Laura Ann Bullen

11:47 AM

To: Mom

Mom, 

I taught Sister Huinao the song 'you are my sunshine' so it was really sweet.  This song always makes me think of Grandma and Grandpa and the love they have for this song.  I love my grandparents!! haha she taught me a song in Spanish that's a lot longer that maybe ill memorize.. 

We had a really good week looking for new investigaters and families.  We're teaching a young man who went to church with us yesterday.   He really likes to study and know everything so I hope he feels an answer and decides to follow it. 

Happy Birthday to Sariah and Kayla and Paula too (which is coming up)!!!!  July the month of Birthday's. Hope everyone is celebrating in a good way. 

Iḿ really loving this branch and am so grateful for the leadership and members who work here.  One of the sisters in the branch was talking about her visit with _____  which made me so happy . Because we have a great relationship with her, but she needs to feel the love from the branch, because someday we will leave, but the branch stays.  It is so important to see and feel the support of those around you.   _____ received the priesthood yesterday and it was so great.  I love seeing the progression of our recent converts.  One of the brothers contacted us yesterday night to give us a suit to give to him, but didn't want him to know who it was from. Such acts of kindness are from God! It was so sweet and we're excited to give it to him. 

Anyways, but it was a great week.  I am so grateful for this gospel for the peace and happiness that it gives me. I know that Jesus is my Savior and that he suffered worse than us all.  I know that God is my Father and that he loves me.  I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that he restored the Gospel on the Earth. It is through this gospel that we gain salvation. 

Good week for you all!

Love you!

07/08/2013

Mom, 

Here are 2 photos from our zone meeting which we had on Thursday (4th of July).

As a treat, I brought one of the packages of oreos that you sent me in the last package. They were well received. I can't upload photos, but since our zone leader sent these photos, I can forward them, and thought you might like to see them :)

I received your package and the package from Katrina this week when we went to Londrina. I loved them!! They were both amazing packages!! I'ḿ wearing the new black shoes that you sent me too. And I'm loving them. We wanted to make apple pie on the 4th of July, but time didn't happen, nor the next day, so yesterday we made it really fast and were able to eat apple pie with ice cream with the 4th of July plates, etc that Katrina sent. It was fun and yummy.

Sounds like everyone is starting to arrive in Pasco, I hope you all have a great time!!
(and don't worry I'm going to send another email, just wanted to send this for you with the photos to start).. 

Love you all!!

I sent an email to Sister Butlerś family for her.  She's going to Londrina to pick up a new sister who will arrive in the Mission - she's going to be a trainer.  Sister Huinao and I will stay together working here in Campo Mourâo.  We're excited to continue working together and see the miracles that will happen.  It was a really good week and we're excited to keep working.

We had our leadership meeting in Londrina this week and it was so neat to get to meet President and Sister Genaro.  They are so different than President and Sister Tavares, but I know they will bless the mission and teach us so much.  They are young and have 2 kids, their girl is 12 and their son a little older. One of the things that was really neat is he talked about the difference in Faith and Testimony.  How sometimes we have faith in something but we don't have a testimony of that thing.   Sometimes we have faith that tithing is a commandment, but we don't have a testimony.  How faith and obedience helps us to gain a testimony.  A testimony is something that we gain from obedience and trust in the Lord.  We live our testimony and demonstrate it through our actions.  I loved thinking about this this week and seeing how we always need to strengthen our testimonies.  President Genaro also talked about how the Lord wants us to be obedient, not to sacrifice.  Doesn't mean that we won't be expected to make sacrifices sometimes, but that the Lord expects us to be obedient to the commandments.

We went on splits with the sisters here in Campo Mourão this week.  I worked with Sister Butler in our area.  It was neat and we had some really neat experiences.  One, we encountered an elderly woman who invited us in to give a lesson.  She talked about her doubts and how she knows there are things wrong with the church that she attends.  But she doesn't want to find another church.  She said that she's going to die in the same church that she grew up in (her words not mine).  Itś sad, but it was a moment that was so spiritual for me.  I was able to testify that when Christ was here on the Earth he established one church that was perfect. He restored the same church through a prophet of God.  I know with all of my heart that we have the Church of Christ here on the Earth and that it is perfect.  There are no mistakes or errors with the Gospel of Christ.  It is directed from revelation from God and led by him.  His servants are imperfect normal people. So it doesn't mean the people that go to church are perfect . I am so grateful for the invite that we all have to look to God for an answer that we receive through the Holy Spirit. 

