Divisions!!!!

Family and Friends! 

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!! I love preaching the gospel! Even if people don't accept it, I know that we touched their hearts, and maybe in the future they will choose to accept the gospel.

We had an awesome week! We had a division this week with the Sister Training Leaders. I got to spend the day with Sister Cardoso! She is a native from Lisbon! So I had to speak Portuguese the whole time! Haha for me, the speaking part isn't too hard, but I struggle understanding people. I've gotten really good at looking like I know exactly what they're saying and that I'm so interested, when I really have no idea what's going on. Haha but I was able to understand Sister Cardoso really well and we had a great division. 

Our investigators are still doing really well! We are really close to having baptismal dates for so many!! Next transfer we will have quite a few baptisms I think :)

Ana and Antonio: Our favorite couple! They are getting married this Friday!!! Ana is still all set to be baptized on June 7th, but Antonio is second guessing himself. He says that he doesn't want to have responsibility in the church, that he just wants to be a visitor for now, but I think he will still be baptized on the 7th with Ana. They have such strong testimonies and will be amazing members of the church.

Cristina: We didn't have a chance to meet with her this week, but she is still reading and praying, so that's good! We're hoping to have a baptismal date for her this Saturday.

Rodolfo: Rodolfo walked into the chapel in the middle of our District meetingon Tuesday to pick up a "Restauração" pamphlet. He apparently walked in the other day and picked up a "Plano de Salvação" pamphlet, and he liked it. So he came to return the plan of salvation packet and pick up the restoration pamphlet. WOW! Talk about elect! Haha So Sister Bakker and I are teaching him, he is searching for the truth and exploring many churches. I know that if he has an open heart and he is earnestly seeking for an answer to his prayer, he will come to know that this is the restored church of Jesus Christ.

This week we contacted a guy in the road who said he was a member and lived in Lisbon, but he was down here for work. We asked if he still attended church and he said no because he had started to smoke again and he was afraid to go back. He said that he wanted to stop smoking, he just didn't know how. We told him that the missionaries could help him! We made a goal with him right then that he would only smoke 6 cigarettes the next day. So we took his pack of cigarettes and left 6 in the package and took the rest and ripped them up and threw them away! It was the first time I had every even held a cigarette! Haha but it was awesome to know that we were helping him! 

This Sunday was awesome! We had a lot of people in church! 2 people walked in our of the blue because they had been invited by one of our members,so they decided to come! And they said they would come next week too! What a blessing! We also had 3 less active families come to church for the first time since I've been in Portimão! I knew that the Lord had touched many hearts this week. 

Pictures:

1.We bought hippie dresses with the Sister Training Leaders... It's just something you have to do here in the Algarve :)

2. We went to Lagos today for P-day and there was this awesome little band playing some jazz music!! It was just great to hear again :)

Another wonderful week in Portugal Lisbon Mission!!!

Family and Friends!!

We had a great week! Full of the spirit and full of wonderful people!! I also went to Sagres today for P Day, which is the very Southwestern tip of Portugal and it was incredible!! Photos below :)

Ana and Antonio: We finished teaching them everything they need to be taught for baptism and they finally have a wedding date!! They will be married on May 29 and their baptism will be on June 7th!! I am so excited for them!! They are loving the church more and more and cannot wait to be a part of it! What an amazing couple they are! :)

Cristina: We finally got her to say a pray from her heart and not a memorized prayer! It was a really awesome experience! Her prayers are so sincere, she asked God if this church was true, if the Book of Mormon was true, and if our message was true. And afterwards she said she felt really great! So we asked her if she would prepare to be baptized on June 7, she said she wanted to be baptized then, but still had some questions that she wants to be answered. So we will see if she'll be baptized soon. She has an incredible desire to learn and has a huge amount of faith! I'm really excited for her!

Americo and Mauna: They are still wonderful! Progressing slowly, but they know that our message is true. We are doing the best we can to help them have a desire to act on it, but we know that they have their agency to choose what they want. I really hope they choose to follow the example of Jesus Christ. 

Manuel: We started teaching an older man named Manuel, who wants to know the truth. His wife recently passed away, so we're hoping that we can teach him about temples and eternal families and that he will have a desire to be with his family for eternity. He's a super awesome guy! He even invited us to his funeral! 

We also had District (Stake) Conference this weekend and it was fantastic! Our branch and the branch in Lagos all road a bus to Faro to attend the conference and it was awesome. Even though I still only understand about half of what people say, I can still feel the spirit. That's the amazing thing about the Holy Ghost - you don't have to understand a different language to be able to feel it. 

