tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5974877057962586662024-02-19T08:54:13.748-08:00Sister Kelsi JohnsonSo you can keep updated on my mission adventure!Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-21303823308207934562012-03-15T12:16:00.000-07:002012-03-15T12:16:57.592-07:00February 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_dbkMWagMA3clxrXBXDALbjpy8o1lIovQEsuwUaFTGeNMro9d-7pFL2WlTXENNRIY9-iMw5bZrEcWO3YpjH7UdkiOEjoNy8XguWcwdd6Lgyff9r1tm3C7sqtkQHjp3baTeP-5iaTAyvb/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_dbkMWagMA3clxrXBXDALbjpy8o1lIovQEsuwUaFTGeNMro9d-7pFL2WlTXENNRIY9-iMw5bZrEcWO3YpjH7UdkiOEjoNy8XguWcwdd6Lgyff9r1tm3C7sqtkQHjp3baTeP-5iaTAyvb/s320/073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><b>Feb 6th - 2nd Degree</b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">So. I thought I would start doing titles to my emails to get you all hooked! Is it working?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Anyways. Answer time: </span><b style="font-weight: normal;">Grandma: </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">1)Yes, it's still the summer and will be until March. 2) We walk a lot! This area especially. We pretty much have to walk an hour in whatever direction to get to our investigators because the neighborhood we live in is all apartment buildings we can't enter without a name and address...so we don't teach very much in our own neck of the woods. So, normally its leave home, walk an hour, lunch at a members and then walk around to our lessons and visits and then walk back home an hour. But we also have an area thats about 2 hours away so we plan 1 or 2 days a week we go there. Em fim, we walk a lot. :D 3) Yes! We have a fan in our house. Two actually! And I say my prayers and thank Heavenly Father for it everynight because I heard a quote once that said, ''What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday.'' And I don't want to be without a fan. It probably doesn't help that I ALWAYS sleep with the blanket my mom made on top of me. I can't help it. I love it! </span><b style="font-weight: normal;">Dad:</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> No. The SuperBowl is NOTHING here. I didn't even know who was in it until we had lunch with a member that happens to be in love with American Football. One member. That's how big the SuperBowl is.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">This week was another hot one. I now have to be a nerd and stop randomly throughout the day to reapply sunscreen. I was just applying it in the morning (50SPF Sport), but I still sweat it all off and wound up with a 2nd degree burn on my nose...that was hot. So, we're bringing out the big guns. Not really, I'll just put on more sunblock more often. But I'll for sure die of skin cancer one day. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">We had a really good week spiritually and teachingly speaking (does that make sense?). But we didn't reach our goals...which I'm trying to tell myself is okay. We had a great lunch with a member that served a mission that gave us some great advice. She told us that this is the one time in our life we have to teach with power and authority and to promise blessings that Heavenly Father has for our investigators. When we have to take our nametags off the power is gone. Elders will have this power anytime they have a leadership calling in the church, so we have to take advantage of our time. We left that lunch with fire under our feet, ready to teach by the Spirit, and the fire stayed all week. We taught some amazing lessons, completely led by the Spirit. Super cool! Also, we found some great families that we're teaching and hoping that they'll make it all the way to the font. Finally, the ward is helping us too. We started really getting to know and to love the members during our one hour of lunch with them and it's really helping. Members come up to us Sundays and talk and joke and give us references. It's amazing! We also taught the lesson yesterday in RS about Missionary Work. Me and Grandma Bowen. It was really good! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Yesterday night we ate pancakes at the Soneghet's house. The Soneghet's is a family you will have to meet. They are super old in the church. Both Kátia (mom) and Adilson (dad) served missions and Gabi is in Rio serving right now and Raquel (19) is getting ready to serve. I have never met a family that does more for the missionaries and other people than this one. We have lunch with them once, every week, and every Sunday we go over there at night and there's always a bunch of people there and a bunch of food. It's amazing. When Adilson saw my nose, he got all worried and kept checking up on me, like a dad. Kátia is always worrying about our lunches and stuff. I find a family wherever I go! But the Soneghet's are different. I knew them when I was in Itaparica because they are that awesome. They're like famous members of the church here. I love them.</span><br />
Funny story. So it seems like all drunk men speak English and they always wanna talk to the American girls walking down the street. But instead of saying like, ''Hello. How are you? What's your name?'' Which would be normal...they want to say like everything they know in English, so its like, ''Hello. 1 2 3 4 5 7 Morning. Whats your namey? Beautiful.'' Its hilarious.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">So. Thanks for writing me! DMaceemo, how are the papers coming? Now that you got your wisdom teeth out...its coming up! Jenna, everyone's dream here is to go to Disneyland or World. Its funny, because in the States its every kids dream too. Bowen, sorry to hear you were sick and now the kiddos. :( But, I love to hear you talk about going through the temple. I pray for you and Maliá every night! Dad, good to hear life is normal and lots of cool things aren't happening without me. How's the ward? Mom, you didn't write, but I love you, thanks for being my mommy! </span></span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Feb. 13th - I've got Sunshine!</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I've got sunshine every SINGLE day! Misericórdia! (aka: mercy!) They really say that here.<br />
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So, let's begin. I'm still getting blisters and peeling on my nose but I'm putting on more sunscreen throughout the day and stuff. I just know I will NOT walk with an umbrella. Lame-o! Mom, reading the Book of Mormon in personal study isn't hard, I understand it, sometimes when I have to read verses during lessons it gets hard to pronounce, but just reading I love it. Everytime you read the Book of Mormon you understand new things, but when you read it in a different laguage it opens up a new world of teachings. I love it! Bowen, thanks for your email. Its so good to hear it sounds like everything is going amazing in your life and it all comes from doing what is right. We finally got one of our investigators to understand that this week. Her son is on trial for rape and it sounds like he's guilty. He's 16 and the girl is 13. Yup. Welcome to Brazil. Anyways. She finally understood Thursday how the commandments just make sense and our lives would be so much better if everyone lived them and that's why we have the gospel! I'm so excited for you two to go through the temple and for you to be a policeman too! How cool. I knew you guys ate pizza and wings this week because I was craving them like crazy! Dallin, when you get back from your mission we're going to Brazil together home skillett! None of this Chicago weak sauce. Jenna, PDays are pretty boring. I like them like that. I like to write letters and sleep. Last week we went to McDonalds and my ''sister'' from Itaparica came and ate lunch with us. It was so good to see her and talk to her. But, thats about it. Other than that we hang out with Sister Araújo, that's ALWAYS entertaining. Grandma, yes, I get tired walked AND the time passes fast. So its the best of both worlds. I'm waiting for my body to get used to walking so much and so much sun...its taking a long time! My ''release date'' is October 27th, but I don't know if the transfer will be before or after that. ?<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Mom, to answer some of your questions about coming and getting me. 1) I know its expensive and I know you put more value on experiences than on money so I will try to still love you if you don't come and get me....but it will be really hard to get me to get on that airplane alone. 2) Presidente Araújo LOVES when parents come and get their kids. I told them you guys are trying and he's all excited. 3) The church pays for my flight so they will put me on the same flight you guys take, I think. 5) I'll check about this timing thing of if they know when exactly we'd be leaving. But I'm praying that you guys have the resources to come and get me and I think every night this week I had a dream about it...so maybe its meant to be and Heavenly Father will do a miracle! (is that right? do a miracle?....I don't speak English!)<br />
