The Bright Side

mais uma transferencia em Quissamã!

2012-01-28T11:46:00.000-09:00

Just finished a splendid transfer full of faith and miracles and lots of work here in Quissamã with Sister Cunha! And gooooood news (....geico....)! We're staying here together again! So much to do here and I hope I'll get to stay my last two transfers here with Sister Cunhazinha. It is going so well and we are helping lots of blessed souls.

But whatever happens, the Lord knows best and knows very well what he is doing.

Heavenly Father made miracls happn here this transfer! So good. From an area without leadership, with the frequency going down everyweek, with only two baptizing weeks in two years, and now to an area with frequency going up evry week and weekly baptisms! Woo hoo! Lots of lovely peeps waiting for the gospel. The field is white!

This week drove back from the bach with 7 peeps in a little green vw bug, and did ti dy with the yw and had lots of lovely fun. I love Quissamã! Yay for missions! And good souls!

I love Quissamã!

2012-01-25T10:13:00.000-09:00

I love Quissamã! It's the last week of the transfer and I hope that Sister Cunhazinha and I will stay together here another transfer or two. We're seeing so many miracles and milagres and so many good things! The frequency was up to 56 on sunday! We brought lots of new peeps to church and lots of less actives are coming back. Yay! And baptisms every week! Including a miracle baptism this saturday that came out of no where. Woo hoo!

But when you have faith and do what the Lord asks you and work a lot a lot a lot, you see miracles! Yay! There's lots of little (and big) angels working around here helping us share the gospel and bring happiness to people's lives. Make the world a better place than when you found it.

Muito obrigada for all the letters and little packages and love that you all send me. Makes me a happy little Sister Owens.

Sister Cunha and I get home every night so tired and sweaty because it is soooo hot here. I put my hands in the freezer today and pretended it was snow. Thank goodness there's a lovely little wind here. But it is all worth it and I hope I stay here in Quissamã and that Sister Cunha stays here too!

I'm learning lots of lovely things and we're teaching wonderful people and I love them all so much. We're teaching a guy who wants to get baptized and receive the gift of the holy ghost so badly, but he is not understanding that he has to keep all of the commandments in order to do this and to have the spirit. We had his baptism planned for this week (in a lake!) but we'll work with him a bit more, do some sweet fasting, and next week it should be all good. :)

And I found out that someone we were teaching in Itaparica is now a member of the Church of Jesus Christ! Woo hoo! No effort is wasted. Every leaf counts!

Been watching the Preach My Gospel dvds too and they are fantastico! Life is so funny and weird on the mission. It's like the world outside of my little area doesn't exist. You forget about music and movies and things of normal life. You gain such an eternal perspective and just want to help others do this too.

Because basically the Second Coming is coming and now is the time to prepare (Alma 34:32), a hora é agora! :) Good thing God loves us so much to send Jesus Chirst to be our Savior and that He always forgives us of the errors and sins we commit time and time again. But Heavenly Father's plan is perfect, and He will do everything He can to help us, but the choice is ours.

Thank you all for being so lovely and have a happy day and week and life! :D

Quissamã

2012-01-24T18:06:00.000-09:00

Wooo hoo we had another baptism here in Quissamã of a delightful
family who is coming back to church! Enter the fold. :) And we've got
another baptism this week too. Quissamã is so wonderful and it is
fulllll of good souls who want to live the gospel. There are of
course, plenty who don't want to hear too much, but you get what you
look for, né?

There were some lovely sunsets this week and nature is so wonderful. I
love it here in Quissamã because it's like a little town in the
inteRIOr and there are good people and it is so nice having so much
green around, and seeing cows and horses in the middle of the street.

Twas fantastic in Campos this week for conferência de zona!
Conferences and transfers and soooo good. I love missionary festas! :)
Learned lots of wonderful things and was reminded about D&C 18:10 "the
worth of souls is great in the sight of God."
And also about when Christ asked Peter is he loved him and Peter said
of course, and then Christ just said "Feed my Sheep".

So I'm just here in Rio, feeding sheep and it is excellllllent.
Our João (was a pastor), blessed the sacrament this week in white
shirt and tie. Woo hoo. Job well done.
And good news, I'm not sick any more. It was funny at zone conference
because there are four of us sisters here in Rio, one has a cast on
her leg, one went to the hospital before our conference started, one
more with a fever, and I was getting over a month long cough. Don't
know what was happening with us, but all is well now. :)

Sister Cunha also informed me that I was teaching lessons in my sleep
this week, talking all about the spirit and how we have to pray and
ask Heavenly Father for answers, and how because He loves us and is
our father, He sends the Spirit to teach and testify to us. There's so
much to do during the day, that I guess I'm starting to practice
teaching at night too. And last night I dreamed there were a bunch of
cockroaches on me and it was not too lovely, but hallelujah we don't
have cockroaches in our house.

Hope you all are swell and thank you for the love and prayers and
mail! :) Got wonderful letters this week from all my grandparents and
some lovely sísteres and some grand ol´ buddies and a little package
from my mtc comp and mail from fam and lots from dear Cottam fam and
mail and letters brings pure joy to my little soul. Obrigada! Boa
semana para vocês! :D

Rio De Janeiro!!!

2012-01-23T10:45:00.000-09:00

Hoppy New Year!
New Years wasn't too eventful here in Quissamã, but twas lovely.
Sunday morning we met with the leaders of the branch to (buscar?)
fetch a bunch of lovely souls that promised to go to church. It was
raining and peeps don't really like going to church in the rain.
But... there were a few faithful that came with us! Woo hoo! And the
frequency was up to 35 this week. Hallelujah. It needs to just keep
going up so that the church building can be built here. The meetings
are held in a rented house and it is not too nifty, fazer o quê né? I
loooove Quissamã and this transfer is gooooooooood good good.
First of all, let's talk about saturday, new year's eve... João got
baptized! Woo hoo! He was a tender mercy from the Lord and he is super
fantastico! He's got a looot of biblical knowledge and faith and is
sooo good. And recent discovery.. he's a pastor. :) He didn't ever say
anything to us but you can tell he's done a lot of churching in his
time. :) But we asked him and sure enough, pastor João, new and
faithflu member of the Church of Jesus Christ. And sunday afternoon he
was already doing visits with us. Yay! I looove finding the elect.

We're teaching lots of peeps here in this wonderful place, so many to
teach. And it is so wonderful when you find those elect, who are
waiting for the restored gospel. We had some baptisms marked for this
week too, but we all have agency and make our own choices and
unfortately, some people choose not to live or accept the gospel. But
agency is wonderful and so central to Heavenly Father´s perfect plan.

What else... we have zone conference this week! Woo hoo! Here in
Campos. So yay I'll get letters again and we'll get another nice box
of Book of Mormons to give to all of Quissamã. I love this place. And
the members are really wonderful, the few that go to church at least.
:) There's a lot of less actives here too, who are also wonderful, but
need lots of help in coming back to church. It's not too easy, but it
is always worth it to the what God wants.

PS Good news... I just saved a bundle on car insurance by switching to
geico. Okay, not really, but actual good news... I found some celery!
I looove celery (especially with delightful peanut butter) and I
haven't had any in over a year. I've never seen it here, but
hallelujah I found some this week.

There is so much to do here in Quissamã. Sister Cunha and I are
working a lot a lot and doing everything we can think of to strengthen
these souls here. There's just not enough time! Adn the transfer is
already half over. But we've got a bunch more baptisms that will have
to happen in these next three weeks. We're looking for the elect,
they're out there. There's good things and people everywhere!

Time for me to go home and write letters and finish preparing for a
wonderful week. Thank you for your prayers and everything and eu amo
vocês! Feliz 2012!

Hoppy New Year!!!

2012-01-22T15:40:00.000-09:00

Happy day after Christmas!

Yesterday I opened a lovely Christmas english cracker and would like to share a nice little joke... hehe

Q: What do you call a fish with no eyes?

A: A fsh.

heheehee kkk cracks me up every time!

I love Christmas and giving (and of course it's nice to receive) presents. It is so lovely to give.

At midnight on Christmas eve, dear Sister Cunha and I read some St. Luke chapter 2 about the birth of Jesus and then we opened some chocolicious presentes and then Christmas morning finished opening our lovely little Christmas presents under our nice paper tree. :) Christmas as a missionary is a bit different (especially when you're in Quissamã, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, and it is wicked hot), but Christmas is so very splendid!

The best part was the skype festa with my beautiful family yesterday! Woo hoo!

We also had a grand Christmas turkey lunch with a member's family in the roça. Roça is like farm, bush, boondocks, don't know the translation. But we were in a lovely little house surrounded by lovely green fields with scrumdiddlyumptious fruit trees too.

Other news from the week, João is getting baptized and confirmed! He is so good and just gets better every day and every visit. He has the desire to go to church and to get baptized and things are going nice and smooth with teaching him. Oh how I love the elect! Que bênção. It is pretty much not the easiest thing in the world to get people to go to church, but when they want to go, they go. When we teach people and the want to keep the committments, they keep them, if they don't want to, they don't. So basically, if we really want to do something, we'll do it. Where there's a will there's a way.

And Sister Cunha and I are loving this transfer and there's so much to do and so many people to visit and pretty much all of our lessons are with members. We bring the members with us pretty much all day long. This transfer is and will be full of miracles! Woo hoo!

Well tis time to go, I've got some water and bananas to buy. :) But I'll end with my other english cracker joke:

Q: What did the alien say to the garden?

A: Take me to your weeder.

Claaassic. :) You're killing me smalls.

Muito obrigada for the letters and prayers and all of the good and lovely things you are all doing for others. Service is at the heart of the gospel. We've just got to love everyone. Woo hoo! Amo vocês!

And of course...

HOPPY New Year!

Feliz Natal!!

2012-01-20T10:25:00.000-09:00

FELIZ NATAL! Woo hoo! I love Quissamã! This area is excelente! And it is so good working with Sister Cunha. She is excellent and this will be a transfer full of miracles (and work work work)! And miracles need to happen here... :) On sunday there were only 29 peeps and the past year there has only been one week that they've had a baptism. But now... enter a gente... and many good things ahead! After all, everyone needs the gospel and the promised blessings of the Lord, so we are here to work along with the wonderful members to baptize, reactive, and complete families!

We have members with us almost all day every day and they showing us lots of peeps we need to teach. I'm so happy to be here. And Quissamã is such a cute quaint little town. And woo hoo, I'm still in Rio!

Well, considering Christmas is coming, it is time to bust out the Christmas Santa Clause troll earrings... okay, I'll just stick to the parrots. :D

We found a girl that really needs the gospel and to be baptized and receive the gift of the holy ghost. We taught her and asked her if she had a cell phone. She said that she traded her cell phone for crack. Hugs are better than drugs. But I am realizing more and more that everyone has freedom of choice to choose good things or bad things. Everytime we keep the commandments, we are blessed. Lots of blessings !

Unfortunately, I was dead sick girl for a couple days. Sister Cunha worked with members and I stayed at a member's house sleeping, sleeping, sleeping, with a bad bad cold and a high fever. But with a nice blessing and lots of prayers, I'm much better now, and excited for a week full force. :) And excited for a feliz natal and mele kalikimaka!

I'm enjoying verrry much presentinhos of 12 days of christmas too! Muito!

Merrrrrrry Christmas to you all! Don't forget to give Christ a birthday present for Christmas. :)

Bird Attack-see video!!! :)

2012-01-19T11:45:00.000-09:00

It's almost Christmas! It's weird being here down under where Christmas is not cold and snowy, but thank goodness it's been nice and rainy here do it's not deathly hot. But with all this rain lots of peeps are sick and my companion was pretty sick this week too. (And I hope I'm not getting sick too, so I'm drinking lots and lots of water. Basically, water is the cure for almost eveything. :) ) We stayed home wednesday and thursday and she rested and recuperated and I read and studied lots and lots and wore tie dye and my new mc hammer pants and listened to christmas music and made about 1000 paper snowflakes. Good times.

I tried making brownies this week with brasilian ingredients and a recipe I made up, and it didn't turn out too fantastically. It was basically like costco chocolate chip muffins which are uma delícia. But I just gave them to our dear zone leaders and all is well.

Sister Johnson and I sang lovely Christmas hymns for some delightful senhoras this week. Twas grand.

And my dearest Alderina, (a blessed soul that Sister Morales and I taught in Jardim da Penha), she called me yesterday and she's doing so well and she is so firm and always goes to church and does everything wonderfully. I love her and it is so good being a missionary making a difference in people's lives and going about doing good.

It's been hard finding people to teach and it is wicked hard bringing people to church, and it was hard to see if I was making much of a difference or not. But when Alderina called it was so great and made everything and all the hard days and hard moments worth it. It's all worth it in the end and you never know what a difference you are making in people's lives.

We had a missionary work fireside last night and it was sooooo good and the missionaries in this zone are fantásticos! This is the last week of the transfer and who knows where I'll be next week. Hopefully I'll stay here because I love this ward so much and I don't want to pack my bags. :) But the Lord knows what He's doing and where we all should be and when. When you're in the right place and the right time, miracles happen.

And what do you do when you want a miracle, you pray for a miracle.

Oh PS.... I got attacked by a bird this week. (see video)

post script- Love you all and Merry Christmas!

Blog catch up - Happy Thanksgiving

2012-01-18T15:34:00.000-09:00

I'm sorry to Chelsea's readers... I've been such a slacker on updating her blog!!
So here it goes... I have a couple months to update... starting with Thanksgiving :)

Aloha e Happy Thanksgiving!
Tis my first Thanksgiving outside of the USA and should be quite eventful! Woo hoo! Okay, probably won't be too icredibly eventful, but I'll do what I can. And we'll have lunch with some of our most favorite people in Vila Velha! Almoçooo!

This week was nice and full of miracles. Miracles happen all day everyday. The people we meet... they're so life changing.

