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

40th birthday

Querida família,
This week was pretty miraculous. And also super awesome. On Tuesday, there was a HUGE celebration because it was the 40th birthday of the Church in Portugal! The youth put on this huge presentation, kind of like the ones they do at temple dedications. And WE GOT TO GO. I was so excited. It started out with Portugal in 1400´s, when they were exploring and discovering the world. There was a caravela ship and an adventurer. It continued to show some of the cultural aspects of Portugal, including some songs and dances! There were 8 dances, and then they sang Fado. Then, there was a movie about independence day--when Portugal rebelled and came out of the dictatorship. I didn´t know about it exactly--turns out it was a peaceful rebellion, with the soldiers marching with flowers on their guns. There was no bloodshed at all! Less than a month later, the Church entered! A mission president and 4 elders transferred from Brazil (talk about an emergency transfer..) arrived and began to teach. They had two "elders" (A couple of RMs who actually served here last year) do a little skit. Then there was a video interview with the first mission president, Presidente Bangerter, and a few of the very first converts. There was a flag presentation and some hymns and then the grande finale and then it was over. It was sooo cool! At the end I just wanted to stand up and say "Yeah! Portugal!"

Some other fun events:
Sister Derrick got the stomach flu or something on Thursday so we had to stay inside all day. It was actually super boring. I was kind of half expecting it to be a nice little break but I was sooo happy to leave the house again the next day.
Had to give a talk in sacrament meeting yesterday. It was "missionary Sunday". Sister Derrick spoke on perservering to the end, Elder Bluemel spoke on "this is Christ´s Church" and I spoke about "The importance of all of us serving together in love". The topics were assigned. I mostly spoke about how we can be united through service and love.

Some fun people:
I´m not really sure why this happens, but we have this one investigator who whenever we visit her in house, she seems to not be wearing clothes. We went over on Saturday and she was wearing this towel-shirt-thing? and that was it. All I know is I am NEVER sitting on the chair she was in.
There is this recent convert named Gutinha who we visited. She is 13 years old, but looks like she is about 9, and acts like she´s 25. She was asking us a lot of really weird questions like "How did Satan get into the garden of Eden to tempt Adam and Eve?" "Are the giants in the Bible the children of humans and seraphim?" I was like, I don´t even know what a seraphim is. Read the Pearl of Great Price. But if anyone knows... Let me know. We´re seeing her again tonight.
Jorge! He got confirmed yesterday! He walked to the front of the room without his cane or anything! We also taught him about the priesthood and he asked, "So what would my duties in the priesthood be? How can I be prepared to recieve it?" He thinks he doesn´t know a lot, but he is learning so quickly.
Elvis: Yes, that is really his name. He is the boyfriend of the mom of two recent converts. The mom is a member too, for like 16 years, but she was inactive until recently. They want to get married so he can be baptized. They have been working on getting their papers (they´re brazilian) for MONTHS. Last night we went over and they said, "We will have all the paperwork ready for us to be married by the end of June!" I hope I stay here so I can see the wedding!
Tavares. So we met this guy named Tavares like... 5 weeks ago and have been trying to get a lesson with him ever since, but every time we set something up, something happens and it falls through. He randomly showed up to church last week though and so we have been praying really hard to meet with him to teach him. Last night, our plans fell through and we started heading down the street, to an area we don´t visit a lot. All the sudden, there he was! We taught him the first lesson right there and he said "Hey I really need to talk to you to get some help from God. Can we set up a time to meet every day this week?" Umm... Yes. We set up a time and he said, "Perfect. Now every day I can drop what I´m doing and learn about God". It was a miracle.

It was a pretty busy week. This week is the last week of the transfer so we´re going to work super hard. We´ll see what happens with trasnfers??
I hope you all have a fabulous week!! Love you tons!
Com amor,
Sister Gidney

