Ola! :)

Hey, here are some pictures we took at Furnas today. Hope you enjoy them!

 

Irmãs Morrison and McCrery

 

 

Branch Halloween Party

Ok well I just tried so hard to attach photos from our adventure today. But it´s not working. I don´t have too much time to write back now.

Something exciting coming up is the HALLOWEEN PARTY that we (The elders and us) are throwing for our Branch. Our Branch in Ponta Delgada is struggling with unity and we thought it would be a great idea to throw a full blown halloween party like they wouldn´t even believe. There will be doughnuts (homemade), fishing for candy, bobbing for apples, whip cream pie eating contest (thats not really halloweenie, but they will love it). We´re gonna have candy and prizes and someone got the movie hocus pocus to watch after the games....with portuguese subtitles (I don´t think we are staying for that part...). Should be one for the books. 

Did anyone see the moon last night? It was eerie.

Ok well sorry for the few words.

I´m doing great. This week is gonna be even better than the last. I love you all and keep on keeping on.

Love,

Sister Liz

O Divine Redeemer

Do you know that song, Oh Divine Redeemer? I recommend putting on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir version of that song. Turning it up to just the right volume. Lay down facing the ceiling, listen to the music and lyrics, then afterwards get up and get back to work.

 

This week was intense. We had a good week. Irma Morrison is a serious trooper. As it always goes, the world keeps moving and you are required to get moving too. She has not been having breakdowns or emotional melts. She is steady. Firm. We laugh, we work, and when we fall we get back up. On the Irma Morrison front, all things are going well. We are really quite the best of friends. She just recieved the email from her family about her dad´s funeral. There were 1000 people in attendance. One Thousand. I think that is a testament to the kind of man her father is. Her testimony of the Plan of Salvation is growing with leaps and bounds...so is mine.

 

Leonor and Jusara were baptized this Sunday. What a miracle. A serious miracle. We are experiencing growth while serving on this Island. We are seeing our branch go through changes, and seeing how the Lord works in miraculous ways.

 

I wanted to include some pictures from our everyday adventures....

 

More next week...

 

Lizzie

 

P.S. I heard that Aunt Shirley´s package got sent back!!!! OH NO!!!! I don´t know why. But it seems like a fluke. You can send packages directly to my address here on the Island and they go to the local post office and we go pick it up. Or you can send to the mission office address too...

All letters you can just go ahead and send to my island address...I love em!

And it rained all night...

Dear family and friends,

 

What a strange week. 

 

My companion right now is Irma Morrison. We get along just great. We have about everything in common. It is like serving a mission with someone like Claire as my mission companion (so we laugh a lot...). We work together to try to better our teaching and we work hard trying to find those people who have been prepared. On P-days we have fun and last week we bought matching nautical themed grandma style nightgowns. So I think you can picture how good of friends we have already become. I feel super blessed to have gone from Irma De Almeida (who I didn´t think anyone would compare), to another soul friend companion. Let me tell you a few facts about Irma Morrison... She is from a family of 10 kids! What the? Ya 10. And she is 1 of only 2 girls. She is from Oregon (so we have a lot of northwest pride as we stomp through the rain here). She can do a really good lisp voice. We are the exact same height (so in this country..giants). So basically we get along just great. Thats why this week it was especially hard to receive some bad news from her family. 

 

Her father passed away this past thursday. He died of a heart attack. He was 61 years old. It was completely unexpected he was healthy and never had any medical problems before.

 

You can imagine that the world came crashing down on this little Island in the middle of the ocean. Here we are thousands of miles away from her family and she hears the worst news that one can here while being on a mission, someone you loved has passed away. Normally when something like this happens the mission president would come strait over and tell us. But we are here. On an Island. In the middle of the Ocean. He couldn´t get a flight out soon enough, so our zone leader had to tell her. When they came to tell us, the feeling was surreal. All of a sudden a flood of emotion came over me and I felt that familiar feeling again. He´s gone. Her dad is gone.

 

We took the rest of the day a little easy. She called her mom. I insisted that we buy brownie mix and bake it immediately ( P.S. Brownie mix is approx. the equivalent of 7 US dollars for one box. a BIG deal for us missionaries). We took it in strides. But here is the thing. We are missionaries. We are on a mission. There is a work to do. Irma Morrison knows it too. She really gets it. There is not a doubt in her mind that she is staying here (much to my selfish relief..).

 

So here I am. On an Island with one of my new best friends and her Dad passes away unexpectedly. Coincidence? No. That is the lesson for the week.

 

God has a wiser purpose behind everything. He has a plan. It is real. He loves and watches over each and everyone of us. I know for a fact that Irma Morrison and I are companions at this moment, in this place for a reason. She is teaching me things and I can honestly say that through the experiences in my life, I am able to be an instrument in the Lord´s hands, I am here to bake brownies, to sit and stare at a wall with here while she thinks for a minute, to laugh through tears about funny things that Dad´s do, to cry, to mourn, and to pick it all up, wake up the next morning and get back to work. She is teaching me lessons that I had never learned. She is strong and I am grateful to be here with her.

 

She has a testimony of the Plan of Salvation. That truly her family can be together forever and that without a shadow of a doubt she will see her Dad again. He is with her. He is now called to a mission elsewhere for a season. She is where she is supposed to be, and she is grateful.

 

This week put it all into perspective. We are here to tell people about the reality of these eternal truths, the Plan of Salvation has been revealed to us through Prophets and Scripture. We can share the answers to the questions of the soul. So the work moves forward. We work. We pray. We try to help these people. And we are blessed along the way through these life shaping experiences.

 

I love you all a lot a lot. I miss you and I am praying for you.

