Starting from zero

Sister Robyn Perez – Week 37 – received 09/22/14

In Jaguariuna, Campinas, Brazil

Wow, so this week was a bit discouraging. When we came into this area we had 15 people with a baptism date. Right now we have 2, but only one went to church and she is waiting for the right time. And the other persondidn’t make it to church. It’s even harder because our Zone Leader thinks we are fubecando (slacking) because our first 2 weeks were good…but as we met with each of the investigatores we realized that they don’t have the desire to get baptized and we had to drop them. So this past week we really started opening this area. Then one morning as I was reading in Matthew I read a perfect scripture.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is 
thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of  men.

When I read this I was like "what does this mean". I did some deep studying and came to this conclusion. Many are called but few are chosen. There are a lot of members but only a few are super strong, only a few are trulyconsecrated and converted. Like you only need a little salt to add a flavor...the few that are chosen are good enough to help build the kingdom of God on the earth. Then I thought; well Sister Garibay and I were chosen to help this area grow. We are qualified! But we need to be truly converted to this great work. If we show that we want to find os eleitos, the Lord will put them in our path. BUT we need to show our worthiness. We need to constantly be exactly obedient. And we need to be the salt of Jaguariuna. So yeah, missions are tough, but it’sonly to help prepare us to be better members of Christ's church. This work isn’t meant to be easy, but it’sdoable. 

Eu amo vocês!  

Running, running and a tad bit of sleeping

Sister Robyn Perez – Week 36 – received 09/15/14

In Jaguariuna, Campinas, Brazil

 

I don’t think I’ve ever been so tired. I probably said that last week...but seriously it’s true!! Every day Sister Garibay and I say that we will get home at 9 so we can be in bed by 940....it never happened. We would always be teaching or walking home from a lesson and then we'd end up getting home at 9:15 or later. But this isn’t a bad thing. It’s actually and oddly a good thing! It means we are working! And working we are! We've found a good teaching pool and now we are just trying to really focus on these people. We are also trying to knock some more doors to find even more. The only thing is that it’s HOT! It starts getting hot at 8 in the morning anddoesn’t cool down till like 6pm. We have to apply sunblock like 20 times! And we are always running to the bathroom because we drink so much water! And it’s supposed to get hotter!!! Ha, winter here should be fun!!

 

Sister Garibay and I are now really good friends! It’s almost like me and Sister Johnson…almost, but no one will ever beat my "mom". It’s true when you have a really good relationship with your comp, the teaching goes way better! 

 

Jaguariuna 2 is so blessed! Why, because the members in this part love working with the missionaries! One of our recent converts took us to her friend. Then one member had us talk to her co-worker, and the co-worker took us to a neighbor. It’s awesome because these people have friends who are already members or about to be members and it’s easier to teach them the gospel! 

 

Something sad...I had a dream that I was already done with my mission. I woke up in a panic and was like,"NO!!!! I still have a ton of months!" ha, yeah not totally. Time here is flying so fast and soon I’ll be at 9 months. After I had that dream I promised Heavenly Father that I will work with all my might till my last day! Ican’t think of anything better than sharing the gospel with the people here in Jag 2. I’ve never been happier and as tired! Ha, ha, but for real! This gospel is true! I know we have a living profeta que guides and directs us. And I know that my Savior lives!

 

Te amo!

Sister Perez

 

                                    

       

                             

          

Hello jaguariuna

Sister Robyn Perez – Week 35 – received 09/08/14

 

¡Seja Bem Vindo Ao Jaguariúna 2!

 

What an exhausting and awesome week! I was a little nervous to white wash Jaguariuna 2 and when I got to theRodoviária to pick up my new companion I must have asked my Zone Leader a thousand times if I was really senior. I even went up to the AP...by now that I’ve been doing this for a week it’s not really that bad....ha 

My new comp is Sister Garibay, from Peru. We are pretty much twins..shes the baby of 5, she’s 20, and we’ve both been out for 8 months. I’m "older" than her by 1 day…ha, ha We think a lot alike too...so this transfer is going to be awesome!!

 

Since we both really didn’t know a lot of the investigators in the area, we visited a lot of the recent converts, menosativos, and the members in our area. We attempted to see the old investigators, but we don’t really know their schedules. With our Menos Ativos, RC, and membros, we started the Book of Mormon challenge. I have a cool reading chart with all the chapters, and Garibay and I went out and made like 30 copies. Then I downloaded the "Safety for the Soul" talk by Elder Holland (it’s super good and crazy powerful and about the Book of Mormon). When we visited the MA, RC, andmembros we showed them the talk and then talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon. It’s working prettygood, because they all get excited about the reading chart and they all get competitive with their family. We are also using the American candy I got in a package to pump them up. So whoever reads 10 chapters first gets a candy bar. Our area is golden! The people here are super humble and willing to listen! Our job will be just to work extremely hard to find all theeleitos!!! I’m super excited to see this area explode!! 

