Homecoming Talk!

Here is my homecoming talk! I reported on October 19, 2014. I tried to type what I actually said (my mom recorded it). So sorry for the bad grammar and how I say "but" and "and" at the beginning of every sentence. And that it's so long.

Bom dia!
So English is hard so I hope you can understand me. Today I’m going to be talking a little about a talk from the recent conference called “Rescue in Unity”. It was the one given by Elder Wong in Mandarin.

This talk explains the story of the man stricken with palsy, but with an added perspective of his friends. To me, it also explains something that I learned a lot about on the mission, which is, how to be a good member of the Church.

I think that is one of the most important things we can master, because I feel like we should not be selfish about the gospel. We aren’t just members to bless our own lives, but we have the opportunity to help others as well. And we have it because Heavenly Father trusts enough to help others.

II Timothy 4:7-8

Mission home on the last night...

Sisters Miles, Brand, Duke, Gidney, Carroll

Sister Cutler and Sister Juilfs--two of my companions!

At the SLC airport! 

Family away from family

Me and Clara

Micaela and Crew

 Sister Anderson and I 

Us and Luis Carlos Sousa! 

 Madeeeiiiira 

Our beach!

Good blood

Querida família,
So I got fleas.
Well more specifically, just one flea. But it bit me like, 100 times. Here´s what happened. Yesterday we had no compromissos, so we planned to try to find some old investigators (from a while back--when there were still elders in the branch). So we found the road, and were going up, and then it turned into this sketchy alley-way. But it was still light outside, so we decided to see what we could find. We saw an old lady and started to talk to her, when suddenly her cat thing started trying to rub itself against us. It did not look normal. It had like a crusty ear and a runny eye and its fur was all matted and dirty and I didn´t want it near me. So we left pretty quickly. A few minutes later though, I felt something bite my arm. When I looked I didn´t see anything, just some bites. Then awhile later, my back started getting really, really itchy. Sister Anderson looked and said I had a bunch of weird white dots. So we went to Micaela´s house, because she knows everything. She took one look and said "Looks like a pulga" (a flea). So right when we got home (probably should have waited until after planning but I wasn´t going to just sit there with a BUG CRAWLING ON ME), I went and took a shower. I inspected my clothes, and sure enough, there was one small black bug, a little smaller than a grain of rice. I squished it and it just exploded in blood--MY blood. Micaela said to put my clothes to soak in some cold water and that if there were more, they would float to the top. I left my clothes soaking overnight but no other bugs came up so, that was the only one. Now my back is still really itchy. I guess the members were right about me having "good blood"--every insect here treats me like a feast!
Besides the pulgas, we had some other adventures this week. We had interviews with Presidente Fluckiger--and it was kind of neat because there are only ten missionaries in our whole zone so we actually had some time to talk to him and Sister Fluckiger.
I got beijinhos from a man for the first time in my mission. I was SO CLOSE to making it through but no--Luis´s dad got me. I was trying to say we can´t, but it was too late. And after he got the first one, Luis said "Dad they can´t!" It was awkward.
We learned some Portuguese jokes from Sister Silva. I think Portugal humor is a lot different... For example:
Q: What is a lice (a louse?) doing on a bald man´s head?
A: Looking for shelter!
She would crack up and we would kind of laugh nervously...
We worked with Luis again every day. He is so awesome. Especially because he says things like: "Actually sisters are better than elders because they´re the ones who work".
Also, we had a HUGE miracle this week! I don´t know if I already told you about Joaquim? He is 22 years old and we contacted him a few weeks ago. He was going to the Igreja Universal. We had some lessons with him and he got answers to his prayers and said he knew the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet, but that he still felt like there was more than one true church of Christ on the earth. He also believed that he had already recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost. We were kind of at a dead end, not knowing how to help him more, so we were just praying that he would recieve an answer about the Church that he could not deny.
So on Saturday night, we were up working on the mountain. I don´t know where it came from, but we just got this FIRE and were working harder than I have ever worked in my life. We were knocking doors and just telling people "We are mensagers of God here to tell you that His Church is on earth again!" and we were talking to EVERYONE because we felt so much like something was there for us to do. But, nothing. Not a single person even would set up a return appointment. So finally, at 8 p.m. we gave up. We had a compromisso with Joaquim at the capela at 8:15 .So we went to catch the bus--and we had missed the last one. So we walked down the mountain. We finally got to the church at 9. (We had called to say why we were late.) When we got there, Joaquim was sitting in the sacrament meeting room, reading the Book of Mormon. He came out and he looked, different somehow. He told us, "I didn´t already recieve the confirmation of the Holy Ghost." And he said, "I´m going to come to church tomorrow" (he had never been before). We talked for awhile, and then he said "I feel like God thinks this Church would be perfect for me. But I still want to ponder some more". So we said to go home and pray, and we´ll talk at Church. We went to catch the bus. As we were waiting, he called. He said, "I have recieved an answer. God spoke to me in my heart. He said this: `My son, I am very happy for you--you have found the true church of God, where you should attend, and be baptized. It was not by chance that I put my daughters in your path. I love you all.´" Then Joaquim said, "That´s what Heavenly Father said to me. I am so happy. I recieved an answer." We were with tears in our eyes, because Heavenly Father didn´t just answer his prayer--He answered ours as well. We said, "Do you want to get baptized next Sunday?" And he said yes, of course. He came to church and stayed all three hours--actually when we left 30 minutes after church ended, he was still there talking to some members. It was incredible to see how his heart has been moved. Wow!
That was the news of the week. Heavenly Father is so incredible! When we just trust in Him, and let go of every single last tiny little doubt, He will give us marvelous miracles.
I know that He loves us so much! He just wants us to be happy. All of this--the Church and whatever else--is only for that reason, our happiness. This Church is true--it´s the only true one! God said so Himself!
I love you all tons! Have a wonderful week!
Com amor,
Sister Gidney

