I´ve recieved close to a dozen emails the past months, hearing about friends who are receiving their calls, who are just entering the field (hello greenies), or returning home after 2 years serving in various countries and continents. As I´ll hit 6 months next week, I´ve pondered a lot about who I am now and where I was as I entered the MTC. First and foremost, I´m different. And I dont mean I´m not Chandler anymore because I have just as much spunk and laughter as I´ve always had(ask my companions) but my desires have flipped 100 percent. Searching for the perfect scripture to describe thing change, I thought of one of my favorites: Isaiah 64:8 - "But how, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."

This transfer with just two weeks completed, I feel like I´ve be twisted, torn, reshaped, and molded, in more ways than one. For me, this is what a mission means. To allow Heavenly Father to change your very own desires and heart. I´ve never in my life felt so honored to be a servant of Jesus Christ, bringing the truth to my brothers and sisters in the lowest, simplest, and most beautiful of places. Entering a branch has messed a lot with my head. I´ve been forced to step up not only as a missionary but as a leader to show how the Church of Jesus Christ functions for these greater pioneers here in Paracuru. I´ve learned to pray not only for our investigators, but for our inspired leaders and the existing members, to receive the love of God I feel everyday. There isn´t much success to see in the future but I am choosing to be the Sister Myers God wants me to be; putting my will and what I want in the last place. Accepting that my happiness here, is to ensure that these souls that I´m teaching are converted to the one thing I know for certain: that the gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives. I´m not sure anyone here understands what that means for me. But anyone who knew Chandler and Sister Myers now... the change is real and its incredible.

On less important note, President and Sister Bonini came to Paracuru to check out our house. Which is a big deal because Paracuru is at least 3 hours away. As they were walking out, President asked if we had lunch today. We all silently shaked our heads no, not having time yet to prepare lunch. With a smile on his he said "Missionarias tem que comer!" (Missionaries have to eat!). So all four of us piled in his car and he dront to a beach front restraunt and holy cow, there were tears LITERAL TEARS PEOPLE in my eyes. It smelt like salt and fish and I cant imagine anything better. I love it here. Its the most beautiful place. And we ate the greatest seafood and the way to Sister Myers´s heart is through her stomach. It was kinda weird to sit down and causually have lunch with President Bonini but it was definitely a moment I wont forget. So this week... I ate lunch with the President.

Stay tuned for next week as today, I´ll have my official visit to the beach (boardwalk because missionary problems). Pictures will be sent your way the following, glorious Missionary Monday.

Beijos, (I´ve actually had night mares that I got home in the airport and kissed everyone because I´m so used to it now)
Sister Myers

We're not in Fortaleza anymore..

As some of you might know (shoutout to the homies that read the blog), I´ve been transfered to Paracuru! I have a lot to say about this town already. So Paracuru is 2 hours away from Fortaleza. Yes, I´m not even in Fortaleza anymore. This town is in the absolute boonies of Brazil people, but for good reason. It´s a beach town! I have yet to get to as close as the beach as possible but I can see it from our apartment. I can also see the DUNES from our apartment. Seriously its the coolest place to relax if you werent a missionary. Buuuuut Im Sister Myers and Im here to work.

There´s alot of work to do here in Paracuru. I´m working in a branch, which is absolutely new for me. The meetings happen on Sundays in a house, we call it a casapela (casa(house) and capela(chapel)). Our goal in the branch is members that are attending church because as of right now, we dont even have branch frequency. It´ll be alot of work but I dont think anyone sends in their mission papers and says "Hey prophet, send me somewhere easy.". I certainly didnt. So Im here, and Im gonna do my absolute best because thats what the Lord expects of me.

