Woahhh, we`re halfway there. Woah, living on a prayer.

So applicable. 

You know how you go on a mission to learn the attributes of Christ? Like to become more patient and loving and humble and all of this. Well, I don`t know what I am doing wrong, but I really do feel like I am becoming less loving and less patient and more cynical. What is wrong with meeee? HELP. 

ANYWAYS. This week has been good. I think? I dunno. The days are all mushing together, and I don`t even know what is happening anymore, but I am good. And I am happy. Although, I said today that I miss laughing, so...that`s hard. I need more Sister Stewart in my life. But, really. I am good. And some amazing things are happening here in Porto!

We had an incredible experience where we were calling a couple of the people from our Livro de Area that we didn't know during our weekly planning and she answered and we met up with her in the chapel this week. She brought her friend and started telling us how she met with the Elders in the past and they gave her passages to read in the Book of Mormon and after reading it a couple of times and praying about it, she knows that it is true! She said that the only reason she stopped meeting with the Elders is because at the time she was going back and forth between Porto and Braga, and they stopped calling! But she is SO elect and has such a real desire to know that this is the true church and to share the Gospel with her friend who doesn`t believe in God. I decided we are going to use that precious area book, because we already have so many people there who are prepared for baptism, but with changes in missionaries and personal circumstances got left behind. No man left behind!

Olivia is doing well, and showing up to church on her own and all ready for her baptism! She`s just got to stop smoking, but we`re going to make her some cigarette pictures (because....she can`t read, but she knows how to write #questionmark, so she just copies the little pamphlets we give her and it is so precious...i die), and I have complete and total confidence that she will stop in two weeks, so all is well! Now let`s try to get some hot water in the chapel so we don't have our 3rd baptism in agua fria.

And ohhh my precious 8 year old Kawany (from the Brazilian family). Yesterday, we went to their house and we taught the third lesson which talks about baptism. And she reads John 3:5 and goes, `So if I`m not baptized  I can`t enter into the kingdom of God?` And then she goes,`I want to be baptized in your church! Please mom pleaseeeeee. I want to be baptized on the 1st of December. Please mom pleaseeeee.` Oh, it was so precious. So here is to praying that her and her mom get an answer to their prayer. Her mom is just worried that if they go back to Brazil she won`t be able to keep going to church there, but I promised that the church is stronger there than here and she will be able to go, but we invited them to pray about it, and I have faith that it will all work out. Oh, how I love that little girl. Except she asked me if she could be my grandchild. She`s not even old enough to be my child! I`m getting so old it hurts. 

So I`ve been reading the Gospels, because I have a goal to read them all before Christmas, because ya know...#Jesus, so I came across this and thought of you Caisa--Mark 7:1-6. So the next time you freak out about the handwashing I would just like you to reevaluate and remember what is most important okay? :) hehehe. I LOVE YOU.

Also, I wish I was serving with Eleanor, because sometimes these girls are all ready for a night out on the weekends and they get on the bus and I just think about how funny she is and how funny she would be and how funny she must be with all the Brazilians. Ouch. I miss my friends. 

Also---Dad, you know why I love you? Because you spent half an email explaining to me about a tv show that we have watched together about 40 times. Hahah, you are perfect and the best dad anyone could ever have. Thank you for always bringing a smile to my face. Also, still getting faca from my own father on the week I didn't send an email. I AM SORRY I LOVE YOU OKAY? hahah I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH! Have fun in Australia!!

I love the mission. I can`t believe I`m already half way through. It`s unreal. My companion is so trunky and she tells me I am going home all the time and I`m like literally stooooop because I am staying here forever and I can`t think about life after the mission or I will have a panic attack. Hahah, it`s actually so funny. Newbies are so funny. Even when they are 39. Literally. 39. I don`t know if I`ll ever get over that one.

We found and American store this week that sells American food and I about died of happiness. So, here`s to praying that it has REAL diet coke. We`re going there right now. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. More than Diet Coke, but...that will have to fill the hole for now.

xoxo

Sister Brooks