sempre Mantinhos

HAPPY CARNIVAL!! Aka where people just drink a lot and go to the beach for 4 days because vacation. I havent seen any crazy dancers or floats or anything that the movie Rio made me think that Carnival was..apartently thats more of a think in Rio.

Oh I gave a talk yesterday in Sacrament meeting for 10 minutes in Portuguese. Check that off of my bucket list.

But Jane got baptized Saturday!!! She is the greatest person and I know that baptism is so essential to eternal life. 

We were clapped at houses a lot this week and a half deaf guy came up to us and starting signing! But get this, sign language is different in different countries, but its okay because I learned a ton in my one year of ASL that I was able to understand and comunicate with him! The poor guy was sleeping when we clapped at his house so he told us to come back another day. It was super cool though and I felt way good about my decision to take that year of ASL. lol. 

We ride the bus a ton here, and so I am able to meet amazing people almost every time. So I was siting down when this old guy starts talking to me about the church and it turns out he was baptized! He lived in Utah for a few years and then London and then he just kind of stopped going to church. But he was talking to me in english and it was the coolest thing. People are so nice here and they are willing to talk and bond and I love that about Brasil. He even told me that he would come to church this next week!

I have realized that it is key to be nice and happy. People love happy people and its the smallest things that count. Literally I will smile or say hi to people in the street and then a week later we end up clapping at these peoples houses and they tell us how we smiled or waved at them earlier. So just be a nice person and things will work out for your benefit. I promise. 

Yesterday Madeline, the sister of a recent convert, came to church and we were super stoked about this NTM (family where not all of them are members). So Sister Silva was trying to mark a day to visit her while I was playing the piano but it just didnt work out. So we went to Barbaras house last night to teach her and see how she is doing ( the recent convert) and 10 minutes later her sister Madeline walks in!!! She has already been taught by the missionaries but she is so willing to listen and accepted another visit at her house and I am so so happy. 

I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers. He really does have a plan for each and everyone of His children. We just have to ask in order to receive.

I dont know how I got so lucky to be serving in the greatest city in Brasil. I love you all and I love Matinhos. Have the greatest week and look for opportunities to serve!!

A grande abraço,

Sister Albertoni

BATISMO E TEMPLO

Family and friends holy wow,

We went to the temple this week and Yasmin was baptized. Blessed. Yasmin is the granddaughter of a member and it was been a little rollercoaster with this 10 year old. She was already taught by the missionaries almost a year ago and she was going to get baptized and everything, but the last minute it just didnt happen. So we have been teaching her and trying to prepare her and then she would break our hearts and say that she wasnt ready. But the next visit she would be exited and say that she wanted to get baptized. Mais, all in all it worked out and she made the right decision! It makes my heart happy as people realize how great and happy the gospel is.

With that people said, a cute old lady sung us hymns that she wrote. She let us in without us even having to ask and then she told us about her church and how she writes hymns. And then out of the blue she starts singing and I dont think I have ever smiled that much before in my life. I love Portuguese and little old ladies who sing for us.

"Its hard to have a negative attitude about things if and when your life is focused on the Prince of Peace" M. Russell Ballard.

I love this gospel more than you guys could ever understand. Being a  missionary is the most rewarding thing I have ever done and I dont know how I got so blessed to be serving here and now. God loves His children and He is preparing so many people to accept His gospel. We just have to be willing and eager to do our part and share the happiness that we have.

We were able to go to the Curitiba temple this week and I was just so so happy to enter into the Lords home. I know that God is our Father and that He send His son. The gospel is so golden, I know that it is the truth and the way to eternal happiness.

I love you all and I hope you read your scriptures and talk to your father in heaven today.

Abraço,

Sister Albertoni

Feliz dia dos amores

Lol, we dont actually celebrate Valentines Day here, but Happy Valentines Day tomorrow!

I love being a missionary. There is nothing that has made me so happy, or work so hard, before in my life. 

We were walking down the street about to clap at some houses when we ran into Cauan on his bike. We taught him the other week at his neighbors house and he gave us his address so that we could visit and teach him and his family another day. We hadnt gotten around to him, so he came to us. He said, today its mine turn for you guys to come to my house, and that is when you know that Gods timing is perfect. I dont know how I got so lucky to be here serving at this time and in Matinhos. So we taught him and his mom and his 6 year old twin sisters. His sisters wouldnt not stop laughing because of my accent and it was the funniest thing! But we plan on visiting them again this week, and I have high expectations for them! 

We took a lot of buses this week and the buses here and always super packed! So we were coming back from district meeting with book of mormons and all kinds of material, standing on the bus. When all of a sudden a lady asks if I wanted her to hold my bags for me on her lap, because she was siting down!? Who does that?! It was the nicest thing but I turned it down. So then this older guy offers and insists and it was just so humbling. The people here and amazing and I love them all. I dont know how people are so selfless and looking out to help people they have never even met. 

I love being a missionary. I love Brasil and all of the people here. I honestly couldnt tell you how blessed I am. It is the great thing in the world and I know for a fact that God has a plan for every one of his children. I love you all so much and am so grateful for the impact you have each had in my life! Have the greatest week and spread the love!

Sister Albertoni

Mantinhos Week 2 BATISMO

Edison got baptized yesterday!!! Edison is a 400ish pound father of a recent convert. The missionaries have been teaching this family for a while and I am so blessed to have the opportunity to meet them and teach them as well. I was able to lead the hymns and get this, I am the worst with numbers in portuguese so I turn to the wrong hymn and start singing and no one joins in. Yeah, I was on the wrong page. But its fine, because Edison got baptized and Sandra was able to be their and everything is good in the world!!

I love this gospel. We ran into a lady, who we taught one time, in the street and she was super excited and told us that she had moved out of her boyfriends house and is now living with her mom. Its funny because we didnt mark a day to return, for who knows why, but she came to us and wants us to teach her and her mom! Literally Heavenly Father knows His children and has a perfect timing for everything.

We met Giovine this week, whose brother is Gabriel who Myria gave us a reference and now they are all receiving lessons!! Bom, Giovine has a baptismal date for the 25 and he is super excited and went to church with his Uncle yesterday. This area is literally golden and I dont know how I got so lucky to be called to serve here at this time.

Oh. It flooded here in good old Matinhos on Tuesday! We were casually walking to lunch which is a solid 45 minutes away when all of a sudden it starts pouring and thundering and wow. It rains a ton here, almost daily, but this was no casual drizzel. We ended up waiting under a shade thing for a solid 30 minutes because it wasnt looking too good. So the water ended up being up to our knees in some areas and it was probably the coolest thing I have experienced so far! Definitely different and I never thought I would be walking in rain in a skirt, but I got pictures so stay tuned!

Being a missionary is the coolest thing and I would recommend it to everyone and anyone. I love this gospel and I love you all so so much. I hope you read your scriptures and say your prayers!

Have the greatest week ever!

Abraço,

Sister Albertoni

We read O Livro De Mormon when we were waiting for lunch.  I love Brasil more than words can say.

My new companion sister S. Silva when the city flooded and we were wetter than words can say.

Flooded

We had zoone conference which meant sleepover with Siter Ferreira!! #ForeverFazendaRioGrande

Batismo do Edison with the three guys who were in the pia to help baptize him with Bishop. And his wife Sandra, they got married this past Wednesday and son Joao who got baptized last year.  They are my favorite family and Sandra will be getting baptized here pretty soon!

Joaozinho (Little Joao)

I love Brasil and being a missionary and having the opportunities of a life time.  Have the best week!

Abraco, 

Sister Albertoni