Sisters Bullen and Marques

So I didn´t end up being transferred, but Sister Marques was transferred to the area I was already in.  But I did switch bedrooms and desks - the easiest 'transfer' I've done in the mission.  :)   But this was an amazing week.  Every area that I've worked in Sister Marques has been one of the other missionaries in the house, so we already knew and loved each other really well.  But it's been great to get to know her even better and to work together as a companionship.  She´s an amazing missionary and we are loving working together.  We worked super hard this week and arrived several nights exhausted.  We laughed a few times joking that President put two old sisters together.  She has 1 year and 4 months in the mission and I'm a little over half way (or almost a year.)   :)

We had a really neat visit with one Irmã in the ward.  (When I write Sister I feel like I'm talking about a missionary).  She´s about +80 and lives alone.  She is active, but had said something a few weeks ago how she doesn´t feel like anyone visits, etc.  So we decided to visit her one night and it was really special.  We got to know her a little bit better and she loved the visit.

We also had a couple of really neat experiences working with some of our members this week.  It really helps us see that this work can´t go anywhere without the aid and testimonies of our members.  That they can help so much with this work!  That it really works so much better with our members.

Sister Marques and I leave this afternoon to go to Londrina for a Leadership meeting and we will get to stay 1-2 nights in Ibiporã.  We´re both pretty excited to stay one night in the area we both already passed through.  Although time will be tight it will be neat. 

I´m so grateful for this time that we have to serve and to do this great work.  I know the Gospel is true and that Christ is our Savior.  I love you all, and have a great week!

Ha one last question before I go.

I mentioned an old lady we visited this week, she wanted me to ask Grandma how much it would cost to make and send a patchwork blanket to her.  She said she would pay for everything and the work.  I told her that it would probably be really expensive.  But she wanted me to ask.  And I didn't have the heart to tell her no.  So i'm asking.  But it would be something hard to organize... anyways, she thought they are something really beautiful and, etc. 

Last thing- for mothers day we´re planning on being able to Skype, like we were able to for Christmas. 

LOVE YOU MOM!! 

Received letters from Sister Laura Bullen today.


March 25, 2013

Family:

How is everyone?  Mom - I LOVED the package, you're the best!  I finally received it (along with a small pkg. from Alesia and some letters).  The sandals are great and I've already worn them twice (in 3 days).  I loved the pictures, they're great and we all had fun looking at them.  The postcards were fun too and some of the sisters picked some out.  Thank you!!!

Also, before I forget.  One of the letters I received was from Sister P. who sent a hug for you!

I'm enjoying training - Sister R. is a great missionary.  Like all of us, she's learning and getting used to a lot of things in the mission.  But it's fun (and weird, kind of) to remember how it was for me and to be in the spot of the trainor.  Sometimes as I see the experiences or moments she has, I think wasn't I just there a few weeks ago.  I was definitely nervous and stressed the first days - probably week - but I've seen the help of the Lord and how he helps us be capable of what he calls us to do.

I've seen how much responsibility it is, you truly help them - the new missionaries - create their vision and attitude for the mission.  I am so grateful for her and for Heavenly Father that it's her that I get to work with.  She has a desire to learn, to grow, to work, and to sacrifice.  We work great together.  I have a love for her - that I want her to have success in the mission.  You really feel the responsibility when you're in a big city navigating the bus system or even navigating the roads.  She truly follows my example.  I remember laughing in my head the first couple of days when she even followed me in what exercises I was doing (well she still does the same thing).  It's so funny, because it helps me remember how important my example is.  Also how much I want her to know that I'm not perfect.  How we never get to the point in the mission - or in life - when we can say "Alright, I think I'm good now."  We always have to grow, to get better, to keep learning.

Yesterday in Church none of our investigators showed up, but 2 men we have taught in the past, like +3 months ago showed up.  Miracles are real!  It's really been great the last 2 weeks and time has flown.  I'm so grateful for your love and support from everyone!  I'm  so grateful for this Gospel and I know it's true.

Love You All!