So. Sorry. I'm already running out of time to write. But we are teaching a really great family with two kids! Cláudio, Ruth, Eduardo and Isabel. They are super awesome and we're fasting and praying a ton that they will get baptized this transfer. We've been fasting so much I don't even have to buy food again this week! Sweet right?! I'm learning the worth of working hard for something worthwhile. And if the worth of souls is great in the side of God then it will be a huge battle to help save them! You'd think it'd just be, ''Hey. We have the restore priesthood authority, a living prophet and 12 apostles.'' And people would line up to get baptized...but Satan is crafty...jerkface! And he winds the truth in with his lies in every other church.<br />
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I had a rough weekend. Saturday we didn't teach ONE lesson. Not ONE! We just walked in the hot sun from house to house. No one one home or every one was ''just about to leave.'' It was rough. I was exhausted. The next day, Sunday we got to church and our Ward Mission Leader gave the lesson for Priesthood and RS and a brother from the church raised his hand and gave ''constructive criticism''on the missionary work we and this ward are doing. Just complaining basically. So after the Saturday I had and then having to hear that I started to cry. I felt very humbled. I also felt sad, but I know I have weaknesses and I know that the gospel will be preached by the weak and the simple (D&C 1:23) so it seems like I'm on the right track huh?! It was sad at the time...but you know me...I can't stay sad for very long. After church we actually had some great lessons! And because Heavenly Father still works miracles we happened to be at the right place at the right time and met a young guy named Felipe that seems really open to hear the restored gospel. Also, Sunday night I got to eat pancakes again, with syrup. Mmmmm! We literally ran to get to the members house. I ran for pancakes.<br />
Anyways, sorry this email is a little messy. Hope it makes sense. I hope you guys can tell how much I love what I'm doing and how much it is changing my life. I pray every night that Dallin's mission will be the same for him. I understand now what people say about missions. The cliche phrases. ''Best two years'' and stuff like that. I'm serious. It will be really hard to get me home.<br />
I love you guys. Thank you for all of your love, your prayers, your support, your emails, pictures, everything!!! I hope the Lord is blessing you as much as he is blessing me and that one day we will all receive the greeting of which Enos spoke: <b>''Vinde a mim, o bendito. Há um lugar preparada para ti nas mansões de meu Pai.'' Enos 1:27</b><br />
PS This weekend is CARNAVAL....I'll let you know how that goes....I think we'll be staying with President a lot!<br />
Happy Valentines Day! (Valentines day here is June 12th...waaa waaaaaaaaaa</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-9Sx3k5BLjUIHNvpRCDUcK0r0sP-5V-YVHAc1UuiWYTAPWKrmRnTpKZAQd5DoeYPEBQ_QakKJwehHp_mscnsvsu0KqrfDHOZl1KckOcHHNLbDjF0LVfYNYBv-4-zebINY8QCcNWkCKyU/s1600/083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-9Sx3k5BLjUIHNvpRCDUcK0r0sP-5V-YVHAc1UuiWYTAPWKrmRnTpKZAQd5DoeYPEBQ_QakKJwehHp_mscnsvsu0KqrfDHOZl1KckOcHHNLbDjF0LVfYNYBv-4-zebINY8QCcNWkCKyU/s320/083.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b>Feb 20th - Yes Satan?</b></span><br />
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<div>Oh. I´m sorry I thought you were somebody else.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">So......I´m emailing from Presidentes house, so if this email is a bit random its because theres a lot going on and I´m not paying much attention. It was Carnaval this weekend and all the Internet Cafes are closed. What a party. Basically, this whole weekend we´ve just been hanging out at Presidentes at night and doing some slow visits during the day. I don´t even think the US has a holiday like this where everything just shuts down. All the rich people travel and all the poor people get drunk and party. So we played Scrabble with Sister Araujo, English and Portuguese. I won McDonalds.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div> </div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Sunday we didn´t even have teachers so the member of the Bishopric asked us to teach...apparently Sister Peterson thought us meant just me because she sat down and I taught the class about The Holy Ghost. 3 new members and an investigator. I got a compliment at the end of how well I did, so I felt good afterwards.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">We invited part of our elect family to be baptized and they ACCEPTED! Woo hoo! We just need to get them to church and they´ll love it, they´ll feel the Spirit and not have a problem! So, I have a lot of faith that all this work this transfer isn´t in vain. A lot of work! I hope I stay here another transfer...but, the Lords will be done, ne?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div> </div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Thanks for your emails and your love. I loved what you said Bowen about gold....its so true! I´m handing out gold and people are like...nah, I´ve got brass, I´m good. Lame-o! But, I´m doing my part, right?! This mission thing is rough when you think you´re doing everything possible and NOTHING is happening. But, I´ll just keep on, keepin on...nothing else I can do. Can´t give up.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div> </div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">We have half the sisters sleeping with us tonight because we have Sisters Conference tomorrow! Woo hoo! Sleepover!!! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Thanks for your love, support, emails, trying to come get me at the end of my mission.You are all the best!!! You don´t even know how much I love you!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">P.S. The date of my last day in the field is November 6th....if you need to know for plane flights and such. Also, dad, I´ve been using my card a little bit because we´ve had some problems with our cards here. Hope the government gives me a fat refund for all the work I did at SimonMed. Thanks for doing my taxes!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Feb. 27th - Murderer's Girlfriend</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I love your emails so much. They are always so funny and entertaining. Its always good to know you guys are still living and having fun even though the life of the party is in Brazil....oh wait, Bowen is still here...hahahaha. Just kidding. I know I'm awesome. Haha. Sounds like the desert was awesome and Haiven's blessing was great too. Good job Bo. I'm super proud of you and all the great choices you're making right now in your life. All the blessings of the Lord will be poured out upon you that you won't even know what to do with yourself!!! I'm noticing it all now. Dallin is putting his papers in at the end of March? So we'll miss each other by like 3 months?! Misericórdia! Ah. I love you guys so much!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
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So. This week we had a Sisters Conference. Its supposed to be a training for the Sisters because we can't do splits with the Assistents to be trained...but....Sister Araújo was in charge, so the Assistants weren't even allowed to come. It was really awesome. Sisters are so spoiled. 4 of the Sisters came and stayed in our house for 1 day and 2 noghts At the Conference, Presidente and Sister Araújo spoke. We talked about our areas and our difficulties and our triumphs. Then we ate lunch. Then we had closing remarks by Presidente...then we had the choice to go home or stay and hang out or stay and watch a movie. Of course, 12 Sisters were piled in the living room of Presidente and we watched Tangled (Enrolada). (Presidente calls his living room with the television the apostasy room because its where he watches his soccer highlights) When Tangled ended we kind of sat there, all thinking the same thing and then blessed Sister Vieira said, ''Can we watch Enchanted?'' So...we watched Enchanted too. Hilarious. Its good to be a Sister. I should make a song...like that rap song ''Dang it feels good to be a gangster'' ''Darn it is good to be a Sister'' Elder Spencer was jealous when he called that night and found out. Muahahaha.<br />
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Wednesday Carnaval ended and the real work began. Finally. After all the fun and stuff it was good to get back outside and do what really makes us happy! Missionary work!!! We're still teaching the girlfriend of an inactive member that killed somebody...he killed somebody...not her. She is amazing. Her name is Thyss (tie-ees). We taught her the Plan of Salvation and she loved it. She kept sighing, like happy sighs and smiling and saying. Wow. Cool. At the end we invited her to be baptized and gave her a date and she said she has always wanted to be baptized. When preachers in church invited people to the front to be baptized she always went, but never was baptized. She said, ''I think the Lord was waiting for me to hear this plan (of salvation) to be baptized in this church.'' It was so amazing. It was the fruits after a LOT LOT of labor. That was probably the best thing that happened this week.<br />
