November 17 Email

We went proselyting-- it was excellent. Of course I had my embarrassing moments of reading the wrong two paragraphs of the title page when I was trying to give a Book of Mormon away... weird, but I met a lot of nice people this time. Someone who thought we worship Joseph Smith and was actually happy about that, another asking us to give him a blessing, and of course there was the crazy old men trying to kiss my companion... I am tall and big enough they don't try anything with me fortunately. I have never loved myself more than on my mission. I love being tall and strong looking!!!
I recieved a card from Susan Vogel yesterday, that was great!!!
Happy Thanksgiving before I forget.
My best friends here in the CTM, my Brasilian roommates left yesterday that was soo sad, I have yet to meet a sister going to Campinas... only one really tiny Brasilian I didn't really talk to. Sis. Santos and Sis Martines are lifetime friends for me we had such a wonderful time together teaching me portugues and laughing at each other mostly me because não falo portugues bom anyways I miss them already and they left this morning. Can you believe it I have 3 more weeks here, (don't send anything else to the CTM, any mail send it to my mission address!!) we are leaving with the new group of Brasilians coming tomorrow wierd. We´re getting to be the oldest american district here. I can't believe it, I am excited and looking forward to it but I am also scared and it's going to be so sad saying bye to all the wonderful people I ´ve met here, especially my district. I am the only one going to Campinas from my district, so sad.
I am growing more and more in love with Brasil and the people. I am so grateful for my mission call, it's hard but it's a good hard. I am loving my life and loving missionary work!!!
love you all and miss you all so much!!
Beijos e Abrasos Grandes!!!

One Month Mark

Okay well the proseltying was scary, fun, hard, and interesting. I was able to communicate the message I memorized and I will never forget that day. We went to a park by the teatro municipal de são paulo. It smelled and there were bums, homeless people everywhere, drunk, dirty, and drugged. My poor naive companion, i followed her around to talk to some scary people. I did find some nice people. One lady was walking with her daughter who knew about the church and has wanted to know more so we gave her the card and the speel and off she went. I am confident she will call and find out more. I talked to a group of children and thought I was in Ecuador all over again as I kissed all the kids good bye afterwards. I scared myself as I was slapped back into reality--I was in Brasil and a missionary and i was not allowed to do that, OOPS! Don't tell the mission president. A drunk man came up to my companion and tried to hug her, I saved her though by grabbing her by the arm and speed walking away! We passed out all of our cards, I dont know exactly how many that was but a lot. It's so crazy! I am trying to find a love for Brasil and the langauge, some days are so hard. After we went proseltyzing our instructor Irmão (Bro.) Barbossa, yes like pirates of the Carribean, had us teach the first lesson in portuguese twice that night, the longest day ever! PORTUGUES!!! On a better note My Brasilian room mates are so incredibly awesome I talk to them every night in broken portugues, english, and spanish. They are so great!! My room mate I mean companion and I just got a new assignment from the mission president; sister coordinators!! We are in charge of all the sisters coming and going and making them all feel welcome. Its exciting. And just another responsibility to add on to the plate. I feel like I am slowly becoming brazilian, the food is not that bad anymore. Sundays are wonderful, It's the day we look forward to most even more than P-days! We go to church, take naps, watch a church approved movie and have a fireside, no class! This past fast sunday was amazing. First we had a conference with so many inspired words of wonderful, basically Don't worry be happy. DO all you can do and God will provide the rest. Have faith in him and trust in him. I am meeting so many friends and there is a love in the CTM that is not found anywhere else. I have been out for a month, 17 more months to go, pretty crazy!! I have 5 more weeks here at the CTM. Love you all and miss you all, too!! Rachel

October 28 Email

Funny story this week. I was all dressed ready to go eat breakfast and as soon as I opened the door ready to walk out my companion said, ´sister davidson is that your slip´I go to feel and sure enough i was in my black slip and forgot to put on my black skirt. I can't stop saying thank goodness for companions!! The time here is picking up! I met a nice elderly man in the grocery store today on pday and he was really interested in us. I gave him a pass along card and i was the only one out of the 5 missionaries in my ditrict that could understand and respond! I was very proud of myself but know i am no where near where i should be. I am learning the 1st lesson this week in portugues.ah!!!!! it's so hard. ps.. tuesdays are my p-days--the elders in my district have announced thursday comb over day where we all part our hair something to look forward in the middle of the week i guess. Last week was amazing i had so many learning experiences!! Elder Richard G. Scott came to the CTM and spoke to us directly as missionaries. An apostole of Jesus Christ We are just a small group so it was so personal. I loved it!! All the brazilians were so nervous and excited for most it was their first time seeing an apostole and most likely the only time. He shared with us so many experiences and said our treasure is our testimonies. He said to wear out Preach my gospel and read from the BOM. He spoke directly to the sisters at one point and said how sensitive we are and how we'll be able to get through doors that elders would never be able to, he said we will learn the importance of the priesthood and love our missions. More and more women are going on missions to become more righteous mothers to raise a more righteous & noble generation... I am learning every day on what to do better in order to be a great missionary. The people here are wonderful. I am finally adjusting to this lifestyle and am becoming more comfortable with the fact I wear dresses/skirts every day and everyone calls me sister davidson, it's been rough.

News from Brazil

I love my companion and am loving it here . I am getting along in the language and my teacher here, Sister Michelotto is Brazilian and served in WA DC and she is so inspiring and loves us so much. I feel taken care of you know, I feel safe in God's hands. My companion and I get compliments over and over again--we´re the best sister missionaries here, there´s not many of us. So I feel special and rare indeed; Haha... I am learning how to teach the first lesson and each time I practice teaching it, it becomes more and more amazing. I love this work and am dying for some mail!! I am studying 8 hours a day playing ultimate frisbee with the elders. I am so much more athletic than my companion--she is so funny and ditzy when it comes to sports. I taught her how to shoot a basketball the first gym day and we do yoga together. We go to the temple every week to Campinas (my mission). I will be so excited if I get called to serve there first. I havn't met one american sister going to campinas yet... so i don't know!!