I KNOW SOMEONE FAMOUS!!!!

15/08 I have to travel to Rio Grande to do a division so I don't know if I will be able to email. I think I'll be able to but I just wanted to let you know.

23/08 I'm going to the temple!!! Woohoo! I'll have back to back temple trips before the end of the mission!! 21/08 I wont enter the internet so on Wednesday before the temple.

27/08 last Sunday! Last talk on the mission!

28/08 last pday! I think I'll enter the email to tell you that I'm doing good and headed home!

30/08 airport!

31/08 ARRIVAL!!!

It doesn't seem possible that I'm heading home so soon.

This week was my last Fast and Testimony meeting on the mission.

I was sitting in the congregation thinking when I would get up to bare my testimony. Normally we let a few members go up first and the bisphoric. (One Irma yelled so much that the secretary had to turn down the microphone. I don't think the irma discovered it because she just raised her voice level more haha!)

But it was as I was sitting there that I remembered that this would be my last fast and testimony meeting. Say whattttt?

So I got up, shaking a little, because for some reason I felt extremely nervous.

I didn't know what to say until I sat behind the podium listening to my companion and reflecting on  my mission.

What a blessing it has been. Three weeks is both a lifetime and a blink of an eye. This mission has be one miracle and blessing after another.

I have never had friends like these or experiences like these too. I have learned how to walk in cities that I don't know and trust my instincts and especially the spiritual impressions from the spirit. I have never felt so close to other people than during this time. And it isn't even because I'm never alone! :)

Many people have asked me many random things during the mission. Like. "Is your skin White this way naturally?" ...cricket cricket...yes.

Or do you know famous people? You're from the USA so you should know someone famous?

Well, in fact I do know someone famous.

None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

He died for us and lives for us and through Him and by Him we can live better. Be better. and do better than even before.

I know Him now. Not just His name or what He did, but I know who He is and why He did what He did.

It was for me and you. He loves us. Will Always love us.

With Love, Sister Hemmert

https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/36035_000_25_livingchrist.pdf

Juliana

How can it be. how can it be. August!

I want to let you all know that I'm of good health. I hope you got a kick our of my other letter, knowing that I'm healthy and happy can help us all put behind us the embarrassing stories from the mission:)

How can it be. how can it be. August!

This was one lonnnng week. I will be honest and tell you that it was a week of trials and lots of walking in the hot sun. They told us in May that winter would arrive in June. In June they said that certainly winter would arrive in July and now they are saying, 'It's official, winter arrives in August.'

I think they don't know what they are talking about, I just wait and see what happens! For now, I'll be using sandals.

I'm loving this area, in spite of the fact that many of our pesquisadores decided that they didn't want to hear more about the gospel this week. It was hard to hear that and we worked super hard to find new people to teach. Everything was going a little bit sideways when Saturday rolled around and our baptism almost didn't arrive for her baptism we got a little worried.

But as she left the water the relief on her face was visible. Juliana.

When she entered the bathroom soaking wet and freezing (because the water heater broke. oh Rio Grande do sul) we hugged her and cried with her in joy. She just said "I'm so happy." over and over.

Then Sunday morning rolled around and the presquisadores starting rolling in too! The church was filled with people and the spirit was so strong. I just couldn't stop looking around and think, what a blessing. What a blessing!

The Lord is Good. And it's the only thing I can say.

Love you all,

Sister Hemmert

His Love For Me Must Be Great!

This letter was actually sent to Ashley as a personal letter, but the message is so spiritually inspirational that she would like to share it with all of you. 

Relief Society: I know that the Liahona from a few months ago was dedicated to the RS. You could look at a few of the articles and see what they say! (On your ipad you can pull up the liahona) but I suggest you buy a subscription for our house too!

****During the mission I have grown to love the RS. I have been able to see how it truly has an impact on the world. Even in the little things as visits and warm hugs and smiles. The women in the RS have a strength because of the gospel.

I had a cool experience the other day in the RS class also. I remember in the beginning of the mission it was really hard to understand the classes because everyone talks differently and quickly. I tried as best I could to participate but most of the time I could only listen and try to understand. 

What did I see during this time observing you might ask?

Women of God. Servants of a King and Daughters of the Father. 

Many times as you observe you will recognize the strengths and weaknesses of others. You will see how people vary one from the other. You will also recognize how every person looks at the world a little bit differently from the other. But as I sat listening for months I began to see a special difference in these women. 

They come from different backgrounds, have different ages, and live different lives, but as in a graphing process the women in the RS follow the same wavelength or pattern. The same path. They have the same goal: Eternal Life.

To reach this goal they don't talk bad about others, or excluded one another. They don't see the weakness in others (and if they see these weaknesses) their only goal is to strengthen their sisters.

This is done, as I said, through the simple things. Visits and hugs and smiles. Kind words and quiet gestures. Tender mercies. 

They other day I realized, as I was commenting in a RS class, that I had reached a point that I could not only understand these women and hear them but that I could help and participate in their discussions and teach them with my own words in their language. 

I feel truly blessed because of my mission. Truly blessed to know that I am a daughter in the kingdom of God. That He provided for me this opportunity is sometimes unimaginable. I think, ''His love for me must be great. Who am I to deserve all this?'' Then I remember what I learned and learn in the RS. I remember who I am. Truly. And who I can become. 

I invite you to think on this and remember that you too are His child and have a great potential. Trust in Him and His promise;

D&C 50: 40 Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. 41 Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me; 42 And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost. 43 And the Father and I are one. I am in the Father and the Father in me; and inasmuch as ye have received me, ye are in me and I in you. 44 Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the goodshepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall. 45 And the day cometh that you shall hear my voice and see me, and know that I am. 46 Watch, therefore, that ye may be ready. Even so. Amen.

Love,

Sister Hemmert  

Hospital, IV's, and Miracles!

And the countdown begins. 

It is official. We have entered the last (and shortest) transfer of my mission I can't believe it too. 5 more weeks until American Consumerism as my dear friend recently reminded me on a postcard! As much as I want the day to arrive, I hope that it takes a lifetime to arrive! I'm just loving it so much here!

And the warm weather returned, so who can complain?! 

Today my companion, Sister Rebolledo went to Porto Alegre and in just a few days she will be headed home to Chile. The family that gave us a lift were also going to send their son out on a mission (curto prazo). Here Presidente Cruz can call up the ward families when there aren't a lot of missionaries and he can ask for them to send their sons and daughters with mission age who are waiting on their calls. they stay on the mission serving for a few weeks to fill the gaps in the mission field! 

Anyways, we waited a bit until my companion arrived and they took us out to lunch and then left us at home! It was so sweet of them! 

Updates from last week:

As you will see in my pictures this week there was another Sister with us. For the first time I was in trio! Wooohoo! Will explain!

So this last week Sister Rebolledo needed to do a few exams and since it was her last week we want to work our hardest, but the hospital is in Porto, so it would mean that we would lose a whole day of work!

So, since Sister Melo didn't have an area yet and was traveling around to help in the other areas we asked Presidente if she could stay with us for the week so that we could divide our forces.

He agreed!

And it was such a blessing. Because we were able to divide with members during the whole week and do much more than ever before but besides this I woke up a little flu-y Tuesday, and Wednesday my ears were a little stuffy and then Thursday I woke up reallyy, reallyyy sick. Like worse than I've ever been in a lonnnnngg time. 

6:30am I was ok. Everything normal.

8:00 car ride to the center of Guaíba for our reunion. 