 

Love,

Lizzie

 

(No Subject - Conference Weekend)

Well this weekend was something to write home about. Conference weekend is always the best. I can´t even describe to you the excitement my companion and I felt on Saturday morning, as we were having personal study I looked up from my scriptures and stated loudly ``I`M SO EXCITED FOR CONFERENCE TODAY!!!´´

 

Being on this side of the world we watch conference from 4-6pm and then 8-10pm. What a real treat.

 

The talks were powerful and simple. Everything felt so back to basics. It was beautfiul. The warnings and the counsels for our times, for this year, for us right this moment. What a blessing to have the words of Prophets, seers, and revelators right here and now.

 

We watched Conference in Portuguese because there was just one computor to watch at the church. Neat. The internet kept crashing so I can´t wait to read the ensign next month to find out the punch line to some of the jokes.

 

But I think the most poignant moment of this conference was within the first 10 minutes of the Sat. session when the Prophet announced the next temples to be built.

 

LISBOA PORTUGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I don´t know if you can imagine the gasp of the ward building. I squeeled like a little school girl. We were all so taken back that I still don´t know where else the other Temples will be. This is HUGE! To have a Temple in THIS country. Close. Oh so close to THIS people. The Temple grounds had already been purchased and dedicated in 1988, but it is not until now that the Church has been strong enough and prepared to recieve a Temple until now. Can you believe it? As missionaries we have been praying for a Temple everyday in our mission. We pray that we can find those who are searching for the truth, help them enter into the fold and build God´s kingdom. A Temple means everything. A Temple means that those faithful members of the Church don´t have to travel to spain to visit the House of the Lord, it means they have shown the Lord that they are ready to recieve the blessings of a Temple in their own country. It means that enough people have entered the waters of baptism and have become faithful members of the Church that there is a need for a Temple because of those great numbers of faithful members who are going to the Temple in Spain every year. We are greatful to witness this incredible time. I can´t even imagine the people back on the continent. They must be sooo excited. The Temple will be built in Sintra, about 30 minutes by buss from my last area. Maybe I will serve there before my time is up.

 

Speaking of which. I have one year left out here. Just one. Oh how quickly the time flies. Now is the time to work a little harder, focus a little more, and help these people of Ponta Delgada learn the Truth. God lives and so does His son Jesus Christ. God has a plan and he loves us.

 

out of time....5 mintues ago...

 

Love you all

 

Sister Liz

Letting the Days Go By! Water Flowing Underground!

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.

GENERAL CONFERENCE

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!***

Gulligans Island.... AKA THE ACORES!

LIsten up,

I have a few e-mails in my inbox that I have not yet read as I write this E~mail... The reason that I can´t seem to even stop shaking is because I just found out 5 minutes ago from the office Elders that I will be transfered this week to THE ACORES!!!!!!!! (pronouced ah-sores, more or less). My hands are shaking and I can´t even remember what I was going to tell you in this email. Ok listen, the Acores are the islands off the cost of Portugal....In the middle of the ocean, separate from the rest of the world (like most islands I suppose) Only two sister missionaries serve there at a time. This week we have a special sister conference in Lisboa, and after the conference I will be swept up in a plane and off to the acores with one bag and whole lot of nerves. The Acores. Wow. They don´t speak Portuguese there. At least thats what people from the continent say. The Accent is soooo wonky out there that it is supposedly extremely difficult to understand even for people who speak Portuguese... WOO HOO, just when I was starting to get the hang of the language with Irma De Almeida, they take me to the other side of the world (mission). I feel inadequate and underqualified to serve there. I remember my first transfer with Irma Brinkhoff (nicknamed the machine, remember?) and she served in the Acores, told me stories, the kind of stories that made me say, ok good thing Heavenly Father only sends the tough ones there...I´ll steer clear and kick it here on the continent.....well well well. Look who has a plan for me that I didn´t expect...

Isn´t that how it goes?

I love it.

 

Ok Listen before I forget, all packages should be sent to the mission office now:

 

Rua Jorge Barradas N 14-C

1500 Lisboa

Portugal

 

Speaking of packages... today right before we left the apartment to go to internet I recieved a package from CLINTON AND ELISBAETH!!!!!! WHAT A TREAT!!!!!!!!! Irma De Almeida about had a fit with her excitement for the american goodies found within. We scarfed down a huge cookie before we came here. Thank you soooo much! Also now I have the recipe for Irma De Almeida.

 

Oh Irma De Almeida.... We will be separated. I can´t even explain in this email how much I will miss her. We learned so much. We worked so hard. The best part is that we became friends. True blue friends. I think the ultimate lesson I learned with Irma De Almeida was repentance, and humility. We are so weak, we had to kneel down and ask for forgiveness so often, start over, work harder and seek the will of the Lord every single day. I learned a lot about how to say sorry and mean it. I learned about patience. I learned how to trust the Lord a little more everyday. Now I will serve with Irma Morrison! She is from Colorada I think. So thats gonna be weird. WOO HOO!

 

Ok Bil and Stepper, I need  your address or the address that I can call ``home`` so that the mission office has it on file. Maybe it is already in the email from Stepper that I have not yet read.

 

Ok I will read them now and write more after I read...

ok read the emails, sounds like everything is still good and right in the world.

I am going to try to attach some photos.

 

Isabel was Baptized this Saterday night. She is the wife and mom of a (former)part member family. How incredible.

 

Ok pictures are of our trip to belem.

 

only have this card with me, but i will print pictures and send them later.

 

Iove you all. I´m going to the middle of the Ocean and who knows when I will return.

I will miss oeiras. this place has become my home. These people are my friends.

Until next week....

 

Love

Irma Liz

our pasta

our soup, the making of.