They don't pay me to advertise

Querida família,
Another week passed so quickly! This week was really great! We have been finding some really great people, and also have been getting to know the members a lot better. I LOVE them. They are all so wonderful. Here is a little bit about some of them:
Micaela, José and their family. They were baptized a little over a year ago and have the missionaries over for dinner every Sunday night (at least). They treat us like their own daughters. They are SO funny. And also cook really well! Going to their house is like going home for an hour (at the top of some really sketchy stairs).
Luis Sousa. He also got baptized a little more than a year ago. He´s 20 and last transfer served a mini-mission on the other side of the island. He helps us 2 or 3 times every week. And never complains when plans fall through! On Saturday he went with us all afternoon. It started POURING rain and he didn´t complain at all that he was soaking wet. We just tried to hide in doorways and under trees during the worst bits (and luckily an old man gave us a piece of cardboard to use as an umbrella). He also encourages us if the day is hard. One of his pep talks: "Let´s go find some news."
Carlos. Also a recent convert. He helps us several times a week as well. He just finished reading the Book of Mormon all the way through, and right after started again. He walks a half hour to church, but is always at every meeting and activity 20 minutes early. He is like our brother here.
Rita and Paulo Vieira. The new branch president and his wife. They are wonderful. They have two awesome kids at home (and another in America). We went over for dinner on Friday and it was delicious and wonderful. They are pro-active about sharing the gospel with everyone and just have so much love. They are incredible.
Okay that´s all. Now some other events of the week.
On Tuesday Sister Cullimore had to go to Lisboa to do her residency, so we had an awkward tripla with Sister Silva all day. I kind of felt like we were in a gang because there were so many of us. And we would just go up to a person to talk to them and I think they felt like we were going to surround them and overtake them. I think everyone was scared of us.
Free ice cream! I got a free scoop of ice cream. At that Italian geladeria they have punch cards and when you buy 9 scoops you get one free. 10 scoops in 3 weeks? Not bad.
Our district is awesome. We made up a handshake and a cheer. The handshake goes: shake, C, slide, bump, thumb, pinky, M, link, snap, shake, F, snap, slide, bump, five. Our ward mission leader Joel asked if someone taught it to us or if we made it up. So it must look professional.
On Saturday we went with Joel to visit one of the first members of the church on Madeira! She is in a nursing home now. At first she didn´t know who we were or anything, but then we started singing hymns, and she started to remember. Then she started singing with us! She knew 5 or 6 by heart. And then she remembered almost everything. It was incredible to see the power of the hymns!
Our mission scripture of the month is D&C 11:8. I really like it. I know that if we really want it (and show that we really want it by our actions), we can help everyone around us to be happier!
I hope you all have a wonderful week in school! Happy anniversary Mom and Dad!!! I love you all tons!
Com amor,
Sister Gidney

