The Past 18 Months

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Almost two years ago, I had a heavy white envelope in my hands with a paper that would forever change my life. Written was my call to serve the Lord and to labor in the far away land called Fortaleza, Brazil.

Over the past 18 months, this far away land has become my home, the land where miracles truly do happen. I´ve seen literally the hand of my Savior touch the people in my surroundings. As a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have taken probably over a billion steps acting as the Savior would, to help my dear brothers and sisters realize their divine nature as children of God.

There are many stories to tell and and lots of feelings to share, but the most I can seem to say is... Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. Through His teachings and light, I have found a true happiness. And sharing this true happiness the past 18 months has led me to see the very face of my Savior. I can say that I know Him and he is my best friend. He suffered our very own pains and afflictions BECAUSE HE LOVES US. He died on the cross BECAUSE HE LOVES US. And the reason why I had to be here in Fortaleza, Brazil is because HE LOVES US. I HAD to share this joy with all the world. And I pray with all my heart to know that I gave everything that I have for the sweet children here, because He did that for me and for every single one of us.

I´m grateful for the wisdom of our Savior to establish His church with a prophet, 12 Apostles, and the preisthood. Because only through this divine structure, can each one of us have an eternal family.  A truth and joy that we can only have by searching the true happiness in this life. I know that Christ restored His church through Jospeh Smith and that is why I have an eternal family today. And teh reason why one day, my children will be able to say the same.

I know, without a doubt in my heart, that Heavenly Father knows us individually. He sent His Son to suffer and die for every soul that has ever lived and ever will live. Through His teachings, we can be eternally happy. Joseph Smith is a man called of God to bring the pure doctrine of Christ her in our days. The Book of Mormon, is the most valueable item that I own. It holds precious truths and the most comfort I have ever felt in my life. I love my family and I´m grateful for their sacrifices for me so I could serve the Lord these past 18 months.

Thank you for everyone that has loved me and supported me through my mission. Your prayers have been truly felt. Until next week!

 The baptisms of Paula and Zuleide!!



 Next week, I will see my


Sister Myers is coming home!

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Our beloved Sister Myers is coming home after serving 18 months in Brazil! Join us as she speaks in her home ward on Sunday June 25th at 1:00 pm in the Pleasant Building, LDS Church. 800 W. Chandler Heights Blvd. Chandler, AZ 85248. Then join us later that evening at an open house at the Myers Home, 7pm. 3090 S. Greythorne Way, Chandler, AZ 85248. She would love to see all of you.

Almost the Last

Hey family and friends! I´m a little in shock because after this, I´ll just have one more email to send out to you guys because the next Monday I´ll be on a plane, starting my 24 hr journey home. Something I´ll never stop saying is that my mission has been 18 months of miracles.

This week we´ll have two baptisms of my sweetest miracles yet. I talked about Paula in my last email... she´s going super strong. I´ve never seen a woman make best friends in the church so quickly. She´s been super active in the church activties during the week that sometimes she tells us that we have to pass by her house much earlier because she´s gonna go hang out with some members. I always crack up. Ugh I love her. Sister Meneses and I call her our long lost best friend. She´s a makeup artist and has tried to do our makeup everytime we are there. I told her that the day I´ll have my last interview with President, I´ll be her barbie doll. My favorite part in everything is to see how the light of the gospel is changing her life. She´s suffering a really difficult seperation and has shed lots of tears, with us at ehr side. And I know that the love of our Savior has brought a new vision and happiness. The exact reason why I came out on a mission, to simply see this light in others.. there´s nothing better.

Our sweet other miracle is called Zuleide. She´s a sweet grandmother of 70 years old. All 6 months that I´ve been here, Zuleide has never missed a Sunday and shes been investigating the church for more than a year. But she couldnt get baptized because she was living together with the father of her children but didnt want to get married. After more than a year of being a visitor, this Sunday she´ll be baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She´s a little old lady with so much gas and desire to serve. Theres no way that you are sad around her.

I love love love my mission with my whole heart. I´ll be going home only because my mom and mission President are making me. But I know this church is true and that Jesus Christ is our beloved Savior and best friend.

Sister Meneses and I
 Our best friend, Paula
 My mission BFF's
The last Sunday lunch with Familia Batista

 My companion played photographer last week.



The week my heart dropped.

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

This week was awesome! We´ve had awesome miracles and it´s been incredible to see until the very end. Everyone reminds me in our ward that if I dont leave soon they´re gonna ask for my membership record to be transfered here.... lol.

One of the coolest miracles is named Paula. Almost two transfers ago we met Paula, almost on accident. We had to get into this apartment complex and had the investigator wasnt responding. We yelled for someone to open the gate and it was Paula. She bgean to ask a bunch of questions abuot the church because when she was little she visited with her dad and step mother who were members. After teaching her the first lesson and getting to know her we found out that in that same week, she was moving to another house because she was seperating with her husband. I´ve never felt so so so disappointed. So we sent her new address to the elders who were serving in that area and we never heard anything else. UNTIL we saw her in the street this week. I´ve never felt a hug so strong in my life before.... she was so so happy to see us. She informed us that she moved BACK TO OUR AREA. Yesterday, she went to church for the first time in many many years. I know without a doubt that she felt at home, that she truly felt the love of her Savior that she was needing so badly. We are preparing for baptism within the next couple of weeks!!