We were doing some visits with one of our dear members, Val, and we didn't have many people to teach. We're searching for good peeps to teach, but all of the elect are hiding from us. We need more referrals from the members. They know lots of peeps here in Vila velha. Anyways, we were doing some fun little door knocking, and no one wanted to listen. Fantastic. Not really.
But then there was this funny little old man walking down the street and Val looked at him and told us to tlak to him so we talked to him and he basically changed the entire day. His name is Angelo.
He said he was Catholic, and that he goes to church once a year. Then he said he was Pentecostal. Then we asked him which church he goes to and he just started laughing. :) And he was laughing so hard he was knee slapping. I don't ever want to forget him so I asked if we could take a picture with him. He said no because it'd so be ugly we'd throw the picture in the jungle. :)

We also met a police officer and he talked to us and told us his life story for a couple hours. Twas grand. He has 46 years, aka he's 46 years old. He talked a lot about family and when we saw him he was just sitting at his desk reading the Bible. Peeps are very good Bible readers here. Tis gooood. I learn a lot from them.

We may or may not have 3 batismos this weekend. We hope and pray so! But we'll need a miracle. Good thing miracles happen all day everyday!

We had stake conference this weekend. It was sooooooo good. I loooove conferências! They talked a lot about FAMÍLIA! THat's what it's all about eh? Sim. And that the most important things are family prayer, family home evening, and family scripture study. Families can be together forever!

Happy Thanksgiving and be thankful alwaysssss!
Be not weary in well doing. Galatas 6:9-10

Here in Itaparica, Sister Johnson and I have been looking for the elect. And hallelujah, a member gave us a referral of threeeee of the elect. So Adriana, Igor, and Dayane were supposed to get baptized and confirmed this weekend, but they disappeared. And by disappear, I mean that they said we cuold stop by their house to share a lesson and when we went there, everything was packed up and they had moved. Fantastico. Needless to say, we didn't have three batisms and confirmations this weekend.

It's been raining a lot here, but it's fun to get stuck in a good downpour now and again. The elders had a baptism yesterday and it was lovely to see people changing and becoming happier! Leaving the church, started to rain, a lot a lot, and we didn't have our umbrellas. How lovely. :)

Thanksgiving we ate with some of our most favorite members and it was grrrreat. Don't know what we'll be doing for Christmas or if I'll even still be here. We have transfers on the 13th of dezembro.

Some wonderful scriptures this week: D&C 9:7-9 adn D&C 6:22-23

The Lord answers and hears all of our prayers. Obrigada for praying for me and know that I pray for you too

Tchau to this transfer here in Itaparica!

2011-11-03T19:10:00.000-08:00

Tchau to this transfer here in Itaparica! I believe I'll be staying here with Sister Johnson again and it should be lovely because this place is grand and these people are too.

Geter got baptised and now the family is complete!

We are teaching some lovely souls and change is a good thing.

1 Thessalonias 5:16

Last week of transfer in Itaparica

2011-10-26T19:47:00.000-08:00

Tis the last week of the transfer here in Itaparica. I think I'll stay here, but you never know.

We had interviews and zone conference this week. Sooo lovely. I learned a lot and just want to do better. So many things to improve, but that is the beauty of it all, we can always progress! Ser feliz e progredir!

Last week Gabi and Raquel from my first area came and played with us. We ate cookies and I made about 2000 paper snowflakes and played a little ukulele. :D I also made smores on the stove with flavored marshmallows and maisena crackers. Yummo. And this week we had lunch with one of our recent convert families and ate fish. Yum yum fish is heavenly.

Has been lovely and rainy here, thank goodness. It's not too hot and I'm not melting. But as you can see from one of the pictures, a car drove by and splashed me and I got all wet. :) Funny.

I like this area and tis lovely being here. There are good days and better days and it's so fantastic when the people understand what we teach. We have two baptisms this saturday of Geter and Maria Teresa. And then two confirmations sunday!

I got a glorious pile of mail this week when we went to the mission office. As always, Lenny and Lexxy and Carolyn, I love everything you all say and send! And Kanasa and Katie and Carla and Buddy... muito obrigada!

Hope life is swell and that Halloween week is happy!

Saved a pigeon

2011-10-24T14:58:00.000-08:00

Twas a rainy week, hallelujah that it's not too incredible hot.
Sunday morning we got up nice and early to go fetch some souls to go to church with us. We got up extra early too because the time changed. And we left nice and tired, trekking in the rain, and no one went to church with us. Poo. I don't like walking to church in the rain when nobody comes with us. But them when we finally arrived at church nice and late, our lovely Maria Teresa was there!
I love when people live the gospel on their own and do the right things because they want too. Que alegria!
And then my dear Gabi showed up at church too! Alegria de novo!

We have interviews with our dear Presidente this week and zone conference too. Shall be marvelous and much needed.

And good news! I just saved a bundle on car insurance by switching to geico! Okay, not really, the closest I get to driving a car down here is just getting run over by one, which has not happened yet because of some little angels I think. hehehe :)
Oh but the real good news... we helped save a broken pigeon yesterday from drowning in the sewer river. Always oppurtunities to do good deeds! You just have to look for them!
Com amor, Sister Owens

P.S. I making lots of snow flakes these days. I could really go for a snow storm.

Misericórdia! Um ano!‏

2011-10-10T21:20:00.000-08:00

Here's some lovely pictures from a funny week. We've been having some heaven sent rain and it's not too hot. Hallelujah. But the mosquitos surely are out and about.

October 6th, I woke up, with one year as Sister Owens!! I also woke up with what appeared to be chicken pox. My goodness the mosquitos attacked me. But all is well. I have now started to use my mosquito net.

We're finding some lovely souls here in Itaparica. We talked with a girl on the street yesterday who was just sitting on the sidewalk cryign, with a guitar and a backpack. She basically has a horrible life and it's amazing how the Lord works through others to meet our needs.

I'm sooo grateful to be here. We're lucky peeps we are.

Itaparica week 2 :)‏

2011-10-04T14:43:00.000-08:00

Here are my pictures from last week and from this week too.
The rodoviara like always was a lovely festa. So good when everybody is together!
This week we had sisters conference and it was soooo very lovely. I just love these missionaries and learning so many wonderful things! And I got mail too! Yay! Obrigada lovely Cottams and Hayley and Connie and Shara!!! I love mail.
We had general conference too and it was so lovely and famílias eternas and o livro de mormon and marvelous and true. :D
We are lucky blessed peeps.
Love you all. Have a splendid week!

ITAPARICA!

2011-09-27T21:46:00.002-08:00

One word... ITAPARICA!
Yay I'm in Itaparica-Vila Velha! I'm here with Sister Johnson and Sister Nicásio and it is a festa. :) This transfer shall be fantastico! It is way different than my dear Aracruz, but it's lovely being closer to everything now.

We had transfers Tuesday and twas marvelous! I saw my favorite familia from Jardim da Penha and my dear Alderina was at the rodoviaria too! I looove transfers and tis so good partying with all the missionaries at the bus station for the afternoon.
And Jardim da Penha opened for sisters again! I was so hoping I would go back, but I'm excited to be in Itaparica now!

The peeps here are grrrreat. The chapel is fantastic too! And it looks like I might become the ward pianist this transfer. :)
We're teaching the cutest little old man named Wolmar. I love these blessed souls! And there's yummy açaí all over the place! Yay!

General Conference is this weekend! Can't wait! The Relief Society broadcast was soooo wonderful and can't wait to hear more lovely inspired words to orient my life.

All of the talks and classes and firesides and Liahona and everything seem to be about famílias eternas these days! Yay my favorite thing! Families can be together forever! Iupi!!!

PS When I got the the house in Itaparica (which doesn't have hot water... poo I don't like cold showers), there were cookies in the fridge and freezer. That's a good sign. And we got new mattresses too! All sorts of little blessings every single little moment.

Tchau!

Sunshine, you are my sunshine...

2011-09-25T18:17:00.000-08:00

Sunshine, you are my sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear how much I love you, but please don't take my sunshine away.

There's lots of sunshine here in Aracruz. Everyday is getting hotter and hotter. Misericórdia. Buuuut, I'll be leaving this wonderful place and people tomorrow morning. On to new places with new people for new adventures. It shall be lovely of course, but my goodness I will miss all of this here. 5 1/2 months of my life dedicated to the beloved people and land of Aracruz. Tis good.

Our dear Presidente and Sister Araújo came here yesterday for church. They brought some goodies to our house like cups and bowls and the first microwave of Missão Brasil Vitória! Including microwave popcorn. Yay. But I haven't changed too too much, still not a microwave fan. :)

We asked them if they had any info about transfers to tell us, but they said we'd have to wait till sunday night. Transfers happen tuesday afternoon and we find out sunday night if we'll stay or go. Then we have monday to pack or bags. Not a huuuge fan of this because I like very much to say goodbye and thank you to the people I love so much, but presidente knows what he's doing.

And at church sunday school and relief society were all about eternal families! Yay for casamento eterno! :D And Presidente Araújo gave a talk in sacrament meeting, and he told the members of Aracruz how much we love them. And then he said and when the sisters´s love for the people is so great, they get moved to other places to be able to love other people too. Then I started crying a bit because I love these people so so much and I figured I'd be transfered and it's so sad to leave. :( And after sacrament meeting he told us that I was leaving and the other three sisters would stay here. Then I started to cry a bit more and giving hugs and obrigadas to the wonderful people here in Aracruz.

And we're teaching so many good people right now who will be getting baptized so soon and I'll miss out on it. And who knows when I'll be able to see these blessed souls again, maybe not until the big party in the celestial kingdom. Gave me a nice eternal perspective yesterday. But oh my goodness I am just so eternally grateful to have been here with such wonderful wonderful peeps.

For other news of the week, just look at the pictures.

I found my dear Nilda cleaning the streets.

I did some translating for a dutch man at the police station. And then he bought us sugar cane juice.

We had a fantastico district meeting/festa.

I had a nice art project in my scriptures.

I carried 20 little breads on my head.

I said goodbye to some beautiful souls.

And obrigada tambem.

Boa semana para vocês!

2011-09-20T11:57:00.000-08:00

Monday: was a lovely P-day! I ate a cute little fish and had a wonderful FHE with wonderful wonderful people. We talked about eternal life. Yay!

Tuesday: Dad's birthday, my 11 month mark too. Had a very lovely morning study time and then we headed to lunch. I left the house kind of sad. Then as my companion was sharing a message with the family where we ate lunch, I started to cry. Couldn't really stop. The lovely sisters gave me hugs, but I just wanted to hug my family. So we went home, I laid on my bed, read letters from my family, and cried, feeling more homesick than ever before. Took a little nap and woke up two hours later feeling better. The sisters brought açaí to our house and we had a little açaí feast and then a bit later we taught a lovely family.

Wednesday: Our dear Presidente e Sister Araújo came here to Aracruz and I talked with Presidente and he gave me a blessing and he asked if I wanted to call home. Crying I replied yes. Yay yay! Then we went to lunch with the Araújos and came home and Presidente handed me his phone and I called my dearest família and felt much much much better and now I'm doing great and am normal and happy again.

Thursday: Went to Ibiraçu and did lots of visits with dear Luana.

Friday: Had a lovely visit with the wonderful family we're teaching. We had juice and cake and talked about the Plan of Salvation. :) They're getting married, but first he has to get divorced. They should be getting baptized in a month. :)

Saturday: Lovely times with lovely members. And lots and lots of lessons. And a very wonderful activity where Shrek 4 was on and lots of yummy food. Yay! I love these peeps of Aracruz. A lot.

Sunday: Wonderful church. Had 11 investigators there! Yay! But 4 of them left early. :( We are teaching some fantastic souls, they just have to choose to follow what they're learning.

Twas a grand week. My love and gratidude for everything that happens grows everyday. And it just amazes how minutely Heavenly Father works in every aspect of our lives. As a wise soul once told me, "Not even a falling leaf goes unnoticed by God." :) He knows us all and what is best for us!

I do believe this is my last week here in Aracruz. More than 5 months I've been here. It is most likely time for change.

Boa semana para vocês!

Boa Tarde!!

2011-09-18T21:27:00.000-08:00

Boa tarde!

A lovely quote that my dear sister sent me...
"what if you woke up today, with only the things, that you thanked God for yesterday?"
Amém. :)

Another week goes by. Weird how time is. I've got 11 months on the mission tomorrow. Estranho.
Well no time to say much, but just look at the pictures and see what I'm up to. Oh hallelujah for fotos.

Had some very lovely festas this week with some very lovely people. Transfers are in 2 weeks and seeing as how I already have 5 months here in Aracruz, it might be my last two weeks with these blessed souls.

Had some marvelous FHEs this week. I made brownies and cookies and it was pretty heavenly.
My toe is doing great. :) The nail will soon be growing back I hope.
I ate some little fishies this week! They were delicious! It had been so long without fishies! Yum.
It's getting hotter here. Eca. I'm not a very big fan of heat. I miss snow. But I make a sufficient amount of paper snowflakes so it's all good.

Have a lovely week full of inspirations!

-Sister Owens

11 Months!!!

2011-09-07T18:32:00.000-08:00

2 Nephi 2:11

2011-09-05T20:34:00.000-08:00

I got to give a lovely talk in church yesterday about overcoming out challenges and difficulties. I learned a lot. Basically life is full of ups and downs. It has to be. If we don't have downs, we can't have ups. This week for me was most definintely full of ups and downs, some hardddd (and wicked hot) days, but then saturday and sunday came and things turned wonderful again.

But 2 Nephi 2:11 opposition is necessary to our Heavnely Father's plan of happniess. And as we develop Christ like attributes, we learn so much from our trials and afflictions and realize that they our for our benefit. Tudo vai dar certo, tá bom? Tá ótimo. :)

I'm meeting so most wonderful peeps here, such lovely souls. But it's so interesting how when sunday comes around, they disappear off the face of the earth and don't show up at church. Hmm.... But sometimes when I meet people or talk with them on the street, I look at them and it's like hmmm... I know them from somewhere. Yep.