Sister Laura Bullen


April 1, 2013

FAMILY,

I always love the emails - thank you.  The ABC's of the missionary life:  ALMOCO, Batismo, e Cartas!  (Google Translate:  "Lunch, baptism and letters)   Sou muito grata pela cartas de voces!!  (Google translate:  "I am very grateful for your letters.") 

I liked reading about how Hannah feeds the dogs, ha, that's funny and I'm sure Dad has fun telling the story.

Hope everyone there had a good Easter.  We did a "chocolate friend" in the house and an Irma from Church gave us a little basket full of chocolates and sweets/snacks.  It was really sweet and so great.

April 8, 2013

So last week I stopped to leave for the internet and I didn't get a chance to finish this letter.  But all is going well here.  Training is really hard sometimes, but it's also really special.  It's kind of hard to describe.  There's a lot of responsibility at times.  But Sister R. is a great missionary and we have fun and work hard.  Sometimes we have a hard time understanding each other - not because of the language, but because we deal with things differently.  The mission has taught me more about marriage than I ever thought it would - well really before my mission I never thought "I'm going to learn how to be a good wife," ect.  But you're with your companion 24 hours a day, always - that's MORE than most couples, haha.  And decisions are made together.  How can you help a family have more union and love for one another if you don't have love for each other?  You learn about patience, love, service and sacrifice.  There's no leaving, ha, but there's transfers every 6 weeks.  :)  Just kidding, but I have truly loved all of my companions, they've been great.  I liked the talk by L. Whitney Clayton where he said happy marriage relies on the gift of repentance.  And for repentance you have to be humble.  You have to listen, you have to apologize and you have to be willing to forget.  But General Conference was great and I loved it.

Ha, sorry my emails are short sometimes.  But the time's not wrong.  Here, we have 1 hour to email, write the President and enter a quick report.  But sometimes I glance at emails, or look at the mission website.  I promise to try better to write better emails.  But this mission, I've definitely learned about the importance of obedience.  We have rules and commandments in life (and in the mission) for reasons.  Through obedience, we truly will be blessed.   In the mission there's tons of rules like this.  Can't enter a house w/out a woman, etc.  In our mission, we have more rules than any other mission.  But like someone said in General Conference, you can't pick the commandments you're going to follow.  You have to obey with exactness.  We all start out growing and no one's perfect.  But our obedience is an outward manifestation of our love, faith and trust in God.  God is patient and knows our hearts.

I think I responded in the email last week, but yes the missionary department authorized the chance to email family and friends.  But you still can't email people within the limits of the mission without authorization from the Mission President and you still only have 1 hour.

Are you sending me 2 pairs of new shoes?  I would be happy and was only expecting 1 pair.  I don't need you to spend too much money on shoes.  You Missionary Moms  :)  (Heart)

Yes, Sister R. and I have the same hair color, skin and our eyes are pretty close.  Many times, people ask if we are sisters.  Or they think my companion is American too.  Ha, even when they hear her talk they say our accents are similar, sometimes.

Our apartments have fans, but most people don't have air conditioning.  Here, normally only if you have a lot of money.  We have a washing machine, but no one has dryers here.  Everything line dries.  So you iron clothes more.  Sisters get 120 a month in reais (which is about $60 a month).  If you work/live in an area that you use the bus more, sometimes you get additional.  But we receive $120 every 15 days (I'm assuming she means per companionship).  So it's about $120 every month - for food, the bus, and normal things.  Sister R.'s brother served in Japan, the state Nagoia.

I hope you all enjoyed the sessions of General Conference.  We loved it here.  I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God and has all of the Priesthood keys.  I know that God loves us and knows us individually.  I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Restored Church here on the Earth today.

Love you All!

Sister Laura Bullen

I´m being transferred one more time, but this time it's pretty close, really close.  Sister Butler and I are switching places.  Sister Butler has been having problems with her back and we figured something like this might happen.  Our area is a little bit flatter than their area, so Sister Butler will be companions with Sister Rocha, and I will be companions with Sister Marques.  We´re not totally sure what´s happening, but one of the leaders said sister Marques and I will be trainers/leaders.  That we have a lot of sisters who will be arriving, and will be involved in training.  But we don´t really know.  Ha, really we´ve heard a couple of different stories also about who will stay in what area, etc.  Because our areas are the same name but one is ´A´ and the other is ´B´ they are always confusing the two areas, etc.  So hopefully you´ll know better next week what exactly we´re doing.  Probably I'll move to the area of Sister Marques. 

