On the way to the zoo!

Today Ava's letter came in Portuguese, so I will include the google translated version below:

Sao Paulo Zoo

3,200 animals, 102 species of mammals, 216 species of birds, 95 species of reptiles

Sorry, but I need to write in Portuguese today. We are going to one of the biggest zoos in South America with a family that I love VERY much, Sister Gilmara and Brother Ronaldo!

I'm writing on her cell phone because she does not have time to go to the LAN house. So it gets very difficult to write in English because autocorrect tries a thousand times to correct every word in English.

This week I had an interview with President Silcox and he gave me all the wisdom and strength I needed. It is very clear now what you expect of me in this "challenge," and in fact, it is very beautiful. This situation that is so challenging helps me overcome the weaker parts of myself. Charity, patience, and humility. Really, the Lord loves me so much that he entrusts me with such ... intense challenges. LOVED your letter. Mom! And I also always love the details of the week.

President Silcox's advice is always very inspired.  I love you all so much.

Kisses! Sister ludlam

No Time to Write

Felipe's Baptism

 

Ava did not have time to write this week. 

She says she can't wait to tell us about Felipe's baptism story when she has a minute.

She asked me to apologize to those she was not able to respond to this week.

She'll be back before we know it!  Sorry I am late with her news--we were out of town.

A week in the life of...

Irma Gomes's First Day in Vila Virginia

 BOM DIA FRIENDS!

WOOOOOOO this week was different and filled with learning. The reason it was different was trying to get used to the new schedule (training a new sister), but every day something unplanned would throw our plans for a loop. I was SO PUMPED for this week and thought we would mark a ton of people for baptism, but sometimes the Lord has other plans in mind!

Tuesday was consumed by transfers because Sister Gomes's suitcase broke BUT WE SURVIVED! I was so impressed by her because when we got home we put her stuff down and I said, "I know you're hungry, let me warm up some left-over birthday cake," but she said, "No, Sister! Let's say a gratitude prayer!" We knelt down and she began to thank Him for every detail of the day. <3 Beautiful.

Wednesday our phone "died," so the plan was to borrow Irma Marcia's phone at lunch to call Elder Webster but when we got there Sister de Jesus called THEM and was worried sick because she thought we had never made it home because we didn't go to district meeting. Then Elder Marquina called and we explained what happened again. Elder Melo said we needed to come to the office to switch the phone because it wouldn't even turn on when connected to the charger, so almost the entire day was used up in that adventure. We did get to teach an investigator when we finally got home, so that was a blessing.

Thursday was consumed by trying to do Weekly Planning and some members found out we didn't have a working stove, so they tried to help us but it didn't work out and ate up the afternoon. The people in our ward are angels and treat as like daughters.

Friday we ate lunch with Bispo and had a meeting with him about all the things we wanted to do to get the Obra Missionaria moving in our ward.I was overcome with gratitude because Bispo Cesar (became Bishop a month ago) is incredibly spiritually guided and organized and studies Preach My Gospel to know what his role is in helping the Obra Missionaria.

Felipe and Ryan

Then we taught Veronica who has always been a little "mole," but Sister Gomes really followed the Spirit and helped her open up about her fears of baptism. I just sat and stared at Sister Gomes as she said the most inspired, powerful things. It was divine. On our way to the next appointment, she started having really intense stomach pains. Very, very scary. She was out of commission for about the next 24 hours.

Saturday and Sunday we are able to make some visits, so that was good too :)

Things I Love About Sister Gomes:
1. She loves UNCONDITIONALLY. She is putting her arm around me and being the sweetest thing.
2. She talks to EVERYONE. She does contacts with everyone, and it is such a good example to me.
3. She is helping me live the law of consecration and share everything I have with her (hahahaha!)
4. She is SO GOOD AT COMMUNICATING! I have never had a companion who just says what she is feeling! It is so refreshing and I feel so relaxed that I don't have to think, "Uh oh, what's bothering her?" or "What did I do that annoyed her?" I feel like we are true sisters, irmas na carne!
5. Her testimony is so powerful, I already know many reasons why she was sent to this area, many of our investigators need her!

Hope you all have a great week!
Love,
Irma Ava

Mission on Fire

I will stay in Vila Virginia (hallelujah!) and train a new sister! I don't know anything about her yet, just that she is not American. Sister de Jesus is being transferred to another area to finish the training of a new sister.

