watermelon in winter

We received the following pictures from Karen's Branch President down at the MTC.

(NOTE:  Received on 3/30/2010) Hello family! Well, this week I did something different.  I kept a list in my agenda of things to write to y'all about, instead of just writing one on the bus on the way back from the Temple, and it is LONG!  But most of the things are just things to mention, not really to talk about.  So let me start with that! Choir last Tuesday was awesome...I played the piano of course, and the choir sang "Scripture Power".  Remember in primary when we would lift our scriptures up during the chorus?  Yeah, guess what 100 missionaries did during choir!  It was hilarious and so awesome.  We have so much fun here! Soccer here is intense.  Our teacher, Irmão Mendes, has the radio on his cell phone.  One day in class, he pulled it out, turned it on, and we listened for a few seconds to a soccer game.  Long enough to hear "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL...

(Note:  Received 3/23/2010) Hello family!  I have more time today than last week, which is really nice, because I can write a longer email to you, and I can answer a few other emails I got too!  Hooray!!!! So I wrote a bunch of notes in my planner about what to tell you, but they are all really random and don't have a ton of stories attached to them.  Life at the MTC is good.  Each day is similar to the one before it, but each day is also a gift from God, so it's not good to just say that it's boring.  Because there's something exciting about every day.  Like yesterday, for example, I found out that Elder Russell M. Nelson is coming!  HERE!!! Before I leave!!! Alright, so let me start with...today.  We went to the Temple this morning as usual.  Last week was the busiest session I'd ever seen...they had to bring in extra chairs for all the missionaries to fit.  Today, we had too many people for one session, plus some regular pe...

(Note:  Received on March 16, 2009) Hello family! First, to answer some questions.  I am the best toilet flusher because the toilets (some of them) are nearly impossible to flush, and I figured out right away how to do so, and have been teaching the other sisters who have been having trouble, so Sister Richardson said that I am the best toilet flusher around. :) I'm sending a letter off to y'all today (well, to the Pennichuck Street address).  It takes like 3 weeks for one direction.  I got my first letter a week ago, and it was sent 19 days before it got here.  Just so you know. Alright, first things first.  I got companions last week!  Sister Christensen is from Orem, and she knows Rachelle, my roommate!  Sister Nielson is from Texas, and her step-dad is a geologist. :)  I also have a new district, new teachers, a new branch, and finally a real nametag!!!  My district is fun. My old district is awesome- they still look out fo...

(Note:  R eceived on March 10, 2010.) Hola minha familia! So, I'm in the great city of Sao Paulo.  This keyboard is weird, so don't laugh at typos or lack of apostrophes because that's in a weird place.  Anyway, I made it! I'm here!  Everytime I look out my window, it seems like a dream.  And it has been quite the adventure, even though I just got here on Friday.  Let me give you the short version. I met two Elders in the airport in Miami, and then we flew to Sao Paulo.  Overnight plane rides aren't fun.  I didnt sleep.  But I got my first picture as a missionary taken before even leaving the airport here! The Elders had talked with some guys on the airplane, and they wanted a picture with them and wanted me in the picture too!  That was pretty awesome.  Then we waited a while, and someone told us how to get our money changed, and then we got our ride.  The Elders were going straight to their missions...one had been waiti...

Here's yet another story for all you interested readers. I should be on a plane right now. Right?  Yeah.  Or, if we go with plan A, I should  be in Brazil by now!  But alas, Plan A fell through because my visa hadn't yet arrived.  Ironically, Plan B fell through because my visa DID arrive!  Yesterday afternoon I got a call with the news, and it was...so great!  My visa had arrived in Salt Lake City yesterday, so I called them back, and they were expecting the call.  Laura, the lady I'd spoken with before about a new plane ticket, knew who I was before I even told her yesterday. So here's plan C.  My visa will arrive in the mail today (thank goodness for FedEx overnight!), and I'll hop on a plane for my journey to Brazil tomorrow. I'm flying out of Logan at 2:50pm, through Miami, where I get to meet up with another missionary for the leg to Brazil.  Sweet! I'm so excited!  AHHHHHHHHHHHHH I AM GOING TO BRAZIL!!!!!!! Okay for rea...

I'm down to less than 24 hours until I leave.  I still have so much to do, but whatever gets done, gets done.  And what doesn't...oh well.  I'm on God's time, so it will all work out like it's supposed to. My testimony is the biggest thing that led me to go on a mission. I saved this for last, because I thought it was a good note to end on for a year and a half.  I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only church with ALL the truth on the earth today.  I know Jesus Christ is my Savior.  I know He died that I might live with Him and Heavenly Father again.  I know that I can be with my family forever.  I know that God answers prayers.  He knows us and loves us more than we can even imagine.  I know that the Church was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith, back in the early 1800s. I know that President Thomas S. Monson is our living prophet today. I know He receives direct revelation from God for the Church. ...

I'm a missionary!  HOORAYYY!!!!!  Hard to believe it's for real. Being an EFY counselor summers 2008 and 2009 helped me prepare for and want to serve a mission even more.  I had the opportunity to be an example for the youth, and to teach them from my own life lessons, and from lessons in the scriptures.  That's where I learned to teach by the Spirit.  That's where I learned to teach, period.  That's where I gained my desire to teach people  and bring the Spirit and gospel into their lives.  That's where I first saw lives change in a short amount of time because of the Spirit.  What an amazing experience both summers, and such good mission preparation. Back tomorrow, for the last time!!  Then I fly out to Utah, and I'll have my mom update my blog once in a while!