9/3/18 - blessing on blessings on blessing on blessings

Oi peeps! 

This week we ran into some document issues with Fabio and Francisca's marriage so that didn't happen like planned. Tudo bem. The Lord has another plan and we'll roll with that. There have been a few times when we've almost cut them from our teaching list but when we prayed about it the answer was always that we need to keep teaching them so vamos lá! 

When things like this happen we've started yelling "Curse you Perry the Platypus!" on the streets and somehow it makes things a little better. :)

FASTING WORKS PEEPS! I have seen so many miracles as the result of fasting and I'll share just a few here.

1) Walking down the street we saw this lady who just looked mad at the whole world so we stopped and talked to her and she told us, "You can give me any invitation to church you want but I'm going to Hell." We ended up talking to her about how she feels God has abondoned her and doesn't love her. We testified of the pure love of Christ and God. We prayed with her and have been visting her every now and then. She came to church and loved it. She smiles now. She actually smiles! She says she feels lighter. When we understand our divine identity we can't help but smile! Her name is Elaide and I know her faith is growing because I can see the light in eyes growing too.

2) Aryadene, daughter of Fabio and Francisca, is very shy and usually doesnt want to talk to us. This week everything fell into place and we were able to talk to her. Usually her house is full of family visiting in and out, but this time it was just her, Sister Jales and I. We shared the Restoration. I had a prompting to show her a Mormon message, "Mountains to Climb" (watch it if you get a minute). I was confused because it had nothing to do with what we were talking about but I've learned when the Spirit speake, you listen and you act. That's the only way you're going to be successful on a mission. So we showed the video and at the end testified (again) of the love of Christ. She stared crying and really opened up and shared some trials and concerns she had. She said her heart was full of grattitude because now she knows Father in Heaven truly knows and loves her. The spirit was so strong. She came to church with her parents yesterday and is planning to go to youth conference with the ward. She loves the church and we're hoping to baptize her on the same day as her parents.

Miracles are real peeps. I haven't been able to stop smiling all week.

At the end of all of our missionary call letters it says, "Greater blessings and more happiness than you have ever experienced await you and you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children." This is a promise I have seen in action many times this week.

I love being a missionary! Pai Celestial knows YOU and he loves YOU! Don't forget that YOU are a child of God!

Alma 29:1, 2, 9

Tchau amigos!

Sister Barlow

São Paulo Norte, Mais Forte

1) Zona Santana/Trujulio

2) My Brasillian grandmas Delza and Osanna with Elaide our investigator 

3) Fabio, Francsica, Aryadene and grandaughter Liza. About time I sent a picture of them right? :) 

4) Irmã Nice is from Fortaleza like Sister Jales so she made us some North Eastern food and it was AMAZING!