and then I remember...she doesn't speak English

So...let`s just say that more than a few times this week, I have turned to my perfect little companion and started talking to her in English only to see these wide eyes stare up at me like I came from another planet. (Glad to know what I looked like when I first got here.) Sorry I actually don`t know the difference between English and Portuguese anymore and my brain can`t process the switch, so it just comes out. Good thing we`ve got facial expressions to save the day. 

Also, my companion is LITERALLY perfect. She does EVERYTHING right. I didn`t even know it was possible until we started serving together and then I realized that there really are missionaries in the world who can do every single thing that Preach My Gospel tells us. I guess that`s why the Lord put me with her, because He knew I have a LOT to learn. But, it`s the greatest, and I am SO grateful, because I`m just soaking up everything she`s got to teach me. And it`s so nice, because we are both just so focused on missionary work and nothing else and it`s all we do all day long and ohhh my goodness I feel like I`ve been waiting for this day my whole life. She literally does EVERYTHING right. I think I`ve written the same thing in my journal 7 times this week. `My companion is literally the world`s most perfect missionary. She does EVERYTHING right. And as a result, we are running from house to house teaching families and people who are really interested in hearing our message.` Literally, I don`t know how she does it, but I am doing my best to figure it out so I can keep this magic going after she leaves me. 

AND OH MY WE ARE SEEING MIRACLES BECAUSE OF IT. We hit the standard of excellence in ALL of our goals for the mission this week, which I know means nothing to you guys, but I haven`t done that once in my whole mission. And we have found and started teaching at least 3 full families! Families! Guys. I literally think I landed in the promised land. 

And we had a baptism this week! This absolutely ADORABLE girl named Inês. I guess she`s been coming to church for forever, but she finally decided to get baptized and her boyfriend baptized her and then they got married this weekend. Oh my goodness, did you know baptisms could be cute? Seriously, she came out of the water and they just hugged for like 5 minutes, and I could have started crying it was so precious. It helps that they`re the cutest couple I`ve ever seen in Portugal. Sorry this actually probably so not the important part of the baptism, but...yeah. #literallytouchingpeoplewhat

In other news, holy wow...I realized how much I`ve missed silence this week. We just walk around in silence in between contacts, and secretly it makes me sooo happy. Man...I miss alone time to think. Ouch. But, that`s okay, because I`m getting a lot of it now. Maybe it`s the language barrier or maybe it`s just her, but I just get a lot of time to sit in my own thoughts and it makes me very happy. Woah I`ve missed being alone. But if this is as close as I can get, I will take it. Don´t take that as we don´t get along, because ohhhh we do. She is so funny and so precious and she has the STRONGEST spirit. It`s insane. And EVERYONE feels it. Literally, I wish I could explain it. She`s incredible. Remember that one time I spent an entire email home ranting about how amazing my comp is? Oops. Sorry.

In other news, we had one of the most incredible lessons with this lady, where we taught the first lesson, and at the end, we invited her to church, and she said she really wants to, but something really strong would have to touch her heart for her to be able to gain forcas to go. And like RIGHT after she said it, she got the chills and goes, well...maybe that`s my sign. And then she starting crying and thanking us and it was the sweetest thing ever. She didn`t show up to church, but hey! There`s always next week.

Also, we just went to a menos activos house and he did our hair, and oh my goodness--Kate remember when you lost a bet and had to play with my hair for an hour? Yeah...it was like that, but a bajillion times better, because no one has played with my hair in foreverrrrr. So...happy p day moments.

I LOVE YOU ALL. The mission is so good. God is so good. The Atonement is real--study it, apply it. YOU ARE ALL PERFECT.

xoxox

Sister Brooks

DARBS AND MOM--HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! My mom at school and my mom in everything :) I LOVE YOU BOTH SO SO SO MUCH! I hope you both have wonderful days filled with lots of happiness and sunshine and diet coke. You are both perfect and I could not be more grateful to have you in my life.

literally. look at them.