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 

TARUMA

Hello Everyone!

This week was a crazy week. Lots of things happened. It was the last week of the transfer and we had lots of things to do. We did splits with the young women in the ward. We visited less-actives. We did contacts with them, or as our president calls is ETCS. Ensinar (Teach), Testificar (testify), and Convidar (invite). There is no such thing as a contact anymore in our mission. We have been working more with the members this last week. We had an activity that we planned and did on Friday night in our ward. We did Minute to Win It games with the recent converts and members and investigators--it was a hit. We also had a message we gave about the love of our savior and the atonement. It was way special. 

My companion got super sick on Saturday night and I had to take her to the hospital at 2 in the morning. We stayed there all night long and left at 8 am. We didn’t go to church because my companion was practically dying. The elders came and gave the sacrament to us. I am so tired--I didn’t get to sleep at all. She kept on throwing up all day long and I took her back to the hospital. We had transfers last night so I don’t know how my old companion is doing. I wanted to stay by her side until she got better but it would have complicated the transfers. 

I am now in my 4th area called Taruma, I am with my new companion, Sister Flora. I was already companions with her 4 transfers ago. She and I are the Sister Leader Trainers now. I am scared out of my mind but I know it will be great. I know the Lord wants me here in this area to help these people and the sisters. Wish me luck everyone! #prayforsiserickson

I love you all!

Thanks for all the support. 

Sister Erickson 

Happy Happy March!!

This week was a great weeek! We had lots of success! It was sooo hot this week!! It was soo hard to walk in the heat all day. The sun is terrible here in Curitiba!

This week we visited a lot of less-actives. Many of them didn’t even know they were baptized or they said, “Oh I showed up one day and got baptized!” We have a little work to do in this area. 

This week we also had 2 baptisms! Rosilene and Janayna! It was such a special day. Rosilene bore her testimony in the program. We sang "A Childs Prayer". It was wonderful. I loved seeing them enter into the waters of baptism, seeing them be cleansed of all their sins, and seeing the happy and joyful looks they had on their faces afterwards. I love helping all these people. It was a special moment that I was happy to share with them. 

This is the last week of the transfer and I can’t believe another transfer has gone by. I don’t know if we will be transferred. Everyone says that this area will turn into an area for elders. I am really sad because this area is great for sisters, but whatever happens will be for the best. 

Today we got the chance to go to Jardim Botancio. It was soo cool--my first time going to any tourist point. We took lots of pictures. After ate at McDonalds-- which let me tell you is not that great! (Way better in the United States and wayyyyyyy cheaper) I love you all and hope you all are doing well!!

Com amor, 

Sister Erickson 

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