Welcome to Brazil: We Have Really Big Lizards

While people are sending me pictures of snow, it's 40 degrees Celcius here (with humidity), which is over 100 and we're dying. I am tanner than I've ever been in my life. When we teach people, we just sit outside and I try to focus on feeling the spirit and not on the mosquitoes biting my legs or the sweat dripping down my back. I miss air conditioning! It's rare here. People usually just sit outside where it's *slightly* better or use fans. But, it's a good time. There's nowhere I'd rather be.

We were walking through centro and I passed a house and saw something in the corner of my eye. It was this huge lizard climbing into his hole. I was shocked. I've only seen things like that in the zoo. I thought for a sec, I had imagined it, but 10 minutes later, when we were walking back, he was outside his hole and I got a pic. I'm a little scared knowing that things like this exist here, but I'm just hoping they're friendly. #dragonsarereal #onlyinBrazil

This week we made cookies for a youth activity (which ended up not happening because the bishop was sick and couldn't go), so we brought them to his house. They were a huge hit and everyone's asking for the recipe. I also made a cake for a noite familiar (family home evening) last week so I am the picture of domesticated bliss.

I ate liver this week. The texture was weird and I'm not a fan.

Here's a pic of our district and zone. I love them a ton!

My faves:

The ladies

Yesterday I spoke in sacrament meeting but there were only 2 speakers so the 1st counselor told me, take as much time as you want. I ended up speaking for almost 20 minutes, but it's chilling. I talked about the importance of repentance and the plan of happiness.

Eu amo estar aqui. Eu amo a missão. Tenho a oportunidade de convidar todas as pessoas a seguirem Cristo e aproximarem mais a Ele. Eu O amo com todo meu coração e sei que Ele nos ama porque deu a vida Dele por nós. Por meio da Expiaçao de Jesus Cristo, podemos voltar á Nosso Pai Celestial e viver com nossas famílias para sempre, com a alegria eterna, que Ele tem. Isso é minha meta. Isso é o que eu quero, para mim, para minha família, e para todos os filhos de Deus.

Love,
Sister Dobbs

3rd Area, 2nd Sister López, and 1 Miraculous Week

Hey y'all!! LOTS of updates, especially since I didn't email last week so buckle up, you're in for a ride.

FIRST, I was transferred! After 5 incredible months in Passo Fundo, I was transferred to Venâncio Aires, in Zona Santa Cruz. I'm about 2 hours from Porto Alegre. It's a small city and super tranquilo. It was mostly settled by people from Germany, so most of the people we talk to have German ancestors, grew up on farms speaking German and then moved to the city and learned Portuguese later in life. It's kinda fun. Last Monday, I spent the whole day traveling because it's a 5 hour bus ride to Porto Alegre, then 2 more hours to my area. #goodtimes

My new companion is Sister Lòpez from Bogotá, Colombia! My 2nd companion with that last name! She's also the missionary who trained my trainer, so we say that she's my "grandma." I'm so so excited to be with her! She's so sweet. She's got 1 year and 2 months on the mission. I already love her so much and she is such an example of Christlike love to me. Everyone we teach, I can tell that she loves them so much.

Going back to Passo Fundo, we had a week of miracles. Lais, the sweetest 13 year old girl in the world, was baptized! I was so happy for her. It's really hard meeting people who have had such a difficult life. Lais has had a difficult home life and it makes me really sad to hear what she's been through. But it was such a special experience to help her. Baptism is a fresh start. She has changed so much. She used to be always angry with people, but she's much calmer now. She's learning to control herself. And her faith is growing every day. She started a study journal of the Book of Mormon where she writes her favorite verses. There is a light in her eyes that wasn't there before. She smiles and laughs a lot more. This is conversion. And conversion is one of the most special miracles there is.

I love you all so much. I LOVE being here. I love being a missionary.
Sister Dobbs

LOVE being here. I love being a missionary.
Sister Dobbs

Lais

Combined district foto (I love these guys)

Yennifer got her Young Womans medallion on Sunday! You guys, this girl is incredible! She was baptized in October and in less than 2 months, she finished personal progress and read the whole Book of Mormon. I've never seen someone as dedicated as her and she's got such a strong testimony. I'm a proud momma #maiororgulho

Sister López!!! e Venânico Aires

Hey everyone!

This week was great! Last week for pday we went to an Arabian restaurant and ate shawarma with our sister leaders. And after we got açai. It was delicious. I'm gonna have saudades de açai when I get back.

