Keep on Tracting and Sharing a Message of Hope!

I decided to write an email this week as well have a short short chat (the last few weeks I been able to have a Google Hangout chat with my family - which is awesome!) as well because its a little bit better than saying everything that happened this past week in the chat!

This last Monday, March 18th, we had a zone activity. For part of  the activity we did a bunch of role play practices with our teaching lessons/discussions - which was pretty great! It is always good to practice, right? Also we did a "just for fun activity" - for this activity we pretended to do a "bible bash" with a Priest which was actually just our Zone Leader, Elder Perreira although he does have enough experience and knowledge to be a priest of another church, haha 😄. It is not recommended for missionaries to do "bible bashing" as we teach or talk with others. It was just for fun. Elder Perreira will be going home, finishing his mission here in a couple weeks. This past week I have seen God answer many prayers. I know that God answers prayers -  when we ask in faith, God will always answer our prayers - in his due time.

We had mission tour this week with Elder Cascard, a visiting authority. He gave us a ton of great advice for our teaching and finding investigators to teach. We stayed in this devotional meeting from 9:00 am in the morning to 6:00 pm at night. I learned a lot! Yet, it is super exhausting - that is for sure. He taught us about the role of the Spirit in missionary work. Our  job as missionaries is to be worthy and prepared to take the message to the hearts of the people. The Spirit is what touches the heart and each person has the ability to let the Spirit allow that or not. This week each missionary in our zone also had their monthly interview with President Acosta. He is such a great, inspired man! He said that he will give me tasks, especially as I am a Sister Trainer Leader, that every time is a bit harder and harder because he knows that I have a lot of potential and he wants to send me home the best person that he can. He said that he believes that I can do any task that he puts in front of me. He knows that the Spirit will be a  guide for me and it will be wonderful experience for me!

We also, as a zone, went to Heavenly Father, asking in prayer, with faith regarding some questions. For example, with faith that we would open randomly to the scripture and that it would give us the answer to a specific question - it happened not just once but all of the questions we asked as a zone. A truly amazing experience!  I know that through the Book of Mormon we receive answers!

This past week, it was good! Also, super crazy! We are working very hard as we open this new area, Piratininga. My companion and I  were able to reach our goals. We both were able to make a combined, over 150 contacts during the week -  talked to these new contacts about the blessings and Hope of the Gospel!

My companion and I had been praying and fasting to have a chance to teach Talita and  her family. This past Sunday we were able to teach Talita and her family - I know they felt the Spirit. We will continue to teach them and set a date for baptism. They invited us to have lunch with them in the next couple of weeks. Claudio has a baptismal date set  for this week! He had been taught by missionaries in the distant past  when he was 13 years old but never felt ready. He said that now he knows that this is what he wants and what God wants for him - which is to follow Christ's example.  He is very excited to be baptized and has a super, funny personality - makes us laugh. His black hair is longer than mine haha 😃. This week was super great! Thank you for all your love, prayers, and support!

© Copyright 2019 - Micaela Castro. 

Image by WilsonNaves from Pixabay

Transfer and Prayers for those Impacted by Recent Flooding.

Hello from São Paulo! In the last couple of days, we have had a natural disaster here in São Paulo impacting several areas in the city. Flooding parts of the city due to amount of rainfall received in the last 24 hours. Estimates given indicated upwards of 110 millimeters in the last 12 to 24 hours - this past Sunday to Monday, March 11th (Average rainfall for the month of March here is around 160 mm).  I was able to call my family very early  this past Monday, March 11th for just a small time and then call again Tuesday, March 12th to again let them know how I am. Our Mission President, President Acosta asked that all missionaries stay inside for their safety. We pray for those impacted by this tragedy and who have lost loved ones.

(Click Here) News Story: Recent Flooding In Areas of São Paulo

President Acosta posted the following on the Brazil São Paulo South Mission Facebook page:

(Missão Brasil São Paulo Sul 2017-2020: Presidente e Sister Acosta

Yesterday, March 11, 2019 at 8:09 AM)

Informamos a todos os familiares, responsáveis, parentes e amigos de nossos missionários, que TODOS encontraram-se em segurança, e devido ao forte temporal ocorrido na grande São Paulo atingindo diretamente o a região Sul da capital, o ABC, Ribeirão Pires e Mauá nas últimas doze horas, nossos missionários estarão em suas casas até que a situação se normalize na região.

Presidente e Sister Acosta.

***** (English Translation) *****

(Mission Brazil Sao Paulo South 2017-2020: President and Sister Acosta

Yesterday, March 11, 2019 at 8:09 AM)

We inform all the relatives, responsible, relatives and friends of our missionaries, that ALL have found themselves in safety, and due to the severe weather that occurred in the great São Paulo, directly reaching the southern region of the capital, ABC, Ribeirão Pires and Mauá in the last twelve hours, our missionaries will be in their homes until the situation normalizes in the region.

