Getting ready to be a trainer!?!?!; 17 Miracles; P-Day in the park

Olã família, and Happy P-Day once again!  Woohoo :D  It's been another good week here, and Sister Marques and I have been working hard, despite the occasional setback or two.  We had a surprise interview with Presidente Tavares last P-Day, and I think that actually made a big difference this week.  He is awesome, and even though people often see him as being super strict (remember the 170+ extra rules we have here in the Brazil Londrina Mission?  :P), he's really very understanding and motivating more than demanding.  It was really good to have a chance to visit with him this week, and Sister Marques and I have both felt more enthusiastic ever since.  :)  He didn't give very many clues about what this next transfer will bring, but he did tell me that although it's not my time to become a senior YET... I should probably be getting ready!  :P  He said that we're going to be receiving a LOT of new sisters soon, so I need to be getting ready to train - crazy!!  This transfer there are only two Brazilian sisters coming, because there are apparently 20-something Americans that are still waiting for visas.     

I think the highlight of the week (for me at least) was Saturday, when we had our branch activity night.  Noite da Pipoca!  :)  Irmão Omura brought his big screen TV all the way to the chapel and we set up a little "movie theater" right there, complete with popcorn and everything.  :)  We watched 17 Miracles, and of course everybody left a little teary-eyed.  I love that movie so much - the Spirit was so strong, and the stories of faith in the face of trials were just as powerful to me as the first time I watched it.   

Today we spent the morning in Ibiporã's most exciting attraction - the Parque Florestal!  haha, to tell the truth, there really wasn't that much to see - a few funky birds, butterflies, spiders ... and a TON of mosquitoes.  But it was nice to spend a little bit of time tramping around in the trees and relaxing for a while.  We actually caught a glimpse of a wild pig (or something like that) on our way out of the park, but I didn't get a very good look.  But.  It was cool and beautiful, and a very nice way to start to the week.  :)

 

 

Anyways, that's about it from me.  We're still just looking for people to teach here, but you know.  Things are going well and I'm loving being a missionary here in Brazil.  It really is an amazing time to be a missionary - there is so much work to be done and I'm so blessed to be a part of it.  :)  

Love you all so much!  Keep the prayers (and letters) coming my way!  ;)

Love,

Sister Gee

P.S. Megan - got your MissionTies this week!  Congrats on the audition, and way to keep the Gee family tradition of awesomeness alive!  ;)  I'm so proud!!!  :D

Investigators not progressing; Still working with Igor; Transfer ending soon

Oh my goodness!  So much exciting news from home this week, I can't believe it!!!  :)  awwwwwwwwww, I'M AN AUNT!!!  :D  I can't even tell you how excited I am - I've been waiting my WHOLE LIFE to be able to say that, haha.  :)  And she is SO beautiful!  Congratulations to Ryan and Celecta, you guys are PARENTS!!!  Thank you so much for the pictures you guys sent, it was so good to see them and feel a little bit like I'm there with you all.  I can't wait to be able to see her in person in December.... I'm sure shell grow a LOT in the next few months, so you're going to have to keep sending pictures!  :)
CASSY HULSE - Con-stinkin-gratulations on the mission call!!!!  I am SO excited for you, Cassy!  I had no idea you were putting your papers in, so it was a surprise to hear that you already got your call.  The mission is WONDERFUL - hard but worth it, and I know you're going to be AMAZING.  I'm so so soooo happy that you're going to serve a mission.  :D  WRITE ME, okay??
Well, not too much has been going on here lately.  We've been cutting a lot of our investigators over the last few weeks because nobody seems to be progressing or keeping commitments....frustrating.  But we've spent the majority of our time trying to find new people to teach, and things have been starting to pick up a little bit. 
We're still working with Igor, trying to help him make the changes he needs to be able to be baptized, but it doesn't look like its going to happen any time soon.  We had the zone leaders come in to Ibiporã the other day to have an interview with him, to see if they could talk with him and make some kind of a difference, but....for the time being, were just going to have to wait!  That's the worst, when you have an investigator that you KNOW is an eleito, but they just don't do the things they know they need to, whatever the reason may be.
It's crazy to think that January and another transfer are ending soon.  This transfer has FLOWN by, which doesn't make a lot of sense since its one week longer than usual.  We're pretty sure that Sister Marques and Sister Gomes are going to be transferred since they've been here quite a while, and that Sister Ramirez and I will stay...of course, anything can happen, so well just have to see.  :)  I have LOVED having Sister Marques as a companion and it will be hard to have her leave.  She has been helping me learn to be a real live Brasileira - teaching me the language, to dance samba, to cook arroz and feijão.... it has been pretty awesome, and I have learned so much with her!  On Saturday we threw a party to celebrate the 9 month mark of Sister Ramirez - we made cachorro quente (hot dogs), São Paulo style, with corn and mashed potatoes and everything.  haha, VERY different, but surprisingly delicious!
Anyways, I'm glad you are all doing well.  I love you all so much, and I am so grateful for everything you do for me.  :)  Enjoy the cold - its still CRAZY hot here!  :P  :)  But I'm learning to love it. :) 
Com muito amor,
Sister Gee    

The streets in Ibiporã are deserted!

Hello Family!

I don't have a lot of time left today, so this email is going to be a quick one.  Sorry I missed emailing last week, I'll try to make up for it today, as best as I can... But don't worry, you didn't miss very much!   It has been SUPER slow ever since Christmas, and really not very much at all has happened.  With Christmas and then New Year's the week after, TONS of people have been travelling to visit family, and the streets here in Ibiporã have been deserted.  So yeah...We haven't gotten a lot done.  But it's always exciting to me to start a new year - new goals and expectations and experiences!  And yes, it is crazy that this is my last year in Brazil... a year still feels like a long time, but I'm sure it will fly.  :)

Well, to make up for this email being super duper short, I'm going to attach a BUNCH of pictures that I haven't gotten around to sending yet!  woohoo!!

I love you all so much!  Hope you're having a GREAT 2013 so far!

Love, 

Sister Gee