7/16/18 - What even was this week?

Everyone who lives anywhere but California says, "Where I live the weather can't make up it's mind." Well, the same goes for Brasil. We leave the house in the morning with 2 pairs of tights, slacks, 3 jackets and a scarf and by 2:00 in the afternoon we've shead all our extra layers.

We've tried some new ideas to find people this week. Jehova's Witnesses, or Tay-Jotas as we call them, they set up these snazzy pop up booths on street corners and wait for people to come talk to them. We took that idea and tweaked it. We blew up balloons and spread all our materials out on a bench in the plaza and called people over to "choose a present". We then explained to them about the item they chose. Super fun. After English this week we had  "Cinamormon" We popped popcorn and served cups of Guarduja to everyone and together we watched Meet the Mormons. It was a good chance to bear testimony and show that members are normal people.

I taught a voo doo lady this week. Like straight up pot of smoke, veils all over the house, beat the drums, summon the spirits, voo doo. Super crazy. We were debating and praying about if its a good idea to keep teaching her or not. Some of the stuff she's talked about is nuts. Sister A. Ribeiro had a really cool dream about her so we're taking that as a sign we should keep visiting her. Wish us luck!

Pablo is 13 and wants so badly to be baptized but his mom won't let him. We've tried to have her sit in on lessons, visit church etc but she always claims she's too busy. Pablo found missionaires a year ago but stopped taking lessons because of his mom. It's a miracle we found him again though our Tay-Jota brinka. We're praying for a miracle.

Fabio and Francisca are amazing. I love being cheerleaders for these people like YES YOU CAN DO IT! YOU CAN GIVE OF COFFEE AND SMOKING AND ALL YOUR OTHER BAD ADDICTIONS! They're working toward baptism and are really intersted in family history. We bought them Cervada which is pretty much the coffee substitute here. to my understanding its made of burnt wheat? Anyway, I bought some too because you know if they're going to make the swich I want to be able to releate, sympathy pains you know? I followed package directions and it wasn't too bad, but it was so think I almost had to chew it. I was born in the church, I know nothing about coffee so when Sister A. Riberio saw what I was drinking she burst out laughing. I guess package directions were for a pot of Cervada, not a cup and all this thick grainy powder I was trying to down was supposed to be sifted out. Anyway, lesson learned.

The members are so on board with us and they trust us enough now we are so busy with referrals we hardly have time to breath. I LOVE IT! They're offering to make visits with us instead of us having to ask them. I see miracles everyday and I truly love this work with all my heart. Everytime we visit an incestigator and they've kept their commitment I see the light in their eyes grow and it's such a blessing to be apart of that proccess. When they pray aloud with us and thank Father in Heaven for sending the Sisters to their home to bring them peace.... yeah that gets me in the feels.

MISSIONARY WORK IS THE BEST!

Beijas amigos,

Sister Barlow

Brasil, São Paulo Norte

1) Tay-Jota in the Plaza

2) Cinamormon

3) My poster for Inglês. I've actually had a few people try to recruit me to move to Brasil post mission to teach English in schools.

4) Multi-zona with my cute STL