A Journal for Britt

Monday, August 4, 2014

06/24/14: Daddy's Girl

I know that my Happy Father´s Day is a little late but... Happy Father´s Day!!

I love both of my parents DEEPLY and EQUALLY but I know that I would be lying if I didn´t admit that I know I have always been a daddy´s girl. Yes, Dad, i think that your jokes are funny and I was always laughing when I was trying to pretend that I didn´t hear them. This week I thought a lot about the role of a father in a family and I remembered a lot of tucked away memories that I have with my own. I remembered how I never liked to drink milk plain but one time I saw Dad drink milk with ice cubes and I thought that it was so cool that I don´t know for how many years I told all of my friends that I only drank milk if it had ice cubes... just like my dad. I remembered a time that I refused to go to bed (sorry mom!) until Dad tucked me in but he came home so late that I had already fallen asleep on the staircase waiting for him. I remembered waking up early with Brooklynn when we lived in Texas to eat grapefruit and sugar with Dad before he left for work. I remembered telling of the the volleyball team gossip to Dad with Maria and we were laughing for hours. I remembered all of the times Dad sat me down to talk about life and I thought about a lot of struggles and hearbreak that I could have avoided if I had still been smart enough to follow the counsel of a dear father.

I am immensely grateful for a father who always was an example of another loving father that we all share in common, the Eternal father of our spirits, our Father in Heaven. I am grateful for my earthly father who always reminded me that I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father and always encouraged me to reach my divine potential which is so much greater than I ever imagined. I am grateful that my dad taught me eternal principles when my perspective was focused on earthly matters. Because of recent tragedies at home I wanted to share with my dear family and friends insight that I recieved from my dad about the plan of our loving, all powerful Heavenly Father.

Part 1 (second part to come next week!)

Faith, Hope, Charity and Gratitude-

When we have faith in Jesus Christ, that He lives and that he payed for our sins, that he created the way for us to return to live in God´s presence, we will have hope! We have hope that despite every difficulty, sadness, tragedy or trial that we have passed or will have to pass, there is a better world ahead of us. We have hope in a future that is free of pain and suffering. A hope that is ´´through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the power of his ressurrection, to be raised unto life eternal.´´ A hope that is an anchor to our souls in this storm-beaten sea of life. With this hope we begin to understand the love that God, our Eternal Father, and his son, Jesus Christ, have for us. A love that lead God to sacrifice his perfect son and that lead Christ to suffer and bleed from every pore and eventually die for us. The prophet of the world today, Thomas S, Monson, spoke of this love saying: ´´that love never changes... it is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God´s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve it. It is simply always there.´´ We can be the angel in someone´s life in expressing and extending this Christlike love.

06/16/14: Be grateful that we are children of a loving Heavenly Father

This week I thought a lot about gratitude. I know that life is hard, it isn´t fair, it is a mess and a challenge all at the same time. The great thing is that God knows us, and he loves us perfectly because we are His children. He chose his perfect child to send to this world and suffer and die to make up for the injustice that exists. All that is unfair in this life can be made right through the atonement of Christ. If you don´t know how, come to know our Savior! He offers peace, rest, love, happiness for all of us! All we have to do is follow Him. God is way too good to us, recognize the blessings that you have in your life and talk to the missionaries, they offer a message of our savior that will change your life for the better!

I love you all :)

Britt

Sister Westover

June 9th 2014

Hey everyone! Sorry I really don´t have a lot to say this week! Our time on the computer is now like 50 minutes so that goes by super fast! I miss you all tons but I am still happy as ever here! I hope that everything is going really well at home!

A thought I had this week:

sometimes we are waiting and praying and expecting HUGE miracles! Yes, miracles do exist and sometimes huge miracles occur, but sometimes the miracle is in the little occurances of every day that add up and then after some time become something great. Last night I just had the scripture ´´by small and simple means, great things come to pass´´ in my head and I thought about how every day I am seeing miracles even if we don´t have visions or raise anyone from the dead, God is allowing us to learn and grow and giving us just what we need to be able to keep going and that is amazing in and of itself! So my invitation for you all this week is notice the little miracles in your life, the tender mercies of our loving Heavenly Father and give thanks for these things!