A tiny seed

Querida família,
This week was kind of hilarious. I love Sister Anderson so much. We just laugh all day long. Even when no one is interested and they just stare at us and then walk away, we just have fun anyways. We sing a little song about it: "A seed... a tiny seed..." It´s so wonderful.
Our first adventure: We had an appointment to teach a homeless man in the park (he is only homeless because he likes to sleep outside). We showed up and he was there with another person, but he had to leave for a minute, so we were just going to sit there and call some people while we waited. Suddenly, a man with a dog literally the size of a small cow showed up. It was un-leashed. It started walking towards us and Sister Anderson exclaimed, "It´s a baby cow! And it´s coming this way!" So we moved to the other side of the park, still waiting for our investigator to come back. I think it smelled our (her) fear, because it followed us. At one point it ran to its owner and bit his arm, so he hit it, and then we thought it would get mad, so as it ran back towards us, Sister Anderson was praying fervently in her head, until finally she cried, "Oh God, please help us!" After that, we left. Hopefully we´ll run into the investigator another day.
So there is this less-active member named Smith (pronounced Smeet) who works at a restaurant right below our house. Every night we shake his hand and he asks us to pray for him. This week he told me that I have a Portuguese smile (toothless??) and Sister Anderson that she looks like a grandma.
We had some member meals this week taht left their... footprints on our memory. One was chicken foot jardineira and the other was pig foot stew. With toenail and all.
We contacted a man stopped on his motorcycle. He didn´t want to give us any information, but called us the next day to say he´d gotten in a motorcycle crash and that he needed the number of a hospital. We called a member and got the phone number and gave it to him. But when we called back the next day he didn´t answer. So hopefully he is okay.
There is this Russian waiter that works in two restaurants, one right by the chapel and the other in our area. He always tries to teach us Russian words, but we can never remember them, so sometimes we just smile and shout a gibberish word across the street "Arribadoocha!" He always answers though. Gift of tongues?
We ran to catch a lot of buses this week. Some of them we missed. Some members told us at church they saw us running. Also the bus drivers here are REALLY good drivers. They can parallel park the buses!
On Saturday, we had lunch with our ward mission leader Joel, his less-active niece Joana, a recent convert Wang, and his investigator friend José. We ate some Portuguese rice and sausage and cabbage stuff, then for dessert had something called "burned eggs". It is literally scrambled eggs carmalized in sugar. It was interesting. But then we watched the Restoration video (it was Joel´s idea). He is awesome. He was talking about his baptism to José and how great it was. He also has like 4 callings, including ward secretary.
In Church yesterday we had the 5th Sunday lesson. For the first 40 minutes we "trained" two hymns with the regente (chorister?). He had music on his computer and would stop and say "No you´re not singing it right" and then teach everyone how it actually goes. It was so funny. I didn´t really understand why we were doing that but, now our branch knows a new hymn and will sing an old one on tune!
It was really hot this week. There was a weather forecast for the week: Every day--low 75 degrees. High 88 degrees. 60% humidity. More ice cream!
I liked this quote from Church: "The only thing that matters [in the work of the Lord] is that we do our part, and that we are willing to never give up." It doesn´t matter if the investigators aren´t interested, or if the people you home-teach never answer the door--it only matters if you do your part consistently and diligently. Then we will see miracles in our own lives, and in the lives of others as well :)
I hope that the first week of school was wonderful, and that it just gets better from here! I love you all TONS!
Com amor,
Sister Gidney
P.s. Don´t send me any more mail after this weekend!

Also, Joaquim got baptized back in Miratejo!

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

Muito bom trabalho lá

Queridíssima família,
I contacted a man riding a horse. He was just riding a horse in the road and we just were staring and so he stopped. He looked at my nametag and then started speaking to us in German. Then he switched to English. "Oh you are American! John Wayne is my hero! I also really like Benjamin Franklin. He said once..." Then we started talking to him about the gospel. His response: "Christian-ism is a good religion. Much better than Judaism or Muslim. But I don´t know if it´s better than Buddhism; I´ve never tried that." We kept talking and then when we tried to set up an appointment or get his contact info,he just rode away into the sunset.
This week, our main focus was "Operation Carlos". There is a part of our area called Vale Figueira where we go every day. There is going to be a branch there someday, at least that is what we are planning. There is a menos ativo who lives there who is the KEY to success. Basically when he comes back to church, at least 5 other people are going to be baptized, including his friend Manuela and her nephew Nuno, and his ex-girlfriend Nádia and her two daughters. And then he will become branch president, and will marry Nádia, adopt her daughters, and they´ll all get sealed. So to do that, we have an 8-step-plan. We are on number 3 right now---get them to come to church. They almost came yesterday, but then Nuno got sick and so they all slept in. But this week we´ll get ém!
Patricia and Bea are doing well---but their mom says they can´t get baptized until they are 18 :( So we are going to keep teaching them and pray really hard that they can stay firm until then!
The other day we were in an apartment complex trying to visit an appointment and there was a HUGE group of people having a party. They asked us to take a picture, and they all sat on the stairs. Perfect opportunity! So after we took some pictures we asked if we could sing a hymn. They said yes. We sang "Count your many blessings". One lady was snapping her fingers to the beat... We just sang the first verse because at the end they all cheered. We asked to say a prayer, and then our member Jessica said a lovely little prayer, but then they all cheered again and clapped. So strange.
One investigator we are teaching is SO COOL. His name is Joaquim and we contacted him on the bus. We invited him to English class and he came and then we invited him to church. We called him on Saturday to remind him and he said "Of course I am coming! I bought a white shirt!" And sure enough, he came to church in a white shirt and tie. He looked like a ward clerk or something. He got divorced recently and the gospel is about to change his life forever. :)
I read a scripture this morning in personal study--Isaiah 26:3-4. I love that when we trust in the Lord, we will have PEACE and STRENGTH (I especially need that one!) And it´s true. Sometimes we are walking and I am like "I don´t know how I am doing this but if Heavenly Father says I can..:" And then all the sudden I get a burst of energy or I understand what we need to say to help our investigator. And I know that the same thing can happen for non-missionaries too. If we trust in the Lord (which includes obedience, and trusting in His commandments), we will know how to live our lives and we will be happy! Heavenly Father is so wonderful.
I hope you are all healthy and happy! Enjoy the week--it will be a good one, I can tell. :) I love you!
Com amor,
Sister Gidney
P.s. My feet tan.

I feel sweaty...Oh so sweaty...

