Hey y'all!!

Got my first transfer out of the way which is a big yeehaw! My trainer got transferred to a new area which is a little sad because I like her a lot but I'm excited for her. She's going to Novo Hamburgo, which isn't too far from Gravatai where I am. I got a new companion today. Her name is Sister Santiago and she's from São Paolo, Brazil. I'm excited to get to know her. I've heard nothing but great things about her.

One thing that's kinda fun about Brazil/this area is that everyone is super religious. There are churches on almost every street corner; Catholic, Evangelica (Evangelist? Not sure in English), and Jehovah's Witness too. Missionaries from these churches will also go door to door and share the gospel and invite people to church (like we do) so that's kinda fun. We've got some competition, lol. Religion is so ingrained in everything they do here. Fun fact: Brazil even has a state that's called Espírito Santo. Brazil has twenty something states and I'm trying to learn all of them and their capitals. My state is Rio Grande do Sul, land of the gauchos.  Porto Alegre is the capital.

This week I had a reunião in Porto Alegre and I got to see my CTM buddies!!! It was way fun and powerful. I learned a lot and at the end we watched a Holland clip about the conversation Jesus has with Peter where He says "lovest thou me more than these? Feed My Sheep" (John 21). The video is muito poderoso. Y'all should watch it. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media-library/video/2013-10-1680-lovest-thou-me-more-than-these?lang=eng We have to really decide if we love the Savior more than "these," more than anything else. And we've gotta be willing to follow Him "with full purpose of heart" and never go back,

I love my Savior. That's why I'm out here. That's why  I left everything: home, family, country, friends. I need everyone to know what He did for them so they can feel the immense gratitude I feel for Him. He is our Salvador and He loves us more than we can imagine. He lives today and because of Him, we, too, will live again and have the chance of living with Him for all eternity. I can't imagine a happiness greater than that.

I love you all!
Sister Dobbs