Mother´s Day and a Baptism

Querida Família,
This week was great! We saw so many miracles! We went to the Açores for our divisions, so we were only in our area for P-day, Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday (including taking time out for district meeting, weekly planning, church, and calling YOU!), but we still had one of the best weeks since we arrived. Jorge got baptized!! It was one of the most touching baptisms I have ever attended. Jorge is from Capo Verde, and has kidney failure and diabetes. As a result, one of his legs had to be amputated below the knee, as well as the toes on his other foot. He has a prothsetic leg and walks with a crutch. For his baptism, however, he had to remove the prosthetic, and do the baptism on his knees (with the other foot wrapped in plastic wrap because it can´t get wet!). We also have a weird font. You have to climb some metal ladder-stair-thing, then clim back down another into the font. First he climbed up, sat on a chair to take off his leg, then kind of slid into the font with the help of three priesthood holders. Two stayed in for the baptism. They kneeled, supporting Jorge, said the prayer, and carefully lowered him into the water. We were all praying SO HARD that he would go all the way under, because I don´t know if he could handle a second time. It took about ten seconds, but they got him all the way under, and then he came back up looking more peaceful than I have ever seen. They hoisted him out of the font, his energy completely spent with the effort. Afterwards, he told us, "I am so grateful for Heavenly Father! Thank you for helping me understand the atonement".
We had our divisions in the Açores. It´s weird that we did a division in a different time zone. To get there, we had to come to Benfica the night before, stay with the sisters there, then leave at 5 a.m. to catch our flight. When we got to Angra, one of the sisters was in the clinic and so Sister Derrick and I just worked in their area together almost all day.... Eventually they came back and I went out to work with Sister Hayes while SIster Derrick stayed in with the ill sister. Sister Hayes is wonderful. Even though we only spent a few hours together, I saw how great of a missionary she is.
In Ponta Delgada, I worked with Sister Brand. Yep, the same Sister Brand from my MTC district! It was really fun to see how much she has changed. And to catch up with what has been happening! It was really fun. We also got a delicious hotdog from a stand by the ocean. We left to catch our 9 p.m. flight, only to arrive and find out it had been delayed 20 minutes. 20 minutes turned to 30, then 40, then an hour. We ended up arriving in the airport in LIsbon around 1:30 a.m. and getting home around 2:30. Still had to get up at 7 the next day. I am going to take a nap after I write this.
ALSO I got news that Natália (from Braga, Marta´s niece) is getting baptized!!!! Yesss. I am sooo happy for her. Also it is so fun when someone that you found and started teaching gets baptized, even if it´s after you leave.
It was so fun to talk to you all yesterday! Your voices sound the same mostly, just that Jeremy´s is deeper. Always. It was normal but also completely weird at the same time, but I enjoyed it. I can´t wait to talk to you in person! (four more months!)
I hope you had a fabulous mother´s day and that school and dance and everything keeps going well. Stay happy and healthy--I love you all tons!!
Com um coração cheio de amor,
Sister Gidney
P.s. Jorge´s baptism, Me with Sister Hayes and Sister Brand

dia dos trabalhadores

Querida família,

This week was another week! Some highlights:
-Mission council was on Tuesday. MIssion council is basically like a high-pressure zone conference with all the zone leaders and the assistants and Presidente. I like it though because we get to learn straight from Presidente Fluckiger.
-Sister Derrick got pooped on by a pigeon. It was all over her arm and on her bag and skirt.
-Maria do Carma (not Carmen. my bad) is loving church! She came again yesterday and brought her roommate.
-Jorge and the plastic wrap. So Jorge is preparign to be baptised this weekend. The only problem is, he got surgery on his foot and it can´t get wet. So Sister Derrick and I have been experimenting with plastic wrap in our tub. We think we´ve figured out a water-proof solution. We tested it on her foot (with a sock on to tell for sure).
-We were talking to a man on the street, and we asked if we could say a prayer with him. He refused, but offered us 5€ to go get some coffee. No thanks.
Some interesting math. Assuming there are 7 billion people in the world, 15 milion members, and 80 thousand missionaries. For every missionary in the world there are 87,500 other people. If the missionaries were to alone help every single person, at a rate of one per day, it would take 238 YEARS. However, for every MEMBER (including the missionaries), there are just 467. Ou seja,every member just helps one person per MONTH for their adult lifespan (40 years). So, as Presidente Monson says, "Now is the time for members and missionaries to unite and work together in the vineyard of the Lord". So our challenge for the month of May is to find one person to help come unto Christ before the end of the month. It can be a member or a non-member, someone active or someone struggling. But pray for the chance and then do what you can and you will have one of the most amazing experiences of your entire life. :)
A scripture that I found for the families of missionaries: D&C 124:76.

Let his [the missionary´s]  family rejoice and turn away their hearts fromaffliction; for I have chosen him and anointed him, and he shall behonored in the midst of his house, for I will forgive all his sins, saiththe Lord. Amen.

I really like this scripture because reminds us that we don´t need to be worried, for ourselves, or for our family, because everything we are going through right now is to help us become sanctified before the Lord.
This week we are going to the Açores, hopefully there will be a baptism, and then I will call home on Sunday! Be ready by the phone with a list of questions or comments :)
I hope that you all have a wonderful week! I love you all tons,
Com amor,
Sister Gidney
p.s. a picture of me and Sister Austin! and of the pancake party--the bakers, 200 pancakes later