Ola família,
It feels like just yesterday that I emailed you last!
This week went by quickly. Seems like it just slipped through our fingers. Proably because it was so hot and humid!
All the interesting things happened yesterday. Paloma got confirmed! And it was Sister Cardoso´s birthday! I made her a cake, but we didn´t have much flour, and also I had to make it in the microwave, so it came out more like a weird little pancake, but I just told her that´s how american birthday cakes look, and she seemed satisfied with that. I also gave her a BYU shirt because she wants to go there after the mission.
This week was kind of hard, at least physically. On Thursday especially, both Sister Cardoso and I were both sooo tired. We were kind of crawling through the street and stumbling around. We felt like we weren´t doing anything---we were giving all we had, which was almost nothing. But then at the end of the day, we realized we had met several new people and had quite a few lessons. It just goes to show, the Lord really will consecrate our actions for good, if we pray for it! (2 Nephi 32:9)
Another scripture I found that I really like is 1 Corinthians 1:27. When we are weak physically, we are strong spiritually (that is why fasting is powerful).
Some of the funny things Sister Cardoso said in English this week: "Repent yourselfs!" "That´s a nice car... Let´s rob it!" (Steal) "My body is sweated" (sweaty) "All Americans eat are hamboogers".
Patrícia and Bea are doing well--they fasted this weekend! They still haven´t gotten permission from their mom, but there is still time. :) We are very hopeful! Patrícia is so awesome. She works on Personal Progress every morning, and tries to do at least one experience per day. And she helps Bea say her prayers every night. She is so wonderful.
Seems like the hardest thing for people in this area is coming to church. Everyone says they need to have more "spiritual strength" before they can come and that they need to have a better testimony and etc etc. We have tried to explain that it is IN church that they will find those things but so far, no one is taking the initiative. I think mostly they are lazy because it is summer vacation.
So I don´t know if I have already told you about this---but after getting my mission call, I was disappointed that I had to wait so long to report to the MTC. I was really struggling with the wait, until one night I had a dream, that in my last two weeks on the mission, I found a woman, who I had never met, but that I recognized immediately. She was baptized, in my dream, on my last Sunday in Portugal. She told my companion and I that she recognized us from somewhere, and it was only because of that that she didn´t shoo us away like she had so many other missionaries before--that it had to be US or she would never have accepted the gospel. And obviously, if I went on the mission sooner, I wouldn´t be there to find her.
That dream helped me be more patient and I just thought it was a nice idea to calm me down, but over the past few weeks, I have started to feel like it wasn´t just a dream, but it really can happen. But I feel like this woman is not in my current area. I don´t know where she is, but I know the Lord knows. Then this last week, I had another dream that I was transferred and became companions with Sister Anderson, in her area. I don´t know if that was a coincidence, but I don´t think so. I hope I can find my sister!
I hope that youth conference went well and that you are all having a wonderful summer! Have fun and be good :)
I love you!
Sister Gidney
P.s. we found some fun stuff in our house

She's valid!!

Ola querida família,
We accidentally went on a division with the elders this morning.
I will explain.
Today we had a district P-day to go to see Cristo Rei (see the picture attached). We caught the same metro as the Miratejo elders to meet up with the elders from Almada. (Our district is huge--Miratejo A, us. Miratejo B, Elder Knight and Elder Walker. Almada A, Elders Almeida and Brown. Amnada B, Elders Josi and Riggs). We got to the metro stop, and the door wasn´t opening, so we all went to the next door to get off. Well, I THOUGHT we all got off. The metro pulled away, and I looked around for my companion. I only saw Elder Walker! We both looked around for a few more seconds in shock, and then I just started laughing because I realized our companions were still on the metro and it was SO WEIRD. Better yet, we had both the phones. We walked as fast as we could down the metro line to the next stop, hoping Sister Cardoso and Elder Knight would get off and walk towards us as well. Luckily they did and we met up about six minutes later. Shortest and strangest division I´ve ever been on. Oops.

This week was fun! I got to know my companion better--she is a sweetheart. She was born in Angola but moved to Porto when she was six. She has three sisters and a mom. Her mom and two sisters are members of the church. She was baptized when she was 9. And her first name is Isabel.
Yesterday, our investigator Paloma got baptized! She is 15 and wanted to get baptized in the RIVER... So we went! It was cool. A member baptized her, with a few people on the beach watching. (We realized about an hour later that he did it with his left arm and not his right so we were really worried and called President Fluckiger but he said it was fine--that that has happened in the temple before and that it is still valid because of the intent of her heart, and it was with the priesthood and by immersion. Luckily!)

