Weekly letter from Sam!!

So this week was rather an eventful week! No baptisms for us.. Not for anyone in Sao Filipe actually. Really sad.. But I did get to go on divisions with Sister Serdar! Sister Serdar is seriously.. MAN! I just love her. She has the greatest spirit about her. I learned so much from her! On how to evaluate situations and stuff like that. And we laughed alot.
At one point in our divisions, she told me that she felt like there was somebody in the street we had just walked past that she needed to talk to. So we turned our tushies around and went to go find them. She kept saying we didn't have to, but we do have to! So we went down that street to find them. And well... No one was outside of their house. (It was a short road) But we started walking down the road and we see a house FULL of bananas. So what do we do to get conversation going? We each buy a banana. Hahaha. It was perfect! Turns out her husband is in America and he's a member and he served a mission! I don't know if things are ever going to go anywhere,.. but that was definitely the tastiest contact I've ever made. And the biggest bananas we ever ate. Hahaha.
Something I learned about myself this week is that I'm relatively good at making street contacts. Which is something I was really scared of before the mission. It's so stinking cool to learn and meet all of these people though!
So we had 2 investigators Carla and Suzi. They are sisters, 19 and 13 (I'm pretty sure). From what it looked like their whole family is Catholic. (Like everyone here) And everytime we talked to their mom.. she was really scary. Anyways, So we go to their house this Saturday, and we are screaming Suzi's name to the 2nd floor window because no one can hear us beating on the door. Well, Who answers? Their mom. Poop. We were really sweet and missionary like to her. hahaha. ANd anyways we enter and end up offering to help her to deshell her beans with her. We talked alot with her and ended up finding out that she has talked to missionaries in the past! And after we got deshelling beans we had a great lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ! And.. She gave us a bag of fresh picked corn! MMMMM! And we had been looking all week for corn on the cob, but no one was picking to sell! Just to keep for themselves. Heavenly Father is so nice.
We have a real problem with people going to church. Satan is just the worst, you know? It's football season and everyone has games on the weekend or goes out of town.. But we did have a man named Adao go to church and the mom of Raul (Fatinha). :) Makes me so happy that they came and enjoyed themselves! Well, at least we hope Adao enjoyed himself, we havent talked to him yet. We'll talk to him tonight.
Um. We also taught in a drug house this week. Didn't know that until afterwards. But we went in, everything looked fine. It looked like a nice house. So we go to talk about the restoration with this girl and it becomes SO difficult to focus. It was like between 5-6 in the day and it was the first day being back in my area from divisions. I thought "Man! The sun has really pulled the energy out of me! I've been away from all of the hills in my area for too long!" My companion would say something and my brain would not let me focus on her. She was pass it to me I would say something that I thought would go along with what she MAYBE said, and pass it right back after a few sentences. It was terrible! Then we got out and she was like "That girl was on drugs." Me, "She was WHAT?!" her, "Yeah, at one point her eyes rolled back into her head." Me, ".. I definitely didn't see that. If I had known I would have gotten out." Moral of the Story is: I don't know when people are on drugs, including myself. After that I bought a Pepsi and I was 100%. No worries folks. No worries.
This past week Sister Robinson and I were in charge of lunches. We definitely had sandwiches every day! HOLLA! It was pretty much the best week ever. Tuna sandwiches, tuna melts, melva patties, hamburgers, wraps, BBQ chicken, & grilled chicken. MMMM! This next week is Thanksgiving themed. We are going to try to find a whole chicken. Plan A was kill a chicken... But since our house will be full of the other sisters and cleaning is a lot of work... Probably not. :/ If I get my package this week, then we'll make greenbean cassarole.. MMM. I love GBcassarole!
Everyone is supposed to have a special training this week. So President and Sister Oliveira will be in town. And rumor has it that an Area 70 will be here too! He's supposed to speak at District Conference. I'm super excited. The Chorus is doing so good! We are so proud of them! We made them cinnimon bread for their last practice. Well, Sister Robinson did. I buttered the pans. She's just modest so she wanted to split the credit. Silly Sister Robinson. :)
The mission is seriously the best decision I've made in my whole life. I learn so much everyday. I can't imagine having lived a life without the benefits of having served a mission. I'm so grateful Heavenly Father smacked me in the spiritual rear-end so many times so I could have these blessings in my life. I know there are people waiting for the gospel and the fight against Satan is real. And that Heavenly Father really does love us! A WHOLE LOT!
Love Sister Buhler

Hope this works?

So this past week was rather disappointing. Our two girls that we LOVE that we were preparing to be baptized this week, didn't feel they were ready yet. So, we are obviously doing something wrong. What? I'm not sure. But I'd like to know so I can fix it. We think part of the problem is that Isa studied with Jehovah's Witnesses for like a year and decided in the process that she didn't want to get baptized. We think because they have such a long process for baptism that maybe she doesn't feel prepared because it's only been a month... but I know there is something else. We just don't know what yet.