But love you all! Have a great week!!

Sister Bullen

July 1, 2013 from Sister Laura Bullen

To: Mom

This week was crazy!  We had planned on going on splits with the sisters in Cascavel for two days (one day to work with each sister of 2 companionships) but when we were on the bus going to Cascavel the elders from the mission office called to say that I would have to go to Londrina to renew my visa.  So we only worked in Cascavel for 1 day and went to Londrina after and then finally returned to Campo Mourão Friday.  Friday night we had the baptism of F.  It was amazing and so great.  He has made so many changes in his life and is so much happier.  It's been so neat to see his faith grow and the desire he has to share the gospel with his family.  His parents and daughters went to his baptism and it was really neat to get to know them a little and it made the occasion even more special for him. 

A few answers to your questions - Sister Butler has more time then Sister Santos - Sister Butler is finishing the training of S. Santos.  S. Santos is from the Northern part of Brasil.  Our apartment is in the center of the city really close to everything (it's nice to have a p-day when your closer - in Maringá it was about an hour to arrive and return from using the internet).  It was warmer here this week and one day it was so beautiful and really hot, we got some sun that we really enjoyed. 

We officially have a new Mission President and tomorrow in our meeting in Londrina we will get to know him and Sister Genaro.  We're excited to get to know them. 

Time's already up- I had some problems with the computer entering in our report and it was really slow. But there will be some letters coming your way :)   I mailed one last week home and had one for Susanna too (but I forgot to write the address) so it didn't get sent yet. 

Sounds like soon you'll all be heading down to Washington, I hope you all have a really great time there. 

I love you all!!

To: Mom

• 

I tried to send you a foto, but since we use computers in a library - it's free! but has limited options.  But I'm sending out some letters today with photos :)

Winter has arrived.  Campo Mourão is definitely colder than other parts.  Maringá is only 2 hours or so away, but when we go there for our district meeting we leave the bus and it's a lot hotter.  We've been getting a lot of wind and rain.  But it's been fun and makes us more grateful for the hot weather when it arrives. 

Yesterday we got to watch the broadcast from Provo about missionary work. I loved it and it was really done well.  I'm so grateful for a living prophet and apostles.  I know that missionary work moves so much faster and is so much more affective when members participate.  Right now we are teaching Flavio who is a friend and co-worker of our branch mission leader.  It's so amazing to see how the Gospel helps us make changes in our lives.  That because of the atonement we can become better, we can receive strength from God.  Having faith is knowing that the impossible becomes possible with the power of God. 

It's been so great to continue to see the growth of Marcia who was baptized a few weeks ago.  She continues to radiate joy and has opened up so much.  Thereś nothing better to bring joy to your heart than to see those you love and care for living the gospel.  One of the things that was really great this week was a lesson we had with the Grandma of one of the young adults here.  She's a great woman, but doesn't have much desire to go to church.  It was a powerful visit and so neat to hear the testimony of the granddaughter. How much she wants to help her Grandma gain a testimony because of the blessings that come from this.  It's truly the sweetest fruit. 

This week our new President and his family will be arriving in the mission, President Genaro.  It will be sad to see Pres & S. Tavares go, but they have served their all.  I know that we will love and be blessed with our new President.  If we get tired after 18 months - 2 years, imagine 3 years.  I'm so grateful for their service and love.  I know that this church is true.  That God is our Heavenly Father and he loves us.  I know that Christ atoned for our sins, that through his sacrifice we can repent and receive all of the ordinances of the Gospel.  I know that people can always change.  That the things most difficult is trying to be more like our Savior. 

Have a great week!!!  Love you all!

These three photos are among my favorites.  Above is Sister Bullen receiving a pkg. from home.  She says "This captures the joy of packages from home."

This would be taken May 9th on her 1 year anniversary.  The sisters in the house threw her a surprise party at the end of the day.

