The Adventure Continues...

Taylor will make a great missionary! I am glad that he is serving!! Which MTC is he going too again(insert question mark). 

I am so glad that Ryan is serving a mission. I am on pins and needles waiting to find out where he will serve! I am so glad that he is preparing. Sharing this gospel changes people, and the most important person is yourself. When you come to understand the importance of the first principles and ordaninces of the gospel, you realize more about the sanctity of your calling and your role as a representative of your Saviour Jesus Christ every day. 

I wrote you guys a letter this week! I will send it today!!! I am super excited for you all to get it! It was late one night and I was thinking about the chapters again in Matthew where the Saviour is crucified. His example is the best. I love to observe the way he acts and speaks in these chapters. It gives me a good example of how I can be a better example in my life.  Anyways somewhere in Matthew it refers to the story of Jonah. I made a cute little drawing for you guys to illustrate what I learned from the story of Jonah and the Atonement.

I hope you didnt have the urge to pee on any of the fire hydrants. I love our ward and how well they support the community. They are deffinitely good representatives! 

We have a little air conditioner that we turn on when we sleep. Its really not too bad, and even when it doesnt work I can still sleep because I am so exhausted. This week there was a companionship that was having some problems, so for now I am in a trio for the rest of this transfer. Sister Freitas and I get along very well with Sister Pereira. They are both brasileiras, so I learn a lot from them. We can get a lot accomplished when we put our minds to it. It can be difficult sometimes though because they like to talk and I dont, but I dont mind! Its only hard because we have really long lunch appointments and we dont always have time for language study every day. I think I will wake up a little earlier to do a little studying of my own so I can keep progressing. 

Speaking of lunch appointments. Our lunch appointment we had on Sunday fed us an incredible amount of food. When you thought you were done they pulled out more food and served you in huge amounts. Ive never ate so much in my life before. Seriously, I ate so much I had to go relieve myself in the bathroom because I felt sick from eating. 

I miss the rain, it hasnt rained a lot here. Sister Freitas said I would never need my rain jacket in this area. She has been right so far.  I do use my umbrella for the sun, and every one tells me I need to wear more sunscreen. I do use it, just not often enough.

I really hope that you guys get to come here to pick me up! I would love to show you all around and it would be so special to have you guys in the temple with me!! I know that it would be super special for dad to be in Brasil again! I would love to hear him tell me all about some of the different places. It would be so much fun!

Flores is hot hot hot. The members are super friendly and always feed us. We almost always have lunch appointments, but breakfast and dinner are on our own. My companions dont cook, so we usually have bread and butter for these two meals. Which is fine, but I am getting tired of bread. They eat very simply here. Usually we have cereal or something else for breakfast, but we had zone conference last weekend and all the sisters that stayed in our house ate all of our food. So now we are skimming by until we get more money. 

Mom, 

there is more soap in the box I left. It says where it was from on the package, I dont remember the name of the website. Also, that other towel would be nice. One of the mission rules here is to change your sheets and towel every week. Its not a big problem because I hand wash it and it dries quickly, but it would just be something nice. I would also like some Reeses Pieces, but dont feel like you have to put them in. I dont want this package to be super expensive for you guys!

OH MY STARS. 

This week Sister Freitas collapsed on our way to an appointment. Talk about extremely terryfing. I dont even know portugues that well. I was extremely greatful for our third companion. We went to the hospital after the elders came and gave her a blessing at the house some stangers let us into. She has a problem with her heart and she needs medicine. We had an appointment set for 8 this morning, but she is extremely stubborn and wouldnt get out of bed and keeps saying that she doesnt need it. ugh. She says she will set up another appointment and I will make sure of that. She told us it was the second time she had collapsed while on her mission. When she wouldnt get up this morning, I made sure to be just at little noisy while getting ready. I know she has her agency, but I really wanted her to get up and go to that appointment. It also made me think of the gospel and the ordinances that pertain to our salvation. We know of them and many of us have been taught them for a good part of our lives, but do we really keep them and treat them with the proper respect they deserve(question mark). Just as our hearts are necessary for our bodies to work, so are the ordinances we follow for our eternal salvation. If you look up ordinances in the topical guide it lists them. I really like the bible dictionary definition of Repentance. The gosel is vital for our salvation. We were celestial beings before this life, and it is vital that we give our spirits the proper nutrition they need. That is to understand and know the truths of the gospel. The scriptures are a great place to learn more about these truths.

