PICTURES!!

So I got pictures this week! Hoorayyy!

 

Well, LUIS got baptized this week! But not confirmed.. Because her had to go out of town... Yeah. Satan is a bully and a half. And YES the church got painted a yellow color! WOO HOO! :) Doesn't it look so much more happier!? Luis is honestly one of the greatest 14 year olds I know. He really has the light of Christ burning inside him super bright. And he goes to Seminary everyweek without anyone making him. He's great. :)

 

Anyways, this week..Well, I really love it here in Fogo. But this week has been a doosey.  . Our numbers lately have been low... Like having none of our investigators at church yesterday.. I feel like we are being really obedient missionaries, that we work really hard, and that we teach and love our investigators and the people we meet.  I don't know. We'll fix whatever it is we're doing wrong.

 

Satan has been working really hard here. There are ALWAYS things attacking our baptisms. Sick children, work, and going "a fora." Que chato! But we're working really hard and praying alot to Heavenly Father for help. In EVERY aspect of the work.

 

Newsflash, I didn't have bedbugs! But it is definitely a skin fungus. But I only know that because I bought an antifungus creme and it is FINALLY getting better! HOORAY! 

 

We are going to have Zone Conference this week on Halloween. We told the ZL's they need to so something Halloween-y. Maybe they'll talk on the Holy Ghost. Hahahah.

 

We went to the beach today for pday. I don't think all of the pictures are going to fit on one email. So maybe this week everyone will get 2 emails. I'm also attaching old baptisms. Just for safety purposes.

 

I found GATORADE THIS WEEK! I've been waiting 4 transfers for the American store to get it in and it FINALLY came in!! I bought one in every flavor. They're kindof expensive.. Like almost 2 bucks each. Well worth it though. I've also included a random truck picture.. That truck is filled with ramen noodles. It was taken from off our balcony. As much as I loved them in the states, I don't eat them so much here. But I figured my mom would get a kick out of that picture. :)

 

As for our investigators... I'd love to tell you about them.. but they all have their own little situation. And to not be partial I don't want to write about only a few. But maybe next week I'll have better news about them. We are getting alot of new ones though.

 

Love, Sister Buhler

No pictures again...

SO! Transfers were this weekend and the verdict is... We're staying the same! Hooray! Well, our companionship. Sister Payton is moving out of our house and Sister Serdar is moving back in. And Sister Vanderhorst is going to Sal!! So sad!! But Happy! I won't be able to see her but Sal is AMAZINGGG!

We had the BEST Zone Conference this week! Our mission president ended up playing some videos (in english) from Elder Bednar. On receiving revelation, and the Light of Christ. There are three of the videos. Maybe they are on youtube? They were seriously SO amazing! Everyone should watch them. We were challenged to find people doing acts of Kindness(aka the Light of Christ working in them) and teach them. Ahhhh. So good! and to follow all of our leading-to-do-good thoughts. It's been a great week.

This week I met someone who does't believe in God. How sad, right? I didn't even know what to say to them. I was just like.. Ok. Well, have a nice evening. ?

We sadly didn't have baptisms this week and one of our for this upcoming week fell because she didn't go to church. BUT Luis will be getting baptized! His mom was taught by missionaries in the past, but she decided the Adventist church is for her.. But she is going to watch his baptism and is going to make Luis' little brother go to our FHE tonight. hahaha. We are going to try and talk to her again. She's a super nice lady.

This week, on Thursday... I hit my 9 month mark. WOO HOO! That's halfway. Not that I want to be done.. because I don't.. but it's kindof cool to think about. I hope I stay in fogo for 2-3 more transfers so I can see the Stake open. President is flooding our island with missionaries. There are currently 4 sets of sisters and 5 sets of Elders on the island and he's trying to split 2 branches. Nuts!

I think I have bed bugs.. Not cool. So I bug sprayed my matress and washed all my sheets.

It is still super hot in Fogo... Nothing is really that new.

If your name is Holly Holland.. Hi mom! :D

SO... Yeah. There is nothing that exciting this week. Maybe next week. :)
Love you all!
Sister Buhler

Finally! Pictures!

Sorry everyone for not sending pictures. No, my camera didn't get stolen again.. hahaha. I just got 2 emails asking if it had been stolen, but no. Just bad internet places. So I've attached some pictures of all the baptisms since Sister Robinson and I have been companions. :) They are MOSTLY in chronological order.. except the last one. But if you look at the file number I'm sure that will help.