I think I´m experiencing delayed culture shock. So, Paracuru in the center of the town and close to the beach is rich Americans, Yep, I said it. Cray cray Americans (and Brazilians). Even I stand in front of these houses and think man, what does that guy do? But as you walk futher and futher away from the center of the city, it gets scary. And not scary as in fearing your life kinda thing. Its scary as in, these child of God are living in these kind of conditions scary. We passed by these areas yesterday and I instantly felt uncomfortable. I felt bad that I had shoes on my feet, two of them, brand new. That I had on a dress that I bought from a store in a huge shopping mall, a place for people to drop money on things they dont need, and a bottle of clear and clean water in my mission bag that was shipped to my house from Amazon. Even now, my heart is heavy. But, I have been called to serve my family here in Paracuru. To help heal the wounds and patch up the bad things in their life spiritually. I just hope I can try my best.

Please pray for these people that I have the chance to encounter here. Pray for their families, and their homes. Together Sister Miranda and I will work our very hardest the next 5 weeks to bring the fullness of the Gospel, the happiness that we have, to these people here.

Com muito amor
Sister Myers

"I will boast of my God"

I feel so overwhlemed to write an email about this week. So many amazing things happened and so many more great things will happen this week. Life of a missionary; it´s always good.

Tuesday: A day with an man called of God
We had a bi-mission conference with Elder Christensen. We left on these charter buses because it was held in the other mission, Fortaleza East. The Spirit was so pure and strong as he walked in. I almost cried because he looks SO America. Tall, white, and bulky. As I went up to shake his hand, I seriously had the hardest time deciding to say "bom dia" or "good morning" because he doesnt speak Portuguese and I wanted him to feel at home. But plot twist, we´re not in America anymore Sister Myers. I went with Bom Dia. Anyways, he talked about two big points: teaching repentance AFTER baptism and the Book of Mormon.
In repsect to teaching repentance he talked about if we baptized people who were 100% converted, we´d never baptize. Its important to teach our investiagtors how to be converted. To go through that process there is an absolute need to teach repentance.
One thing he said about the Book of Mormon that I LOVED was " The Book of Mormon is the REAL MISSIONARY". Because its so true. Our purpose is to support and invite them to read. If the book is the word of God, Joseph Smith is a true prophet, if he´s a true prophet, the church of Christ is here on the earth. Powerful stuff.
Saturday: The waters of Baptism
ANDERSON GOT BAPTIZED! I really wish you could all meet him. He has the greatest story and I feel so blessed to get to know him. His parents went to his baptism which was awesome because they havent been supportive until now. He really has a rock solid testimony and has expressed a desire to serve a mission! Nothing is more incredible than seeing a missionary help another person be a missionary.
Sunday: CRAY CRAY
So Sunday was crazy. I spoke in church, lol. Correction: I tried to speak i church. I had to talk really slow to make sure people understood me. Or maybe because I was crazy nervous. But Sister Jackson said it went well. The best part of church was sitting on the pulpit and watching the faces of the people that I love here. Valdeon blessed the sacrament, Gustavo passed it. Anderson got confirmed and recieved the priesthood. This is the best yet: Catia got called as a counselor in Relief Society Presidency! Then Valdeon  got called as secretary in the Elders Quoarom presidency. Cray right? So when we went to ward council they were both there. It was so funny because Bishop was like, lets talk about recent converts. First Catia and Valdeon.. OH WAIT THEYRE HERE. Then we had Brazilian barbeque like that place in Provo... I cant remember but man I ate so much. Theres a family that I´ve been really close to that did a going away lunch for SIster Jackson.

Today/Monday: cha cha cha cha changesssss. So I sent off my dear Sister Jackson this morning and received my transfer email. Im going to Paracuru!! So this is what I know. Its a beach town (with baptisms on the beach). Its really small town with small area limits so its been known to be difficult. Right now, theres a small branch so it will be my first time working with branch presidents and how branches functions which will be cool. Im so sad to leave my families here... they´ve truly become my family.

My subject header is from Alma 26:11-13 in the Book of Mormon. It explains perfectly how I´ve felt about this transfer... I feel so little as the Lord has worked through Sister Jackson and I to find those souls who were in need of the gospel of Christ. Anderson was closing our lesson with a prayer yesterday and he said "please let Sister Jackson and Sister Myers know of just a little of the gratitude I have for them". I just keep saying "it was the Lord, it was the Lord". Im grateful to see where the Lord takes me next on this incredible journey.

