What I have learned from the first half of my mission

Sister Little and Sister Cruz

  So....this is the ONLY photo I took on my 9 month mark....sad really, but this is real! I took this foto at 10:30 right before laying down to sleep bc I forgot to take a foto whatsoever. So yup-this is me after 9 months here in Brasil-crazy, red hair, no makeup (I promise that I wear makeup during the day...Promise!), minacura to  get rid of the sunscreen zits, freckled and tan, and HAPPY! Deeply satisfied.

Nine months on a mission has gone by WAY faster than I imagined after that first day in the CTM, but it has made probably 10 YEARS of difference in my life. I have learned how to clean a house like none other (houses in Brasil are WAY harder to clean than ours! I don´t even KNOW how it gets so dirty!!!) I can make edible (gostoso) food out of ANYTHING you have around! I´ve learned how to speak and think and live in another language and culture (most amazing miraculous process to watch in oneself!) I have learned how to be more patient with myself, how to identify and improve my weaknesses with the constant and essential help of my Savior. I´ve learned how to keep going even when it seems quite literally impossible.  I´ve learned how to love people that don´t feel they deserve to be loved, and most importantly, I´ve learned more about the Atonement and how our Savior and Heavenly Parents love us. I´ve learned how the Savior must feel when we don´t accept His sacrifice. I´ve learned of the heartbreak He must feel when we feel unworthy to use what He´s given us. I´ve learned about the PURE JOY that comes from the littlest steps we take and how each one of us can mean so incredibly much to our Heavenly Father.

I was reading this morning my journal from right before I left on a mission, and it´s INCREDIBLE how much I´ve grown and changed. I am more established. I know better what my base is and who I am. I know how to work through problems, and how to just keep hanging on to the rod and take one step at a time when the storm seems to be too much. I´m very different, and I´ve never been so grateful. I´m excited to see where these next 9 months take me and who the Lord has for me to become. I´m excited to see how my mission helps my family one day. I could not be more grateful to know that one day, my husband and I will be  able to raise our children with the background and values we learned on a mission. It was a process of about 8 years to decide to serve a mission, but I would not trade it for the world.  (and it also can´t end....would you believe how many people THIS WEEK have told me that I´ll be going home soon??!!?!?! What kind of bull-huckey is that?!?!?!?!) So yeah-this is my SUPER REAL 9 months on a mission pic!

 

Oh!  And I made lefse! [In the background you see a notebook we put together for her birthday.  It is a collection of recipes from the special women in her life.  Lefse is a Norwegian recipe from her great grandma.  So yeah - Lefse in Brazil!  Love it!]

 

I GOT CALLED BLONDE THIS WEEK!  That's a new one!  AH! Black, to brown, to red, and now BLONDE! Ish! Que é isso?!?!?!

Watch this video!  

All my love,
Sister Little