Sister Tuttle

HELLO EVERYONE!!

I know I’m the worst at sending group emails. These last few weeks have been crazy for me. My last companion went home. I’m training a new greengo! (and Sister training leader) She just got out of the MTC and is learning Portuguese. It’s hard for me to not talk in English. We are in very different situations because I want to speak English because I’m close to going home (and need to relearn English) and she wants to learn Portuguese but still wants to speak in English still.

She is bomb! She loves to talk with everyone! I love her enthusiasm. This week we had a really cool experience with a woman that wants to be baptized. She told us, "Sisters! I needed to be baptized YESTERDAY!!" I almost jumped out of my pants when she said that. We are trying everything we can to help her. She came to church with us yesterday. She is not married (Which is way more than common here in Brazil) living with her boyfriend. We are trying to help her with this situation. I’m excited to help her. We had a chance to teach an investigator the other day in English. My companion Sister Tuttle was wayyy pumped about that. He is Brazilian but likes to talk in English. He came to church with us on Sunday as well. I had a chance to talk again in church! I talked about recognizing the spirit! It went really well I thought. I hope the spirit was able to touch the hearts of the investigators and members. 

I am loving my mission more and more. I don’t want it to end!!

I love you alll!!

SIster Erickson 

TRANSFERS!

Sorry these past few weeks have been crazy! Sister Flora and I went on adventures the last 2 p-days and I didn’t have a ton of time to talk to you guys. I’m sad to say that Sister Flora is going home! I’m going to miss her. She was one of the best companions I have had. This time passed by so fast and I don’t know where it went. I’m on to my last 2 transfers. I’m staying in my area and I’m going to train a new missionary again. President didn’t want to leave me in peace until the end of my mission. I’m staying sister training leader and training. This is going to be a ride. I don’t know how it’s all going to go down but wish me luck. I’m filled with mixed emotions but I’m excited to work hard until the end. Sorry I’ve been bad with emailing and all but I just wanted to give you this heads up.

I can’t believe Gentry Gibson went to prom—that’s crazy. I didn’t even recognize her in the photo. She seems so big and she’s wayyyy pretty. Seems like when I left she was like 10 years old. Time flies. 1 year and 6 months changes a lot of things.

President wants 6 baptisms by the end of June. May seem like a little number but I’m praying and fasting and trying to do all I can to accomplish this goal that president gave us. I know it is from the Lord and anything is possible.

On Wednesday we have a conference with the area president coming to talk to us. I imagine it will be about MORE BAPTISMS. Every transfer seems like President Hart is doubling the number of baptisms. I know this is from the Lord and I have faith that I can do it through the help of Heavenly Father.

I’m learning a lot here in my ward where I’m serving. I love the people. My area has its difficulties but I know that with more faith I will accomplish my goals. We lost some pretty good investigators this past week. They live in another area. We thought these investigators lived in our area and turns out they live in the other sister’s area. I cried having to pass the reference to the other sisters but it doesn’t matter who teachers them. It matters that they are learning about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I’ll receive my new companion tomorrow. I’m excited and nervous. Even though I have trained twice already I get really anxious. I love you guys. Thanks for all the support throughout my whole mission. I’m ready to finish strong!!

Sister Tahlia Grace Erickson 

CAPIVARA!!!!

Capivara is an animal that lives in these parks here in Brasil. It is the weirdest type of animal I have ever seen in my life. These are some photos that a member took for us but I will send more because she has a thousand pictures on her phone!! WEIRDEST ANIMAL ON THE FACE OF EARTH and WE TOUCHED THEM WITH OUR BARE HANDS! To get to these animals I had to pass through the middle of a lot of big birds-and I hate big birds so this was a sacrifice let me tell you. I prayed the whole way hoping they wouldn't chase me!  I prayed the whole way hoping they wouldnt chase me! 

Happy Easter!!!

This week we have been finding lots of new people to teach. We had 2 family nights last week, which is our goal every week. It’s going pretty well. We found some people who are really great. We made a contact on the street with a guy named Anselmo. He was super interested in the Book of Mormon. We then marked a day to come back. I was doing divisions with a sister when we found Anselmo. We went to his house and he wasn’t there but we found his sister Tacila. We started talking with her and found out she had lost her mom about 3 months ago and was going to a church where they don’t believe that we can be together with our families forever. Her church believes that we won’t know anyone--that we will all be strangers after this life. We testified of the plan of salvation that the Lord has for us and that we will know each other after this earth. The spirit was so strong and she told us that she always felt that in her heart. 

Conference was amazing! So many changes happened. There will be a temple in Russia--that is so amazing. A Brazilian Apostle!!! Everyone was sooo happy here. I love the conference season--the chance we have to hear from our prophet and his apostles. We are truly blessed. This conference strengthened my testimony about a living prophet who guides us today. 

Easter was good! We got some chocolate eggs that some people made for us--Lots of chocolate. I’m feeling the Easter love in my belly!! It is so nice to remember the Savior a little bit more during this season! I’m grateful for my Savior and his love I feel every day on my mission. Every moment I feel his love! --in times of grief or pain or love and joy. He is always there.

Love you all!!! 

Sister Erickson