Oito.

Olá!


I hope everyone is doing wonderful and enjoying their summer! For the first time ever in Brasil, my toes and fingers feel cold. And "cold" here is about 65 degrees. Last night I slept in thermals...I think I will have a hard time adjusting to the Utah cold when I get back...


Yesterday, I hit 8 months here in Brasil! I know I say this every month, but it really is so hard to believe! The time just keeps going faster and faster. Each transfers feels shorter and shorter.


Speaking of transfers, yesterday we found out that Sister Tavares and I will be staying here in Carioba for another 6 weeks! I am excited to be able to stay here and continue our work. The members were so excited that some began to cry! 3 transfers in the same ward and with the same companion is a record for me! I know we are staying because we are seeing the fruit of our labors coming through! I am excited for the opportunity to continue working here in Carioba. I really do love this ward and this city!


Last week, after one of our district meetings, we all went to Burger King (the cool place here in town...). As we were eating, I saw someone walk in and I thought to myself, "Wow, he looks really familiar." I looked again and realized that he was a famous Brasilian soccer player who played in the World Cup games! I started to tell everyone at my table, "Gente, é o OSCAR!!!" (Dude, it's Oscar!!!) but no one believed me! Even the Brasilians didn't recognize him! I was sitting closest to the window so I jumped over the bench and ran to take a picture. Sure enough, it was him!!! I was the only person who recognized him. I talked to him a little and then everyone else wanted to take a picture, too. All the Brasilians could not believe that the American was the one who noticed it was him! Hahaha. He was really nice and took pictures with everyone. We even gave him a Book of Mormon. :) It was awesome! Definitely a moment I will never forget. I feel like a true Brasilian now!


We spent our day off last week at the park with our zone. It was fun to relax a little and have a picnic with the other missionaries! The park was really pretty and had some awesome, different looking creatures!


We are working with some awesome investigators and I am praying that we will see some success soon! The ward is growing fast here with the reactivation we are doing with less-active families. Yesterday, I said the closing prayer during Sacrament meeting and it was awesome to look out into the audience and see all the families and people we are bringing to church!


Lately I have been studying a lot about The Book of Mormon. We have a new rule in our mission that we have to walk with The Book of Mormon in our hands (I walk with The Book of Mormon in one hand and an open umbrella in the other. :) ) and it gives us a lot of opportunities to talk more about this sacred book of text. I love the Book of Mormon and am so thankful to be able to read it everyday! I know that it is the word of God and testifies of Jesus Christ's divine mission here in the Americas. I love studying how The Bible and The Book of Mormon work together to testify of Christ. I know that The Book of Mormon is true and invite you all to give it a test! It will change your life.


That's the big stuff here this week! Attached are the photos of me and Oscar and a photo of me and my zone at the park!


Love you all!
Sister Serre