We were speaking with a lady in a drug store this week. She was asking about our name tags and so on. We were able to give her a Book of Mormon and a phamplet about the gospel of Jesus Christ. She said that it was what she has been looking for and that she liked that she could use this book to guide her life by living correct principles. It was neat to see how the Lord has prepared people and when we do our part he blesses us, by helping us do his work. That is important to learn, this is his work, not ours. Everything we have been blessed with is because of our Father in Heaven. 

I really do love being here. It may be frustrating sometimes not knowing everthing about the language, and not always having people to teach. But I make sure and always write letters during the week to uplift and strengthen my friends who are serving missions as well.

I LOVE YOU ALL SO SO MUCH!

Ciao, 

Sister Chatwin

Let the Adventure Begin!

Quick note to Shannon:

My companion asked me our first night why I could understand everything she said and all the other americans she has met cant when they first leave the ctm. It really is a miracle and the Lord is helping me a lot. I understand a lot and trying to learn new words every day so that I can speak and understand the language better. My first area is Flores and we are right by the stadium they are building to the 2014 world cup. :) Our house is a 5 minute walk from the Church. I love it here and the members are super nice!




Regular email to family:


I love President Kline. He is very blunt and honest and very direct with his words. As well Sister Kline is so sweet. When we first arrived, we did not have enough seats in the van, so I waited with her and another sister at the airport to wait for the other group that was arriving that day. It was fun to talk with them, they also love the picture I gave them of me with their daughter in Temple Square. :)

First off, Thanks for writing on my sheets mom! I love finding all the scriptures on them and it was a sweet surprise to wake up to because I didnt see them when I went to sleep. Also, I was super excited to see that Sarah wrote on them! Definitly made my day :) I dont want to wash them because I know with time the sharpie will wear off. :(  And the bug net mom hid in my bag. lol, I actually used it already. 




The other day we had a small gecko on the wall of our room. My companion Sister Freitas was trying to squish it and stab it with her scissors. I used the net to catch it and let it go out side. Sis. Freitas thought it was funny and had to take a picture with me holding the cage. :) Thank you too all the people who have sent me letters and wished me a happy birthday! I loved getting them when I arrived here! :) My first area is Flores. It is right by the stadium they are building for the 2014 world cup.  

Our house is a five minute walk from the Chapel. You cross the street, take the first right, turn right, turn left, turn right and there is our house. We are on the second level and you can see the stadium from our only window. The living is very basic here, but I dont mind at all. I love it here, I love the people, I love the culture, I love the way the houses look.

When you have a transfer in the area of Manaus you always get to go to the temple the day after transfers. The Manaus Temple is beautiful. Absolutely stunning. I wish I had more time to look around. The paintings are beautiful, and instead of the trees we have in America, the paintings are of Amazonian Rain forest trees. Absolutely beautiful. 

For the sake of Remmington and Remmington only, I saw a dead person. They were having a funeral in the Church my second or third day here. They fill the coffins with beautiful flowers. In my notes I have written down to show you guys Alma 17:5 and the footnote that leads to Alma 8:10. I dont remember what they are about, but I remember I like them!

I SAW WILD PARROTS. I heard them while I was getting ready one morning and I thought to my self. Hmm either someones parrots got loose or those are actual parrots. I looked out the window and in the distance I saw two beautiful red birds flying. I WAS SO EXCITED. :)

So Laurel might live with you? And I am not there. Bummer. If she does, make sure she emails me every week! :) The scripture dad wrote on my sheets was Mosiah 5:13 it made me think of Matthew 24: 44-51 and the law of consecration. 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 Matt 21:12, 13... Our bodies are temples. 1 Peter 2:9, 20, 15-20 I love the last part of verse 20, because in the following verses we see that Christ is the perfect example of this. :)




My interesting story for the week. Carlos

Sister Freitas and I were walking one night to try and find the house of Sydney, but he want home. (Thats another thing we struggle with. Its hard to meet people at their houses when they are home. Here we clap our hands instead of knocking on doors, because most people dont have doors.)

Anyways we kept walking and passed this group of older men. One of them said Oi Sisters. We kept walking and he asked us to stop. He turned out to be a less active member.

Sister Frietas says that he was drunk, but I dont know. Anywayswas telling us about his problems and  how God was blessing him in his life... anyways at one point in this he look at me and said that I looked like Mary Magdalen.

He asked me to take my glasses off. I did. He looked me staight in the eye and again said I looked like Mary.  I honestly didnt know what to do. I didnt understand a lot of what he was saying either. I put my glasses back on and he continues to talk. I nod my head in agreement to what he says and the next thing you know he is on the ground and kisses my feet and my companions feet.