I am so so so unbelievably excited to meet my new companion tomorrow, woohoo! She is a lucky duck because she is going to start out her mission on FIRE because Vila Virginia is just over-flowing with miracles. Rosana received the Gift of the Holy Ghost this week. We fasted for the 17 investigators who said they would come to church would actually make it...and it didn't exactly work out how we wanted it to. IT WORKED OUT EVEN BETTER!

 We ran into couple from the ward the day their cousin moved in with them. We taught him the Restoration,  and he wants to be baptized and has already received an answer. His name is Felipe (I am sensing a trend with this name..it is the name of ELEITOS). I AM SO EXCITED! This week I have just been on cloud 9, I have never felt such a constant and profound peace and joy in my life. I was especially grateful to take the sacrament on my 20th birthday. I saw a little bit into the heavens as I thought about the last 20 years and felt so CLEAN. I have a perfectly clean slate for the future in my life! I get to do it again next week too, woohoo! Oh, how perfect is Heavenly Father's plan for us!
I received 2 packages this week, one from the fam with a ton of little cards from Grant's wedding guests which was honestly the best thing I could've asked for for my birthday <3. THANK YOU FAMILY!

Sister Gines also sent me a honkin' box, jam-packed with love and carinho. I felt like it was my birthday and Christmas and all things wonderful at the same time <3 THANK YOU KELSIE GINES!

Thank you to all who wished me a happy birthday, and sorry I can't respond to much this week :( BUT I WILL!

The Big 2-0.  No more a teenager!

I want to bear my testimony that I know we are children of a Heavenly Father who loves us. We are here on earth to learn and grow and become more like Him. And it just incredible to me that that is possible, because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's kingdom here on earth, with all of the truths and principles we need to one day return to Him. If we obey His commandments and the counsels of our modern-day prophets, we will have eternal life, or life with God. THAT is the fullness of joy we seek.

Have a wonderful week! ♥

Worldwide Training was Incredible!

HELLO!

Mom asked a few more questions:
1. What do I think of all the new changes in the missionary schedule and key indicators?
I think its incredible!! I'm not sure which of the changes President Silcox will actually make, but I love the idea of it all. I just hope we don't wake up at 7:30 am and work until 10 pm and sleep at 11. I don't think we will because it is much more dangerous to be in the streets after 9 pm. To be honest, the change that makes me most excited is the key indicators. I think it was incredibly inspired and that missionaries will become incredibly more dedicated and focused on what will actually help people come unto Christ. WOOHOOO!
2. Ava's opinion on pants: So I used them for one day...and I think that's good enough for me, hahaha! The benefits of long skirts is that they are much less hot and attract less attention, but when it rains like it does in Brasil, it becomes very, very difficult to walk when you're soaked. One of my skirts actually ripped because of it! Pants are very comfortable, stairs and buses are much easier, and they certainly offer offer more protection from bugs -- considering we sit on the ground a lot. All in all, I prefer skirts because they are a lot cooler :)
3. My voice came back and I'm coughing way less :)

Training Meeting

SO MANY THINGS HAPPENED THIS WEEK and my heart is so filled with joy and thanksgiving and I don't have time to talk about everything, but I'll try to get it all in there.

The worldwide training was INCREDIBLE. Yes, they announced the new things (which was cool), but WOAH the training rocked my boat! Ever since then, I have been studying in much more depth how I can declare nothing but repentance to people, and I feel like I am a true, blue, through and through missionary now, like this part I didn't realize was missing to my preaching has now been filled in and I am helping people a lot more come unto Christ.

Rosana's Baptism

Something I've been realizing lately, especially when I teach the Plan of Salvation, is that I almost try to sell the gospel to people, to convince them that they want it. I talk about how glorious God's plan is for us and eternal families and become so confused when people here and say, "Oh, that's nice." I thought, "How is it possible that people hear that the church of Jesus Christ is restored and they aren't even a little bit rious to ask God if its true?

But this week I realized instead of convincing people why they WANT the gospel, I need to show them that they NEED it. When I think of my own personal conversion and when I truly began to LOVE the gospel was when I truly began to use the Atonement in my life when I was in high school. Maybe some people won't be too enthusiastic about the incredible doctrines of the church, but everyone needs the healing and soothing power of the Atonement in their lives. So ever since Thursday, I've been declaring - sharing the incredible examples of the Atonement and repentance bringing joy to people in the Book of Mormon. Maybe that's why I've been so giddy this week.