Thank you for your love and support. I often am in shock every Monday morning hearing from my family and loved ones. Thank you.
Com muito amor,
Sister Myers

Sister Jackson and I on our way to conference

 Our district, more like our little family.

 Anderson's Baptism

 

Irmao Altanizio is the boss griller

 Us and the boys

So so much love for this family

 Donkeys because.. Brazil

When you start to feel old (5 months passed by)

Bommmmm diaaaaa! I wish I could say I want to be experiecing the 115+ degree weather with you all but I cant. The Fortaleza heat is enough for me. Also, I would like to say that it may be hot but remember that in the US we can press a button and our houses are cold...food for thought. Any how, this will be the last week in the transfer. I´m so incredibly sad to see Sister Jackson go. She´s quickly become a friend rather than just a mission companion. Definitely a person who was placed in my life to change me for the better. Next transfer, anything could happen and I´m so excited to see where the Lord places me next.

As for this week, Luiz Fabricio got baptized! To recap, we met him on his doorstep. If we´re being honest, he is super timid so I thought it wouldnt go anywhere. Then we met his family and saw how supportive his mom is for him to be involved in a religion. As we began to teach him, he started attending mutual, seminary(even though hes only 12), and church. He really became good friends with the young men and did everything we invited him to do: read the Book of Mormon everyday, attend church, pray. He has really opened up with us, as much as a 12 year old will with two young adult women lol. He was ready to be baptized two weeks ago but he got Dangue, a mosquito sickness. But now hes great! His family came to the baptism, even though none have a desire to receive our messages. On Sunday he showed up with a white shirt and tie. That moment just makes it for me. When they truly go in 100%.

Next week, Anderson will be baptized. Now listen to how cray cray his story is. So we met Anderson in church last week. His friend from another ward brought him to visit. We marked a day to pass by his house because it was in our area. So we went by for the first time last Tuesday. As we got to know him, he began to open up. Get this. He´s dating a girl who is serving in Victoria, Brazil. And during the time shes been out,she invited him to pray to know if the church is true. So hes been praying for months to receive an answer. Then finally he felt like he needed to go to church to receive his answer.  When he walked in the building, a feeling of peace swept hid body and he knew that God had sent him his answer.  So for us, he´s really amazing. We just keep teaching him everything he needs to know and he asks questions and accepts any invitation we give him. He even went to Institute last week, IN ANOTHER CITY. And we´ve talked alot about temples. He lit up when he heard we could be with our families for eternity. And he just like, gets EXCITED about the gospel. Hes incredible, really. So next Saturday will be his baptism. I cant wait.

As for the recent converts, their amazing. We reactivated the family of Caio, Gustavo, and Arthur. Their parents are going to church again. They got to watch their sons pass the sacrament. As for Catia and Valdeon, he blessed the sacrament and recieved a calling in the Elder´s Quorom this week. Gente, these people are amazing. I feel so little compared to what these people are doing for their lives and futures.

I cant wait to continue in this work. Sometimes people look at me like I´m crazy because I left family, friends, school, and career at home but I cant imagine being anywhere else. These families, these people here, they´re my home for now. And not because they´re replacing home but because they truly are my brothers and sisters. I feel so blessed to be serving in my sweet town of Conjunto Novo Ceara.

When someone fills up the font too high...

 Luiz Fabricio and his Young Men's President, Levi (pronounces Lev-ee)

 Luiz Fabricio e Sister Jackson e Eu

 Sisters on Sunday

The week got flipped turned upside down.

I´d like to take a minute just sit right there, I´ll tell you how I became a Sister in a town called Ceara. (If any of you catched my Fresh Prince of Bell-Air thing there, gold stars for you) Can you tell I miss America? Only a little.

