The Crazy Beautiful Life of Sister Steadman

What a wonderful, short, quick, tiring week it has been! Holy crap I can’t believe it is Monday again! Once again, this week flew by right before my eyes, but in the end it was a good one :)

So we spent Monday and Tuesday in Brasilia for our P-Day with our zone and we had a training on Tuesday. So we returned Tuesday night. So this week was a short one and got started working on Wednesday. But, first off, we have Fabrissa! She is still reading the Book of Mormon and has been smoking less! Which is a miracle! But I really enjoy teaching her. She is so much fun! And she understands everything so well and understands what she needs to do! So basically she is perfect! So we have been working really hard with her on keeping the commandments and so far so good! She has been improving rather quickly and she has already noticed the blessings in her life. This is one of my most favorite things. When someone starts to change their life for the better and they realize the blessings of doing so. It’s a feeling that I cant describe. But it’s a rewarding feeling :) But she is good and is planning on being baptized on the 19th :)

Next we have Welson, who was the man we found in the street the week before. So it’s a little hard to find him home because of his crazy schedule, but we found him, taught him the first lesson and holy crap it was so good! The spirit was so strong and it went exactly how we wanted it to! He even got a little emotional. But the coolest part for me was to see him realize that he had found what he was looking for. These are the moments I love the most; these little tender mercies from the Lord. It is such an honor to help people realize what they were needing in their lives - The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love helping people realize that the truth is here on the earth. Ahhhh it’s the best!! But, we invited him to be baptized on the 19th as well and he accepted :)

Next we have Anderson, the cousin of Raianne. With him, I just can’t believe how easy it is to teach him. He understands everything and asks such good questions! This week he asked us why churches always fight with one another and talk bad about one another. He is just super perfect and was very well prepared by the Lord :)

This week we also focused on the commandments with Raianne and her mom Edvânia. First we started with the Word of Wisdom and it was a little bit of a struggle for them because of the coffee. But they tried really hard and now aren’t drinking it anymore!! And the rest of the commandments have been easy for them to keep! Edvania and her husband aren’t legally married so we talked to her about the importance of being married and she was all for it! So next visit, the sisters will be getting that all marked for her :)

Sunday we had a district conference with the other wards and branches of our district so we had to travel really early Sunday morning to arrive on time. So we were supposed to leave here 6 am. But we left 6:30. Yes Mormon time exists here in Brasil as well. But it was really good for our members and our investigators. Edvânia and her two daughters, Fabiana and Natália went and they really liked it! Then we returned last night. And of course the elders were hungry and because it was Sunday they couldn´t buy pizza, so of course it was up to me to make food. So we had a pasta night in the church last night, ha.

Well here’s this week: tonight we are having a family night in the church with the members and some investigators for me to say goodbye to everyone. Then tomorrow I leave here at 2 in the afternoon. Wednesday there is a training on how to be self-sufficient then Thursday is our lunch with president and interviews and Friday night I leave. So crazy! But I came here to do what I need to do and it was a wonderful experience. But, all good things must come to an end so more doors can open.

I found a quote the other day that explains the life of a missionary so perfectly!

A mission is a strange experience
It is a trial and a test.
A mission throws at you the worst
Yet, teaches you the best.
I've never been so happy,
I've never been so depressed.
I've never felt so forsaken,
I've never felt so blessed.
I've never been so confused,
Things have never been so clear.
I've never felt my Heavenly Father so distant,
He's never been so near.
I've never been so discouraged,
I've never been so full of hope.
I feel I could go on for forever,
I think I've come to the end of my rope.
I've never had it quite so easy,
I've never had it quite so tough.
Things have never been so smooth,
Things have never been so rough.
I've never traveled through more valleys,
I've never ascended more peaks.
I've never met so many nice people.
I've never met so many freaks!
I've never had so many ups,
I've never had so many downs.
I've never worn so many smiles,
I've never had so many frowns.
I've never been so lonely,
I've never had so many friends.
BOY, I hope this is over soon,
GOSH, I hope this never ends.

I am so grateful for the wonderful opportunity I had to serve the people of Brasil. I love Brasil. But I am so eternally grateful for My Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I have come to know them and love them here on the mission. I am so grateful for the gospel in my life. I’m grateful for all the miracles I have seen these past 17 months. I’m so grateful for all the things the Lord has taught me. I am so grateful for all the people I was allowed to meet and help come to know our Savior more.

