Sister Jazmyn Card

Hey everyone!

I have the best surprise in the world. You ready for it?

Anderson got baptized!!! Yeah, honestly, biggest, best surprise of my whole mission I think. So great! So, I got my first baptism in Brazil (: And it was SO great!

Here's what happened:

We had been talking a lot about baptism with him. A LOT. He was so ready to get baptized, but he honestly was so scared to make the commitment of baptism. We talked a lot, he was very good friends with the youth here, and he was making incredible progress in the gospel. But he still didn't feel ready. So, we decided we needed to focus more on the Savior and the relationship he has with Him. Tuesday night, we had one of the most powerful lessons I have ever had on my mission about the Atonement and the Savior. It was honestly so perfect. When we invited Anderson to baptism again for December 7, he said "No. I am not ready for baptism. I have only been to church 3 times and I don't know if I have received my answer yet. I want to go to church for at least a year and see if this is still what I want." Ughhhhh. Heartbreak. We walked away from that lesson thinking, "What in the world went wrong? Why does he STILL have the desire to wait? He is ready!" So frustrating. We went home and prayed for a miracle.

But then, we had an activity with the youth on Wednesday night. Anderson came and was talking with the kids there. One rapaz, Lucas, who is really good friends with Anderson, came up to us and told us that Anderson wants to get baptized on the 7th. We honestly thought he was kidding. After the activity, we talked to him and he told us that he wanted to get baptized! AH.

We planned a baptism in three days. Holy stress case. But it ended up being a great day! The Spirit was so strong and we loved it!!! AH, I still can't believe that happened. It was seriously wonderful! (:

Another surprise...

Sister Ponce and I are both staying in São Gabriel!!! We were so sad to be splitting up, because we knew that I was going to train. But, when we got our transfer calls this week, they told us that we were both going to stay and train here! The other sisters are leaving us ): Sister Ponce and I are super pumped to stay another transfer together! It wasn't time to split up yet (: This transfer is going to be so great with her again!

I learned a lot this week, especially about myself. I realized that there are a lot of things that are difficult in life. We make tough choices every single day. And Heavenly Father trusted us enough to make those decisions. When it seems like everyone else is making the wrong choices, however small they may be, we have to step up and be the person that the Lord can trust. If there is a problem and we know about it, we have the responsibility to do something about it. President Monson once said, "And I always want the Lord to know that if He needs an errand run, Tom Monson will run that errand for Him." What an incredible example he is to me. I want to be that person as well. Integrity, people. What are you going to do when no one else is watching? Or sometimes we need to ask ourselves, what are you going to do when everyone is watching? If you don't know who you are yet, keep working to find out who you want to be. And if you do know who you are, don't change for anything. I am beyond grateful that I know who I am, that my standards will not change for anyone or anything. Even if it seems like something small, I know that I will stand my ground in every situation that I am placed in. And even if I am known as "that super annoying missionary" for the rest of my mission, I know what I am here for, and what is expected of me. I am so grateful for the integrity that I have been given in my life.

I love my mission. I am so excited for this next transfer. It is going to be absolutely incredible. The Lord is hastening His work. How great is my joy for bringing one soul to Him this week (: I am so grateful to be here, to be working for such a great cause. I love this church. I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father. I love being a missionary.

Have a beautiful week. I love you all.

Sister Card

xoxo

Anderson, his brother Everson, and his dad Ricardo!

Anderson's baptism (:

Companheria (:

Merry Christmas (: Check out my nice missionary tanlines on my arms... LOVELY.

We made some unreaaaaal cakes for the baptism

Hey everyone!

I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving! Thursday morning, Elder Shepherd, our Zone Leader, did a conference call with all the American missionaries in our zone and said, "Hey Zone. It's Thanksgiving in America right now. So while we are all out here sweating and walking in the hot sun, not eating anything, our families are having fun and laughing and stuffing their faces. Hope you have a great day!" Lovely. Hahaha. Mission life is so good.