I love you TONS!

Britt (Sister Westover)

06/02/14

Josenilson :) he is Dad of Joilton and grandpa of Wesley. His daughter was baptized in another city with Sister Morais! I love this guy. This is the last peanut butter jar you gave me haha but I decorated it with pictures of Jesus and every time that Josenilson feels the desire to smoke or drink he will put his money to buy cigarros ou bebidas in the jar and then we will use this money to marry him and his wife! Oh how the life of a missionary is creative.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Oi familia!

Today for pday we had a little party with our district and played volleyball outside at the church and had breakfast! It was so fun but I think I will definitely be sore tomorrow... Who knew that jeans and sports could make a person so happy!? At least now I know that I have one thing to look forward to in 9 months! I made chocolate pancakes for the district and all of the brazilians were loving them haha, they may have good fruit but America pretty much has got them beat with everything else. ;)

Funny story... last night we were getting ready for bed and getting our clothes ready to leave in the morning to play volleyball after our studies. Everyone was trying on jeans because it´s been ages since anyone used them (other than my companion who is new haha) and we wanted to be sure they fit. My companion went to grab a bag of clothes that she had a she started screaming and jumping up and down screaming ´´rat!´´ Oh my gosh I like totally freaked out... it is impossible for a rat to get into our house so I didn´t believe here but still... Anyway everyone went to stand on chairs or on the staircase and she grabbed the umbrella to carefully (and with enough distance) move the sack of clothes anddddd it totally was a rat!!! You can imagine how our little condo was jumping with four missionaries freaking out! There also happened to be a turantula living in front of the house so we called the neighbor to take care of that little guy, he was showering so while we waited for him we stopped the man delivering pizza at the neighbors to find the rat and take him out. All of the neighbors were peaking out of the windows to figure out what was going on. The good news is the guy who was delivering pizza reminded me a ton of Robbie (who I need to email back!) and he was totally interested and gave us his address so we will pass this week! woo hoo!

This week was fun! My companion is getting the hang of things and we found a bunch of really cool people this week to start teaching! We are really working to find families so if you could pray for this that would be awesome! This last week I met the coolest girl!! She is has 13 years and reminds me a lot of me (but that´s not why she is cool haha). Her name is Nicole and she is like way mature and was so excited to talk to us about our message. She had the best questions that were like perfect for the lesson and while we were talking I could totally see her serving a mission! So pray for her too please :)

This is my week! I love you all tons!!!

Sister Westover

"What my mom taught me"

It was SO GOOD to see the fam!!! Sheesh, que saudades! If I could skype every couple of weeks I think I would stay on my mission forever! It was so great to talk to you guys (Sky I missed you tons!!) and to see everyone and at the same time it reminded me why I am here, what I am doing, and that I wouldn´t rather be anywhere else in the world right now! It was a good little boost that I was needing :)

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOM!! I was thinking a lot about you this week and everything that you taught me over the years to allow me to be the person, and missionary that I am now! Here are some of the things that help me each and every day:

1. Be happy. Life is better when you are smiling, when you are laughing, when you are genuinely happy! Yes, we all face trials and difficulties in life, but life is to be enjoyed! I have so many moments when I could choose to be sad and tired and give up a little, but I remember that I am the daughter of Kimberli Westover, and I am extremely blessed, I have absolutely no reason in the world not to be happy, and this lets me keep going strong!

2. Count your blessings. In everything we do there will be opposition so life is clearly better when you choose to find the good. Many times we create the challenges in our lives because of weakness, or mistakes, but even then, we can learn and move forward and turn it into a good thing!

3. Don´t worry about what you can´t change, and what you can change... change! I have to admit that I am no less stressed out here on the mission... but on the upside, I am working hard to change what I can! Our purpose here is to learn and grow and so sometimes we have to learn to let go and other times we have to learn to push through. Learn to recognize the difference.