We also had Zone Conference this week and Stake Conference on Sunday which were both inspiring. I learned about faith and how faith is action and work. We demonstrate faith every time we pray, every time we leave the house to talk to people, every time we make lesson plans for people, and every time we open our mouths. Miracles happen if we have faith.

President and Sister Jones went out with us and taught a lesson which was such a cool experience. Lais, a 13 year old girl whose grandma was baptized in December, was baptized today and it was such a special experience. She has had a hard life but her desire to change her life is incredible. She is a miracle in so many ways.

I know that there are people prepared to receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in every corner of the world. I know that there is nothing we can do that makes us unworthy of our Savior's love. His invitation to repent and come unto Him will always apply. He loves us and has invested so much in us. He gave everything for us. He believes in us. So, come unto Him. Follow Him. Your life will be changed forever.

I love you all,
Sister Dobbs

A member made us a delicious cake!

Lais and President and Sister Jones at Stake Conference

same skirt!!

Yesterday was really special. Last week João Pedro was baptized and he was confirmed yesterday and he invited his WHOLE family. It was a special moment. He was a referral from 2 elders who talked to him on the bus. He had met missionaries 25 years ago, but wasn't interested at the time and now that he talked to missionaries again, he felt that this was the moment and accepted baptism. He said he knows the church is true because it's the only one that truly has power and authority of God, and because of the doctrine of eternal families. (If anyone has any questions about this, just ask or go to comeuntochrist.org)

Pics of João Pedro's Baptism

Jennifer (our recent convert) also gave her first talk yesterday about faith. She said the biggest trial of her faith was having to leave her country (Venezuela), and come here, but it was also the biggest blessing because she got to know the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. She is incredible. It made me feel so special.

This week it rained a TON. It was amazing because it was so hot. But in the rain, our phone got wet and didn't work for 2 days. But, thanks to some rice, a hair dryer, and good ol ́João Pedro, we fixed our phone!

We had splits and I was with Sister Case so I hope you enjoy these pictures:

I love you all!

Sister Dobbs

Happy New Year!

I'll send a real email next week but this week was awesome! We had a baptism! I'm happy. I'm trying to lose weight, lol, we're dealing with a cockroach problem but life is good and we're saving souls

Pics of the cake we made for sister Case's birthday: 

Hi Family!!!!!

Sorry for not emailing in a little bit!

I had such a great birthday! My cute comp made me breakfast, we got to eat lunch with our sister leaders and Nereçi got baptized|!!!!! That was probably the best birthday present ever. She smoked for 36 years but we promised her that if she read the Book of Mormon and prayed every day she'd be able to stop in 2 weeks. I know that the Book of Mormon brings a literal power into our lives and I have such a strong testimony of that book. I know miracles are real and she has been so happy since.

Christmas was also great! My comp and I  read the Christmas story together that morning and sang the Christmas hymns, because both of our families always do that. We went "caroling" to some investigators and members which was a blast. I love Christmas music. And we had some amazing Christmas dinners that included hallucas from Venezuela, a traditional Brazilian Christmas dinner, and an American Christmas dinner. But it's funny, Christmas day, because it's so hot here, the members we had lunch with had a barbeque and went swimming so everyone showed up in swimsuits (and I was slightly jealous, lol). And it's tradition to eat ice cream for Christmas which I still think is strange, but it's fun. My one and only Brazilian Christmas was certainly memorable.

Today we made a cake for a sister's birthday and it was an adventure. I was incredibly proud of us and it turned out great.

 I love you guys! I love my Savior and I love the mission!

Happy New Year to everyone!

Sister Dobbs

bday breakfast

baptism of Nereçi

Christmas activity: Churrasco

Christmas gifts

 bday lunch!

i love our ward <3

Feliz Natal!!

Merry Christmas!!!! Feliz Natal!!!

I love you all!! I hope you all have a great week! I'm so excited for Christmas this week and there is nothing better to be doing than inviting others to come unto Christ. I love John 17:3 because truly our purpose in this life is to come to know them. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."  Also, this week I was reading a conference talk from President Nelson from October 2017 and he challenged us to imagine what our lives would be like without the Book of Mormon. I invite you guys who are members to do this because it will open your eyes. And for those reading this who aren't, I invite you to read the Book of Mormon because it will change your life. It will bring us closer to Christ than any other book, answer the questions we have about life and our purpose here, and will bring comfort and power into our lives. It has changed my life and it truly testifies of Christ.

I love you all!

Sister Dobbs

Pictures from my birthday last week: