BEST WEEK! Sister Belais 1-19-2015

Sister Belais from Tahiti (French speaking)

Ok, SO much has happened this week. I guess I'll start with the big news, I found out who my new companion will be today!! She was actually in my district this transfer. Her name is Sister Belais from Tahiti! She speaks French and is going into her 3rd transfer. She is so sweet, I can't even wait! 
Sister Campelo used to be roommates with her and loves her to death. We will officially be companions on Wednesday. 
I also found out what my new assignment will be for this transfer, I'll be serving at the Humanitarian Center 1 day a week!!! It has been my dream to serve there since I first got here so I am beyond excited!

I will just tell you the highlights of this week (it has by far been the best week of my mission) So on Tuesday, Sister Campelo and I took a tour and it ended up being one of the Sisters who is coming here in April. Her name is Sister Rodriguez and she just wanted to take a tour to see what it's like being a missionary here. I can't wait for her to serve here.

On Thursday, Sister Campelo and I got to take the directors of the visitor center in Wyoming on a tour... (it is called the Mormon Handcart Visitor's Center at Martin Cove, Wyo.)... but they are President and Sister Bushman. We got to show them how we teach in the teaching center and show them how to incorporate teaching the gospel with resources! They were the best. We were so nervous, but it ended up being so fun.

On Friday, we met with one of Sister Campelo's recent converts from Brazil and he brought us Brazilian treats!! I'm obsessed with this thing they have called Brigadeiro. It kind of tastes like nutella rolled in a ball covered in sprinkles...that description sounds gross, but it is so good:). It was so funny. One of the less active members we call, he struggles with the Word of Wisdom and so we have been working with him a lot and we committed him this week to only smoke 8 cigarettes a day. So we asked him how it went and we totally forgot the last time we talked to him, we told him we were going to stop eating treats because we were  "addicted" too. Pretty sure he thinks we're obese now haha. So he did really well at only smoking 8-12 a day and then he asked us how not eating treats had been going!!! This is like 2 hours after we had eaten a ton of Brigadeiro and felt so fat. So embarassing because he was doing so well at keeping his commitment and we didn't keep ours.

On Saturday, another one of our favorite people that we teach, came to the Square. Her name is Leah. She is the person who has really helped me understand grace. She drove all the way from Provo to see us. After we talked to Leah, we did MTC contacting. It's where the Sisters who are going to serve at an LDS Visitor's Center come to Temple Square for like 3 hours and they get to be our companions! I got to be with Sister Funk from Cali. I'm so sad, she's going to the Omaha Visitor's Center but she was the sweetest. (I'll send you a pic next week, she said she'd send it to me) I feel like we were so meant to be put together because a lot of the things she was unsure about, or areas she felt inadequate in, I had felt exactly the same in my first few weeks.

On Sunday (yesterday), I figured out what I will be learning this coming transfer! I will be learning more about who God is and about the love He has for each one of us. Literally, in the past 3 days, God has blessed us with incredible people to teach. Some less active members and some just learning about the church. All of them, literally all, struggle with feeling God. Feeling his love. It's something that I've struggled with feeling, and sometimes still do. Just understanding him and his love. I really do know that a belief in God and Jesus Christ can change your heart. I am so excited to see how God will change these beautiful individuals hearts and lives. I love the gospel. Also, I can't forget to mention this, Sunday was the best because I got to see Tawnee and Grant!!! I love them both so much. It literally made my week.

So today, has been the most amazing day. I'll be really brief because this is the longest email on the planet, but this guy Sister Campelo met on the square who served his mission in Brazil, gave us the name of his friend who he thought might be interested in learning more about the church a few weeks ago. So we called his friend a few times and set up an appointment for him to come to the square this morning and have a tour with us! So Caleb came and Nathan came with 2 other members too. We were a little nervous that he might feel overwhelmed with so many Mormons sharing their beliefs but it was the most powerful lesson I've ever had the opportunity to take part in. 
 Sister Campelo and I cried (after they all left of course) because it is so rare to actually be able to teach someone in person and see how understanding what Jesus has done for them, change their eyes and their heart. It was the best. Then, we had an hour in the teaching center to call a few people and take incoming calls. I ended up receiving a call from a woman who had had so many trials and still was searching for God. It was the most inspiring thing to me.

Mario and Suzette - our adopted parents

Anyways, I love you all so much!! Here are some pics :) One is of our bff Jerrica, and the other is of our adopted parents, Mario and Suzette. I will send a pic of my new companion on Wednesday because that's my new PDay! 

Love you all,

Sister Helton

Sister Campelo, bff Jerrica, and me