4. Serve. I think that I may be one of the few missionaries who has been blessed with the greatest companions ever! I don´t think that it is because my companions have all been exceptionally more miraculous than the other missionaries (although they have all been amazing) but rather because we learn to love when we serve! We are all a part of God´s family, we are his children and so when we do good to his other children (our brothers and sisters) we naturally feel God´s love for them! This also help us forget ourselves and be changed! Service is magic!

5. Sing... and dance when no one is looking (in the case you are on a mission). Music sets the tone for everything! There are only two things that we remember in this life naturally: music and smell. This must be why I wake up some mornings hearing moms voice singing me to get up. I have learned that to invite the spirit, to lift hearts, to express or insite happiness music is key much of the time! If you are feeling a little down try singing at the top of your lungs... I don´t think it´s possible to stay that way for long!

6. Put God first. I have learned a ton of things from my mom over the years. A TON... like I would have a list in the thousands if I had the time but of everything that I have learned the most important is that no matter what we go through in life, who is in our life, what is happening, the key is to always put God first. He gave us life, He gave us these moments of happiness, of opportunity, of growth, of love and he is always rooting us on. He is a loving, perfect father in heaven who gives us all that we are needing if we only seek him. If we put God first in all we do we will be smarter, we will be prettier, we will be more blessed (in ALL things, spiritually and temporally), we will be happier, we will reach our true limitless potential.

I love you Mom! Thanks for all that you do!

Sister Westover

:) woo hoo! and new hair! Thanks mom!

Aurenir... LOVE HER! She made me the dress that I used today for the conference with Elder Andersen!

Larissa... at stake conference with Elder Andersen!

Sister Palacios and I today at the conference! My hispanic daughter!

I look so white next to Sister Ferreira... but love her!!

Sister Hart! My love <3 We decided we will live together after the mission woo hoo!

Monday, May 5, 2014

Woo Hoo!

Woo hoo! Finally here!!! We get to skype!!! I will call you during the week to figure out what day and time works best, I am soo excited!! And can you believe already at 9 months here in two weeks!! So weird.

News:

Unfortunately my dear companion Sister Ferreira left me :(. Fortunately I am still here in Pajuçara! and not really sure if it is unfortunately or fortunately but I am training! a sister from Ecuador! What? haha It makes me laugh a little thinking we have an american and ecuadoriana walking the streets in Brazil, but it´s fun. A learning experience for everyone, that´s for sure.

Other news:

I have lice.... The good news in this is that I get to go to the salon to remove the lice and they will do my hair :) Pretty much everyone here has lice in Pajuçara (at least all of the little kids) and all of the sisters who already served here had it at one point too) also... mom if you could put money in my acount so that I can pay that would be great :) ha if you can... THANK YOU!!!

This week was a little rough because Sister Mometto finished her mission and went home (I already miss her like crazy!) and Sister Ferreira left me in Pajuçara, and I started training someone who speaks spanish, and I hadn´t been sleeping well the last week, and my head started spinning because I was going crazy. Fortunately, I have the best companions in the whole world and Sister Morais visited me yesterday to help with our Sunday and we got to sleep in our hammocks last night and talk in the other room. It was a blessing that she came to help because Sunday is always the most hectic day ever! My poor companion I think had no idea what was going on and I sent her with a member the take some investigators to church while I waited with Sister Morais for our investigators who would be baptized to get back home after their trip! We waited 3 hours and finally (in literally the last possible minutes) Henrique got home and we all went to the stake center for the baptisms! They are our first young men that we have baptized here and I am so excited! Seriously Pajuçara is growing so much and I love working so hard and watching our little group grow! On the other topic I have seriously been blessed with the best companions ever so I have no doubt Sister Palacios (my new companion) won´t be an exception. But I am already planning my future visits to Brazil to visit Sister Mometto (Sao Paulo) Sister Ferreira (campinas) and Sister Morais (Maceio).

My email this week is kind of a mess of thoughts, as normal, and is reflecting my state of mind. But I sent a bunch of pictures so hopefully that makes up for it!

I am so excited to skype you guys! I am so grateful for this work, for the opportunity I have to be a missionary, for my companions, for my family, for my Savior. I pray that everyone and everything is well at home!

Sister Westover

Wesley and Henrique.. they are so awesome! I love them!