Today, I am actually a little sad because Sister Lee was transferred. I cried a LOT. She is now Sister Leader of the mission, I am so excited for her!
My new companion is Sister Quieroz, and I am just so so so grateful she is my companion. She is from Mato Grosso (state in the center of Brasil), loves to read, is very sweet and goofy and just...lovely. Every time my heart starts to hurt, I just remind myself she is my new companion and am comforted. I'll send a picture of us next week. We are sister leaders for our region. I will have 9 MONTHS in Itaqua this transfer! After the baptism ended, and I was thinking about what it would be like if I stayed here. My mind just filled with so many people we need to visit, who are ready, and how much WORK there is to do here in Zion! Sister Lee told me, "That's interesting you feel like that. I felt like now my work is completed and I can leave." Then we received the news I'd stay and she would go.
This week my favorite experience after the wedding and baptism was meeting Gustavo. As we were walking in the street, he walked up to us and introduced himself, told us he was hungry, and would just like to eat a kabob stick they were selling on the other side of the street. I asked how much he needed, and he told us to just buy one of my pieces of art (like hippie necklaces with colorful feathers and dream catchers) so we sat down and began to talk to him. I have taught a LOT of homeless people on my mission, but there was just something so special about him. I got so excited after meeting him and couldn't stop thinking about it for the rest of the day. He is 22 years old, has a little puppy he carries around in his backpack named "Night" (like the English word) and has lived on the streets for 4 years. He said, "I would LOVE to go to church with you guys. Come wake me up here in the morning and I'll go with you!"
So, we asked our friend Rafael to come with us (just in case, you know) and made a little breakfast for him. We show up, he is awake, but in a huge group of hobos drinking beer and said he couldn't go to church with us because they had to go to another town to do something...I was like, "WHAT IN THE WORLD? How did you manage to make up a commitment?" But he said he already started reading the Book of Mormon and truly wanted to go to church next week. We are going to try and find him this week and teach him. I don't think this is the last you will hear about Gustavo. :)
We also are very excited to teach Luis Fernando. Let me start from the very beginning: When I was in Vila Virginia, I would always hear about this family that was spread over our whole stake-- that one person got baptized-- and like a domino affect, family member after family member would get baptized. I thought it was so wonderful and had always wanted to be a part of it all. When I got to Poá, I met many of the members of this family, and John and Cintia are actually apart of the dynasty. John's older brother came to their baptism, and I just thinking about him. He is like a hard core rocker. I think he's 55 and has a little pony tail and wears black leather pants. I like him a LOT. As we watched him during the baptism, he seemed so interested and like he was really feeling the spirit. Afterwards we said, "We want to visit you!" and he said he works all the time, but told us when he is at home and we are going there this week! YAY! His only issue is with coffee, but that won't last for long ;) Sister and I whispered to each other, "He is next." I feel like this family must be very, very special. I have never seen anything like this on my mission.
Have an awesome week! Love, Sister Ava
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