Mitchell, week 38, Marabá

Well  am just gonna send this email to you two... but I hope I can explain whats been happening these past week or two and you can post it on the blog. But please review it and make sure everything is good to post.

Well I have sent all the pictures to y'all a total of 6 emails worth of photos before this email.

We had a branch activity 2 Sundays ago at a park. Were we explained the church and had a projector and all. It turned our really good! The problem was that all the references and contacts was in the area of the other elders here in Marabá. But it got the branch pumped up to help us out in this AWESOME work here in Marabá.

I hit my 9th month mark.... so that's why I sent those pictures :P with the mustache and baby bump

So last Saturday we had a baptism of this young women named Amanda. Her mom (member) lives in Brasilia but lives with her aunt here in Marabá. Her aunt is also a member. But Amanda had a rough time excepting to be baptized. But with the help of her aunt (Sister Elianie) she helped Amanda understand and bore her testimony as well. But Amanda definitely knows what she is doing. She has a strong testimony and definitely knows the Bible and all. She is such a smart young girl! The baptism turned out pretty good as well!! :D Funny part was that she actually got baptized 6 times. She kept kicking her legs out the water and so we finally did it on her knees so that she can be completely covered in water. But gosh it was a great day!! That same day we were crossing a highway and we saw a young bull in the middle of the road. It was crazy how he was dodging the cars and just full of confusion. But sadly he got hit by a bus and died on the spot..... :(

These past weeks we have been doing visits with 3 members.... (Rodrigo (Got his mission call to serve in Londrina- Brasil leaves in may, Heber (We are helping him get ready for his mission), and Crisline (Also we are  helping her out) But this ward is filled and pumped up with joy and energy to do missionary work!! :D 

Sadly, this is the last week of this transfers.... It was cut a week short. But I pray I can stay here until the middle of June till the end of the next transfers so I can see the baptism of Brother Claudio and Sister Kayla. They are doing great and are so excited to receive their marriage papers and after be baptized in the middle of May! :D 

We are helping this family out to be baptized this next week, but I am just excited to be here on a mission in BRASIL!!!! The language is SLOWLY coming... I am understanding more and more and talking a little better every day! :D But I know this gospel is true, I know the Book of Mormon is also true, and I love you!! 

With love,

Elder McCrea 

The baptism we had last week. Her name is Amanda. Her mom is a member but lives in Brasilia right now.

 

 The sister with her is her Aunt and her cousin and also with her little brother. But wow Amanda is smart and we are happy we could help her out! :D 

Balancing Amanda :P

Lichia fruto - fricken good

The branch activity at a park. We talked with everyone there and got a lot of references. Problem was 100% of the contacts were in the area of the other elders. But it was a blast and got the branch pumped for missionary work.

Half of a loaf of bread a member gave us.

A dog that was following us for like 2 days! :D 

The elders in my zone....

This is my 9th mark on a mission photos. So its my 9th mark mustache or my baby bump. :P 

This weird cintaped (I don't remember how to spell it in English) I found on the road that day

The rain we have been getting lately. This rain is the spring rain. Where it's thick rain, but still pretty sunny outside. 

Mariah, week 43, Zaporozhye

CHRIST HAS RISEN! A week late! Yay!

Whoops so I was totally supposed to send this e-mail last Monday but I didn't get to finish it but... so here I am sending it a week late. Whoo-ho!

So. "Христос воскрес!" That's basically what Ukrainians say instead of "Happy Easter". So when people yell "ХРИСТОС ВОСКРЕС!" to you on the street, they're yelling "CHRIST HAS RISEN!" at you, which you can just reply with a "ХРИСТОС ВОСКРЕС!" right back.

Fun culture fact about Ukraine: The Ukrainian Easter holiday is called "Pasca". Instead of Easter eggs and the Easter Bunny, Ukrainians eat "pascas", which are like tall, sweet bread cakes with sprinkles on top. The Pasca holiday is usually spent with family and lots and lots of food.

-- Delicious right? Pffh yeah it totally is (It's super good with tea!)

Hey world! So another fun fact! I'm not in Zaporozhye anymore! Haha...  yeah! I'm in Poltava. I got transferred... today actually. President van Bruggen told me that I was getting transferred Saturday evening, and told me that I needed to be in Dnepropetrovsk by Sunday evening, and then Monday morning, I'd be taken up to the great ol' little town of Poltava. With my new companion... Sister Patterson! :D Who, believe it or not, was one of my MTC companions. Yeah, so I was totally companions with Sister Meyers, who I was in the MTC with. And now I'm with my MTC companion. All these MTC memories have just been coming back to me. Talk about a BLAST FROM THE PAST!

Anyway, so Poltava's apparently a quaint little town, two hours north of Dnepropetrovsk. (Feel free to look up and see where Poltava is at on Google Maps or something haha.) But yeah, I've only been here two hours and it seems like a cool city. It's just been a lot to take in, all so quickly. I just can't wait to sleep for an hour or two after we go shopping after Internet. So much has happened during the past few weeks... it just feels like a whirlwind and I don't even know where to start.