Saturday our district came to our area and we set up a table in a square and talked to people and gave away pamphlets and Ensigns. Elder Spencer is hilarious. He likes to give all people walking holding hands and all girls wearing revealing clothes the pamphlet of Chastity. It was a special activity too because Maurício our teacher from the MTC in São Paulo is here. So we got to catch up and talk to him too. I love my mission. I can't tell you how many times a day I say that. ;)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Just one more thing that I thought of yesterday at church. I've been realizing the importance of the covenants that we make with Heavenly Father and how we have to do our part to fulfill them. At baptism and in the temple. I remember a talk from Elder D. Todd Christofferson that said, Jesus Christ didn't ask for a little...he asked for our very lives. I think we have to remember that we made promises to give all of ourselves to the gospel and to the Church of Jesus Christ. I know that when we give all we have, it still isn't enough, and that is when the grace of the Savior comes in. Also, when we are giving all, we forget ourselves and we are the happiest. We have to be diligente and obediente. Even Jesus Christ, after he suffered for us and died on the Christ, He, who above all, deserved some rest, immediately went to the Spirit World and taught the gospel and organized a missionary army and continued working and serving. He is our perfect Example and when we turn to Him we will recognize our weaknesses (Ether 12:27) and He will make them strong through His Atonement. I LOVE THIS GOSPEL. It's so perfect.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!</span></span><br />
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<div>Sister Kelsi Kate Johnson</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWI0xuDPkrqNw7JR4_aTkvML6MKY98XHmplKGxpk3UCGwVVNBBfuqA997zpKmS-A77K2HcrVmIx_8yy4Qi4dZAXGjOYUhPu-LSSDWjERDJJjxRS7D1QLVNhaNUqc_AZy2r3zjLxZj319h/s1600/IMG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWI0xuDPkrqNw7JR4_aTkvML6MKY98XHmplKGxpk3UCGwVVNBBfuqA997zpKmS-A77K2HcrVmIx_8yy4Qi4dZAXGjOYUhPu-LSSDWjERDJJjxRS7D1QLVNhaNUqc_AZy2r3zjLxZj319h/s320/IMG.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to Right: Elder Collins, Turner, Spencer (woo woo!) McBarron, Pettitt</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div> </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div> </div></span>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-47891094025527927212012-03-15T12:00:00.000-07:002012-03-15T12:00:17.353-07:00January 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPFk_YMQ0mwZ36RORjUZF31T8JHGQJCLcM2ADF1SHHXhPviC-Nrd-ahapXPFYZJK1hJnt28b7y9yUWsrcmA5E33ttmo99F8y_bobRVVd7T-MBHrqQE02dBK0k0dbr6N6QjvPeIDxFrK7y/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPFk_YMQ0mwZ36RORjUZF31T8JHGQJCLcM2ADF1SHHXhPviC-Nrd-ahapXPFYZJK1hJnt28b7y9yUWsrcmA5E33ttmo99F8y_bobRVVd7T-MBHrqQE02dBK0k0dbr6N6QjvPeIDxFrK7y/s320/072.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sis. and Pres. Araujo</span></td></tr>
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</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><b>Jan 2nd - Hello Everybody!</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">I think these were the funniest emails I've read on my mission so far. The cabin trip sounds HILARIOUS. Everyone bloody, broken, laughing and crying with Lynlee stuck on the ground in all her snow clothes. I can just picture it all. Hope dad's face is okay. And Bailee's wrist and everyone. Also, I will need a picture of Dallin and Mitch on the scooter...that has got to be the funniest thing I've ever heard in my life. Ahahahahaha!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">So. Questions. Mom talked about Cathy Hulets lesson. I love Elder Holland's talk Safety for the Soul - it's my FAVORITE!!! I love the Book of Mormon. More on my love for the BoM later. Grandma Bowen, the tip I have for your lesson about Missionary Work is Moses 1:39. If God's work and God's glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, and we're all striving to become like God...shouldn't that be our work and our glory as well? I think the happiest people are the people that share the gospel with others. I also like the quote: <b>Share the gospel at all times and when necessary use words! </b>Hope that helps.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">So, this week as far as missionary work goes was weird. I've never taught so little lessons but we marked 4 baptism dates! I also started teaching Presidente English. We taught about families and the names for everyone (brother, sister, mom etc.) and then had pai and mãe describe our families in our photos we brought. Presidente thought every picture of me was my mom and every picture of mom was my sister! Congrats mom! Sister Araújo also said dad is hot...so that's like 6 for dad and 4 for mom. I got good lookin' parents! We also had to tell them they can't say nigger because they just started throwing that word around. Then, we told them to say black or African American and Presidente said, ''Hey black, come here.'' Ah cultural differences are the best!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">We had an awesome Zone Conference this week that was FULL of the Spirit that got me so excited for the rest of my mission and the souls I will help save! I'm a missionary!!! On our way to Zone Conference we went with Elder Spencer and Elder Wilson (DL and ZL) Elder Spencer, my buddy since São Paulo and I had a convo that went something like this:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">ES '''Do you have an XBOX?''</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">Me ''My brother does.''</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">ES ''Does he have HALO?''</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">Me ''Yes''</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">ES ''Well, when we get home you have to set up an online account..so I can blow your head off.''</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">I love my Elders!!!! We all still fake shoot each other with all kinds of weapons we invent. And Elder Spencer always tells me all the ways he's going to kill me. I love it.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">So. My New Year was WAY better than yours! We went with Pres and Sister Araújo to a party at the Assistents and Secrataries house. Super fun. Elders are hilarious. Then we started home about 11:30PM. Sister Vieira asked if we could watch the fireworks with them and Pres made us vote...of course we all wanted too! So. We got to go to Presidentes and watch the coolest beach fireworks I have seen in my entire life...it was like Disneyland fireworks. We stayed way up in the Presidentes fancy apartment house and watched out the window that overlooks the beach. AMAZING!!! Then, as luck would have it, they wouldn't let any cars leave because of all the people on the street...so we had to sleep at Presidentes house again...gosh dang it! (sarcasm). Awesome sauce.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">Church was very good and very spiritual. I love testimony meeting in Brazil. Even Crazy Carmen bore her testimony and was actually pretty good. Sundays are the best days ever. It's so different on a mission. I hope not a lot of that changes when I get home. Anyways. Yesterday, for no reason at all, I just got all sad. I don't know why. Everything is going normal. I just got all sad. So Presidente gave me a blessing that was amazing. I won't write all of it but he blessed me with an ability to study the scriptures and learn from the great missionaries and leaders in the scriptures to become an ever better missionary. It was very special too because a lot of things he said are in my Patriarchal Blessing too.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">So, in the end. Everything is going good. I LOVE MY MISSION and I think you're going to have troubles getting me home. Thank goodness I still have 10 months! Woo hoo! Dallin. Go to mission prep you loser!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">Hi family,<br />
Okay mom. That was the coolest, weirdst and awsomest email ever. (the e isnt working good on this keyboard so just figur it out). HELLOO!!! Are you kidding me?! My mom sang with Stevie Wonder?!?! I think I want to b a Hospic Nurse!<br />
Sorry to har about dads friend. I'm so glad we hav th Atonement and The Plan of Salvation. I think if I was a missionary for another church whn Kristen died I would have come home, but because of the Atonement and The Perfect Plan we have, death is just another piece of the puzzle. A thing a lot of Brazilians say here about death is Heavenly Father knows when each pedal falls off a tree, so he definitely knows when a life is taken. I also remember Alma 17 when Alma and Amulek had to watch th innocent women and children be burned for their beliefs and when Amulek asked Alma to stop them Alma listened to the Spirit and knew that the Lord was receiving his rightous peopl. The Lord will nvr do anything to take away our free agency, but it is all being recorded and will be used for us or against us at the Judgement. I think this is why its so hard to see peopl rjct th gospl bcause thy're going to gt to th Final Judgement and have no xcuses. Thats why I nver want to do anything that will take away my Clstial Glory. I think something veryon can larn is to have an etrnal perspctiv. A mission helps with that.<br />
