Tchau, Presidente Kuceki

 A galera em...Outback!!!

 Comi bem, bem pra caramba!

 Demais!

This is good ice cream

 

 Tchau Presidente  e Sister Kuceki! Obrigado!

 That's convincing advertising! Just that no one here understands that...

 The Office (x2)

 Just one point...

 Skill x Style

 Eu tenho o poder

Habib's. Mom's food is better

 Cabbage and meat and rice and something

 It's a good day, Goiânia

I just about got hit by a car taking this. I'm on the street.

My future car passed right by us today

When I arrived in Goiânia, President Kuceki still had almost a year to go as mission president. That time has flown! He and his family will leave for São Paulo this week, and on Wednesday, President Bührer and family will get here. I’m sad and happy at the same time haha. A few weeks ago we had the going-away meeting with the whole mission and yesterday had the ward’s farewell. President and Sister Kuceki gave talks in sacrament meeting and after church everyone took pictures with them. They have done a ton for the Goiânia area in these three years, and I’m really, really grateful I was able to serve here with them. Friday was Presidente´s last normal day in the office. It was a strange day for all of us, knowing that his mission was actually coming to an end. I asked him for a little interview at the end of the day. He was really busy but made time for it and gave me some great advice I will use during the rest of my mission. I have enjoyed so much working closely with him for about four transfers during this last almost-a- year. It really is hard to see him go! Com certeza ficaremos em contato.

We found a golden investigator! A week and a half ago we talked to Neide when it was almost time to return home. She didn’t show interest in hearing our message at first, but let us talk with her. She has a huge story. To sum it up, for 30 years she was the wife of a big pastor in another church, with a great and successful life and suddenly he left her and sent her away with nothing. She’s been rebuilding her life for several months and has been looking and praying for help. That day we didn’t teach anything, just listened and after feeling sincere sorrow for her, we said a faithful prayer. We asked her what she would ask from Jesus if he was there. Then we prayed for those things: guidance on the path to salvation and contact with her family. We invited her to a family home evening with some members and left. A miracle happened! Monday night we went with her to the family home evening (it was great! Irmã Fabiana gave a great message about the apostasy and restoration and shared her testimony and conversion story—a great introduction to the church for anyone). Talking with Neide about her week, she said that less than an hour after we had left her house, she received a message from her daughter. It had been seven months since she had heard from anyone in her family. In that very hour, the prayer was answered! She is progressing quickly and is already well integrated with the members. After teaching the restoration we invited her to be baptized. She responded, “Claro que eu aceito!” (It’s clear that I accept!) Wow. I am so grateful we found her at the right time! She was prepared for the restored gospel and will be a great member!

My testimony of prayer has grown muito in these last few weeks. President Kuceki´s talk in the farewell meeting and personal experiences have strengthened me greatly. I am so grateful that we can communicate directly with our Father in Heaven, and I know that he hears, loves, and answers our prayers! We were making contacts yesterday, and I saw a group pass by that looked very American. We were able to catch up with them and I talked with three young men from North Carolina who are visiting Brasil for a few days for some type of church conference. Cool! I did struggle a little speaking English with them hahaha. It’s awesome but also really weird when I meet Americans (that aren’t missionaries) here. It makes me feel at home for a few minutes, but then I return to the real world, leaving my head spinning a bit. Oh, thinking about Americans, ONLY 1 MORE WEEK TILL THE 4 TH OF JULY!!!!!!!!!!!! I will have a huge party by myself! I’ll think about you guys, all the incredible American barbecue you’ll be eating, and the amazing fireworks a lot that day, while I’m speaking Portuguese and eating rice and beans here. I miss my country, family, and friends, but not too much. Como sempre, estou amando o Brasil!!

Elder Anderson