There's always something...

Hey y'all!
Remember - It is Sarah's birthday this weekend! I am sending her package a little later to spread out the love a little... SO, PLEASE, if you have not emailed me yet with a little note to her (even if you write her normally) telling her why you love her, DO IT NOW! My email address again: linzekate@gmail.com - Thank you for all of the support you show her!

Oh, and she did ask for ONE thing... If anyone has a brain downloader for the Portugese language, she would like one of those... I told her I looked on EBay, but couldn't find one... :)

- Ridiculouslygoodlooking -

P.S. There is a picture attatched at the bottom - perhaps someone could send her an umbrella too! :)

"From Sister Sarah Ray

January 26, 2009

This week has been pretty interesting....okay so thats a lie. This week has been SLOW! Nothing really happened with the wonderful world of Braga except for more rain. Oh well, we are going to be well hydrated. WAIT, we added wind this week...it was a lot of fun (see picture...at this point all we could do was laugh after umbrella number 2 went down). As far as the work goes; it goes. I can now add my personal testimony to that of thousands of others that the second you get to the first vision in a lesson, something happens. The Phone rings, the dog starts to bark, the baby cries, the neighbor knocks, the apartment building splits down the middle and you have to leave....whatever. It is actually pretty funny. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next couple of weeks because (trumpet sounds) as of this comming Thursday I am leading the area...SCARY. We found out yesterday that Irmã De Macedo is being transfered( WAY unexpected) and leaving me here in Braga without a clue as to what I am really doing. Since half of the people are just getting back from Christmas feiras I don´t know the people in the ward or the people we are teaching....it will be fun! My new companion is Irmã Polito and she is Brazilian, basically speaks no English at all. So now you know as much about her as I do...we will all stay tuned together. My Portuguese is sure to improve quickly that is for sure.

So despite all the frusterations that happen in a week, we carry on. Our one triumph of the week was that Nicole came to church...YAY we have been trying for 6 weeks, and we finally got her there. We just need to step up our work a little more I guess with everyone else. President has challanged us as a mission to have a baptism a week(somewhere in the missão) so we will see how that goes. It would be pretty fixe if we can do it. Ludimila is still marked for Fev 21st now, so we are praying for her. Actually we were teaching her a lesson, and her roommate came in and asked if she could listen too...needless to say we were pretty excited about that, and we have actually met with her a couple times since. It is funny that even though everything can seem to go wrong in a week, I can still feel the Spirit with us all the time. I still know that what I am doing is right, and I still love the people here with all my heart- even if they are really obnoxious at times. The church is true, the gospel is worth it!

Irmã Ray"

The following are the options for writing Sarah. Here is what to do:
1) You can use the dearelder.com website. This requires Postage to Portugal (94 cents). You will need to set up an account with money in it and then it will subtract the correct postage from it each time you send a letter .

2) There is a drop down box on the right hand side down just a couple inches. Enter her mission which is Portugal Porto and then click "write a letter" just below where you select the mission.

3) On the next screen enter your return address and Sister Sarah Ray in the address line, add your email in the email box below the envelope.

4) Write your letter in the text box and then hit the "send letter" box under the text box to send it on.
5) Again, this requires postage so you have to set up an account and put money into it and then it will substract each time you write.

OR

2) The alternate way for sending anything (i.e. letters, packages, etc) through the mail is below. This is her address in her current area (Braga):
Sister Sarah Ray

Rua Padre Antonio Vieira

Nº91 5º Tras

Braga 4710-374

Portugal

Weekly Review... Hanging on to Faith!

Hey everyone!
Here is the update from Irma Ray - I hope y'all enjoy and remember to keep sending her your support and prayers. If you don't already know, Sarah's 23rd Birthday is in a few weeks! I am excited about an idea I had - I want to have as many people as I can write her at least a paragraph to her and telling her why you love her, and email it to me. I will print them all off and send them to her as a Happy Birthday from all of us! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE if you can email ASAP me at: linzekate@gmail.com with you letters, that would be great. She knows I am sending her a birthday/valentine's package, so have letters to me no later than Feb. 1st!!!

