MONDAY - September 3, 2012

a millionaire, Olympians and a miracle. 

Hello Blog Family!

This week I will be telling three stories that describe this week perfectly. First-the millionaire.

Her name is Taise (Tai-ee-zee)  and she was a reference from a sick elder. The elder went to the hospital and was sick in bed for a while a few months back. Taise was in ICU because she got extremely sick on her way to Paris to go shopping...yes. she was going to paris to go shopping and she got so sick she had to turn around and fly right back ``without even trying on a pair of shoes!`` she added. The reference was given, Sister Arnell visited her a few months ago with another companion and because Taise rejected a baptismal date, they couldnt go back and see her....until this past week. We decided to try her out again.

So first to start out with, we had to walk a solid hour to get to her house because it is so completely dead center in the rich area. After walking for an hour we get to her apartment. We talk to the doorman, he lets us in, she lives on floor 2002. And she has two stories. She opens the door to her home and its like we just walked into a flat in downtown new york. Huge paintings and expensive lazy boys and an INCREDIBLE view. Her mother was visiting which was awesome since her mother is just by chance a member of the church. So we sit down and before I know it, i am counting her house workers. She has at least 4 women and two men waiting on her, cleaning her stuff and setting up a little tea party on the table. We talk and she tells us she would love to come to church, but she is flying to portugal this weekend to go shopping....umm yeah....and she will be in touch with us within the next week to set up another appointment. After the lesson she is all okay lets dine! And we go to the table and eat cakes and milk and juice and crackers and expensive cheese and we talk about america and when she will be baptized...It was seriously a modern day Jane Austin movie and we left the house giggling like little girls.

Next, The Olympian. She was found a while back as well as a reference from her taxi driver. The taxi driver is a member and she commented on how great of a man he was and how she wished more men were like him. Long story short, her name is Ilma (ill-ma) and she is a former brazillian vollyball player. she has a silver medal as well....and we called her this week to set up an appointment to meet with her again. We called just in time as it was her seven year old son, Calvins birthday. And she wanted us over that night to give a prayer on the seven wonderful years!!! (please note the sarcasm in my imaginary voice). So I wont lie, we were working in poor areas that day and our clothing was,,,,well, fine but it wasnt anything great. and I was rocking a third day hair bun and just imagine the rest. We walked to her house that night expecting it to be just her and calvin, talk to the doorman, he lets us in, we get in the elevator, get to her floor and open up the door to find not just Ilma, but Ilmas sister and friends and Ana Flavia. Ana Flavia is a former team mate from the Olympian days. And both Ana Flavia and Ilma are SOOO TALL. And they hug us and ask us to sit down with them...so we find ourselves sandwiches between two former olympians...you know, just chatting casually. The house had photos of when Ilma was a model and shes walking down the catwalk and then photos with famous people like nelson mandella (i kid you not i almost died) and photos with her teammates and their medals. The night ended with us saying a prayer in a prayer circle and saying our goodbyes to everyone and another elevator ride we just giggled in.

Something I wish I knew before I left for my mission-mission life brings you all sorts of adventures you would NEVER EVER experience in your real, normal life.

Then the Miracle. It requires a back story as well-so lets begin with Tiago (chee-ah-go) the brazillian version of ´´james´´. Tiago read parts of the book of mormon 6 years ago. He was a drunk smoker then and had no interest. Six years later this past march, tiago met the sisters and quit smoking and drinking within the week and was baptized. (miracle enough.) I love tiago. He is 26 and he is VERY outgoing and cracks me up. He also has a tattoo of John Lennon and the lyrics from ímagine´ on his arm, that definitely helps him out. Anyways, Tiagos father Manuel was a drunkard and smoker as well. Manuel followed suit in May and got sober in three days and was baptized. He is an incredible man, I LOVE HIM. He is like the happy version of eeyore. Everything bad happens to him but hes just kinda like oh this is my life oh bother. Love him. ANyways, Manuels wife Daisy is the miracle. Daisy has been our friend all transfer long. She is the hardest working woman I have ever met in my entire life. She works all day every day monday through friday so early and so late at night that we cant meet with her because she is gone all day. Our visits are only on sunday nights because it is the only time she can talk with us. She cleans and cooks and provides and does EVERYTHING for her family. She is the hardest worker i know, and she is also the most unhappy person i know. She is so worried about having a clean house and good food and money that she has forgotten all about her family and everything else. She is so busy yelling at everyone around her, she has forgotten how happy her family makes her. Her husband is SOBER and finally can hold a job and she is too busy being mad at him.  Anyways, she has never been to church. A few transfers back they got her completely ready and she started walking up the stairs of the house but then started yelling and blaming all the problems on the fact that they go to church and she is stuck at home making food. That was the closest she has been so far. Tiago wants nothing more than his mother to just GO TO CHURCH. It is all he has wanted since march.

So Sunday morning comes and we decide to go to their house. We can hear her yelling already and we are a little nervous. We say a quick prayer, knock on the door and tiago answers. Tiago looks at us and we can tell, today is not the day. But we go in anyways and talk to daisy. And here is the miracle-she looks at us and shes all okay i have to get ready. And she gets herself ready. Like, in a skirt and blouse and nice shoes ready. And shes all ready to go and we begin walking up the stairs holding our breath. And Tiago is behind her so she cant turn around and the whole time tiago is air punching. And she makes it all the way up the stairs and all the way to church. And she liked church. And when we visited her last night she talked about how she wanted her daughter to come with us next week too.

I think the one lesson I have learned this week is that even if you dont have the car or the girl or the first choice school or the job, if you have your family, its enough. And you should just stop and freaking smell the roses. If Daisy could just stop and breath and look around her, she would realize how great she had it.

I almost forgot-fruit of the week-mangos. we eat LOTS of them-cooked, steamed, grilled, or fresh. they are delicious. also they have mango juice here and it is SOO GOOD. I wish we had it in the states because for real it is to die for.

 Pictures!! 

even the flies are prettier here.

things you would never see in america take two. we see him everywhere and i finally got a photo! 

FAVELA please note the horse in one of the photos. hahaha

favela again

Adamuelson. one of my favorite recent converts. he is a little creep and we love him. 

doesnt it just LOOK like rome? these people were drunk and singing loudly and i wanted to join them

 sister arnell makes fun of me when i stretch. 

our feet. you are welcome

 its the winter here. and i am already sweating. LOOK OUT SUMMER. 

we drink a lot of water here. seriously. 

Zone Conference 

On completely dfferent news-my birthday is in a month! And all I want for my birthday is a letter from YOU (whoever you are) telling me whatever you want. Here are some ideas-
1. How did you know the gospel was true?
2. An embarassing moment you have had. Because I have a lot of them these days.
3. Good Advice. 

Have a great week!
sister mad