 

Sad note...I miss Sister Pontes like crazy!!! And now I don’t have anyone to do my eyebrows!! 

 

I’m so blessed, really, to be in Jag 2...even if I just moved to the other room! I know that this is the only true church and Iknow that Christ lives! It’s awesome knowing that every day I get to bring this gospel, this happiness to people!

 

te amo!

Sister P

 

That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

 

Thess. 4:12

 

                                  

          

         

              

            

         

I got transferred

Sister Robyn Perez – Week 34 – received 09/01/14

 

I finally got transferred!!!

 

I’m trying to think about all the things that happened this week...but my mind is so blank and I’m so dead!! This week was good...but I’m just super worn out! This always happens at the end of the transfer! But we finally had a baptism!!!! No it wasn’t Alex...it was Mauricia!!!!!!!! We just focused on her this week really hard and we finally got her into the waters! It was a stressful day for her because her husband could have gotten baptized...but he just wasn’t ready. I told her that women always know what they need to do to help their families and the men are just a little slower, but she will be such a strong example for him!!! Then on Sunday we didn’t see her at church and we were running around like crazy looking and calling her....she had called Alberto e Ariane for a ride and got to church on time!! AH! I love her!!! Then that evening we went and saw her mom and step dad and gave them a quick lesson! She helped us teach. And I repeat…I love her!! I was getting sorta sad because its transfers…Mauricia said, “I just want you 3 to say and the other 2 to leave”....well, her wish came true. Pontes and Ttupa are leaving and Mitillo, Moura, and I are staying....yep...I’m staying. I got transferred to Jag 2...and I’m opening the area or in other words I’m white washing it...its next door to my old area but I have no clue what or where anything is! But I’m super stoked to get a new comp and work in this new...neighboring area!!! I’m super sad I’m getting separated from Pontes...but tudo vai da certo!

 

Keep the faith meu povo!

 

Te amo

Sister Perez

 

P.S. I make 8 months today!!!

                                    

You can do it!

Sister Robyn Perez – Week 33 – received 08/25/14

 

The Day Sister Perez got the "You Can Do It" Bug

 

This week was awesome! It was a week where you work so hard that the minute your head hits the pillow you are out until the next morning!

 

I spent two days with sister Moura in Mogi Mirim for exchanges with the sisters there. It was really fun...but really, really hot! And they don’t use the bus, so I walked all day with Sister Whitnah. All of our appointments fell through, so it was a "normal" day. That night was really funny. Sister Moura and I slept on the kitchen floor, on air mattresses....during the middle of the night I got super cold and woke Moura up and told her "moura, tenho frio!" so she got up and moved my bed next to hers and we shared the huge blanket. Right as I was falling alseep she said " We are just like the pioneers in the winter" (but in Português) ha, ha, ha. When we talked about that in the morning we just laughed. Then we had lunch at a chácara. This place was so pretty! Soon after that we took a bus back to Jag. We were pretty much dead when we got home...but I was happy to be back in my bed...and area!

 

We finally got to see Alex again. When we went in for the lesson Moura told me to start it. So I sorta had an idea in my head of what I wanted to say...but like right as I was about to start, the Holy Ghost smacked me in the head and was like " no you are gonna read this chapter with him and talk about being strong in keeping the commandments." It’s crazy how much the Spirit helps your investigators. We had a really good chat with him as we read 1 Nefi 2. We asked him if he was ready to give up all the things of the world to follow Christ like Lehi did...and then we recommitted him to dia 30 for baptism. I told him the first day we met him, Sister Becker and I saw him the way Heavenly Father sees him. Heavenly Father knows he is strong and we know he is strong...he just has to see that! But he’s super solid now!!

 

Sunday was like a huge day for me (according to Moura) she told me I finally got attitude to get stuff done and not be scared. It all started with getting Neuza to church. I called her house, but she was still sleeping...so I told Mitillo that we were going to walk to her house and get her to church. So we did. And we waited for her to get ready. And she went to church. And she loved it! Then we had to go pick up Mauricia (when I first called she didn’t want to go to church either). We ended up having 8 investigators at church! It was seriously a miracle! And then during Sacrament meeting there was a group of kids sitting behind me and a family. They would not stop talking. At first I was like just ignore it, but then something was like no tell them to be quite. Ha, ha, so I did. I told the Bishop’s daughter, and the other girls to have more respect for their Heavenly Father and the other people and stop talking so that the members and our investigators can feel the Spirit. Yeah...I was like "why did I just do that!!" ha, ha but soon after Sacrament meeting I told the Bishop that we need to talk to the youth about reverence in the Sacrament meeting. He agreed with me...ha, after I told Moura and she was like so happy I did that. I was like scared. Ha, ha

 

I’m excited for the last week of the transfer. I have a feeling ill be leaving Jag...but I’m ok with that. I feel like I’ve already talked to everyone in this city. So hopefully I’ll get a different scenery this next transfer!!!