Okay now the part where my heart dropped. So I was in the chapel, I think I was talking to some member while we were switching rooms. All the sudden everyone is quiet and I look to the door. I see my recent convert and behind him are my other two recent converts. Do you believe that I DIDNT RECOGNIZE THEM BECAUSE I WAS IN SHOCK?! I sat there looking like an idiot until I realized it was them and I started to ugly cry and REALLY look like an idiot. Catia and Valdeon (yes THE CATIA AND VALDEON) and Anderson from my very first area came to visit me. I was a complete mess the whole day. Catia and Valdeon are no longer "recent" converts because they are already members for a year and are preparing to go to the temple in August (if anyone is going to Brazil in August and willing to let me go in your bag, I accept). Anderson is preparing his mission papers to serve (hopefully in Arizona, am I right?). It was just the greatest day. Lots of happy happy tears. Catia said that the day I´ll see my mom will be worse. Amen. I feel so privileged to have been the one to teach these sweet spirits, along the side of my sweet companion, Sister Jackson.

I love the gospel. I know now more than ever that miracles are real according to our faith. I love my Savior.


The best souvenir that I taking home
 The best reunion I've ever had yet: Catia, Valdeon and Anderson
 My favorite family in the whole wide world, besides mine.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Hi family and friends! I cant believe the time is passing by so quickly.  This week I had my last Mission Conference. The president of the Brazil MTC and his wife came to visit our mission. It was such a sweet experience. I gave the last prayer and as I was leaving the stand his wife said "I cant believe youre American! You look and speak like a true Brazilian!". I got a little teary eyed because I truly love this country. It´s incredible how Heavenly Father knows I needed to serve here. I feel this everyday.

There are little time today, but I´ll write more about the experience next week.


Churrascaria and my very last Conference



 Conference

 My favorite converts and future missionaries!

feliz dia das maes

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Email after the Skype Call is always super dry because I feel like I´ve already said everything! BUT I wanted to send out a Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers here.

If I have learned something on my mission other than getting to know my Savior better, it is about the divine role of a mother and women in my life. It´s a subject very close to my heart. I think a lot about the people that have helped me get to where I am today and the great majority are sweet mothers who took me under their wings and helped me learn to fly. Its incredible to see how God has truly given women a little bit of His power to bring souls here to the earth and prepare them to return in His presence.

One of the greatest blessings I´ve had here on the mission, is to see awesome irmas here in the wards and branches that I´ve passed who have suffered so much to give their children the blessings of the gospel, just like my mom. I´m so grateful that I have a mom that fought to give me the gospel in my life. I cant imagine what its like to be her. I mean, just raising 4 women is a big task. I love you mom and I´m eternally grateful to Heavenly Father that I got sent to you.

Happy Mothers Day...
Sister Myers





The Last Transfer

Wednesday, May 10, 2017


Hi family and friends! Today, I recieved my last transfer email saying where I would go and who I would stay with. Im so so so happy to be able to stay here in Monte Castelo (6months!!) with Sister Meneses. Heavenly Father truly is blessing me with a happy ending. I am much better after our little sickness. Usually people who catch Zika stay in bed for 2 or more weeks but after one week I was already able to work. I was so happy to leave that stinkin bed. The time has passed by so fast. I hardly dont believe it. But I have 6 more weeks of working hard for the Lord and I cant wait for it to start.

This week was awesome. We had the baptism of Miguel. He is a young man that was interested in the church because his friend, Mormon,( yes his name really is Mormon) invited him to check out the church website. While he was looking around he asked for a Book of Mormon and thats when the missionaries (thats us!) recieve his referral. Miguel is REDICULOUSLY smart. Hes studying here in this high school thats like 24/7 besides Sundays. So for the past month we´ve been teaching him only on Sundays after church. Its been incredible to see him grow and learn about the gospel. I am so so excited to see him grow in the Young Mens organization.

I´d like to send out a big CONGRATS to my boy Cade Bleazard on his mission call to Cuiaba, BRAZIL!!!!! He will learn the celestial language of Portuguese. Theres something extra special about the youth that serve in Brazil and I know he´ll be an awesome Elder. Seja bem vindo ao Brasil Cade!!!

16 Months on the Mission
 Miguel's Baptism



The best house ever
(S.Myers, S.Meneses, S.Matos, S.Cowles)

Things we have in Brazil, Soccer, Samaba and ZIKA!

Monday, May 1, 2017

Hello dear family and friends!! HAPPY MAY! Crazy huh? How does time pass by
so quickly? Nothing is weirder than when you´re in mission conference and
everyone knows you´re an old missionary and everyones trying to send you
home. LET ME STAY HERE FOREVER.

