The Downhill Slope

12/04/12

The Downhill Slope

This Friday is nine months on the mission!!

I’m already reaching my half way! Can you guys believe that? Its blowing my mind I can’t even process it.

Sadly, next week I won’t be including my pregnant pictures because we have Christmas conference which means we don’t get a p-day that week and I’m not sure if we will be able to email the next day.

But guess what!!!

We had transfers!!

I got moved from Quinta do Conde to an area called Lapa. It’s right in Lisbon, and is amazing! Look it up ha-ha it’s exactly what you have in your mind when you picture Europe. We live across the street from the national art museum ha-ha. My new comps name is Irma Olson and she’s super nice and I think we're going to get along really well. Everyone says we are a lot alike so it’s either going to be fantastic or awful. Let’s pray for fantastic. Also, there is a Starbucks in this area. Tender mercy. We live like right on The Rive Tejo and we can see Cristo Rei (a giant Christ like the one in Brazil) from our window. The house is crazy small but its fun. I am already so in love with this area.

President wrote me back this past week and said that he feels that the Lord has more for me to do here and that "The Lord is sending you to one of the strongest wards in the country with a wonderful companion who will be a great help to you. He is giving you an area and counting on you to make it better than it is today because of your unselfish service. We love you"

No pressure.

I was really scared of coming here at first because my heart literally broke at having to leave our district and that ward, and I was so nervous to get here. Lapa has a reputation for being one of the best areas in the mission, let alone Irma area. So it’s a little intimidating but I feel so lucky and excited to be here.

Before we got the transfer call I was reading the scriptures to distract myself because I was so nervous. I read in D&C 103, which talks about how the saints received chastisement for a while and the Lord promised them that blessing would come after tribulation. Then it goes on to say that the time of the Lord’s blessing has arrived and they will be delivered. I felt so strongly that whatever was about to happen was going to be Heavenly Father giving me the blessing I’ve been needing and my reward for having stuck out the last two transfers that were pretty much an emotional and physical crap-storm. Everything I find out about this area is proving to me that the Lord knows me and he wants to bless me. I’m so grateful he’s given me this area and that I can learn a lot here.

Oh, also, our district is us and the four office elders... that part should be interesting ha-ha but they’re all pretty cool.

But yeah, I’m so excited to start the second half of my mission in this area and get back to feeling like I’m really here and really doing the Lord’s work.

Thank you all for the prayers and support! Have a great week and sing Christmas songs and stay happy! Because I’m happy. And the Lord wants us happy!

2 Nephi 2:25 Here’s my new address for letters

Rua do Olival Nº116 2º anda, Porta 5 1200- Prazeres Portugal

And don’t forget packages can only go to

Irma Erin Dean a/c Igreja de Jesus Cristo Dos Santos Dos Ulitmos Dias Rua Jorge Barradas Nº14C 1500-370 Lisboa Portugal

Love you guys!