 

Te amo!

 

love,

The bolder Sister Perez

Let's Start Over!

Week 26

Sister Robyn Perez in Campinas, Brazil

Received 07/07/14

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Communicate with Robyn:

 

Email at   robyn.perez@myldsmail.net

 

Or write using www.MissionTies.com, letter service in Brazil for faster delivery! Login in as my guest and you can send a letter or quick note free of charge!

 

Use login ID: roobensmail@yahoo.com

Use password: guest1

Select the: Send Letters/Photos Option (right side menu options)

Write your letter and then click “Send Letter”

 

The letter is printed, stuffed in an envelope and mailed from the MissionTies office in Brazil.

It’s fast, easy and free for you!  

 

Or write and mail via US Post Office:

Sister Robyn A. Perez

C/O Brazil Campinas Mission 
Rua 10 de Setembro, N. 38, Cambui
13023 Campinas SP, 
Brazil

 

You know what? Missionary work is really, really hard. You are always worried about other people, whether they arereading the Book of Mormon, coming to church, and keeping other compromissos. You are pretty much holding their eternal salvation in your hands. You get stressed, frustrated, and overwhelmed. You cry when they aren´t doing the things they need to be doing to receive a testimony and answers, because you know that this gospel will bring them the happiness and peace they are looking for. People say that as a disciple of Christ you are going to feel a little of what He felt while He was here on the earth....the crazy thing, a little is a lot for us. This morning I cried with my comp, because wehaven’t seen anything good come from our labors; and we´ve been working really, really hard. We keep trying to think of new ways to work better and smarter, but everything we try just doesn’t work. We try to stay positive and see the good in everything. But after a while it gets really hard; it’s like, what more can we do?! Maybe we need to start giving this work our all...like whole being! We probably need to be even more positive, and like my dad said...positive in our hearts, not just positive in our smiles. This week we are ready to find the elect. We are ready to do whatever we have to do. And our plan is to start over, clean and fresh. We are going to trust Heavenly Father and his plan for the people that we will work with. And we are going to slay this week!!

FIQUE FELIZ AND FORTE!
Sister Perez

        

        

        

                                 

                                 

       

                                 

                                 

Finding That Balance

Week 25

Sister Robyn Perez in Campinas, Brazil

Received 06/30/14

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Communicate with Robyn:

 

Email at   robyn.perez@myldsmail.net>

 

Or write using www.MissionTies.com, letter service in Brazil for faster delivery! Login in as my guest and you can send a letter or quick note free of charge!

 

Use login ID: roobensmail@yahoo.com

Use password: guest1

Select the: Send Letters/Photos Option (right side menu options)

Write your letter and then click “Send Letter”

 

The letter is printed, stuffed in an envelope and mailed from the MissionTies office in Brazil.

It’s fast, easy and free for you!  

 

Or write and mail via US Post Office:

Sister Robyn A. Perez

C/O Brazil Campinas Mission 
Rua 10 de Setembro, N. 38, Cambui
13023 Campinas SP, 
Brazil

(Ruben’s note: Another week of soccer interrupting missionary work!)

 

In reality every week is a good week. It’s just that some weeks are really awesome, things happen; other weeks are normal with no big news. So in other words this week was a good normal week. Just a lot of menos ativosand batando portas (knocking, or better said, clapping at doors)!

 

I’m no longer sick!!! Yay! and Sister Pontes and I have started doing Insanity (exercise routine) at 6 in the morning! 

 

Life is good down here in Brasil! And I love being a missionary!

 

Gentes...te amo!!!!

 

       

      

      

      

An Answer to My Prayers!!!

Week 23

Sister Robyn Perez in Campinas, Brazil

Received 06/16/14

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Communicate with Robyn:

 

Email at   robyn.perez@myldsmail.net>

 

Or write using www.MissionTies.com, letter service in Brazil for faster delivery! Login in as my guest and you can send a letter or quick note free of charge!

 

Use login ID: roobensmail@yahoo.com

Use password: guest1

Select the: Send Letters/Photos Option (right side menu options)

Write your letter and then click “Send Letter”

 

The letter is printed, stuffed in an envelope and mailed from the MissionTies office in Brazil.

