May 21, 2014

Well this week was much much much better than the last. I haven't been sick. But unfortunately my companion went to the hospital. We all woke up at midnight a few nights ago to her screams in agony. I rushed her to the hospital and turns out she had eaten something bad...had been feeling bad all day but said nothing and then it was just destroying her stomach. They had to pump her stomach to get it out. She ate pomegranate seeds....something you shouldn't eat. 

We have two baptisms happening this week and a few the next. 

Yesterday had a run in with this man.... His hair was to his knees, pitch black. Had make up. He started yelling across the street to us- Sisters! Sisters! He ran up to us and planted a huge kiss ON MY LIPS. I had no time to react. The guy was crazy. Worst of all, apparently a less active of the church. When we told the other sisters they started laughing because they already had met him before.

Well, I've got nothing new to tell you...

Love ya!

Sister Wainwright

May 7, 2014

Don't have to worry about my health...as soon as I stopped eating saturated fats I started to get better! My diet is very difficult and very limited butttttt I'm surviving.

We have a wedding and a baptism this coming saturday! It will be long awaited and I'm way excited. We have lots of miracles happening here in the area I opened (Mocambinho).

Had our transfer yesterday. My little baby who I trained, sister Moraes, was transfered to Sao Luis. When we found out monday she would be transfered she cried for 24 hours without stopping. She wasn't happy. 

 My new partner is Sister Marques. I'm not training this time but she is marvelous.

I'm living with Sister Goncalvez and Sister Skudder again! its going to be a great transfer!

April 28, 2014

Well family, where to begin?

Two Saturdays ago I was taken to the hospital yet again. I have constantly been getting sicker in the last 3 weeks, and have not had the slightest idea as to why. I had eaten nothing with gluten, nothing with lactose..

I was taken to the hospital by members of the ward, after passing out outside of the church Saturday night. The pain I was feeling began, as usual, in my lower abdomen, and then very quickly spread to a pain in my ribs. I passed out from a lack of oxygen, because I couldn't breathe. When I got to the hospital, I don't even remember what they did to wake me up. My companion was in hysterics, literally screaming... I woke up and said, "calm down, I'll be okay!" When it was just the two of us in the room we began talking and she mentioned something I had apparently been repeating and repeating... She said that as soon as the members put me in the car I started begging them not to take me to the hospital. "No No don't take me to the hospital, they'll send me home!" In truth, the last time I spoke to President he told me to be very careful with my health because Salt Lake City was completely aware of my condition and wanted me to go back to the states to get treatment. 

I didn't open my email Monday because until Tuesday, I didn't even know if I would be in Brasil by Wednesday, and I didn't want to talk to you until I knew for sure.

I met with an endogastro on Tuesday afternoon and had done several extra tests. I don't have a clue what he called my apparent disease. Whatever it is called... My body is incapable of digesting lactose, gluten, and saturated fats. I met with President on Wednesday. He asked me, sincerely and humbly...Sister Wainwright, if you choose to go home, you will be doing so in honor. No one can keep you here in the state you are in. He began telling me that he had been on the phone, arguing and fighting, with the mission doctor for quite some time that morning. He said... If you were any other missionary... if you were lazy...if you weren't powerful...if you didn't have the spirit.... But you do. And we need you here.

I recently finished reading The Plan of Salvation, a talk by President Armstrong. Please read it and you'll understand my view point as I responded.

I said President...The Savior, in the garden of Gethsemane, chose to suffer, individually for my life. He passed through absolutely everything that I will pass through. He never abandoned or gave up on me. I will never give up on him. 10 more months a little bit hungry and a little bit sun burnt is not too much for him to ask of me.

And so, I'm still here. And I'm not coming home. 

All this has happened because I took ONE SIP of unclean water.

 I was warned and warned and warned about the water. But it was hot, I was tired, I was thirsty, and this less active reaches his hand out with this cup of water and says here... take, drink. Not wanting to embarrass him, or be embarrassed by declining the water. I took a sip. With no doubt, it was that water that made me sick. No sooner had I lifted the cup from my lips then I saw black stuff moving about in the water. 

Now liken this unto sin. NEVER EVER was wickedness happiness. In that little moment that I drank I was temporarily relieved from my thirst, instantaneously gratified. And then look how quickly it went downhill from that. Yes, we have the powers of the atonement (medicine, in my case) to help us recover from sin (parasites)...but to some extent or the other there is some sin that doesn't get healed overnight. Sometimes we must live with the consequences all of our lives. Don't take that first sip until you know it comes from the well springing up unto everlasting life....from our Savior Jesus Christ.

