Oct 27th

What a week!!

Would you believe me if I told you that I was hospital sick again??

I think this time I had/still have a little infection in my throat and nose. This time on "Brazilian Illnesses vs. Sister Brown" there was a crazy twist where my thoat was so irritated that I couldn´t speak for 3 days and I had to stay at our apartment.
There is nothing more of a bummer than a sick missionary.

Anyways, I survived and my sweet companion took such good care of me and even made me carrot juice that I drank and loved.
 (the mission changes people, ok mom?).

The family that I mentioned last week is going great! We found out this week that the dad who we thought was a less active member is actually an investigator because he was baptized and never confirmed. They are making a lot of big changes in their lives and getting ready to get married. Most days with them we feel like we´re marriage conselhers on Dr. Phil but it´s working out great.

Growing up is so weird. The majority of the time I still feel like little girl Megan and I forget that I´m a grown up living in another country soon to be returned missionary. It´s amazing how the Lord can use such unqualified servants to do His work.
 Like sometimes I´m sitting in a lesson giving someone counsel about how they can save their marriage or teaching them how the gospel can give them hope and how they shouldn´t think about committing suicide and I think
 "wow, I´m still a little 21 year old girl who has never been married or been through anything that could relate to what this person is going through and yet I  know the Lord called me to be here in this moment to help this person and I have authority to teach the gospel to them."

It´s amazing!

I had a really special moment recently that I wanted to share. A few days ago I went back to my 2nd area to do splits with the Sisters there. Not only was it weird to be in an area where I served a year ago but I also spent the day with Sister Machado that I trained in another area. It was so fun to see the progress of that area and also of Sister Machado. The most special part of the day was a lesson with Katia and Messias. Katia, when I knew her, was a single mom of 5 girls and 2 of them were on missions. We taught and baptized her then fiancé. Since last year, her 2 daughters have come home from their missions and she married Messias! He is doing sooooooooooo well!!! They talked about how they pray and study the scriptures together everyday and how they are preparing to be sealed in the temple at the begining of next year!! It was honestly one of the happiest moments of my misison. We finished the lesson by singing "As Familias Poderão Ser Eternas"/ "Families Can Be Together Forever!. The spirit was so special and so strong!

I love that family so much!!

As my time in the Missão Brasil Fortaleza is coming to a close I´ve been pondering a lot. I love my mission. I have this reeeeeeally annoying perfecionist part of me that wants to go back and do everything perfectly but that´s not the way life works. I´m grateful for the mistakes and imperfect things I could have done better because I have learned so much from them. I truly did my very best and I will continue to do my very best. Lots of people say that I´m "dying" because my time here is running out but that is so not true! I used to think that I needed to be perfect or know almost everything before the end of my mission but that it also not true! A mission is a springboard for the rest of my life. I have soooo many things that I still need to learn and better and I´m so grateful that I have a lifetime to do that. My mission has shown me my weaknesses and given me the tools to turn them into my strengths. My mission is mine and I love it. I means everything to me. It is truly on the beginning of my mission to preach the gospel.

One of my favorite scriptures is in D&C 50:22 and 24

Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.

 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

I love the gospel. My misison is the stinkin hardest thing I have ever done and I love it.

I love you all so much.Thank you for the suport and emails and prayers and happy news. It lifts my spirits and helps me to keep spreading light.

love and happiness and joy and hugs and more happiness from Brasil,

Sister Brown