I cannot believe that it is already December. Time is absolutely flying. I hit eight months tomorrow. That means I can count on my fingers how many months I have left now. Weirdest thing ever.

Anyways, I heard this super funny joke this week. You guys are going to die. So funny. Ready? So the Zone Leaders and the Sister Training Leaders told me that I was going to train this transfer. Hahaha. Hilarious, right? Oh wait. No. That wasn't a joke, that was real life! I am TRAINING this transfer. Freeeeeeaking out. Just a little. Remember how I got to Brazil a month ago? Yeah, this is happening. Apparently my good ole buddy President Hanks in Alabama sent an email to President Parrela and said some things that I'm sure were far too kind. So yeah, I am training next week...

This week was pretty emotional, I won't lie. All week I had so many feelings of inadequacy. I had thoughts of how I can't speak the language, how I don't understand the culture, how I don't know how to be an effective missionary here. How in the world could I possibly train a missionary if I have all these problems? It was honestly the hardest week I have ever had on my mission. Poor Sister Ponce. Dealing with all my tears. She is an angel. Really. However, I learned an incredible lesson this week. I have the help of my Heavenly Father. He is the greatest help in the world. With Him on my side, I can learn the language, I can understand the culture, I can be an effective missionary, and I can train a new missionary. With Him on my side, I can do all things. I know that this next transfer is going to be difficult, but I know, without a doubt, that I can do this.

So, we got to work. And we worked our tails off. Sister Ponce and I made a plan to be the very best missionaries that the Brazil Santa Maria mission has ever seen. Wanna know what we called it? As esposas de Moroni. (The wives of Moroni). Hahaha. The ultimate goal as a missionary. But really. We created this plan that is near perfection. We were able to work with the members so much more, we were exactly obedient all week, we focused on the work, and things were incredible. We doubled our numbers with lessons taught with members and had seven investigators at church yesterday. Yes, seven. The most I have ever had on my mission! I am so beyond grateful for the work that we were able to do this week. I know that because we showed the Lord that we were willing and ready to work, He blessed us so much. I am so beyond excited for the work that is happening here. The members are finally getting excited about mission work and we are seeing miracle after miracle. Things are SO great.

I had a moment yesterday that I want to share with you all. It was during Sacrament Meeting. Fast and Testimony meeting is always killer and I tend to cry every single time. However, this time was different. As I listened to the members of the branch bear their testimonies of this gospel, I don't think I have ever felt so much love in my life. They had the opportunity to go to the temple on Saturday. We had members of our branch go for the first time, after so much preparation. What a blessing to be able to see that. I have so much love for these people here. They have so little compared to the world's standards, but in reality, they have more than the world could ever hope for. This gospel is their lives. I bawled all during Sacrament Meeting. I realized that this world is filled with so many things that distract us from what really matters. Sometimes I find myself thinking of things I did back home that maybe were a little more fun than tracting in the hot sun, or getting eaten alive by mosquitoes, or having so much exhaustion that I nearly pass out during some lessons. I find myself taking advantage of the time I have here and not using it as well as I should. However, when it comes down to it, this gospel is everything. Those little things are so insignificant in the scheme of things. I know that as we all put a little more emphasis on the gospel and the things that truly matter, we will have so much more happiness in our lives. I have seen it in the lives of the people here and I am eternally grateful to be a part of that.

Life is great. Things are going so well here. I think I cried every day this week because of my gratitude for my mission. I will never ever be able to express how much I love this work. I say it every single week, but I am so happy that I am here, serving in São Gabriel. Such a huge blessing in my life. I love this church. I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father. This is the work of the Lord. He is truly present in every minute of it.

I love you all. I hope you all have a great week. I will be enjoying my last week with Sister Ponce this week ): So sad that we are getting split up, but things will be great. She has changed my life so much! So beyond grateful for her. Have a great week and do beautiful things.

Loves.

Sister Card

xoxo