This week we also celebrated Sister Serdar's 22nd birthday! CRAZY! She's old! Haha. Sister R and I went out and got stuff for cake and icecream Thursday.. then they came home with stuff for cake and icecream an hour after us.. Sooo... This weekend we had lots of yummy treats. :)

Today for Pday we went to the OTHER cemetery. The one people get buried in now. It was huge! Well.. Not really but really packed full. You could see in the outside wall where they had originally had the cemetery walls, it got full, then they extended 2 times. The visiting hours weren't until 11.. But the man at the gate was super nice and let us in.

Starting today I will be companions with Sister Serdar for 4 days. 4day long divisions is a little strange... Especially when you live in the same house with the peope you are doing divisions with. But it should be good. I'll be going into Serdar's area and Sister Robinson will take the lead on all of our investigators in our area. I'm pretty excited about it. I think Sister Robinson is going to do awesome. No problems at all. She came pre-trained. ;)

So can I just say that I LOVE our branch president? He's the bomb. He is always so concerned about the activity in our branch. He does visits every Saturday afternoon to inactives. Is that enough? No. He makes invites to church.. for the next upcoming 8 weeks until Christmas and kicks off this Sunday with a Christmas program and hymns! It was awesome. He did a visit to our recent convert's mom (who we struggled with) and she showed up to church the next day in a skirt and her son was in a white shirt, tie, and slacks and she told him to go buy a bible. She was SO HAPPY to be at church. When we told her how pretty she looked in her skirt, she turned to us and said, "Sister, I've never wear skirts.. This is the first skirt I have, I bought it yesterday after President passed by my house." MAN! What a blessing!

Also, we are directing the District Chorus. I'll be directing all of the musical numbers at District Conference and Sister Robinson will accompany the Chorus on the piano. An Area Seventy will be here. We're pretty excited about that. :)

Hope all is well on that end!
Sister Buhler

Robbsun e Booler

So I'm sending pictures. Of Luis' baptism. (He's the whiter kid in the picture where I'm wearing a Cabo Verde skirt.) Of our baptism this week, Jorgin. (I'm wearing blue) Us with our branch mission leader going to Brazil on his mission. (My comp is wearing grey and I'm wearing pink) Another picture from the beach last week. Us at the Cemetery today. and Halloween.

Well, this week has been alot of fun! And interesting... haha. Our baptism Jorgin FINALLY got baptized. Oh. It was a miracle. He's been ready for baptism for like a month, but with his mom being sick, him losing work and having to move out of town.. its been delayed alot. FINALLY this week we found him. With the Elders' help, we marked the baptism date for this week and BAM! Baptism! Buuuut. He didn't get confirmed because he had a bad headache the next day and didn't go to church. But Luis from last week got confirmed. So I guess it all will work out.

We had a zone conference tuesday, on Halloween and it was super good! My comp and I coordinated colors for the occasion. hahah. It was good to see the sisters and elders from the other half of the island. They challenged everyone to talk to 10 new people a day. Well, that has been working out really well! Our numbers definitely went up! We had 19 new investigators last week and we have 13 baptism dates marked currently. We have a transfer goal of 12 baptisms. I'm confident we'll meet that goal if we stay close to the spirit.

My arm fungus is going away. I'm really happy about that. :)

In other news, we did divisions with members this week. Sister Robinson's first time being away from me! It went so, so, so well! She's an awesome missionary! I'm really so proud to have her as my comp. I'm glad she had a good time. This week is already PACKED with appointments, We are probably going to do divisions with the other sisters this week.

We also have been teaching a half hour of music to the Primary in our branch, since no one knows the Primary songs. They just LOVE it! We are also teaching 4 other members of the branch how to read music, direct songs, and play the piano. It's going really well! We really love our branch. :)

Some of the days from this week, I've been so tired I've went to bed at 9:50 and then woke up to do prayers at 10:20. I'm telling you. The work is so tiring. Emotionally and Phyically! BUT I do have some pretty sweet looking calves because of all the uphill walking! :)

Today for pday we went to the beach today. Our district had a crab catching activity. hahaha. We caught one! When I say we, I mean they because I basically just watched. But it was cool! Took awhile, but success! Sister R and I also went to the cemetery. It was super cool and old. Very catholic. There was a sign that someone wrote "Jesus, forgive us of our sins" But it was spelled wrong in portuguese. haha.

Oh and a German man told me I had a german chin... I hope that was a compliment? Haha.

Ok, well... Until next week!
Sister Buhler

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