This week we had interviews with our mission president and I wanted to share some advice that I received about the Atonement. He said that sometimes, no matter how much we study, we can't fully understand or appreciate something until we experience it ourselves. This is true concerning the atonement. We learn to appreciate the atonement and have a deeper love for our Savior as we go through trials and learn to rely on Him. That is why we can choose to be grateful in any and all circumstances, because the hard times are where we get to know our Savior better. 

That's it for this week! I love being a missionary and I love this gospel! I know my Savior lives and He loves each and every one of us. I know that when we turn to Him, we will feel His love.

I love you all!! 

Sister Steagall

Feliz Dia das Mães!! Happy Mother's Day!!

Family and Friends!

What a great week we had! And I got to talk to my family yesterday which was really great! Here is an update on our investigators that we've been teaching. The work is getting better and better every day!

Ana and Antonio: We taught them about the Word of Wisdom this week and they both committed to live it! Ana at one point had been so addicted to coffee, she had 20 cups a day! The doctor told her that she needed to quit, so she had been drinking less and less and she was down to 4 cups a day when we taught her about the Word of Wisdom, so she decided to stop completely and she hasn't had coffee for 4 days now! They also came to church yesterday and they are getting all of the papers they need to get married and baptized soon after!

Americo and Mauna: They are still doing great! We taught them the commandments this week and they committed to start obeying the commandments! The only problem they had was that sometimes they have to work on Sundays, but they're going to try the best they can to keep the Sabbath day Holy.

Cristina: She has a ton of questions about the gospel, so she is learning a little more slowly than others, but for the most part, she is accepting a lot. We asked her if she would be baptized when she received an answer to her prayers and she said that she would! She has a lot of faith in Christ and really wants to find the truth.

Wilson: A Brasiliano that we met on the street and invited to church and he came! We hadn't taught him a lesson and he knew nothing about the church, so the church meeting yesterday for him was a bit different for him, but he wants to know more! We're going to try to teach him sometime this week.

I absolutely love being a missionary here in Portugal! Our members are awesome and our investigators feel so loved here! I know that what I'm teaching is true. I know without a doubt that I will always be able to turn towards Christ whenever I need help. I love being able to share this message with others! :)

Have a great week! Remember to read your scriptures and pray every day! That is how we receive blessings! I love you all!

Sister Steagall

I love Portugal!

Dear Family and Friends,

Awesome week! Our investigators are really coming along great and baptism is in their future!!

Ana and Antonio: What an elect couple!! They are so excited to get married and baptized! This week we taught them about tithing and fasting. At first they were hesitant and nervous about tithing, but we bore testimony and in the end they were asking "can we pay our tithing now? Or do we have to wait until after baptism?" WOW!!! They came to church this Sunday fasting!! They aren't even baptized yet! And they paid their fast offerings! They are so excited to be a part of the Lord's church.

Americo and Mauna: An awesome family who are progressing towards baptism! They are taking it a little slower and they too need to be married first even though they already have 2 kids, Edi (11) and Ariana (8). But I guess marriage can be complicated in Cape Verde, which is where they are originally from. But they know that our message has made a difference in their lives and they know that they need to join this church.

Cristina: A lady that Sister Bakker contacted before I got to Portugal that finally decided she wanted to start taking lessons from us! She has some different ideas about things, but she has a lot of faith in Christ. 

Paula: The 17 year old daughter of one of our ward members who is really excited to meet with us. She is awesome! She came to church yesterday and loved it!! Her mom is so happy that we're teaching her! I hope she gets baptized soon!! :) 

Yesterday we found Mathew in the road!! That guy that I talked about a few weeks ago who was so ready to accept the gospel and then disappeared? We finally found him!! He told us that with all due respect, he thinks the Mormon church is too serious for him, so he decided it wasn't for him. We were pretty sad, but hopefully one day he'll find that this is the only pathway back to our Heavenly Father. I love this gospel and I'm still ever so excited to be a missionary here! :) 

Thank you for all your prayers and support! :)

Sister Steagall

Pictures:

My house!! We live on the very top floor :)

A really awesome car we found :) 

Transfer Week!

Family and Friends!

Transfers!! Sister Bakker and I will both be staying in Portimão for one more transfer!! Wahoo!! I am really excited to be staying because we have an awesome teaching pool, our members are getting stronger and stronger and our investigators are super elect!!