ANYWAYS! What a week! You remember how We had Manuel lined up for baptism? Well, he got baptized alright. In 1994. HAHA. Seriously. He had forgotten that 18 years ago he got baptized. He remembered having the Elders teach him and that he had to stop drinking and stuff.. just not the baptism part it. It was so funny. The branch president told us that we should make sure that he wasn't baptized first and check in the computer. What do you know. It even had his nickname "Mané Bombazina" He conveniently was doing construction on the church the day we looked it up so we walked up to him, "Are you Mané Bombazina?" He grinned from ear to ear. "It says in the computer that you were baptized in 1994.." Mané-"So.. I guess I don't need to be baptized then right?" us-"Right. Hahha."

Other than that our other 2 baptisms fell. One because he went out of town earlier than expected and the other one's baby daughter is sick in the hospital. So that was a bummer. Satan is a HARD worker and I am SO serious about that.

But Isabel, FINALLY got baptized this week!! On Sunday between conference sessions!! :D She's the one holding the baby in the orange shirt. Isn't he ADORABLE!? Oh. That was definitely one of the happiest days of my life. She's fought so hard to be baptized. I gave the talk at her baptism and she started crying. I know that I don't know all of the trials that she is going through, but I do know that the Lord does. I'm so happy she FINALLY made it.:)

This past week everyone in our house has been sick and 2 sisters on the other half of the island. (Another proof Satan is trying to stop the work.) The other 2 sisters stayed in the house for 2 days- MISERABLE. We made them hot chocolate and cheese grits. (hahaha can you guess which one I made?) But Sister Robinson had alot of energy when she was sick so we were still able to work. And I didn't have energy by the time it got around to me, but it finally got me Friday and by that time it was Interviews, Baptisms, and General Conference weekend- and you really can't stay down for any of that. But today I'm feeling tons better. I still have a stuffy nose and cough, but it is about gone. :)

Our numbers weren't good at all this week and we have Zone Conference tomorrow so we'll see how that all pans out. Also... I'm supposed to have 42 scriptures memorized by tomorrow... We'll see what happens. haha. Our awesome branch mission leader is also leaving for his mission in Brazil soon. Sad!

I'm REALLY REALLY REALLY loving my companion Sister Robinson. Transfers are this weekend, we should stay together.. but I guess you never know! We'll get to see who leaves and who stays in our house. They are going to open up Brava this transfer, but I think it's only for Elders.

Anyways, I think that is it.
I love you all!

Love, Sister Buhler

whataweekwhataweek. October 8, 2012

So! I just know that everyone is SUPER duper happy about the new missionary age change. I sure am. :) We were able to watch the Priesthood session this morning and the Saturday morning session in English. It was definitely WONDERFUL! I LOVED it. Conference is just so wonderful, isn't it?

Anyways, I have a couple of fun stories I want to tell everyone so hold on to your seats. :)

First off. We went teaching with our Branch Mission Leader on Thursday and Friday. It went really well. He really invites a great spirit to our lessons. POINT IS, we were walking to our appointment and he cuts in front of me in the road to say hi to someone and the only thing he says is that he wants to introduce us to someone. So he walks up to a girl shakes her hand, I shake her hand, I say hi, Sister Robinson says hi, and he says NOTHING. So I have no idea who this person is. So what do I ask? "Are you baptized?" (Bad first question, I know.) Her-"No" and then it goes silent as we all look at each other REALLY awkwardly. I almost responded, "Well,.. do you want to be?" hahaha. But I didn't. I just asked more questions awkwardly until he finally opened his mouth and told us the Elders had street contacted her but never went back. Hahah. Her name is Patricia. She was taught by missionaried in Brava about 10 years ago before her mom died. She came to church yesterday and LOVED it! And she loves us and we have since then started teaching some of the people she is living with! And she and another girl she lives with are super excited to get baptized in a few weeks! :) :)

Also, I want to talk about a man named Manuel. So my mini and I contacted Manuel last transfer. When we invited him to baptism he flat out turned us down. He's a man that likes to talk alot. and Sometimes the words that come out of his mouth feel like the scriptures.hahah. I really like him. I'm kindof hoping he'll grow up and teach the gospel doctrine class, but that's just me. :) Anyways, It's been at least a month later and this week as my companion and I were making goals for next week, she brings up Manuel's name for baptism. I was like WOAH.. where did that come from?! He hasn't even gotten a response about Joseph Smith! No way he'll be ready for baptism! So later that night we go to his house. We ask at the end of his lesson if he prayed to know if Joseph was a Prophet-No. If the Book of Mormon is true?-No. So I start explaining to him about how it's important to get an answer and he cuts me off. And says, "But everytime I think about it, in my mind and in my heart it feels right. So I feel like Joseph is what you say he is. And whenever I am looking for an answer this book always has a response."
Me(smiling): "So are you saying you have your answer?"
Manuel: "Yeah, I got my answer."
Me(grinning from ear to ear): "Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ in your life, and be baptized like he was?"
Manuel(Starting to grin really big): "Haha. I think it has come to that time, yes."
OH BOY! I was the happiest missionary ever! Then when I asked him to say the closing prayer he backsassed me and said "Well what about you give it?" Hahaha. When we got off the street his house was on I started dancing. Haha. Heavenly Father really knows his children. And I'm so glad my comp was listening to the Holy Ghost in planning. :)

