Sister Shelby Lynn Dana: Feliz Ano Novo!

Oh my goodness, it was so dang fun to talk to you guys! Really, that was the absolute best part of Christmas! You are all so very pretty. Did you know that? Really though, my family is beautiful. AND WHY IS COOPER HUGE?! I was still freaking out about his voice for like 3 hours after I signed off of Skype! Completely ridiculous! And Tiago, foi muito bom para te conhecer! Espero que esta natal era uma que você não vai esquecer! Também, espero que um dia posso realmente falar contigo! Sounds like the dunes were great and you guys had a lot of fun, and I loved the pictures! Thank you thank you thank you!

Skyping at Alana Canha's house - Alana, Shelby, Sister Patino

Alana's mom Leleu

Well, I told you a lot about what went on this year, but not all of it! So on Tuesday, we had a Secret Santa/Deathday Party for Elder Firouzi, my LZ from Pittsburgh that went home this week. It was super fun! We had a like, $5 limit, so the presents were pretty dinky, but it was a really good Zone Meeting! Then after, there was absolutely no one to teach, because it was Christmas Eve, and everyone stays out partying. So we just went around to our members and investigators and sang Christmas songs to them. That is about the extent of my music here in Brazil. I never play the piano because we never need it, but now I sure sing a lot more than I ever did at home, and I am way more comfortable with it! Oh how I miss playing the viola though! Anyway, that night, we got a special invite from the Bonfin family to come over for a family home evening. It was really, really special to be with them, because this is the first Christmas that they had without their son, Izac, who passed away last July, if you guys remember. Yeah...I will never, ever forget this Christmas Eve. We had a great dinner with them after, and I was truly touched how they did their best to make this year so special for us, being so far from home. I really don´t know how to describe it...yeah, it was great.

Dinner with the Bonfin family - Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve dinner

On Christmas morning, me and Pat woke up and opened our prezzys under the Christmas tree that we made out of a cardboard box! Ok, I didn´t make it, Pat did. But it was really cute! Thanks so much again for the clothes and such Mom! Me and Pat sure love them! We went to lunch at Luzia´s, our Relief Society Presdent´s house, and then stayed there for a while because really, we had no where else to go. She is awesome, we totally had a feast. The people here take care of us SO WELL!!!!! I am totally going to do that for the missionaries when I´m home. Anyway, we went to Leleu´s house at night to Skype. Sister Pat is SO FUNNY when she gets excited...she has this really loud laugh and just is like a little kid! It is so cute! I could understand everything that her family was saying in Spanish, which is a cool trick I didn´t know I had, but they couldn´t understand me very well. It was way good to talk to you guys though, and it is super weird to think that it´s like...5 months til Mother´s Day...then 4 til casa.

Christmas Mornin:)

Speaking of, I hit the nine month mark this week! Pictures included:) I can´t believe how fast everything has gone...ok, not thinking about this. End of commentary.

9 months - as a missionary?

On Saturday, we had a ward pool party that Sister Patino and I watched! Yayyyy:) But really, it was super fun. All the kids in our ward are so cute, and the members are awesome and we always have a blast with them. It was kinda weird to have a pool party three days after Christmas though. Year round summer baby! After that, we had a lesson with Olanda. She was all ready set go for baptism this Wednesday, but when we got to her house, she explained that she wasn´t ready and didn´t want to be baptized anymore. I almost freaked out inside, but then remembered that this is what happens when the Catholic cuzzys come for Christmas. So we asked her the questions for the baptismal interview, and she has a really strong testimony about all of it. We made her a deal that she will get baptized on the 11th of January if she reads the Book of Mormon and prays every single day and feels like it is what the Lord wants for her. So if you guys could keep her in your prayers, that would really be appreciated.

Welp, I hope that you guys have a great New Year! What are you going to do to celebrate? What goals do you have?! Me and Pat are going to work on those this week when we have to be in our house at 6pm tomorrow before Brazil gets crazy...but I hope that you guys start off 2014 super well! Wasn´t 2013 a blast?

Love love love you!

Love,

Sister Dana