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Sister Bullen has lived with these three sisters quite a bit of her time in the mission.  Sister P., Sister M., and Sister M., along with Sister Bullen.  Their personalities show in their faces, and you can see why she loves each of them (they have such sweet personalities).  

Laura Ann Bullen

10:55 AM

To: Mom

Hope you all had a great week.  Here our week flew by.  Sister H.  and I decided that maybe we shouldn't travel anymore together.  We don't have any luck!  haha we travelled Tuesday-Saturday this week and something happened each time that made it more difficult.  This week we did the normal travel for district meeting, but we also had interviews with President Tavares, zone conference, and we went on splits for one day with the sisters who are in the city of Cascavel which is about 4 hours from here by bus.
We worked little in our area this week and when we arrived Saturday we were ready and excited to work. We were blessed with the little time that we had here and we have some great new investigators.  Rose, is a contact we made a week or so ago, that our commitment fell through because of travelling.  Sunday morning was freezing and raining and we went to pass by some of our investigators and others to go to church.  We were a little late to return for church, but I couldn't stop thinking about Rose and our commitment that fell through.  SO we decided to swing by her and see if she would go to church with us. So we ended up there and she and two of her sons went with us to church.  It was amazing and such a blessing!  We were so excited and love it when people go to church!  There's nothing better then to see new faces at church :) 

You said it would be fun to hear a little about Sister H., I guess I haven't said much, sometimes I feel like somehow you already know everything that happens :)  I think you already know she's from Chile- from the South.  And in her town, they have a branch.  She's the only member in her family.  She has 1 year and 2 months in the mission (we actually passed through the MTC at the same time, but because of the language barrier we didn't do too much together).  She is really sweet and sometimes quiet.  But like me she has a good sense of humor and can be pretty quick.  haha its pretty funny with us two together. People think ahh what sweet sisters and then they see our other side. haha just kidding... We don't cause any trouble.  But she loves to sing and she is really great. 

What else happened this week?  I gave my testimony in church on Sunday.  haha the legacy continues with Sister Butler and Sister Bullen in the same ward.  Everyone thinks our names are almost the same thing, which they are.  Sometimes we even confuse our own names.  Last Sunday the counselor who was conducting announced that Sister Butler would bear her testimony but was looking at and nodded at me! haha and I thought, ha yeah right, he said Sister BUTLER. we laughed about it and she said after that he had already asked her.  Just that many people don't conquer to say our names right, especially when we're together. 

I want to send photos, but the computers that we use, won't let me, so I'll have to do it the old-fashioned way.  Hope you all have a great day and week. Love you!!  (She did send them in another email, and they are at the bottom of this message.)

And happy fathers day to alll the amazing fathers.  I'm so grateful for my dad and the amazing figure he is in my life.  I'm grateful for his love, his help, his patience, his sense of humor.  And mostly, for his testimony and love for the gospel.  For the worthy priesthood holder he is!  I love you daddy!! 

I'm grateful for Brian who is waiting for a special little boy.  Happy 1st fathers day!

I'm grateful for my 2 great Brothers-in law.  Happy fathers day!  Thank you for loving and taking care of my sisters and my nieces!

Thank you to my Grandpa who is one of the best fathers I know!  Who raised my mom and taught her so many Christlike values and loved her.  He is an amazing example for me. 

Thank you to all of the `Fathers`who have been there for me and have been examples for me in many years in our family ward! 

Mostly, i am so grateful for Heavenly Father.  I know that God is my father and that he loves me. That we all have a purpose here on earth. 

Hope you all had a great Fathers Day yesterday!

These two photos are from last week's Zone Conference.

I just found this in Laura's Facebook page.  I wanted to include it in Laura's blog for her, so she will find it when she returns home.  It is such a sweet message.  I will email it to her also.


Sister Bullen on 31/05/2013 was a sad day for me because I received the news that you moved it was hard to get used to the idea that a person I loved so much is gone. Sister I really like you, will never forget you because it was you who grew a seed in my heart the desire to serve a mission, thank you for everything, I want you to know I love you so neither time nor distance will delete I lived with você.Oro everyday Heavenly Father for the angels watch over you wherever you esteja.Te Love will never forget you, you will leave many memories! Love you