We are teaching a LOT of jovens, including Patrícia and Bea (ages 14 and 9). They are sisters and want to get baptized--they just need permission from their mom. We marked them for the 26th to be baptized and every night at 10 p.m. all four of us kneel to pray to ask that her heart will be softened. Patrícia´s testimony is already so strong--she told us why she wants to be baptized and the Spirit was SO strong--her mom will feel it for sure. They are so cute. I love them already.
Yesterday in church Sister Cardoso and I taught Princípios do evangelho AND Moças. In moças, the counselor (a RC) was asking us a whole bunch of deep doctrine questions about where God came from and where the first god came from and etc. We answered briefly but then just said "It doesn´t matter too much because all we really need to know is that God loves us and we need to do certain things here to qualify to be like Him".
Oh also. The office called us Monday to say, You will have an ex-missionaria living with you for a few days. Well it´s been a week and she´s still here. Kind of weird to have a "normal" person in our house--but she does our dishes so I don´t mind. ;)
I have been thinking about how some people say a mission is the "MTC for the rest of your life". I think that´s because we live the law of Moses here. You have to wake up at this time, pray at this time, study at this time, sleep at this time, eat in this many minutes, only walk this many steps on Sunday.... And then when you go home you are expected to live the higher law and do things on your own. It´s interesting because it´s more "freedom" but it´s also more responsibility. But also more power. So hopefully I am learning the things that I need to here to be ready for that!
I hope you all have a wonderful week--I love you all tons!!
Com amor,
Sister Gidney

Miratejo?

Ola família,
Guess what--we got whitewashed! Ou seja, both Sister Derrick and I got transferred. Now I am in Miratejo, the other side of the river. That means that there are only three zones in the whole mission I haven´t worked in--Madeira, the Algarve, and Coimbra.
So this week was exhausting. On Monday we went to a castle in Lapa with our district and we saw the "classic view" that you get when you look up "Lisbon" on google images. It was so pretty. Also it was free because we are residents. We got ice cream from an Italian gelataria on the way home, which was incredible. I love ice cream.
On Tuesday, we had mission council! While we were at lunch, I was sitting next to Sister Fluckiger. She looked at my eyes and asked if they hurt because of the sun, because they are so light. I said yes and she said I can wear SUNGLASSES. I´m going to be the coolest missionary on the block.
On Wednesday we taught Simeão, who is going to be baptized on Saturday (so sad I´ll miss it). He is AWESOME. We taught him the word of wisdom--"Oh I already am living that" and the law of chastity--"Yeah I´m living that too." He knows the Book of Mormon is true and knows the Church is true too!
On Thursday we went on one more division, with the other sisters of Povoa, Sister Mullen and Sister Brooks. I was with Sister Brooks, who is going home tomorrow. She is from Georgia but goes to BYU. I really really like her.
That evening, the jovens threw a "surprise party" for Elder Bluemel since he is going home as well (lame). The party was a good idea but... it ended up being more hilarious than it was meant to be, because when we got there, we went downstairs, expecting them to be hiding and jump out to say surprise. But to OUR surprise, when we got downstairs, there was literally just some balloons on the floor, one 12-year-old investigator, a thing of juice, and a plate of cheese. Sooo we left out the back door, and the sisters went in first to tell all the jovens (who ended up being in the kitchen) to run down, and then the elders came in AGAIN and they "surprised" Elder Bluemel. Good thing he likes musical theater---he managed to act surprised.
Friday was the 4th of July! We ate ice cream to celebrate (we would have eaten it anyway but this time it was in honor of America). They had a Ferrero Roche flavor--those delicious chocolates you know? So good.
As we were doing weekly planning, the APs called us and told us we were going to be whitewashed. So we already knew we would be both be leaving. Luckily, one of the sisters who will be taking over, is Sister Taylor! So they said to do a division with her to show her around. We did that on Saturday.
Saturday morning though, we had a ward party! It was called a "Freedom Party", secretly also for the fourth of July. We had a barbecue, melon, and some "homemade" lemonade (in Marina´s Bimby). It was very fun and we took a bunch of pictures with the members.
Saturday afternoon was our mini-division. I went with Sister Taylor to show her around. It was an inspired division because, remember Bea? We basically saved her life. It´s kind of a long story (and sensitive) but basically we were out until 10:30 with the elders and a bunch of members to resolve the situation.
Yesterday was the last day in Odivelas! Maria do Carmo cried and our investigators were all pretty sad that we´re going, so that made me feel good (not that they were sad but that they cared). Yesterday night the stake had a musical fireside about the Restoration. The missionaries from the stake all sang "No monte a bandeira" (high on the mountain top). Afterwards we said goodbye to the jovens for the last time :( Some of them cried (Brendo, Ianik, Marina) because all three of us are going (me, Sister Derrick, and Elder Bluemel). Sister Derrick and I have stayed here longer than almost any other missionary has in a long time. I really love those kids.
This morning we caught the train to the other side of the river, and now I´m here in Miratejo! That´s in the Setubal zone. I know that means a lot to you ;) My new companion is Sister Isabel Cardoso--she´s from Angola! Either my portuguese is going to get really good, or her english will. She is really cute and I am excited to be with her.
I can´t believe that another transfer has already come and gone. I realized today that this might be my last area, and that I don´t have very much time left here :( I kept thinking "Oh I have plenty of time, I have at least the whole summer"--but now it´s already JULY and I don´t want this to end. I love Portugal SO much--and the people here are my brothers and sisters. It makes me want to cry just thinking of leaving them. Can I just take like a two-week break at the end, but then come back?
I love you all so much, and I hope you are doing well. Please pray for Bea, and also for Sister Derrick--she will be training a new missionary this transfer!
Vos amo,
Sister Gidney
P.s. Us at the view near the castle and us with Marina

And then there were 7...

