I LOVE Itapipoca. — Sister Chamberlain

Bom Dia!

Itapipoca. Rocks. I´m in love with the interior. (We are a 4 hour bus ride from any major city.) My first night we passed by a bunch of houses and an old guy was sitting in front of his house in his rocker and offered me popcorn (aka pipoca... in ItaPIPOCA...yas.)

My new companion is Sister Mish. She´s super cute and happy and from Maryland. Two Americans in the middle of nowhere Ceará. haha We stick out a bit, but everyone wants to talk to us and find out why the heck we´re here (well let me tell ya!) I´m pretty pumped because this week like 4 people asked me if I was from São Paulo... hoping that means I lost my American accent and sound more native :)

This week was really great. Jardim America was like the smallest area in our mission and I´m willing to bet Itapipoca is one of the biggest. We´re walking LOTS. Our branch has tons of potential and I´m really excited to watch it grow. There are several inactive families that are coming back to church and helping strengthen the branch and it´s incredible.

We´re currently teaching a MARVELOUS couple. Seriously, they´re so cute and perfect. i love them. They already want to get baptized, the only thing left for them to do is get married!! THEY´RE GOING TO GET MARRIED. (Raíssa + Michel = forever)

Please let me be the flower girl 😍 Raíssa woke up with Chicangunha this week (that sketchy mosquito virus). She couldn´t get out of bed, she had a fever for 3 days straight, and had horrendous red itchy splotches everywhere. We asked the branch president and his counselor to go and give her a blessing. That same night after the blessing, her fever finally broke and she was able to sleep. She´s already getting tons better which is seriously a miracle because the joint pain can last up to a year they say. Anyways, Raíssa and Michel were able to see the power of the priesthood in their little family and it was so wonderful.

Also this week, our friend Samuel got confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and received the Holy Ghost as his constant companion. He was so happy! He´s very excited to know the truth and to keep learning. I can see him as a future missionary and it´s so cool.

I can feel myself growing more in this area already. It´s a new challenge but it´s going to be a great transfer. Excited and grateful and determined :)

The Church is true! Hooray!

Love from Itapipoca,

Sister Chamberlain

I ALMOST FORGOT. THIS WEEK I MADE BEANS. LIKE LEGIT BRAZILIAN BEANS. IN A REAL BRAZILIAN PRESSURE COOKER! AND IT DIDN´T EXPLODE. I plan to eat rice and beans for the rest of my days <3