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Oh grandma....shes just falling mor and more off the rocker huh? Hearing about it all from another country its all super funny, but I know whatd b like if I was there so I hop all is well and everyone is loving ach other. Iḿ having this problm in our ward right now bcaus Carmen...crazy Carmen was baptized a year ago. No one in the ward...including me....thinks she has the mntal capabilities to be baptized, but now she comes every week and causes all kinds of problems and the whole ward, sav a few, ar fed up with her. This week as I sat in Relif Society I thought if Jesus cam here right now, Carmen would b the first person h would greet. So, I decided to love her and treat her like a child of God, bcause she is.<br />
Ah. Ellee and Lynlee. How cute and how sad. I don't remember being their age, but I was talking to my companions this week and remembered that as teenagers Jenna would never let me go anywhere with her and her friends...Bowen too...but I always brought Dallin along with me. Yup. I'm a saint. Haha. Just kidding. I still love you Jenna!<br />
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So. This week. One word. ''RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNN'' I cant count how many times I said that like Uncle Jimmy this week and I've never been in rain like this. Things are always more complicated with rain...but it was good and fun. I called Presidente (who me and Elder Spencer now call poppa) to ask permission to swim home. He laughed. And then he brought me two packages! Thanks Katie and Cindy!!!! Everything I ever wanted. Seriously. Raincoat thing. Umbrella. MacandCheese. PEZ. TShirt! Woo hoo! Thanks!!!! I love people that are close to the Spirit that send me answers to my prayers...its literally a miracle every time. A FESTIVUS MIRACL!<br />
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We have some great investigators. One, Sueli, that was smoking 40 cigaretts a day and now shes smoking 12! Woo hoo! I tried to pull a nail out of Sister Vieiras shoe with my teeth and she pulled the shoe away from me and chippd my tooth. Just my front bottom one and its tiny. I'm not having any problems with it. Just a funny story!<br />
So. I'm glad to hear from you guys. I love you. THanks for all of your love and support! Hope this week is better than last week for you...except for the Stevie Wonder thing. I'm still freaking out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Package from Katie !!<br />
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</tbody></table><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jan 16th - Hi Family,</span></b></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me apologize ahead of time that my email will be sloppy. I´m super tired. Sister Araújo came over this morning and we painted our house, then we went to eat, and now we´re finally emailing...its 4pm...and we have to leave for appointments at 6pm...I´m tired. But. I´m happy and I love what I´m doing. Just friggin tired.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, hilarious video of Ellee!!!! I love it! ´´Grimace. Okay. Eat some toast.´´ and I could hear my little Lynlee in the background. Awww! Thanks for the pictures too. I love that that dorky picture of me is on the fridge. I´ll have to send some better ones. Did you guys get my other letter and pictures yet? I haven´t had time to write letters in like 2 weeks. Theres perks and pits to living so close to the President. Good = you´r there alot and I love them; Bad = they´re always at our house too and always PDAY. But, hey what cha gonna do. So. Anyways.....</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What movie is ´´Yes William with the pigs, with the pigs.´´ Bowen?? I love Willow. When we´re walking down the streets here in Brazil, and not talking I just sing and quote movies to myself. ´´I don´t worship Sorsha I hate Sorsha. She kicked me in the face!´´ So. Yeah. That´s something that goes on. Our Ward Mission Leader said his favorite companion always quoted Brian Regan to himself, he thought it was hilarious.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyways. This week was good. Nothing too crazy or interesting happened. This area is super rough with finding good people to teach. We have a new Sister coming that was waiting for her Visa and serving in Salt Lake. She had 12 baptisims one Saturday. Poor thing, now she´s come to Brazil, where the real work begins. I´ve been praying for her. Hahaha. No. It´ll be awesome. This is the best mission in the world!</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This week. Alright. Let me think. My sandal broke so I´ll have to buy new ones. I taught President and Sister Araújo English again. It went much better. They´ve stopped saying the N Word. I love this couple. Have I mentioned that? I can´t wait until they come visit us in AZ after we all finish our missions. HILARIOUSNESS! We have two investigators that are pretty great. They´re sisters. 20 and 14. They live right across the street from the church and have a lot of questions about The Spirit World and the Plan of Salvation. I love investigators with questions. We´re still trying to help Suely quit smoking. She´s down to 8 I think but she also has depression and has a rough life and its hard to keep her animated for baptism. But, thats okay. I think they´re are elect people and people that need some help...but I´m always on the look out for the elect! This transfer is already ending next week! It went by so fast! Because we we´re working so hard!!! I´m going to stop working so hard...just kidding...but I love getting home every day super tired because I know I put in a good days work for the Lord. I emailed this to Presidente as one of my goals. Get home worn out every single day.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What else? Nothing adventurous or excited. Crazy Carmen said she was going to kill me. Then said <em style="font-style: italic;">she</em> was going to die. Then said she was going to Indonesia. So. Always have her to lighten my day. :D I can´t help but love this lady!!! I´ll have to try and take a picture with her. I´m sad that maybe Elder Spencer won´t be my DL anymore. I love my Elders that came with me! Presidente always talks about what a great group we are, that all came at the same time. Three (including me) are training. One is going to be Exec Secretary. And Elder ´´Sneak McB´´ McBarron doesn´t really count. But the rest of us are AWESOME! Presidente loves us.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> So. Sorry for the rambling, crazy email. I´ll have updates next week on transfers. I think I already know what will happen because Presidente and Sister told me...but you never actually know until it happens. So. Thanks for you love and emails and support. I love you all super dee duper dee much!!!!!!!!! Hope mom and dad are alive. THANK YOU!!!!!!</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">P.S. Presidente is going to do splits with Elder Spencer this week. I told Elder Spencer to take videos and pictures because I wanna see this thing. So CUTE! Elder Spencer said, `´Don´t you ever call my companionship with Presidente cute. It´s the manliest thing ever!´´ It´s going to be so CUTE!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rO2vfI0RoBpBio5r0OxztdKo-DpiX-zvvyUlDvkfkREM_IjOGYj0KaTLnsWzKaq0bixvh1_bADmVM6U0JB3ek8l-yiVtbPR6NJrGhMSlciMV0bhJOdapILaf-5TaAQvXwemo2r2_Is-8/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rO2vfI0RoBpBio5r0OxztdKo-DpiX-zvvyUlDvkfkREM_IjOGYj0KaTLnsWzKaq0bixvh1_bADmVM6U0JB3ek8l-yiVtbPR6NJrGhMSlciMV0bhJOdapILaf-5TaAQvXwemo2r2_Is-8/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Jan 23rd - What's up fam? </b><br />
Thanks again for your emails and your love and your hilarious updates. First thing first. No, I did not know Anita was going to LA. Last I heard I was in Provo and she had colon cancer...thanks for keeping me updated. :p I love mission calls! I'm so excited for D Mac's! We were at a members house last night and a young man from the stake came with his call...he's going to Boston! Super exciting! They say more and more Brazilians are leaving Brazil to serve missions. Cool beans. Maybe Aunt Anita can convert some movie stars! I want to go and do splits with her if she starts teaching John Cusack! (Yes, I'm still me.) Second, holy cow, Liv's hair is so BLONDE! They're so cute. Thanks for sending me pics Bowen! My nieces are getting so big! Ahhhh! So weird. Third, save some names and stuff for the temple for me to do when I get home!!!!<br />
Alrighty then. What's next? Oh. Transfers! I'm staying in JdP. Word. (random sidenote. We have some people that email Presidente in English to help him practice and he asked me and Elder Spencer what the word ''hood'' meant. Yes. An Elder used the gangster word ''hood'' to talk about his area in his email to the Presidente...ahhhhh Elders). Annnnyywwwaayyys. I will be staying with Sister Peterson and Sister Vieira will be a mom! She is going to train the new American Sister that is coming. Presidente wants the Brazilians learning English and the Americans learning Portuguese faster. This transfer is going to rock!!! (just another sidenote to tell you how cool Presidente is...he did a split the whole day with Elder Spencer this week...have you ever heard of a Mission Presidente doing that? I can't wait for you guys to meet these people.)<br />