Bom dia família!
Guess what happened this week--another emergency transfer!! We now have an extra elder--so they are in a tripla. Our district our suddenly became 7. We´ll see what happens at transfer calls this Sunday!
This week was pretty good, like all the others. I got kicked by a random man in the street and then a lady yelled at us for five minutes and said we are annoying and told us to go to inferno. At least we know we are persistent and working hard!
We had a division in São Domingos this week--with Sister Kropf and Sister Juilfs! So fun to see another of my ex-companions. I ended up doing the division itself with Sister Kropf. It was wonderful. She is sooo cute. She´s 19, from Boise, and is so driven to do the work! She knows that we have something that every single person around us NEEDS, and she doesn´t let anything stop her from trying to share it. She knows, like Sister Burton said in conference, "You have something to give,and are willing to give it.. with no thought of what you will receive.THAT is what disciples do!" She really is a true disciple and I learned so much.
This week we worked with Bea, the 12-year-old who is bringing her friends to church. She wants to be a sister someday! It was so cute--yesterday she said a prayer and asked "please help me to prepare so one day I can be a sister too". I love her so much!
All our recent converts are progressing so well :) Maria went out yesterday to help us teach! Edgar was confirmed in church, and he took it really seriously. We are hoping to help them keep learning :)
This next week is going to be kind of crazy---we are goign to a castle today, we have mission council tomorrow, zone meeting on wednesday, a division on thursday, a ward activity on saturday, and transfers on Sunday! Hopefully I will get time to email next week, but if not, I love you all!
Have a fabulous week! I want you all to read your scriptures and pray--really pray like you never have before-- this week. Because one of the most wonderful things about the mission is the relationship I am developing with Heavenly Father. We can count on Him for anything! And I want all of you to feel that as much as I do. Will you do that please?
I love you so much!
Com amor,
Sister Gidney
P.s. Did I mention last week that Edgar had to get baptized 7 times before he went all the way under? (2 Kings 5:10?)

99 bottles of Brisa on the wall...

Querida família,
So Sister Wach informed me this morning that today is our 99-days-left mark... Not sure how I feel about that...
First of all--Happy birthday Jeremy!!! I can´t believe you are 18!!!
This week was excited, to say the least!
On Tuesday we went on a division to Póvoa. I´m not sure where it is--we just got on a train that stopped there. It was so fun! I was with Sister Larsen. She is super cute and it was a really good day. ALSO she made us tacos with REAL taco seasoning from AMERICA. So delicious. I learned a lot from her. She is also hilarious.
On Wednesday, we were in the capela waiting for our investigator, and there were some of the jovens there, including Ianik with his VIOLIN. So I played it for about 5 minutes, then I realized that I am reaaaally out of practice.
On Thursday we had our noite de integração. We played a game called "The Garden of Eden". It´s kind of like Mafia, if you´ve ever played that. Here´s how it goes. There are cards with the "roles" written on them, and each person draws a role without anyone else seeing. There´s the prophet, apostle, temptor? satan I guess, the devil´s angel, Adam, Eve, and then everyone else is just a "member " of the garden. You play each round, where everyone closes their eyes (you have a referee directing it all). In silence, the "special roles" each play their turn. The prophet opens his eyes and learns the role of another player, then closes his eyes. The apostle chooses someone to "warn of sin". Then the devil/his helper choose someone to "tempt". Then everyone opens their eyes, and the person who was tempted is expelled from the garden--UNLESS he was warned by the apostle. Then everyone debates and votes on who they think the devils are. The person with the most votes--whether the devil or not--is also expulsed. The point is to expel the devils before everyone else is kicked out-- or the devil wants to eliminate everyone else. Also if either Adam or Eve gets kicked out, the other is too. I was the devil on the second round and I won, so Idon´t know if that is good or bad.
Friday we had ward council, interesting and productive as usual.
Saturday we had a miracle. Maria do Carmo´s housing contract is expiring, so she has been looking for a new house. We were worried that it would be far from a church and then she would slip through the cracks. We did a fast on Thursday and part of it was for her to find a good house close to an LDS church. We visited and found out that, right as we were ending our fast, she got a call about a really good house--that is not only close to the church, but in our ward. And not only in our ward, but still in our AREA. Fasting. It´s real.
Yesterday, Edgar got baptized! We have been teaching him for a couple of weeks, and he really really loves Jesus. We actually street contacted him a few months ago and lost contact, but not too long ago he showed up at the church during district meeting and gave us his phone number. And yesterday he got baptized! Keep him in your prayers, because he is completely changing his life :)
Lately I have been really feeling like an instrument in the hands of the Lord. And by that I mean that I have been feeling completely helpless to do ANYTHING for anyone. It is very strange-- I am trying to help people and things are jsut happening and people are coming to church and it´s kind of just like a wave that is washing over me and I´m not really ever sure what is going on. Haha.
Two more weeks this transfer! Happy birthday again to the best brother ever!
I love you all tons!!
Com amor,
Sister Gidney
P.s. Me with Sister Larsen,and Edgar´s baptism.He´s the one on the left. The one next to me is Valet, who baptized him.