One of the things that was really special this week was a couple of service projects we had.  One was a lesson/service opportunity we had with a recent convert.  She was baptized about 8 months ago with her two children and she´s a counselor in the Young Womens.  She had to give the lesson in YW the other day on the First Vision, and wanted our help, etc.  So it was a special visit, as we helped her and heard her testimony on the First Vision.  I know the Lord makes us capable to do all that we need to.  I know that Joseph Smith saw God, the Father, and Jesus Christ.  Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet and that he restored the Church of Christ on the Earth.  I'm so grateful for this and for the blessings we have because of this. 

Haha one other thing I loved this week, is we arrived in 3 Nephi in our reading of the Book of Mormon in our study time.  I love the story that talks about Samuel, the Lamanite, and how he climbed the wall to preach to the Nephites.  I don´t know if I´d have the courage to preach to a bunch of people who had already rejected me...  But I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon and the blessings that come from reading every day.  Ha, we also read 3 Nephi 6:18 this morning that talks about food storage.  Ha but you´ll have to look it up - time is short!

Love you all!! Have a great week!

This was taken in Londrina the day I arrived to pick up Sister Rocha.  This lake is in front of the apartment
of our Mission Home.  This was the p-day before we met the new missionaries.

 One of the coldest days we've had in the mission.

Some of the glory of packages that arrive in the house.  Sister Rocha received this package.

General Conference (with Sister Rocha).

Our last Sunday of the ultimate transfer.  Sister Ramos, Sister Bullen, Sister Cordoso, and Sister Butler.

Laura Ann Bullen 

8:55 AM

To: Mom

• 

Aye- Emailing home shouldn't be this stressful.  Internet cafes are one thing...  But 'Im on my second computer because the first one had problems...  And this one had some major problems to copy and paste. BUT this week was great.  Sister R. had her first baptism.  We had a the baptism of a young man, named C.  He was super excited and it was so neat to see how his testimony grew these past few weeks. His girlfriend is a member and he never had too much interest, but finally went to church one Sunday, and we started teaching him.  He went to general conference after and his testimony grew so much.  He really believes and has such a firm testimony.  It was a great experience. 

We have had a couple of neat experiences with our members this week and am so grateful for their involvement and the love they show for us and for this work.  We really can´t do half of what we do without the support and help of the members of the church.  I know that you all have testimonies and so much to share with people.

But time is up and I'll have to write more in the letter today.  Love you all!!

Mom- you asked what else I might like in a package- I can't think of anything but maybe some more hair gel like you already sent.  Aussie brand maybe 1-2 bottles.  Thanks for everything and love you all!!

Sorry for the short email, this week its really not my fault, but the computer!!!

To: Mom

• 

So I know my last few emails have been short, but I'm trying to repent and write better this week :)

haha I saw your email, mom, have you been waiting at the email to hear from me today?

I don´t need a water bottle, since we can´t any longer use filtered water bottles.  I bought a cheap one a while ago, but broke this week.  Right now I'm following the trend of missionaries and sporting a once used gatorade bottle :)  (haha you have the excuse to buy gatorade and have the additional advantage of reusing the bottle).

But this week was really good.  I loved General Conference it was amazing.  We had a room in English where the American missionaries watched Conference together (and we have one brother in the ward who´s American).   There were 7 Elders and Sister Butler and I.  It was amazing and I am so grateful for the opportunity to watch conference.  It just seems to fly by so fast.  It seems like it wasn´t too long since conference in October...   One of the things I really liked from conference is how (I don´t know who said it) but they talked about obedience and how there is no small commandment.  We should be honest and obedient in all things.  If we want to receive selective blessings, then we will select what commandments.  But if we want to receive all of God´s blessings we need to be obedient in all things.  He said small habits will bring great blessings.  Our attitude won´t change now, we won´t magically become obedient to all things.  We need to live correctly and develop these habits now.