This week started out insane and to really frank, wee bit frightening. Long story short (because you reaaaaalllyy dont want the details), I had to get a colonoscopy on Tuesday. So Monday, Sister Bonini dropped of all those PURE LAXATIVES you have to take before hand. I died. I could only have water and Sprite. When you live in the land of Coca-Cola, its so difficult. Anyways I woke up from the colonoscopy like still super drugged. The fun part? I had interviews with my mission president right after. Yep. So Sister Jackson and I walked from the hospital to the mission office, mean while I´m saying whatever comes to my head. Sister Jackson said she got a real kick out of it. I said that the doctor that puts you to sleep looked like McDreamy. Then while we were waiting for my turn I started crying because theres a Sister Missionary from Temple Square that got to be in this last Ensign and the Ensign from last conference. I cried. But completely sober I still think thats unfair. Then I told the office Elders that if there were office Sisters the work would be more effcient. Yeppppp. I said that. But they all knew I was druggy still and thought it was funny. I was fine before my interview but getting to that point took a while. Poor Sister Jackson.

Wait, it gets better. So I was pretty much set that this week would stink. Sister Jackson got really sick the day after so we couldnt work. As we were doing visits, those three young boys we´ve been teaching said that their dad would give his permission. WHICH IS A MIRACLE. So all week we were waiting for him to be home. But he works for the military so hes rarely home. We finally tought the entire family Friday night and we shared a message about the importance of baptism. Then the dad looked at us and said, if they want to be baptized, I´ll support them. Gente. These three boys LIT UP. They´ve been taught for atleast the past year by MANY missionaries. And they went to church,seminary,activities every week by themselves. They´re THE GREATEST OF BOYS. They seriously are so strong in their faith, they had to be with their dad. And he signed the baptisimal form.

Saturday night, the boys suited up in white along with their uncle, Zenon, and were baptized. They were cheesin so hard when they got out of the water. And their whole family is Mormon, but most of them are inactice except for the uncle. The best part? The whole family was there. All three of them bore their testimonies. After, their grandma stood up, and said "I´ve waited so long for this. Now my family can be together forever". I just died inside. This is what missionary work is about. Its not about learning a new language, living in a different country. It´s bringing families together for ETERNITY. There is NO OTHER IMPORTANT work.

Sunday, there were more miracles. A family that had been active for YEARS, had gone through the temple, went inactive. We´ve been working with this mom and four kids to get back to church. Week and week went by and nothing changed. This week we had a lesson with her. Sister Jackson bore her testimony on the importance of the temple. I followed up with my feelings on families and what I wanted for my future family. I expressed to her that I had no idea what being a mom was like, but as a child, a crazy one at that, nothing was more important that my parents did, than take me to church every Sunday. And as we entered the chapel I saw that mom, dropping her kids off in their classes. It was such a tender moment. She said to us, Sisters, I did it today! Ugh I just cried. In sacrament meeting Caio, Gustavo, and Arthur recieved the Holy Ghost. The best part? Later that day, we got to watch Caio, Gustavo, Arthur, Valdeon, and Chrismeyer( son of the mom that came to church) recieve the priesthood. I sat there thinking about who theses men would be. Bishops, missionaries, semanary teachers, dads.... honorable men who changed my life. But the best thing is that whatever their lives will be like, they´ll be serving the Lord

These past two weeks have been incredible. Sometimes people look at missionaries who are baptising and think, wow theyre great missionaries. I will tell you one thing. The Lord puts us in the right place, at the right time. And without a doubt, He has changed the lives of these people. Not me, not Sister Jackson. The most important name on our name tags is Jesus Cristo. I know this church is true. Its the church Christ established here on the earth. The gospel is so simple. Following the example of Jesus Christ is the only way to be together with our families. I am where the Lord needs me to be. I love forgetting Chandler and putting everything that I was to be Sister Myers, a servant of the Lord. Thank you for your love and support. It means the world to me.
Boa semana e ate a proxima Segunda.
Sister Myers