Things that happened:
1. Did a division with Sister Braga from the Bahia-- what a blessing she is in my life!
2. Took Rosana to the temple grounds!
3. She was baptized on Sunday!
4. RUTH CAME BACK!! We learned that she actually showed up at the church building on Christmas and New Years Day, but because she has no way to communicate with anyone, she didn't know sacrament meeting was later and just waited until she gave up. When I saw her I felt like this part of my heart that was missing was finally back in place, like I had been holding my breath and finally I could breathe again. I had no idea I could love someone so much!
5. Norma and Jessica and Marcos came to church after trying to get them to come for 3 months! I think they had a great experience.

I am so happy!

Sister Ludlam

Helping Others Overcome the Enemy

Sisters in Pants!  Woo Hoo!

Hello All!

Mom has asked me many times to explain what I do as a Sister Leader, and I keep forgetting. SORRY!

RESPONSIBILITIES AS A SISTER LEADER

We care for the emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being of the sisters in our zone, Itaquaquecituba. three companionships :) We call our sisters a few times during the week to see how they are, and we do divisions (we split up with them for visits). They come to our area and I spend the day with one and Sister de Jesus with the other. We also participate in the Leadership Council of the mission which has the Sister Assitants to the President (APs), Elder APs, President and Sister Silcox, all the sister leaders and all the zone leaders. They give us a training and then we pass along the training to our zone

The sisters in our zone are such strong women, and they are the ones helping me, truthfully. There have been emergency hospital runs and assaults, but they JUST KEEP GOING! I love these Sisters. I will take a picture this week with them at the worldwide missionary training and send it next week.

We have a wonderful investigator named Rosa who is progressing to baptism (should've been yesterday but it'll probably be next week). Her testimony is so pure and filled with faith. I believe our friendship has an eternal foundation. She's 14, loves k-pop, lives with her sister and helps take care of her nieces and nephews, and has already planned her trip to New Jersey this winter. She's a hoot. I feel like the age 14 is when everyone starts to really ponder on questions of the soul. I received my own testimony at 14 years, Joseph Smith and Ruth too!!

This week we had interviews with President and I asked, "How can I be better?" He read Moroni 9:6.  "Now, my beloved [daughter], notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; 

for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation;

for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay,

 that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, 

and rest our souls in the kingdom of God." 

He said if you focus on helping OTHERS overcome the enemy, he will be defeated automatically in your own life. Sure, you can focus on how to improve yourself, but when you focus on others the progress is much, much quicker. It was such a good sting filled with love. I left that celestial classroom in the church room super excited. I love my President.


I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!

Sister Ludlam

Left:  Making "cookies" with the Rico Family and Rosana. Everybody asks me to teach them how! haha

Proclaiming the Gospel from the Rooftops

From the Rooftops

 SO MANY MIRACLES THIS WEEK!

1. I learned that Felipe (from Satelite) decided to be baptized (not just a date marked!) and is preparing to serve a mission!! Unfortunately, he is going to move so I don't know how to contact him after the mission, but his transformation is absolutely the greatest miracle I have seen on my mission.

 

2. We were praying to be led to prepared people who are ready to accept the gospel, so some young adults walk up to us and start a conversation about the church and missionaries that taught them, but WE FORGOT TO ASK FOR THEIR HOUSE NUMBER! So a few days later we find the street they live on and realize it is extremely long and has thousands of houses. We say a prayer to be led to them and start knocking and asking "do you know a Jessica that lives on this street?" No one had a clue, so after knocking for a long time, we just stop in front of a house and stare at it for a while in silence. We then keep walking a little bit and RUN INTO ONE OF THE YOUNG MEN WE MET!

 

We moved to an apartment with a JACA TREE!

He then invites us to walk home with him and OF COURSE the house we just felt like stopping in front of (but didn't knock) is his house. Next thing we know we are teaching 7 people the Restoration. Everyone is living with their girlfriend and needs to be married, but they are all prepared. This Sunday only Salom wasn't working, so he was the only one who could came to church. Sadly, he woke up early, caught the train, searched for the church building and couldn't find it, and went home. Pretty dispaointing, but there is always next week! The fact he went out of his way to come is a miracle in and of itself.

 

WONDERFUL WEEK filled with learning! Lots of love!

Sister Ludlam

 

Ava took a photo in her bridesmaid dress on January 14th, her brother Grant's Wedding Day, since she couldn't participate in the wedding party :-(    How will we photoshop her in without any legs? ☺  We love you, Ava!