I really didnt understand what was going on then! Sister Freitas freaked out and asked him to stop. She told him that we were representaives of Christ and that he should worship and thank God. Which he did. 

Oh and I forgot this, but the first think he did, was take us away from the other men and asked if he could say a prayer. We obliged and he took our hands and began to pray. At the end of the prayer he joined mine and sister Freitas hands and kissed them.

He then started to walk away and I started to tell him that I knew God was loving and would help him. He then asked me to speak in English, which I did, but I was very confused. I told him we were representatives of Christ and that if he went back to church I knew that he would find the answers he needed in his life.

I told him that we were here to help him solve his problems. I gave him a pamphlet about the restoration I had in my hands. We then said goodbye as he walked away. My companion and I felt the spirit very strongly during this, and when I began to tell her what I had said in english she told me that she had understood every word I had said. She is trying to learn english, but doesn’t know that much. Anyways, that was my first experience with talking with someone. It definitely was a different experience too. 

Anyways, know that I love each and everyone of you. I think of you every day! :) I love talking to you and reading your emails! I love being here in Brazil, and the culture and the lack of some necessities does not bother me at all. I have my happy face on all the time and don’t let the adversary get me down! :)

We work hard, and I am always sore from walking everywhere, and sweaty every day, but I sleep well at night and enjoy my days. They go quickly and every day gets betters as I learn more. I love being a missionary and I always love thinking that I get to bring that special feeling into other peoples house. That special feeling you get when the missionaries come over. :)

I love you all to the moon and back!

-Sister Chatwin

Regarding the picture:

This Irma was always super fun and would always come into our class to visit us and talk with us.

One More Week - Updates from Sister Chatwin 9/4/13

This week was amazing. I have learned so much while being here. I will pray for Elder Ogden. I can imagine that he is having a difficult time. I got to read in my scriptures a lot this week so | have a big list for you! :) Luke 18:19 MaTT 6:9-13 Matt 13:44-46 Matt 6:22 Matt 4:4 Matt9:10 Matt 10:16, 20 Matt 12: 10-14 Matt 14:22-33 

As you can see I read a lot in Matthew. It has really been manifested to me this last week how much the Spirit blesses us to learn and to grow. Twice this last week were had such a strong spirit present after our devotionals. I have grown to love being a missionary and the blessings that come with it. I am so close with the people in my district, and I would wish that every one of my friends could understand the love and knowledge that come while we are doing the service of God as missionarys. 

I wish you all could be here with me and that I could tell you every day what I learn. The mission has become my pearl of great price and I truly would give everything I own for this experience. I have grown so much and learned so much and it has only  been one week. I am excited for Manaus next week, I am excited to be teaching people and not my teachers. :) 

I don't know if I told you this, but my first week here we were being interviewed by our branch president and he asked me why I was serving a mission. I gave him my truthful answer of how I have always wanted to serve. He looked at me and asked if it talked about my mission in my patriarchal blessing. I said yes and then he told me that when I look into the eyes of people, when I hug people, and when I shake their hands to pay speacial attention to the Spirit and what I will tell me. He told me that I would be blessed to reacognize and recieve a witness that certain people were friends that I had promised I would come preach the Gospel too. 

I am excited and humbled to be serving the Lord. I cannot think of any greater blessing than giving my life to His service. I;m going to go now. I love each one of you so so so so much! If I have time I will email mom how my birthday was! If I don't I'll write it down and send it in a letter. Just know that it was the best birthday I could have here in Brazil. I totally forgot I was 21 until I opened this email.

Keep up the hard work and love the Lord and His work.

God bless you all :) :)
-Sister Chatwin

Note: Sister Chatwin departs for Manaus next Tuesday, September 10, 2013!

Week of August 26th - Birthday Week

Part I

Thank you Dad! I have not seen Elder Ogden yet. If he is at the CTM I will surely see him tonight at dinner or devo. The story behind the CTM is really neat!! Thank you for your happy birthday wishes and all the nice things you have said about me! :) I am going to read the other email I got from you right now and write all my things from this week there!  Eu amo voce!!

Part II

So scriptures I liked this week: Heb 4 10  Mat 11 29   Sacrament prayer in Moroni 4 and 5 I like those because we are told that we should remember Christ, witness in our lives that we remember Christ and then we are able to always have the Holy Ghost to be with us. In the bible dictionary we read that the Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead so if we are righteous we can always have the presence of a God with us. It is imparitive as missionaries that we are our best selves while serving the Lord. 

