2014/03/youth/grace-and-the-atonement-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng

It was just a really comforting thing that I learned this week. That when we feel like we CAN’T do something....we are right. Alone we CAN’T. But with the grace of Christ we can. We just have to be worthy and willing to ask for help and receive it. Recurring human weakness is NEVER beyond the Savior´s willingness to help and to save. 

Have a wonderful week everyone. Above all else remember that you have a loving Heavenly Father who wants the best for you, his beloved son/daughter. Don’t be afraid to accept the best that is being offered. We never have to settle for less. <3 I love you all. 

Sister Heyer