Our baptism of Jorgin fell last week, but we've rescheduled it for this week on Thursday. Gotta keep fighting off that dirty Satan. So hopefully everything runs well.

For those of you who are a fan of Isabel, SHE FINALLY CAME TO CHURCH! and the Branch President is seeing what he can do to help her with different living arrangements. But hopefully we'll be having her baptism soon. :) ~

I also accidently threw bleach into my colored laundry this week. haha. I thought I was washing whites but nope. I wasn't! so.... now that I've bleached them more, I have lots of whitish shirts! Oh, the lessons you learn in the mission. :)

So... I think that's about it. I'm excited for more conference next weekend. :)
Have a great week!
Sister Buhler

No pictures...again! :(

Happy first day of OUTUBRO! So I don't have luck with pictures.. again. I promise. One of these days I'll have pictures. But anyways, so first I'll start with the baptisms. :)

These week we baptized 3 young men. 10, 12, and 14 years old. Rulin, Edson, and Keven. Consecutively. They are all super cool and dedicated! The moms of 2 came to the baptism, but one mom had to miss it because she was in Praia. :( We are in the process of teaching all of their parents, but there are alot of barriers... like getting married, and not being able to read (all three moms can't read) or understand much Portuguese. (Have I mentioned that I sometimes have to teach in Creole? Weird!) But the most interesting feat is that Edson's mom is scared of water! hahahah. When the first kid got in the water her hands went up over her eyes. hahaha. Poor thing. We marked her baptism date for October 13. I told her I'd find the biggest priesthood holder in our branch. hahaha. I really like her. :) Rulin's mom came to church, but she feels really uncomfortable because she can't read. :/ But she loves what the church has done for all of the people she's meet in it! So yeah. We'll see how that goes.

We also just got a bunch of references that are a bunch of Young women. :) Which makes me happy because for a while we had only been teaching young men. But yeah! I'm stoked about them. :)

An update on the Isabel story: SHE MOVED OUT OF THAT HOUSE!! :D And now she lives in the other sister's area with a family of one of their investigators. She was really excited to go to church Sunday, but I didn't see her there. I haven't had a chance to talk to the other sister's to see if she went to their branch or if she couldn't go because of the rain and her baby. :/ When I woke up Sunday morning the clouds were SUPER dark! The first thing I thought was Oh No. None of our investigators are going to be at church. And sure enough, we had 1 investigator at church. :/ Sadness!

Also, mom should be really happy with me.. I think I like coconut. hahah. I know! So strange! I like coconut bread that they sell here and come coconut cookies that Sister Arlete makes,... But I had coconut icecream today and wasn't a huge fan. But I think the more I eat, the more I'll like. Maybe. haha.

So it turns out we aren't watching conference this weekend. SAD! But to avoid internet problems the branches are going to download it and watch it next week. And our mission president told everyone that they had to watch it in portuguese.. so I'm a little bummed about it, but not too too much since I understand portuguese. It's just a little annoying with the voice over. Hearing a brazilian man just isn't the same as the prophet's voice.

Other than that... hm. I don't know. I still super hot. A member is coming to out house today to unclog our tub drain. Hooray! I guess you know your mission emails are getting boring when you talk about your clogged tub drain. haha.

I love my companion. Sister Robinson... cooks DELICIOUS pancakes. One day I'm sure she'll read this and laugh, but seriously. They were the best pancakes of my LIFE! Also, she's really good at looking at the bright side of things. She has a lump in her throat. We took her to the hospital to have it looked at. The Doctor wrote her a prescription. When we get to the pharmacy the woman pulls out some HUGE 3 inch needles! I ended up calling President's wife and double checking that we wanted to go through with that. Long story short, the Cape Verde Dr wanted her to take Penicillin made for animals and another type of penicillin that no one knows what it was. haha. But yeah. We think she's getting better anyways.

I also got to see Sister Vanderhorst this week! :) She turned 22 on the 28th. :) happy birthday to her!

Ok. That is pretty much everything in my life. I hope everyone is doing well!
Love, Sister Buhler