Yesterday our class made a pact to  only speak portuguese for the rest of the time while we are at the CTM. We can only speak ingles when we are in the temple. We went proselyting this week. It was fun, and a good learning experience. Everyone was able to hand out all of their Livro de Mormons (24 in total) except for us. We gave out all except one, which thankfully our teacher handed to someone on our walk back to the CTM. Brasileros are so nice.

I memorized Mat 11 29  in portuguese on my way home from the temple today! SO far our district has memorized the first vision , our missionary purpose, and the baptismal commitment questions. I love out teachers, they are amzing. Today Irmao Allen brought his wife to the temple with us so we could meet her. It was a lot of fun. 

Only two more weeks!! Then its off to Manaus! Wahooo! I am so excited! I have made such good friends with all of the people in my district it will be hard to leave them all. Will someone please tell Kirsten Williams to email me? Obrigada :) Last sunday we learned a lot about  being one with our companions and it has really help me and Sister Sperry in our teaching.

I am sending you guys, well mostly Ryan, a letter today with the chart I told him about and some more advice for teaching investigators. I have made so many friend here at the CTM. I love it. Every night I try and pray for the Lord to bless me with the love He has for all of His children. It's amazing how much I love the people here. Its such a blessing :) :) :) 

I can;t really think of much else to say, so I;m going to send mom a nice email to her school address since she hasnt gotten on yet. :) I love you all so so so so so much!!!!!! You are the best family I could ever ask for! My district and I are going to celebrate my birthday today! We are going to go to Mr. Cheneys and eat some brownies with Ice cream. Then Friday morning Elder Wood is insisting on making me a brakfast panini, if they have bananas. His panini is bananas and melted milky ways... so essential bananas and nutella in a nice warm biscuit. I love the food here, and I have been told that when we arrive in Manaus we get to do a session in portuguese at the temple and then get to try all of the local food at the mission home. :) :) <3

Ciao,

Sister Chatwin

Savannah Rae - Week of August 19

Hello Family!!! :)

 

I am getting the hang of things here! :) My grammer is awful, but I can get a point across when I want to. Two more weeks till I'm off to Manaus!!! :) I am excited, one of the teachers here served in Manaus and today while we were at the Campinas temple he was telling us about all the good food they feed us when we first get to the presidents house. In relation to the Sao Paulo temple, the MTC is about 30-40 minutes away? The CTM is on Casa Verde, if that helps at all... I am glad that you get pictures of my district every week. I really enjoy it, because I always think of you when they take them! Thank Sister Tillery for the letter she sent. I enjoyed reading how the ward was doing! Will you ask Brother Murnan what the symbolism of the number eight is? THanks. Today is been a good day!! Yesterday was devotional and I really enjoyed it. It was a talk by Elder Bednar. In it he told us to listen to what the Spirit was telling us and take notes on that instead of what he was saying. Well, I listened and took a whole bunch of notes! Like 4 pages worth. I will try and write them down and send them to you next week. Just know that it was really inspiring. I got a lot of advice for my mission and some things that I can do to help me. I really enjoyed reading in Luke 18 this week. I love the part where Christ says suffer the children to come unto me. :) I also enjoyed verse 27, all things are possible through the Lord. Thank you so much for taking me to Nauvoo! I have such a fond love of that place, and the spirit that we felt that will always have a special place in my heart. I find such strength from the example of Joseph Smith and the early saints. I love reading about them, and I always grow from the amount of faith they had in the Lord. I love you all so much! I'm going to read the letter from the boys now!

 

Hugs from Brasil!

 

Sister Chatwin :) :)

Tiggy,

 

I am super excited to hear about your band show. I think its really funny, because my district always says that our teacher sounds like Luigi when he speaks english. Needless to say I laughed out loud! :) Pop tarts are good, that definitly makes it easier to get to seminary. Tell Bro. Mawby to tell Kaeli hello for me!! Love you so much lady killer.

xoxo- Sister CHatwin

 

Ryan!!!

 

Way to go on your lessons! I totes agree that not presenting the lessons exactly as they are in the book is really difficuly. My companion and I still struggle with doing it, but I know that when we teach just what our investigator is interested in it is a whole lot more powerful! Advice, ask some questions to get to know your investigator first. WHat they care about, what is hard in their life. WHen you know what they are struggling with you can easily find which message to share with them. When you teach with the Spirit, it is one of the most powerful experiences you can have. My teacher drew a diagram for us, I'll draw it in the letter I send to dad... probably next week.