This week we also had a training from a stake mission leader . He talked a lot about our purpose and what we do and compared it to several facts of how Geese fly and migrate together.  One of the things I liked the best that he said is sometimes we waste time complaining about what people may or may not be doing, help we don´t receive, etc.  Then just doing things, or using the people who will help us.  I really liked thinking about this.

Haha this week we finished the book of Alma in our study time this week.  One scripture I liked and thought was really good was Alma 56:27, which talks about how packages from home sustained the army. Haha how true, our packages from home really are miracles :D

We had a really neat experience this week when we encountered a woman in a small park close to the chapel.  We arrived a little early for a meeting, and we decided to make a few contacts. And we met a woman who was suffering really bad from depression.  While I don´t know if she´ll ever decide to visit us at church, it was really a neat experience to see how Heavenly Father led us to her, through little events that helped us find her.  And how we had a chance to express the love God has for her.  That especially with depression, many people won´t understand.  Our Savior suffered and knows exactly how it feels.  We were able to leave a Book of Mormon with her, that I hope she reads.  I know it's one of the things that gives me most happiness and peace in life.  This sacred book is a proof that God loves us and talks to us through living prophets.

Love you all and hope you have a great week!!

This is all I received today from Laura except another short email requesting some items be mailed.  The one hour weekly of internet time gets split with reports to the mission home and then emails to family.  Sometimes the email home becomes very short.  Afraid I am left wanting more today, but I know she is well and loving what she is doing!  So, I am ok, at least her letters are longer.  Her sweet sister, Susanna, deserved a bigger response from Laura today and I am glad they had a short chat by email.


Mom, 

So time has flown by, Susanna can tell you about our email chat, to not waste time, I won't write about it. 

Times already almost gone. But this week was really good and is flying by.  I can't believe it's already April. I'm really excited for General Conference, I know it will be amazing .  I am so grateful for the opportunity of technology for the whole world to hear the voice of the prophet.  This week we also had a conference with President and Sister Tavares, which was amazing.  They are such amazing people, and I have learned so much, I love hearing them give talks.  Feeling the Spirit with more than 40 missionaries in one room is an amazing thing.

Time is already up, but thank you so much for everything. Hope you all had an amazing Easter, and that you have an amazing general conference.  Love you all!!!

Just received two letters from our Sister Bullen in Maringa.  The post following this one is four photos from Sister Bullen's Zone Conference, held this week.

March 4,

Querida Familia,

Last P-day we spent a little more time outside the apartment and then we watched "The Lamb of God" inside the apartment.  So I didn't get much writing done, but it was a nice P-day.  I just got finished with my house cleaning which was the kitchen (we swap every P-day) and we haven't left the house yet.  Sister Ra... and I are thinking of getting approval from President Tavares to go "shopping" to maybe buy a new skirt or something.  Haha, I don't know how Elders do it...  There are some mornings I stand in front of my closet and think hmm... I've already worn this and this, etc, etc.  Haha, it's not that bad, but we joke about it sometimes.

I'm super excited to get my package, it probably arrived a week(s) ago, but because we're farther from the Mission Office, I haven't had an opportunity to get it.  Our leaders have meetings in Londrina once a month, I think and normally grab stuff for us.  We heard yesterday from our District Leader we'll have a Zone Meeting in Londrina this week.  So that will be exciting.  Don't know more yet.

I'm not really sure how it feels to be half way done.  Really, I'm almost to 10 months.  It's crazy to think how fast time has flown.  Sometimes I feel like I've only been here a few months and other times like it's hard to remember life before the Mission.  I've talked with a few companions at different times talking about how Elders serve two years and sisters only 1 1/2 years.  I don't know why, but I know it's inspired.  Sometimes it's obvious and you think really you can't serve more than 18 months.  It's like Sister Ra... said the other day, your body is tired at the end of the mission, and your heart and mind too.  I had one companion who said sisters worry and stress over investigators in 18 months in what Elders do in 2 years - your heart and soul get tired out.  It's an interesting theory..  Sometimes I feel like I've changed a lot and other times it's just obvious how much more I need to change.  I heard it said once that people always think about the hard things missionaries go through as the weather, the walking, etc.  But what's truly hard is how you see how much you have to change.  Trying to become more Christ-like, being more obedient, and living the Gospel more fully.  You have to adapt and change to teach with someone the Gospel of Christ.  You have to be willing to change to grow.