We had zone conference and it was celestial! Elder Claudio R. M. Costa and his wife were here! Chique demais. I learned soooo much and I'm soooo grateful we have prophets and apostles to lead us through these hard times. And it was so lovely to be with the dear missionaries of our dear mission.

And I got a nice little pile of mail (and a Liahona) and muitos mahalos for my favorites Cottams, Tingy, Mum, and Christine Tietjen. I love mail! And I got a nice box from me mum with chocolate and peanut butter and all sorts of goodies. Unfotunately, the chocolate went out rather quickly. :) I seem to have a problem with that.

Well enjoy the pictures from this week, they're perhaps kind of random, like always, but have some signifacance for me. :)

This week...

2011-08-24T09:29:00.000-08:00

"Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look at the stars." -Henry van Dyke

This week... taught 35 lessons, 174 contacts, 20 new investigators, and 6 people at church! Yay! I love when people are at church. And sunday was a rainy day (thank gooooodness), but we still had peeps at church. Yippee skippee!

And then after church we had one of the best lunches ever with like three different families. It was a little churrasquinho festa. :) And the Work and the Glory was on the tele. Oh how I loooove church movies. Especially about the Restoration! Anyways, the members here in Aracruz are wonderful and help us a lot.

This week, did some english teaching. I mean teaching about the Book of Mormon in english. There's a Dutch man here named Herman who is friend of some members and every single thing in his life is falling apart right now. He doesn't really speak portuguese but he speaks english so I was teaching him and he's reading the Book of Mormon and praying and it's a wonderful getting to know him and to learn from his example. So many things to learn from every single person.

I was talking to some guy on the street this week. His name was Elder.

I love the Pearl of Great Price.

I want a fusca, aka vw bug.

Our new district leader is Elder Gneiting. I was in the mtc at the same time as him. He's a funny one. :) And now that Sister Morales Elder Jotinha are gone (ps obrigada por peanut butter!!) I'm got to start playing piano, which is lovely of course.

I love you all lots and lots and hope your days are full of joyfuls and progresso.

Aracruz Round 4

2011-08-22T10:46:00.000-08:00

Oi queridos!

We had transfers this week. Just full of happy and sad feelings! Most thankfully, our dear Presidente let Sister do Prado and I go to the transfer meeting in Vitória even though we weren't transfered. I looove transferências! It's sooo good to see everyone! So wonderful. Most of the pictures this week are from transfers because it was just a marvelous day seeing some of my most favorite people and playing in Vitória.

But sadly Sister Dias and Sister Michelotto were transferred and I miss those crazies a lot, but we've got Sister Cunha and Sister Vieira here now, who are just wonderful.

And another sadly/happily, Sister Morales is now home and I had to say goodbye. :( but que alegria to have such good blessed souls in my life!

And at transfers I got heavenly mail! Muito obrigada to dear Denise, Holly, Mom, and of course the whole Cottam family. My goodness I am blessed with wonderful peeps.

Sister do Prado and I had a great week of missionary work, as always. :) We found some super super wonderful people, but most unfortunately, they didn't go to church. Why don't these peeps go to church?? It takes so much work and we go to get them and they pretend they're not home and ladeedahdada...

Anyways, Mirian, the wonderful mother of two of our recent converts, finally came to church. Three months of trying to get her to church and she finally went! Yay! And she loved it, all three hours. Adn she said how she just felt so much peace. Now she just has to stop smoking and then... batismo! But they are some of my most favorite people here in Aracruz and I"m happy I'm still here.

By the way, my little dedinho, aka little big toe, is doing good. I had a few glorious days in flip flops with a big ol' bandade, but now I'm just using regualar spiderman bandaids and some cream.

And the new Assistente, Elder Lopes Silva, called last night to ask about a girl Sister Morales and I were working with when we were in JArdim da Penha. Her name is Elisangela and she most unfortunately decided not to get baptized at the time, but they're working with her again and how lvoely it is to know when the seeds you have planted are reaping fruits!

Well I'm learning oodles, basically that we can do anything and nothing is impossible. :) But seriously, pode fazer qualquer coisa com o Senhor.

PS Bye Buddy. Hope you find your dad. :)

Big Toe News

2011-08-19T08:22:00.000-08:00

Queridos Pessoas, :)

The most eventful event of the week, would be related to my big toe. Well it's been infected quite badly for 7 weeks now, and then I got some other little random infection that popped up wednesday and so I finally decided to go to the doctor.

Let's start with Thursday morning. We went to the capela, and had our last district meeting with our dear district and our dear district leader. We had a lovely festa with brownies, popcorn, and spiritual thoughts. :) And the best part was when the elders gave us four sisters blessings. Oh my goodness how I was needing a blessing and it pretty much changed everything. Obrigada sacerdocio and lovely elders! It helped so so much. My little big toe was blessed too.

Then after lunch, me and these three dear Sisters headed to the doctor, waiting for an hour in the waiting room, then waiting for an hour and a half in the operating room place, then ol´ Dr. Sixto finally came in.

He fillllled my toe with anesthesia (don't know how to spell that, or say that, I1m a little confused as to which word is portuguese and which word is english and I think I mixed them together). Basically, after he put in the first couple needles, I didn't feel a thing. And thank goodness too.

The doctor man grabbed the knife thing and just cut my toe nail in half. Then he got some giant tweezer things and ripped the nail out. Then he took the little knife again and cut off the big blob of infected skin. Twas bleeding quite a lot, but I wasn't watching. But the sisters filmed it for me and I've watched it a couple times now. Still make me cringe. Poor dedinho.

Sister Michelotto was saying how he was cutting my toe just as if he were cutting the fat off a piece of beef. And then after that he got some sort of tool and was zapping my toe. Like burning it to make it scar faster and stop bleeding. So that was that. Then he put a giant bundle of gause on my foot and some cream and some tape and I was good to go. :)

That was thursday afternoon. Then Sister do Prado and I went home, and I propped my foot up in the air, made cinnamon toast and hot chocolate, and wrote in my journal. Twas lovely.

Then friday I stayed home all day too. Sister Dias stayed with me for the first part of the day, then Sister Michelotto. I made paper snowflakes, ate mango, read Moses, and didn't shower. I almost forgot I was a missionary. :)

Saturday I was back to normal work walking all day long and teaching peeps.

It doesn't hurt or anything and it healing quite nicely. I'm taking some antibiotic to get the infection out of me and a little something else so that I don't feel any pain. Every morning I go to the hospital and they change the bandaging and such. I think tomorrow will be the last day I'll have to go the hospital and that I can just change it myself. It doesn't bleed or hurt or anything but it isn't very pretty.

We have transfers tomorrow. Emoção! Sister do Prado and I will stay here in Aracruz and unfortunately our dear Sister Dias and Sister Michelotto are being transfered. So sad. We're getting two new wonderful sisters tomorrow night. The saddest part is that I don't get to go to Vitória for the transfer meeting and I don't get to see everyone and have a little festa at the bus station. And I dopn't get to see Sister Morales again for a long time. :( But everything has it's puropse and tomorrow we plan on finding uma família who is married with lots of kids and all ready to be baptized.

The greater the sacrifice the greater the reward.

This morning as I was about ponderwondering, the scripture Proverbs 3:5-6 popped into my head. It helped me a lot. Tis true né? Sim papai.

I love you peeps a lot and everything is bom demais.

"Mãos que Ajudam"

2011-08-17T10:29:00.000-08:00

August! I believe it is now getting much hotter here in Espírito Santo. Everyday I'm reminded of how I am not a big fan of the heat. :) It's not too wicked hot, but my goodness how I miss making a good snow angel now and again. :)

This is the last week of the transfer. I'm excited for transfers. I'm needing some sort of change. I've been here for 4 months and I seem to be talking with all the same people on the street. I don't really want to leave Aracruz because I really love these members and recent converts so so much, but I think I need a little change. We'll see what happens in a week.

Had a lovely week. Had a wonderful Helping Hands service project in Colatina. "Mãos que Ajudam." And I got to wear tie dye and jeans! Twas fantastic! And there was a reporter there and she interviewed me (just because I'm from the USA) and it was funnnny. It might be on youtube if you look up "Mãos qu ajudam Colatina 2011" but I don't know for sure.

Then we had FESTA JUNINA at the church on Saturday night. Basically the typical costume is like ugly, hence the pictures with us with unibrows and blacked out teeth. :) You just go kind of redneckish style and there's fun little dresses too, and dances and yummy food and everything. Twas a lovely festa and it was so funny when us 4 got to the church dressed up nice and lovely with our braids and blacked out teeth. I love Brasil.

Tis marvelous to be a missionary. I'm just learning oodles everyday. I love these people a lot a lot and things are going pretty well. We're just searching all the streets to find our elect family to baptize, but we haven't found them yet. You've just got to endure to the end. Enduuuuuuure memso.

I'll send lots of sunshine your way. There's too much here. :)
PS We discvovered a store that sells brownies! Yahoo! And I made cookies this week for a birthday party with one of the elders in our district. Hallelujah for cookies. Oh the joys in life.

Tchau!

Chelsea's at the end of this video:
http://murilovisck.blogspot.com/2011/07/colatina-es-reportagem-da-globo-sobre.html

25 julho 2011, only 5 months till Christmas :)

2011-07-25T20:28:00.002-08:00

Twas a good week, the highlight being Sisters Conference in Vitória at the mission home with the 11 lovely sisters of the mission, Presidente e Sister Araújo, and the assistentes. It was soooo good. And I got to spend the day with such delightful people. Splendid. Twas celestial. And I got a lovely bundle of mail from the dearest Cottams. Oh how am I blessed with such good peeps in my life.

Speaking of celestial, the members of Aracruz just got back from the temple. Three families sealed and you can just feel and see the light they have now. The temple is 19 hours away and they go twice a year. It's humbling to see the sacrifices of so many people and how dedicated they are to go to the house of the Lord. I can't wait to go to the temple again. PS, if you live near a temple, take advantage of it and realize your blessings.

Well I had a nice rain bath the other day. It's been raining a little and a lot and it's like cold here. It's so chilly and night and in the morning and we just don't have warm clothes or things l like that. And one little blanket just isn't doing it at night. Especially since my matress is about 4 inches thick too. :) And who knows how many sweaty elders have slept on that mattress. :) Oh well, it's working pretty well for me. :)

Anyways in the picture of us 4 sisters, you might have noticed that I've whipped out my striped sleevies that I found on the beach at Diamond Creek and am using them as leg warmers. You've got to do what you've got to do.

Yesterday was sunday. There was a baptism. The font would fill up so the sisters filled it up with buckets from the sink. They we realized that there were no baptism clothes in the church, so my companion and I ran home during sacrament meeting to get a white skirt and shirt for the girl who was baptized. Bagunça. :) But everything works out you know.

And yesterday Sister do Prado and I got up nice and early to walk a marathon before church to fetch like 20 people who promised to go with us. LEeft our house at 7:30, passed by like 15 houses, and... we walked to church alone, in the rain, with no investigators. Bugger. But we did all we could, so we'll be blessed. :)

Well time is up. Until next week. Love you all lots and lots and count your many blessings.

PS was reading the General Conference Liahona and in a talk by Elder Richard G. Scott he said, " We become what we want to be by constantly being what we want to become each day."

-Sister Owens

BATISMOS!!

2011-07-18T14:32:00.000-08:00

As you can tell by the fotos, the week was pretty goodie... BATISMOS!

Oh how I love fruits of my labors. :) I don't know why the work is going so great here in Aracruz, but things are grrrreat here. The Lord is working a lot a lot, I'm just trying to follow His lead and do what I need to do.

Tis marvelous to be a missionary, to help others and to be doing good. Just fills my life full of warm fuzzies. The other day we visiting a senhora, Cecilia, the oldest member of the branch here in Aracruz. She just loved our visit so so much and just loved talking with us. When we left she was hugging us and crying and said how much she enjoyed the visit.

Every day I'm reminded at the fact that the Lord uses us, His children, to be instruments in His hands. So often we are inspired to do or say something for someone else, and we get all these little inspirations to help other people. We have so many angels in our paths leading and guiding us. And just rememeber that we so often are these angels for other people. People need you.

We had two baptisms on saturday and another marked for sunday. But unfortunately our baptism for Sunday, Thiago, fell through. He said he wanted more time and didn't want to fall again and sin more, so he wanted to wait. Sunday morning, Sister do Prado and a member and I were at his house for like an hour, talking with him, teaching him, doing everytihng possible to get him to go to church. But he chose not too.

Sometimes it's just a little hard that everyone has agency to choose for themselves. But what a blessing. We choose what happens with our lives. We choose who we are and how we react to every situation. No one has control over our lives or happiness but us.

And every single day I learn more and more that when we do the right things, and follow the promptings of the spirit, we are happier. It's just so perfectly simple.

I love you all muito muito and I love Brasil and Aracruz and being a missionary and Presidente e Sister Araújo e Presidente e Sister Pickett and all these wonderful missionaries and members here. So many wonderful things we have in our lives!

Oh by the way, talked with a couple crazy crazy intoxicated ladies on Saturday. Coo coo people! Alcohol just does no good, no no no. And unfortunately there are bars like no other here in Brasil. And churches like no other too. :) Funny place this is. Love it a lot.

PS sooo excited for thursday! We've got a sisters conference of the lovely sisters of Missão Brasil Vitória! All is well. Sending much love to all of you!!

NINE MONTHS

2011-07-13T15:20:00.000-08:00

Woo hoo 9 meses! Weird that I'm way done with this jolly goodness.

Twas a good week. Met some lovely people. Taught some marvelous things. And had a baptism of an incredible family!

