Dear Everyone,

 

This week was tiring, but really great! Thank you so much for the prayers and support; I have been really feeling of your love. Last Monday we had interviews (I am pretty sure that I already mentioned that) and as a result We got together as a district to see how we can help the ward become more united. We started out by: planning a pancake party, giving compliments to members and helping the Bishop calm down and feel loved. I am so excited about these plans because they are already starting to show results! We threw the pancake party on Saturday, which was a hoot! We had way too many pancakes and way too few toppings, and then there was a revolution because we didn´t have enough cups. But it was fun all the same and the ward liked it. We have been giving compliments (both direct and indirect) to the ward members and it has really made them feel appreciated and noticed. It´s kinda fun! I got brave and called up the Relief Society President. Oh my gosh I was so scared, but it turned out great and in ward council she gave me a compliment in return! Woot, woot! We are still working out how we can help the Bishop. If you have any ideas, let me know.

 

Things have started to improve in our area too. Three people came to church and we marked 2 people for baptism:

Amilton!- We have been taking things one step at a time with him. He prayed for repentance of his sins, about which he said that he felt `relieved.´ He is marked for this upcoming Saturday, but has been sick lately with migrane headaches. The Elders and Ward Mission Leader, Nedgar, came with us to give him a blessing of health, but he still isn´t feeling 100% better. We are going to fast for him this week.

Jorge- He was a door contact last transfer whom we came back in contact with two weeks ago. In the doorway we asked him if he would be baptized when he knew our message was true and HE ACCEPTED! He is from Cape Verde and is on kidney dialisis, plus has diabetes. A few years ago his left leg was amputated, and a few months ago the toes on his right foot got amputated as well, so he walks like a pirate. He has very little religious background but really wants to be ready for the next life. The last lesson we had was on the Plan of Salvation and I honestly had the feeling that he is going to die shortly after being baptized and confirmed.

 

This week we went on a division to Lapa again, which was fun. It was funny because the Sister I went with was on the Azores, so I already went on a division with her last transfer! She is Sister Riveros, the 39 year old spit fire from Peru. Seriously, she has more energy than me and I am half her age! I´ll have to send a picture of us next week. Man, divisions are tiring as is, but doing a division without having a P-day was exhausting. When we got home we thought that we should make a sitcom because we were acting so ridiculous. On Thursday morning I got up and dressed to do yoga in the front room but ended up lying on the tiles for 20 minutes. We called up the Senior Sister over our health and these are the exact words that she said, `Your bodies are in a state of exhaustion. Take a nap. Now!´ Then we called Amilton, marked him for baptism while on the phone and rolled around on the ground because we couldn´t do victory laps. Then we took an hour nap. At least today we have a real P-day!

 

Tomorrow is our Mission Council, which we are really excited about. For every Mission Council, Sister Training Leaders from other areas sleep over for the night, so we decided to make our apartment `Hotel Odivelas´ To help them feel at home! Normally they come really late at night when we are cranky and tired, so we thought that if that happens again, they can at least be greeted to a mattress with sheets and a sweet on the top with a welcome note.

 

Thank you so much for everything. I appreciate all that you guys have done and are doing to support me.

 

Sister Derrick