The Dheng

Querida família,

Madeira is sooooo wonderful!!! You can always see the ocean AND mountains. The food is incredible--Italian gelado, bolo de caco (which is like this delicious bread stuff and then they put cheese and bacon in it), nikita (this smoothie ice cream juice thing), and Brisa (the most delicious soda in the world). I am so so so happy to be here. Also the mosquitos are happy I am here too. I have more than 30 bites. I am basically a giant mosquito bite. I tried using bug spray but they seemed to like that even more so. But it is worth it. I love it here so much. And I love Sister Anderson. It is so fun to be companions with someone that I already knew because it´s more like hanging out than being "companions". We just hang out and teach people.
The only reason it is hard is becuase we are both so tired. We were teaching a menos ativo the other day, and we all fell asleep while she was talking--me, Sister Anderson, AND the recent convert who was with us. Luckily she didn´t notice; she just kept talking.
The people here are SO WONDERFUL. First is Vitor!! He is our newest recent convert :) He got confirmed yesterday. He is 16 and is so cool. Like, the coolest person I know. He skateboards really well and used to be on the national pingpong team. And he is also really spiritual. He was almost crying when he got confirmed. He likes to read the Book of Mormon illustrated stories every night too.
Another is Henrique. He is 18. We met him this week. He was sitting in the park on a bench with his Bible just praying and then we showed up. We started talking and he just opened his whole heart and told us what his family was going through and how he feels God has a grand purpose for his life and he can´t figure it out. We started to respond and he interrupted to ask, "What church are you from? Can I talk to you another day? I was about to go to church but for some reason I felt like I should sit here a little longer". We talked a little more and then he had to go. It was so incredible. We just sat there for a few minutes. Sister Anderson said "That was incredible. I just want to sit here and pray". I am so excited to teach him.
I picked my transfer scripture! It´s D&C 97:8-9. I just really like it.
I love being here so much! I am so happy. We are going to see so many miracles, I can just feel them coming :)
I hope that the first day of school went well for you all! I am praying for you. I love you so much!!
Com amor,
Sister Gidney

MADEEEEIIIIRAAAAAA

Dear Family,
HI GUESS WHAT.
You are not even going to believe me but I am not lying.
I got transferred.
TO MADEIRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the best day ever.
And I am so glad because this last week was HARD. Sister Cardoso and I were working so so so hard and nothing was happening. And everyone was being crazy. Though some of those stories are funny... Remind me to tell you about Kinita later.
Last night we were expecting the phonecall about transfers and I was expecting to stay, because Sister Cardoso had already been here six months and they hadn´t told us we would be getting whitewashed (they normally call on Friday). But then Sister Fluckiger called and said Sister Cardoso is going to Coimbra and I AM GOING TO MADEIRA. I am in Funchal 1 with Sister Anderson! Yess. So we didn´t really sleep at all and then I caught a plane and now I am here!
We don´t really have time to email but I just wanted to share the news :) Heavenly Father is so wonderful!
I love you all tons! Stay happy and healthy!
Com amor,
Sister Gidney

Cuidado amiga!

Querida família,
This week was pretty funny. First, thank you for your prayers! My shoulders and back have been doing a lot better this week. So, it worked.
Some priceless moments of the week:
--We were teaching Kinita, our investigator, about the commandments. Right after we taught about the Law of Chastity, she said "Wait a minute" and then came back with some crazy gypsie pants with a million different colors and said "These don´t fit me anymore. I want you to have them" and she gave them to me. She said I should wear them to church.
--Everyone on Wedensday answered the door without clothes on.
--We had a lesson with Paulo, and his girlfriend Raquel. He said a prayer for the first time ever, and said even thanked for Raquel´s help. She was crying because she was so happy.
--We were teaching a woman and her friend and as we were praying, the friend started laughing. At the end, she said "Sorry, I wasn´t laughing at you. It was because of the drugs".
--On Thursday I had to go renew my residency! Afterwards we were getting lunch and we met some Mormons from Denmark? or Norway. The girl came over and asked me in English, "Where are you from?" Utah "We´re Mormons too!"
--I cut my hair in our bathroom. Just the ends
--We were walking up some stairs and a lizard jumped onto Sister Cardoso´s foot. She started screaming and dancing and it finally flew off and she ran away and asked if she was going to get a disease.
--Today there was a ward activity. We went for a couple of hours this morning. It was in the Parque de Paz, a huge park in Almada. It was pretty.
Also, there are flamingos in the river by our house. And people like to sleep on the ground.

 

We are still working hard--Patrícia is making friends with some of the members and I am so excited for her! She came to the picnic today. She is so cute.
Next week is transfers--Madeira or bust!
Have a wonderful week! I love you all tons!
Com amor,
Sister Gidney

Horseplay

Ola família,
This week went by so fast! I don´t know how I feel about that.
The good news: Simeão, Debora, Tania, Gilson and Dário all got baptized in Odivelas! (My work there wasn´t for nothing!)
We had zone conference this week in Setúbal. It was interesting. Our zone has 40 missionaries (compared to my last zone where we were 14...). But I saw Sister Carroll for the first time since we got to Portugal! :) One quote stood out to me: "The act of baptism itself doesn´t wash sin away. Thanks to the Atonement, the effects of sin depart when one keeps the baptismal covenant." -Russell M Nelson. They were talking about helping other people but it was also for me. Sometimes I think "Oh man I wish I could get baptized again." and things like that but I really liked this quote because it´s not just a one-time deal and then you have to be perfect. We can have the "effects" of baptism every day if we want. Cool.
On Thursday we had to go to Lisboa for Sister Cardoso´s residency. It was boring.
So we have some really wonderful investigators!
Joaquim-- came to church again, this time in a suit! We taught him the gospel lesson on Friday and the Spirit was so strong. He says he prayed and he believes this Church to be true. Yesterday he brought 30 euros to "give to the church", even though we explained that tithing is just paid after baptism. I hope he doesn´t forget these things on his holiday to Brasil!
Isabel-- She is 70 years old and we found her by knocking on her door. She came to church yesterday is committed to be baptized here in a couple of weeks. One of our members, Castro, was so good and helped her all during church. She is cool.
Patrícia--She is 13. She already knew the missionaries and we asked her if she wanted to be baptized and she said "Yeah I never did get baptized. When?" She came to church too and she is making friends in the Moças. She is adorable.
Kinita--This is MIRACULOUS. She was an "eternal investigator" for months and months. She came to church last week and smoked 5 or 6 times in the bathroom. We went over on Thursday with our ward mission leader, Daniel, and he gave her a blessing. She had been saying she didn´t want to come to church again because her daughter was going to visit, but after the lesson she said "So can you find someone to give me a ride to church?" And she came this week again, even though her daughter was waiting for her. AND she hasn´t smoked since she got the blessing! During sacrament meeting she asked me, "So when is my baptism again? What time is it at?" Coming to church changed her heart! Heavenly Father is awesome.
We are also teaching the boyfriend of a member (Paulo, and Raquel) who is really liking coming to church and is growing in his testimony every day.
Transfers are in two weeks--I don´t know what´s going to happen, but it doesn´t really matter at this point...You can do anything for six weeks :)
Also, would you please pray for me that I will have the health and strength to keep serving and working hard? I am having some back and shoulder problems--nothing too bad, just enough to be uncomfortable. Thank you!
Have a good week and stop breaking your feet!
I love you all tons :)
Sister Gidney
P.s. Bacalhau