January 7, 2013

Alright so this week has been crazy, and awesome. We had two baptisms on Saturday and they were confirmed yesterday. A--- (11) and M---- (9) They live in the poor part of town, we actually don´t work in that area. Only when a member gives us a referral. But these little girls had been coming to church for two months! A member lives on the same street as them and they drive vans for a language school. So they always pick people up for church. And these little girls wait in front of their house every Sunday to go to church! Its incredible! They´re cirmcumstances are very humble, and their upbringing is very different, but if they continue as they are and apply the things they are learning in primary and have good examples it will be amazing to see what the gospel can do to help and better their lives. 

The begining of the week Elder Dowden (Assistente) called us. And while we were talking he told Me and S. Marques that after Zone Conference (saturday) he wanted to talk to us. We were so scared! He wouldn´t tell us what it was about or anything. This happened last transfer too, and  I was worried it would happen again. 

After the meeting the assistants asked if they could talk to me 1st, they said it was a good thing. But how could something where they had to talk to me privately be a good thing! (oh and this was about an hr after my interview with presidente and he didn´t say anything about what the Elders were going to talk about, and i was too scared to ask haha). 

Anyways, we are starting something new in our mission. Sisters will go on divisions, travel to other areas and go on splits! And guess who is the 1st! Me and S. Marques. And even though i´m the Jr. they told me 1st and asked me to help this sister and basically do the detective work. Yikes! When we arrived at Zone Conference S. Wright thanked me for my diligence and everything I´ve been doing. I really don´t feel like i´ve been doing that much but after my interview with Presidente, he told me in a little I will be training, i´m excited because i really wanted to be a trainer! and then with the assistants...they trust me a lot. 

I don´t feel like i´ve been in the field long enough to be classified as an experienced missionary but i trust our president. I know he really does receive revelation for our mission. And i´m excited for these new opportunities!

Anyways away from all the new stuff and on to the funny story for the week! For Christmas President bought for every house a water filtering faucet. (Because they stopped giving out water bottles in the ctm, they were defective). On Saturday at zone conference we received them. Right before our baptism. I was brushing my teeth and S. Marques decided to install the filter. She forgot to turn off the water register (here you have to do that we found out) Because when she removed the faucet water came gushing out! and Flooded our entire front room. (its a good thing no one has carpet here). She was soaked and i had to run to the water register (which is at our neighbors house and turn off the register). It was hilarious. and a great way to clean our apt, so today for p-day we don´t have to clean :P

Well I hope all is well with you all. Have a wonderful week good luck with the beginning of seminary! and school and everything. 

Love 
Carissa

January 2, 2013

haha don´t stress, everything was closed here on monday and tuesday so we are using the internet today! ( I was concerned because Carissa was 3 days late writing to us!)

oh how wonderful is vacation haha. There was no one here in Elizabeth this past week! 

Christmas was nice and quiet. But New Years we spent with J---- and C----. (Members) J---- cooked churrascão for us. Oh i think I gained about 5 pounds in one night! There were fireworks all night. But we have been having trouble sleeping (i think we´ve had 4 nights where we haven´t been able to sleep before 4am this past week) so after midnight I slept through everything. 

Wow, how things change for christmas. Matthew´s no longer the 1st on up at 4am :P

Well this week not much happened. I waxed my legs for the first time in my life on pday. (I did it wrong and now a part of my leg is all purple). S. Marques and I have been trying to make brownies but it always comes out like chocolate cake. We´ve tried 2x and it still hasn´t come out quite right.

The highlight of our week was on Saturday, President Wright and Sister Wright came and visited our investigator family. It was incredible! They bring such a sweet spirit and love wherever they go. And our investigators felt it.  

Oh finished the new testament last night... started the old testament today...lets see how long it takes me to finish!!!! its funny because i read the scriptures in english and use the Institute manual in português.

And thanks for T----- address! I´ll definitely write him!

Well I love you! Thanks for being such a wonderful Mommy! :)

Carissa

December 24, 2012

Hey Family!

Its weird writing everyone knowing I´ll be able to talk to you tomorrow! I´m pretty sure your all still sleeping right now :P but FELIZ NATAL (MERRY CHRISTMAS)!!!

So I will tell you all the news here so you can tell me all about yours tomorrow.

TRANSFERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yikes I´m in my 5^th transfer with my 3^rd Brazillian, in my 2^nd area! I´m still in Porto Alegre, Elizabeth, I am now with S. Marques from Curitiba.  She speaks English fluently! So it is helping me learn a lot more in Portugues, because when I need a word….she can help me.  I love the way she works and teaches.  This weekend we had a baptism of a young boy. 11 he is friends with a member and he wanted to be baptized. and now he wants to serve a mission, get married in the temple and was so excited to meet ...Elders!  He is so cute!

This weekend we are hoping to have the baptism of 3 other little girls 9 and 11, 11. They have been coming to church for the last month! Alone! They wait outside the house of a member who brings them to church! No one tells them to go or anything. So we started teaching them on Saturday and should have their baptism this week.  Its so cute the desire they have to come to church and do what’s right. They are extremely poor but are so sweet.

It was really funny on Sat, when we taught them. They were folding clothes and organizing the room. And their grandmother said they couldn´t listen to us till they finished cleaning. So we helped them. And while we were helping them (I think it was they´re dad and sister) were trying to bring a couch back into the house but couldn´t. S. Marques looks at me and said I think he´s too weak. We laughed and we brought the couch into the house. It was so funny,  two girls in skirts.

The last week we taught a recent convert of the AP (Assistants to the President) that was interesting! We´ll  visit him again this week. Still don´t know why but when President asks…we go haha 

This week is going to be really neat, because President and Sister Wright are going to come to our area and visit our investigator family.  They are struggling a little as a couple, and she is struggling with being a stay at home mom. She wants to work and all but also wants to stay home, sometimes I think she´s a little depressed with her life. They need a little perspective. And who better than the President and Sister of the Mission, parents of 13, and now parents of 150! We´re really excited!

Anyways a few things I think are going to change with this new transfer. (This transfer will be 7 weeks). And we are going to be using the internet earlier than I was with S. Teixeira.  10/11 o clock just so you know.

Well I love you! You´ll have to tell me all about weddings and such tomorrow! 

Love you all very much

Merry Christmas!!!

Until tomorrow 4 oclock! ...so weird to think i´ll get to talk to you all in just a few hours. I don´t know if i´ll know what to say!

Carissa!