9;00am I wasn't feeling super great. Asked for a blessing, participating in the meeting but still wasn't in tip top shape. Decided to head home early. I ended up having to stay all day with Irma Mara from the ward. She too was sick so we had a sick day sleeping on her couch and watching church videos. Sister Rebolledo and Sister Melo hit the streets. Knocking doors. Doing what missionaries do. I was feeling a little better during the day but sadly when they brought me home 9:30pm I got super carsick. They left me at home with strict orders to call their daughter and son-in-law if I got any worse so that they could take me to the hospital.

20 minutes later, 10:20, we called up Rodrigo and Amanda and informed our Presidente that we were headed to the clinic.

"If you're going to be sick, wait till you get inside the clinic. They'll attend you faster that way!" -Rodrigo

Well, as he signed in my name I put up a good front, but let's just say it's a good thing that I had a popcorn bucket. Within one minute of him writing out my name at the receptionist they called my name and Sister Melo and I went to the triagem. Within a few minutes in the triagem they sent me to meet with the Doctor and in just a few more minutes they sent me back to medicine. And let me tell you, that waiting was fullllll of people. I would have had to wait the whole night, but the Lord was watching over us.

11:00 pm: The nurse started pulling out a bunch of glass bottles and needles and I just couldn't help but think, "Wait a minute, gente, I only have two arms. How will I take so many shots??" 

"Dont worry," She explained, "These are just for the IV"

Que bom.

11:10pm: I learned what it feels like to have an IV. Let me tell you, in a cold sterile environment, a even colder IV entering your bloodstream isn't the coolest thing, no. Sister Melo distracted me with stories from the mission and her own hospital experiences and we just chatted about the good things and the bad things that I missed as I stayed on Irmã Mara's couch during the day.

She helped me a bunch. I think I will always be grateful to Sister Melo for everything that she did for me that day. It was a pleasant day but she at least helped me pass it!

12:30am we were headed home

1:00am teeth brusehd, pjs on, lights out.

7:30am wake up call. Time to work. 

I had to eat rice and banana for lunch and just watch everyone eating the good stuff haha

During the rest of the week I got much much better and was able to work normally. I will never forget the cruel day that I passed.

But I will also never forget Nilza's baptism. It was so special. She is the sweetest old lady that actually stopped US in the street and asked us to visit her friend. But then she started to have interest in our message and wanted to hear too!

The best part of all is that Junior, our RC, bore his testimony. I asked him to explain about His baptism and it was the coolest thing ever. The next day he blessed the sacrament!!! 

Truly a mission is a place of miracles. There are many things that I will never forget.

As I told my dearest friends: 

This time is too precious to waste and too amazing to let pass by. Serve every day with everything that you've got. Love everyone that you meet. Be willing to accept the Lord's will and trust in His ways. Sometimes it will seem that the world is against us. But remember that it was this way with one young prophet when he knelt in a grove to pray.

Sometimes dark forces will fight against us and pesquisadores will cut us, but remember that the light will come and the miracles will happen and the heavens will open.

In fact, the heavens are counting on you. So don't be afraid. Just go and do. 

Well, now I will do as I wrote.

I will go and do as the Lord commands.

Sister Hemmert

PowerPuff Girls Learn How to Roll With the Punches

Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong.

 This is our life sometimes. We learn how to roll with the punches.

This whole week we had been trying to teach Júnior. Júnior is a young man that we met knocking doors (? dont know how to say that in english). 

The first time that we visited this house his mom attended and was super friendly. She told us to come back another day because she was super busy. When we revisited we met Júnior. Turns out that he is friends with a RC named Roxana and has already visited the church a few times. 

He was visiting another church for a while but decided that it wasn't the place for him and stopped going. It was in this time that he recognized that he needed to find the truth but where he was at wasn't true.

He accepted to be baptized during the first visit.

During the week it was almost impossible to teach him because it turns out that his mom doesn't like us very much! (Or at least we thought so) And we could only teach him outside the house and every time we arrived she almost sent us away. 

When it came to signing the baptism record we prepared and marked an appointment, but when we arrived she was leaving the house with Júnior. 

She didn't even stop to greet us but left Júnior behind! 

We didn't know what to do. His baptism interview would start in one hour (5:00) and we didn't even have the record signed! We gave it to him and said, "Protect this with your life and have your mom sign it!" To explain, he always told us that she supported his decision, but we were a little nervous that maybe she wouldn't support it after all. He told us that he would do his best to arrive in time for the interview.

Well, we went to visit Plan B and afterwards when we were rounding the corner of the church we saw him, seated on the curb, waiting with the record in hand!

But this isn't all, we discovered during his interview that his mom is a member! 

Say what?? I had marked on the record that she wasn't, sooo, we had to go back to Junior´s house and get her signature again! What if she didn't sign it again? What if she told him no??

After the interview we ran to his house and awaited anxiously (outside) to talk with his mom. 

After minutes that seemed to last forever she came outside to greet us and explain that she was really busy with her other kid who has 3 years old and a lotttt of energy. She explained that she supports his decision and that she will do her best to arrive at the baptism!

Victory!

Day of the baptism:

Many members arrived! Young men and women, leaders, bishop. 

It was amazing. 

From the first song and prayer to the the last piece of cake served it was an experience I will always remember.

The speakers were truly inspired and explained that they would be like father´s to Júnior. We sat behind Júnior and his mom, and after the baptism, his mom wouldn't stop looking at him and hugging him.

She even explained during the last talk that she was so proud of him. As a single mother she had always tried to do her best and she could truly see during this moment that he was choosing the right path. 

The Spirit was so strong during this reunion.

I will always remember it.

I'm so grateful for experiences like this one. I'm so grateful that we were led to Júnior. Other missionaries already taught him actually. They had visited a few times to visit with his mom but had invaded their personal space and it was because of this that Solange (his mom) didn't want to talk with us at first. 

But I know now that we were sent to find him and help him. 

As he prepared for his baptism interview we explained the questions that would be used. I asked him if he had received a response to his prayers and smiling he said, "I think so. I was reading the scriptures yesterday before bed and I prayed. During the night I had an interesting dream."

"About what? Would you like to share with us?"

"I dreamed that I was being baptized. And now I know."

And now I know. 

The Lord responds to us. He answers our prayers.

Even when we don't think He is listening, He is. Trust in Him and He will direct thy path. 

-Sister Hemmert

p.s. Im in trio!! Sister Rebolledo, Sister Melo e Sister Hemmert. We are basically the power puff girls here to save the world. Don't know what Presidente was thinking because we will just have too much fun this week! Actually, I know exactly what he was think because we will baptize everyone this week!

:) 

love you xoxoxo 

Surgery, Obedience, and Blessings

Just another week of miracles here. Another week flying by too fast! 

As you will see this week I went to the doctor. I had to do a little tiny surgery on my foot (ingrown nail ew)...and to do this he had to give me 8 shots of anesthesia which was literally the worst part! the worst is that my comp was in another surgery (endoscopia) and so I was all alone having to confront my biggest fears. Needles and other sharp things!

But now I'm better! I didn't follow the doctors orders and stop working because lets be honest it's just boring having to sit and I prefer sitting in a pesquisadores house much more than my house! I did however rest for a few hours don't you worry your pretty little hearts, I'm obediente. 

Because obedience brings blessings. Truly. The Lord knows the promises that He makes with us. He knows our covenants and when we pull through and follow His commandments, He. does. too. 

He will always come through. Maybe we think that we are all alone, facing our biggest fears. But I promise you that we are not alone. There was one who fought our battles. And He fights with us still. 

His name is Christ. He suffered and descended below everything so that we could know that in the moments of deepest trouble and sacrifice and fear, He. is. with. us. 

And never will He leave us alone or afraid. 

Trust in Him and keep His commandments. 

D&C 58:31 Who am I, saith the Lord, that have promised and have not fulfilled?