ZOOper week

Querida família,
This week was so busy!
Last Monday we went to the ZOO! It was SO awesome!! There was a little cable car that went above the whole thing, and a lot of animals, AND a dolphin show!! We went with the Elders and with two jovens, Brendo and Ianik. It was the best. I want to go again.

On Tuesday we had a division with the Sisters in Sacavém, Sister Salies and Sister Gutzwiller. I went with Sister Gutzwiller. She is adorable. She is from Utah and just barely turned 20. She was a huge example to me of service and charity and just always trying to help everyone. I learned a LOT from her.
I also got my "trunky call"! They call everyone 3 or 4 months before your release date to ask which airport you will fly home to... I can´t believe how fast the time is going.

On Wednesday we were teaching a woman named Nezaré. Unfortunately she is moving to Angole, but she wants to be baptized. Side note, she got shot in the head and the bullet stayed in her skull for two years before she had surgery to remove it.
Also on Wednesday, Elder Bluemel had to go to the hospital for back problems. He is in his last transfer and is wearing out. So if you want to pray for him, he would appreciate it.
On Thursday, it was Sister Derrick´s birthday! We started out the day by going to zone conference. We found out that we would be getting another dupla in Odivelas--again! So many changes... It is kind of hard on the area for so many missionaries to go and come and areas to open and close, so I hope it all works out for the best.
When we got back, we threw a surprise party for Sister Derrick!! So many white lies went into the party... especially to get her there. But she was so surprised and so happy! Lots of the ward came, and we had a lot of food and fun. She was so happy :)

On Friday we spent a lot of the day prepping for the new sisters--including dividing the area and making an area book.
Saturday, the new sisters arrived! It is kind of hard adjusting to have four of us in the house again, but it will be fun.
For lunch, we got to go to the Adriano´s house. They are a family whose parents were some of the first church members, and Irmão Adriano is one of President Fluckiger´s counselors. They live in our area. We also worked with the daughter that afternoon to visit some menos ativos.
We saw a bunch of trash cans that I think caught on fire because they were all melted. Either that or they just collapsed in the HEAT WAVE. Suddenly it is 900 degrees here (as Katy would say). More ice cream! (Don´t worry--we sweat out all the calories).
Yesterday was miraculous. The Church was FULL! Relief Society had twice as many sisters as usual. The recent convert, Bea, who we are working with, brought THREE of her friends. All in all we had 7 investigators there (more than I have ever had before!), the elders had 8, and there were at least 10 less active members there. It was so incredible because the ward had an invitation activity, to go and find these brothers and sisters and invite them--and with the ward acting together, we had a huge miracle!!
Also in church there was an American family. I was talking to the 14 year old daughter and asked why they were here. She said, "We´re going to live here for about a year. Because my dad is WORKING ON THE TEMPLE" They are finally starting!! I am sooo excited!!!
Also, I had no idea until this morning, but HAPPY FATHER´S DAY yesterday to the BEST DAD EVER!! I love your emails every week, and your jokes :) Love you!
I hope you all have a fabulous week! I love you all TONS!!
Com amor,
Sister Gidney

Telepizza

Querida família,
This week was action packed and full of adventure! I got that package so thank you!! I have been reading the conference ensign every day :)
On Tuesday we had a division with the sisters of alverca. Guess who I was with--Sister Cutler! Little strange to be with my trainer again, but it was really fun. We had so many miracles! We marked two people to be baptized, and marked a wedding! It was really fun to see how we´ve both improved since our first transfers. Also, her companion´s name is Sister Bacon, so that is awesome.
The assistants came to our district meeting this week. Sister Derrick accidently laughed while drinking from her waterbottle and water came out her nose.
There is this awesome member, Marina, who helps us all the time, and this week she got her mission call!!! She is going to Capo Verde on August 6--she barely has two months to get ready!
On Saturday we got Telepizza. It´s the portuguese pizza place. It was alright.
Yesterday in sacrament meeting was one of the cutest things I have ever seen. There is a little 2 year old girl named Didi. She has curly hair and the chubbiest little cheeks. She was eating cereal stars and then decided to share. With everyone! She would take a piece of cereal from the bowl her mom was holding, walk up to a row and give it to the first person. They would say thank you and she would smile and walk beaming back to her mom, grab another piece, and take it to the second person on the row. She continued, her curly head bobbing, one person at a time, up and down every single row. She came back when the cereal was almost gone and asked her mom, "Quem falta?" (Who is missing one?) and then continued until she had given away all her cereal. It was so adorable because she was so happy just to share--even though she didn´t have a lot. That is like us--we can share our few small talents or an hour or two of time, and even though it may not seem like a huge contribution, it will brighten the day of hundreds!
Here is a picture of Marina´s mission call opening with the missionaries.