The parents haven't gotten baptized yet, since they're just living together and not married, but the 4 kids got baptized and it was grandioso! Peeps here don't get married very often. They just live together and call each other husband and wife. :) It's like a lot of paper work and costs monies to get married, so lots of people just don't get married. But casamento/marriage, what a wonderful thing!

Well... before the baptism on Thursday, Sister Michelotto may or may not have fallen into the baptismal font. :) She also fell down the stairs of our house again. She's crazy and you just can't help but love her.

I love working with Sister do Prado. I'm learning so much. And it is so good living with Sister Dias and Sister Michelotto. It's all just so good. And the Lord is blessing us so so much. My goodness I've never been so blessed in my life, and with so many wonderful people in my life, including all of you!

Muito obrigada for all the mail and thoughts and prayers and love. Muchly appreciated.

Scripture for the day for you all, Luke 1:37. Nada é imposivel com o Senhor!

Eu amo Missão Brasil Vitória: Melhor Missão do Mundo.

Amo vocês! Boa semana!

Sister Owens

Let Freedom Ring!!!

2011-07-11T15:40:00.001-08:00

4th of july in Brasil just isn't as neato tolledo as 4th of july in the USA. But it's still a fantastic day! It's P-day! I get to write letters today! And I have lots of letters to write because I got a sweet bundle of mail! MUITO OBRIGADA to dearest Anita, to the whole Cottam fam, and to my dear Holly, Stacy, and Jakey.

W'e've got a new mission president here and we met them on Thursday! The dearest Picketts flew out tuesday afternoon and the Araújos got here tuesday afternoon. They are wonderful and love us so so much and are so excited to be here. But I still miss the Picketts so much! It's different without them here, but my next nine months with the Araujos with most definitley be wonderful.
I make my 9 month mark on wednesday! And I1m making cookies! Woo hoo cookies!

We had zone conference on thursday and I got to eat at the home of the dear Soneghets! It was heavenly!

Found some cool parkeets this week. :) I love Brasil and I love temples and my name tag and rice and beans. Happy Independence Day!

The Picketts

2011-07-01T10:34:00.000-08:00

Starting anothe fantastic transfer here in Aracruz! I'm training again and it is soo good. I just love the new missionaries, okay I love all of them. My companion Sister do Prado is so fulll of life and energy and desire to serve! We're working lots and lots and are so sleepy and tired every night.

Our dear President and Sister Pickett are headed home tomorrow and we'll be blessed to have President and Sister Araújo now. Oh I will just miss the dear Picketts so so much, but I'm excited for this next half of my mission with the Araújos. And wowza, I'm like halfway done now, weird. :)

Sunday we had a bundle of good peeps promised to go to church, and so we got up nice and early, and walked lots and lots, to take all these peeps to church, but all sorts of things happened and only two ended up going. But one of them is one of the elect! His name is Tiago and he's getting baptized on the 9th. We taught him the word of wisdom and he just stopped smoking and drinking right away. I love the eleitos!

The mission is the best. I'm learning oodles of goodie things and I just can't believe how blessed I am to be here.

Boa semana para vocês!

Love and Sunshine

2011-06-29T16:45:00.000-08:00

One of my peace calendar quotes this week was
"What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family." -Mother Theresa
Everything starts with us, with all the small and simple things.

We have transfers tomorrow. And WOO HOO! Sister Dias, Sister Michelotto adn I will stay here in Aracruz! And I'm getting another newbie copmanion and will be with her training her for two transfers. Woo hoo! New missionaries are the best!

And our dear Presidente and Sister Pickett finish on June 28. Tomorrow will be the last time I'll see them until after the mission. Oh they're just the best! The best of the best. But our new mission president and his wife will be so fantastico as well ofcourse. It's just hard to say goodbye to people you love so much.

This week we had zone conference and it was celestial. Oh my goodness being a missionary is thebest and so sacred and good. We learned about patriarchal blessings and also Presidente talkedto us about JOY. And whenwe progress, especially with the spirit and with the atonement, that is what brings joy. I'm learning how completely infinite the atonement is, the thing od most importnace, that cures and heals all problemsand all the wrongs in the world.

There's always lots of sunshine and my love is growning every day!

Olá e opá de Aracruz

2011-06-28T07:37:00.000-08:00

Olá e opá de Aracruz, Espírito Santo!

This week I'm learning lots of things like how you feel so much better when you do the right things!

Found some cool new peeps to teach this week and remember Edimilson, the hippy we taught who is livign at the bus station? Well the circus is in town and he's working at the circus now. :)

Our dear President and Sister Pickett only have two more weeks here. They will be missed so so vrey much. We have transfers on the 21st and there's probably gonna be some changes. New compnaions or new area or something. You never know. But I do not want to pack my bags! And I love this place and my comps and the peeps we're teaching.

PS I finally saw elder Buttars yesterday (from the mtc)!!! It was so so happy and he brought me two jars of peanut butter! Que felicidade e amor!

This is soooo good.

happy week to you all!!!

8 MONTHS

2011-06-26T19:55:00.000-08:00

Woo hoo! Today marks 8 months on the mission! Parabéns para mim!

This week was full of highs and lows. And isn't it great how when we have those lows, we know there has got to be something great ahead. And the highs seem so much better and more glorious when you have a bad day to compare it with. Hooray for opposition!

One of the highlights of the week, making and eating heavenly cookies. Our stove didn't work, but we got a new one and I made cookies for a district meeting! Our district is so so good. There are four other elders and they´re just so querido! And my companions, oh my love just grows for them everyday. So much fun wandering around, searching for the elect, teaching people, sharing the lovely blessings of the gospel.

My love and testimony of the gospel grows everyday too. How can all of this not be true? It just makes so much sense and it's all so perfect.

Been reading general conference talks this week. Love love love.

I love you all muitos and am praying lots and lots for you all! OBrigada for the mail and prayers! Tchau! Bye buddy hope you find your dad!

Baptism and Confirmation!

2011-06-05T15:32:00.000-08:00

The mission is the best and my companions Sister Dias and Sister Michelotto are so fantastico! We're just laughing all day long in our search for the elect.

The work is going pretty good here. Aracruz is lovely and the members here are so so good. My companions are pretty brand new on the mission and I just love them lots and lots. I' doing pretty good staying focused these days too. You just have to work.

I love Brasil, especially during winter. Oh hallelujah it's not so wicked hot. Hallelujah.

This week we got a new stove and a tanquinho! Woo hoo! Less handwahsing clothes and more cookie making now! Yay! A tanquinho is joke though. It just fills with water and swishes your clothes around. Tis almost better to just hand wash. Oh blessed washing machines and dryers.

We had another baptism and confirmation. Fernanda, she's so wonderful. And she's gonna serve a mission in three years. Woo hoo! I looove this place and this life. Definitely has its difficulties, but life is so much easier with the gospel.

Com muito amor por todos de vocês, Sister Owens

PS. my dear companion, who has only been in the field for two weeks, fell down the stairs the other day, lots and lots of stairs. Why is it always so funny when people fall? I've never laughed so much in my life.

Alegria

2011-05-24T20:39:00.001-08:00

Alegria. The mission is like the best thing since sliced bread. Oh it's seriously just so so good and I love it more every single day. I can't imagine my life without this and without all these peeps and my dear companions and everything.

This lovely week was a little on the crazy side. The night before transfers, we had a glorious AÇAÍ fest with a bunch of members and recent converts. Oh it was so good. I could eat açaí every day.

Then transfers... said goodbye to my dear Sister Barbosa who finished her mission, but now I have two lovely companions! Sister Dias (who I lived with this last transfer) and Sister Michelotto (who is brand new in the field)! So now I'm doing some wonderful training of my new dearest companions. It is so so good.
I've got a bit more responsibility now, making sure everything with everything is all good, and it is fantastic. And the work here in Aracruz is going so good. We'll have SEVEN baptisms in this ward for the month of may. Holy success. It's the sister power that we've got going on here. And it's also helpful that we're always laughing all day long. Oh it's so good.

And more good news...It's getting colder here! Hallelujah!!! I get cold at night and have to use a blanket now. And sometimes during the day I take a sweater with me. It is so heavenly not sweating all day long. Oh blessed cold.

And... casamentos!!! We had a wedding this week of our investigators and now they're living the law of chastity and then they got baptized. Woo hoo! So good. We're having another glorious baptism this saturday. Hooray for fruits of your labors!

Well this week we were just like running around like chickens with our heads cut off, so so much to do. But it is so good this way.

Transfers were so good, I got to see my dearest eleita Alderina, and lots of missionaries and Gabi too! So good! And I got a bundle of letters. MUITO orbigada to the dearest Cottams, Sandrinha, Gabi, Lilly, Grandad and Grandma, Sister Friden, Sister Deagostini, and Elder Buttars (who finally got his visa and is now in Brasil)!!!
Love you all!!!

Transfers Again!!

2011-05-17T11:50:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog:

Transfers again! Thank goodness I'm staying here in Aracruz for at least another transfer!

But my dear companion Sister Barbosa is heading home. And Sister Felizardo, another sister who lives with us, is going home too. But Sister Dias and I are staying here together and we''ll be getting at least one brand new sister in our house and maybe another sister or two too! This next transfer will be fantastico!

I"m so so grateful that the Lord guided Sister Barbosa and I to the two elect souls that baptized April 30. And I'm so so grateful he put another one of the elect in our path this week. Her name is Fernanda and in our first lesson with her she said she had no doubt that all we taught was true.

Aaaand, as we were walkign to church on Sunday, she was saying how she's looking for a religion and wants to get baptized, so yes. I followed a nice little prompting and invited her to get baptized in the church of Jesus Christ, and she's getting baptized May 28th! TWill be most excellent!

I just love all of this so much and am so glad I've got another 11 months here to save souls. This is the best thing ever! This is the best day ever!

Love you peeps muitos. Tchau!

Happy Mothers Day!

2011-05-10T21:43:00.000-08:00

Dearest Peeps,

I love skype. Yesterday was Mother's Day and I got to skype with the fam and it was so so good! Oh families are the best. Thank goodness we can be together forever!

I'm just so so grateful for so many things. Yesterday we had a nice little angel old man in our path who gave us a ride to church. Que bênção! Sundays sometimes are coo coo for cocoa puffs. Sister Barbosa and I left our house yesterday morning, walked 45 minutes to get some peeps to walk to church with us, and everyone was sleeping or ran away or was just too lazy and no one was coming with us. So after waiting and trying to get them to come to church with us, we just decided to leave and walk to church because we were already 10 minutes late and had to go another 30 minutes to walk to church.

So... enter angel man. Elizio is a nice little old man the always wears a cowboy hat. We taught him once, but he just likes to talk a lot. We saw him on the street the other day and he gave us some yummy candy. Sunday morning, he drives by in his little white car and asks if we want a ride to church. Tempting, but since it was just us two sisters, kind of against mission rules, so we said no. He said if we change our minds, the offer is still open.

So we continue walking in the nice hot morning sun, and run into our recent converts, who also didn't have a ride to church! So... we go back and ask Senhor Elizio for a ride to church and and hoooray! All is well and we were only 15 minutes late for church. Oh I just love the people the Lord puts in our paths.

We had zone conference this week and it was fantastico!!! SO good to see the other sisters and elders and the Picketts. Oh it was so so sooooo good. And I got to go back to Jardim da Penha for the day and saw some lovely Soneghets and it was soooo good!

The mission is so wonderful. Just learning so much and life is full of blessings every single day!!

Com amor, Sister Owens

Batismos!

2011-05-03T20:06:00.000-08:00

Wowza this week went by speedy quick. Twas a fantastico week! Because.... dois batismos!

A few weeks ago we found some of the elect, and the got baptized on saturday! Twas glorious! And then sunday they got the gift of the holy ghost and the boy received the preisthood already! Such joy! Yay! So happy and they are so wonderful. Rayane e Adriano, eleitos.

It's so fantastic how the Lord puts people in our paths, and all the things I learn from these wonderful people here, from each lesson and each contact, something to learn from everybody.

As Sister Barbosa (who is so wonderful) and I were taking a nice little ice cream break one evening, a man yelled, "Jesus te ama!" to us, telling us that Jesus loves us. He is a funny man named Eduardo. We had a nice little prayer with him and some of his friends.

Still eating lots of popsicles and açaí. And I finally ate a kinder egg this week too. Yummmmo! I love Brasil.

And... Mother's day is sunday, which means 40 m inute skype session with ym dearest family!

Muito obrigada for the love and prayers and everything. Jesus te ama!!

PS I get to see my dear brasilian family today!

Hoppy Easter!!

2011-04-26T17:42:00.000-08:00

Oh how I love my mission. Nothing better or more wonderful for me to be doing right now than exactly this, being here in Aracruz with Sister Barbosa working lots and lots and lots. It's so incredible each day to be so focused on only doing good things, we'r eonly rbigning goodness and light into the world. It is bringing so many blessings into my life. The mission is the best. Blessings and Spirit all day everyday!

This week was a little coo coo for cocoa puffs, but still so so excellent and full of lots of joyful moments.

First, we had interviews with President Pickett, and he and Sister Pickett brought up all our mail! Hooray! I had a giant load of jolly good mail and it was like the best thing ever. Many many obrigadas to the dearest Cottams, for two packages and lots of lovely letters, and obrigada to Kirstin for the best surprise box ever full of fun goodies and lovely words. Obrigada to Tingy, Carala girl, Janey Banana, Sis Cahoon, Sis Friden, Mother dear, and Gabi! It was like joy to the 46th power getting and reading and opening all this mail. Thank you for all of the thoughts and prayers.

More joyful moments, seeing Gabi! She's a member from my last area and on of my favorite people on planet earth (and on other planets too). IT was soooo good to see her, to laugh to cry to talk about the wonderful blessings of life. The people you meet on the mission, you can never forget them.

Twas also joyful one night as we were walking down the street and I tripped on a rock and a my shoe broke. Fantastic. Luckily I found a sandal on the street to wear so that I could walk the rest of the way home.