 This was when I was forced to drink a bazillion gallons of laxatives (life isn't always golden, folks)

 Caio, Gustavo, Arthur and Family

 Os meninos e As Sisteres

Semana Cheia

Nossa. I cant email how INSANE this week was. If you´ve been keeping up with the email and ,I know quite a few of you have written me about this golden couple, you´ll know that Catia and Valdeon not only got MARRIED, but also got BAPTIZED! Gente... it was the most beautiful week. I had to apply makeup more than once so that was a little sad but other than that, I dont think I´ve ever cried so many happy tears in my life.

The Wedding: So around 3pm, Bishop´and his wife picked us up and we went over to see Catia and Valdeon. And Valdeon had bought THE FANCIEST suit. Like a really nice grey pinstripe suit. Like the one dad has that makes him look like a gangsta.  And of course Catia made her dress. Correction. She made her dress, decided at 3AM THE NIGHT BEFORE that she didnt like it then worked until 6 AM THAT MORNING to do another one. And it was blue. But hey, every woman to herself. And half of our ward all caravaned over to the Cartorio. I dont know what that is in English... but here you have to get married in this like court in order for it to be legal. So all the members have to be married in the court before they can marry in the temple.Anyways so they had theis very cheesey but adorable ceremony. I cried. And my Bishop said "You´re a strong sister but I knew you had emotions inside". Sounded like something Monica would say to me LOL. Then we had this cute recpetion at the chapel and Bishop bought them a cake and little snacks. Ugh, it was perfect. AND THEY WERE JUST GLOWING.

Baptism: I just wish all of you could have been there. Sister Jackson and I put everything perfectly together so that all would go well. AND BOY DID IT. Catia and Valdeon were the cutest in white suits. I´ve never seen a couple more prepared for following their Savior 110% like them. Bishop baptized them and each squeezed him immediately after. After, Sister Jackson played the flute for everyone after (shes crazy gooood) and Catia was just bawling. Then as I went to hug Catia, she just kept whispering "obrigada, obrigada" over and over. It means "thank you, thank you". And all i could say over my crying (YES AGAIN), was " Não, e O Senhor" or "No, its the Lord". The following Sunday, they were confirmed as members and recieved the Holy Ghost. Each of them turned to us in church and said I feel so different.

Long story short, it was an amazing week. One I´ll never forget; with a couple I have come to love with my whole heart. I love the mission. I love the people I´m meeting here. Our ward IS AMAZING. We have about 4 recently returned RMs that love helping us. They were all Elders so that means they have alot of pep in their step about baptizing the whole world. I think its a Brazilian thing. Im so happy to be where I am. Coming up on 5 months, I just want the time to pass more slowly and be everything the Lord wants me to be.
Beijos!
Sister Myers

Waiting to Move Mountains

hello family and friends! Hope all is well up there in the North, LOL. Everything is going great. I dont have very much time to email so I´d just like to say that I´m happy and I´m healthy and I think thats all that really counts. I want to say that this week has probably been the hardest yet. The mission is a place where your weaknesses are so apparent and as a person who needs to be more humble, its been difficult. Im grateful to have a loving companion, a supportive family, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sometimes it is easy to wonder what life is like back home. My nephew just got baptized, today is my sister´s birthday and she´s due next month, my friends are starting to come home from missions, other friends are starting back up at BYU-I. But theres never a minute that I dont think I should be here. I love who the Savior is allowing me to become. It means letting go of alot of who Chandler is and becoming what the Savior needs Sister Myers to be. Thats who I want to become in the next 14 months. So I may come home different but I know it´ll be for the better.

Thank you for you love and emails. I promise I will get to respond to them next week. I cant express how much gratitude I have for you all. Tons of misionaries here dont have families supporting them and I think about how my parents didnt either on missions. Im so greatful for all of you, who´ve become like family to help me along, grow, and sending PB all the way to Brazil.
Boa semana
Sister Myers