Stuff Going Down

Hey friends and family!  It is catch up time!

1)  This week we went to the temple again and taught two ex-drug traffickers with the temple President.  He had felt like he needed to get to the temple earlier than usual, and when he arrived, he found us!  It was unreal.  They asked us if they still had a chance at salvation and the response was a resounding YES!

2)  I got to go on exchanges with Sister Tait (my companion from the MTC!) We got lost, had misadventures, and our friend Marcilio gave us each an entire fish to eat.  We ate all but the head.  

3)  I met a Costa Rican woman who just moved to Brazil and doesn't speak a word of Portuguese!  The same week, I found another investigator from Mexico!  It's time to bust out my Spanish again!

4)  A drunk guy on the street tried to kiss me so I ducked and covered and ran away.  He just yelled out "Só de te olhar, já valeu!"  ...nice.

5)  We have officially started our English class in Campo Limpo!  Tell your friends!

6)  Our ward mission leader, Wellington, is excellent.  Except for when he he starts to laugh in the middle of our lesson about the law of Chastity... nice.

7) A woman came up to us on the street and asked us what church we were from.  We told her we were from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Her response?  "What do I need to do to get baptized in this church?"  Sister Barboza and I just looked at eachother... is this real life?

8)  We have been searching for new people to teach and praying and fasting for miracles!  On Saturday we went to contact a referral which was a young lady named Cecilia.  As we were talking, her mom came home and gave us the strangest look.  We shared a message with them about the restored gospel and at the end she told us that she had prayed that morning for God to transform the life of her family.  And when she got home from work, there we were!  She said it was an answer to her prayer.  God is so good!!!

9)  I am so very happy and grateful for the life and oppurtunities God gives me each day.  We have an unlimited capacity to do great things!!  Don't ever doubt that God knows you and loves you!  Amo vocês.

beijos,

Sister Burch

some extra pictures

Changed.

When we met Valcir for the first time, he was tipsy and homeless.  The next day he made the decision that he would never drink again.  And stopped, just like that.  We continued teaching him, and with time, faith, and miracles, he also quit smoking.  The first time he prayed about the Book of Mormon, he couln't sleep at all the entire night!  He went to church and said, "This is the church.  I've already decided."  

And this Sunday, Valcir entered into the waters of baptism and came out, a changed man.  With changed desires, changed thoughts, and a changed heart.  And my heart changed a little too.  It grew a little and loves a whole lot more.  

 "Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.

 Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism." (Alma 7)

Batismo é só alegria. :D  I love you all and if you aren't baptized, I suggest you do it.  It is the best.  

beijos,

Sister Burch

Pioneering

For over 30 years, the gates to the São Paulo temple that open up to the busy highway, Fransisco Moratto, have been locked.  And for the first time in decades, we unlocked them.  The Sisters of the Brazil São Paulo West mission have opened them up to the public for an exciting new work; tours on the temple grounds!  

I felt like a temple square sister.  Only less glamorous.  We recieved zero training or instruction.  But were simply handed five banners and told to be creative.  Realizing that we were the pioneers of this new work, we used our creativity and followed our hearts.  The banners were hard to put up and wouldn't stand in the wind, so I had to climb the temple gate to hang them. hahaha.  Like I said, less glamorous.  Then we did our job and opened our mouths!  We didn't let a single soul pass us by without inviting them in to learn more, and feel the peace that comes from standing outside the Lord's house.  MANY people said no, but we were in a state of nirvana and no one could stop us.  At one point, a man stopped his car on the HIGHWAY and yelled out,

"what do I need to do to visit this church?"  

Sister Barboza replied,

"get out of your car and come here!!!"

So that was what he did.  And it was an incredible feeling to talk about the Restored Gospel of Christ right ouside the temple.  

We finished our day exhausted, sunburnt, and happy.  And to make things even better, our dear President Del Guerso took us to Mcdonalds and drove us home.  Bless him.    

Year 1 Reflections

To my great surprise, I am staying yet another transfer in Campo Limpo with Sister Barboza.  There are still people to find, lessons to learn, and people to baptize.  We are excited!

As we were walking along the street one day, we passed a man smoking in his doorway.  We started to talk to him and he immediately opened up to us and told us he had lost everything because of his alcoholism.  Since then, he hasn't drank (drunk? eu não falo inglês) in over a week!  

It is weird.  Most of our investigators are alcoholics.  I'm not sure how we find these people, but I am happy to help them.  They are the ones who need it the most.  I may leave Sacrament meeting smelling like cigarettes every Sunday from sitting next to them, but it is worth it.  The gospel changes lives and can cure us emotionally and spiritually!  (Jacob 2:8)

Oh, and this week I hit my ONE YEAR MARK!  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

A year ago today I started out on this unknown adventure, having no clue what to expect.  And this week I had the oppurtunity to think and reflect over this past year.

As I reflected, I thought of the story of this rich young man in Matthew 19...

The rich young man was a follower of Christ who one day asked Jesus what he needed to do to get to heaven.  Jesus told him to keep the commandments.  The young man told Christ he had always kept them.  And then he asked a question that changed everything;

"what lack I yet?"    

He was a good man who followed Christ's teachings, but wanted to know what else was necessary, how else he could be better.  

So Christ told him..

"If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."

Things could have been so different for this young man.  He could have been an apostle, could have spent all his days at the Savior's side, he could have written a book in the Bible.  But he chose not to follow the Lord's call.  

As I sat there thinking about this amazing year of my life, I asked the same question.  

What lack I yet?  What do I need to do and to change to reach my full potential?  To have a more full capacity to follow Christ and be the missionary He wants me to be?  

I surely have a lot of work to do and a lot to change.  But I am willing to give my all to Him.

bons momentos

A True Brazilian

This week I recieved the biggest compliment anyone has ever given me on the mission.  (besides that one time a drunk guy told me I looked like the princess Kate Middleton).  And the compliment giver was my very own President Del Guerso.  

He told me that I had become a true Brazilian. 

Not because I have mastered the Portuguese language.  Not because I have adapted exceptionally to the culture.  

But because I got assaulted... again.

And President, in his good humor, declared me an official native.  I feel honored.  I will spare the details and simply say that we are okay, and the bandits must have been sorely dissapointed when they opened my bag to find nothing but a Bible and a Book of Mormon.  Maybe they will have a change of heart. ;)

I have learned that when difficulties come, it does no good to ask "why did this happen?"  But rather to ask, "What does God want me to learn from this?"

And when we ask God and ourselves this question, we can learn and grow a great deal.  As the men drove off, I was left once again on a street in São Paulo with nothing to my name, but a few pass along cards in my hand.  And what came to my mind in that moment was a scripture.

 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)   

I felt completely calm, knowing that things and stuff and possessions don't last very long and don't mean a whole lot.  What is important cannot be taken away from us.  

And this week our friend Carol laid up for herself a treasure in heaven.  She followed Christ's very example and was baptized.  There is nothing happier!

com amor,

Sister Burch