Congrats to everyone on graduating and finishing school! Have an awesome summer--set some goals for things you want to do or learn!
Also before I forget, yesterday we saw this guy with a baseball cap, that in the brim, there was a hole with a little electric fan inside. To fan him while he walks!
I love you all TONS!!! Have a great week!!
Com amor,
Sister Gidney

Titanic 2

Querida família,
I´m just going to make a list of things that happened this week.
--Zone conference. It was really good--we have a new zone leader and because our zone is so small, we are a little group of friends. We picked a "theme" for the trasnfer altogether as a zone, to help us fulfill our purpose. It is probably the best theme anyone could have: One with Christ!
--Speaking of themes, I picked my scripture of the transfer. Alma 57:21,26-27. I was thinking about how Elder Kearon said we need to be "exactly obedient and full of faith" and this is the perfect example of both! ("We are as the armies of Helamen..")
--Maria do Carmo (that is the ACTUAL spelling of her name, finally) got baptized yesterday!! She was really, really nervous, and scared of the water. We went down to the font and she wouldn´t get in for about ten minutes. I guess because of some health condition she can´t get in hot water, and so she said it was too hot (usually they say it´s too cold) but luckily the ward was REALLY supportive. The young men and the elder´s quorum president started running up and down the stairs to bring down huge cauldrons of cold water and ice. The whole time, with the bispo standing in it. Finally, she got in the font, and was baptized amidst the ice chunks. And just like Jesus, she "Saiu logo da água" after she was baptized (she left quickly. It says that in Portuguese, Matthew 3)
--We have this wonderful ice cream place by the metro. I am addicted
--We are going to have a wedding!!!! The elders have been teaching a Brazilian couple,Marcília and Cláudia. They are going to be married on June 28 and Cláudia wants Sister Derrick and I to be her bridesmaids!!! (Bridesmissionaries?) I am so excited.
--Saw some cool miracles and worked a LOT. I am so tired.
I am really grateful this week for the example of the other missionaries. The elders in our district are always helping everyone, and our zone leaders are really excited about the work. It helps a lot, especially when all I want to do is take a nap! :)
I hope that you all have a wonderful week! Happy end of school and happy graduation to Jeremy!! (And also to Katy from elementary school and Emily from junior high).
Love you all tons!
Com amor,
Sister Gidney
P.s. PIcture of Natália´s baptism and another of Maria´s :)

double digits?

Querida família,
I think about a year happened in the last week. First of all, what everyone is wondering... Transfer results! It came as a big surprise... Sister Derrick and I are BOTH staying for a third transfer! And we will be doing divisions in different zones (Lisboa Oeste and Sacavém instead of Lisboa and the Açores), so that is kind of fun. BUT I am kind of sad because I REALLY want to serve on Madeira, and I am running out of chances. I don´t know if that´s a bad thing to pray for, but... Also our district leader is staying, Elder Bluemel. I am glad becuase I think he is going to be an apostle someday. This is his last trasnfer so I can hear all his wisdom before it´s too late.
Now for the week. Last P-day we went to Belém! It was sooo beautiful and so fun. THere are some awesome historical sites--this huge memorial to all the awesome people in portuguese history, and this little tower. And also, the best pasteis de nata in all of Portugal. We went with the sisters in Lapa and with our elders. It was awesome.
This week we had a division with the Sisters from Benfica, Sister Call and Sister Azevedo. They are so cheerful and uplifting. I was with Sister Call. She is a powerful missionary and carries the Spirit with her. I felt so happy with her and was so grateful to learn from her.
This week we also had mission tour. Elder Patrick Kearon from the 70 came and we had a huge joined zone conference, as well as mission council with the liderança. It was INCREDIBLE. I felt so happy and uplifted and learned so much. We also came up with a new mission "slogan": Exact Obedience and Full of Faith. Which leads me to my new transfer theme scripture: Alma 57: 21, 26-27. When we are obedient and have faith we will see huge miracles. My favorite part about learning from Elder Kearon is that it was interactive, and he just TALKED to us. He didn´t treat us like little kids or like we didn´t know anything, but he honestly cared. And I want to apply that now. It was really nice.
We also started a mission-wide Ramada. Okay not really but we all made lists of things that we want to stop or start so that we can have the Spirit more and we are doing a 40 day fast from those things. Today is day 3.
On Saturday, the ward had a flower party. There was dancing and music and this bean dish called feijaoda. I ate too much.
Sunday was a surprise birthday party for Ianik, a jovem in the ward. It was set up by his best friend Brendo (a recent convert. Elvis is his step-dad). They invited us over and it was really fun!
Also, our investigators are progressing. Maria finally is starting to understand why baptism is necessary and she is really starting to grow in her relationship with Heavenly Father. She finally understood that baptism is necessary to enter into God´s kingdom, and that it is what God wants her to do. She, however, was having some trouble trusting in the Lord because of the recent tragedies in her life. She spoke with Elder Bluemel and now is firmly committed to be baptized next week. She came to all three hours of church and is praying like she never has.
Also, the fourth of july is this trasnfer. I think that is my new favorite holiday.
Well I am running out of time but I love you all TONS! Have a great Memorial Day!
Com amor, Sister Gidney