We are teaching an awesome couple, Antonio and Ana. They are so excited about the gospel!! They've been to church three times now and they always have so many questions! It rocks! Yesterday, they said they wouldn't be able to make it to church, but right before the sacrament started, they walked into the chapel! Sister Bakker and I were shocked!!! Ana said she woke up and knew she needed to go to church, so they moved their schedule around and were able to make it to sacrament meeting! Everything we've taught them, they've absolutely loved hearing about! They also already have their sites set on the temple to be sealed for time and all eternity. I am so excited for them!! 

We had appointments to teach Mathew this week in the Chapel, but he didn't show up to any of them. He also didn't show up to church and we have no way to contact him because he doesn't have a house and doesn't have a phone.. So he is currently MIA and we have no idea if we'll see him again! Haha we have faith that in the Lord's time, he will be baptized, just not this weekend. I know he has a testimony and believes that this church is the true church, so he'll come back. I'm not too worried. 

We've also been working with a few less actives. Ana and Rosa (mother and daughter) they love the Sister Missionaries!! Haha we enjoy visiting them and hope they will come back to church soon. We also have Maria Nobrega who has a great family, but has to work a lot. We hope that by our reaching out to her and our love for her that she will also be able to come back to church. 

That's about it for this week! The work just keeps getting better and better. I know that this gospel was restored on the earth. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Redeemer. I know that we are His hands. I love being a missionary and I love seeing the light in people's eyes as they realized that this is the true church.

I love you all!!! Até próxima! Ficam bem!! :)

Sister Steagall

Pictures: Sister Bakker and I on the balcony of one of our members

My nametag in front of the church

Me with Antonio and Ana!

Fantastic Week!

Dear Friends and Family,

What a week!!! I absolutely love the work of the Lord and I know that when we work diligently we will see miracles! And we sure did!! :)

Monday: We taught an x-investigator with a member. Her name is Gabi and she wants to know more about the church, but her boyfriend doesn't want to have anything to do with church. So we are praying super hard for his heart to be opened and hopefully we'll meet with them again this week.

Tuesday: Today was really rough. Elida, our investigator that was marked to be baptized this weekend dropped us because we woke up her daughter when we tried to pick her up for church. We felt really bad, but I know she'll receive the gospel later. She really is a great lady who has so much potential!! 

Wednesday: We had a division with the Sister Training Leaders today!! I got to be with Sister Cullimore, who is awesome!! When you're with the Sister Training Leaders, awesome things happen. We taught several lessons and the spirit was so strong!! We taught a couple, Antonio and Ana who were at church last Sunday and it was awesome! They are so interested in the church and I hope they get baptized soon! The only problem is is that they are not yet married.. So hopefully we'll have a wedding soon!! :)

Thursday: BEST. DAY. EVER. Sister Bakker and I were walking down the street and a man, named Mathew from England, came up to us and said "wow! girl mormon preachers! I've never seen that before!" So we talked to him and found out that he used to be a Jehovas witness, he is searching for the truth, he had looked at so many different christian religions, and none of them felt super right. So we gave him the first lesson right then and there and the whole time he just kept saying "ya, that makes sense." So we challenged him to be baptized. And at first, he said "I won't make any promises right now, I have to read the Book of Mormon first, but I'll think about it." So we invited him to hold the Book of Mormon in his hands and ask God with a sincere heart if this book was true. So he did, and after we asked him how he felt and he said "This feels good. I can't really describe it, but I feel like this is right. Ya. Ok. I'll get baptized on the 26 of April." AAAHHH!!!! I was so excited for him!! He had been searching for the truth and he found it!!! 

Friday: Today we had a branch activity! and Mathew came as well as Antonio and Ana!! They had such a great time and got to know the members really well! They are being accepted into the ward so well! I'm so excited for them! :)

Saturday: We had an English class and we had a lady show up that we had contacted in the road who said she wanted nothing to do with church, but she'd come to the English class. After the class she started asking a million questions about our church and what we believe and now she wants to come to Sacrament Meeting! What a miracle! 

Sunday: We had 4 investigators in church! Mathew, Antonio, Ana, and Daniel. We've been teaching Daniel this past week and he's a little hesitant about the gospel, but he's willing to try it. I hope he progresses and comes to know that this is the true church. We also had a big dinner with a ton of the members! Our branch is really getting so strong and I'm so excited!