D&C 82: 10.I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

Time is a Funny Subject

It was another good long with here! The weather was amazing for a few days! We had to pull out the summer clothes and sandals for a few days. #riogrande

We went to the temple! Woo hoo! I'll try to send pictures today! It was beautiful! 

What a blessing we have to visit the Lord's house.

But now as I sit here I'm thinking of what I can say to you with so little time. 

Time is a funny subject. It passes without our notice. The hours and minutes of the day. And we always finish our days and think, why don't I have more time?

It is for this reason the prophets always say that we have to use our time with wisdom or we will be as the White Rabbit. Always running and always late.

We have to make choices in this life and many times it isn't easy. Many times we wont have to choose between good and bad but between the better and the best. 

I want to send to you a thought or two for this week so that you can make these choices. 

Counsel with the Lord and do the best you can.

This is what He asks of us. That we try. And we make the best of it.

We have until the end of our life, and maybe we don't know when that is but we have this day at least to be and to be happy.

Ive thought a lot about the Be Ok Campaign these days and thought about this message and how it applies to the gospel.

Christ came and He gave His life in service of others. He suffered, so that we don't have to. He gave us a chance to be happy. To repent and to change and become

So I invite you all to do that. Repent and be happy. Change your life so that you can be who you want to be and who God wants you to be. Counsel with the Lord with all your heart and He will direct your path. Trust in Him and use your time as best you can to be ok. 

COMING HOME!

Flight Itinerary HAS ARRIVED!!! 

LAUREN WILL BE HOME ON 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 31 AT 11:58 AM!!!!

BLESSING UPON BLESSINGS! 

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE LOVED AND SUPPORTED OUR GIRL! 

WE CANNOT WAIT TO HOLD HER IN OUR ARMS AGAIN!

Headed to the Temple

Last week I was on exchanges (finally learned how to use the mission language in English! Thank you Sister Lexus Cook!) in Cachoeira e Caçapava do Sul! Wow. It was amazing! I loved it sooo much! The Sisters there are amazing and the areas are super beautiful. When we travel we had to leave our mission, enter the Santa Maria Mission and reenter our mission again! Haha! When I saw the sign stating that we were in Santa Maria I couldn't believe! I'm always on the border! haha 

I want to write a special letter for you all today. Today is a very special day. Today, is a normal day as any other. A Wednesday, 28th of June. But today, after more than a year of waiting I'm headed to the temple in Porto Alegre.

What is a temple you might ask? What do those Mormon's do in their temple. 

Well, I can tell you! The Temple is the House of the Lord here on the earth. In the temple we are the closest that we can be to God because it is in the temple that we make covenants, or promises, with God. Like Baptism, a covenant that everyone needs to return to the Father's presence. But the highest covenant we can do is be sealed to our family forever.

This is God's power. That can be used in His house. And I will be eternally grateful for this knowledge and this chance that I have to live with my family forever.

I had the chance to teach a woman yesterday who hasn't visited the church in more than 10 years. 2 years ago her husband passed away. We had to re-teach everything to her and in the end I bore my testimony of Eternal Families and told her that I would be able to go to temple today. I would be able to visit the one place where families can be joined for time and eternity.

Gratitude is a part of hoping. I thank the Lord everyday for this knowledge and thank Him everyday that my grandparents were taught by missionaries long ago. I think Him for His forethought and His kindness in letting me grow in this church, His church with His gospel, this truth. 

As I teach here in Brasil I feel everyday my gratitude growing. I wonder what I did to deserve such great a blessing. But maybe it doesn't matter what I did or didn't do, but what He knows I can do with His gospel. He knows who I can be with this gospel and the difference I can make in my life and in the lives of others. 

I love you all and will be praying for you all.

Sister Hemmert

The Rains Came Down!

This week was one to be remembered. We are entering winter here and to just explain to you how is Rio Grande do Sul, last week we used everything warm that we own and this week it warmed up so much that we almost used sandals. It was beautiful until arrived Sunday afternoon and the grey thunder clouds rolled in! 

We were preparing during the whole week for a Ward Project on Sunday. Here in our Ward we have about 700 members on the record. But just 120-150 are active. So that our ward can be qualified with the correct number of High Priests per person we have to clean out 370 records. 

So, we planned everything. We marked with all the members and all the missionaries from our zone. Planned splits, printed maps, and Sunday afternoon we hit the streets to find out if these people still live in these addresses and to see if we can find new people wanting to hear about the gospel. 

We arrived drenched. Everyone shivering. But happy! Though the rains came down and the floods came up the ward members came through and worked together for our ward! We dont know the results yet but we are well on our way to forming a Stake here!

Its a wonderful work. I cant believe that I'm helping to form Stakes! Truly I'm working in the Lord's Kingdom.

How grateful I am!

Sister Hemmert

Who Is Christ For ME?

With little time left I want to share with you a message that I feel is very important.

Ask yourself, "Who is Christ for me? Who is He in my life?" 

Many times as missionaries we ask this same question for the people we teach and many times, all the time, they tell us that He is "tudo." Everything. 

Once, in Mateus 16, Christ ask the apostles what the people thought of Him. 

They responded that the people thought He was John the Baptist or knew of Him as the Son of God and other names.

But then Christ asks these same men, His friends who they thought He was.

If we remember, one of His apostles betrayed Him, one denied Him, and one doubted. Two walked with Him for a while and didn't recognize Him until He broke the bread.

But as read in Mateus, one responded, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."

So who are we and what will we respond. Will we deny Him or doubt Him? Will we be unable to recognize Him when He comes?

My hope and prayer is that when He comes I will know and say, "Tu és o Cristo, o Filho do Deus Vivo." (You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God)

This is why I'm serving. He is why I'm here. He lives. And through Him I will live again. Live better and be better. 

I am here to know my Savior. Not just to know His titles. 

And I invite you this week to think of Him. To remember Him and get to know Him. Because His hand is on the doorknob. He is returning. This I know and wait for with joy. In His Name. Amen.

That release date is my date original that i received when i was arriving on the mission. But my date changed to august 30 because they had changes in the CTM this year that brought up the date one week sooner. I talked with the mission assistents the other day and it looks like already bought my tickets because they asked which airport i would land in. Tomorrow i will be going to Porto Alegre for a counsel meeting and i ask for my flight information and ill have them send it to you too. Dont worry your pretty little heart Momma!! The Elderes here are lax and have already forgetten about me one time #visamistake but ill set everything straight haha ;) 

Our baptism was Renato. His wife is a member but we are still working with her daughters so that they can be baptized. His slightly deaf so you can imagine how we taught him. His hearing aids broke and he doesnt have money to repair them but we are going to talk to our bishop so that we can do something to help them out. Renato looks like he is all hardcore in those pictures but really he is like the sweetest person. His desire to be baptized was basically because he wants to live a better life. None of the kids in those pictures are his. Not even the infant. When he and Tatiane started dating she was pregnant. When Raquelme was born, Renato registered him as his own. He didnt even tell Tatiane that he would register Raquelme, but in the end he told her, "Now Im his dad." 

They are really humble people. Tatiane had 14 less active, but now that she is returning they are learning together the gospel principles. For a good long time since she returned to the church Renato wanted to be baptized but he didnt want to stop drinking coffee. Sunday, one week ago they sat beside us in the sacrament meeting. We passed a note to him saying, "Congrats! Today is your last day drinking coffee. Prepare yourself because your baptism will be this Saturday!" He laughed a little bit, and finally (after a few more convincing notes written by the Spirit) he wrote back, "If you say so. Ok." After the baptism and confirmation i heard Renato talking to a pesquisador that he was feeling light, as if a weight had been taken off him!

I love missionary work! 

