Legit

Hey ya´ll! 

This week was great! We did our first exchanges and it was da hora.  That means like legit.  Do people say legit still?... probably not.  OKAY! I never have time for these emails but tudo bem.  I got to work with Sister Iglesias this week.  She is an amazing sister from Curitiba and I learned a lot from her! 

BUT THEN

This week.... we finally did it.... we bought PANTS and USED them! WEIRD! But super comfortable.   I also bought some maxi skirts/dresses... it might be hotter and wierder, but if it´s going to protect us from these viscious mosquitos, sejam bem-vindas, calças! 

We had a lot of investigators that we had to drop this week because unfortunately, they aren´t progressing, but I know that just means that we will be able to find those who are TRULY searching for this wonderful truth now! 

This week we also went to the airport to renew my comp´s visa which was a bit odd... can you say tranque??  

I would like you all to take a little bit of time in Family Home Evening, this week, or maybe on Sunday to read this talk https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1996/10/the-atonement?lang=eng called "The Atonement" bu Russell M. Nelson.  It is amazing and helps us understand why we are here and how we can use the Atonement to make it back to our Heavenly Father. 

I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.  I know that he can help us in our trials, he can succor us and bring us back into his arms.  He is the perfect testament of the scripture, "...the Lord hath redeemed my soul... ; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love." I love my Savior.  I have seen The Atonement of Jesus Christ CHANGE- literally change lives.  I know this power exists and I know this church and this gospel is true because it is of Jesus Christ. 

I would like to challenge you all to do something super special- take a piece of paper.  Write down the names of all the people you know that live near you and pray about which one of them is prepared to hear the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  I testify as a literal representative of Jesus Christ, that God is preparing at least one person that you know to hear the message of the gospel.  Give that referral to the missionaries! They´ll love you forever! I love and miss you all! :)

Continue firme gente,

Sister Garrick

The Week of The Photos

I didn’t send any photos last week so I´m going to try to send them all right now but I never have time!! Okay this week was super good. I bought pants... ew. We marked a few baptisms for the 30th I hope we can help them all go through! 

Last Sunday the family that made us lunch made like a full on Texas BBQ and I was in love.  This week I watched one of our investigators use the faith she had to ask for a Priesthood blessing in her depression and it was miraculous to see how much it helped her. 

The power of God is real and it is restored. We truly never need to ask where are the keys, because they will never again be taken from the earth.I am thankful for the Priesthood and for this restored gospel. I am thankful for you all and sorry that I don´t manage my time very well to have more time to email you all... I promise I´ll get better! 

Love,

 Sister Garrick

Temple photos

Burger King (tradition when you go to the temple)

our new house

our view 

my area

Luany’s baptism

Sister M. Costa and I at training for new leaders :) <3

Recife

Modern-day missionaries

Luany’s mom reminds me so much of Holly 

in looks and in personality.  I love her! 

The Beverly Hills of Brazil

Welcome to the fanciest (and most expensive :( ) area of the mission- Boa Viagem! BUT I love it here! I´m so grateful that The Lord wants me to work here because it´s perfect!  The members are great, our investigators are progressing, and my companion is the BEST! I love her already! 

This week was great- Saturday we had a baptism- Luany´s baptism and it was so special.  She´s been waiting so long for this special day and she was glowing with the spirit after she was confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  We are seeing many miracles happening in our area and we are so blessed!  This week was super hurried because of our meetings with the leadership of the mission, planning exchanges, training, the baptism, planning activities, and moving to a new house that has less cockroaches, but more ants!  I´ll take the ants over cockroaches any day! ;) 

I know that I am along with all missionaries are literal representatives of Jesus Christ. I love Him and I strive to develop His attributes each day.  We are going to the temple now so I´ll write more on Monday! Love you all!

Beijos,

Sister Garrick

"Closing Time"

Oí galeras

This week so many things happened!  We had exchanges with our sister training leaders in Casa Forte and I learned A TON! I love Sister M. Lima and Sister Rammell! This week we got news that the Janga area is going to close and elders are going to re-open it because it´s not safe for sisters anymore. :( I was reflecting on my transfer and thinking if we really had success... and I truly feel like we were able to move a little bit of this area! We were able to reactivate 6 less actives and mark 2 baptisms and 1 wedding for the elders! I´m so grateful to be able to be an instrument in Heavenly Father´s hands. :)

This week President Bigelow called us and he said (in Portuguese), "Sister Garrick, I would like to call you to be the next Sister Training Leader for all the sisters in Litoral Zone.  You will be companions with Sister Juarez and work in Boa Viagem." My response was "Seriously?" And he was like, "Seriously! But don´t worry, we are going to help you prepare and train you and you will understand better this week."  SOOO I´m here in Boa Viagem now with Sister Juarez from Hidalgo in Mexico (close to Mexico city).  I´m so excited to work with her and to be a sister training leader because I love to serve and I know I will grow so much from this wonderful experience! I´m so so so so grateful! I am so grateful for all of your prayers and I know that they are answered always! I love this gospel.  I know that as we stand as witnesses of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places, we are helping others by our example, by our actions, our words, and our smiles.  Christ is our Savior and because of him we have the wonderful gift of repentance and can return to our Father´s presence once again! 

Thank you and love you all. :)

Com muito carinho,

Sister Garrick

THESE GIGANTIC HAMBURGERS THAT MEMBERS MADE FOR OUR DINNER WITH FRIES AND MILKSHAKES! LOVE! 

The original trio reunite at zone conference part 2! 

My Sister training leader (Sister M. Lima) in Casa Forte that I LOVE! She is now going home because 18 months is up :(

There´s a neighborhood in Janga called The United States hahaha and yes we do ride in these almost every day and yes it is scary and yes I almost fell out of one

Missionaries can use sunglasses now 

Tapioca with bananas and peanut butter 

The sisters of Janga on our last Sunday together

This Plan of Salvation thing I made to teach families

Last Sunday with Sister Vampirinha 

(Her name is Sanguino and sangue is blood 

and so we call her sister little vampire)

 The pain to leave this beautiful family in Janga :(

This game we played at a Family Home Evening 

(basically you have a balloon secured in the middle and you have to keep poking it with these sticks until it pops.  It´s super intense. I think it´s called Boom Balloon.)

 #FechamosJanga2k16 #WeClosedJanga2k16

 SIster DiSpirito is going to open my old area Gravatá!!!

 Sister Sanguino is going to open the farthest area in the mission: Arcoverde!!

 Sister Cogo finished her mission :(

 Last time I´ll probably see Sister Aguiar because tis is her last transfer! :(