Hey guys!!

So much has changed in the last week.
On Tuesday our mission got smartphones, something we've been waiting for since forever and it's been life changing. I think the best part has been having WhatsApp because it's sooo much easier to communicate with people. Our other phone was just able to make normal phone calls. Lots of people don't have phone plans, so often we can't call them. Or if their number is outside the area code, we can't call them They always ask us to send them a message on WhatsApp. Well, now we finally can! The ward has been loving it and our bishop sends us GIFs and it's way easier to coordinate our lunches.

On Wednesday we bought a 14-day food supply in case the markets close. We had to seran-wrap it and send pics to our mission president's wife. It was a good time.

Well, on Thursday we were told that we could no longer eat lunch in the houses of members so now we just go to their houses to pick up our lunch in tupperwares.

On Saturday, we were told we had to stay inside and only go out for necessary things, aka to grab our lunch or go to the store. Well, it was a huge blessing and divine design that our smartphones arrived when they did because we could continue teaching people through technology. #AObraContinua This work WILL go forth!

We've seen so many miracles. So many answered prayers. I have no doubt that the Lord is watching over us. He loves us and will protect us.

While we may feel worried because we don't know what will happen, or fearful about the future, I know that as we turn to our Savior and let Him know how we feel, He knows how to comfort us. He knows us intimately well. He can heal us and bring us peace in any circumstances.

The Book of Mormon is full of lots of stellar missionaries. Last week I was reading Alma 8 and I recommend it to all. Alma the Younger faced a LOT of hardship on his mission. He was rejected, ignored, cast into prison, smitten, but through it all, he continued trusting in the Lord and calling the people to repentance. And finally, in Alma 15, he has a lot of success. I've seen this pattern in my mission a lot. The miracles come AFTER the trial of our faith (Ether 12:6). But they do come. And our faith grows as it's tested.

Also, I learned why missionaries are called "elder." It's a title that only apostles and missionaries have. I learned that we are an extension of the 12 Apostles. The Great Commission to preach the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20) was initially given by Christ to the apostles after He appeared to them as a resurrected being. It's pretty cool if you think about it.

Being a missionary is the best. I love teaching. I love testifying. I love talking to people in the street. But now that we're staying inside, teaching over the phone is kinda fun. And we're officially a Facebook Mission now so it's been fun to figure that out.

For the safety of the missionaries, we sadly will have to return to our home countries and will be reassigned to other missions. But, something my mission president always says is that we are called to the work, not to a specific place (D&C 4:2, 80:3). Well, I'm still called to the work and I'll go where He wants me to go.

I don't know what'll happen, but that's okay. Because He knows and He has a plan and things are gonna work out.

I love you all!!

Sister Dobbs

Mateus's baptism this week!!

Splits! And really good hot dogs from a food truck

I made these awesome cookie bars on Saturday

This has been without a doubt the wildest week of my mission, maybe even of my life. Lots of exciting stuff coming to you from POA so stay tuned...

 Fabiana and Ademir were baptized yesterday and it was so special! I don't know if this left anyone confused last week but I should explain. Ok, so for people to be baptized, if they're living with someone, they have to get married. Many people opt not to get married because it's expensive. Well, way back in December, two missionaries found Fabi and her family. Sister Richardson and Sister Martins. This family is incredible. They said the first time they went to church, they felt at home. They recognized something was different about this church. Their son, Lucas, was baptized in December but Fabi and Ademir had to get married first. But, she had no interest whatsoever and said it just wasn't for her. Well, after almost 2 months of working with this family, and largely thanks to the persistence of Sister Martins, who like I said last time is a lawyer (she's 24 years old and graduated young and lives in Rondônia, Brasil), Fabi finally decided she'd get married. That was when I got here. Me and Sister López helped with the papers and this couple got married last Friday. They've been going to church every Sunday for 3 months now. And guys, literally everything happened that could have prevented them from going through with it, BUT, miracles are real and it finally happened. It was a testament to me that the adversary is real and will do anything he can to stop us from doing what he knows is right. When everything is going wrong, that's when we need to exercise our faith and show the Lord that we will do what He's asked of us. It doesn't matter what is (or isn't) happening in our lives, we need to be faithful to Him. And we will be greatly blessed.