President and Sister Acosta.

Another missionary transfer came this past Sunday resulting in myself getting transferred. It was sad as I said goodbye to many friends in Cidade Vargas. I will miss them.  I will be going to Piratininga area on Tuesday, March 12th and will be with Sister Coutinho. I will also be sister training leader over four other sister missionaries - two other sister companionships. This is an area that will be opened again with us - or as missionaries call it "white washed." A new adventure begins!

(Click Here) Map of Piratininga Area, São Paulo, Brazil

Image by João Johnny from Pixabay

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf - an Apostle, Ministering, and Baptisms!

I am doing well this week (week starting Monday, Feb. 25th). It was pretty busy but great. It was neat to be able to chat with my family at home the last couple of weeks on our prep-day.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came to São Paulo and Salvador Brazil on a nine-day assignment to visit with the missionaries, church leaders and member families here! What a wonderful blessing. We had a few missions in São Paulo, Interlagos meet as a large group to hear his message. It was super exciting as I was able to shake his hand and speak with him briefly! It was a wonderful, spiritual experience for me! The presence of the Spirit was super strong! I didn't get to talk to him for very long but his message was a great inspiration to all the missionaries in attendance! Part of his message was that we as full-time missionaries need to always try and help the Savior baptize to make not only members of the church but help in creating disciples of Christ. He said that our missions in Brazil, we baptize but we need to remember that it is not just about the number but the helping of the soul to endure to the end! Also, he talked a lot about gratitude and how when we are thankful in all things we find more peace and power in this life to love and endure to the end with joy.
As a missionary hard times will come to them on a mission; those times have come to me periodically. Yet, they come to help missionaries understand, to a very small portion of what the Savior has gone through for each of Heavenly Father's children. Sometimes doubt, or lack of faith 'creeps' into the work.  President Acosta has told the missionaries that the Lord knows that excellent missionary work is going forth and that the Savior loves each of them! But that they are to remember that this work is not whether they are sufficient enough, but that it is about the Lord and the power he has to do all things. President Acosta told the story of Laman and Lemeul and the difference between them and Nephi. He said that they were all obedient; all had the same successes and difficulties; the same potential - everything was the same. The only difference was the fact that Nephi recognized the Lord and instead of complaining and letting doubt or lack of faith creep in, Nephi looked to the Lord, loved the Savior even more and was thankful. President Uchdortf talked about similar things when he spoke to us. I am now even more thankful and prayerful; giving more thanks and remembering what was said.
Now that I am here on the mission I know that there are people that needed me here and the adversary did not want me to come to find them. I know that there are many of God's children, here in Brazil and throughout the world that still need the help the Savior can give and it rests with the members of his church and that have a testimony of his Gospel and the missionaries to share it! God always, and I mean always qualifies those he calls. There is a Scripture in D&C that says when we are called and labor in the Lord's vineyard you are qualified for the work - whom the Lord calls, he qualifies.
A man named Fabio is scheduled to be baptized this coming week! He is the nephew of a member! We have been working and fighting to get him to church for about three weeks. He always said,  "I am not the kind of man that goes to church." But he went this week and loved it! We found out his brother that passed away had actually been baptized as well.

Ryan's Baptism!

Rafael's Baptism!

One thing that is the really great thing about a mission is when one is set apart as a missionary you are given the power and gifts of the Spirit to help those that you will come in contact with. I have seen many times on my mission where I felt guidance to teach a certain lesson at the initial contact and it has been an answer to someones prayer. I know that the lesson you need to teach comes to your mind from the Spirit!
Rafael was baptized this past week! Also, Ryan, he was baptized the week prior to last week! These are young men that we found while talking with and contacting people in the rain. There is another man we found making contacts in the rain this past week.
I guess the rain is a blessing in disguise. I think of it that way, yet it rains lots here - that means lots of blessings and many to talk with! I am truly blessed to serve the Lord here in Brazil! God bless all of you!

7 And in this place let them lift up their voice and declare my word with loud voices, without wrath or doubting, lifting up holy hands upon them. For I am able to make you holy, and your sins are forgiven you

(D & C 60:7).

60 Verily, verily, I say unto you who now hear my words, which are my voice, blessed are ye inasmuch as you receive these things;

61 For I will forgive you of your sins with this commandment—that you remain steadfast in your minds in solemnity and the spirit of prayer, in bearing testimony to all the world of those things which are communicated unto you.

62 Therefore, go ye into all the world; and unto whatsoever place ye cannot go ye shall send, that the testimony may go from you into all the world unto every creature (D & C 84:60-62).

88 And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up (D & C 84:88).