Dear Everyone,

 

This week was pretty eventful. We have been teaching Rita and her mother, Isabel, together in a member´s home this week. We marked Rita for the 1st of November! Hopefully everything will line up! Rita is really cute and already knows a lot about the church from her friends. It´s kind of a stressful situation because the members have unrealistic expectations and want everything to run their way. It´s been a true test of our patience, but I know it will be worth it, because we´re doing this all for Rita. Cutie Pie.

 

There were two really neat experiences we had this week in particular:

 

1- On Tuesday we had had an unusually difficult day for some reason. We were frustrated with our area, the Elders and ourselves. Sister Anderson and I had to have a minute to vent and talk things out that evening after our Correlation Meeting. So we were sitting in a park, crying and eating a little chocolate-- because that´s what women do, you know!-- and a man we didn´t know came up to us. His name is Vitor (Victor) and he has depression (as do lots of people in this country.) He was having a panic attack and asked us for a magazine to fan himself with. Well, of course we had a dozen pamphlets, so we gave him one of those and invited him to come sit and talk with us. Turns out he is interested! It was a little tender mercy that we were in the park at the same time and both in need of each other. How amazing was that?

 

2- On Thursday night we were walking from the Church to our house when we came across the most terrifying dog I´ve ever seen. Sister Anderson has an a really deep fear of dogs (she was bitten when she was little) which didn´t help because the dog could sense our heart-rate go up. As it ran towards us, I threw my umbrella at it and then it ran away. Sister Anderson went into shock! It was scary but funny at the same time to help her get into our apartment. She was shaking for a long time afterwards. We were talking about that whole experience, along with others, that have been spooky on the mission. I must say that I have been really protected. I am so grateful. I know that many of you pray for my protection while I´m here. I know that there are also dear friends on the other side of the veil that are also protecting me. During my mission I have seen things and been places that I wouldn´t want to see or go to again, but I was never the target. I didn´t realize how much divine intervention there´s been till now! The Lord is truly keeping me safe.

 

Well, I love you all and again I thank you for all of your prayers and support.

 

Sister Derrick