Brasil... 7......Wait? What?

It's so great to hear the Gilbert temple is big, we know our family needs somewhere to get married. We started outgrowing Mesa with Connie! Andrew was just the kicker. I'm looking forward to doing sessions there. In English. 

Oooosh. Brasil... we don't talk about that game. We got permission to watch from our new president if we weren't being transferred (literally the whole mission was BUT our zone) We start watching it and I'm like... okay this is why Americans hate this game. no one is getting points! THEN.... 1,2,3,4,5,6... HAHAHA. And my companion started crying after the 6th goal. She was like I'm going to have to root for Argentina. THEY ARE CONCEDED! AND I WILL HAVE TO ROOT FOR THEMMM! So then we leave our ward mission leaders house and people start screaming ALEMANHA (Germany!) At me in the street.... OOOPS. Looks like I am a little too German looking? So then we call Elder Hatch (our zone leader) and yell RUNNNN! HAHAHA. (He is the grandson of Senator Hatch and is WAY German looking.) They were dying laughing. Our ward mission leader told me I couldn't talk until I got in the house because of my accent. AKA I almost died last week. All because Brasil lost. HAHAHA. OH then we call the zone leaders again and I say- did someone kill Elder Hatch in the streets? Elder G. Ferreira says Not yet. HAHAHA. Dying. You had to be there.

In other news, we have water in our house again! WOOO! So we moved home after more than one week. all of our prayers start with, thank you for our house, and water, and food... Count your blessings up there. OH and we had a Festa Julinha in our ward and had tons of investigators there! And at church! It was awesome. Like none of them are married but we are working on that.

We knocked on this one guys door looking for his son. And he goes- oh he isn't here, who are you? So we start telling him about Joseph Smith, and how he restored Jesus Christ's church on the earth. And he goes- that's great... but tell me what do I have to do to be saved. (easy) have faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized by someone having the authority of God, receive the gift of the holy ghost and endure to the end. He goes- then lets do it! HAHAH! I love Brazil. Their faith here is so strong. They are just ready for the Gospel. 

I know Jesus Christ lives and that he died for us. So what are we doing to make that sacrifice worth it?

Our new President sent out this talk and its sort of changed my life... soooo feel free to read this. You know, if you want to go to heaven. Just kidding.... sort of.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2000/10/the-challenge-to-become?lang=eng 

Amor, soldades, e orando para vocês,

Sister Haley Mills

GOALLLL! (Again!!)

I SURVIVED transfers! Like, I'm staying here in Santana de Parnaiba! OH and I'm staying with Sister Sares! And Sister Mayorga and Sister Armstrong!!! WOOO! Apparently our mission made like a billion changes with the new President, but our zone didn't change at all... so we are a little bubble of bliss! HA!

ALSO, Pres. Farnes gave permission to watch the Brasil vs Germany match! WOOOOO! I'm stoked. And he is also like... an identical twin to President Mecham (in actions) he even knows him! HA! But seriously he is so great and has an amazing vision for us. He is a straight up business man, so everything is super efficient and productive you know?

But this week was amazing.

We saw like a billion and a half miracles. (we taught this man named - Pedro Thiago. Aka Peter James, so im like- where is John? But seriously we taught him and he goes- of course, I'll go to church Sunday, and I have never been baptized yet! So we are all excited, but apparently the member we had with us was like- he is just saying that, he wont go. So she leaves her house Sunday morning and there he is with his 2 kids! Wooo and his wife will come next week! We taught them again Sunday and he is like- please explain to my wife how the book of Mormon is just God giving us more scriptures. It's the same doctrine! He already has a testimony! Shoot it was so amazing. So... we have to help them get married, BUT after that its baptisms fo dayssss!)

I had my first experience in a Brazilian Hospital (my companion had horrible stomach pain during the night. So we had a little field trip!)

AND our house hasn't had water for 3 days so we moved into the apartment of the other sisters til it is better! (They SWEAR they paid the bill. HAHAHA.)

Lots more happened buuuut não tenho tempo!

I love you and miss youuuu!

Patience is a virtue- so obviously im lacking

Oh heyyyy!

So I used like all my computer time reading all of the new rules of our new President and let me just say I AM STOKED. He is all business, it reminds me of President Mecham. I miss President Martins already but he said I can come stay with them in Hawaii and visit, so I already have that to look forward too.

This week was STRESSFUL. Like- we had 20 people who said they would go to church. we called all of them and confirmed. We called again sunday morning and confirmed. Then... 2 came. WHAT IS THIS?! hahaha. The district leaders were like- you only had 2 people at church, its time for you to fast. HAHAHA. But seriously I've never been so sad in my life! These people are one good decision away from knowing the church is true and that we have the authority of God on the earth and the same church Jesus Christ established was brought back! AHHHHH! Oh well, we win some we lose some. we will start over this week! Its Brasil you know, we can do that. HAHA. Oh but one guy we had at church has a wife and 7 kids. He was like- I'm going to ask my wife to marry me... TODAY. WOOOOO. BAPTISMSSSSS in at least one month? HA.