If you didnt know before, the average number of baptisms per missionary in brasil is 7. Renato was the seventh person that i helped be baptized. Now that i have reached this goal, im ready to exceed it. Double it even. It will take pray and faith and work, but im willing to work. Im praying and believing and giving everything that i am

Yesterday we had the oportunity to watch a special devotional with the Area Presidents and our Mission Presidents. 

Everyone from brasil and a few other countries were tuned in and watching as three youth opened there mission calls and Elder Aidukaitis and Presidente Costa explained the importance of our call to serve. 

Elder Aidukaitis reminds me of Mr. Gru! He even talks like him! It has been an honor hearing from leaders like him and Presidente Costa many times during my mission.

The explained a few things that touched my heart and made me want to work harder.

We are here to teach about Christ and His gospel. We are hear to explain about the man that changed the world. The Child that was born in a stable and laid on the hay. The boy that taught the teachers. The Son that did the will of the Father and gave His life, willing, for His brethren. 

He is our Savior and our King. His divine mission was to die so that we could live. He walked and breathed and bleeded for us.

One day, as we believe, we will live with Him.

Elder Aidukaitis explained simply for us all, "I want you to know how I hope your mission will be. I hope your mission will be the hardest thing that you have ever done and will ever do. I hope you wake up with pain in your joints and kneel down at night with tears in your eyes. I hope this will be the most difficult thing your can imagine. 

Why? Because one day when you are invited to sit with a Pioneer who suffered and died one the trail to Zion, or with Joseph and Hyrum Smith who gave everything for the truth and were martyred, or with the Savior, Jesus Christ himself,... I hope you will be able to look at them and to them and tell your story."  

This is our time to show what we are made of. To show who we are and where we came from.

We are children of God. We are in His service. Every. single. one of us. 

Dont waste the Lord's time. Dont waste your own time. Have respect for your call and give everything until the last day. 

Be you a full-time missionary or member, we are called to serve until the end of our life. We need to be examples of the faithful and the true. Be as the pioneers and the prophets and the Prince of Peace. Be you, a child of God. and as the Son that gave His life, give yours. 

As Elder Aidukaitis stated, "This [LIFE] should be the hardest thing we will ever do!" 

It is in this life that we work. The Lord simple asks that we be like Him. He suffered for us and so He knows us and He works with us and walks with us and cries with us. 

It will be the hardest thing that we will ever do and the greatest test of our love for God.  But as we do this we will be blessed and one day crowned with eternal life so that we can sit at the Master's side and hear His story and share our own. 

I love you all and pray that you will have the strength, that WE will have the strength to do these things.

-Sister Hemmert 

I Needed a Spiritual Experience

This week was crazy! I was transferred by surprise. Sister Melo needed to do a surgery so I traveled to take her place. She's doing great now. Recovering in Ala 2. For now she was willing be staying on the mission, but she has to take it really slow for the next few weeks.

I was taken totally by surprise. I didn't think I would be transferred for a long while, but now I'm here! I thought Capão was difficult but managed to find my way around! (Look up: Jardim America, Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul in Google maps) 

Though I am just getting use to the area I'm loving it! We had the opportunity to baptize a young man named Wendell this week! It was really special! 

But the most special moment was when my testimony was tested. This week someone completely rejected our testimonies and denied what we were teaching. But this isn't something that I normally let get to me. This happens. But I responded differently this time. I needed a spiritual experience. So, Saturday night I prayed with the simplest questions. The same questions that I ask for all my pesquisadores to ask of God: Is this the true church? Is the Book of Mormon true? Was Joseph Smith a prophet? 

These are things that I have already asked. And God has already responded. But it doesn't matter how many times we ask or how we ask or when. The Lord will always answer. These questions are the foundation of our faith. And as I opened the scriptures on a random page I found the answer that is the reason I'm on this mission. 

21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;

22 Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

23 Write the things which ye have seen and heard, save it be those which are forbidden.

24 Write the works of this people, which shall be, even as hath been written, of that which hath been.

25 For behold, out of the books which have been written, and which shall be written, shall this people be judged, for by them shall their works be known unto men.

26 And behold, all things are written by the Father; therefore out of the books which shall be written shall the world be judged.

27 And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.

28 And now I go unto the Father. And verily I say unto you, whatsoever things ye shall ask the Father in my name shall be given unto you.

29 Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

Whatever we ask of God, He will respond. He will give answers. Line upon line, precept upon precept. This is His church. This is His truth and His gospel.

Christ gave His life for these things and for me and you. Follow His example. Be as He is and do as He did and you will always remain on the true path.

With Love,

Sister Hemmert 

3 months!

I don't have time to respond everyone but I love you all! I have to travel to Arroio and the internet place was closed so I used my time to email my president and tell you that I love you!!! 3 months! How crazy!!

Mother's Day

Once more I took the long trip to Porto Alegre just to go back home tomorrow! haha 

One more Leadership Counsel (3 more to go até casa!! Não Acredito!) 

Though, because of the journey, I dont have much time. So, I want to express my love for a few people and remind you all of a very important day.

Sunday, is not going to be just a day that I will talk with my family (woohoo!) but it is a day to thank our Father in Heaven for the mother´s we have. I, for one, am so grateful for my mom. She taught me, and teaches me, who I want to be. She is an example of a virtuous woman. She lives the gospel and seeks the Lord and shows me that I can to. 

During this weekend I want to invite you all to remember these wonderful examples we all have. But I also want to invite you all to pray with me for another family who´s mom recently was baptized, who´s son is serving in Brasil. Maria, is a recent convert. Her two son´s are members of the church since primary age. One is a Stake President and one, Elder Lima, is serving a full-time mission in Juiz de Fora. Claudinei, is the only one that is not baptized. He has decided to wait until his son returns to be baptized. But as we know, the goal is the temple. So, today we got in contact with Elder Lima and invited him to invite his dad to be baptized in two weeks. So that they can all go to the temple when he comes home from the mission!

Please pray for this family so that they can recieve this blessing!

Finally,

I want to just say thank you so much to everyone that is helping me so that I can strenghten my faith here on the mission, especially, my momma. Love you so much momma! Until Sunday! 

XOXOX

SIster Hemmert

Prepare Yourself

I just want to tell you all that I can't believe that it is already May!! But as an LTS, I'm already planning the month of June so here is me, again, saying, "I cant believe that it's June!!" With everything that we have to do this month its basically June already! 

This week I'm heading to Arroio Grande! It doesnt seem possible! But I'm just going to drop off my companion. She's new to the area and is a new LTS. I'm training again! I love to train but I'm already learning so much with her so maybe she'll be training me! 

Her name is Sister Brandalize. She's from the Rio! And she is one of the funniest people you will ever meet. I'll send pictures next week!

This week Sister Ampuero went to Porto Alegre and is at this moment with her momma! She pass the area this weekend with her mom so that I can meet her! Goodbyes are so sad but we've already planned our #roadtrip2018 She get to know Oregon and I'll get to know Chicago where she is planning on living! So excited!

I'll just let you all know, having our companion end her mission is really hard! the worst part is that I'm now one of the oldest missionaries and basically don't recognize the mission anymore! Everyone that I know are heading home or already at home! But don't you worry. I'm arriving home soon. You'll just have to wait a little bit more and maybe drag me back home because I'm loving it here! haha 

As always, I'm short on time. I think that the Lord is speeding things up. As Sister Brandalize's has been telling me since she arrived here, "The second coming is approaching. Prepare yourself." 

Truly, this phrase, though spoken jokingly, is more true than we can imagine. This is our time to prepare. Today is our chance. 

