Double digits 🫠

Bom dia!!

I'm so sorry to say it but my motivation to write my emails recently  but also the amount of times I've written in my journal recently   I read a BYU devotional awhile ago that was so good but also it haunts me that says "Why would you pass up on the chance to learn something that you need to learn, to put in the work so that you can put down onto paper things that now might only be swimming vaguely in your head?...Writing makes an exact man." So here I am. 

Some updates that everyone didn't ask for but are gonna get anyways!! I still love Gaia. I still love obra missionária. I'm literally old on the mish. I have a rash on my neck from my necklace that looks like a hickey that refuses to go away.  Sister Cornell bullies me. Nowhere is safe. 

This week I was reading in Mosiah 15 and I read verse 31,

"The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God."

The scriptures talks a lot about how the Lord reveals his arm to the people. So I studied about his "arm." The power of His arm, the arm of the Lord versus the arm of the flesh, His just arm, His merciful arm. I am still waist deep in scriptures and talks I want to read, but I took note this week of how "the Lord hath made bare his holy arm" to me and pois I'm going to share some!!

Tuesday:

I am so grateful for the influence of the Spirit in my life now versus before the mission. I literally had no idea what I was missing before. We had a lesson on Tuesday with a member where we taught the restoration, and I know this is the most cliche thing ever, but I have learned truly for myself that nothing invites the Spirit faster than the first vision of Joseph Smith. Whether our friend has an open heart to feel and recognize the Spirit is another thing, but the Spirit is always there. And sometimes I forget. Because of the studies we have and lessons we teach, I am so blessed to have the Spirit confirm to me so strongly the truth of the Restoration of Jesus Christ's church, of the Book of Mormon sometimes multiple times per day. But for some of these members, it might be the first time in a long time that they've had that confirming witness. I'm so blessed to be a missionary. And also I'm scared to go home haha. 

Wednesday: 

We met a man on the street and then on Wednesday we had our first lesson with him for real at the church. First of all he showed up  But also the even bigger miracle was how amazing he got along with the member we invited to this lesson. I had never met this member before, and barely knew this man from the street, but it worked out just so perfectly and they just got along so well. It made my heart so happy 

Thursday:

On Thursday, we were trying to find new friends to teach like crazy all day and we had scheduled extra time for our walk to a member meal so we could contact people on the street até o pó and then we get to the street we needed to walk down and it was a literal ghost town bro. Not a single person. Actually there was one person and I went up to her and said I had a flower for her and she said in english "I'm allergic" and literally ran away so that was awesome. But the Lord's arm was revealed to me as Sister Larson and I were walking and talking, trying not to be stressed about the lack of people on the street, and playing rock soccer. It was really tender and is a scene I want to re-watch in heaven one day. 

Friday:

We had zone conference!! All of the talks were focused on the Restoration of the gospel and it was so inspired. I say that every time but for real. Last transfer I had a goal to be more intentional with my testimony of the restoration, and so to have this be the focus of the zone conference just proves to me further how the Lord is so aware of each of us. President gave an amazing talk on Joseph Smith and his sacrifice, and Sister Barcellos gave an amazing talk on the worth of the Book of Mormon, and if I had to pick one of the greatest manifestations of the Lord's holy arm, it would be restoration of Jesus Christ's gospel. 

D&C 90:10

"And then cometh the day when the arm of the Lord shall be revealed in power in convincing the nations, the heathen nations, the house of Joseph, of the gospel of their salvation."

Saturday:

I am so grateful for President and Sister Barcellos. We had interviews in the morning and then our district went to lunch and ate Brazilian pizza with Pres and Sister Barcellos and their son David!! It was so fun!! Guys President is my biggest hype man. I love my interviews. I'm also just so impressed how him and Sister Barcellos know everything about every single missionary and remember it too. I walk into my interview and Pres goes "I saw that your parents are in New York!!" or at lunch Sister Barcellos named all of my areas and talked about how SISTER CORDNER and I still haven't served near eachother ( Sister!!!! Our time is coming!!!!!) They are angels. I hope they come to my wedding one day. 

Sunday:

We had stake conference!! During the meeting, Sister Cornell leaned over to me and said that the last time she went to stake conference, it was our first sunday serving together in Tejo, and was Sao's first sunday going to church aaand I literally started crying you guys. O tempo passa rapido  I don't know if I'm allowed to share this, but my patriarchal blessing says I'll be blessed with wonderful experiences on my mission with both fellow missionaries and the people who I will be serving, and I know my relationship with Sister Cornell is one of those blessings 

Ok I have two things for Sunday. This week we have been working freaking hard and every night I've been out like a rock. I've also never finished a week ever with worse numbers. I'm not a numbers numbers numbers missionary, but it's also impossible not to measure your success to some degree based on your numbers because those are the things you report on each week. Last night we were finishing up the work day at 9:30pm trying to wrap up a phone call with one of our friends, and then we recieved a reference. It was from some other sisters in the mission and it was a man that hasn't been taught much but that already has A BAPTISMAL DATE for May 7th. We listened to a voice audio the sisters sent us and apparently this man is an eleito. Are we kidding??

D&C 123:17

"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."

D&C 35:8

"For I am God, and mine arm is not shortened; and I will show miracles, signs, and wonders, unto all those who believe on my name."

I KNOW that His arm is not shortened. We just need to believe on His name. 

This week I get to go do baptisms for the dead in the Lisboa temple with my recent convert Danilo!!  And then this weekend we're having a baptism party!!  2 of our friends are getting baptized and also 1 of the other sisters!! Stress but also yay. Pray for Yvens and Nelson and Hugo this week 

I love you guys! Send me emails! Or facebook messages! Or else!!!!

Sister Menden

Pics!!

- This is called a Francesinha and it's the most Porto food ever. Foi bom gostei. 

- Porto!!

- Zone Conference pics! But actually with 3 zones!

- I hit 10 months on the mish 

- Lunch with Pres and Sis Barcellos  

- Me every morning  Sister Cornell loves me 

- This pic I accidentally took while talking to our new friend lol