Dear Everyone,

 

This week has been quite an adjustment, but it has been great. The Sisters before us left everything well, which has made a big difference. And you know who was here last? Sister Gidney! The apartment is very nice, too, so I feel spoiled.

 

Miratejo is really a wonderful ward. There are so many youth! On Sunday Sister Caldwell and I were in shock to see the chapel filled with young families, young single adults and Young Men/Women aged members! It was almost overwhelming! I was also blown away this week with our Ward Mission Leader. His name is Daniel Adriano (the Adriano family is a really imprtant and strong family in the Church here in Portugal) and his a return missionary from Florida himself. He is dating the former Sister Mendes- remember her? I went on a division with her on the Azore Islands but she had back problems and eventually was released as a missionary because of it. She was visiting this week and we saw her at Church on Sunday. What a treat. Anyway, Daniel is SO on top of everything! In fact we missionaries don´t even need to go to ward council. He´s such a boss! I know that might seem funny, but it´s the first ward that I´ve been in where we don´t go to ward council. AMAZING! Most wards are still semi dependent on the missionaries to function, but not this one!

 

This week I had to exercise a lot of patience because on white washes neither you nor your companion really know what you´re doing. But I had the pleasing and most satifying opportunity to look back and compare this white wash to my second transfer when Sister Giberson and I white washed Setúbal. I´m so happy to say that I´m a much more rational, calm and patient person! I am so happy to see improvement. Sometimes it´s difficult to see if what you´re doing really makes a difference, but when you look back and compare yourself to the past, it is really rewarding. In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord tells Joseph Smith several times that all his trials will work out for his benefit. It´s true! What a blessing we have to learn in this life.

 

I love you all and hope you have a good week,

 

Sister Derrick