It.. Comes to an end..?

"And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen." ~D&C 16:6

Dear Friends and Family!!

Unfortunately my fultime mission has come to an end, it hasn't hit me yet though. I have all my bags packed and everything but I feel like I'm just going to my next area. I guess in a way I am! 

We had a really miraculous week. Martin was baptized on Saturday after a lot of hard work. I have never worked so hard for a baptism to happen. Sometimes on the mission we have to honor the agency of others, but we must never forget that faith has a power that makes things happen. Sister Nogueira and I worked our absolute hardest and after all we could do, miracles happened and Martin was able to enter into the waters of baptism and was confirmed on Sunday. Martin is a very special boy and I know that he will be so blessed.

I have learned so much during this time and it has for sure been the best 18 months of my life so far and the best 18 months for my life. I know that the Savior knows us individually. He knows that we mess up sometimes, but if we are humble and willing to repent, He will be with us every step of the way. He is constantly giving us strength and helping us. 

I know that this work is the most important thing and we, as members of the church are all involved in it. This is the true restored gospel of Jesus Christ and the only church with the authority of God. I have been so blessed to have been able to share this message with the people of Portugal. I love this work. I love my Savior and my Father in Heaven. I know the Holy Ghost is real and He speaks with us. My time here has been incredible, and even though I will no longer be a missionary in Portugal, I will always be a missionary for the Lord.

I love you all!!

Sister Steagall

Photos: 

Martin's Baptism

"And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto theend they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be." ~1 Nephi 13:37

Dear Friends and Family

We had a great week! We've been working harder than ever and it's paid off, we've seen a lot of opposition, but we know which side will always win :)

We started teaching a man named Adelino this week, it was actually cool how we found him. We were walking with Paulo Jorge, a member, and we passed by a man sitting on a wall and both Sister Nogueira and I felt that we should talk to him, but we kept walking for some reason, but we slowed down as we passed him, and then Paulo Jorge said "Sisters, let's go talk to him." So we did and he turned out to be one of the most elect people I've met! He had already talked to missionaries several years ago in the other island, but didn't remember anything. We taught him about the word of wisdom and he accepted really well! He smokes, but he said he was ready to quit, as we've followed up with him, he has been making more progress than anyone else I've ever known! But there is a lot of opposition as well! Yesterday he was literally walking to church when he basically passed out because of a heart condition and woke up in the hospital! So he didn't make it to church yesterday, but he's doing a lot better and he's progressing really well. He accepted a baptismal date of August 14th.

We've been praying hard to have a baptism this month and so far, due to lack of investigators at church, it was looking like we were not going to have one, but miracles happen when we work hard! Paulo Jorge brought his grandson to church yesterday who's 8 years old and ready to be baptized. So we're planning his baptism for this Saturday.

I know that the Lord really loves His missionaries. He loves all of His children and cares a lot about us, He really wants us to be happy and He'll be here to help us always. I know that this is His work and we, as His children are all involved in it. I hope you all have a fantastic week!

I love you all!!

Sister Steagall

Photos:

Me and Sister Nogueira in a park!

Me and Graçinha! A cute member in our branch

Apparently there's some pokemon game that the kids are going crazy about! We see these kids running around with their phones trying to catch things, and we found this bike that says "Pokemon Hunter." It was pretty funny :)

"And at all times, and in all places, he shall open his mouth and declare my gospel as with the voice of a trump, both day and night. And I will give unto him strength such as is not known among men." D&C 24:12

Dear Friends and Family,

We had a great week! I always say that, even though i hardly remember what we did, but I'm happy, so that's what counts. We had some really great lessons this week, especially with Paula. She was led right to the gospel, literally. I'm so glad we found her. We taught her about how the authority was restored and she lit up, like it was something she had never realized that we needed. The Spirit was so strong and we were able to testify of the blessings of the priesthood authority. It made me so grateful to have grown up with the priesthood in my home. I can't wait to teach her more this week.

Mario is also doing really well, we were able to teach him about the Law of Chastity and the blessings of an eternal marriage this week. It's such a blessing to know that families can be together forever, and that's why our relationships in this life matter so much, because what we develop here will continue in the next life. I just really love this gospel!! :) 

I love being a missionary and teaching so many people about the restored gospel. I know that Heavenly Father is preparing His children every day and in every place in the world. We, as His children and members of His church need to do our part and share the gospel with everyone. We don't have to have a nametag to be a missionary and I certainly will not stop being a missionary when I take off my nametag. I love my Savior and I know this is His work that we are all involved in. 

I love you all!!

Sister Steagall

Photos:

We got to visit some really pretty places last P-day with some members! It was amazing!! This place literally is the most beautiful place in the world!! :)

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." ~John 17:3

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been great! We had zone conference and divisions in Terceira, another island in the Azores and it was awesome! The weather was pretty bad though, there was a lot of fog, so our airplane was delayed like 4 hours and we didn't get home until 11:00, which is usually when we go to bed! haha but it was still fun :)

We also got to work with the Assistants to the President this week, they just walked around and taught some lessons with us, but it was super fun! I had always wanted to do a division with Elders, not like dividing and being alone with them, but seeing how they work and stuff. Because we practice teaching a lot, but I wanted to see how it really was. It was super fun, we were talking to literally everyone, including people in their cars waiting at a red light, people working on power poles, it was just crazy and awesome! We also had a really great lesson with Paula, a new investigator who is so elect! She's having trouble finding which church is the true church, but we had a really spiritual lesson where we got her to accept a baptismal date of July 24th. 