Well folks, that’s about it. Thank you all for your love and support! I will be arriving at the Salt Lake airport Saturday morning at 10:30a for any of you who want to be there, you are welcome :) But, just know, the church is true! And continue to read your scriptures and say your prayers :) Have a Fabulous week!

Com Amor,
Sister Steadman

The most expensive teddy bear I've ever held.

Me, Sister Fidellis, Sister Mercer & Wade (President's Son)

Chasing Down Investigators

Well, I don´t have too much time but I’ll try to tell you guys everything that happened this week.

First off we have Fabrissa. We met her two weeks ago knocking doors and she accepted our visits. So when we went back to visit her, her sister had an emergency and she had to go help. Then we went to go visit her again and her tooth broke so she had to go to the dentist. But finally, deu certo :) So we got to visit her this week and it was so good! She told us right in the first visit that she wants help to quit smoking so we have been setting goals with her and she has been smoking less. She accepted to be baptized as well on the 19th of December! So we are super excited about her! When we taught her the first lesson the spirit was super strong and she new right away that is was all true! And she was so excited to receive a Book of Mormon!

Then we have Raianne and her family. So here is everyone, Edvania the mom, Raianne 18, Fabianna 16, Natalia 12, I think, and Anderson the cousin. So this week we stopped by a few times and we were able to teach all of them. Obviously they weren’t all together every visit but we have been able to help them all progress which was really good! Sometimes its a little difficult to teach them because we show up and its different people every time and some of the family members have heard more messages then others. But they are all reading the Book of Mormon! Anderson we met this week. He heard about our visits and wanted to participate so one morning when we went to go visit Raianne she went and woke him up and he participated so that was cool! And..... they finally went to church!!!!!! We were super happy about that and they loved it!!!!! But it may take them awhile to get baptized because they have a few commandments that they need to keep before.

One day as we were walking down the street, after all of our appointments fell through, we saw a man sweeping and we thought lets make a contact with him. But then he went inside and started to close his garage door and I thought oh crap...... but then he stopped half way. So we ran and talked to him. And it was so perfect! He asked us a bunch of questions, questions that hardly nobody asks, but questions that every missionary wants to hear! So we talked to him a bit then marked to visit him the next day. So we went back the next day and he wasn’t there. So we tried to call him, and out of nowhere he came running down the street, ha. He was caught up at his work and couldn’t leave to meet with us so he ran really quick so that we wouldn’t think that he forgot. So we set up to meet with him again this week. But, I’ll tell ya, he was definitely prepared by the Lord. So I’m super excited about this week!!!

Yesterday in church we FINALLY had some luck! We had 7 investigators in church!!!! We finally got to see the fruits of our work! And yesterday we broke the record here in Paracatú of the number of people. Normally we have like 28 but yesterday we had 40!!! And most of the people were investigators! So we are extremely happy about that! Now we just need to keep up with them so they continue to progress!!

Lately I have had the chance to teach the Plan of Salvation a lot and I have loved it! Never before have I realized how important it is to know the plan that the Lord has made for us. I always think of the movie Alice in Wonderland when she comes to a fork in the road and the cat appears to her. And she asks which path she should take. The cat replies saying that it depends on where she wanted to go, and she didn’t know. So the cat tells her that any path will do. This is very similar to our lives. In many moments we come to a fork in the road and we aren’t sure with way to take. But knowing our final destination (the Celestial kingdom) we are able to figure out which path will be better and take us to there. This path is Jesus Christ. If we follow him everyday and live his teachings, we will reach our destination. But only through him it is possible. Thus, we must always be searching for him, always reading the scriptures to know what we must do to stay on the path, praying for the strength and protection of the Lord to stay on the path, and being worthy to have the spirit with us to help us stay on the path. And by doing this, we will reach the gates of heaven and there we will meet our Heavenly Father with his arms out wide to take us in. I’m so eternally grateful for the Plan of Salvation. I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father. He knows me personally and loves me. He loves each and every one of us. He wants us back, but he gave us our agency to choose. So I challenge each of you this week to do a self-evaluation to see where you are. Where on the path you are at and what you can do to continue? If you are not on the path, I invite you to return. He will help you make it back. Seek our Savior Jesus Christ. He will take your hand and guide you through.

I love this gospel. I love my mission. I love my Savior.

Have a Fabulous week!!

Com Amor,
Sister Steadman