We had a training meeting this Sunday with the Stake Leaders that was seriously inspired. I loved everything, but the most inspired moment was when the Bishop here told Sister Ampuero that she wouldn't be able to give her last testimony (of the mission) because the stake presidency was here. SAY WHAT?? I know she was just putting on a brave face but she acted like everything was great. I, on the other hand, was praying directly. And when the Stake President stood up I prayed even more, "Please, let the Spirit inspire him to ask Sister Ampuero bare her testimony!! Por favor..."

"..and at this time I would like to pass a few minutes of my talk to the Sister who made such a diference in our stake and is now finishing her mission in our ala, Sister Ampuero."

YESS!!

I was seriously soooo happy. The Lord answers prayers. 

Sister Ampuero explained how she arrived on the mission. Before she left home all of her family and friends went with her to the airport. But because of traffic and so many people and the security when she arrived in the boarding dock the plane had already started to leave. 

The attendent there told her that it was impossible. There was no way, no way that the plane could come back. 

"In that moment I said my first prayer as a missionary in the Lord's service. Praying that the plane would return. I had arrived. I couldn't go back. This was the moment and there was no other," explained Sister Ampuero

As she breathed and opened her eyes the plane attendent was staring at her, wide-eyed and pale, "Do you believe in God?"

"Yes, I believe."

"Well your God is a God of the impossible." He then explained that the plane would be coming back for her. Something that never happened.

"Yes, He is a God of the impossible."

He is our God. He doesn't change with the times or conditions. He doesn't promise without completed. He is our God. He lives. 

Do you believe? 

Because I do. I know. I know Him. and in our path as disciples we learn (because disciple is a word about learning) to be like Him. 

So, since He is our Father who gave His son, who gave His life for us, and they are Gods of the impossible, than we also are "of the impossible" and can do the impossible through them. 

Babies and Baptisms! Welcome, Ollie!

Let´s just start with the most important things that happened this week. Some one was born #Oliver #SouTia! #sobrinho 

And someone was born again! #batismo

Today just as I was waking up as missionaries do...(and we normally don't get up dancing and singing so you can probably imagine).. 6:30.

A few minutes later... the phone buzzes. Oo a message. What could it be? Presidente Cruz. uh oh What could it be?? 

"Dear Sister Hemmert (Hermet haha oh presidente). Yesterday your Sister had her baby and it looks like everyone is well. According to your family, everyone is happy. Congratulations!"

WOOOHOOO! 

The world became a better place when my nephewzinho was born! He is the most perfect and pure creature I have ever seen and I'm sooo excited to hold him!! 

This week we also had a baptism!! Woohoo! Patrick was baptized this saturday! He invited allllll of his friends and his family! There were so  many youth! It was so cool. It is with moments like these that I can see the Lord raising His children. Raising a generation resistant to sin. I feel very grateful that I can play a part in this act and be a part of this generation.

I know that I have more to say but I have a desire to just stare at photos of my nephew, deciding which ones I'll print out. I think that I just print... all of them! So I'm going to end here with a testimony and  video that Sister Cruz showed us the other day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-PC1C7m7HM

A Brand New Ending

As he explains in the video. We were not made to stay on the ground. We were not made to be just mortal, just organic material. As we can see, just from yesterday we were made for something more.

I witnessed the brand new life of a young man starting this week and the life a little baby too. 

The Lord made us so that we could live forever. A baby arrived from the presence of the Lord and a son of God entered the waters of baptism and, born again, is ready and working and living to enter the presence of God again. 

I know that this church is true. It is the Lord's Kingdom that I wait on and serve in and know, with every fiber of my person,that these things are true.

Moisés 6:60-63 

60 For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified;61 Therefore it is given to abide in you; the record of heaven; the Comforter; the peaceable things of immortal glory; the truth of all things; that which quickeneth all things, which maketh alive all things; that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment.62 And now, behold, I say unto you: This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time.63 And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me.

With all my love I testify,

Sister Hemmert

Rain Boots and Miracles!

Well, this week didn't stop. Not even for a second. I can't explain to you why. This was supposed to be the most delayed week of them all! 

Let me just tell you everything that happened

Last week I bought rainboots. Like super cute black rainboots with a white strap because my new area is just rain and sand and mud. 

Monday we were walking around the Center of Pelotas when I looked down and saw that one of the straps was missing! Oh No

We looked everywhere! We repeated every pathways every sidewalk every store that we entered! It was nowhere to be found! 

I just kept praying. Porque? Como? Por favor..

Sister Ampuero needed to buy boots because she's headed home. So we went back to the store where I bought my boots the other day. 

Prepare yourself. This is when the miracle happens.

The woman who was in the doorway when we arrived started to help us find boots for Sister A. She then started to tell us that her cousin was serving a mission in the north. As a non member she thought this was super cool! It was this moment that she noticed my poor boots. In her surprise she told me that maybe, just maybe, they had an extra strap in the store room! She would sneak back there and see!

I was praying directly at this moment.

By the time Sister A. was finished buying her boots I had almost lost hope. As we were leaving who stopped us in the doorway??? Um Anjo na Sapataria! The angel in the shoe store with a new boot strap!

Tender mercies. I wrote out a thank you note and left it with the sercurity guard for her. Inviting her to visit the church when she could. 

One lesson that I learned. The Lord hears our prayers. Even the simplest plea He hears and understands. It's more likely that today in this world we will lose much more than a shoe strap from a new boot. But it is just another promise that even with the little things He answers and even using us to talk with the stranger in the shoe store to invite her to church. 

He gives us chances and opportunities in our trials to help others. As we know our Savior came not to save Himself, but to save us. 

This week I bounced from area to area in Bagé. I traded companheiras every single day trying to help every single Sister that I encountered in the process. As I said a few weeks ago, I'm in charge of Bagé (which has three areas, Bagé, Laranjeiras, e Dom Pedrito. Also I'm in charge of Arroio Grande and Gotuzzo.) If you remember from my mission history these are all areas that I've served in and visited. To make matters even better, Sister Agurto, Sister Pereira, and Sister Aranha are in these areas. The only companions from the field who I'm not taking care of are headed home or already at home! So this week I basically relived my mission! 

Let me tell you though. It wasn't cheap! Bagé is a good 4 hours from Pelotas and Dom Pedrito is another 2 hours! Thankfully a mission pays for everything, but because of the Holiday the prices and bus schedules that we had planned were totally wrong! The money that I was given was completely different from the total. But I learned this week how to save money and plan better. The money stretched and finally the buses arrived and everything went better than planned. 

The Lord always has a better plan. 

For example, today we were headed to the Internet Place to talk with you all, when we arrived it was full! Like bursting with gente. So we had to decide, wait or go walking in the shops. We decided to pass by the stores. As we were there, someone called our name, "Sisteres!"

The young mens leader from another ala called us over and explained that a woman just on the other side of the bench had just lost her father. We got to chat with her for just a minute and offer to pass by her house if she liked. 

As I said, the Lord always has a better plan. And His plan is perfect. 

He planned and organized every single part so that we can live better than we live today. So that we can be better than we are today. So that we can find blessings in the little things and strength in the greatest act in history. 

Christ lived. He suffered. He was rejected and hated and hurt. The world, because of unrighteousness judges Him as something, someone without value. The world rejects Him and hates Him and Hurts Him everytime that the world rejects and hates and hurts us. But in His steps we are changed. Because He already suffered. And we know that He suffered so that we dont have to. 

I know that He died, but I know that He lives and I worship O Cristo Vivo. 

The Living CHRIST.

He is the King of Kings. The Prince of Peace. He calms the waters and cures the sick and broken of heart. Seek Him. & You. WILL. Find. 

My testimony,

Sister Hemmert

Look At Me Now, Arriving with Fire!

Wow. I can hardly believe it! Easter!

