Week 32 June 6, 2016 " More Hospital Time & Member Blessings"

Hey mom, so not much happened this week because I twisted my foot last Sunday, and it is gradually not getting better. My companion also had to go to the hospital again because she wasn´t better. The past four weeks have been so interesting. We have been trying to do the work, but we can´t right now. After visiting the hospital Saturday night from 6:30 pm until 2:30 am, I was told that I shouldn´t be walking for 5 to six days, and to continue wearing the boot that I have been using. Sister Bogado is getting a little better, but still needs to use specific medications to help her get better. From this whole experience, I have been learning valuable lessons that I never want to forget. I I remember calling the Bishop Saturday night (because it´s hard to ask people to help us because of work, or their phones are disconnected), and he and his wife were right there to take us to the hospital and wait for us until we were done. He also picked us up for church, and a little bit later everyone knew of our situation and were ready to help. Honestly, I haven´t cried in church since my last Sunday in Texas. I cried like a baby sharing my testimony, and expressing my gratitude for the members during this physically hard time for us, and that missionary work is literally impossible without the members. I am SO grateful for this experience because I want to continue to change and work hard. I will be staying in the house of one Sister in the ward for 5 days, while Sister Bogado is on splits with other sisters in the ward. 

I love you Mom, thank you for your emails, and prayers. No need to be worried, I am well taken care of here :)

-With love from your missionary, SIster Randall

Week 31 May 30, 2015 "Good and Bad All In One Week"

So this past week was good (except for the fact that everyone got sick, especially my companion), but things are really looking up!

Segunda-Feira: We had our last p-day as a zone (because of Transfers), and Sister Spindler and Sister Hitchcock joined us as we played games, and ate cookies! It was really fun :)

Terça-Feira: Today was a miracle!!! After Almoço, we decided to visit Agatha, a young woman recent convert. We ended up talking for a long time with her and Railson (one of the young men in our ward). Sister Bogado and I kept looking at each other that we needed to leave, but we also felt calm about staying. After Sister Bogado shared a message from Jacó 5, and about how they are also missionaries in their ward, we left. We bumped into one of the brothers from our ward, and he had a member number for us to pass (that we needed), and right after we realized that we were in the front of the house of our less active sisters. We decided to walk with her to pick up her grandson from a daycare, and while she went in to get her grandson I saw a woman that Sister Spindler and I found on my first transfer here. We talked a little bit, and she gave us her address, and phone number (WHOO HOO) After, we went home with our less active sister, and talked to her about coming back to church again, and started watching the General women's session with her. Afterward, we went to the house of our investigators, Hilda and Dorval, and we taught Dorval the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He had many questions about the priesthood. After we explained the whole history of the priesd=thood, and why we have and need it, we had to go home. He told me that he finally understands and that he felt really good :) This day was just a blessing!!

Quarta-Feira: Conferência de Zona!!!!!!! Foi muito legal!!! And it´s official that we will be wearing pants...I´m still not used to it...

Quinta-Feira: We had a great lesson with our investigator, Wesley, about the plan of salvation!! Not much else happened because my companion was really sick.

Sexta-Feira: I had therapy for my knees for two hours in Cuiabá. We had an English class (really good.....but I am forgetting how to speak English) From 9 until midnight my companion and I was at the hospital because she was starting to have influenza....But we both made really good contacts talking to the doctors, and nurses! :)

Sábado: Lessons fell, and we were asked to helçp out in a baby shower for a recent convert. It was fun because many members of the ward were there, and most of her family who aren´t members. 

Domingo: We had a really good training today about ward missionary work!!! We will have a lot of lessons with members this week!!!! I think I´m starting to get sick....

So we haven't  moved into our new house yet, but we are hoping that we can this week!!

