Sao Domingos: Saying Goodbye

Sister Olson, my trainer finishes her mission in two days so this week was jammed pack with everything we had to do before she left. This of course includes visiting lots of members, a ward family night, pizza with our English class, the Baptism of our friend Ariston, and lots of pictures!

We spent a lot of time preparing for Ariston's baptism so everything could run smoothly. In preparation we went and cleaned the baptismal font at the chapel. Everything was fine until we go to drain the water and it wouldn't drain! We thought it was just going really slowly but we went back the next day and the water was still there. We did everything we could think of to unclog the drain and so when nothing worked we said a prayer. We decided after that it would be good to empty the water. So we spent an hour or more taking water out of the font in buckets. Later that night at our ward activity we asked a brother to take a look at it, but then we talked to the Elders, and they said there was a switch to empty the font. So we spent an hour taking the water out by hand when all we really had to so was flip a switch. 

Sometimes our problems in life have easy solutions we just don't know where to find them! Like the Elders were able to give us the answer, we can always turn to the Savior for answers to our questions and for help when we don't know where to find it. Thankfully everything else ran smoothly!

Our investigator who wanted stop meeting with us last week because of coffee told us this week that he hasn't drunk coffee since we went to the visitor center! What a miracle and blessing to see how he is able to change his life as he relies on the spirit!

We got a reference from other sisters to visit a recent convert who moved to our ward a while ago but hasn't been coming to church. The spirit was so strong as we testified to her about the power of the Savior's sacrifice and the opportunity that we have to change and come back to him, even when we feel we have done something wrong. You are never too far from the Savior to turn back, and nothing you do is great then the power of the Savior to help you heal and change!

As a tribute to Sister Olson I will share an experience that really demonstrates our relationship. We wanted to buy a cake for the baptism so we go out of the chapel and we are standing there deciding where to go, and which bakery is closest because we each had a different one in mind. We spent probably 5 minutes there discussing which one we thought was closer or would be better. After all that we came to the conclusion that it didn't really matter which and so we should just pick one. And then we proceed to pick different ones and started walking in different directions. It was a very funny moment! 😅

I am so grateful for my amazing trainer and everything she taught me. And I hope I can take everything I learned with me as I will be training a new missionary this next transfer! I will meet her tomorrow and I am so excited!!

Hope you all have a great week filled with miracles. Never forget to give your all every single day!

Other highlights from the week include our favorite pizza with a chocolate border, tacos night with some membros, playing this crazy time games at the ward family night, accidentally inviting ourselves to a ward members birthday lunch (churrasco and cake). 

All my love,

Sister Pinkney