The End of an Era

My last weekly!! *wipes tear*

This week was the best, it included:

-helping a family move

-Saying bye to a lot of members

-lots of Food

-meeting a wonderful lady named Laura from Alaska who has gone through a lot but wants to make some life changes and know how God can help her!! It was so special

-leading the music at church on Sunday ofc

-a COVID scare when we thought we were gonna have to spend our last week in quarantine because some missionaries tested positive. But then we were cleared because we haven't seen them in weeks so we could go out. We were so relieved. I was not about to spend my last week on the mission in quarantine 

-churrasco with our ward mission leader. Eu amo comida brasileira

-SNOW!?!?!!?!? What??? In October!?!?!? 

-last splits with Sisters Davidson and Krumperman who I love, including Rancheritos

And finally, a super cute despedida (farewell) dinner prepared by the legendary Irmã Andrea who goes all out. It was the sweetest and I felt so special. 

I've loved my time here and I'm so grateful the Lord gave me the chance to come back out. The best part about serving in Salt Lake is I'll get to see and visit these people all the time! I love them so much. The mission is a special time. I've learned so much, but mostly how grateful I am for all the Lord has done for me. Ammon says it well: 

Alma 26: 16 Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.

See you guys soon!!! 

Até breve! Tchau!!

-Sister Dobbs

 

Penúltima Semana!! Second to last week!

 Olá galera!!! Amigos e família tudo BEM!?!?

Guys, this week was absolutely surreal. Every day people asked and every day I had to tell them I'm going home. It's kinda sad but I know everything has it's time. I've loved my mission, though it's been the hardest thing I've ever done. I'm so grateful for the people I've met and the lessons I've learned. I really have come to know my Savior more. 

Life is not easy. And it wasn't meant to be. Often I wish we didn't have to endure heartache or tragedy or suffer. But, without those experiences, we would never come to "the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ," as Elder Holland said in his amazing talk in Conference about waiting on the Lord. I think of the promise in the Beatitiudes in 3 Nephi 12, "blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." We can't forget that key phrase. We must come unto Christ in these trying times to really experience the power of His Atonement and so He can heal us. And I know He can. 

I love you all!! I will see you soon!!

Sister Dobbs

Pastels at a Brazilian food truck!!

Carving pumpkins!

Went to the temple to shoot a video!!! #asaltlakemissionary #lookattheconstruction

Pday lunch at the Habit!!

It's OCTOBER!! Which means Fall colors, spooky season, General Conference and GOING HOME! It's sad, there are so many things I'm going to miss. But, it's also exciting. I really really want to make every day count. 

The mission is the best. It's pushed me to be better. I still have so many things I need to work on, but one thing I have learned is that God is happy with our progress, no matter how slow. He is infinitely patient with us. We might mess up 1,000 times before succeeding, but that's okay. The success is in the trying, not in the result. I know that the Lord accepts my meager offering because it really was all I had. 

This week was so fun. I love Sister Riches and am gonna miss her. We are always laughing. 

Miracles of the week:

- We visited a mother and her daughter who are in the ward and she was so glad we stopped by. She had had a wrist surgery and was having a hard time. She knew that the Lord was aware of her because He sent us. 

-We visited another couple who we had been doing English classes with and then they got super busy. It had been about 2 months since we talked to them so we wanted to see how they were doing. Liliane shared with us that her dad had passed away. We had the chance to sympathize with her and bear testimony that even if no mortal person understands, our Savior does. We were able to begin teaching them and it was a miracle!!

-Our friends Claudia and Edivaldo watched the Sunday Morning session of conference and LOVED IT!! They felt the Spirit and really enjoyed it. Claudia said she loved the talk about guardian angels. They're amazing. 

Talk about a historical conference for Brazil!?!? This year the Sunday morning session was streamed on a TV channel in Brazil! And ANOTHER temple was announced in São Paulo!!!! Guys, I don't know of another city (other than Provo) that has TWO temples! Brazil is the best and the church is growing so quickly there!!

This week we made a FIRE video for conference. It was some pretty professional editing. Go check out Facebook.  

We watched conference on our legendary pull out couch so it was amazing. We got Crumbl cookies and Sister Riches made cinnamon rolls so I had enough sugar for a month. Conference was incredible. I have such a testimony that these men and women are Christ's representatives and spokesmen (spokespeople?). We are preparing the world for the Second Coming of the Savior and they encouraged us to be courageous, faithful (not fearful!), prepared (emotionally and temporally), more Christlike, more unified and more pure. We can do it!! Vamos!

Abraços e beijos de Sister Dobbs!!

A miracle- filled week!

 Helloooooo!!!

Alright, this week was my *LAST* zone conference. Weird!! It was super special because it was all about the Book of Mormon which was the same theme of my first zone conference, way back in Gravataí. #tendermercies The Book of Mormon is the ferramenta da colheita (the tool of the Gathering of Israel) and has such a power. It is an inspired book and is how we are spiritually nourished day after day. 

Then, on Thursday, we had interviews with President Terry (President Prier's counselor) and he is the sweetest. We got lunch at Firehouse sub. 

On Saturday we helped a part-member family move. (See pic below)

Sunday was awesome because Claudia, Edivaldo, and their two kids AND Odilon, another man we began teaching this week came to church! They're amazing!!! I was so happy!! They're super good friends with families in our ward already (all the Brazilians know each other). One irmão gave them a tour of the chapel after and explained about primary, youth programs, relief society, and elders quorum. In the picture below, peep the Book of Mormon that Claudia brought to church. So cute.

I have such a love for this gospel and sharing it with others brings me such great joy.

I love Sister Riches. My companions and others I've met have been the biggest blessing of reassignment. I really am grateful for how well it all turned out.

God is good.

I will see you all in 4 weeks!! Beijos!! Have a great conference weekend!!!

Sister Dobbs