This week went really well. I had some great lessons and experiences this week that taught me I'm progressing and learning to teach lessons by the Spirit and help people understand the gospel and why they need it. We marked 3 baptisms dates with some really great people that are ready to move their lives and follow Christ. One is the mom of a recent convert, inactive. He doesn't want anything really with the church but she already knows the church is true and wants to get married so she can get baptized. That's another thing about Brazil...no one is married!!!! But, anyone. We also had to go find a woman that got baptized Christmas Eve and hasn't been to church to get confirmed. This is where things get complicated. Can she still receive the Holy Ghost if she's inactive? And stuff like that. So we found her, she's living with her sister. She said she has been here in Vitória a week and just didn't know where the church was...weird because I'm pretty sure Christmas was way more than a week ago. Anyways. So we taught her and her sister, committed her sister to baptism and they said they'd come to church the next day. We even got some members that were going to swing by and take them. 7:30AM Sunday morning. Siene (baptized/not confirmed person) calls and said they can't go because she has a headache. So....I got discouraged. I was thinking. If we can't even get a woman that's baptized to get to church and receive the Holy Ghost, how am I supposed to get investigators to go to church! So. We went to church, with no investigators, as usual. But, I received my spiritual upliftment during Sacrament Meeting. A girl named Raquel that's a good friend of mine gave a talk. She told a story about when me and her did splits one day. After teaching some lessons we went and ate a hamburger and I asked her if she was going on a mission. She said she didn't know. I told her she should because the mission field needs girls like her. Different. Fun. Funny. Real. She said in her talk she felt the Spirit strongly when I said that and now she decided she's definitely going on a mission. It was a testimony builder to me that it won't always be through baptisms and investigators that we receive blessings and fruits of our labor, but through helping whatever child of God realize their true potential.<br />
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So. That's the highlight of this week I think. I'm ready to work hard and be diligent, ''while in this tabernacle of clay'' to bring the children of men to God. (Moroni 9:6) Can you believe that the 27th I'll be half done with my mission?! It kind of makes me want to throw up! It's time to get to work. What have I been doing for 9 months?! Hey! Let me know about my little brother and his mission papers! What's going on there? So exciting! And Bowen and Maliá. Keep going. Keep pushing. The temple blessings is what we're all working for. Salvation is a personal matter. Exaltation is a family matter! Jenna and family, you're all awesome. Tell Jared to toughen up, and be a man!<br />
Lastly, it would be super dee duper awesome if you could send me Chalula (or however you spell it) hot sauce for our Ward Mission Leader, Alexandre. He's awesome. You guys will love him too. He told me all kinds of stories about when his American companions would get Chelula and how they'd ration it and make oaths on when and how you could use it. So. That would be awesome.<br />
P.S. We don't have PEZ here. And <b>Crazy Carmen called a woman from the ward at 3:00AM and said she was going to go to Grace Church because there they can expel the demon from he aunts body...its funnier in Portuguese...</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xM_7geTInNdGEa-F3l6DTxefzJtLha9iHcDU-4ihPdf71prvBc4rmr5fNP51RLQs8OcGjedPuFWd08VpFvOQRoom29vpKJ_mQOTz6q3jgFCp_DXCOa4H6VoV9CWxfGu6RTKgnkx5qbdM/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xM_7geTInNdGEa-F3l6DTxefzJtLha9iHcDU-4ihPdf71prvBc4rmr5fNP51RLQs8OcGjedPuFWd08VpFvOQRoom29vpKJ_mQOTz6q3jgFCp_DXCOa4H6VoV9CWxfGu6RTKgnkx5qbdM/s320/085.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Jan 30th ~ </b><br />
First, as always. Question and Answers. <b>Dallin:</b> Yes. I got your email. Thank you! 1) Really, when you get on your mission your fears ARE we're not teaching enough people and all our baptisms dates are falling...but I know what you mean...so. I think I have the most fear of teaching with members. Especially men that are returned missionaries, because I don't feel like a super awesome powerful missionary and I get nervous with them there. But, I just tell myself that I AM the missionary and I HAVE the keys to this area and to teach these people because these investigators can't get baptized without the lessons that we give. Other than that it's really all just a fun adventure. 2) Who are you? I can't believe you're planning a trip that will take you out of the front door! Have fun! <b>Jenna: </b>1) I think we all would've lost it on Kermit if I was there. Awesome. I'm excited to do some with you guys! 2) In Brazil we use the real (hey-al). I think its about 1 dollar to 2 reais. Vitória is more expensive than Vila Velha, but I think a LOT of our food will be with members because I got the hook up here. But I will start charting how much things cost.<b>Bowen: </b>1)<b> </b>I got the movie quotes, I just forgot to write the answers. How's the temple prep coming? 2) I've been thinking about Todd a lot this week. I don't know why. I wrote him a letter but never got one back. If possible, tell him to write me!<br />
Okay. I think that's it...<br />
<br />
Package: I would like the Family Calendar you told me you were sending. And Chelula for our Ward Mission Leader. Other than that? Chocolate? Snackage? My Women at the Well CD. I think that's about it. Surprises!<br />
This week was really good and REALLY REALLY REALLY HOT. I'm so glad I was born in Arizona and I love the heat. We are still woking with Suely. She's still down to 5 cigarettes, but won't come to church! We're also teaching this older man named Moses that I love. He's very simple (aka: not very smart), but its perfect to teach him because he understands the Spirit and when he feels it. Only problem is his daughter doesn't want us teaching him, so we're going to give her a visit and baptize her too. How do you like that?! A man contacted us on the street and said he wants to visit our church and learn about it because of the things he's hearing about Mitt Romney. What's going on over there? Everyone here says Romney is going to win. It made me think of the revelation of Howard W Hunter that said the constitution of the US would hang by a thread and the priesthood holder would bear it up...or something. It would work really well if the President of the US had the Melchizedek Priesthood! Cool beans. In other exciting news I ate feijoada and rabada this week. Feijoada = beans, pig ears, nose, feet, tail. Rabada = cow tail. Delicious! Not really, but not horrible either. It kind of just sits like an angry rock in your stomach afterwards. We ate it at the going away party/dinner of the missionaries going home. It was really cool and really weird. I'm so glad I'm not going home right now. Elder Hall's parents came to get him, so they were there. It was really cool. They visited a bunch of members during the week and now they're in Rio. I also thought a random thing. I am Johnson and my companion is Peterson. Remember that legal group? Peterson Johnson 877 96 LEGAL! Yup. That's us!<br />
<br />
Other than that things are great. I'm happy. Healthy. Doing the Lord's work and learning every day how to be more like Christ. I'm so excited for Dallin to go on a mission and have amazing adventures too! Me and Sister Peterson were discussing something though. We think that in the US. They don't have a lot of people that agree to baptism, but a lot of people that understand the message of the restored gospel. I think here, in Brazil. Everyone accepts the invitation to be baptized, because they all want to follow Christ; but people here don't understand very well the message of the restored gospel. So, that's just a random thought. Teach people, not lessons!<br />
Let me lay it out about this Elder Spencer gossip. :p Me and 5 other Elders came from São Paulo to Vitória at the same time. Elder Spencer was our district leader in São Paulo and he's my district leader here. He's just funny! I don't know what else to say. It's like I came here with 5 brothers and there's only one that I'm allowed to talk to. So...yeah....<br />
Anyways. Thanks for your emails. That thing about Lynlee, ''Why did you throw the brown ladies magazines away?'' Is going in the hymn book of art. I love you guys. You're awesome!</span></span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><br />