Oh I was always busy reading MUITOS birthday wishes! Obrigada mundo! I promise I will email everyone back.... soon? My birthday was fabulous! The other Sisters made a Book of proofs that everyone loves me? Hard to explain in English, but essentially they asked the zone what they would remember about me forever. HAAAA. I was dying. One elder said he will always remember me picking up a fake telephone and calling him. Like in the movie stick it. BRRING BRRING- Elder, vem cá. Another said whenever we all go to São Paulo. Now listen, my companion is like 4 feet tall. And the rest of us are normal height, but we all have to be within sight and sound of our companions. So im like SISTER SARES?! SISTER SARES?! Every 5 seconds (I taught her MARCO POLO HA!) So one Elder was like- She always loses sister sares. But the funny part is that she is always looking. HAAA. You had to be there... But really it was so great. We had a cake with my favorite recent converts and they sang happy birthday in English for me. It was hilarious because they got to the third line and just sang happy birthday to you AGAIN. HAHAHA. Foi bem engraçado.

I'm glad to see Jenn had such a little cutie babe! And KP wrote me and said she is having one in August! Wow. How did this happen?! HA.

Love youuuu! Miss youuu!

Sister Mills

 

 

Mormon

OI GENTE,

 

First thing is first... I am pulling for the US to have second place!!! I can't pull for us to have first because lets be honest, I know like 3 people who play soccer, gotta give it to Brazil. They are more dedicated.

 

Okay now. Obviously you already know but we are recieving my THIRD mission president this week! I'm weirdly nervous AND excited. It's the start of a new time you know? Oh man but I will miss Presidente Martins. He was a little bit of a smart aleck but that's what I liked about him! HA! He was sooo funny at our last zone conference- his wife was going on about how amazing he is and he stands up and says- already ten minutes, if you say more they'll think im paying you! HAHA. But really, it was such a short time with Presidente and Sister Martins, but very impactful. One thing Sister Martins said that blew my mind a little- Ill try to translate it well- was after her husband talked about missionaries that are legal (cool) and missionaries that are GOOD (like... obedient) she said,

 

Everyone can have opinions about me, but they cant judge me, no. Only God can judge me.

 

This got me to thinking about the praise of man. President Mecham talked to me about this a little and I think this is one weakness a lot of people have. Me included, probably more than others. Buuuut WHO ARE WE TRYING TO IMPRESS HERE?! God. So if we are doing anything contrary to what he has asked of us, we may be LEGAL now, but we wont be laughing in the end.

 

So then thinking on this we were leaving the conference and I was like- man we have to have a little more faith and a little more action. So we enter the ônibus AND I sit next to this woman who is grinning EAR TO EAR. Im like- heyyy tudo bem? She goes- you dont remember me?! ... oh no. We talk to muito gente you know? So im like noooo when did we talk Im sorry! She then tells me this amazing story about how she wanted to go to this amazing church with authority of God I told her about 2 months ago on the bus, but she didnt know where it was! So she was praying that she would see the ...big? American again. So then 2 weeks ago she sees me and my friend (companion) and gets all excited but we were talking to someone and then we left really fast she said. So she was super sad- obviously God didnt want her to go to this church... Then we enter the onibus (way later than we ever use it and in a different area- fate right?) and she just loses it. I tell her where the church is and how she can find it and that we have the nickname MORMON so if she asks ANYONE theyll know where it is. She goes- Mormon? Is that the word for a lot of people in english? HAAA! Nooo that is the name of a prophet. She goes- OH you mean Moses? I'm like no... Mormon mesmo. Mormon? Where is he in the Bible? He ISNT! So I explain that proof we have that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God is the book of mormon. An ancient record of the people here in the Americas. She dies. WHERE CAN SHE BUY THIS BOOK?! HAAA. Are you with me? I gave her one and she starts crying. Then we see the bus like 3 minutes later leaving the station and she is reading alreaaaady. GOD LOVES US PEOPLE.

 

Lots of miracles this week, and not lots of time, but i love you and miss you! Soldades! Especially around birthday time!

 

SISTER HALEY MILLS

 

Alphaville Zone Photo with Presidente Martins

 

GOALLLL!

Alright. Someone mata (kill) Jamie (Petersen-Arnett) for me! Her child doesn't have my name and I didn't even know about it til today!!!! QUE ISSO!!!?? But really. The baby is totes adorbs, we all knew she would be! One day...

The World Cup!!! WOO BRASILLLL! Sounds like a dream right? One of those unlived dreams really. I bought a jersey, and my companion and I sit inside the house discussing deep doctrine and counting the SCREAMS for goals. GOALLLLL! Brasil won in case you couldn't hear all the way over there. The United States has a joga tonight in case everyone hasn't been saying to you in the streets- Did you hear you lost?! Then saying JUST KIDDING. But if people have been saying that to you. you can say what I say- I thought Brasil won? 

BOOOM.