As many know, all church services and activities were temporarily suspended because of coronavirus, so it was a very small, very simple baptismal service. But there was a really special spirit. We also had the chance to partake of the sacrament in a member's house and with an investigator yesterday.

It was a historic Sunday and everything that's happened this week has strengthened my testimony that our prophets and apostles are inspired men and called of God. They have been preparing us for these last days because they are like watchmen on the tower; they see things we don't. Trust in their counsel. The timing of this pandemic is not coincidental. We were prepared last year for a home-centered, church-supported learning experience and the church has always taught about self-reliance and having a food storage. I know that we don't need to panic, but we can trust that everything is in the Lord's hands. He will protect and guide His saints until we reach the harbor. This week, when my instinct was to freak out, I prayed for comfort and to know that everything will be okay. And it will.

I'd just like to include this legendary picture that I have titled "The Feet of Sister Missionaries" that shows the price we pay for laboring in the Lord's vineyard: lots of fun tan lines.

I love you all. Stay safe.
Sister Dobbs

This week was a blast!

1) Fabiana and Ademir got married! Largely thanks to a missionary named Sister Martins who's a lawyer and is very convincing, the couple who said they'd never get married, finally did it. Pictures of their baptism are coming soon.

2) Our friend Mateus came to church and loved it! He's progressing really well and is excited for his baptism this Sunday!

3) It was International Women's Day and Fabiana's Birthday! And it looks like Sister López will stay with me one more transfer (woo-hoo!).

Eating a hot dog

What I'm learning is how to feast on the "words of Christ." The scriptures and the words of modern prophets are our daily bread, as Elder Bednar taught and we need to constantly nourish ourselves spiritually. As we prepare for general conference, I invite everyone to treasure up the Book of Mormon and read it every day because I know that it will help us we come to know Him, the Savior of the World.

I love you all!
Sister Dobbs

Carnaval e Conferência de Zona

Soooo this past weekend was Carnaval in Brasil! It's a national holiday, but I have no idea what it's celebrating. The celebrations include parades (desfiles), crazy costumes, lots of glitter, loud music, lots of alcohol, and it's basically a big party. Here in Venâncio, Saturday night (the 22nd) and Monday (the 24th) had parades. It's pretty wild, so, as missionaries, we stay pretty far away. Even in a tiny city like Venâncio, it can get dangerous. So I'm just imagining what São Paulo or Rio must be like. As we were going home on Saturday, we accidentally got stuck and couldn't get around the parade path, but thankfully, a security guard let us pass. As a missionary, I felt very out of place amidst a lot of craziness. But, it was fine. It all worked out in the end.

The following day we had Zone Conference which was AMAZING! It was of course very spiritual and very uplifting, and it was super fun to see everyone.
We spent the night in Santa Cruz before the conference and had a slumber party with 8 missionaries. In this zone, everyone is really spread out, so we take buses to the city the night before to not be traveling super early the morning of conference. You all can imagine us 8 girls spread between only 3 mattresses. Also, imagine 8 girls getting ready in the morning with only 1 bathroom. It was a blast. We ate lunch in Santa Cruz (it was hard to find a restaurant because everything was closed because everyone had been out partying the night before), and we took pictures at some fun spots, including a mini Statue of Liberty. We had interviews with president which were awesome, too. Please enjoy all the pics!

Here is Yerlin, Carlitos and Saraí, a family of Venezuelans who I love a lot plus a Bathroom Sunday Selfie

Us on the bus ride home after conference at night plus all the things we had to carry with us because of conference: a box of book of mormons, a new water filter and a package

Zona Santa Cruz

Sister Maxwell!!

We hit 9 months on the mission so we took fotos de gravidez ("pregnancy" pics), lol!

All in all, a great week. I know that our Savior lives and He wants us to be saved. He's rooting for us. He will never turn us away. He's here for us. So, turn to Him.
Beijos!!
Sister Dobbs