Sister Nordfelt is an ANGEL

I went to bed last night so emotionally drained. I knew you had arrived in Recife and I knew that Sister Nordfelt had been there to greet you with a 'Mom hug' since I got your email but I was secretly hoping for a picture or even a brief phone call. Instead, I climbed into bed and put a smile on my face as Tyler and I talked about what a crazy 36 hours you have just spent.

This morning as I logged onto my computer to type up some emails and get a few things done, I had the sweetest surprise in form of emails from Sister Nordfelt that I wanted to be sure to include for you here.

From: Sister Mandy Nordfelt
Date: September 25, 2021
Subject: Safe Arrival of Sister Garcia

Dear Sister Eborn,

We are thrilled to have your missionary join the Brazil Recife Norte Mission. She arrived tired, but happy and we are pleased to report she is working in the great area of Carpina, with a great companion, Sister Da Mata. Soon after her arrival we were able to take her to the temple grounds of the Recife Temple. It is a beautiful place where we can feel of the peaceful Spirit of the House of the Lord, even though we could not enter the temple that day. We extended invitations to the new missionaries (or new to this mission) to remember the covenants they made in the temple and to serve the Lord while keeping the same covenants. We also encouraged them to think of those they teach dressed in white in the temple, as the Lord sees them. We are beyond blessed to have the temple in our mission, and are excited for the opportunity she will have to participate in endowment sessions while she is serving here.

We then took them to a famous location in Recife called Marco Zero, it is a popular landmark where most tourists go when they visit Recife. It was at this place that those who founded Recife began to design and plan the city. From this marker, 5 streets begin all going in different locations. We encourage them to choose that day what direction they will begin their mission – to start off on the right path and never deter from it. We encourage them that first day to be obedient and to work diligently, and to ponder on what they would want the prophet Mormon to say at the end of their mission if he were to summarize it, just as he abridged the missionary service of those we read of in the Book of Mormon. We take lots of pictures and it is amazing to watch them take it all in, even though they have been awake for more than 24 hours.

We then took them to our home for a Brazilian meal and short testimony meeting. We get a chance to hear more about each of them, their family, their testimony, their ability to speak the language, and they get to meet their companions. She is speaking amazingly well, and her enthusiasm for the work and for life will be a blessing to her and the entire mission! We share our love for them, our goals for the mission, and how to do the work of the Lord in accordance with the current rules of the pandemic here in Recife. Recife just entered Phase 3 in our mission, which means while wearing masks, they can now eat in members’ homes, street contact and knock doors. Most people are getting the vaccine and the numbers of COVID cases are continuing to decrease. Most of our missionaries have started to receive the vaccine, as well. We are already seeing great blessings in the mission from this. We sent her with her companion to their apartment to rest, and we gave her the opportunity to sleep in this one time, so she could begin the next day rested, and ready to do the work of the Lord.

The Lord loves and protects His missionaries. We testify of this, we are guided and directed to help them become the very best they can be. We are grateful for the love and support they receive from you, by way of video calls on P-Days, letters, and packages. They are influenced more by your positive influences and testimonies than you realize. Just as we love these missionaries, we love the families that are willing to send them to the field to learn and grow and share the light of Christ with the amazing people here. Thank you, again, for supporting your missionary!

We will be posting a video of her arrival soon. Our mission Facebook page is Missão Brasil Recife Norte – Pres. E Sister Nordfelt. We will post picture of Zone Conferences and other times we are together as a mission. She told us about her brother serving in Africa, and we hope they get the chance to speak together, also. You can talk to her each P-Day via facebook messenger, google hangouts or whatsapp video calls. We are 3 hours ahead of your time zone right now but we know you can find a way to talk each week and connect, we know how important that is for both the missionary and her family.

Abraços,

Sister Mandy Nordfelt
Missão Brasil Recife Norte
A Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos Dias
Celular: (81)9926-99126

She also was sure to include the following images, which by the way, created more eyes full of tears that were just pure happy to see you!!! I cannot wait for Monday to talk to you!