Easter was so joyful too! Oh how I looove Holy Week! :) It was so good. And this one girl we're teaching, she came to church all by herself. We didn't have to wake her up and remind her or go get her or anything. She was there before we were!

And we're teaching a family, baptizing the oldest daughter and son this saturday. The son didn't want to get baptized yet, but after church he came and told us that he's ready and wants to get baptized. This family is elect. We're on a big search for other elect families too. If you know any, let me know. Or let mormon.org know. :)

The members in the branch are so wonderful. Somebody hooked us up with a bunch of chocolate too, making Easter complete and happy! Things are pretty great.

Love Sister Owens

Fireflies!

2011-04-25T19:05:00.001-08:00

Fireflies! Yes, I saw fireflies for the first time ever this week. It was so glorious. Oh it is just so beautiful here. I love Aracruz.

And we are teaching coolio peeps too. We're teaching this family and one of the girls and her friends just love us so much. They always tell me to speak english. When they see us coming down the street the just run run and hug Sister Barbosa and I. It is so good.

We went to a couple's house that we're teaching, and one of their daughters said that the girls from the church are here. Then the little boy said, "They're not from the church; they're from God!" So funny and so good. This couple, Valdirene and Renato, we telling us how much good we are doing for the world. And how every time we visit they just feel more peace in their lives.

It was so good to hear that, because we work all day long, walk all over the place in the hot sun, teach lessons, people seem unresponsive at times, but then when people tell you all the good things you're doing you just feel so good and just want to continue forever!

We're also teaching a profressional soccer player. So Brasil. There are kids all over the place in the streets just playing soccer soccer futebol. Tis fantastico.

And we were at this girl Rovena's house, teaching her and her family, and they are just such wonderful people. People here have so much faith and are so dedicated. But oh my goodness there are like 20 churches on each street. We're doing our best tesitifying to people about the restored Church of Jesus Christ, but sometimes people just don't want to change.

Oh but at Rovena's huose, they have a bunch of cool fruit trees and she was just going out and picking these different fruits and giving them to us to try. Hooked us up with some cacau fruit, which they make chocolate from. Don't know how they make choco, but the fruit tastes nothign like chocolate. Inside it looks a bit like snot. :) And they gave us some coconut juice. Her dad was outside with a machete just hacking a coconut open for us to drink. Oh I looove this country.

The mission is so wonderful. I can't even begin to talk about all of the many things I've learned, more than just português. :) I love this place and these people and am so excited for Easter! Happy day to you all.

-Sister Owens

ARACRUZ

2011-04-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

Querido Família e Amigos...

Tchau tchau to the wonderful area of Jardim da Penha and the wonderful people and things and island of Vitória, and hellllooooo Aracruz!
TRansfers this week, so sad to say goodbye to so many things and souls, but I'm Aracruz now, which is such a fantastico little city. It is soooo beautiful here. And there is so much green and nature! Oh it is heavenly. I love this town. And it's not a huge big city like Vitória too, so it is sooo great.
My companion is the dear Sister Barbosa. She's from the south of Brasil in Porto Allegre. She is incredible, such a good missionary, and so fun. This transfer will be glorious! But we are opening this area, which means we are both brand new to this area annd we know nothing. Nothing. And we pretty much have no map. So it is definitely on the hard side to work effectively, but we're doing what we can.
We live with two other sisters, Sister Felizardo and Sister Dias, also from Brasil. I just love these three sisters sooo much. And basically I'm speaking no english these days, since they're all Brasilian, so tis a nice little growing period for me to crack down on my português skills. :) Learning lots of new words all day everyday!

The mission continues to be incredible, but soooo very far from easy. There is so much to do. But you can't do it all at once, one things at a time. And with teaching there are so many things to include and you have to be so inspired and listen to the spirit in all things. But sometimes it is hard to distinguish what the spirit is saying and what you need to do. Thank goodness we have the power of prayer, the blessed privelege to communicate with an all powerful, all knowing, all loving God. Never prayed so much in my life. It is great of course.

I'm just so grateful for the scriptures and preach my gospel and my companions and President and Sister Pickett, so that I can learn all these things that I have to do. So so grateful. And of course sooo grateful for the loving people I have at home at for all your prayers and thoughts. Muito obrigada para sempre.

Com amor, Sister Owens

PS the picture of the colorful chapel is actually like a school, where the church has its meetings because the real chapel is under construction or something. It's 2 hours away in Colatina, where we have weekly district meeting. It is like the coolest looking church ever though. Oh how I love the colors of Brasil!

Have I Done Any Good?

2011-04-08T10:26:00.000-08:00

Queridos famíliares e amigos, a vida é tão boa.
We had General Conference this weekend! It was so so good and so increidble to hear the words and receive the counsel of the living prophets and leaders of the church. We watched it at the chapel and it was all translated into poruguese. I definitely missed hearing the actual voices of the prophet and apostles, but it was still so so good. So good.

They seemed to talk a lot about trials and tribulations. Wonderful to hear, because as wonderful as it is being a missionary, the mission definitely comes with a few trials. But we really can't grow without challenges and tribulations. Heavenly Father often gives us aflicitions to bless us. He loves us and just wants us to grow closer to him. And everything has a purpose.

It was also said a couple times how are prayers are often answered through others. We are the answers to peoples prayers, even to our own prayers. We've just got to be humble, be like a child.

And I loved how President Henry B. Eyring quoted the hymn "Have I Done Any Good." Because so often we can't see the fruits of our labors, and we wonder if we're doing good. But we are dong good.

1. Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?

[Chorus]
Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

2. There are chances for work all around just now,
Opportunities right in our way.
Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”
But go and do something today.
’Tis noble of man to work and to give;
Love’s labor has merit alone.
Only he who does something helps others to live.
To God each good work will be known.

Text and music: Will L. Thompson, 1847–1909, alt.

And.... transfers tomorrow. Sadly, I'm leaving this wonderful area of Jardim da Penha with these wonderful people. No idea where I'll be going or who I'll be with. I'll find out tomorrow! But I know it will be so so good, tis just so sad to leave, and I don't want to pack. And good news, I'll get to eat some of Sister Pickett's cookies at transfer meeting.
And more good news!! Sister Powell (who I was at the MTC with) got her visa finally and will be here tomorrow! Sister Morales will be training her. Yahoo!

Sister Morales and I were talking about some of the highlights of the last three months we had in this area together. Oh my goodness there are sooo many. So may funny moments, sad moments, spiritual moments. It's like an emotional roller coaster out here some days. :)

But the best part of the mission so far is Alderina. She is elect. She was baptized March 26th. She is soooo hilarious and loves the gospel soooo much. Oh I just love her so much. Yesterday she said that imagine if we hadn't found her. Imagine. How many people are out there searching for the peace the gospel brings, but they don't know where to find it. That's why we've got to share this joy! Okey dokey, I better go get to work! :)

JOY

2011-04-06T20:20:00.001-08:00

Hooray for batismos e confirmações!
The mission is so wonderful. Learning so many things, and learning how many things I still need to learn! It just never ends, which is fantastico!
There are ups and downs all through out the week, and the ups are definitely when we're working harder. The harder you work, the better you feel (so let's have beans for every meal)!
Beans are still so delicious. And it's like avocado season too, which means avocado smoothies! Whiich may sound not fantastico, but they're pretty good. Açaí bowls are good too. I think I have a habit of talking about food a lot in every email, porbably because I email right before lunch. :) Oh blessed lunch. It's like a sacred hour here.

I just want to say a little bit about JOY. Because 2 Néfi 2:25, "men are that they might have joy."
Joy is our purpose. Nothing better than that!
And I got some supercalifragilisticexpialidocious mail this week, and oh my goodness, mail=joy. Muito muito obrigada to the Cottams and Sashie and Stephen and Holly and Stacy! Oh happy day, I love mail! And I love you all too.
Something else that brings lots of joy... Sister Pickett's cookies. They are heavenly. She is the mission president's wife. That Picketts are soooo good. So are cookies. I miss cookies from home, but at transfers and conferences, Sister Pickett always brings cookies. Yay!
And more joy... baptisms! People who are fully converted and will stay strong in the restored gospel for ever!

Só alegria!

3 Months

2011-03-21T20:41:00.001-08:00

I've been in Brasil 3 months today!
I've eaten lots and lots rice and beans, too much cake and ice cream, lots of popsicles, açaí bowls, pão minuto, not enough peanut butter, and the best fruits in the world.
I've drank lots and lots of water and sweated lots and lots of water out.
I've learned quite a bit of portugûes.
I've met some of the best people in the world.
I've taught about 300 lessons, done about 2500 contacts, and... finally had a baptism!

I love this. And good news... we have another baptism next week! Good things to come.

Ola familia e amigos!!!

2011-03-17T13:42:00.002-08:00

Olá família e amigos!

Tomorrow is my birthday hip hip hooray! Birthdays are the best! And tomorrow is going ot be soooo good because we're having a sisters training for the seven sisters in our mission with President and Sister Pickett! Yay! We need more sisters. The world needs more sister missionaries!

The work here is improving, thank goodness. :) It's been kind of slow mo for a while, but we have a baptism on the 20th adn another on the 26th! So yay we're sooo soo excited and it is so wonderful to see the fruits of your labors. We're still knocking ltos of doors and talking to people everywhere we go looking for those elect. What we really need to focus more on is getting referrals from the members, because that's where the gold is at. :)

Sister Morales and I are having an excelletn time, cracking up all day long, testifying lots and lots, walkign in the hot hot sun, and the wet wet rain. It's like rainy time now (thank goodness) so it's less hot, but sooo sooo wet. Fun stuff.

Missionary life is great. I'm loving it a lot. Happy day to you all!

Sister Owens

Photos from Sister Owens!!!

2011-03-13T17:39:00.000-08:00

Born Dia!

2011-03-12T22:05:00.002-09:00

Bom dia!
It`s carnaval time here in Brasil! Last week there was some giant street party and strangely dressed people and loud music and things, but week it is just deadsville. Here in Vitoria everyone leaves for Carnaval and there is like no one around. So it`s pretty uneventful.
And good news, the work here for Sister Morales and I is imporving! We`re finding some fantastico people who I really love a lot a lot, and we should be having two batismos this month! Finally! :) So hooray! Exciting things ahead, always!
Something else exciting.. General Conference is soon! Yay! And yesterday was my 5 month mark. Crazy daisy.
And more good news, it`s cooled down a little bit, just a little bit. And it`s been raining. Thank goodness. Such a nice break. It`s always so hot all day every day. :)
Things are cool to the max here. I loooove Brasil and this area and my dear companion and this ward and this food and these people. Although I really really miss peanut butter and cookies.
My favorite moment of the week was Sunday morning when one of our investigators was awake and all ready for church and we didn`t have to wake them up or anything! Her name is Alderina and she is so funny and fantastic and it was like the best moment ever when she came out all ready for church!
Missions are the best!
Com amor, Sister Owens

Happy Day!

2011-03-05T18:40:00.001-09:00

Transfers are tomorrow and gooood news! My wonderful companion and I are staying here together another transfer! I love this area and love this ward and am excited about the people we are teaching!

Missions are the best. I'm learning so much.

And I'm almost at my 5 month mark! Which is almost 6 months. Which is like a third of my mission. omg I can't believe it. Yes, I just wrote omg. :)

Pretty much still loving all of this! Have a happy day! Say your prayers. :)

TWO MONTHS

2011-02-25T10:27:00.001-09:00

oday marks two months in Brasil! Weirdo. Kind of feels like I've been here forever, but it feels like I just got here. We've got one week left of this transfer and I think they'll be some definite changes. I tihnk I'll stay here, but probably get a new companion. You never know though. But you always know that it is exactly the way it needs to be and exactly the way the Lord wants it.

We still have no baptisms here. Don't know what is going on. It's hard though because it really makes you doubt a lot. It's like what are we not doing right, are we not working hard enough, what more can we be doing, where are those elect that the Lord is preparing? But I guess this is just a down time, which means we've got A LOT of good up ahead somewhere. There's always lots of good ahead.

Portuguese, I love it of course. It amazes me a lot of times when I realize how much I'm understanding, especially at church. There's still an endess amount of words I don't know, but I can usually get the whole story pretty well. It is so nice not being so lost all the time. But it also amazes me a lot, when I realize how much I don't understand, how much more there is to learn, and when my mind just draws a blank and I can't express myself. Ups and downs, ups and downs. :)

I love Brasilians. These people and this culture and this land are fantastic. Trying to still get used to the deathly heat and humidity. It's a struggle. But at least I'm in an area on the coast right now, with a nice little breeze, so it's much less hot than other places. Adn it is so nice having sunshine all the time. :)

By the way I got 6 letters yesterday and it was so glorious! Mail is the best ever. Muita obrigada for sending me mail Carla and Cottam fam and Sashie and my fam and Sister Cahoon and Lilly! I love mail and all of the little joyful moments all throughout the day.

I'm so grateful to be here right now. I can't imagine my life without this and without these experiences. Everyday is a blessing.

-Sister Owens

Love Vitoria, Brasil

2011-02-23T20:44:00.002-09:00

I love being on a mission. This is fantastico. Vitória, Brasil is the best ever.

My week started out extra extra supercalifragilisticexpialidocious because I got my Christmas box from home! It didn't even take four weeks to get here! A Christmas miracle! So I was very very happy about that of course and getting all sorts of goodies and peanut butter. And I got lovely letters too! Mail is the best thing ever. Many mahalos to Carla, Sashie, and Lexxy and Lenny for the the wonderful cartas!

So we haven't had any batismos yet since I've been here. Don't know why. People are falling through. But we've got a couple solid dates marked for some lovely souls so hopefully I'll have wonderful baptism news soon. It is so nice to see the fruits of your labors.

