Wait... I have ten minutes to spare? I actually have time to write a decent email to you all??

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY FROM BRAZIL.

It was super awesome to get to talk to my Dad yesterday. He is kind of a hilarious man. And I recommend to all of you that you just sit down and have a great 45 minute chat and a chuckle with that guy. He inspires me, you know?

WELL!! Sister Rocha and I are working tons to really get to know our area. We had some appointments waaaaaaaayyyyyy over in the corner of our area that we actually had to catch a bus to get home safe and sound. And to actually not waste tons of time just.... walking.

So much walking.

This week we met a lot of people. And I'm on the last couple of chapters of The Power of Member Missionaries (or something like that... I don'

(this is where the email ended. Don't we love our missionary <3)

--well... that's embarrasing that I sent that message literally in the middle of my sentance---

....I don't know what it's called in English. Poder do Membro Missionário in Portuguese for anyone who cares.)

And it basically rocks my dancin' little SOCKS off!!! This book is incredible. And I recommend it to anyone and everyone. It's just a simple and fast read. But also inspiring. It's got tons of short --yet true-- stories and examples of how we can be better member missionaries.

This week I finished the Book of Mormon in Portuguese! The first time I ever read an entire book in another language.... (unless you count those dinky little kid's books in Miss Proper's Spanish class in 7th grade... then... yeah I've read like 20 books in another language.)

And now I'm starting over again. I am determined to finish the Book of Mormon in Portuguese twice in the mission! (and also I'm reading other things like... Jesus the Christ, Our search for happiness, aaand nosso ligado because I seriously do not remember what it's called in English.)

I hope you all have baita semanas and you'll be hearing from me next Monday. :)

love,


Sister Hennefer

Ah, the joys

What's up my american friends and family out there?

You know what's up here? A very warm winter. And I'm totally okay with that! yahooo! 

Jacob 5:37 is an AWESOME SCRIPTURE!!! And it's kind of my big focus right now. Because working with less actives is actually, the priority right now in São Borja. We have sooo many people who get baptized and then hop out of the baptismal font and never come back to church. 

gosssshhhhhh dangiit!!! 

and every time we ask for references the members just remember and think about their friends who are fallen away and how much fun it was when they were at church. And it's really discouraging for the members to see so many new people in the branch who make the baptismal covenant but never come back. Why would they want that for their friends who aren't baptized? So.... yeah that was a problem. 

The best way to solve that is to really be a part of the conversion process of your friend who you presented to the missionaries. But, unfortunately we can't drag people from their work, family, friends, and beds to work with us full time. 

But we discovered that they willingly drag themselves when it's someone who they truly know and love and are excited for. 

So we decided to use a giant list of all the members in São Borja and find out what happened to all these people who never came back! And we are finding all kinds of people! Lot's of people died... moved away... and TONS of people fall away because they got their feelings hurt.

Seriously. A cry out to the world and beyond: if your feelings get hurt at church... whose church is it? That person who hurt your feelings? Or our savior. Because looking at that big ole plack on the church's wall it sure does not say, "The Church of Bishop what'shisbucket of Latter-Day Saints. 

So... I lovingly and sharply beg of you all. Please remember to whom you've made your covenants (covenants... covonents... ?? convênios. ah, much better.)

And a funny one that we had was when a less active we met said he never wants to go back to church because a Sister Missionary told him he can't dance with his wife. It's been 15 years since he went to church.

Be a part of the gift of forgiveness!!! We have been working with a less active, Catarina and her daughter, Gabi for eeeeever now. They haven't been to church in years. We've prayed a lot for them. And we've fasted seperately and WITH them. And for the first time in forever-- they went to church this Sunday!!! Yahoooo!! My heart was imediately filled with such.... flipping JOY when I saw Catarina and Gabi in their cute little dresses 9:00 ready for Relief Society. And Paulo, Catarina's husband, who is the 2nd counselor to the branch president, was suuuuper happy. 

That night we had a very spiritual lesson about forgiveness. And seriously!!! Not only did Catarina confess that she doesn't feel that pang of anger and resentment when she sees that person. AND she told us that she marked to hold a Family Home Evening with that person and his family!! "to make sure that [she's] not holding on to any more grudge."

I can't even express my love and excitement for the progress of this family. She and Paulo have made a goal to serve a couple mission!! woopeee!!!! The temple is now a reasonable goal that they are setting in their sights. #danceparty

....#exceptnotcuzwe'remissionaries

OKAY!!! So... I ran out of time but I love you ALLLL have ÓTIMAS weeks! 

tchau

Sister Hennefer

Soooo... I just wanna eat all the time.

Did I tell you all that Sister Rocha and I are now "white washing" an area?? yeah so.... that's kind of not the funnest thing I've ever done. But at the same it's super incredible!!

Oh, for sure, God gives us our trials and our discomforts so that we can remember Him and ask for His help. Even though I've been here in this Branch for a transfer, I got transferred to the other side of the branch. So I seriously don't know anything and barely anyone.

Sister Rocha is my new companion. She is 19 years old and has four and a half months in the mission feild!! yaahooo!! I won a newbie!! And it is so much fun working with her. She's very inteligent and a hard worker. Our legs are worn out, our feet have blisters, and my head is crammed with names and numbers and streets and houses. --- we're basically having a blast!!!

I'm living with Sisters Tenorio (again!! whooopeee more water fights! done!) and Araújo da Souza.

We four together are a crazy party. And it's so so so incredible to be working together to build up this branch. In the past this branch was a ward. And in São Borja it was a Stake. But now it's a small bunch of branches that make a reasonably sized District.

And this is the time for us to really get to work with the members. We're praying hard, working hard, and laughing hard. so... yeah all is well.

hey, just a happy little reminder: Here you have all started a new week. Make a goal and get back to me about how you, personally, got involved (in some way or another) with missionary work. I'd love to hear your experiences.

looooooove you alllllll to the moon and baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack

love,


Sister Hennefer