January 21, 2009

It´s such a blessing to be here by the mission home, I get to check the mail every week sometimes more, unlike other missionaries who have to wait 6 weeks until the next transfer, yikes!! 6 more weeks with sista souza, I am praying for another transfer with her. I love her. She takes care of me. She´ll be going home in May. She is so concerned for others and I am scared of the other sister missionaries. I just want to be companions with sister souza my whole mission!!!
I´ve received letters from all my friends in Rexburg, Lindsey, Alana, Britney, Janna Nelson, Rebecca. It was fun hearing from them. It is so easy to get lost here and loose all contact with everyone including family. Because time is so short and there´s always a million things I could be doing they had to actually make it a rule in the White Handbook to write your family once a week. A mission is such a wonderful experience. Everyone should serve a mission. I love serving a mission. It is so hard but so good for me. Something that was right for me to do. The baptism was really good. Norma is such a woman of faith! She doesn't even know how to read! She learned so fast and is so intune with the spirit and feelings of truth. We taught her only 3 times and sometimes she was the one teaching us. There are so many people ready to hear the Gospel. Prepared and ready!! God´s Elite. Love, Rachel

January 14, 2009

I am dying of heat so I am basically buying new clothes! It's not fun, I hate clothes shopping! My companion is sure taking good care of me. Her mom is a professional seamstress and made all her clothes so I am going to see if I can have her make me some too and mail them to me! It is soso hot!! Ouch!! This week was really cool, our first official baptism is this Saturday. Norma, she calls us her angels. She can´t read but feels the spirit so strong! She is a miracle! We had family night last night at her house and it was so edifying and uplifting. It's amazing everything especially gifts of the spirit, the gift of tongues. I speak portugues and don´t even understand what I AM saying but they understand it´s weird!! People are everything, family especially, and only a small amount of time we are together. Here on the mission I meet people introduce them into the gospel and then I am transferred, only 6 weeks together, no time at all. Luckily I am not being transferred this time so I am blessed with more time here in Prgresso. I am really learning from the culture here, I love it, family is so central and it´s a huge city like San Fransisco, they take time out, everyone, for family and friends. New years everything was closed and everyone was home spending time together. So I think that´s all for now back to thinking in portugues! Hahahalove \rachel

January 7, 2009

I had a wonderful experience last week. I have finally grasped the mission concept and would not want to be anywhere else in the world. A mission is truly a sacred experience an opportunity of a life time. I am so honored. Everything is finally so clear. The spirit is so strong I can see so clearly the Plan of Salvation. Childern are truly sensitive to the spirit. The spirit led us to a really special family. My first encounter with them was me and a member of the church, Raquel, my companion was sick, my first day alone, and as we approached the gate of this family the 4 year old boy with I think a mental disability pointed at me and said luz luz, olhe!! light light look! with an astounding facial expression. This young boy saw the mantel, the mantel and power of a missionary that I carry. This power I am learning is real and miracles are happening because of it. The power of a missionary is better than anything like harry potter. It´s a light and love and strength I can´t really describe with words. It´s so crazy and freaks me out a little. But strengthens my testimony. I am learning about the power of testimony, prayer and faith we individually have as well. These are powers... anyways--It was truly a spiritual experience finding this family and I will never forget it--Sacred... Thank you for everything you're doing for me!! It´s always fun hearing from home. Change change change. The time we have as a family is precious huh? Family is so sacred too a piece of heaven. I love you all!!!

December 31, 2008

So congrats Bryce, loved the photo make a copy and mail it so I can put it on my wall of photos please!! So this week was good. Our work seems to be paying off we are teaching a lot of people and hoping they´ll attend church with us this week. Missionary work is a never ending work of miracles If only I could qualify to be a missionary here in brasil? I love you all I am slavin´away in the hot sun but it´s a miracle because as we were walking I was praying for a gust of wind and it happened. I can control the weather!! hahaha, a blessing. I love you all Rachel

December 24, 2008

My area is next to the mission office and yes I go there once a week to get mail and stuff. I got the package, it was great! I miss peanut butter I can't find it anywhere here, okay that´s a lie I found a little jar for like $7. well the pj´s were great! And my skirt yeah! I miss the simple stuff from home you know, like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chocolate, face wipes, clothes, my music, etc… and the silly thing is when I return home it will be switched, missing things from Brasil. Oh life…So I am the only one from my MTC district in Campinas the rest are serving in different areas so I didn´t see them at the conference and will never see them. My health is excellent my chacos are doing great for walking!! No one gets any sleep on the mission, there´s just not enough time for everything! The mission conference was fun! Love you all!

Oi!!! Dec 17, 2008

Hey my pdays are on Wednesday and we go to a public computer and have to pay to use for however long... aye! So everything is going good here the first week down, I love my companion she´s like my mom out here. W e went to church and all the members are helping us along. feeding us and giving us rides when its pouring down rain. Blessing after blesing and now its Pday finally it was a long week. Sis Souza and I are on our own and our district is awesome. They are all so far away though. We meet once a week on tuesdays for a district meeting which is cool we catch a bus and go into the big city of campinas kind of like San Fran... The city is huge and I love it it's so beautiful. We live kind of on the outskirts known as Progresso. I make the pun of Progresso is Progressing!! haha so many people to teach and help. Brasil is an amazing place if only I could speak português. Thats the challenge of my life right now. I am really loving the work it has it´s ups and downs but it's such an experience. It´s especially hard with the holidays coming but you know how it goes. We are all excited for the mission conference on the 23rd where all the missionaries come together from the whole entire mission it'll be grand!! Well today is Sis. Souza´s birthday she´s 23 and I made her some brownies a recipe I got from an Elder Harmon in the CTM. and we´re going to McDonalds the first time here in Brasil. The people here are so warm and welcoming to me and my companion. I try so hard to communicate and sometimes I feel like I am not getting anywhere. but whatever... I feel so blessed and humbled to have such an opportunity as this one and am trying to grasp it. Everything is really new to me still. Oh you know Jon Hopkins the guy who gave me a ride home for thanksgiving from Roseburg. Well I found him in a photo at a members house here. he served here in Campinas.. I remember him telling me but had forgotten,. small world. we have had our encounters of cockroaches but last night was the first time in our house. it flew in from the open window, YES they FLY. and we screamed and grabbed the broom and this bugger was huge!!I went into my first Favela last week. Not as scary as I thought it would be. the people respect the missionaries and I think are watching our backs in a way. We found a family there really interested in the gosel. Christmas is definitely helping the work along, lucky for me. Love you always, Rachel