</b></div>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-12210197154616611022012-01-12T21:43:00.000-08:002012-01-12T21:43:54.491-08:00Still Catching Up (from Dec.)<div id="yui_3_2_0_1_13264321167014126"><strong>Dec. 19th ~</strong></div><div>SO, Jardim da Penha is about 20 minutes by bus from Itaparica, Vila Velha. It is also on the beach. I´m literally in Vitória, Brasil now. The capital of Espírito Santo. We´re in the same ward as Presidente and Sister Araújo - so all the perks are inculded. Also, surprise. I´m training! Sister Powell is going home today because she messed up her knee and has to get surgery. Its super sad and she´s depressed but she gets to be home for Christmas! So. I´m finishing the training for Sister Peterson. So. The Lord knows I can do way more than I think I can. This area is really hard because there are a lot of buildings and apartments and everyone works. Like mini New York City...Brasil style. </div><div> I don´t have a lot to report on the investigators and teaching end because we´re looking for people to teach and trying to discover where the Lord wants us to work...because now that we´re going to be one trio where theres always been two duplas - we have a BIG area.</div><div> So. I´m going to have the best Christmas ever. Yesterday we had a fireside in our ward with Presidente and afterward he told us we can spend the night at his house Christmas Eve!!!! WHAT?!!! I KNOW!!!!!!!!!! I´m so excited I can´t even email right. And today we get to hang out with Pres and Sister because we´re taking Sis Powell to the airport and she wants to buy some things before she goes home. Me and Presidente are excited for McDonalds...no one else. This is our bond. :D I love Pres and Sister Araújo. They are so funny and just fun and happy people to be around. </div><div> But. This week was awesome. I´ll friggin talk to you guys in less than a week!!!!! I hope I can remember how to speak English. Trying to talk to Sis Peterson is rough! So. I love you. Sorry this email is CRAZY, I´m just so excited and freaking out!!! Thanks for all your emails. Being Senior, I have to email our goals to the Assistants. Thank you. I love you!!!</div><div> </div><div><strong>Dec. 26th ~ </strong></div><div>My Christmas was awesome. Thanks so much for my presents. Hilarious t-shirts. Make up. Candy! Temple Ensign. Pictures of Arizona! Shirts for proselyting. Everything! Thank you, thank you, thank you. But the best present was seeing and talking to you guys! Christmas Eve we had a party with Zone Vitòria at Presidentes house. It super fun and funny. Elders. They are hilarious. Elder Spencer and his companion got everyone joke gifts. The last to open were Presidente and Sister Araùjo. The two biggest rival soccer teams here are Corinthians and São Paulo. So much that when they have games in São Paulo...people kill other people. Anyway. Presidente is Corinthian...Sister is São Paulo. When Sister opened her gift it was a São Paulista journal. She stood up jumping in excitement with all the other Elders that like that team. Presidente jumped up and ran away from her then did motions like he was washing the devil off his body from head to toe, saying, ''Get out! Get out!'' It was super funny. I love my mission mãe and pai. Then, us Sisters got to sleep there and go to church with them. Carmen, the crazy lady was there to greet me (ignoring everyone else because she doesn't like Brazilians). She kept screaming ''the book is on the table'' during Sacrament Meeting and I had to keep giving her PEZ to keep her quiet. So, that was fun. <br />
<br />
Afterward church was when I called you guys! WOO HOO! I didn't cry until grandma Bowen jumped onto the computer and started crying and when I had to close Skype. Thats the weirdest thing ever to have to close down your family. I did not like that at all. But it was so good to see you all and talk to you. You all look awesome. It was super good to see Grandma and Papa Johnson too because I never see them or hear from them. My nieces are all so big and dang cute! Ellee looks/acts like shes kind of an eccentric little kid. Is she? I hope I answered all your questions and it all worked out good. I feel like I didn't talk to mom very much but that's what Mothers Day is for!!! Thanks for being an awesome family and supporting me. There are so many missionaries that don't have the support of their family. I am so blessed and so lucky. Its so good to see the blessings of my family for my labors here.Presidente always tells us: our family is receiving blessings now, but we won't receive our blessings until we get home; and the more we suffer, the more blessings. I think I'm going to get a lot of blessings! <br />
After lunch we went to Presidentes house and hung out. It was so fun. We looked at pictures of their lives and joked. They are so funny and relaxed. Everytime we leave their house me and Sister Vieira always say to Sister Peterson. That NEVER would have happened with President Pickett. I love my mãe and pai!!! And starting this week I get to teach them English...if I remember it?! <br />
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Anything else? Oh! If you want. You don't have to, but Presidente REALLY likes the Jelly Belly Jelly Beans if you ever feel like sending my pai a gift. The same address of the mission that you have. We were all sharing the Jelly Beans and this box had 40 flavors. Even coffee and margarita. Pres grabbed margarita without knowing and threw it in his mouth and I said, ''Presidente! That's Margarita!'' He threw his hand in the air and said, ''Ope. Too late! Too late!'' Smiling, like, there's nothing that can be done. He also told us a story about how he threw up orange chicken in the glove box of his friends car. Sister Araùjo fell onto the couch laughing. So funny these Brazilians!</div>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-71553797507223865442012-01-12T21:33:00.000-08:002012-01-12T21:33:43.200-08:00Catching Up (from December)<div class="msg-body inner undoreset" id="yui_3_2_0_1_13264321167014571"><div id="yiv603636112">Dec. 13th 2011</div><div>Hi Family! <br />
<br />
Nobody panic. We had a different PDay thing yesterday so we´re emailing today. Yesterday we had a Chirstmas Party with the whole Mission and everyone that was transferred (including me) moved yesterday and we get to email today. <br />
<br />
First things first. I´m in Jardim da Penha em Vitória! It´s part of the Presidents area and I´m Senior Companion....I don´t know what Presidente is thinking. And Elder Spencer is my District LEADER!!! :D I will be able to Skype Christmas day but I don´t know what time still because church here is 9am until 12pm....so the time you guys want probably won´t work. But I (almost) promise I will know everything next week.<br />
<br />
So. Yes. I was transferred. My first transfer and I´ve never been so sad in my life. By a miracle President told us Saturday morning so we had time to say goodbye to people. If not I don´t think I would have been able to leave. Saturday we went to the members houses and said goodbye. Cristiano was annoyed that Presidente did this, but trusts the Lord. Him and his wife Ana Paula joked that they won´t make lunch for the Elders and will send them away. Cristiano earlier this week wanted Presidente Araújo´s number and I asked him Saturday if he still wanted it and he said, ´´No. I don´t want it now. I´m annoyed with him.´´ Then we went and told Cristina and Sabrine. We were all so sad that we couldn´t even keep a conversation going. We´d talk and then get sad again. Then we went and told Isabella and Julia. Julia started to cry immediatley...which made me cry and Isabella was sad but understood. She´s going to miss me a lot and I her, but this is a mission...I´m learning...<br />
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Sunday we got to church and Bishop was the first person to greet us. He told us how sad he was and that we were great missionaries and the whole ward would miss us. When Ana Paula announced in Releif Society we were transferred everyone went, ´Awwwwww!´ and I cried through the whole closing song. Then in Sacrament Meeting Carol spoke (my recent convert thats 15 and was soooo nervous...Dallin suck it up and give a talk) and then I got to bare my testimony. Luckily all without crying. Sister Owens spoke too and then Irmão Jerônimo. Then Cristiano, who was conducting, got up and said how great of missionaries their ward was losing but that our church is a church of revelations and we have to trust in the Lord. By the end I was CRYING and some of the members too. After Sacrament it was just a big cry party. We had lunch and they went to say bye to everyone again. I can´t put into words all that happened but just know that I have a BIG family here that love me very much. More than any other missionary. I don´t even know how to say it in English. But I am loved.<br />
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Our last stop was Cristina. Cristiano and the whole Bazilio family was there (my family). We just sat around the table and talked and joked and made fun of everyone (JUST LIKE I do with you guys). Then Cristiano gave me an amazing blessing and I said goodye to my mãe and my irmã and my tio. As I was hugging Cristina (mãe) we were both bawling and when I let go EVERYONE even Cristiano was crying. It was harder to say goodbye to them than to you guys. I think because I prepared myself to say goodbye to you...I didn´t know I´d meet another YOU in Brazil. I love this people.<br />
I´m hoping these feelings will pass. I was crying even yesterday during the Christmas Party off and on...Sister Nicascio kept saying. ´´I know how it is. Cry, my daughter. Cry.´´ And it would make me laugh and cry and Presidente and Sister Araújo kept looking at me like, ´´What are we gonna do with her.´´ Sister Powell said Presidente told her my Bishop even called and told him that we could stay one more transfer. My ward was NOT happy that Presidente did this right before Christmas...but Presidente transfered half the mission. I still call Itaparaica ´´my ward´´ and ´´my area´´ and I think it will always be. :D<br />
The Christmas Party was awesome. Each zone did a skit of a scripture story. It was all SUPER funny...but not if I explained it. So just know that it was funny. And ... it was good ... but I felt lost and sad ... but laughed a lot too. <br />
<br />
