Irmã Brooks.: "It's literally killing two birds with one stone." -Sister Call

Hahahah, okay, so there is this pigeon that is living on our porch and she created a nest and she is now sitting on her eggs, and it`s so disturbing, but we can`t bring ourselves to do anything about it. And the birds are ALWAYS outside our window at night and it`s the most obnoxious thing in the world, because they`re SO loud. So last night, Sister Lofgreen wanted to throw a rock at the birds to make them shut up and Sister Call told Sister Lofgreen said to just take one of the eggs in the nest and then we´d being `killing two birds with one stone.` HAHAHAHA I hope you guys found that as funny as I did, because I was DYING of laughter.

ANYWAYS---THIS WEEK WAS SO INCREDIBLE!! I don`t know if I am even going to be able to explain it. I mean, it was kind of really stressful, because it turns out that having to make sure that everything is being done correctly is actually really hard, and it`s even harder when it`s in Portuguese, and it`s all these legal words that I have no idea what they mean, but no worries, because everything went PERFECTLY!! Well....kind of. Speaking of, just so you all know...there`s family drama at weddings in Portugal too. Yikes. BUT.

SOFIA AND ARMANDO ARE SO INCREDIBLE!! THEY WERE SO PREPARED, AND THEY ARE JUST THE WORLD`S GREATEST PEOPLE!! I love them and their little family SO much!! And the Gospel really is blessing them and their family in so many ways!! Sofia was telling us that she has wanted to do this for 10 years now, and the fact that it was finally happening, she couldn`t have been happier. She and Armando just couldn`t stop smiling, and they were SO happy, and they really were acting like newlyweds and it was SO precious. I was dying! The wedding was civil and it was actually really strange, because this lady just mumbled a bunch of words in Portuguese and then they both said yes and then they exchanged rings and then they kissed and that was that. But it was still so perfect in its own little way, and they were just so happy and it made me so happy and I just can`t even begin to explain it.

So they got married at 3:30 and then they got baptized at 7!! They changed into their baptismal clothes and Armando kept joking around about how he looked like a painter, and they are just SO funny. I wish you could know them so badly. You will. But they were SO happy, and EVERYONE was there. There was SO much support from both wards! It was incredible!! And everything went so smoothly and then afterward, we had a little fiesta to celebrate with them! The Bishop`s wife and another lady in the ward made cakes in the form of a heart and it was so precious. They were just so excited about it all. And my heart was just bursting with love for them. Sofia thanked us for helping her realize this dream, but we didn`t do anything. It was all Heavenly Father, and I couldn`t be more excited for them and this time in their life.

And THEN on Sunday, they showed up to church looking SO good! Armando was wearing a white shirt and a tie! I die! SO perfect! Ah, they are so perfect, and they are SO happy, and they really have felt the Spirit touch their hearts, and they are seriously so converted! It`s SO incredible to be a part of. I feel SO lucky to know them! And they got the Holy Ghost on Sunday, and the Spirit was SO strong, and it was just the most incredible thing. Sister Stokes and I had to refrain from squealing with joy, because we were just SO happy. And he`s preparing to get the Priesthood next week, and I just LOVE this Gospel!

But funny story of the week--in Portuguese, there is this ´lhe´ sound that we Americans can`t make, and it`s the funniest thing, because we try SO hard, but it never works. I don`t know if I`ve already told you this or not, but anyways. This week, we were sitting at dinner with Sofia and Armando, and Tiago, their 4 year old son, spent literally 15 minutes trying to teach us how to say ´orelhas´ or ears. Basically, it went like this. Tiago: `O-RE-LHA-S´ Us: ´O-RE-LEE-AS` Everyone bursts into laughter. Tiago: ´No no no no. It`s not like that. It`s like this. I`ll go slower.... OOOO-REHHH-LHA-S.` yep. Nope. Still couldn`t do it. It was the funniest and most humiliating moment of my life, but it was actually REALLY funny, so...I`m not mad. THEN he started dancing around the table and he was doing Gangham style, and he knew all the dance moves and it was SO funny. And he is SO cute. and Mom, you would DIE.

Anyways, I wish I could tell you everything that I am thinking/feeling about this week, but there really are no words. Other than I know this is really the work of the Lord and that the way for us to be happy and find peace in our lives is through His Gospel. I am SO grateful to have this opportunity to meet these people and to feel this love that the Lord has for us and all his children. He loves us SO much. More than we can even begin to imagine. I am SO grateful to know that, and I am so grateful to be in Portugal with these crazy, funny, ridiculous Portuguese people.

xoxoxo
Sister B

PS. CANDICE!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOVE OF MY LIFE THAT I HAVENT HEARD FROM IN 5 MONTHS (you like that subtle hint? Write me ya punk.) I HOPE IT WAS FANTASTIC! I think of you every day and I miss you dearly.

MARLEICE!!! FREAK YEAH!!! Hope you LOVE the MTC!!! GO take Brazil by storm!! Can`t wait to talk to you in Portuguese!! Eeee :) I LOVE YOU!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIMMING!!! I HOPE IT`S THE GREATEST!!! Mom---better make him a roll-up cake.

I LOVE YOU ALL SO SO SO MUCH!!!