This time a few months ago, or one year if you want to be more certain, I was in the CTM. I've officially passed the year mark. One year ago I was just praying to arrive in the field! I was new to the game, big hopes, full of fire, ready to go. 

And look at me now. Giving it all I'm worth, hoping and praying, as my Presidente said to me this days, "Chegando com fogo." Arriving with fire in every área! 

How I love the mission. This week was amazing. Truly. We went to Porto Alegre and had a Leadership Meeting (? I don't know how to call it in English but you get the idea). I loved it! I had my nervous moments, but everything turned out great! 

I want to just tell you all that I love you. I dont have much time. I know, I know. I'll do my best next week to write a super long letter! haha

But anyways, I want you all to know that this week is one of the most important weeks in the history of the world. This week was the birth of the Lord and the following weekend we will remember His suffering, His death, and His ressurection. 

He is the Prince of Peace. He gave His life for me, and for you. He lives. You have heard His voice and you know it. Look to Him. Remember Him. Don't let this week pass by without Him in your thoughts. Take a moment. Think. Feel. And His strength will come to you. I know it is hard. He knows as well for He gave His life for you. 

Just remember His promise, 

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

With all my love and strength,

Sister Hemmert

How True It all Is

So this week I took a road trip and stayed a few days in Gotuzzo. 

As an LTS, every few weeks I plan a visit in a new area. I take care of Bage and Gotuzzo. So this week I headed to Gotuzzo to see how the Sisters there are working. I stayed with Sister Araujo Monday-Saturday. 

It was super cool working there. We had many adventures. 

Since I'm short on time I want to share one of my favorite experiences from the week. 

We were eating lunch with the Stake presidents wife and her mom, Vera. Vera is less active. She was explaining to us that she wouldn't be able to come to conference because her house was just too messy. Uh oh..

"We can help you clean it! When can we pass by Irma?" (me). 

Vera: "Nooo, no, we will have to take apart a bed and carry things down the staircase. It's a lot of work...."

Me: "The Elderes can help carry the heavy stuff," (Cue choking as the Elderes, who were eating, tried to say that they were busy haha) "And Sister A and I can do the rest!" 

I didn't know that we were getting ourself into an episode of extreme hoarders...

But it was seriously the best experience. We arrived before the Elders and got to work. This Irma has a consignment store in her house called a Brecho. Well, as a result she has a lot of furniture and clothing and things piled everywhere! Like, we didn't know where to begin. Don't hear me wrong, she has a lot of stuff artistic and vintage. Every thing super clean, but its just...a lot. 

Vera wanted to move a king-sized bed and bed frame to another room with the side tables and nightstands and mirrors. She explained that it was always her dream to put the bed in the center of the wall near the window, but for thirty years she had measured the space and it just never worked out...

Welllll, Sister and I cleared the room transfering piles and clothing to the designated areas (Keep, Sell, Garbage) and got to work moving the furniture. We took apart the bed, cleaned away the dust and set it up in the space. Well, when we set up the other room there was more than space to spare!

"Thirty years!" She exclaimed with embarrasment (super shy haha) "You're my fairy godmother's!! and there is space to spare!"

Sister Araujo, "Irma, you need space to spare, you know...Don't go putting more stuff here ok?"

"Ok ok, but a table here would be so cute and..."

"Irma!" haha:)

She is such an eccetric lady. When I told her, "Hey Irma, this perfume here is empty, can I throw it away?"

"Oh Sister, its just so cute...(Thinking how she could reuse it and save it in someway) but lets just throw it away, Sister." :)

My joy this week was receiving the news that she went to conference! :)

So many other wonderful things happened this week! Did I already tell you that when I arrived in Brasil Sister Araújo was my first companion? She showed me the ropes for the first day until I got my Trainer. And look at us now! I did my first week long division with her! How cool. The Lord truly knows what to do. 

Sadly, I forgot my conference notes in the mission house! But I will try to remember what I loved the most. 

I'm here in Porto Alegre. Tomorrow we have a Counsel Meeting with the Mission Leaders (And now I'm one of them!) Wish me luck. I hear that it is just brutal. Im nervous! haha

We are going to wander around a bit. I dont know anything about Porto Alegre so a Sister Ampuero will help me out a bit. I think we will only have time to buy ice cream though before our Pday ends. We arrived late in the day. Had to get on a bus at 7 in the morning. 

Anyways, I'm super happy. I received so many answers this weekend. What a blessed event. As my companion said, "We have all waited for the most important event in the world."

Truly, this is one of those moments. A moment to hear the prophets speak. A moment to hear God speak. A moment to hear the music ringing in our ears the song that redeems our soul.

How true it all is. This is the work of the Lord. Join in. Work with Him. Overcome the world. Don't walk on borrowed light but in the light of the Lord with your own testimony. If you don't know yet what is true. If you haven't felt yet the love of the Lord. Or maybe if your forgot what the love of the Lord feels like and have strayed from His path: Kneel. Where ever you are, find a place and find the Lord. Seek His Holy Scriptures. Seek Him in your prayer, your plea, with all your might and mind and strength and soul, until you find Him and until you know Him and know that He lives and He loves you and wants you to live with Him some day. Trust in Him.

And if you can't seem to trust Him yet, trust me. I know He lives. I know He loves me. I felt His arms around me as I prayed. I promise you that all you have to do is pray as a primary song teaches us:

Heavenly Father, are you really there?

And do you hear and answer ev'ry child's prayer?

Some say that heaven is far away,

But I feel it close around me as I pray.

Heavenly Father, I remember now

Something that Jesus told disciples long ago:

"Suffer the children to come to me."

Father, in prayer I'm coming now to thee.

2. Pray, He is there;

Speak, He is list'ning.

You are His child;

His love now surrounds you.

He hears your prayer;

He loves the children.

Of such is the kingdom, the kingdom of heav'n.

Don't let doubts lead you away. Nothing is more important than this path. Because this path is a living path, a loving path, this path is Christ. And nothing, I say, nothing, matters more than one day living with Him. 

With all my love I pray that you will seek to know for yourself that this is the only path that leads to eternal life.

Sister Hemmert

Chutes and Ladders of Capão do Leão

If you ever visit Capão do Leão, buy a GPS. But be warned, you will love it so much that you will want to stay forever.

During my whole mission I served in the far south of Brasil. Rural. Cow country. 

I know. When you think of Brasil you think of the Amazons. You think of beaches and blue skies and agua de coco. Here you will be surprised. You will find cows and goats in the streets and normally people seated in the front yard (in beach chairs) drinking Chimarrão. In Capão they call it Mate. I here that its the opposite of sweet and come rain or shine (like summer heat that makes you sweat bullets with cars passing raising dust on the unpaved streets) there they are. Drinking the traditional bitter drink of the Rio Grande do Sul. The Gauchos. 

I love them. I love this place and the Lord knows what to do. Truly. 

Now that you know what is it´s like in the Rio Grande do Sul, I will explain a little bit more about Capão. 

This week we walked in circles. Literally. The streets here are giant circles. On the map it looks simple enough, but what the map doesn't know is that the people here made streets and alleys where they wanted. Basically: hey this street passes my house but my friends house is like three circles away so lets just cut down this tree and make a bridge here and done, I'm at my friends house. 

So. Our life from now on is just trying to find out how to get from one circle to the next. It´s like connect the dots with the Spirit. But sometimes I feel like it´s chutes and ladders!

The first couple days Sister Ampuero herself was trying to remember and pass everything for me. She only has 5 more weeks on the mission! I told her that I will be super trunky and super poor at the end of the transfer. Because LTS´s already have to spend everything they have to visit other Sisters and go to Porto Alegre every month and buy new shoes because every single pair that you have wore out at the same exact moment, etc. But besides all of this, the only thing we want to do during the last week on the mission is everything that we never did during the rest of the mission! haha. 

We decided to at least go on a diet. Project Selena Gomez/Jennifer Lawerence/Brasilian actresses I don't know about haha. Sadly, I'm in Pelotas. Some countries have Cities of Lights and Cities of Love...Well, Brasil has a City of Sweets. Where am I? Right in the middle of the this sugary paradise.

Also, since she is leaving so soon the members here just want to do family home evenings and fatten us up. Yesterday we were planning on visiting a family of less actives and when we arrived we realized that they were having  a birthday party and just about to cut the the cake! Oh Capão what will I do with you! I could turn down the second piece of cake anyways:)

Here is the biggest Ward that I have yet served. Its super cool honestly. The sacrament meeting is full of people. Though the chapel here is really simple there is a love here that you can feel when you greet the members. I´m loving the families here. Truly it´s great to be back in Pelotas.

I feel at home. 

Im not trying to predict the future or anything but I think I will settle down here (to finish out the rest of the mission :) ) 

Anyways, with the little time that I have I want to end with my talk theme from this Sunday. I was nervous (new ward) but had decided to talk about Christ. To express in a few words. I love my Savior. I don't think I will ever be able to say how much. But every single day that I wake up and that I serve Him I show Him and everyone how grateful I am for Him. He lives. He loves me. And He is protecting me here on the mission.

Com Amor,  Sister Hemmert

To state it simply. This week was amazing. It started great and ended great and I literally can not believe that we are already starting a new week!

To be honest I don't remember much of what happened at the beginning of the week. I know that it was great also, but I would like to use this time to focus on some of the miracles, prayers answered, and blessings given. 

I will start by testifying to you that here on this earth we have prophets, seers and revelators. Here on this earth we have witnesses of God and His majesty. Here on this earth we have people, prepared and preparing us, to live with God one day. To be the best people that we can be. I know that this church is true. I know that there is only one true church and one God. One Father and One Son who are One in purpose here. 

This week we were told to pack our bags. #roadtrip. 

Sister Aranha and I were a little sad because we would be losing a whole weekend of work because we would be headed to Porto Alegre Friday. Don't get me wrong, we wanted to go but we had a problem: 

Wednesday we found a family, Juliana and Izolda, when we were splunking with the Spirit in our area. Literally we were finding new streets in our area, exploring when we came upon a house with two women sitting in the yard. We deciding to visit with them and it turns out that they had just moved to this house and that they had arrived running from their past home in another area in our Zone. Where they lived was a situation dangerous. A area that the other sisters would never find and this family would never have felt really the Spirit. So when we started visiting with them it was a miracle. 

We have new rules in our mission so in order to make new pesquisadores we have to visit them two times. Well, we marked with this family to visit Friday. Wednesday night we found out that we would be traveling all day Friday!! Well we decided, lets just try to find them at home tomorrow and maybe they will let us visit again. 

When we arrived it didn't look like anyone was home. It was raining. We were clapping our hands at the gate and no one came to the door. Three times we waited. Three times for the Spirit to testify. 

And the door opened! They told us how they had read 3 Nephi 18 about the sacrament and we explained the Gospel of Christ. They excepted to be baptized in April!

Friday, we went to the police station before our Zone Meeting. I had to pick up my identity card so that I could travel, but it they had told us that maybe they didn't have it yet. When we arrived they had the card!! Woo hoo! Miracle.

After our zone meeting we ran to our lunch appointment. We ran into the Irmã on the way! haha She was picking up our lunch and so we helped her home. When we arrived her back patio was filled with stray chickens. Her patio is like a 10X20 foot space built into the ground because on booth sides her neighbors houses have inclines. Well, the neighbors chickens had jumped the wall and just didn't want to leave. Sister Aranha and I started hunting chickens. Most of them decided to scale the wall and fly over the top but there was just one that was determined to stay. When I finally caught him I didn't know what to do! His wings were flapping and Sister Aranha was screaming and so I just threw him up and over the wall! hahaha 

To thank us Irmã lurde served our plates.... I tried to explain to her that I eat very little Feijão (a bean dish here that is super heavy that they eat every single day...) Weeelll,,, Irmã Lurde just said, ´´Nooo,, you work too hard and need energy.´´ as she served three times more Feijão than i normally eat! haha oooh vida

Afterwards we sprinted to the church to take the van to Porto Alegre. 7 hours of Elder Bombardeli and Sister Aranha singing in my ears later ;) Misericórdia (Mercy)! We arrived! We hung out in the mission office for a bit before heading to the apartment of the sisters in Ala Dois. By the end of the night the apartment had more Sisters than rooms! 12 Sisteres! The whole mission was heading to the conference!

Saturday we got ready, got lost, got found again and finally made it back to the mission office so that we could take another bus to Porto Alegre Norte! Yes, we left our mission!

There we waited quietly as Elder D. Todd Cristofferson arrived. 

We filed by every single missionary in our mission and the other, shaking his hand one by one. As he read my nametage he looked me in the eye and said, Hemmert. That's a good name. 

I don't think I'll ever change my name now. Sorry future husband, I won't be taking your name now! haha

Afterward members of the Seventy, their wives, Sister Cristofferson and Elder Cristofferson taught us exactly what we needed to hear. Exactly what I needed to hear.

I will pass for you my notes in the following letters but what I will always remember is that an apostle of the Lord blessed me. Blessed my mission. Blessed my family and promised me that the Lord was accepting the work I'm doing here. The Lord is protecting me with His angels. Guiding me to testify and accomplish everything He has called me to do.

Well, the Lord called me to serve again in a new calling.

Sunday morning we received the transfer. This time directly from our Presidente.

´´Happy Birthday, Sister Hemmert!´´

´´Its not my birthday, Presidente.´´

´´Íts not...Welll I think someone is trying to trick me then!" (Laughter) Sister you are being called to serve as the new Sister Training Leader. Happy Sunday! Pack your bags."

Woooahhh. 

Yesterday I said goodbye to Bage after 6 months and traveled ALONE!!! With a phone... to Pelotas. But I arrived and called the only number I remember (the number in Bage!) haha and quickly was picked up by my new companion. Sister Ampuero. 

I'll be serving in Capão de Leão, the only city I know that has circles for streets. What an adventure it will be! I'm so excited. 

And guess what! The Sisteres I'll be taking care of will be the Sisters in Bage!! Wooo hoo! I'll be able to visit my old area and my best friend on the whole planet Sister Aranha!! 

Im nervous and excited. I know that the Lord will help me. His very servant told me so. 

Love you all, 

Sister Hemmert

This week was amazing! Absolutely amazing. So lets start with the past week.

So I hurt my toe this last week. To tell a very long story in just a few lines. I had an ingrown nail. So I went to a foot doctor. He was hilarious. Like the Cole Johnson of Podólogas. He talked with me the whole time saying that I could yell at him and call him names if I wanted but the only person I couldn't drag into the conversation was his mom. "Just leave my mother out of this!"

Unfortunately, the situation didn't get better. I was limping everywhere and hurting so I marked another visit. Turns out you should let your foot rest after a mini surgery.  

Round two was worse than round one. I cried a little bit and my companion became me living cane afterwards. The same night, Presidente Cruz sent us to the UPA (clinic). Luckily its located on the same street as our apartment. I just needed to be anti-biotics but we arrived 9 hours there and left 11. Sister Aranha and I felt like we were in Grey´s Anatomy. If you sit long enough there you could just feel the drama bubbling hahah jkjk

Anyways, I stayed one day with Irma Nair in splits. Sister Aranha hit the streets with her spidy powers to fight crime and call the people unto repentance.  

This week was all the International Womens day. When I went to pick up my meds I got a free bombom! :) 

Sister Aranha and I were also stopped in the street by a homeless man who might have been a little bti drunk. He stopped us like a mime(?) in silence and when we tried to pass by he blocked our path... Well, we thought we would be mugged for the first time ever... Nope! He wished us Happy Womens Day and gave us a letter he wrote about how special are the women in the world. When I tried to put the letter in my scriptures, becuase i was still trying to running away he plucked it from my hands saying "NOO! Not in the bible! I'll just have to read it for you!" His name was Falcão and his dog, Sophia. Thankfully, help arrived in the form of Elder Bombardeli e Ixtacuy. They almost left us there but a Sister Aranha stopped them with her spidy powers. She threw her arm in front of them so that they couldnt pass by! haha

What a moment.

To finish we finally had a baptism this week! The sweetest most intelligent Young woman ever! Dienifer! She is wonderful! Sister Aranha will be sending the photos! My camera died! Anyways, Dienifer is amazing. She talked all about how she wanted to get baptized because she just couldn't wait to start doing Personal Progress! She already started the goals and projects and today we are going to pass by to work on Divine Nature with her! 

Que felicidade! 

Oh! Guess what! Elder Christoferson(?) spelling in a hurry!)! will be visiting our mission this week! WOO HOO! We are headed to Porto Alegre friday to meet with him Saturday! 

GTG 

Love you all!

Sister Hemmert

One YEAR Mark!

To the people I love! I'm doing great here. Still in Bagé. Looks like I'll be staying for a bit more! Transfers will occur soon but I do not have a desire to leave here just yet! So many wonderful things are happening and my companion is seriously the best on the planet.

This week it's official. I have been out on the mission for one year. How the time just flies by. I'm amazed by the days that pass by and am so grateful for the time that I still have.

Yes, I'm missing you all. I will never stop missing the people back home. Today I passed the Policia Federal to pick up on identidade (which they didn't have yet) and I started chatting with the people at the front desk. They asked me where I'm from, if I thought portugues is difficult, if I was missing my family and so on. 

After one year I can officially say that the end is arriving but I don't want it to come! I'm loving so much this place, this mission, these people.

It rained the whole week and we were almost swimming to make it to our visits and lunches. The Fall time storms have arrived but we are just dancing in the rain. Because as the rain falls I feel the blessings shower not just on us but on the people that we teach. I'm truly grateful. 

I have little time, but I would like to end here with a promise. This is the Lord's work. He is our God. He does not change nor does He lie. So trust in Him and give to Him everything your worth because in His hands you will learn that you can do more and are worth more than you can even imagine. He. loves you. You are His child. So, don't worry, be brave. This is at least what I am learning.

With Love,

Sister Hemmert

The more it rains, The more HANDSOME your husband will be!

Wow. To say it as simply as possible. This week flew by!! 

It just a few days I will have one year on the mission. Who can believe it?? 

This week I had 4 companions; Why you might ask? Well, they decided, Sister Hemmert is nice, she'll be able to handle 4 changes in one weeks time. She'll be able to handle running across Bagé to pick up her companions and running back to her area to work. I served with a Brasileira, Chilena, and an Americana. Sounds like the start of a Dad joke: There was a Brasileira, Chilena, and an Americana eating at a restaurante....

Anways, we had a divisão with our Sister Leaders and Sister Aranha went to Pelotas for the week. One day I will tell you all about her adventures. How she was attacked by frogs, peed on by a dog, and had to help people hunt for their furniture because it flooded there. 

Luckily our only problem here was flooding! We were headed out, ready to cross a field when we felt a couple raindrops. Not a problem a little rain doesn't hurt. They always say that we getting rained on on the mission our husband gets more handsome! haha Weeeelllll,, the sky opened up and the thunderclouds rolled in and we started running, "Volte Volte!! Go back, go back!!" I yelled for Sister Wright (Utah). Luckily Thales and Diennifer lived super close by! We sprinted for their house and ended up giving an amazing lesson with them about the Word of Wisdom.

THis week we're working really hard to help our Pesquisadores follow the Word of Wisdom. I'm working a lot with Rosangela. She smokes a lot. Like a lot. 

And this week she finally said that she wants to stop. Now she just has to decide to stop. It will be a battle. But we are doing everything. Everything, to help her.

I read today a talk by Jeffrey R Holland that said, "You can change." Repentance isn't a punishment, but a process to feel more the love of God. We need to repent. We need to recognize that the Lord truly loves us and wants us to be the best that we can. We can change. He will help us. The only person that wants you to remain the same, wants you to believe that you can't survive your difficulties is the adversary. He knows your weakness. But only your weakness. The Lord gave you this weakness and knows not only your weakness but also your strengths. He knows who you can become and will help you become this person. Someone divine. Trust in Him. Love Him. and follow His commandments. 

with love

SIster Hemmert

Pray With Real Intent

This week was crazy! We had a conference with the mission that was super great and received the new mission rules and hours and goals. Will be having a bit of an adjustment time but so far it's going great. These new rules are just showing that the Lord is hastening the work here. Everyday we will be working just a little bit more to accomplish our new goals and rules. It will be an adventure but Sister Aranha and I are up for the task!

Some of the highlights. I sending someone on a mission! Emerson, Recent convert, was already planning on going on a mission. But he is super close to turning 25. Which means he won't be able to. He's been waiting because of his work. They need to release his payment and his work card but they haven't done this yet. Well. I told him just trust in the Lord and send your papers, Rapaz! (with the Spirit of course.) Nephi 17:3 

He's filling out his papers and will be headed to the temple for the first time to do baptisms! I promised him that there he would feel the spirit testifying for him that this is the Lord's work. That and a servant of the Lord would be praying and picking the mission in which he would serve!

ALSO,

We are teaching an amazing family. Edivaldo(Father), Thales(18), and Diennifer(13). I love this family. It has been an experience and adventure teaching them. To be honest, at first we didn't know why we had to keep returning to their house. They weren't reading or praying or showing interest. And then. These weeks ago they moved for the same street as the church. They live in the last house that is right in front of one of our secret pathways/shortcuts to another part of our area! So they are also looking out for a gente. 

Thales has many doubts, but when we passed by his house this week we had prepared a message for him to answer these questions. We had had an activity in the church with the youth earlier and it had rained, stopping the fun! We were still soaked when we arrived at his house later. Literally, it flooded everywhere! 

We were freezing cold (because the temperature is dropping during the night and the only problem was that he was alone and his dad and sister were sleeping. We were just going to come back the next day when he asked, "Can you just offer a prayer for me here (on the front porch) before you go?" He grabbed a couple of chairs, in the process waking up Diennifer (on her birthday. Woohoo 13! we had all celebrating during the activity until the floods came). 

Us four sat down and started our message. It was amazing. 

 Afterwards he expressed his sincere desire to change. And then asked if he could give the last prayer. 

To explain, he normally prayers like a robot. Something he has memorized. Without the spirit. We had just finished explaining for him the importance of a sincere prayer. And so we bowed our heads and before he started to pray he whispered, "But this time I'm going to pray a little different, ok?" 

And it was the most sincere prayer I have heard during my whole mission. He really had the true intent and prayed to know that what we were teaching was true. It was amazing. 

I invite all of you this week to pray with real intent. Think about every. single. word. Remember that you are talking to a person. Someone real. You are really, truly talking with your Father. Don't forget this. Don't repeat anything. Don't pray for the same thing over and over. Think about how annoying it would be if you used the same words every single day to talk to your best friend! Use different words. because today is different from yesterday. and tomorrow you will face something different from today. So, prepare. Pray. And have Patience. The Lord thy God is with thee. He hears you.

With Love

Sister Hemmert