It’s fast, easy and free for you!  

 

Or write and mail via US Post Office:

Sister Robyn A. Perez

C/O Brazil Campinas Mission 
Rua 10 de Setembro, N. 38, Cambui
13023 Campinas SP, 
Brazil

 

This week doesn’t even compare to last week! 

 

I´ll have to start with my happenings on Monday. Since Sister Mota and Ware were getting transferred, Sister Pontes and I spent all day together. Over the past 5ish weeks we´ve become like best friends and when we are together we are crazy!! So we did the usual p-day stuff and then we went all out in decorating our apartment in blue, green and yellow. Then we painted our toe nails the same colors and then our finger nails had little Brazilian flags and soccer balls. You could say Sister Pontes and Pérez were more than ready for the Copa Mundial (soccer) to start!! 

 

Tuesday was transfer day! I got to see sister Dickson (Provo Mission Training Center companion)!! We talked for like an hour and then she told me that sister Mota is her new comp!!! Sadly I had to say goodbye to them and then I got my new comp, Sister Becker! She’s from the same estado de (as) sister Mota, but she looks Americana. Jaguariúna is her last area (Ruben’ note: Well, we finally know the name of the city where Robyn is!!! Jaguariúna is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2012 was 53.311 and the area is 142.88 km. This name comes from the Tupi language and means the land of the black Jaguars)...so I’m pretty much digging her hole to bury her. (Ruben’s note: This is typical missionary language and refers to this being the end of Sister Becker’s mission and this will be her last area before going home. Robyn is the last companion she’ll have, so in essence Robyn is finishing her off.)  

 

So, since this is her last transfer...she is a POWER HOUSE!! But man was I so, so, so nervous when I picked her up! I had no clue what to do when we got back home or anything! For the past 4 weeks sister Mota did everything. Well when we got on our bus, I put my big girl saia (skirt) on and pretended like I knew what I had to do.

 

First thing, I had to call a few members to get us a carona (ride) from the Rodoviaria (bus terminal). That was scary...BUT I DID IT!! When we finally got home I was like "uhhh...so we can go grab lunch and then...." Sister Becker was like "you can take me out to meet some of your investigators" Oh yeah...that! I have no clue where any of them live!! AHHHHHH!!!! After we ate we (I) planned our day in Bairro (district) 12 de Setembro.

 

The only solid investigators I knew there are Alberto e Ariane. But I also had a ton of people we needed to contact. So we contacted people, and then went and saw Alberto e Ari. The last time we saw them Alberto wasmuito concerned because he just wasn’t certo with the gospel. But when we walked in and saw them he was like super happy to see us! Ari said "Sister Pérez, do you remember when you asked Alberto why he isn’t sure about the gospel, well he got his answer at stake conference." Alberto then went on to tell us that he knows this is the path that he and his wife need to be on!!!!! So I shared a scripture about batismo and THEY ARE ON DATE FOR NEXT SÁBADO!!!!! And the week after we are going on a templo trip with them!!!!!!!!! Oh yeah and Alberto´s brother is a member! So my first day was awesome with Sister Becker! But then planning happened and I about died!! We have like NO new investigators. So our plano do jogo is to work a ton with menos ativosand get to know the members since I pretty much only know two irmãs (sisters)....

 

Every other day this week has been super solid! We work, work, work and don’t waste any time!! I feel like I’mback with Sister Johnson! Sister Becker also speaks pretty good English and when I don’t know a word I first attempt to describe it in Português and then if I can’t, I ask in English. She’s ALWAYS correcting me on mypronunciation which is good! She’s like the missionary you get whenever Presidente Perrotti wants you to speak like a Brazilian. In fact, he told her to "help sister Pérez with Portuguese,” so I’m glad I have her!

 

This week was also a huge step for me in talking. Normally I just listen at lunches and try not to talk too much to people. But I was talking at every lunch and at church I had like 10 conversations!!! Half were with little kids, but hey, I talked!!! Even Sister Pontes pointed it out!! It was just an awesome week!! 

 

Oh yeah, and for the games we have to stay in. The whole country literally shuts down!!!! But then the whole city goes wild when Brazil scores!!!!! Sister Pontes and I ran around our apartment with our little flag whenever Brasil scored!!! Tomorrow is another game!

 

My testimony of prayers has seriously grown! I know that my Pai Celestial is aware of me and that he wants the best for me. That’s why he gave me Sister Becker and is loosening my tongue to be able to talk to the people of Brazil! 

 

Gentes...te amo!!!!

 

P.S. Today I said "I não understand"....yeah my English is leaving me