So some funnies from the week... we've met this lady who is kinda coo coo. Definitely a little crazy, but you just can't help but love her. And she really loves Americans a lot and so she just loved us right from when she first saw us. We were at her house teaching her, and it was super wicked hot, like always, and then her super cool old school red phone rings. And she gets on and starts talking and is just randomly like, "Uma Americana da Alaska está aqui..." So basically like, "I can't talk right now because an American girl from Alaska is here" and that was about all she said. Anyways, twas quite funny because she's a bit crazy. But she comes to church on all her own and gets there super early, so tis wonderful.

Another funny, I asked a lady we were contacting if she was going to have a menino or a menina, asking her what she was pregnant with. And apparently she's not having a boy or a girl, but she informed me just had just eaten a lot at the market. Oopsies! :)

We contacted a girl and her mom who were visiting frmo Rio. The girl was really excited to speak english with us and her mom videoed us all speaking english for like 10 mins. This girl later told the wonderful Sister Morales that she looked like Vanessa Anne Hudgens from High School Musical.

Last night we were talking with this older couple and the man had been baptized but fell away from the church. They were both pretty chatty people and were telling stories for a super long time which a couldn't really follow. Anyway, the man eventually said that he thought the church needed to change its doctrine. So we just testified that the church definitely does not need to change its doctrine, because the doctrine is Christ's. And he is at the head of this church. And it is lead through a prophet who speaks with God and directs the Church.

We meet lots of interesting people. I love it. And I'm so excited to meet more of those elect people out here! Ready to have the blessings of the restored gospel!

Boa semana para vocês!

2011-02-06T21:43:00.002-09:00

   This past week we've been focusing on learning from our trials and challenges, realizing that through our trials, and through our times of discouragement and despondency, we can become so much closer to our Heavenly Father and learn so much more about the Atonement.
   Christ suffered every single mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual suffereing we have ever suffered, and as we go through trials and down times, we cen become more grateful to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for the atonement. It depends greatly on our attitude, and how we accept and grow through our challenges. Just rely on the Lord. Conversar com nosso Pai Celestial.
And we really do need opposition in all things. Those hard times make the good times so much better! Yippee skippee!
    So basically, the mission has lots of hard times. Heat, cockroaches and ants :), new languages, lots and lots of hard work... People promising they'll come to church on Sunday, then you get ready early, get a member with a car, and go out to pick people up for church, then no one is home or they're sleeping, and you have no investigators at church with you, when you had lots of people committing to go the day before. Discouraging. But then it is so fantástico when you find those golden elect people, those who have been hungering for the gospel, and those who come to church and baptismal services!
    This week was good in the hood, like always. I went on my first division! And I only ahve 6 weeks here! Ahhh. I was a bit nervous to be going out all day without my companion and with a member instead, but it was such a fantastic day. We taught coolio peeps, talked with lots of people, and had much much fun of course. And yes yes, ofcourse I grew muchly.
    I'm just learning and loving lots out here. There's no where else I'd rather be right now, adn this is where I need to be. Despite the fact that I had a cockroach crawl on my foot this morning as I was doing my laundry, everything is great. And the rice and beans are getting more and more delicious everyday. :) And it's actually time for me to go eat some rice and beans now with our favorite Sorvete family now!
    Boa sorte e bom dia também! Amo vocês, claro!
-Sister Owens

2011-02-06T21:42:00.000-09:00

My first transfer just finished with much success and goodness! And now transfer number two has commmenced. I1m with Sister Morales still (yay!) and we're in the lovely Jardim da Penha on the lovely isle of Vitória.
    This transfer shall be an excellent 6 weeks. We have some really great people we're teachign right now and I love them so much. It is such a blessing being an instrument in the Lord's hands bringing the gospel and the spirit to these elect people!
     Missionary work is so fun these days. Portuguese is improving on a daily basis, thank goodness, an dI love meeting these wonderful people and just how good they are. People are really good and Christian here. In fact the other day we were teaching this one super nice lady, Ivane, who we contacted one rainy day in the rain rain, and as missionaries, we get a bit tired at times. And Sister Morales had yawned and the lady asked if she wanted to go take a nap on her bed. They're just so nice and welcoming. Although of course, we don't usually take naps at people's houses.
     But funny story, the other week we were teaching this cool lady who makes rainbow jello and gives us delicious mango juice, and I was pretty much falling asleep in the lesson. Both of my companions were doing most of the teaching and I was sitting there, perhaps dozing off, fighting so hard to keep my eyes open. Soooo funny. If there's a part of the lesson where I don't talk for a while, it becomes a bit on the difficult side to keep my heavy eyelids up. :)
      I'm so happy I'm here. Missionary work is defintely work though. Maybe that's why I've been so tired. Never worked so hard in my life. :) We walk and talk all day long. And we laugh all day long too. Just having soooo much funny and so many funny things are happening.
      Lots of funny things with Portuguese too. I'm learning the small differences in some words that make big changes in the meaning. Such as "com ela" (with her) and "comi ela" (I ate her). Now I'm focusing a bit more on saying "with her" instead of telling people about some other people I ate. I don't like to eat people.

     PS Many mahalos to Elena and Alexis and Hayley and Crystal for the lovely mail I got. Mail makes me like the happiest earthling ever. Obrigadão!

Brasil Photos!!!

2011-01-22T18:35:00.000-09:00

Olá!!!

My first transfer in the field is done! Crazy! I was in Pennsylvania for two glorious weeks and I've been melting in Brasil the past 4 fantastico weeks. I loooove this place and am excited for next transfer! One of my companions is done with her 18 months and is headed home. Craaaazy. But the other one and I are thank goodness stayign here in this area! Sister Morales and I in Jardim da Penha again! I am soooo happy that we are both staying, because we've got some elect peopel to baptize!

We are teaching some really wonderful people now and making such good friendships. I looooove these people and am sooo happy I am not getting transferred! I love these people here and this ward and especially those we're teaching. It's so incredible. It's so wodnerful to find those people that have a desire to listen, learn, and come unto Christ. It is so rewarding. I am so happy to be here.

Oh and there is some massive flooding going on but it is south of me in a different state. But still keep those people in your prayers. I'm pretty much completely good and safe here. Doing fantastically of course! Just learning so so much.

And today I ate the cutest little baby banana. It was the best! The fruit here is sooooo good. I love it! And the beans... yum yum yum. It's kind fo sad when we go to a member's house for lunch adn there is no beans. We need that rice and beans every day! :) We need that energy to walk miles and mile in the 90+ degree weather with like 1000% humidity. It's killer. But it's so nice when you get home at night after a long hard day of work. It's so much more rewarding to sleep! :)

I'm just excited for this next transfer that starts tomorrow, sad to see my companion Sister Olsen go though, but there's always good things ahead. Hope life is grand for your all and that you're doing lots of good things! :D

Peace out for now. Até mais!

PS I bought some TOUCAN earrings!

Loving Brasil

2011-01-12T13:10:00.001-09:00

I love Brasil more and more every day! And I love my mission more and more everyday too! It's so incredible being out here and being a full time missionary. Plenty of hard work, but my life is just being so blessed.

Í'm so happy I have my visa and that I'm here! It's still wicked hot, but I think I'm adapting a bit. The people here are wonderful. We knock on lots of doors, which is actually clapping at their gate, and so many people are just so inviting and let us right in. I love just being in people's houses with them, getting to know them, bringing the spirit to them. It's the best.

And we went to one casa the other day, taught the first lesson to a mom and a daughter, and then they gave us a bunch of delicious mango. It was like the best I've ever had. Mangoes here are soooo good. I eat lots of them. I love all this fantastico fruit. But I could definitely use more vegetables these days. I'm getting plenty of rice and beans though, which is the best! And I'm not much of a meat fan, and fortunately I've been able to avoid most of the meat at meals pretty well.

And the other day there was a man who was pushing a big giant cart full of pineapple down the street yelling "abacaxí!" to sell it to people and I bought 5 cute little delicious pineapples for about $6. Fun fun in the sun sun.

Oh by the way, pedestrians do not have the right of way here. But all is well, no one has been run over for a while here. :) Just kidding, but seriously, you've got to be careful for those cars.
I love teaching and sharing the gospel with people. Some people realize we're bring something incredible, and even thoguh we testify, others don't realize we're bringing something incredible. But it's good to know we're out here doing what the Lord wants us to do and the we are making so much more of a difference than we realize.

Transfers are next Tuesday. Wnoder if I'll stay in this area of Jardim da Penha or move somewhere else. I'll find out on Sunday! :) I love this area and these people here, but there's always more good things and more good people ahead if I get transferred.

Love you all a lot! Make sure you're going to church, reading your scriptures, and saying your prayers! :) Have a happy day!

Love Sister Owens

Feliz Ano Novo gente!

2011-01-09T18:44:00.000-09:00

Feliz Ano Novo gente! :)

Being a missionary is fantastico! But tis quite difficult too. Especially when we're just walking in the hot hot heat, you keep smelling the sewer, and you're going from appointment to appointment and no one is home! It definitely takes a lot of mental, physical, and spiritual determination. But it is quite excellent. And I want to be no where else right now than here in Jardim da Penha. This is a perfeito area to start in! I'm a lucky ducky.
      So it was New Years this week! I think I had the most uneventful New Years of my life. :) We just did our usual working all day, but there were some fireworks so yippee skippee! And NEw YEars Eve my companions and I got AÇAÍ bowls on our way home! Yay! Yumm yumm deliciousness! Oh there is so much wonderful divine fruit here. And it's not very expensive either. I ate a fantastico mango this morning. Oh yum yumm.
      And speaking of food, the rice and beans here, thank goodness we eat it every day at lunch pretty much, beacuse I love it. One of my companions and I are always wanting "arroz e feijão". And at every house they have these yummy Garoto chocolates that they always give after lunch. Good chocolate appreciating people.
      The people here are pretty wonderful of course. Everyone is welcoming and friendly. And when we knock doors/bater portas people will lets us in and let us share a little message and offer us water and things. Not all doors/gates let us in, but they're mostly all nice. And for street contacts we make appointments to go back and taech people but so often they're never home and we just go from dropped appointment to dropped appointment, which is not fantastic.
      But we did find some excellent hopefully promising people this week. Interested and enthusiactic, so hopefully they're genuine and we can baptize them! Batismos! We need two baptisms this month. But Transfers are on the 18th I think, and no idea or not if we'll still be here. Transfers happen on Tuesdays every six weeks. We find out Sunday night if we're being transferred to a new area so we have no idea. And then you don't find out till transfer meeting where you're going and who your companion is. Craziness.
       I really like this Jardim da Penha area and our apartment is like a 10 minute walk from the beach. Fantastic! Not that we can go swimming, but I did walk in the sand the other day and my little toes were so happy! :) I am sooooo happy I'm serving on the coast.
        And good news! It rained lots and lots and lots this week! Oh it was so fantastic and the best ever because it was not so so hot and I wasn't spontaneously combusting this week like I was last week. Thank you for the rain! But I'm still getting plenty of sunshine and working on my sweet missionary tan.
        Portguese is improving. I still just smile and nod and say "sim" and stuff, but I did much more teaching and contacting this week than I did last week and got through it pretty fine while still inviting the spirit. :) missions are the greatest, but yes, definitely on the difficult side.
         And by the way there are so many old VW bugs here. It's the best. I want one. And there's tons of sweet VW vans too. Love it. I'm so happy I'm here, being led by the Spirit all the time, testifying of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Tis simple marvelous.

IN BRAZIL!!!

2010-12-29T17:39:00.002-09:00

I'm in Brazil! It"s so crazy I'm here! I cant believe I got my visa and that I've been in Brazil for almost a week.

It took over 24 hours from when I left my apartment in Pennsylvania to when I got to the airport here in Vitoria. Traveling is exhausting. And then my two companions picked me up at the airport with one of the ward members and we went to our apartment, dropped off my bags, and went straight to work. Wowza. I did have time to change my clothes when I dropped off my giantesque bags but that was it.
But on my flight I flew down with Elder Lund, my mtc companion's brother, who has been waiting on his visa and serving in Pennsylvania the last two months.
   There was also one other elder who had been waiting for three months that was on the flight. I didn't even have to wait two weeks! Craaaaaazy. And I ran into the girlfriend of one of my mtc elders on the plane too! Exciting looooong flight.
   Tis crazy being here. It is so wicked hot and humid. I'm dying. And there is no escaping the heat except in a cold shower. I'm just sticky with sweat all day long. Last week I was in chilly winter and now I'm the hottest I've ever been.
    The bugs aren'1t too bad here. Although the other morning I did wake up with like 10 mosquito bites. And the past 6 days we've had 3 cockroaches in our house. Thank goodness one of my companions is a fearless cockroach killer. I woke up in the middle of the night last night to go to the bathroom and there was a cockroach on the bathrrom floor. I sort of tried to step on it and it ran out into the kitchen. I sort of tried to step on it again and it moved away. So then I threw a shoe at it hoping I had squished it, but figuring I hadn't. And then I just tried to go back to sleep but couldn't because I thought I kept seeing and feeling the cockroach. Crazy head. :) But one of my companions found it this morning and it's gone now.
    It's so different being here. The people are fantastic. Really wonderful and friendly. If only I could understand what they'1re saying! That's been the hardest thing. Both of my companions are American so they translate things for me, but it's so hard not really having any idea what's going on around me. But the missionaries here and the mission president and his wife so my Portuguese is great for just getting here and that I'm pretty far along with it. That's good, but it's hard being patient and not being able to speak very wel
    When people are talking I just stare so intently and get all of the words I can understand, but have no idea what the main story is. And then if they ask me a question I realize I had no real idea what they were talking about and then my companions will do a little translating for me. :) When people talk I do a lot of smiling and nodding and saying "sim!" and "obrigada!". I'm excited to be able to tell people what I want and express myself, but just trying to enjoy this time now where I look like a foooool. :) The people here are wonderful though. And I've learned so much this past week.
    And missions aren't supposed to be easy. I'm not out here for a vacation. I'm out here to work. These people need the gospel. Everyone does. So all day everyday we do our best to share it.
    With only being here for six days and just trying to get used to things and understand people, its hard to see the fruits of my labors. But I know this is where I'm supposed to be right now and I'm doing exactly what I need to be doing.
    We taught tons of lessons last week, especially on Christmas eve. Our mission president said if we completed our weekly goals before Christmas, we could sleep in on Christmas day and have more free time, and by free, I mean time to study ! :) Which is fantastic. I just really don't get enough study time everyday. Weird how that's happened.
     So Christmas eve was a complete down pour. So much rain. And we're just walking around trying to finish up our lessons and contacts. Twas lovely. And we got all our goals done and slept in until 8 on Christmas ! Yippee skippee! And then we stayed home until about 1 and just studied and stuff. It was so excellente.
     This was the weirdest Christmas ever. But it was still good. But of course I missed home and snow and more Christmas decoration and musica and of course my family! But I got to skype with my fam bam on Christmas and it was like the best 45 minutes ever! It was sooooo good to seee their lovely faces and hear their wonderful voices. And I'm sure my call on Mothers Day will come soon soon. :)
     All day on Christmas we spent at this member family's house. We ate and listened to Christmas music and played uno and of course watched some sweet church videos. :)
The members of the ward here are so hospitable and wonderful. We go to a member's house every day for lunch and they just prepare a feast for us every day, with rice and beans of course at every meal. But after being super ful lwith luch (since lunch is their big meal here and not dinner), its hard to go back out and work in the hot sun when you just want to tak ea nap. But I'm onlly her efor so long and you have to take advantage of every hour.
    Well familia and amigos, I miss you all and hope life is grand! Life is grand here for me of course, because there's nothing better than being a missionary and immersing your self in the gospel and studying and praying for than ever before!