This week was a bit of a poopy one. Have you ever heard of Zicka? Its a
sickness you catch from an infected mosquito and you basically die.I dont
reccommend looking up pictures. So I caught zicka and I was on bed rest the
whole week. It takes a while to leave so I dont have much to tell about
this week. My dear companion has been an absolute angel. She´s gonna be an
awesome mom one day. To say the least I´ve been drinking lots of liquids
and saying lots of prayers to get back out in the field.

Beware of Pride

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Hi friends and family!! It´ll be a little short today but I wanted to share an experience that I had this week. I´m trying to finish up the Book of Mormon again before I get home.(7th time´s the charm). I´ve been reading in Helaman and studying about the Pride Cycle. Lots of times I could see how the vicious cycle of pride ruins our families, our relationships, our work, just about everything that is good in our life. With this study, I have realized how Satan works so so hard in our lives, with tactics that we dont even realize that are coming from him, like pride.
https://www.lds.org/ensign/1989/05/beware-of-pride?lang=eng&_r=1
Above is a great talk from President Ezra Taft Benson. If you know anything about Sister Myers, you´ll know that she LOVES him. Pride is a trait of Satan that he will always try to tempt us with. Its on of the greatest tempations that missioanries face. Because simply said, if we are prideful, Gods work cant go forward and we cant progress spritiually.
This has been and still is one of the hardest barriers I´ve faced on the mission. But throught the powerful Atonement of Jesus Christ, He allows tme to change little by little so I can help those sweet children of God who need the gospel. I know that the time is now very short (Tammy is very excited) but I know there are tons of elects who are waiting. And I cant wait to share this powerful message of the Atonement and how it changes us for the better.

 My painting from the cutest old man in our ward.
 A rainbow!

Feliz Pascoa

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Hello my family and friends! HAPPY EASTER! Seriously I´m a little sad that Easter isnt as cool here. It´s not as commercialized as the States, as you can imagine. It is alot more focused on The Holy Week rather than the day of Easter. Needless to say, I did not eat ham nor funeral potatos.
BUT this week was full of cool things and I have tons of pictures (youre welcome momma).

On Friday we had a Mission Conference. Presidente Bonini is going home in June(with me) and he´s been preparing a conference for every transfer until he goes home. Then on Saturday we watched a play done by members of the church here called "Jesus the Christ". Its basically like the Easter Pageant, I think. But it was awesome beacuse it was my second time watching it here on the mission. This year I could see various members participate whom I had passed in their wards. I was so so so happy to see these talented members depict the life of Jesus Christ. Fortaleza and Fortaleza Leste watched it together so there were tons of missionaries there. The members from our ward talked to us after and said that there was a special spirit there that there wasnt in all the other apresentations because they were performing for true representatives of Jesus Christ. My heart swelled up a little bit, I thought that was so sweet.

And Sunday... well Easter really isnt the same here but I was so so happy to feel the Savior´s love for me in His House. It´s incredible how you feel the same spirit on the other side of the world. I love my Savior. I know that he died for each one of us. But most importantly, He is risen and He lives.  I hope this week was a reflective moment for everyone as it was  for me. I wouldnt want to be anywhere else giving everything I have to the Lord.

Mission Conference & the Easter Pageant 








Baptizing Converts

Monday, April 10, 2017

Something my dad told me before I left for the mission field was about baptizing converts. As a missionary, it is your duty to teach your investigators and converts how to be truly converted to the gospel. Because they´re like babies, they new to learn one thing at a time, simples. And there is NOTHING NOTHING better than seeing that your converts are TRULY CONVERTED.

Sunday was such a special day. My convert Andre, came to church with a white shirt and tie for the first time and passed the sacrament. Danilo,who was baptized last week, received the Holy Ghost and was confrimed a new member. And our miracle, Felipe was baptized! I talked a little about him in the last email. We met him at this food truck about a month ago. And long sotry a little bit shorter, we began to teach him. He would leave early from work to meet with us. The second lesson, we talked about the Plan of Salvation. Tears streamed from his eyes as he began to explain about his true love. He grew up with Joanna, the girl next door. They dated their teen years until on day, she suddenly died of a fall. As we taught him the Plan of Salvation and temple work, he´s become a completely new person...someone who is truly converted.

There is nothing more beautiful than to see a life changed. Nothing nothing. And as these lives change, so does mine. I hope to come home as a changed person because my converts have truly helped me to be converted too. And I thank Heavenly Father for this privilege.


The beach! Our area of course only gets the ugly part of the beach but at least its something!



 "I don't have criseses, I have Christ"
 15 months!
 When canker sore meds do not exist, throw some salt on it.
 Andre passed the sacrament for the first time this week.
 The baptism of Felipe, our miracle.


 Danilo was confirmed and came to church! Super fancy!

 
template design by Studio Mommy (© copyright 2015)