Thanks for the love and support you send her and write her/email me soon! *muah* - Ridiculouslygoodlooking


"From Sister Sarah Ray

Okey dokey... This week has been absolutely crazy.
Monday: okay so P-day last week was lame because it was transfer cleanings and inspections, so all we did was clean.
Tuesday: We got to go to Porto once again...new missionary meeting. Hooray for being on your mission for 3 months, we are going to tell you exactly the same thing that we told you when you got here. The good news is that Irmã Henry did cook us all American food and we got to go see the Porto lighthouse. I will try and send pictures but I don´t know that it will work on this computer. We actually had a good time, but didn´t get a whole lot done. So when we finally got back to Braga, I had the wonderful pleasure of getting on a bus and going to Guimarães for two days on divisions. So, Mom, as far as work goes, Tuesday was a bust- we had one lição. Sad day- especially since the space heater in Guimarães doesn´t work. So basically we were camping inside.
Wednesday: District Meeting took up half of the day since we have to travel to get there sometimes. Unfortunately then I spent the day still on divisions trying to find places that Irmã Beckett "thought" the investigators lived. It was a bit entertaining, but we made the best of it. Guimarães is the oldest city in Portugal and they have a really cool castle that we are going to try and go to some P-day. Unfortunately that is accompanied with people who do not want to listen to us at all. Not for lack of trying.
Thursday: Zone Conference, and yes Mom, I did have to speak. Two zone conferences, two talks. Wow, I must really need help with learning things. This one was on missionary work (go figure) and I had to do it in Portuguese. Slightly nerve wracking since every other sister in our zone...there are 5, are native speakers. BUT, I survived, and I think people understood. That remains to be seen. Anyway, after zone conference I got to go back to Braga-yay! Of course by the time we got back to our apartment we only had about 2 hours of the day left.
Friday: weekly planning for can you believe it- week 5 of the transfer. We get transfer calls this week, although I´m not expecting to go anywhere. Anyway, planning takes a good 4 hours, so Friday was a bummer of a day for the work as well. We had a lot of time to go knocking doors, which really just consists of us standing outside of a big building and pushing button after button until someone lets us in. Just a bit different from Andrew having to tract in Snowflake!

So basically our week was not so good for actually getting out and talking to people, so we were way bugged about it yesterday. So in a determination to actually get something done yesterday, we picked the biggest apartment building around (14 floors, 114 apartments) and we knocked the whole thing. The good news is out of our 14 floors we ended up with16 other lessons and 4 new investigators, so we will see how that goes. We still have Ludimila marked for baptism, but we had to move the date back because she still won´t come to church. She is really excited about it, but then she never comes. Grr. We will have to see what we can do about that. Our other investigator that was really close is now having issues too. Dad you said the problem you usually ran into was not being married. I´m pretty sure the problem in Portugal is that they are. It seems that mission wide every time we get someone close, they stop investigating or won´t come to church because of their husband/boyfriend. Mayusa´s husband won´t let her come to church right now, so we are trying to figure out how to deal with that. I´m sure that is will all work out, the Lord looks out for everyone. I´ll have to admit though, that sometimes it is hard when we don´t know the how it is going to happen. That is when we just need faith.

Love you all,
Irmã Ray"

If you want to spread the love to Sarah, here is what to do:

1) You can use the dearelder.com website. This requires Postage to Portugal (94 cents). You will need to set up an account with money in it and then it will subtract the correct postage from it each time you send a letter .
2) There is a drop down box on the right hand side down just a couple inches. Enter her mission which is Portugal Porto and then click "write a letter" just below where you select the mission.
3) On the next screen enter your return address and Sister Sarah Ray in the address line, add your email in the email box below the envelope.
4) Write your letter in the text box and then hit the "send letter" box under the text box to send it on.
5) Again, this requires postage so you have to set up an account and put money into it and then it will substract each time you write.