NEW ADDRESS:
Sister Chelsea Rae Owens
Missão Brasil Vitória
Avenida João Batista Parr, 633 Sala 1501
Praia do Suá
Vitória-ES 29052-123      BRASIL

Temporarily in Pittsburgh

2010-12-15T18:19:00.001-09:00

Ola ola ola!!

I am in Pittsburgh right now! It's like a full on blizzard outside and chillllly willy! My sandals and mosquito net that I packed to take to Brazil are completely useless. But by wearing socks and multiple pairs of tights and many layers I'm mananging to stay warm. :)

It's been so totally different out here in the mission field of Pittsburgh, PA, but it is so lovely. I definitely am not a huge fan of the transition periods of leaving old places and people and getting used to new ones, but it is going rather swimmingly here.

Leaving the mtc and saying goodbye to my wonderful companion and my ten favorite elders in the world was not fun. It was like cry fest 2010. So sad saying goodbye to such wonderful friends who you haev shared everything with all day everyday for the past 9 weeks. But I'm so excited to get to Brazil someday (maybe a couple months) and I'll get to see one of the elders in my district!

Flying over here was weird. It was so weird to be out in "Babylon," to see people in regular clothes, without nametags, and just to be back in the world. I got here to PA Wednesday night and went out to eat with one of the senior missionary couples and two sisters. Then I stayed with those two sisters and the next day we had a Mission Tour.

For mission tour one of the members of the seventy came and checked things out and spoke with us. It was fantastico of course! My favorite part was that Elder Gavarett who came... spoke PORTUGUESE! YAY! I loooove Portuguese! And I really really miss speaking it, but I do get an hour of language study in each day, where I Portugues it up a storm. I am searching for Brasileiros here in PA but haven't found any yet. I also got to meet the mission president and his wife and yes, of course they are fantastic too!

Then... to PITTSBURGH! This past week I've been right here in the wonderful city of Pittsburgh with two other sisters. I was just here for this week though. But I loooove this city a lot. There is so much cool architecture and so much art all over the walls and so mannnny dinosaurs. Weird. And awesome.

It's fun doing real missionary work, talking, meeting, and teaching real people, and inviting people to come unto Christ. It's so excellent coming into the field at Christmas time because there is so much mroe of a focus on Christ. That's what it's all about amigos.

We do a lot of street contacting, handing out pass along cards, sharing quick simple lessons, just trying to get them to understand that they have a heavenly father who loves them, who they can and should always pray to, and that they have a savior Jesus Christ, and through his gospel they will find peace and happiness in this life and the next.

The other two sisters and I have a lovely time. I'm trying to do better to always be speaking with someone. But it's hard. But I'll get better because even though I know these people seem like they don't want to hear what I say, they neeeed the gospel. Everyone does. It only blesses your life!

Well it has been an exciting week. Tomorrow I'm leaving the wonderful city of Pittsburgh and heading to my area of Lititz, which is near Lancaster which is near the Amish people. We don't proselyte to the Amish, but I'm just excited for a new area and getting settled and learning and teaching! I'll be there for at least 6 weeks and with one other sister and it will be excellent! Hopefully it's not a snow storm there like it is here!

Merry Christmas and Feliz Natal familia e amigos! Espero que suas vidas sejao muito bom!

Temporary Transfer to Pittsburgh, PA

2010-12-06T19:25:00.000-09:00

Ola ola ola!!! And Feliz Natal!!! I am so happy it's Christmas time!

Sooooo my time here in Provo at the MTC is drawing to an end. I leave here on Wednesday, but not to Brazil. No visa yet unfortunately. So we all got reassigned and received those new calls yesterday! So exciting! Out of the 12 missionaries in my district, 7 are going to California, 2 to Montana, 1 to Texas, and my companion is going to Colorado. Guess where I'm going...... PENNSYLVANIA PITTSBURGH!!!

When they read it I was so surpised and a bit sad that I'm on the complete opposite side of the country as all of my district. But I am so so excited for Pennsylvania! To experience it, to love it, to learn and teach. So much good ahead! And I know that's where I'm needed! The Lord needs me there and I am so excited and can't believe I'm going to Pennsylvania! I'm just get more excited every day, but anxious and a bit nervous too. But I'm pretty sure I'm prepared hopefully! :D

And Woo hoo Pennsylvania is right next to New Jersery, where my brother is! Ah I love everything!

And I have zero idea how long I'll be in PA for. Who knows when I'll get a visa! No idea! But again, it's all in the Lord's hands.

While I'm excited for the field, I'm a bit sad to leave the MTC because I've had the most wonderful experience here. I've heard from apostles glaore and multiple general authorities. It's fantastic. And I have sesriously had the greatest district in the world. I love my companion and our ten elders so so much! So blessed. I'll be crying saying goodbye to them, but most fortunately my favorite elder is in my mission in Brazil! :D

I've learned so much here. I love all of the study time and being immersed in the scriptures. I've learned so much about faith too. As missionaries, we're are inviting people unto Christ and helping them develop faith in Christ. Faith is a principle of action. There is a big difference between having faith in Christ and being faithful to Christ. We need so much more than just a knowledge of him an of what he has done for us. Because the devils know that. The devils know that Christ is the Son of God and that he has atoned for all of our sins. We need this knowledge and we need to have that knowledge lead to action, by following Christ. Learning of him by studying his words and keeping his commandments as well as living a life of service.

I'm so excited for Pennsylvania. But will definitely be sad saying goodbye to all the wonderful people and things and spirit ehre at the MTC. But I know there is soooo much more good ahead. Can't wait to experience these next 14 months!

Thank you/obrigada to you all for the wonderful letters and packages of fun and love and goodness! I miss you all very much and think and pray for you often! Thank you for being wonderful!

PS I LOVE PORTUGUESE AND BRAZIL and am so excited to serve a mission there (and in Pennsylvania)!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Remember the reason for the season amigos!

NEW ADDRESS!!!!

Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission

2589 Washinton Rd Ste 410

Pittsburgh, PA 15241

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!

Loving MTC Life

2010-11-20T19:21:00.000-09:00

Bom dia!!! Do you realize what a blessed day today is? After all, it's TIE DYE FRIDAY!!!! :D

I got a tie dye kit from my aunt Connie yesterday and I am soooo happy about it! Oh she just makes my week! So does tie dye! During laundry time this morning, my district and I tie dyed! Oh happy day. I miss tie dying, especially with my darling niece Natalie. But oh it was so so good and I can wait to unveil our shirts. One elder actually did a tie, another dyed an old button up shirt, and I dyed some white tights too. We'll see how those turn out. :) But it was so fantastico.

I'm loving the MTC life. Learning so so much and I looooove these people here, especially my companion, the ten elders in my district, and the other Brazil bound sisters. As well as the new three sisters in our room! The four hermanas we had the first six weeks are now in Argentina, and on Wednesday new missionaries came.

Speaking of which, we got to host for the new missionaries and show them around. Twas fantastic! Especially since I got to sit outside in the lovely sunshine with the beautiful leaves and things.

And... one sister got her visa this week! But that's the only one that came, a bunch more missionaries got their temporary reassignments this week. I guess the US doesn't give Brazilians visa very easily, so they're doing the same thing for us. I wonder when I'll get there. My time here in Utah is done in 2.5 weeks. Crazy!

Portuguese is going well.I love it oh so much! I've still got so so much to learn of it though. But it's incredible to believe how much I can speak after only studying for 6 weeks. Truly blessed we are.

I'm learning so much these days. It's excellent. We have such good speakers and such good lessons and my study time is soooo wonderful.

For Relief Society we had MAry N. Cook of the Young Womens General Presidency come. She spoke to us sisters on the enabling power of the atonement. How Christ suffered for all of our sins, all of our pains, sufferings, temptaions, afflictions, all feelings of every kind. Every feeling, mental, physical, or emotional, Christ has felt. And he went through that not only to pay for our sins and redeem us, but to comfort us. He knows how we feel, because He has felt the same way, because He loves us.

And because Jesus has suffered for all of our sins, we need to use the atonement and repent. We can be forgiven of every sin and we must be. No unclean thing can dwell in the kingdom of God and we must be made clean. Repent and return to Christ.

I also learned more about Prayer this week. We are children of a loving Heavenly Father. He loves us and wants to bless our lives. But we must pray to Him. We are commanded to pray always and if we do, our Heavenly Father will bless us. But we need to pray in faith, knowing that God will answer our prayers. And we too must become to answer to our own prayers and to others prayers. We can't just give God a shopping list of blessings we'd like, we have to work for them.

When we obey the commandments of God and do as Christ would, we are blessed immensely. We are also blessed with happiness, alegria. Who wants more joy in their lives? I think everyone does. So keep the commandments, all of them, and come unto Christ. And in order to keep the commandments, we must know what they are. AKA study the scriptures and words of the Lord and His prophets.

I love our prophet. And there's rumor going around that he might come to the MTC on Tuesday for devotional or maybe for Thanksgiving. If not President Monson, then I'm sure another apostle will come. We didn't have a 5th apostle at our devotional on Tuesday, it was given by Elder Pearson, a memebr of the first quorum of the seventy. And it was oh so wonderful. I learned lots lotslots.

He talked about being a disciple of Jesus Christ. As a missionary, I wear the name of Jesus Cristo on my name tag every single day. I am recognized as a representative of Jesus Christ and his restored gospel. I need to work more on giving up myself and finding the Lord, forgetting about who I was before the mission and find myself in the service of Jesus Christ. For when we lose ourselves for His sake, we find ourselves. I'm Sister Owens now. It's so wonderful. I love it. I have never been so surrounded by the Spirit all day every day. I looooove being a sister missionary! :D

Visas are coming!!!

2010-11-14T16:19:00.002-09:00

Ola familia e amigos!!

Eu tenho muitos good news isse semana!

First, I LOVE PORTUGUESE! And I looove learning it! We started teaching in Portguese this week and it's pretty excellent. I don't have all the tenses and conjugations down, nor do I have a very large vocabulary, but I can get by just fine. We taught in volunteer "investigator" this week for an hour and at the end he was telling us how impressed he was with our Portuguese, especially for only being here for 5 weeks. We are so blessed.\

More good news... visas are coming! 5 came on Monday afternoon, and then five people were gone by the next morning. Wowza. But before your visa comes you have to do an online application, which only lasts 30 days. Annnnnd, I did the online application! So did 5 elders in my district! Which possibly means I'll be in Brazil within 30 days. Maybe not though, we have no idea. But things are moving along!

And more good news, so you know how we've had three apostles in a row, Nelson, Scott, Ballard... well, yes yes, make that FOUR apostles in FOUR weeks at devotional! Elder David A. Bednar came on Tuesday! Whoa whoa crazy daisy. It was excellent of course. He spoke on how the answer to everything is ALWAYS in the DOCTRINE. The doctrine is found in the scriptures, in words of the profetas/prophets, and in authorized proclamations by the first presidency. He told us to study and teach the doctrine. It was so good and the spirit was so strong, especially when he walked into the room. Oh I love the MTC.

We had mission conference this week. Excelllent. I realized that those of us who are blessed with the restored gospel of Jesus Christ MUST share it, and that we really should be the happiest people in the world. Ola, we have the fulness of the gospel! Fantastico!

Every Sunday we have firesides, guess who spoke at that? Sheri Dew. Yep. Fantastic as well. She said how when we know who we are, it changes everything. When we know and understand that we are children of a loving God, and He desires to bless our lives, it changes everything we do and how we live. And when we understand and know that He loves us so much that He sent His only begotten son to atone for all of our pains and sins, we appreciate so much more. The Savior suffered every pain we have ever suffered, every sorrow, every sickness, every feeling, he understands how we feel in every situation, because he's been through everything, because he loves us.

So more good news I share today is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The word "gospel" means good news. And it truly is the best news ever! The knowledge of the gospel brings me peace and hope in every situation. I know the Lord has his hand in everything and wants me to come unto him. I love the gospel and I am so grateful for my oppurtunity to represent Jesus Christ as a missionary and share the restored gospel with the children of God. Coming on a mission is the best thing in the world.