I've thought several times of why I'm serving foreign.  I never thought I was too prideful, but I feel like I've learned to be more humble.  I certainly want to be.  You really can't learn a language without being humble.  You have to learn to accept criticism and to look and to ask for help (things that were hard for me).  You have to learn to do basic things all over again.  It's definitely an interesting process.  I've seen how God helps us, but how he also expects us to do our part

But serving a mission has been both the best decision for me and for my life.  This morning in Personal Study I read the scripture Alma 27:18, which I love.  Our President Tavares talked about this in his last letter.  How Alma and Ammon had a lot of trials as missionaries, but they also had exceeding joy and happiness.  You find true joy by looking for it in good thing, by being humble and living life righteously. Ii've had so many experiences sweet and felt so much love and appreciation for members, for companions, for investigators, and for family.  I remember thinking before my mission how I always hear about people who talk about how much their testimony grew on their mission and how I thought, well I already have a strong testimony, I'm not serving a mission to get a testimony.  But I've realized how crazy this idea was.  My love for the Gospel has grown.  My understanding has grown.  My desire to help and to invite others has grown.  I know now how much more I have to learn.  But I am so grateful for our time here on the Earth.  How we have a Perfect Plan, a Plan of happiness, a Plan of Redemption.  Our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to have joy.  We can talk to him and receive answers through Prayer.  I've learned more about the importance of Families and the examples.  How our choices will affect generations.  How practicing faith is showing our love and trust in our Savior, Jesus Christ.  How Faith truly is the first step, we have to believe and have hope in our life; hope and faith that our Heavenly Father loves us and knows what is best for us.

I have good health, I'm doing great and I'm loving the mission.  I love you all and am so grateful for you all.

Love,

Sister Laura Bullen


18 February

FAMILY,

Hope you are enjoying the cold weather - I'm melting here.  Well not this moment, but the last few days have been really hot.  But sunblock is a blessed thing. :)  So all is well.  And it's a lot easier to talk to people and have success in the heat than it is in the rain or cold.  One day we (4 sisters) arrived in the chapel for our meeting with our Ward Mission Leader and we were all soaking wet from an unpredicted downpour.  He talked about how there's no better day to do missionary work, because where he served in the North of Brazil, everyone let you in to dry off.  But here it's a little different sometimes.  We definitely have tons of people who are really receptive, but we've all had a fair share of days in the rain when people aren't too interested.  But we truly have a blessed mission.  Sometimes I'd rather be drenched than lug around a raincoat and never use it.  But we try to plan and we don't have too many times like this.  But I'm so grateful to serve here.  In the rain or sun, I'd rather serve than in the snow.  So I'm grateful for the missionaries who serve Northern; to me, that's harder.

But this week we found some great families and couples.  We're excited to work with them and see how it goes.  One couple was really receptive and we only had one visit and invited them to church and they went!  Every Sunday I see the sacrifice of people required to go to church and I see the blessings .  I feel a little bit of the sorrows and joy that I think our Heavenly Father feels when we go or don't go to church.

One thing that I've learned as a missionary is we every week/constantly are looking for the elect of God's children.  One of the commitments that demonstrates our faith and commitment is the level of how we prepare to go to church and our commitment in going.  No one (at least no one I know) goes to church because they have nothing else to do.  But ti's a commandment and it's where we go to learn, to be renewed and to demonstrate our faith and love for our Heavenly Father.  I feel so happy when our investigators go, because I know they are making a choice that will bless their week and their life.

Love you all!

Sister Laura Bullen


Don't forget next post is photos!!