OR

2) The alternate way for sending anything (i.e. letters, packages, etc) through the mail is below. This is her address in her current area (Braga):

Sister Sarah Ray
Rua Padre Antonio Vieira
Nº91 5º Tras
Braga 4710-374
Portugal

Freezing Snowsisters from Braga!

Good news! We have another letter from Braga!!!

Haha... Sarah seems to be doing well even though things are a bit frustrating... You can read below for yourself, but I know that she would love to hear some encouragement right now. Also, just as a thought - I am going to fast for her and her mission on the next Fast Sunday... Anyone who would like to join me in this, that would be wonderful and mean a lot to her and to me.
I hope that things are going well with everyone and life is treating y'all well! I send my love along with Irma Ray's love! :) - Ridiculouslygoodlooking

"January 12, 2009

So we had our first holiday free week of the transfer, and we still ended up running around like Chickens with our heads cut off. It is amazing how no matter what you plan for, it will surely change. We have had quite the frusterating days this week since apparently everyone decided they don´t want to investigate the church anymore. We blame it on Irmã Souza leaving, they just all liked her better. Actually we do have some people who are just great, but it is amazing how many things will come up in their lives to keep them from us. We are working with a woman who is fantastic and pretty much already a member of the church but her husband will not let her come to church or even think about being baptized. We had Sam (Lynda Marinho´s daughter that served in Lisboa) with us at one lesson this week, and she was hillarious after we left. We were talking about how we could help Maiusa get to church and Sam suggested it would be easier if we just knock off her husband right now and do his work in the temple next year.... Too bad I don´t think President would go for that. We are doing a lot of praying though, and hopefully things will turn around. We actually had a really good lesson with her this week, she is an awesome woman. We had to push Ludimila´s baptism back, which was a bit frusterating, but we are still aiming for this month...we will see. Right now we are hoping for my birthday...what a sweet present that would be :)
As for other news...IT SNOWED IN BRAGA! not just a little, a good old snow storm that stuck and everything. That hasn´t happened in the city in over 30 years at least...if ever. It was great until we had to go outside and work, but such is life. Irmã De Mac and I have mastered the art of wearing long underware under our skirts. We have figured out the exact length that we have to pull them up so you can´t see it when we sit, but so that we get the maximum warmth. Go team Irmãs. So we hear from the members that apparently all of Europe is caught in a death grip of ice and cold. It is way colder all over Europe than pretty much ever before and no one knows why, but I definitely believe it. Fortunately this freezing spell is supposed to end sometime this week. That would be greatly appreciated since our propane tank died- which means no hot water or stove. This happened about the time I got the shampoo in my hair in the shower. IT got really cold really fast....not a fun experience. On the upside though, since we didn´t have a stove, and the oven has never worked, we are now the proud owners of a convection oven AND a microwave. It was a proud day for our little Braga apartment. THe funny part would have been watching us try and get it home from 2 miles away...I´m sure we made quite the picture trying to lug this huge box across Braga when I. De Mac is even smaller than I am. I think it was about as big as us.
The other good news is the post office is finally open again (don´t worry it was only closed for almost two weeks) so we are getting mail again....yay! We got several christmas packages this week....better late than never. So thank you to all of you who sent cards, they have definitely brightened the week.
Oh, ps I have to speak at Zone conference....again. Second time since i got in the country. Bummer, because this time it is in Portuguese... We will see how it goes. Everyone else seems to think I speak well, but I know better...lots of practice in the future. All in all it is still an awesome experience and I am loving being here. Portugal is amazing, the people, although sometimes obnoxious, are really quite open and kind people and the work is moving forward. I can hardly believe that we are in week 4 of the transfer. I am so thankful for the gospel in my life and the way I can see it effecting the lives of others. What a blessing we have. Love you all and have a marvelous week!