So I have been 100 percent, strict and perfectly obedient. For the first time in my mission. And the Lord is blessing me quickly. I am finding families. Pulling them out of my ears practically. Last week we marked two families, and 10 other people to be baptized this coming month. For my mission area....that is a lot. I received a personal call from President as a congratulations. The work is truly moving forward.

I am 100% convinced that the Lord loves us. Don't you ever forget that, dear family. 

Love you all and take care,

Sister Wainwright

April 7, 2014

Well I am enjoying Buenos Aires. It has been a different experience. I have returned to Angelim, and ten times harder. I'm very grateful for the 20 something pounds I have lost, and the weight I have continued to lose..... It is VERY important to be physically fit where I;m at.

My new companion is Sister Moraes, and I am training her. 

How was did you all like conference? I loved every last moment. For the first time in my life it absolutely flew by and I dreaded it. Every talk was inspired and things I had prayed to hear during conference.

Well, I love you all!

Sister Wainwright

March 31, 2014

BEING TRANSFERRED!!!!!

I'm going to Buenas Aries!

And so....

I prayed A LOT and fasted  A LOT for the last 2 weeks that I would be transferred. I'm so happy!

I have a story for you. It's simple and short. But powerful. Made a contact with a woman last night. It was raining and we rushed into a little bread shop to wait it out. Began speaking with a worker there and started sharing the message of the restoration. She began crying and says..."I cant believe it. My son told me this morning that he had a dream last night that two women would come find me and bring me a light. You are the women! God prepared me for this moment!"

The church is true. The gospel is true. God LIVES. He lives and he loves us. 

Love you,

Sister Wainwright

March 24, 2014

Ola!

So this week has been 100 times better than the last few weeks. I'm finally starting to truly learn what I can and can't eat... I am apparently for real lactose and gluten intolerant. It's sad. Very sad. I'll really miss ice cream. But I eat enough beans that I don't have space in my stomach to worry about it. I'm actually quite surprised that President and Sister have both been very cuidadoso....they are checking up on me regulary. She calls every 3 days and he emails every week now. She is actually looking for me a nutritionist to meet this coming week. She also announced in a stake relief society meeting for all of the woman to watch out for Sister Wainwright if they receive her in their ward because she is recovering from an infection that has left her with intolerances to many foods. At first I was like....ugh thats silly. But I'm actually really grateful. It's really hard to go to lunch because people here get very offended when you don't eat something. I have had people flat out angry with me because I didnt eat something. And I just tell them...look, I am really sorry, but I will literally get sick if I eat this. So I was appreiative of Sister Siedshlag for giving the heads up.

We told our recent convert, Joao Batista, that I might be transfered this next week. He broke into tears.....

We had a true miracle take place this week. I met Hortalina my first week in Dirceu, and have been working with her ever since. She hasn't been budging or progressing until Friday, we went to her house. I was praying and fasting specifically for her. Upon arriving we started talking to her about repentance and I kept getting the prompting to specifically ask...Hortelina, where do you think we go after we die. We had already taught the Plan of Salvation so I thought oh how silly she already knows. So I didn't say anything for a minute. but I felt again...ask. So I did. And she says....deus e quem sabe. Only God knows. I sad no Hortelina, we know as well because he revealed through the prophets. It's in the bible and the Book of Bormon. We go to the Spirit World to wait for the judgment and ressurection. I said.... your husband is there. He is waiting until one day, you will reunite again. She gave an acknowledging glance and acted like all was well. And then I was prompted to say.....Hortelina...do you realize your husband is waiting for you to be baptized, so he can recieve the same ordinance.....that he has most likely been waiting for for 45 years (he was assasinated in front of her in their home 45 years ago....it's a very sad story). I said Hortelina... you are hesitant to be baptized because you are scared of admitting to the fact that you already know this church is true...the Spirit has already told you. You have already born your testimony. You go to church every sunday. Why are you waiting... why are you making him wait?

She went to church the next Sunday and cried and cried all day, feeling the Spirit and the joy of knowing these things are true. She will be baptized this Saturday.

The Spirit is our greatest tool as missionaries. It doesnt matter what we say, so long as they remember what they feel.