-Sister Randall

Week 30 May 22, 2016

so, it will be really weird if I can wear pants on my mission.....doesn´t seem right, but if it will help with the mosquitos, I will be happy. So, transfers happened, and I WILL STAY WITH SISTER BOGADO!!!!! WOOHOO!!!! We will also be moving into a new house this week! It is in the backyard of one of the sisters in our ward. It is beautiful, and will give us the ability to sleep during the night, haha. I can´t talk about much this week, but to tell you that I am excited for you guys right now and that I am doing well also :) I love you all!!!! Beijos! Até mais
-Sister Randall

Week 29 May 16, 2916 "Tough Week"

So this week went a little differently than normal...we have no power in our little house. That has made things difficult for us since the weather is so hot. Also, our apartment area has a garage, and it is right outside our windows....so for four nights we haven't been able to sleep due to our college age neighbors partying until 4 or 5 in the morning. BUT, even with all this happening, we have been able to find good experiences! 

Hilda is so excited to get married so that she can be baptized and enter into the temple to do work for her son who passed away a year ago. I love her so much!!! She is my other mom, and she is always happy to have us over :)

After a long day in Cuiabá for therapy for my knees, my companion and I had a cool experience on the bus, talking to a woman about the Book of Mormon. She had never heard about the church before and said that she wanted to visit. She also said that she wanted to read the Book of Moron, and she looked very happy :) 

Transfers are coming up, and I think that I will be staying in my area, but it isn´t certain. 

I´m excited for this week, and for the opportunities that await!!!

Week 28 May 9, 2016

I loved talking with you all yesterday, it made my day, and will for this week! I love you all so much, and I am glad that life is so happy for you!! Honestly, I was really nervous and excited to talk with you all, I was sweating the whole time :p And part of that was because of the heat, but I am so grateful that I had that time with you :) Happy Mothers day for the best mother in the world!!! I love you so much!!! Tell the family that I think of you all, and that I love you all from now to eternity!! May the Lord continue to bless our family, I sure count that blessing of having you all as my family every day!! Take care, Até mais!!

-SISter Randall

Week 27 May 2, 2016 "Dia Das Maes"

My week was fantastic!! It was also really great that it got cold (I am so grateful that I still have my clothes for the cold!) Normal work has been a little slow, but we now have been working a lot with the Bishop, and the other leaders of our ward to do missionary work! It is so wonderful how the members are starting to help us in missionary work! We also have a list of names and numbers from members, so we will be using them for splits this week :)

I love my companion, we definitely knew each other in the pre-existence, she is so amazing!!

Valdorizon had his interview for the priesthood last week with the Bishop, and will be talking to the Stake President this Wednesday!! 

Hilda is progressing and has started the papers for getting married. Her boyfriend came to church for the first time yesterday (WooHOO) and he too wants the lessons! He has had a little of the Book of Mormon, and likes it a lot!! Great things are in store for them :)

So, Mothers day is next Sunday (YAYYYYY!!!) I get to talk to you guys for 2 HOURS!!!!!!!! I which skype account will you use? I can´t call you guys, so that is a little hard. It will probably be around 1-3 in the afternoon when I will call, so make sure that you are ready!!! :D I´m so excited (I have been having dreams about you guys for two weeks already) 

I love my mission right now, I have been so happy!!! I love this work so much :D I have however started to have pain in both of my knees (just my luck, right?) and because last week was so different, I didn´t have time to do my exercises....so pain is my world right now, but I will be going to a medical place for a check up about these things (no cost, tudo bem :) and hopefully with this week I can get back on schedule again :)

I love you guys so much, and am looking forward to Sunday!!!!!!

At´e mais!!! Tchau!

Week 26 April 25, 2016 "Thank you Google Translator!"

Sorry. I don´t have any time to write this week, but this is what I wrote to my president, and I didn´t have time to write it in English, so I used Google translator.... I hope you understand...                                             I do not know how I can explain this heavy week. except that it was difficult; but Sister Bogado and I found two mulheris they want! Diana, a Baptist, listen to our message, and she said that we can go back and share more! She said she like, and it felt good. We are excited to our next visit! Yesterday night, Bogado Sister and I were doing contacts, and we find a girl waiting on the bus. After inviting her to know the Church, we invite her to visit the ward English. She said she wants to visit the Church because she needs more. Then she said it was a long time since she was attending to any religion, and opened us that a year ago his brother has died. We have a lesson with her on Tuesday. Before we left, she had tears in her eyes to remember her brother, and with a smile on his face, she said until Tuesday!These experiences made my week!