Irmã Ray"

The following are the options for writing Sarah. Here is what to do:

1) You can use the dearelder.com website. This requires Postage to Portugal (94 cents). You will need to set up an account with money in it and then it will subtract the correct postage from it each time you send a letter .
2) There is a drop down box on the right hand side down just a couple inches. Enter her mission which is Portugal Porto and then click "write a letter" just below where you select the mission.
3) On the next screen enter your return address and Sister Sarah Ray in the address line, add your email in the email box below the envelope.
4) Write your letter in the text box and then hit the "send letter" box under the text box to send it on.
5) Again, this requires postage so you have to set up an account and put money into it and then it will substract each time you write.

OR

2) The alternate way for sending anything (i.e. letters, packages, etc) through the mail is below. This is her address in her current area (Braga):

Sister Sarah Ray
Rua Padre Antonio Vieira
Nº91 5º Tras
Braga 4710-374
Portugal

News from "Heaven's Diaper!"

Here is the latest and greatest from Miss Sarah Ray over in Portugal - After her general email I posted a quote she sent in MY latest letter with some scriptures she suggests for the tough times... Enjoy and remember to write!!! :) *muah* - Ridiculouslygoodlooking

"OLA!
So once again we have made it to Monday in the wonderful world of Portugal. This week has been LONG, but we are really excited to start a new one. It seems that Satan has decided my honeymoon period of my mission is over. No more appointments for us, and we were pretty much told to take a hike by two investigators. I think we were stood up on appointments every time except for one in three days...BLAST! The good news however, is that means we will now have to opportunity to find new investigators, and I get to practice Portuguese with people who don´t know that I am just learning. Well, at least until I open my mouth, then it is pretty obvious I think. Although, everyone seems to think I am English and not American...go figure!
Well, something that I learned this week is that Braga has another nickname....yes I know, this makes a lot. Unfortunately this one is a bit less flattering. The Bishop enlightened us to the fact that Braga is fondly referred to as "Heaven´s Diaper" because pretty much all it does here is rain. I´m not sure I really like the mental image you get with that name when it is raining.
Lesson number two of the week: NEVER get married in Portugal. We had a wedding in our ward this week, but in Portugal you have to be married civilly before you can go to the temple in Spain. SO, the whole ward has been knocking themselves out to pull this thing together and Saturday was the day. Everyone arrived on Portuguese standard time, combined with Mormon standard time, so we started about 45 minutes late. Then they realized that not everyone was there...the government official that has to be present had decided that it was not on her priority list for the day. So, while the families were running around trying to get a hold of her, they started to program from the back to the front, with the family all giving advice and such. Well, that was all finished, and still no official...so then we took pictures, then we did the reception....still no Portuguese government lady. I´m pretty sure that I would have been a mess by then if it had been me, but Daniela was very composed. Not to worry, they finally found a replacement and the happy couple was married 5 hours late, but didn't have to reschedule for another day- which apparently is common. CRAZY!
Anyway, the work moves forward, the missionaries freeze, but hey we will thaw out in April. We are hoping to have one of our investigators marked this week for Baptism, so hopefully that will be a bright spot this week! Other than that, we just keep on working, come what may. I´m thinking if the rain keeps up like this, we can just let the streets flood and baptize the whole city! The church is true, the gospel is worth everything that happens, and I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to share the message with others. Happy New Year to everyone!

Love

Irmã Ray"

"Alma 7:11-13 and Section 121 are two things that have really helped me during the tough times here..." - I really appreciated this, so feel free to feed from these words as well! :)


The following are the options for writing Sarah. Here is what to do:

1) You can use the dearelder.com website. This requires Postage to Portugal (94 cents). You will need to set up an account with money in it and then it will subtract the correct postage from it each time you send a letter .
2) There is a drop down box on the right hand side down just a couple inches. Enter her mission which is Portugal Porto and then click "write a letter" just below where you select the mission.
3) On the next screen enter your return address and Sister Sarah Ray in the address line, add your email in the email box below the envelope.
4) Write your letter in the text box and then hit the "send letter" box under the text box to send it on.
5) Again, this requires postage so you have to set up an account and put money into it and then it will substract each time you write.

