Ch.ch.ch.ch.ch. changes

Olá! Como vocês estão? Estou MUITO BEM!! Do i have done things to share this week! We are working with some amazing people and seeing incredible miracles. One of the coolest experiences so far on my mission occured last Monday night. We were on a train on the way to a members house for dinner and sister Hoffman really felt we needed to go sit down and talk to someone. So we went and sat my this girl. She ended up being an atheist and didn't want anything. The whole time we were talking to her forever the man across the aisle was staring at us intently. I had a feeling that he was really the person we were testifying to at that moment. I was hoping to stop him when we got to our stop, but he got up and left, and I thought it was too late. We got off soon after and were answering some messages when the man comes up to us and says. "I would like a book of mormon and to learn more about what it is." We were like, "uh... ok!" It was so cool! He is really really cool, he came to church this Sunday and loved it!! He was already making friends and was excited to come back next week! He was a definite miracle. We have some other people who are progressing really well also! We had 4 people at church this sunday, and for 3 of them it was their secind time in a row!! I am really excited for this coming transfer, i know the Lord has so many more miracles in store for us!! 

Speaking of next transfer, sister Hoffman is leaving Barreiro! 😭 she is going to be an STL in the algaeve, the area in the very south of portugal. She is going to be awesome!! The Elders are also coming back here to Barreiro which will be really nice! The sister coming to Barreiro is Síster Chagas. I have never met her, but everyone ive talked to says she is super cool! She is from Brazil and doesnt speak English. I am going to learn Português so fast, im so excited to work with her!! I will be leading out here in Barreiro for a little while which i am a little nervous about. It is such an incredible area with so much potential and i want to make sure the people i love are taked care of, but sister Chagas is a really experienced missionary, and when you have the Lord on your side, anything is possible!! I am working on trusting my worries and fears to the Lord so i can truly work with faith!!

We sang in sacrament meeting this week!! It was so wonderful to sing again. We sang I feel my saviors love, (in Portuguese the line is "pois, eu amo o salvador, e sei que ele me ama" i love the lord, and knows that he loves me) the spirit was so strong and the branch loved it. Music has a way of bringing the spirit that is different than any other thing. I hope to be able to continue using my love of music to serve those around me. 

We taught english class this week which was super cool!! I am hoping the elders will teach it from now on though because Sister Chagas doesnt speak english and i am not super confident in my abilith to teach anything other than the gospel in Portuguese as of yet. It was fun though, we went to Gabriel and Thaisa's house the other day (members and our really good friends) and rhey were trying to speak English! It was so fun!!

The language is coming a long. It is of course difficult. But i have had moments where i thought a person was speaking English when they were really speaking Portuguese, my understanding has improved a ton! And i can bave a conversation if my conversation partner is a little patient. I know that the Lord is helping me, especially in lessons i have phrases and words come out of my mouth sometimes that i didn't even know i knew. Its super cool.

Ok, funny portuguese joke time! To say "nobody cares" you say "ningeum se-importa" which when you say in fast it sounds like "ninguem sim porta" which translates to " nobody yes door." Not very funny on its own, i know, but when Gabriel is just going around saying " nobody yes door, nobody yes door" its pretty funny! And here we see that my standards for humor have gone down. Lol.

Thats it for this week!! I just want everyone to know how much I love the Lord!! We are all children in our knowledge and understanding when compared to him. But parents know they are wiser and more experienced than their children, and yet they care for and love and cherish their children. That is how our savior is for us. If we humble ourselves as little children and go unto Him, the blessings will be endless.

I love you all!! 

Sister Hardy

-Lunch with some members!

-Nuno, a member, gave me a plant! I named him tercero néfi! (3rd nephi)

- Gael, by far the greatest trial on my mission is not being able to hold him!!

Hi Mom!! Thank you for the updates on everyone!! I felt as i read that i would be happy to serve 70 missions for the blessings i see my family recieving. There are rumors that president Nelson will be anouncing a change in the length of missions. If women can now serve 2 years, i still dont know what i would choose. But seeing the changes in my siblings, im thinking staying is definitely on the table. 

Mom, i think my taste buds are finally maturing. Little by little. I will eat everything that is given to me whithout to much trouble, (it helps that uve only been offered fish once) and i like nearly all of it!! The brazilians in our branch cook crazy well. There is a sister who makes these geourgeous work of art cakes that are super delicious, and she is having us over for my birthday and said she was going to make a cake for me!! I am so excited!! She makes these really yummy Brazilian pizzas too, i am hoping that is what she makes. One thing i tried this week though that i didnt like very much was dark chocolate that was 100% coco. 100%! It made me think of that one studio c video "1% cocao and 99% the dirt it was grown in" lol. It was not very good, but the cookie it was baked in was so i still ate it. 

I dont know the plan for conference yet. I know they show it at the church building, but it is at like 6 and 9 pm to match with Utah and we cant stay out for the second, so we will probably have to do some catching up during the week, but i am so excited! I will definitely be watching in Portuguese which might be a little rough, maybe if anything crazy happens you can include it in your email in case i dont catch it lol. 

The phone is good. I am grateful for the transfersnin America to learn hoe to use it. It is an adjustment for everyone, but it has definitely been a little smoother on my end. I have the sim card right now, but sister hoffman still has to take all the calls. Our district leader called though the other day while she was in the shower and i managed to make the whole phone call in Portuguese no sweat!! It was a great little confidence builder. 

Uncle Frank and Aunt Terry will be in my prayers for sure. 

I bought a dress!! It is super pretty!! I will send you a picture later! It is blue and white, classic! (€29.90)

Anyway, i love you!!! ❤❤

-sister hardy