11-21-12

     oh mama!!!! wow! i just looked at the pics you sent of the dedication...ohman! that is so awesome!!!!! i am so glad you had the opportunidade to be a part of it! i cant imagine what it was like being there with the prophet and elder bednar! that is so aweosme! and lucy, man i am so jealous of her right now haha she lived my dream. ive always wanted to meet the prophet! i just want him to know my name! this last week was, another roller coaster, but it was a great rollercoaster!! we had 4 baptisms! 2 on saturday and 2 on sunday!  saturday night was mazio and marlicleide, they got legally married the weekend before (which is rare here)!!! they have been coming to church for a year and had lots of missionaries but they werent married! also sunday was daniel, 16 yr old and he has a heart burning with the testimony! his sister dani, is 14 and always comes with us to teach and she is such a sweetheart. she was baptized like 2 months ago, her and her lil sister anapaula..shes 12 i think! so daniel has family that is memers!! also eleneide who is 20 something has such a firm testimony too!! the Lord really knows who is prepared! she really loves the idea of eternal families! we met her cunadas and one of them came to church sunday! so were going to hopefully meet with her this week!     
     i think i got 3 shades darker this week the sun was so hot! the sun being this hot is great for the mosquitoes...they love heat! soooo now i have even more friends! i counted over 15 bites on my right elbow, i think i accidently slept with that elbow out of my sheets one night!!!
     OH! a cool story, i braided my hair the other day(yes my hair is that long now!!!!!) but i did my hair and sis oliveira wanted hers so i did hers too. we went to a lady that sews and her n her daughter n grandaughter wanted their hair braided tooo so naturally, i inclined!! the sewer had the LONGEST hair ever!!! i loved it! the whole time i was thinking man...mom would be proud of me right now!   
haha sadly i didnt get pitures though, my camera was out of juice :/ the one time i dont hbave my camera and something cool happens haha every time! anyways this week was better.
     im starting to get a little more confident with myself. im trying to work on my confidence here!! i decided im lacking majorly in that department! i was studying the 1st lesson the other day and a phrase in there really caught my eye falou sobre Jesus Cristo e sua expiação. it said something to the effect of "Jesus Christ fulfilled all that His father sent Him here to do". i really  have been thinking about that the past few days, i really want to be able to say that i have done everything that my father in heaven has sent me here to do. i want to terminar my mission saying that and i want to end my life being able to say that. i know i havent been doing everything that i can. i get frustrated with myself and my companions.  im really working on service this week too! serving my companions!! serving them and really thinking about our pesquisadors!
      i know that the lord is modling me and shaping me! i realy am so grateful that yall write me. i just love it you have no idea! i am so blessed to have family like you. sometimes i dont feel like i deserve it! but i know that the lord really truly wants us to be happy, thats why we have families! sorry im just kinda rambling on now!
     we have some potentials for baptisms this week so cross your fingers and pray that we will know how to prepare them!!!  i love everyone that reads these letters and has helped me in any way, knowing or unknowingly i am truly grateful! my heart has turned to mush here! i cry about everyihting(especially mailtime haha) my heart is just so full. i now that this gospel is true with every thing i have in me. the lord has already put some special people in my life here in brasil. i know this is where the Lord not only wants me but needs me. i need to remember thsi!

i love you so much! i love this gospel so much! i love knowing that i will get to the point where i will make a difference in peoples lives! i know that none of us would be where we are without the Lord and without the Atonement. I am forever grateful for what Our Brother did for us....all because He loves us. what other reason does He need. I want to get to that point where i will do everything i can to help ohters, all because i love them! i really want to strive for this!

ok gota go!!! love you love you loveyou

beijos e abraços!

sister benedict

ok 5 min left..i forget when thanksgiving is but if you havent already had it, tell everyone i am thankful for families and thankful that we can all be together forever.

tell them i am thankful for my savior and the sacrafice that he did for us. tell them i am thankful that we can repent every single week and i am thiankful for the life that i have as hard as it is.

 thank you and i love you! happy thanksgiving!