OR

2) The alternate way for sending anything (i.e. letters, packages, etc) through the mail is below. This is her address in her current area (Braga):

Sister Sarah Ray
Rua Padre Antonio Vieira
Nº91 5º Tras
Braga 4710-374
Portugal

Get your letter on! :)

Happy New Year from Braga!

Here is a little New Year's gift for ya'll! Actually, I am not sure is anyone reads her blog because I am sure that everyone who would read it already gets her emails... Nonetheless, now at least SHE has a copy of all of her adventures that she emailed to everyone. Haha...

In case anyone DOES read this, Sarah is doing really well and seems to be having some funny experiences to share - or at least she is presenting them in a more positive and funny manner... haha! She has let me know that MANY people think she is doing great with the language, but I can tell she is still a bit frusterated with understanding it. It'll come more in time - she's amazing so she will be great! :) Below is her most resent update and a picture of her heading into the field - Hope everyone has a very Happy New Year! :)

"December 29, 2008

So hello once again from the wonderful land of Portugal. Well, I was going to report that I must be a good luck charm because I hadn´t been rained on yet, but Mother Nature took care of that one. I think we hit a record this weekend for being the coldest, wetest missionaries that Braga had ever seen. Yes, we were bright enough to forget our umbrella on the day that we didn´t have an appointment till 8pm so we were outside ALL DAY. We could have picked up one of the discarded ones along the side of the road...they get turned inside out a lot, so people just dump the broken umbrellas on the side of the road. It was cold, and wet, but hey, we had fun.... I have to have something to tell stories about in 10 years....I was just missing the barefoot part, but I´m pretty sure that we got the uphill both ways, since pretty much all of Braga is hills both ways.

So Christmas was grand fun. We made it down to Porto for a zone conference, which was actually in English- go figure. We ended up with a lot of the sisters on the same bus leaving the stake center so we actually started and impromptu caroling session, which was a lot of fun. It was one of our desperate ways to contact people since this week has been pretty much a waste when it comes to missionary work. We spent a lot of time with the ward and less actives, but pretty much everyone we are teaching is gone, and no one wanted to be bothered at Christmas time. We did get to spend the Christmas Eve with members though. The Portuguese celebrate Christmas on the 24th, and everything happens at midnight. Of course, we were back in our apartment by then, but there was no way we were sleeping through the massive amounts of fireworks that were going on ALL night. They really really like fireworks here, but it was fun. As for the rest of the week, we have pretty much been getting Irmã Souza ready to go home. Our apartment looks like a packing bomb went off, but we are headed down to Porto to drop her off at the office. Of course that means we don´t get much of a P-day, but we did just have Christmas. Anyway, the work goes on no matter what, and I am so lucky to be a part of it. Now if I could just speak Portuguese.... Love you all and Happy New Year!

Irmã Ray"

The following are the options for writing Sarah. Here is what to do:

1) You can use the dearelder.com website. This requires Postage to Portugal (94 cents). You will need to set up an account with money in it and then it will subtract the correct postage from it each time you send a letter .
2) There is a drop down box on the right hand side down just a couple inches. Enter her mission which is Portugal Porto and then click "write a letter" just below where you select the mission.
3) On the next screen enter your return address and Sister Sarah Ray in the address line, add your email in the email box below the envelope.
4) Write your letter in the text box and then hit the "send letter" box under the text box to send it on.
5) Again, this requires postage so you have to set up an account and put money into it and then it will substract each time you write.

OR

2) The alternate way for sending anything (i.e. letters, packages, etc) through the mail is below. This is her address in her current area (Braga):

Sister Sarah Ray
Rua Padre Antonio Vieira
Nº91 5º Tras
Braga 4710-374
Portugal