Survived Week 1 of Training

Hey everyone!

So, I survived my first week of training! And it was absolutely fantastic. For real.

I have to tell you all that I truly believe in the gift of tongues. As soon as I left São Gabriel to go pick up my new companion, my Portuguese clicked. It was like that moment on "The Best Two Years." Honestly, it was amazing. I was able to speak and understand EVERYTHING. Fluency. It happened. It was the most amazing miracle I have ever seen on my mission. Ever. I am getting teary-eyed thinking about it right now. The Lord truly qualifies those who He calls. This time last week, I was completely inadequate to train. However, with His help, I feel qualified. I feel like I can truly help my new companion.

New companion: Sister Silva. She is fabulous. I don't know if you can imagine two more opposite people than her and I, but we get along so well. She is 25 years old, so it's a little odd telling her what to do because I'm like a baby still. Haha. But she is very humble and is okay with me bossing her around a little bit (; She is from São Paulo, so she can help me out with the language and losing my American accent haha. Pretty soon I will be straight up Brazilian. Sister Silva really is so great though. She has only been a member for three years, but has worked SO hard to get on a mission. I am learning so many things from her every single day.

How excited am I for Christmas? Way too excited I think. I started a Christmas countdown in my planner with Christmas lyrics. I have lyrics written every day from now until Christmas. I altered them a little. Who's ready for some totally un-funny Jazzy humor?

10. "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know?"

9. "Feliz Natal is the Brazilian way to say Merry Christmas to you!"

8. "I should be playin in the winter snow, but Imma be preaching o evangelho."

7. "You better eat mel, you better look sharp, you better work hard, I'm telling you why. President is coming to town." (On the day we have interviews and Christmas conference.)

6. "Jazzy the red nosed missionary, had a very sunburnt nose. And if you ever saw her, you would even say it's gross."

5. "Away in Brazil, no air conditioning for her head, the little Jazzy Card never lays in her bed."

4. "Church bells ring. Are you listening? In the streets, sweat is glistening. A beautiful sight, we're baptizing tonight and walking in a Brazilian wonderland." (On the day of our baptism!)

3. "Dashing through the heat, smiling and saying hey, running to a licão, preparing on the way."

2. "I'll be home for Christmas (next year). You can count on me."

And my personal favorite for Christmas Eve: 

1. "Churrasco roasting on an open fire. Sweat drops dripping off your nose. Christmas hymns being sung by ward choir. Merry Christmas to you."

Oh, I forgot to mention that we are baptizing on Saturday. Artur. He is PERFECT. Think of Rebecca Walters in Brazilian man form. Sorry Rebecca, that sounds super weird and creepy hahahaha. But honestly. He is ELECT. So great. I am so beyond excited for him to get baptized. He is SO beyond excited to get baptized. He is fabulous. 

Things are so great here. I can't express my love for these people here. I bawled every single day this week. I honestly did because I love these people here so much. Sister Silva probably thinks I am crazy for all those tears this week. But I couldn't help it. These people are so fabulous. I cry far too often here. Every single lesson. There's just a lot of love. 

I love being a missionary. I love my calling more than I can ever explain. I am SO grateful to be a missionary at this time. The Lord is hastening His work. We are seeing miracle after miracle here. Things are fabulous. I love you all and I hope you have a great week. Christmas! AH! Can you believe it? I can't think about it too much because I get super sad and cry a lot hahaha. But when I don't think about home and family and Christmas and all that, things are good (; It is SUCH a blessing that I only have to miss one Christmas. I love you all. Have a great week.

Sister Card

xoxo

Surpise (:

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