So. Back to the world of now. My new companion is Sister Vierra. She is amazing. We are going to work a LOT! She is the only member in her family and her dad died a few months ago. She arrived in the field with me at the same time...I just have more time than her because us Americans stay in the MTC longer. Her mom is very Catholic and she said her mom is commanding her to come home, but she doesn´t want to...I think...but I will learn SO MUCH from her. I have no idea why I´m Senior. But the Lord knows what he´s doing adn I don´t have a single doubt that I´m supposed to be here in this area with Sister Vierra...its just going to be hard to adjust.<br />
But. Onward, I guess. I don´t know if mom and dad are still planning on coming to Brazil to get me at the end of my mission...but if you are I don´t know when you´d have to start doing the Visa stuff and I DEFINITELY have a house for us and everything...in Itaparica. Cristina is already planning everything. So, let me know when you know you know you know.<br />
So. I love you guys a TON! I´m excited to call you and see you in 12 days!!! Oh my gosh! And whatever time I call everyone better be there!!! Once in a life time yo. <br />
<br />
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!<br />
Sister Kelsi Kate Johnson<br />
</div></div>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-74238774705045851962011-12-17T15:05:00.000-08:002011-12-17T15:05:01.263-08:00December<div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>December 5th</b> - Let me first answer Questions: <strong style="font-weight: bold;">1)</strong> I can totally have a Calendar - in fact I really need one - I don´t know why my thing said I can´t so send it on down! Woo hoo! <strong style="font-weight: bold;">2)</strong> The Elders are awesome! In fact, Elder Collins that came to Vitória from my district in São Paulo is in my Zone and he´s training! Thats how awesome he is. And the Elders are SO nice. The first thing they always do is shake our hands and ask how we´re doing. I love Elders! <strong style="font-weight: bold;">3) </strong>Jenna - The Temple...the closest temple to Espírito Santo is in São Paulo about 15 hours away....so no, we don´t get to go to the temple and I am missing it so badly! I think I´ll have to start reading Moses every week. The members here have a caravan a few times a year and they go to the temple together and stay for a day. In fact, I´m learning a lot about the statistic of the Church with temples...our mission Presidents goal is to get a temple in Espírito Santo which means 10 stakes...we have 3....so we´re getting to work. But I didn´t know that the criteria for a temple was 10 stakes. Cool huh? <strong style="font-weight: bold;">4)</strong> Dad - I´ve had 5 baptisms in this area, 3 were a family</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> So.....sounds like we all got sick this week! I had to stay home Wednesday and Thursday and I just slept and slept and slept and read Jesus The Christ. I think it was the flu or a bad cold. But, eh, what´re you gonna do? So that was fun it´s Sister Owens dream to stay home and study and she got to do just that for 2 days. :D Friday and Saturday we just took it really slow because I still wasn´t feeling awesome and discouragement crept in because its awful to stay home for 2 days when you know you have poeple to visit and the gospel to share...but it doesn´t help being out in the rain making it worse.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh yeah, rain. It´s been raining for I think 11 days straight. Its crazy! I have a new umbrella thanks to my mission mom (its from the Elder that went home because he got his leg cut off by a train...thanks Elder Bagley!) so, I´m good now.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1324162229358108" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So. Friday we were walking to one of our appointments and passed by one of the thousands of churches *cough* (apostasies) that exist here. You know, walking normal and all of a sudden I hear ´Raaah!´ and bird swooped down and attacked my head! I squatted down at about 103.7 miles per hour and screamed. Just thinking and writing about it now I feel all, ´Uggghh´ Apparently this bird had a nest near by. So what did we do? Naturally, as missionaries, we stopped, grabbed Sister Owen´s camera and she did the same thing so we could film it. :D</span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1324162229358108" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxz08akrPzLwuaAEmaClbSeScZBCWTNrxg_J7SCkFsNQwalN7GV-Aye--KllysH4FD9UO1morFJE0jqiI9oxw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Saturday we were bummed out because one of the first things we saw leaving the house was Geter (our recent convert) smoking in his car. :( When I say bummed I mean depressed, thinking about it makes me sick, and it was hard to want to work seeing the fruits of your labors on fire....Satan is friggin good at what he does and I don´t like him one bit!</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> But! Sunday testimony meetings in Itaparica Ward were amazing and we had a Stake Fireside about Missionary Work that was REALLY GOOD! And I got to see Elder Collins...so the Lord ALWAYS sends His angles when we need them!!!</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for your love, prayers and support! I´m praying so hard that I WILL NOT get transferred for Christmas. I guess I better learn more about humility. But I will know <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1324162241_0">next Monday</span> about transfers and email you then!!!</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It´s SO GREAT to hear that you´re all doing awesome. My week just got SO SO SO much better. I love you all so so so much! Thanks for all your love, support, emails, pictures, prayers, thoughts and for being MY FAMILY!!!</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>From Tues Dec. 13th</b> (Kelsi emails on her P-Days which is usually Mondays)</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">Hi Family!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">Nobody panic. We had a different PDay thing yesterday so we´re emailing today. Yesterday we had a Chirstmas Party with the whole Mission and everyone that was transferred (including me) moved yesterday and we get to email today.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">First things first. I´m in Jardim da Penha em Vitória! It´s part of the Presidents area and I´m Senior Companion....I don´t know what Presidente is thinking. And Elder Spencer is my District LEADER!!! :D I will be able to Skype Christmas day but I don´t know what time still because church here is 9am until 12pm....so the time you guys want probably won´t work. But I (almost) promise I will know everything next week.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">So. Yes. I was transferred. My first transfer and I´ve never been so sad in my life. By a miracle President told us Saturday morning so we had time to say goodbye to people. If not I don´t think I would have been able to leave. Saturday we went to the members houses and said goodbye. Cristiano was annoyed that Presidente did this, but trusts the Lord. Him and his wife Ana Paula joked that they won´t make lunch for the Elders and will send them away. Cristiano earlier this week wanted Presidente Araújo´s number and I asked him Saturday if he still wanted it and he said, ´´No. I don´t want it now. I´m annoyed with him.´´ Then we went and told Cristina and Sabrine. We were all so sad that we couldn´t even keep a conversation going. We´d talk and then get sad again. Then we went and told Isabella and Julia. Julia started to cry immediatley...which made me cry and Isabella was sad but understood. She´s going to miss me a lot and I her, but this is a mission...I´m learning...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">Sunday we got to church and Bishop was the first person to greet us. He told us how sad he was and that we were great missionaries and the whole ward would miss us. When Ana Paula announced in Releif Society we were transferred everyone went, ´Awwwwww!´ and I cried through the whole closing song. Then in Sacrament Meeting Carol spoke (my recent convert thats 15 and was soooo nervous...Dallin suck it up and give a talk) and then I got to bare my testimony. Luckily all without crying. Sister Owens spoke too and then Irmão Jerônimo. Then Cristiano, who was conducting, got up and said how great of missionaries their ward was losing but that our church is a church of revelations and we have to trust in the Lord. By the end I was CRYING and some of the members too. After Sacrament it was just a big cry party. We had lunch and they went to say bye to everyone again. I can´t put into words all that happened but just know that I have a BIG family here that love me very much. More than any other missionary. I don´t even know how to say it in English. But I am loved.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">Our last stop was Cristina. Cristiano and the whole Bazilio family was there (my family). We just sat around the table and talked and joked and made fun of everyone (JUST LIKE I do with you guys). Then Cristiano gave me an amazing blessing and I said goodye to my mãe and my irmã and my tio. As I was hugging Cristina (mãe) we were both bawling and when I let go EVERYONE even Cristiano was crying. It was harder to say goodbye to them than to you guys. I think because I prepared myself to say goodbye to you...I didn´t know I´d meet another YOU in Brazil. I love this people.