This is something I´m learning on my mission. I´m less and less nervous to make big decisions now that I am gaining a testimony of kneeling down and begging My Heavenly Father for revelation, spilling my righteous desire guts as often as I can. He really loves me. He really loves your little family. He wants to bless us. I imagine sometimes that Heavenly Father is like an over eager Dad that already bought our Christmas gifts and wants so badly to let us open them because he wants to see us freak out about Super Barbie 3000 and Mega Micro machines, but he has to wait until Christmas or it just wont be right. Heavenly Father has blessings stocked up that he is literally eager to give us, he would rip open the wrapping himself if he could and say ´´TA DA! DO YOU LIKE IT`?``...I can just imagine... And when we go to him, ask him worthily he will bless us with gifts that are so good and last forever and dont require batteries. All we have to do is have faith, obey the commandments, and never forget just to ask.
Ok listen. I´m on this Island Sao Miguel. My area is called Ponta Delgada. Our area is gigantic. There are three missionary companionships here on this Island. I am here with Irma Morrison, the area that the Lord has put in our hands is gigantic. It takes up one third of the Island and to get from one side of our area to the other takes at least 2 hours in a car (we dont have a car). Also the buses here are--well I think there is one bus. Haha. Dont get me wrong the Island is civilized, there are some tourist, a mall, and we even have an ´´american store´´ it has american products, like junk food and tents. We have a freeway and such, but the fact of the matter is, there is a lot of space to cover. What a blessing. The people here are so warm. The accent here is wonky just like they said, to me it sounds like austrailian people are speaking Portuguese and it is all being said backwards and upside down....hahaha. But I know I will get used to it. The Island is calm. Peaceful. But at the same time full of life in some parts.
We walked 45 minutes to one of our appointments on friday and walked along the edge of the water, I´ve never seen water like that before in my life. Dark black rocks with clear blue water gushing over. I feel like I´m on the coast in Washington meets Iceland meets Portugal. The rains are coming. It has already rained a few days here. It is still warm but I can feel it, things are gonna get pretty blustery here in a few weeks... WOO HOO BRING IT ON!!!!! We´ve got people to find, and a little rain isn´t gonna stop us. I´ve been prepared my whole life to serve this mission in inclimate weather hahah, thanks Seattle!
Ok here is my address before I forget:
Rua Nova Da Misericordia
Nº266 1ºESQ
9500 Ponta Delgada
Acores Portugal
The postage is the same price to send mail to and from the Island. I think it should be cheaper because now I´m a whole time zone closer to the United states. I can´t tell you how awesome it is to recieve mail....so now you know. Also any packages can be sent to the above address...
I am excited to serve with my new companion. We will have our new set of challenges together, but I know we will have so much fun working hard. We are the only sisters in the Acores. We are the only sisters in the mission who are in a branch not a ward.All of the areas with sisters are where there are enough people to have wards and stakes. We have a branch. What does that mean? The Lords trusts us. I don´t know why, but I better get to work...
I´m no longer in Oeiras. But Bil you are right, I am a safe 4 days distance from that area and looking back it was the best. I miss our recent converts, I miss our members, I miss our investigators, and I miss Irma De Almeida. In the MTC the president´s wife told us that as we go along in our mission that feeling of homesick will change, you will slowly stop thinking about home and missing you home, but as you are transfered you will start to miss those people with whom you worked so closely, and by the end of your mission when you return you will be homesick for your mission... Well this just in I´m on that slippery slope... I love the people of Portugal. They are something else. I love the people of Oeiras and I am already growing attached to the people of this Island. I am here for them. I am here to love them and to serve them. I am here to help those who are seeking for the truth.
What a boring e-mail about weather and geology. But the Gospel is true. I am on the Islands of the Sea, helping to gather up those who will hear the voice of the Lord. How powerful.
We hear from our prophet this weekend in general conference. Don´t forget to watch and listen. Put the link on the blog if you would so people can find it! I can´t even wait I´m so excited......
Pictures in the next couple weeks....
Love
Sister Liz.
***Stepper, here! As per Lizzie's request, here's a link to where you can stream General Conference this weekend! And you can see/hear past sessions from this site, also.
You'll note that if you click the October 2010 link (that's this weekend's conference) all the info is pending. Check back there Saturday morning at 10:00 AM MST and you'll be able to stream it live!***
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