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Queridos famíliares e amigos, a vida é tão boa.
We had General Conference this weekend! It was so so good and so increidble to hear the words and receive the counsel of the living prophets and leaders of the church. We watched it at the chapel and it was all translated into poruguese. I definitely missed hearing the actual voices of the prophet and apostles, but it was still so so good. So good. 
 
They seemed to talk a lot about trials and tribulations. Wonderful to hear, because as wonderful as it is being a missionary, the mission definitely comes with a few trials. But we really can’t grow without challenges and tribulations. Heavenly Father often gives us aflicitions to bless us. He loves us and just wants us to grow closer to him. And everything has a purpose. 

It was also said a couple times how are prayers are often answered through others. We are the answers to peoples prayers, even to our own prayers. We’ve just got to be humble, be like a child. 

And I loved how President Henry B. Eyring quoted the hymn “Have I Done Any Good.” Because so often we can’t see the fruits of our labors, and we wonder if we’re doing good. But we are dong good.

1. Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?

[Chorus]
Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

2. There are chances for work all around just now,
Opportunities right in our way.
Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”
But go and do something today.
’Tis noble of man to work and to give;
Love’s labor has merit alone.
Only he who does something helps others to live.
To God each good work will be known.

Text and music: Will L. Thompson, 1847–1909, alt.

And…. transfers tomorrow. Sadly, I’m leaving this wonderful area of Jardim da Penha with these wonderful people. No idea where I’ll be going or who I’ll be with. I’ll find out tomorrow! But I know it will be so so good, tis just so sad to leave, and I don’t want to pack. And good news, I’ll get to eat some of Sister Pickett’s cookies at transfer meeting. 
And more good news!! Sister Powell (who I was at the MTC with) got her visa finally and will be here tomorrow! Sister Morales will be training her. Yahoo!

Sister Morales and I were talking about some of the highlights of the last three months we had in this area together. Oh my goodness there are sooo many. So may funny moments, sad moments, spiritual moments. It’s like an emotional roller coaster out here some days. :)

But the best part of the mission so far is Alderina. She is elect. She was baptized March 26th. She is soooo hilarious and loves the gospel soooo much. Oh I just love her so much. Yesterday she said that imagine if we hadn’t found her. Imagine. How many people are out there searching for the peace the gospel brings, but they don’t know where to find it. That’s why we’ve got to share this joy! Okey dokey, I better go get to work! :)

Hooray for batismos e confirmações!
The mission is so wonderful. Learning so many things, and learning how many things I still need to learn! It just never ends, which is fantastico!
There are ups and downs all through out the week, and the ups are definitely when we’re working harder. The harder you work, the better you feel (so let’s have beans for every meal)! 
Beans are still so delicious. And it’s like avocado season too, which means avocado smoothies! Whiich may sound not fantastico, but they’re pretty good. Açaí bowls are good too. I think I have a habit of talking about food a lot in every email, porbably because I email right before lunch. :) Oh blessed lunch. It’s like a sacred hour here. 

I just want to say a little bit about JOY. Because 2 Néfi 2:25, “men are that they might have joy.” 
Joy is our purpose. Nothing better than that! 
And I got some supercalifragilisticexpialidocious mail this week, and oh my goodness, mail=joy. Muito muito obrigada to the Cottams and Sashie and Stephen and Holly and Stacy! Oh happy day, I love mail! And I love you all too. 
Something else that brings lots of joy… Sister Pickett’s cookies. They are heavenly. She is the mission president’s wife. That Picketts are soooo good. So are cookies. I miss cookies from home, but at transfers and conferences, Sister Pickett always brings cookies. Yay! 
And more joy… baptisms! People who are fully converted and will stay strong in the restored gospel for ever! 

Só alegria!

I’ve been in Brasil 3 months today!
I’ve eaten lots and lots rice and beans, too much cake and ice cream, lots of popsicles, açaí bowls, pão minuto, not enough peanut butter, and the best fruits in the world. 
I’ve drank lots and lots of water and sweated lots and lots of water out. 
I’ve learned quite a bit of portugûes.
I’ve met some of the best people in the world.
I’ve taught about 300 lessons, done about 2500 contacts, and… finally had a baptism! 

I love this. And good news… we have another baptism next week! Good things to come.

Bom dia! 
It`s carnaval time here in Brasil! Last week there was some giant street party and strangely dressed people and loud music and things, but week it is just deadsville. Here in Vitoria everyone leaves for Carnaval and there is like no one around. So it`s pretty uneventful. 
And good news, the work here for Sister Morales and I is imporving! We`re finding some fantastico people who I really love a lot a lot, and we should be having two batismos this month! Finally! :) So hooray! Exciting things ahead, always!
Something else exciting.. General Conference is soon! Yay! And yesterday was my 5 month mark. Crazy daisy.
And more good news, it`s cooled down a little bit, just a little bit. And it`s been raining. Thank goodness. Such a nice break. It`s always so hot all day every day. :)
Things are cool to the max here. I loooove Brasil and this area and my dear companion and this ward and this food and these people. Although I really really miss peanut butter and cookies.
My favorite moment of the week was Sunday morning when one of our investigators was awake and all ready for church and we didn`t have to wake them up or anything! Her name is Alderina and she is so funny and fantastic and it was like the best moment ever when she came out all ready for church! 
Missions are the best!
Com amor, Sister Owens

Today marks two months in Brasil! Weirdo. Kind of feels like I’ve been here forever, but it feels like I just got here. We’ve got one week left of this transfer and I think they’ll be some definite changes. I tihnk I’ll stay here, but probably get a new companion. You never know though. But you always know that it is exactly the way it needs to be and exactly the way the Lord wants it. 

We still have no baptisms here. Don’t know what is going on. It’s hard though because it really makes you doubt a lot. It’s like what are we not doing right, are we not working hard enough, what more can we be doing, where are those elect that the Lord is preparing? But I guess this is just a down time, which means we’ve got A LOT of good up ahead somewhere. There’s always lots of good ahead. 

Portuguese, I love it of course. It amazes me a lot of times when I realize how much I’m understanding, especially at church. There’s still an endess amount of words I don’t know, but I can usually get the whole story pretty well. It is so nice not being so lost all the time. But it also amazes me a lot, when I realize how much I don’t understand, how much more there is to learn, and when my mind just draws a blank and I can’t express myself. Ups and downs, ups and downs. :)

I love Brasilians. These people and this culture and this land are fantastic. Trying to still get used to the deathly heat and humidity. It’s a struggle. But at least I’m in an area on the coast right now, with a nice little breeze, so it’s much less hot than other places. Adn it is so nice having sunshine all the time. :)

By the way I got 6 letters yesterday and it was so glorious! Mail is the best ever. Muita obrigada for sending me mail Carla and Cottam fam and Sashie and my fam and Sister Cahoon and Lilly! I love mail and all of the little joyful moments all throughout the day.

I’m so grateful to be here right now. I can’t imagine my life without this and without these experiences. Everyday is a blessing.

-Sister Owens

One thing I do not love… the giant ant-y wasp-y freaky bug infestation we had in our kitchen this week. Oh my goodness it was so awful. Like horror movie status. Ewww. We fetched our landlord and he came over with a can of raid and we were all swatting bugs like mad. Didn’t get to sleep until 12, but nice going to sleep with most of those freaky weirdo creepo bugs gone, and not with hundreds of them in your house.

But yes, I love most other things.