 Love you all,

Sister Wainwright

March 17, 2014

Well, as far as the work goes, I cannot offer much of a shining light this week. Before I got sick Saturday, my companion was sick all week. She has vertigo. She's on mediction now that is helping, but she's still not doing well. And as I told you a little last week, her attitude has been very off. Our relationship is A LOT better right now, I think because we had a full week to do nothing but talk to each other and study being as we literally did not work. This week was the hardest, worst week of my mission. Why? Because I didnt work. I'm having to learn real patience. With myself, with my companion, with our sickness. I know without doubt that the Devil is working very hard against us. My blessing says that he will put boulders in my righteous pathway to prevent me from accomplishing the divine design of which I was assigned to complete. With no doubt, he is desperate to keep me from working. I want so badly to be 100 percent, for my companion to be 100 percent. I only want to work and help my investigators. I have honestly just felt a pit of blackness in my stomach this week because I feel completey helpless. I don't feel sorry for myself.... I'm mad with myself for eating or drinking whatever it was that has done this. Nothing can stop this work from rolling forward but my companion and I were put in charge of tending this part of the garden and our best efforts are not good enough and I feel it falling apart here. 

Bur, there is ABSOLUTELY no other work on the face of the earth that compares to the valor of missionary work. It is the work of the Gospel. It is what creates and brings together and seals family ties. And I only have 11 more months to be a full time missionary before I get thrown back again into normal life. So, I'll get over this sickness and I'll work as much and as hard as I can to make up for lost time in the hospital!

Life was never meant to be easy.

I wrote a letter to Emi earlier this morning and I said something along the lines of-

My head hurts, my feet hurt, my stomach is killing me.... But then I remember the atonement.

When my head hurts I remember the thorns that dug into his.

When my feet hurt I remember the nails they drove into his

When my stomach hurts I remember the spear that pierced his.

There is no pain, no trouble, no calamity, no sorrow, no frustration, no sickness that he has not both felt and atoned for. It is only when we forget our Lord and our Savior that we truly begin to suffer. But just as you (mom and dad) said at the beginning of my mission.... He is with us. Not before, not after, but during and IN our trials and afflictions.

Love you guys!

Sister Wainwright

March 17, 2013

Sister Wainwright is still oddly obsessed with pineapples....

March 3, 2014

It took about 2 hours to clean the baptismal font because the pump stopped working and we had to empty old water by buckets into the toilet. It was pretty brutal work, but it was a great baptism!

Lets see....

This week was absolutely incredible. One of the best weeks of my mission. One of, or possibly even the hardest week of my mission as far as work goes. First off, Joao Batista was baptized Friday and Confirmed Sunday. He is doing MARVELOUS. I am so proud of him and so marveled to see the difference in his life, in his attitude and countenance because of choosing to follow Christ. 

My companion broke my camera while taking selfies, having taken it out of my bag without permission. Now im cameraless....but anyway,

We had interviews with President this last week. It was AMAZING. As a companionship we first had an interivew together, and did a practice lesson and it was AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING! It was so spiritual. Afterwards in our personal interview President went on and on and on about how proud of me he is and how he has watched me grow over the last 5 months. He thanked me for being an example to others and complimented me A LOT on my Portuguese. He said Sister Wainwright....how did you learn to teach the way you do to bring the Spirit so strong. I said.... my parents. He hinted that I will become a Sister Leader Trainer in this next transfer...Because my area will be closing to Sisters and opening for Elders. WOW! Second area of my mission and second time I'm leaving it for Elders...not sure what that says about me haha. But in all sincerity.... I'm so happy after that interview. I asked President...o que voce pensa de mim como uma missionaria... what do you think of me as a missionary? He said Sister Wainwright... from the day you arrived I knew you were going to be an excellent missionary, and you proved me wrong. You are more than an excellent missionary. You are constantly improving. You see where you need to improve, and then you DO it. You have initiative, you have drive, you are diligent and you work hard. You are moldable and you are HUMBLE. Je called me HUMBLE. No one in my life has called me HUMBLE before. I DID IT!!! hahaa. Are you proud of me, mom? :)

By the way happy 6 month anniversary for me. In EXACTLY 1 year from today I will be back in the USA. YIKES!

February 24, 2014

 The plate broke, but she SAVED THE BEANS!

  A few of her pictures in the hospital. Since I'm her sister, I have permission to say...she's looked better. hahahaha. Sorry. Sort of. I'm glad she's doing much better, though!

 Sister Wainwright is very fond of these giant toads, apparently.

 It was pouring on them!

 She was very impressed with this sword. In her email she said, "I AM LAMANITE!"