Whoops. Just got the 5 minute warning... so I guess that I don't have much time to try and search for a scripture. So I'll just end with a simple testimony. I know that this church is true. I love that I have the opportunity to have my testimony of the church grow every time I talk and share my testimony with someone on the street. I'm glad that I have the chance to give Book of Mormons out like candy to the Ukrainian people... AND THAT'S IT FOLKS. WRITE ME AND I WILL LOVE YOU FOREVER. 

xoxo

Sister McCrea

Mariah, week 41, Zaporozhye

Hello world.

 Because I basically have less than 10 minutes left, this week's letter will be short.

During the last few days, I've been taking to liking a new scripture theme for myself for this transfer. It's from D&C 64, verse 33: "be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great."

Out of the small efforts that I make everyday -- to try and talk to everyone that I see on the streets, to talk the people who I sit next to on marshootki, to visit and strengthen the less-actives in our area -- out of remembering to do the little things, starts a great foundation. As a missionary, I have had a bad habit of just going from day-to-day, trying to do my hardest, but I just haven't felt satisfied at the end of the day. Just incredibly exhausted. And sometimes I forget to do the little things. But after I found this scripture during personal study on Friday, I am doing all that I can to ingrain this scripture into my daily missionary work. Not just so I can look back on my mission and feel satisfied with my work. I'm also starting to realize that all that I do as a missionary, it will relate to real life when I get home and I don't have to wear a missionary tag 24/7. I need not to be weary in my well-doing, because I am laying the foundation for my life. The skills that I'm developing now as a missionary will help me in the future. And because I will not be weary in my work -- the Lord will bless me and my efforts. "I, the Lord, am abound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." I have faith. And more importantly, I have the faith to be able to act on this small amount of faith that I think I have.

And that's the moral of Sister McCrea's story of missionary service this week.

In other news, the weather is really bi-polar in Ukraine. I'm talking about one day it's near freezing and within a few days, it's warm and sunny out. Like today. :) Today is beeee-U-tee-ful!

And to close... with a classic missionary testimony. I know that the message that I am sharing with people here in Zaporozhye Ukraine is true. If it wasn't -- I wouldn't be here. I haven't had a chance to watch General Conference yet, but I know that the Lord is leading His work on the earth today through His prophet, Thomas S. Monson and his apostles. I know that the short, but sweet, 18 months that I am able to spend here in Ukraine, spreading the good news is the closest that I will ever get to knowing what it's like to be an apostle. And I can't believe that my time is already halfway over. I don't ever want to leave! But I am grateful that I am able to consecrate my time and efforts to the Lord. This is all for Him and the salvation of my heavenly brothers and sisters. 

Love you all!

xoxo 

Sister McCrea

Mitchell, week 35, Marabá

Oi Tudo Mundo :D (Hey everyone)

Oi, well this past week has been crazy!! I said good by to Elder Montarroys. I am grateful I had the chance to serve with him and I learned so much from him!! But now my new companion is...... Elder Branco (Branco means white :P) So my companion is Elder Branco! He's from Sâo Paulo interior. He has about 1 year on his mission and is just a great little guy! He is small and practically just a stick. He tells people he weighs about the same as a sack of concrete. But hahahah he's GREAT! (Also kinda funny... My best friend Chesley or BFFLE = best friend for like ever. Is serving a mission in the West Virginia mission and her name is Sister White and her companion is Sister Gray. HAHAH kinda fuinny I think) But ahh this week was GREAT!!!!

My birthday turned out pretty good! There is a family that has a restaurant here in Marabá (Sister Telma and Brother Nevaldo) that made 2 pizzas for us! GOSH IT WAS FLIPPING GOOD!!!!! If you ever in Marabá, Para stop by and eat some Flipping good pizza and caldo at Big-Bom in Marabá, Pará on the road Avenida VP 3! :b Plus add them on Facebook Brother Nevaldo told me they got one! :P But ahh that family is great!! 

That's about it for this week..... sorry this letter is short but Wow! I am so glad I am on a mission!! I LOVED General Conference and the one quote I just love is what Elder Holland said, " Pure Christ-like love flowing from righteousness can change the world" Gosh I just love that quote!! I love my family so much!! I am grateful 

for this gospel and I know that if you read the scriptures, go to church, and pray our lives will always be blessed!!! :D

Com amor e Abraço! (with love and hugs)

Elder McCrea

p.s. So the Zone Leaders are in Belém today and tomorrow I hope they will bring back some cards! :) Btw, if you write me I promise I will write back! :D (It takes about a month for you to get my letters. :(  Also the address to the mission office is a little different. Just the zip code changed to.... 66035-135. But everything else is the same! :D 

Duda, Sister Telma, Brother Nevaldo and Elder Branco at BigBom :D

Brother Claudio and Sister Kayla are doing great!! They visited General Conference and loved it! 

  <-- The family and grand kids with Elder Montarroyos

HEY SIS.... Cectpa McCrea they have a brand of rice with your name on it! :P