 

Love you!!!!|

 

Sister Chatwin

 

 

REMMI.

 

Hello my little Mr. Bean.  Your 7th hour teacher sounds way cooler that my 7th hour teacher was when I was in 6th grade. I love you. How is school going? Do you get to see any friends from church or north east during the day?

You are awesome. I think of you every time I see the cars here! It reminds me of Top Gear. I saw a really weird range rover today on the way to the temple.

 

Love you lots,

Sister Chatwin

 

 

I LOVE YOU MOM. :) :)

 

Ciao,

 

Sister Chatwin

Hello Familia

Hello familia! :)

I am so glad to hear that you all are doing well. I hope you had wonderful birthdays!! I sure do miss you. Today we got to go to the Campinas temple because the Sao Paulo temple is closed for cleaning. I am super excited to hear that Ryan is starting his papers! The Holy Ghost wouldn't let me leave the temple today with out putting Ryan's name on the prayer roll. Special blessings from Brazil are coming his way! :) What did you do for your birthdays? I sang happy birthday to you guys on sunday, and then on the 13 I sang happy birthday to Kirsten and Riana. I am so glad to hear that you are getting more rain! That is such a blessing :) This week all of our teachers are speaking only portuguese, we have had some tough days trying to learn, but we always find a way to laugh and end the day on a good note. I have been reading my scriptures a LOT and I love it! In that broadcast I told you to find last week it says that we are our number one converts. Once we are truly converted to live in the way Christ did, then we can better teach people how to come unto Christ and find the peace and joy that we have as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints. I have read all of Joseph Smith history; did you know that when he prayed to God asking to know which church was correct that that was the first time he had ever prayed vocally? It's in verse 14 I think. It is such an amazing example that when we act on the faith we have God does answer our prayers. I pray for everyone almost every night. Sometimes these 16 hours work days make it a little hard to remember what I want to say. I love how much we work here. I really do. I have also been reading a lot in John chapters 14-17 are super dooper inspiring. I love being able to study the life of Christ while he was on the earth. I also like Luke 22:31-32 It tells us that the Lord prays for us to have the strength to withstand the temptations of the devil. I love knowing that the Lord prays for us, all the time. Just as we pray to our Father in Heaven for help, He prays to help us find our answers. We just have to be looking for those answers to come. We can do this by keeping our bodies free from harmful substances and by doing good things that are pleasing to the Lord. It is not always easy, I find myself repenting daily because I make so many mistakes. The Lord blesses us when we try though, I know that. I have seen His loving hand in my life so much while I have been here. I am trying to be more greatful and give credit where credit is due. Our Heavenly Father truly cares for each of His children. He loves us all equally and we should be willing to love everyone as well. It is not always easy, but we should try and help others and let go of our pride. I love my family so much!! I can't wait to hear from you next week :) I know that when we are in the service of our fellow beings that we are only in the service of our God. Mosiah 2: 17 or 7, I don't remember what verse :)    I have a scripture to share that completely explains why I am all the way here in Brazil working my tush off to learn portuguese. John 15:9 I am here because I love my Father in Heaven and want to continue in His love!

May God be with you all this week,

Sister Chatwin

Updates from Sister Chatwin

Greetings from Sister Chatwin!  What follows is a series of excerpts from her first emails to her family (one shortly after her arrival in Brasil last week and three today August 7, 2013).

July 31, 2013:

Hello Familia,

today has been busy and this is just to tell you \I am well. I love it here, we got to walk around the city today. \the \mtc is not by the temple. \we tried caramalized coconut. these keyboards are weird. I love you all so much and I am very greatful to be here. the food is good. i learned how to pray in portuguese at dinner. everyone is either spanish or brazilian. welp, i have a lot of work to. i will talk next week. some computuers are not working and we only get ten minutes so i might have to get off and let someone else use it. silly boys, my camera is charging as we speak, did not have a chance to take any pictures yet. i really do love you guys and i love it here. Got to go! Love love love,

Sister Chatwin

August 7, 2013:

P-day is on wed. We went to the temple this morning and it was absoulutely beautiful! I can't believe that dad was there too. The temple is smaller than I though it was, but it is sooo pretty inside. Sis. Sperry is my comp. She is in the pink skirt in the pic you got. You should be getting a pic of my district at the temple sometime soon. I got sick on monday. the doctor says I have a small virus. I;m okay, but getting up in the mornings and eating brakfast has been hard. My district all laughed at me-we laugh at everything- but it really was funny, because I was reading in the book of mormon about how Joseph Smith was weak from seeing the angel Moroni all night. It was right then that I got up and told my comp that I was going to be sick and proceeded to throw up in the banheiro. haha. I bore my testimony on Sunday in portuguese. It was scary,but I wrote on my paper for the branch president that I was going to do it, so I HAD to do it. I am so incrediby greatful to be hear! My portuguese is coming along well, I still need lots of practice though. I love you all so much and I pray for you too! I;m going to read your other email now and reply to that one too.