We watched a talk given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland about how our missions are so important. They should mean everything to us. They should change our lives, the lives of our families, and the lives of the people we serve. My mission means everything to me.

I can't wait to get to Brazil and teach real investigators. And our two teachers are returned Protuguese speaking missionaries and so I learn what it's actually like from them. One of our teachers was talking about the food and I'm so excited to have acai bowls again when I get to Brazil, and real acai bowls! I'm not excited for the mystery meat, but hopefully I'll be able to pick around some of it. Our teacher said that one time he had a pig tooth in something he was eating. Some people use the whoooole animal in there. Uh oh. Not good for me. But I'll figure it out. And their beans and rice are just fantastic and there are sooo many wonderful and delicious fruits. I think I'll survive, and thrive.

I got to see my wonderful aunty yesterday which is such a blessing. It is one of the highlights of my week. And she tells me how the family is doing and says inspiring things and brings me delicious treats from the outside world. :) Love it.

Another sister I met in Jerusalem came this week too! Sister Mayfield! There are sooo many girls that I went to Jerusalem with that are now on missions. BYU Jerusalem is life changing I tell you. And my good wonderful friend from BYUH, Sister Lautiki, came too! And she told me about more missionaries that are coming. Missions are the best and I'm soooo excited for my amigas who are working on papers and preparing for the mish field. It is the BEST!

Life is beautiful here. I'm loving the missionary training center bubble. It's fantastic. And fall is sooooo beautiful! I haven't experienced fall in a while, going to school in Hawaii, so I am loving it. There are so many beautiful leaves! Be prepared, you might get some in the mail. :)

Well friends and loved ones, thank you for reading my letters of goodness and I hope everything is joyous for you.

Ciao!

PS I wear my parrot earrings every day.

Some love from Sister Owens

2010-10-29T12:35:00.002-08:00

Ola minha familia e meus amigos!

Twas another fantastic week here at the MTC. I can't believe I've already been here over 3 weeks. Crazy! It feels like I just barely got here but it also feels like I've been here forever. Time is weird here, and everywhere.

First of all, muitos obrigados/thank you verrrrry much, to all those fantastico people who sent me mail and letters and boxes. They make me soooo happy! And hopefully I'll be able to reply to them all in my few remaining hours of time left today. Each one makes me so happy though. It's so good to hear of your lives and loves and other good things.

Preparing to enter the field in 5-6 weeks is going great. Who knows which field I'll be entering. Very few missionaries are getting their visas for Brazil, and another batch just got their temporary stateside reassignments this week. They're going to California, Denver, Minnesota, West Virginia, all over.

Speaking of West Virginia, I really miss singing "Country Roads" with my ukulele. But fortunately my most favorite twins drew of picture of my ukulele for me and sent it in a sweet box with other yummy treats. I miss lots of things from home, but there is no where else I want to be right now. I am so happy for this oppurtunity to serve a mission and to invite others to come unto Christ.

I'm realizing how mucho mucho muitos Portuguese I need to learn. But considering I've only been here three weeks, I'm getting along pretty fine with it. :) I loooove learning it though. And it is so helpful having the french background.

I love all of our study time. My companion and I have found a new favorite place to study and it makes it so much more effective. For my daily hour of personal study each day I've decided to read a chapter from each of the Standard Works every day. It's so fantastic. I love it. And then I get a little bit of everything. Old Testament, New Testament, Doctrine and Covenants/Pearl of Great Price, and of course the Book of Mormon. Personal study is the Golden Hour of the day.

Minha companheira and I also teach a lesson every day, so we're trying to get in plenty of practice, because it's going to be so crazy different and so much more important when we're teaching real people with real needs! But it will also be so much more rewarding.

So I am learning a lot a lot. Denise Doxey, a member of the Relief Society general board, spoke at RS last week. She went to the Jerusalem Center and met her husband there too! :) Oh how I looove and miss the Jerusalem life. But she gave an excellent talk on how important sister missionaries are. And how we reach out to a whole different set of people. She also said how in the battle against Satan, missionaries are on the front lines, and we get a lot of hits, but we're saving souls. And those on the Lord's side will conquer. She also brought the love of the RS presidency.

And then on Tuesday at devotional, someone brought the love of the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles. Yes yes, we had another apostle come. :D Elder Richard G. Scott gave the most amazing, spiritually guided talk ever. Holy amazing. One of the things he said was that "to accomplish things never before accomplished, we must do things never before done."

Oh I can't tell you how amazing his talk was. And for those of you concerned for my safety when I get to Brazil, no worries. An apostle of the Lord Jesus Chirst "invoke[d] a protective shield that will give us [sister missionaries] warning, as we exericise faith in the shield, of any impending danger, so we can be protected by the Lord." It was incredible. The spirit was so strong and the feeling over me was amazing, to be reassured again that I will be kept safe and that the Lord and angels will be looking out for me.

He again invoked his apostalic power, to give those of us studying a foreign language, the gift of tongues. Wow. So as we exercise faith and use the language, we will find it so much easier to learn. What a blessing.

Elder Scott also gave us a blessing of confidence and guidance of the spirit, that will help is realize we are far better prepared then we realize. Also that we will remember what we learn on our missions.

It was so grand. And our testimony meeting after it with our district was amazing. I loooove my companion and our ten elders. Our elders are soooo good to us. Never do we have to open our own doors, or take our trays out in the cafeteria, or have to wait in line. Oh they're such gentlemen.

That night it also started SNOWING! Which was so beautiful and magical! I haven't seen a first snow in a while! LOVED IT! But I'm not too prepared for a chilly winter. I'm slightly more prepared for the killer heat and humidity of Brazil. :)

Sister Lund and I are loving our morning runs in the beautiful crisp cool air. I loooove the stars and miss being outside all the time.

More good news, I got to see my aunt Connie again! It was of course completely wonderful. And she gave me the MOST delicious bread from my cousin Natalie. Loooove it.

Annnnd, Hayley my roomie sent me PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES, whole wheat with half butter and half sugar. Holy divine. Oh I loooove them.

Ok, time is ticking very quickly! Love you all!

Oh one other thing I learned.... "Do you love God? Spend time with him." -Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Sister Owens Week 3

2010-10-24T08:47:00.001-08:00

Ola! Things are still fantastico here at the missionary training center in Provo. I'm learning lots and lots about the gospel and about Portugues all day every day!

I can't tell you how much I love my district. Ahhh we have so much fun and such good spiritual experiences too of course. Those elders, as well as minha companheira are wonderful and I am learning muitos from them all. We're in class together all the time and studying and teaching each other. Tis lovely.

The transition to a missionary life is pretty great. I looooove getting up early (6-6:30) and exercising right away. Sister Lund and I usually just go outside by the Provo temple and missionary field, and run in the lovely crisp morning air, watching the stars fade away. I am not able to spend enough time outside at all, so it's great to start the mornings that way.

And I saw the Bozungs and Heather Wilson one morning, both who I went to Jerusalem with. I've been seeing so many people I know. Fun fun!

Once a week we do service for an hour or so, which just means that we do some sort of assigned cleaning. The MTC is cleaned mostly by the 2500 or so missionaries that live here. Sister Lund and I were vacuuming chapels this week, with back pack vacuums, those ghost buster ones. So that was pretty excellent, and who doesn't love a Ghost Buster vacuum? Aaaand the whole time I was vacuuming I was singing all the songs I play on my ukulele, so it was lovely. I really miss Matilda Hilda Ukulele. I dreamt about her the other night and so wish I could play her while singing and walking on the beach with Cody and throwing him sticks to fetch in the ocean.

Speaking of dreams... funnnnnny story. So as you know, I've been praying in Portuguese since day 2 here. Like most people, I usually just pray while I'm awake, but a couple days ago I was praying in my sleep! Not sure what I was dreaming about, but I was full on praying in Portuguese, completely audibly. It was like 4 am and I woke up 4 of the 5 sisters in my room by praying in Portuguese out loud and clear. Funnnnnnny bunny!

Hmmmm I wonder if that makes me fluent? Nope. It does not. There is soooo much to learn but I looooove it. I love Portugues and can't wait to be fluent!

We practice a lot of door contacts and get to know you things in Portuguese, and we have specific times of the day where we don't speak English. Tis grand.

I'm of course learning lots about missionary work too. We have speakers and meetings and workshops and such teaching us about how to teach people. This week they talked about finding the elect, those who have been prepared by God to hear the gospel. My testimony of Jesus Chirst is growing so much too, as I'm understanding more of how much he loves each one of us and wants us to be happy. I am so grateful for the restored gospel and profetas and Joseph Smith.

Another highlight of the week was that I got to see my aunty Connie again! I look forward to it so much! It's so nice to get that little bit of family in. And she brings me and Sister Lund treats too, which is fantastic of course! I love it.

There's been so much good this week. First of all, Susan W. Tanner, the general young women's president, was the speaker for Relief Society on Sunday! Yep, that's right. She helped me realize even more how wonderful and inspired RS is.

And then on Tuesday for devotional, one word: NELSON, as in Russell M. Nelson. Yes yes, an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ came to the MTC and spoke spefically to us missionaries. Excellent. The spirit was so so strong as he walked into the room. You just know he is a man of God.

We also had a wonderful fireside and my favorite thing from it was that I learned the secret to happiness: "It's not about you." Devote your life to serving others and focusing outward, and you will be happy. What a true principle. Because now, as I'm dedicating my life to serving the Lord and soon the people of Brazil, I am so so happy every day. It's wonderful.

Yesterday was P day and I went and did sealings at the temple. So good. I love the temple and the lovely smelling roses outside of it. And I wish I were going to be in Hawaii for the Laie temple dedication soon! But I really only want to be here right now too.

I got some very very maraveillosa letters this week! Thank you so so much to each of you who sent them. Many were such a completely delightful surprise and made me even happier! Obrigada!!

Well everyone, thanks for reading about my missionary journey. Can't wait to get to Brazil soonish! As soon as I get a visa! Not many missionaries are getting visas right now though, so who knows when I'll get there. I finish here in Utah on December 7th and then if I don't have my visa by then, then temporarily transfer me to somewhere in the states. So none of us really know what's going on, but I know I'll be just where the Lord needs me! :D

Have a most delightful week!

Week Two at MTC

2010-10-19T20:23:00.002-08:00

Hola minha familia e meus amigos!

I'm into week 2 at the missionary training center in Provo, Utah! It's still fantastic of course. And new missionaries arrived a few days ago so I'm not one of the new ones anymore! Yippee skippe! I only ahve 30 minutes of email time and it goes so quickly. Ahhhhh!

Things here are so good. The spirit is so so strong as there are 3000 missionaries here all giving up 1.5-2 years of their life to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everyone is always studying or always teaching. We have like 30 minutes for each meal, 30 minutes to exercise, 30 minutes to get ready, and an hour in our room in the evenings before bed. Then time to sleep for 8 hours. I'm always busy busy busy. Glad I enjoyed all of the sweet free time this summer. :)

It's nice that the non class time is self governed though. there's no one telling us specific things to study or specific ways to use our time. I love study time. Good thing there's so much of it. But I'm never in my room, which I miss because I love my room and my tie dye sheets and my pictures on the wall. But we never spend time in our room, always out and about.

The MTC here is pretty much as big as BYUHawaii. It's bizarro. I love it here though. And all of the missionaries are so wonderful. Especially those in my district!

Portuguese is progressing slightly. I pray about 500,000 bajillion times a day in Portuguese. "Querido Pai Celestial, adgradecemos-te por... por favor nos ajude a... nos te-pedimos que abencoas... em nome de Jesus Cristo amem." And then I throw in plenty of English words, since my Portuguese vocab is rather limited. I loooove learning Portuguese though and am so excited to learn more.

Sunday was excellent. Everyone is in branches of whatever language they'll be speaking. There are about 60ish missionarios in my branch, 8 of those are sisters. The branch president is excellent and I love his wife too. Goooood people around this place. We have sacrament meeting from 8 to 9, watch Music and the Spoken Word watch Music and the Spoken Word from 9:30 to 10, then all of the sisters at the mtc meet together for Relief Society. There's extra meetings too, such as fireside and district stuff. Sunday was beautiful here. My companion and I sat out on the grass and studied scriptures and Preach My Gospel and Jesus the Christ. Then we met up with our ten elders and walked to the temple and took pictures. I can't really email pictures, but I'll try to mail some soon.

Tuesday we had a devotional with Richard C. Edgley. We get lots of General Authorities around this place. :) Sister Lund (minha companheira) and I sang Lead, Kindly Light in the choir for devotional which means we get good seats too. :)

OBRIGADA for the wonderful mail you peeps have sent me! I got two packages (and like 5 from amazon that I ordered before I left :)) and cards and dearelder letters. YAY! Mail makes me soooo happy so keep sending it. Dearelder.com is the way to do it while I'm at the mtc, especailly since it's free and I get it that day! Yay mail! Hopefully I'll get some things sent out to some of you today, but I've got only about and hour of free(ish) time left to write lots of things.

We went to the Provo temple this morning with our district. It was so wonderful being there and the temple is b.e.a.utiful! Especially with Sister Lund and our 10 favorite elders here at the mtc.

And more good news... I got to see my aunt Connie yesterday! Oh it was so fantastic. We got to visit for like 45 minutes while she was here. It was the BEST! And she gave me the best hugs I've had since I left home! Oh it was so grand. Family is the greatest!

I'm so excited to go to Brazil and share with the people that families can be together forever! I'm so excited for Brazil! But I'll be here, along with tonnnns of other missionaries, until I get a visa. Peeps aren't really getting them too much. And if I finish my mtc time here in 8 weeks and still don't have a visa, I'll be assigned to a temporary mission stateside, most likely not Portuguese speaking. But whatever happens works for me! The Lord knows what he's doing. I'll be where I need to be.

I love you all muchos muchos and think of you all often! Hope and pray that each of you are doing well!