Photos from Baptism

Wow, that was weird typing the word baptism in English. We had four baptisms this weekend. The first picture is of Juliana and her friend Karina. The second is of Sabrina. The third is of the rapaz (young man) in the striped shirt, Jefferson. I am so blessed to be able to help my irmãos here in Jardim Lucélia come unto Christ.

Jó 23:10

Sister Abbie Hills

Update 9-9-2013

Eu amo você muito!  I love you and thank you for all of your prayers. 

Learning português is going very well. The problem is actually communicating how I am feeling with my companion. She is very nice, and I have learned a lot from her, but I feel like she nevers listens to any of the suggestions that I attempt to make. It has gotten me pretty down, but I love her and want to work well with her so we can do the work of the Lord.

Speaking of the work, we are having a baptism this week! Sabrina is 16 and is so wonderful. The Lord truly prepared her. We are blessed that there are so many youth in our ward that are willing to help with the lessons and giving encouragement. We are also teaching her mother, Sandra, but we cant set a baptism date because she is currently living with a guy who is 17. That is our biggest problem here: No one is married! I so desperately want to help these people enjoy the blessings of an eternal family, but they have to have the desire. 

We are also teaching a senhorinha named Salete. She is around 60 and doesnt move very well on one side because she had a stroke. She has a baptism date set for the 21st, but she needs to stop smoking. She came to church with us yesterday and had a wonderful experience. She also shared an incredible story with us. After she had the stroke, she couldnt move from her bed to make food or anything. She prayed and pleaded with the Lord and she said a large man came to her house and told her to stand. He helped her stand up and she has been walking around to this day. How marvilous! The Lord blesses us with angels all the time.

This week Sister Hamburgo and I studied a lot about how to recognize the Spirit. The scriptures I loved most that we read were in Morôni 7:13-20. Anytime we get a prompting to do something good, it is the Spirit and we should do it! Also we read in 1 Corinthians 12 about gifts of the Spirit and it goes right along with your sentiment about everyone being needed in the Church. 

I love you guys and pray for you all often!

Com Amor,

Sister Abbie Hills

Visit to the Campinas Temple: August 19, 2013

Dear Family,

 

This week the temple in São Paulo was closed for cleaning, and we have had the opportunity to have the missionaries visit the beautiful Campinas temple.  It is a little further away than our temple in São Paulo.  It is a smaller temple set high on a hill, which is seen from a distance as we enter into the Campinas area.  The missionaries have really enjoyed the visit.  We thought you would like this photo.

 

We have an amazing group of missionaries here in the CTM at this time.  It is such a blessing for us to be able to serve with them. Thank you for your continued support with emails and letters.  They are much appreciated.

 

Sincerely,

 

Sister Degn

Update

***Sorry things haven't been posted on time lately.  

It is due to computer issues.***

Minha Mãe!

Eu amo voçê muito! Eu estou no campo agora! (I am in the field now.) I havent met our investigators in our area yet. Our area is Jardim Lucélia. Minha trenadora (my trainer) is Sister Hamborga and she is from Recife. We live in a house with two other sisters: Sister Gonçlaves and Sister Henriques. The past two days we havent done a lot of teaching because we had a mission conference and a transfer meeting. All of my roommates are Brasilian so no more inglês for me! God is so good and is helping me to understand and remember the language very well. I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity to be here in Brasil. I know that this is the Lords work. He is the one who accepted my desire to serve Him. I chose to serve here in the pre-earth life.

Com Amor

Sister Abbie Hills