Ciao, Sister Chatwin

Nah, I don't need the blue shirt. A sweater would be nice in Sao Paulo right now, but I won't need one in Manaus. Everyone tells me it is really hot in manaus. I;m soo sorry you had to clean my room again, but I am glad that remmi is ready to  move in! Ahhh, I have to tell you. Fast sunday was so great! My favorite thing that was said was Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. I love that story of Peter and Christ. So our second day here we started teaching lessons in portuguese. It was so stressful the first day, but as the days go on I learn more and the language is getting easier.  We have taught  every day since then. My teacher is Irmao Allen. He is such a goof. He also sounds like Luigi. :) There are so many jokes in our district. We have a lot of fun together. All the cars here are like the ones you see on top gear. Its fun. In the pic they sent when you when I arrived the elder in the middle is Elder Sprouse, he is our district leader and also the one who gave me a blessing on monday. The really tall Elder is Elder Wood. He is so funny and weird. The last Elder is Elder Wilson, he is the one serving in Manaus. Anyways, I really do love it here in the CTM. It is so wonderful, but the days all mesh together. We get up eat breakfast go to study, have class, more study, dinner, more study etc. We work 16hrs a day! Everyone here is either hispanico or brasilero. So meals are fun to try and figure out what every one else is saying. :) Love love,  I think I just got an email from you so I will check, maybe we can talk.

 Ciao, Sis. Chatwin

Okay, so it wasn't you is was Alejandra. But as I was saying, I love the spirit you can feel here. It is so strong and powerful. I learned so many new things in the temple today. There is a great spirit of learning. My district takes care of me and are always making sure I am feeling better throughout the day. My comp. Sister Sperry, reminds me of mom. Always busy, and worrying about things that need to  be worried about. But she is great and we work well together! On the days we get to exercise we either play volei ball or baket ball, my right arm has this nasty purple bruise on it from the volei ball. I am glad Ryan got a job! THAT is great news! I love you all soo much, but I think that I need to let other people use it now, there are a lot of people waiting in the hall. I love it here and I am excited for Manaus, I love learning and meeting new people. I love all of you back home, I pray for you and hope that you do well and are enjoying your life. I miss you guys, but I stay so busy I dont have time to worry about you! HAHA :) I would love to hear from more people, but just know that I think you are wonderful. :) OH, I have two brazilian roomates, they are the best! It is fun to try and speak about different things with them! Sister Rodriquez is 32 the other is SIster Buenas. THey are fun.. Today we are getting 32ish americans here at the CTM, most of them are coming from the provo MTC, so we might get some new people in our district. God is always with us and I am so greatful for all of your prayers. If there is one thing I have learned here it is that God is loveing. We are never truly alone and if we study His word we can better get to know Him. ...... Sidetrack. So sister Christoffersen and I met in the Atlanta Airport. WE were the only missionaries on the flight to brazil. It was funny though because we were sitting in the airport and a huge group of missionaries starts walking our way, but they walked straight past us and we got super disappointed. It was funny though because we were really hoping that we were going to get to meet some more missionaries going to the CTM. Our district all met up at the airport. The streets are crazy, but it is so beautiful here! I won't be able to send any pictures because we are only allowed to take them on p-day, and we can't bring them outside of the CTM. The food is good, they have dessert with every meal. I try and eat the meat that is given to me, but I can't stand it sometimes. haha.  Have ryan or brother torrie try and find an MTC devotional given May 11 2010 by Elder Holland. We watched it last night for devo and it truly was so insipiring. It would be a great thing for the kids in mission prep to watch. :) I really truly love it here. I do.  Eu se que o livro de mormon es verdadero e o profeta Thomas S. Monson es amoroso e poderoso. I don't know about the spelling of that, but they keyboards are weird here. They have some of the brasilian characters on them, but they do they same thing as on american keyboards.  I don't know it they made sense. Anyways I love you all so so so so so so so so so so very much!

Ciao,

SIster Chatwin (Who is loving Brasil, eventhough she is sick) :) :) :)