February 11, 2009

The mission is great we are teaching a family. I am finding new joy in life as I try to help people understand the commandments of God and how to have an eternal family. Being sealed in the temple is the only way to go, you know? Happy Valentines Day to all!! spread the love aka the gospel. I am learning how much missionary work is at the heart of the church, I think we don´t put enough emphasis on missionary work in Grants Pass. The church is so different in Brasil, so new and growing like crazy. People are so accepting and everyone believes in God, it´s not common to find atheists nor agnostists here. Cool. On all the buses they have a sign that says ´Deus é Fiel´ God is Faithful,... and many cars have a sticker that says ém na maos de Deus´In the hands of God... Anyways Brasil is way cool... the fruit here is to die for everything has such rich flavor. One fruit called Maracujá is so gostoso... So many different flavors, at first it´s wierd but then it´s delicious. I love beans and rice I think sometimes more than the average Brasilian, this is good right? I hope to come home with all kinds of new ideas and make you guys a Brasilian feast. It´s kind of strange, for food they have various main courses. a typical Brasilian lunch is spaghetti, type of meat (beef, chicken), beans, rice, juice, salad/vegtable, and potatoes lots of carbs and protien. OH and lets not forget Guarnana aquela soda irmão pratt brought over my last night. Tell him hi for me and that there´s thousands of types of Guarnana here... yikes!! Love you beijos e abraços! (hugs and kissses/ besitos y abrasos). I am focusing on loving the people, loving my companion, loving my mission president and his wife, and loving nosso Salvador! I think the love will help me along in learning the language faster and the gospel. I have such a hard time memorizing scriptures and thinking where to find a particular scripture in the time I need it. It´s really challenging teaching the gospel I guess it makes it twice as hard in another language too. But all is well I am learning confidence. I am almost 1/3 the way home. WOW love you guys, take care, good luck with school and give grandma and grandpa a hug and kiss for me. love, Rachel

February 4, 2009

Portugues is killing my patience. I have been transfered with Sister Souza and opening another area AGAIN!!! frustrating. We now live in the tiniest apartment ever on the 7th floor in the center of campinas!! The City is huge and there´s always people, tons of people. thank goodness for elevadors! I am starting to be a small town fan. It´s like living the middle of New York or San Fransisco just Brasilian. I have found the best ice cream and Pão de Queso something never found in the US. How I long for english, for my bedroom, for my life, to be able to express myself, for people to listen to me. Every time this week I went to speak I was interrupted everytime, I wanted to scream . . . .I have given up, I don´t want to talk anymore--But a mission isn´t about me is it? i guess I have a lot to learn. I do love the people here because I can feel the love God has for them, I am so selfish. Why am I not willing to give everything like Christ, curse my imperfections.

January 28, 2009

This week was great--I love the people here. I have found a lady Luciana... an interesting story she is... We were passing by a street we normally don´t take and this was one of my first days on the mission. I let go of all my securities, let go and let the spirit guide. Luciana was my very first contact on the mission, I got her address and permission to pass by and I gave her a card to call and recieve a dvd. Well we planned the next day to pass but it never happened the next day passed too and the next. I went with a member yesterday to deliver a dvd and give the 1 lesson. Well everyone we planned for wasn´t home so I decided to pass by this one house. It was really far far away and I felt someone important was behind this address and sure enough it was Luciana. She made cake for us and was waiting for us the day we never showed up, so sad and bad/121 = so anyways she was really forgiving and I am so excited to continue teaching her and inviting her to be baptized! She´s one of the Elite ones. It´s a promisse found in preach my gospel if we are doing everything possible to find people to teach the gospel Heavenly Father will guide us to find those that are ready to recieve the gospel.