This week was a little crazy other than that, we had a lot of running around because our baptism (Kelly) decided she wasn't ready! WHATTT?! So we spent practically 5 hours on the ônibus with the Elders going there for an interview, then cancelling it, then she decided to reschedule it for next week. So... Ill keep you updated. Pedro was confirmed this week and will receive the Aaronic priesthood next Sunday. Forgive me if I cried a little, but we have transfers today and again in 4 weeks, and I'm terrified ill leave my strong little converts! The life of Pedro will be changed forever because of the church. We visited his house on Sunday and his dad was drunk, his mom was missing and there were a large number of horrible things happening. I couldn't help but think in my mind- this is the beginning of the beginning for him. What an amazing beginning the Lord has given us in his son Jesus Christ. And in His gospel. A gospel we so often take for granted.

Bishop found me yesterday at church and was like SISTER! WOOO, you are still here I was preoccupied... (worried?) all week that you would leave! Then he looks down at the ground all sheepish and says- you go home in December right? Think you'll come back and visit the gente? HA! Of course! Then someone else asked if I would come back and live with them? AND apparently lawyers make more money here? I say apparently because everyone is trying to convince me of this. I have an accent people! AND bad grammar, who wants to live like that?!

Love you and miss you! Oh and you spell JEALOUS- C-I-U-M-E-N-T-O...  desculpnãodesculp! 

TCHAU!

Sister Haley Mills

World Cup...

Oh HEYYY.

Thanks for the updates this week! I’m sure you are all speaking French beautifully by now, immersion can do that for you! HA! But seriously I’m a little jealous you are cruising Canada this week with Aaron and Chelli! Tell Jessica congrats on the job! And the other Jessica congrats on the internship, and it ends faster than she realizes! I still miss DC like everyday. My companion always asks me things like... have you been to San Francisco too! I’ve seen it on the TV! HA! I spend all day describing different cities to her. But really, it’s all just the same. The places may appear different, but the people are the same- same wants needs and desires. ...she doesn’t like that answer.

Everyone here LOVES Shakira for your info! And don’t worry I searched out a reputable woman to perm my hair. It’s hard to get perms here because everyone WANTS straight hair- but when I want something I find it right?

Speaking of that we had the most HILARIOUS/CRAZY week. I’ll start with Pedro. He is 13. We baptized him. BUT BARELY. We kept having miscommunications because we had Stake conference in Alphaville (bem longe) so we literally set up 12 different times to have his interview and baptism and every time he went to the wrong building! But finally after stake conference we baptized that slippery boy and actually 4 others in the stake too! It was soooo cool to see a row of white ready to make covenants with God! Especially when President showed up (SURPRISE!) and then one of the investigators for Alphaville started bawling because SHE wanted to get baptized too (but needed to go to church one more time). So we convince the zone leaders to ask president, get special permission, teach her the commandments REAL fast, THEN learn she lives with a MAN! AHHHH. Not married! So it all fell through anyway. And all this is DURING the baptism of everyone else! Not kidding. My companion and I were laughing non-stop, but hey. She felt the spirit and knew the church was true. Can you blame her? Really?

Stake conference. WOAHHH. We got a new stake president because ours is moving to Rio. SO... we had 2 members of the Quorum of the Seventy there! And they spoke and BLEW MY MIND. They had stories about missionary work. WOAH. A new missionary refused to leave a house without testifying that we have a LIVING Prophet today even though his companion was like- they hate us, let’s leave, this is normal. So guess what happened? I heard this and YOU BET I DID IT! We were walking down the street in Pira Pora do bom Jesus (one of our cities. We have one of the biggest areas) and we are looking for a house that doesn’t seem to exist (normal). We start talking to this woman, Maria, (also normal) and she says she is part of a church that não gosta de nós. I say- Mas irmã, we have a living prophet today. God is the same yesterday today and forever, he called prophets in times of old to lead the people and still does today. BECAUSE of this authority we have on the earth we can return and live with our families forever. Is this something you want? .... silence..... Pode entrar. WOOOO! We teach her and her son. They accept baptism and whoa. They are just perfect. I was like- I want to film our stake conference and watch it whenever I get comfortable in the gospel. I know we have a living prophet. But does everyone? NOOO WHAT A SHAME! We are literally robbing the world of the truth when we don’t share! They can accept, or they can reject, but WE HAVE A DUTY TO TESTIFY! To invite! I’m about to throw this out there- we made a COVENENT when we were baptized to stand as a witness in all times in all things in all places. I’m so ashamed of the covenant breaking I was comfortable with before my mission. Stir up your hearts to remembrance people! 

Uhhh. Rant? Desculpnãodesculp! And now on a little note of humor. The Weekly Loidinha (little blondie) Report. A man asked if I would accompany him and earn 100 reals. Another man asked for my number, then I pretended I couldn’t speak Portuguese. So my companion goes- yeahhh she doesn’t understand or speak Portuguese very well. The driver of the ônibus then yells- Sister MILLS, você quer descer aqui o mais para la? I yell... Obrigada, nos precisamos sair perto de o ponto de asucar, mais um ponto por favor! Then we die laughing because I go... oooops... 

Love you and miss you! 

Sister Haley K. Mills

Sisters Mills and Sares (from Bolivia)

World Cup - Brasil Pride!