A New Companion, A Wedding and a Beautiful Baptismal Service

Introducing.....

SISTER RICHES!!! from the Bay Area, she was called to the Porto Alegre South Mission and when she had 4 weeks in the MTC, she got sent home, like us all. But, now she's here in the Great Salt Lake City Mission and is so excited to be here. She's super ready to work and is taking everything in stride which I'm so impressed with. We love her so much. It's my first time being in a trio but it's a good time. 

This week, we had Josélia and Marcos' wedding on Saturday! We did it outside the church and it was really cute. They were so happy and so grateful. 

Then, on Sunday we had a really beautiful baptismal service with them. They just got here to the states in March so starting in about January they had been taught by a handful of missionaries in Brasil. The missionary who taught them and baptized Heloiza their daughter, Elder Weston, got to participate via Zoom and bore a sweet testimony. His family was at the service because they live here and it was such a cool connection. They are such a special family. We sang "When I am Baptized" in Portuguese and the bishop gave a little message which I translated for!! (The Weston family doesn't speak Portuguese, obvi). He cried, they cried, I almost cried, the spirit was so strong. 

I know that there are people in every part of the world prepared to receive the gospel. These people were guided to the church through simple, yet powerful ways. Heloiza saw a video on YouTube about general conference and fell in love and wanted to learn more. Joselia saw the elders walking on the street on her way to work and was curious. Marcos worked as a bus driver and took a group of members to the Recife temple and they kindly explained things about the church, the gospel, temples, etc. They really were guided to this moment because the Lord knows all things and is able to work miracles.

I love you all!!

-Sister Dobbs

Us eating Cafe Rio at the park

The happy couple

And the bridesmaids/witnesses/wedding planners

I caught the bouquet!

Our shower broke 

My cooking: stir fry and fried rice!!

Sister Riches!!!

I made beans and rice for Sister Riches'd 1st day to get that authentic Brazil experience (except the beans were not the same as the irmãs make it. I'll keep trying)

Some baby birds