Dear Family,
What a week it has been!!! This week was Sister Pendleton's last week in the mission. It's crazy how fast the transfer has come and gone. I was sad to say goodbye, but on the brightside I get to spend the next couple days with my MTC companion Sister Forsyth, and I'll get my new comp. Sister Ashbee this wednesday! I can't believe I've already been here that long and I'm daunted by the idea of having to introduce my new comp. to the area, but I'm sure all will be well and I'm excited for another great transfer here in Covo Figueira!
This week was filled with lots of less-active work as per usual, but it really pays off and there is nothing more gratifying than helping someone who really has a sincere desire to come back to the fold. This area, more than anything ever in my life, has taught me the importance of ministering. So many people stop coming to church and receiving that essential spiritual nourishment they need because they feel like an outsider or that no one cares if they come or not, but ministering makes all the difference! Just being a friend and letting someone know you like seeing their face and sitting next to them in meetings is literally all it takes to really reactivate someone! And what’s more, member missionary work is the most effective kind of missionary work! It can be so hard to find members to teach with and set up appointments, especially because it seems like something or someone always falls through, but teaching with members is so powerful and more effective! Even if that member is your elders quorum president who you just brought to be a human meat shield from the demon dog at your investigators house... the extra testimony in the lesson and mere presence of a member is almost more rewarding than not being attacked be the devil reincarnated on four legs. So do your local missionaries a solid and offer to teach with them, and for the good of all that is holy in this world, do your ministering!
In other news, I got food poisoning, so that was really fun. Hopefully now that I've been sick twice already (and in my first transfer no less), I won't have too many health issues awaiting me for the rest of the mission, but I should knock on wood before I go about assuming such optimistic things. Still, I've recovered well and now I'm able to appreciate my ability to eat and drink food without vomiting it up immediately afterwards so much more.
And finally, the crowning moment of this week was General Conference. Conference is always a wonderful thing, even when you are watching it in portuguese and can only understand about thirty percent of it- still really good. But nothing may ever top the moment when they announced the temple. To paint you the scene: There Sister Pendleton and I were, sitting in the chapel with the Elders and the roughly six members who came to watch the final session of conference together, at seven o'clock at night. President Nelson stands up and we all braced ourselves: it was time. A map appeared on the screen, and though our audio had a lag, it took no time at all to figure out that that temple which appeared in the middle of the ocean next to Africa was coming to us. The islands so small that we weren't even a visible land mass- we were getting a house of the Lord. Sister Pendleton and I looked at each other and just lost it. The bishop jumped out of his chair, there was shouting, hugging, crying... I couldn't tell you what Pres. Nelson announced after that or much of anything that happened after, besides that there was much rejoicing here on the islands of Cabo Verde.
Anyways, I love you all and hope you have a good week, and remember to do your ministering!
-Sister Bradley
Together again!!!
I got to write my name on the ICONIC Sister wall at Bia's house. (Bia is like the most firme member ever)
Came to Sao Filipe today and I they were doing the ice bucket challenge because of the temple announcement. T'was a good P-day.
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