We are also working with Catarina and Antonio, they made it to church yesterday! Which was a huge blessing! That morning we were calling everyone that had promised they would be at church, and everyone was saying they wouldn't be able to make it, but then Catarina and Antonio showed up! It was awesome! They had a great experience :)

Mario is also doing good, he wasn't able to make it to church, so he won't be able to be baptized this weekend, but he's progressing well in all other aspects and he's accepting the commandments really well. 

I'm loving being a missionary and we are working harder than ever. I know this is the gospel of Jesus Christ, He is our Savior and He's always here to help us. 

I love you all!!

Sister Steagall

Photos:

Waiting at the airport in Terceira

The Holy Spirit Festival

My watch has officially died.. it couldn't last 3 more weeks? 

4th of July!

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest." ~Joshua 1:9

Dear Friends and Family,

This week is really good! The work is going great! I love working with Sister Nogueira, she is always smiling and always ready to work. 

We found a new investigator this week, Mario. We actually found his record in our area book and decided to pass by. He is really awesome and the Lord is really preparing him to receive the gospel. He has accepted a baptismal date of July 16th and is doing great in preparing. He reads all the pamphlets and always reads in the Book of Mormon. We're really excited to be teaching him.

We are also teaching an awesome family, Catarina and Antonio who are also doing great. Their daughter Inês who is 8 years old is super excited about reading the Book of Mormon. We gave her a little kid version with lot's of pictures and she was so excited to get it! We're hoping that her example will be able to help her parents too :)

Ana is still doing good, it will take some time before she's ready to be baptized, but she is taking the passes to coming closer to Christ. I'm really grateful I get to work with her.

The weeks are flying by! This week will be even faster! We're going to the island of Terceira tonight for our Zone Conference and we'll stay there until Wednesday. Even though we'll only be there for 2 days, it seems like we're away from our area for months! haha but it's all good!

Have a great week! Celebrate America for me! And remember the gospel in your lives :)

I love you all!!

Sister Steagall

Photos: 

Our 4th of July lunch with our District!!

Me and Sister Nogueira

Water Balloon activity with the ward! :) 

Training a Brazilian! For the Second Time!:)

"And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow and forever." ~Moroni 10:7

Dear Friends and Family,

I have a new companion! She is awesome! She came straight from Brazil so she has a lot of fire! We've been working really hard this week, it's been great!

We've had a couple of really awesome lessons, it seems like time is passing so fast! I don't even remember what we did this week. But our investigators are doing good and we're making good plans for them so they can be baptized! We're gonna have a great transfer!

Ana is progressing really well, we think she's really going to be ready to be baptized in the middle of June. It's amazing the difference that I've been able to see in her from the time i first met her until now. She's getting excited about reading the Book of Mormon and coming to church, she takes everything we say to heart and really works hard on applying it. It is awesome to be able to help people like this change :) I love the mission!

This year and a half has been the best time of my life so far and I still have a lot of time ahead. I know this is the work of The Lord. It is the most important thing I could be doing with my time right now and I am so grateful to be here :)

I love you all!!

Sister Steagall :)

Saying goodbye to Sister Luciano!!

While I was waiting for my new companion we got to go to a senior couple's house and have american food!! (tacos, but they're basically american)

Me and Sister Nogueira!! :)

TRANSFERS!!!!!

"Nevertheless, the Nephites being strengthened by the hand of the Lord, having prayed mightily to him that he would deliver them out of the hands of their enemies, therefore the Lord did hear their cries, and did strengthen them." ~Alma 2:28

Dear Friends and Family,

I got my last transfer call last night! I will be staying in Ponta Delgada and I will be training again! Sister Nogueira! I don't know anything about her, but I'm guessing she's from Brazil! I'm so excited to serve with her! It's gonna be an awesome last transfer.

The work here is going really well! We are finding a ton of really elect people all over the place! Something I'm learning is that some people take longer to get baptized than others, but everything is in the Lord's timing :) 

Catarina and Antonio: We found an incredible family this week! They have 3 daughters and they are just awesome! They love having us over! They even invited us over to learn how to make bolo levado, an Azorean bread thing, that's super good! They are an awesome family. They're preparing to be baptized onJuly 16th! :)  

Ana: She is doing well still! She's understanding a lot better and her faith has grown so much! I'm so excited for her! She's working towards the baptism date ofJuly 9th! I've loved working with her :)

It seems like every week goes by faster and faster! It's crazy! I learn so much every day and I'm so grateful that I can come closer to Christ every day. I know my Savior lives. His Atonement is real and He is always here to help us.

I love you all!!

Sister Steagall

Photos:

Paulo Jorge put a flower in my hair! 

Me and Sister Luciano!!

Francezinhas!!!!! The best meal dish thing in the world. :)