I love this work and I know that when we put our trust in God and when we consecrate ourselves to Him. We will see miracles and be blessed immensely! What a wonderful work this is! :) 

Until next week!

Sister Steagall

P.S. I went to a castle for P-day today!! It was beautiful!! :)

What a Week!

Dear Family and Friends!! 

What a week!! I learned so much about how God works and I have grown more than ever as well. 

First! A quote that I absolutely love:

"Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." ~John 14:27

Elder Holland said: "I am convinced that none of us can appreciate how deeply it wounds the loving heart of the Savior.. when He finds that His people do not feel confident in His care or secure in His hands." TRUST IN THE LORD!!

Now about my week:

Monday: We visited a man named Antonio who we had visited before and gave him a Pascoa (Easter) card and told him to watch the Because He Lives video. We passed by today and he said that he showed the video to his wife and she said "What is the name of this church? I want to know more." Miracle!!! So we set up a time later to meet with him and his wife and talk about the video.

Tuesday:We had a great district meeting where we were reminded that we are servants of God and that we have more authority on the earth than the President of the United States. We don't need to apologize for sharing this message with the world.

Wednesday: Bad day. I can say that, because the following days were awesome. But today, hardly anyone wanted to talk to us and all of our appointments fell!! Haha it was rough, but I learned that the Lord loves His missionaries and He helps them out. Because....

Thursday: INCREDIBLE DAY!! We Marked Elida for Baptism!! Finally!! We also went to Parchal today to find some more people to teach. We only knocked on two doors, both of them answered and both of them invited us in because they talked to the Elders 5 or 6 years ago! It was really great and they were super interested in our message!! We also went past Antonio's house and his wife wasn't there, but as we were leaving, she came in the door! So we invited them to church on Sunday, and they said maybe. So we weren't sure if they were really coming or not, but we always hope! 

Friday: We talked to a few less actives about sharing the gospel with others. It's really awesome how even though they don't really come to church, when you invite them to share this awesome message with their friends, they suddenly want to come back! Awesome!

Saturday: All of our appointments fell again!! Haha wahoo!! And I don't really know what happened, but at about 6:30, we ended up having absolutely nothing to do for the rest of the night. So Sister Bakker suggested that we go to Praia da Rocha and visit a family there. So we did! We got there minutes after Mauna (the wife) got home from work, so we were able to enter the house and have a lesson with Americo and Mauna and their two children Edi (11) and Ariana (8). We invited them to church the next day!

Sunday: We went to pick up Elida for church, and she wasn't in her house. So she is no longer marked for baptism. But we will keep trying with her! So we started off pretty bummed about Elida.. But we still had hopes that Americo and his family would come! And they did!! They walked in just before Sacrament meeting and I was so happy to see them!! Then. A miracle happened. During the sacrament hymn. Antonio and his wife walked in!! We didn't think they would really come! But they did! And they loved it!! And they're coming to our branch activity this Friday and they want to come to church next Sunday! Ana, the wife, gave us her phone number so we could have lunch with her this week and talk more about the church! Wow!! So incredible!! What a miracle!!

But that's not all! The Elders in Lagos had 3 baptisms scheduled for today. One of them smoked on Saturday, so he couldn't be baptized, and another decided on the way to the baptism that he wanted to wait another month so his mom could be there. But they still had Margarita to baptize. She was baptized and it was incredible! While she was getting dressed, everyone went into the chapel and listened to some music. After a while, the man who had previously decided to wait to be baptized leaned over to the Branch President and said "I don't want to wait anymore. I want to be baptized right now." So Fernandez was baptized as well! The spirit was so strong. I didn't even know these people, but I was moved to tears. What an incredible thing to happen! The best part is, the Branch President also decided that they would recieve the Gift of the Holy Ghost right then and there, and they wouldn't wait untilnext Sunday to receive it during Sacrament meeting. Isn't that incredible!? 

What a week of miracles!! I absolutely love the gospel and I love the work. I am so happy to be in Portugal right now serving the Lord. This is the best decision I've made in my life so far. Even though some days are hard and it seems like we might not be doing a whole lot. I know we are and I know that we will be blessed for our hard work.

My advice for this week (especially for all the people in Utah with a million mormon neighbors) is to start being a missionary right now. Sure, there are other people who can invite them to church and friendship them, but why can't that person be you. If you don't know any non members, go out with the missionaries!! They ALWAYS need help! 

Sorry this one is super long! But it was a fantastic week :)

Sister Steagall

Pictures: I love Gelato.. and we found a dead seagull.