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