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">I´m hoping these feelings will pass. I was crying even yesterday during the Christmas Party off and on...Sister Nicascio kept saying. ´´I know how it is. Cry, my daughter. Cry.´´ And it would make me laugh and cry and Presidente and Sister Araújo kept looking at me like, ´´What are we gonna do with her.´´ Sister Powell said Presidente told her my Bishop even called and told him that we could stay one more transfer. My ward was NOT happy that Presidente did this right before Christmas...but Presidente transfered half the mission. I still call Itaparaica ´´my ward´´ and ´´my area´´ and I think it will always be. :D</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">The Christmas Party was awesome. Each zone did a skit of a scripture story. It was all SUPER funny...but not if I explained it. So just know that it was funny. And ... it was good ... but I felt lost and sad ... but laughed a lot too.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">So. Back to the world of now. My new companion is Sister Vierra. She is amazing. We are going to work a LOT! She is the only member in her family and her dad died a few months ago. She arrived in the field with me at the same time...I just have more time than her because us Americans stay in the MTC longer. Her mom is very Catholic and she said her mom is commanding her to come home, but she doesn´t want to...I think...but I will learn SO MUCH from her. I have no idea why I´m Senior. But the Lord knows what he´s doing adn I don´t have a single doubt that I´m supposed to be here in this area with Sister Vierra...its just going to be hard to adjust.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">But. Onward, I guess. I don´t know if mom and dad are still planning on coming to Brazil to get me at the end of my mission...but if you are I don´t know when you´d have to start doing the Visa stuff and I DEFINITELY have a house for us and everything...in Itaparica. Cristina is already planning everything. So, let me know when you know you know you know.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">So. I love you guys a TON! I´m excited to call you and see you in 12 days!!! Oh my gosh! And whatever time I call everyone better be there!!! Once in a life time yo.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;">Sister Kelsi Kate Johnson</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><br />
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<div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">P.S. Now send my package. :p</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-34911699111832565782011-12-17T14:28:00.000-08:002011-12-17T14:28:04.283-08:00Fotografias !!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7QE57VAYx629S7NnTglOsU3mB4HgYId2SbkguyaMFM_SOuywFhPdb3B6awV_b8XVaKM6X3xwah5NP-WV3JVR0So1jOak343ADPdmBmPOGX4ow9PTlLthuW2W2R2cJ3jvWzif2QL_CXmA/s1600/380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7QE57VAYx629S7NnTglOsU3mB4HgYId2SbkguyaMFM_SOuywFhPdb3B6awV_b8XVaKM6X3xwah5NP-WV3JVR0So1jOak343ADPdmBmPOGX4ow9PTlLthuW2W2R2cJ3jvWzif2QL_CXmA/s320/380.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's Summer here - Volleyball for P-Day. And yes, everyone wears Speedo's!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rfoeFuXiK4zhkAIzEBpqsnydDBjlCDnSMMV9J3tLTlHJQVIv5fT5gjCzu3ZQw7cHkL9Al9_Qhy-BMH5MXY8x7oTQ4dSq3UzSRtSDoFr9NyOufGQ32hIBUEK0zyNkbf_FFWAl0eAN6jld/s1600/363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rfoeFuXiK4zhkAIzEBpqsnydDBjlCDnSMMV9J3tLTlHJQVIv5fT5gjCzu3ZQw7cHkL9Al9_Qhy-BMH5MXY8x7oTQ4dSq3UzSRtSDoFr9NyOufGQ32hIBUEK0zyNkbf_FFWAl0eAN6jld/s200/363.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimufuWjmVIkvEhuRU87eeg9Vm_Sb4jOmqNLstQ6ubQWvZYuOwonG-li8sJHUdXDuD2-oB4W13Ykj6tGaZTfEgXJcqypbpmtvNmLPJ_zJ2FfwCPkCKn3-Av9ah4gATc3gon7J6-rB4udn9w/s1600/383-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimufuWjmVIkvEhuRU87eeg9Vm_Sb4jOmqNLstQ6ubQWvZYuOwonG-li8sJHUdXDuD2-oB4W13Ykj6tGaZTfEgXJcqypbpmtvNmLPJ_zJ2FfwCPkCKn3-Av9ah4gATc3gon7J6-rB4udn9w/s200/383-1.JPG" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gqXbbM9L9SlIR6njlXehSqoWoA3crCUI76kbVN874hdQcd7o-1fOmoAiDqLMBVcB3z6FlUKtFC1tf4SgQVNwjBO2wuepKlWMlq5wUrsOXz09AerNHD2aLT-qQ4XeuPMmDQ8_iDLMpSV6/s1600/364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gqXbbM9L9SlIR6njlXehSqoWoA3crCUI76kbVN874hdQcd7o-1fOmoAiDqLMBVcB3z6FlUKtFC1tf4SgQVNwjBO2wuepKlWMlq5wUrsOXz09AerNHD2aLT-qQ4XeuPMmDQ8_iDLMpSV6/s200/364.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
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Some of the scary things.... The creepy doll and a GIANT Moth!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALtMAySb7VQ6iFcxMd1DviRTUIxkYCVmUv2vwk0xbKsjPjaTIsXc69BkRU-w04-gwDOKfZsqVDlWzKNLvGAn1ni7CyLD0RKmCHV9OCD1clWorAQwhBlcKhzn038AM0WuvAhR0PoT366Xs/s1600/366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALtMAySb7VQ6iFcxMd1DviRTUIxkYCVmUv2vwk0xbKsjPjaTIsXc69BkRU-w04-gwDOKfZsqVDlWzKNLvGAn1ni7CyLD0RKmCHV9OCD1clWorAQwhBlcKhzn038AM0WuvAhR0PoT366Xs/s320/366.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">My Christmas Decorations</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">And the Thanksgiving that my Brazilian Family made.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-86567068412503791562011-12-14T00:30:00.000-08:002011-12-14T00:30:38.380-08:00End of November<div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hi Family,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I´m so glad to hear you´re all alive! I told Sister Owens last week that no one emailed me and I said, ´They better all be dead.´ But I didn´t mean it and I´m glad you´re all alive and well! Thanksgiving sounded fun, fight with Grandma Johnson included. Good to hear all the same things are still happening. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me answer some of your questions. Bowen: 1) Yes, I speak Português. I´m still learning every day, but if you left me on my own I´d be fine. Miracle huh?! 2) gangs...theres gangs and a lot of violence here but its only happens to people who are involved. Its funny you asked because a lot of people have been telling us to be careful because a man and a woman were killed right by our apartment...but they were drinking at <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1323850972_0">8am</span> (which sadly isn´t too uncommon) and were involved in some drug deal. Plus I´ve got the Lord and if I die...its straight to the Celestial Kingdom baby! 3) No, we don´t have sacrament bread...we have to use Doritos...yes, we have sacrament bread and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1323850972_1">every Sunday</span> its different, but its not like the sliced bread its more like sub sandwich bread...I don´t know how to describe it...but it renews my covenants! 4) part of my mission is part of the State of Rio but not the city. But my Brazilian family is from Rio and when I come back to visit we´re having a party down there! You´d love this family because its OUR family...complete with a grandma johnson. Jenna: 1) I don´t get really homesick to where I cry or am sad...just when I talk about one of you guys or something funny we do I just say, ´Que saudades!´ Which basically means I miss them. So far so good with homesickness. But I do love you and miss you and sometimes wish I could see what you´re seeing with the girls and HD and all. 2) If you want to Google Earth or whatever you´re doing I think you´d have to look up Vila Velha and I´m in the area of Santa Monica, Araças, Jockey, Coqueiral (where I live)...around there.... :D</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So, Thanksgiving they don´t have. But we were lucky enough to have lunch with my Brazilian Family and she made a chicken...like a turkey and went all out. It was perfect. And we stayed there and ate a little longer than we should have so that was my Thanksgiving present. :D I told Sister Owens the other day that I´m getting to know this area so well that I feel like George Costanza...I know where all the good and bad bathrooms are here. But, I´m still praying I stay for the Christmas transfer.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mom: Set up Skype because I think whatever area I´m in I can Skype...but I won´t be able to plan the time until <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1323850972_2">Dec. 12th</span> and I know if I´m staying or going. And if you´re sending a package I just need Clean and Clear benzoyl peroxide. I´m emailing a picture so you know which one to buy. Thanks!!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week I´ve never walked through so much rain in my life. The streets are RIVERS here! I think I´m getting a little cold because of it too. For the most part Sister Owens and I just laugh at how drenched we get...its better than the heat...that I know is coming! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> My elect family is doing great. Geter is the new teacher in Priesthood and Sunday he gave a lesson on the Millenium - his first time! I know right?! Julia, their daughter, gave her first talk in church too! Tonight we´re having Family Night with them. Woo hoo! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Our other elect family isn´t so elect anymore. We kept trying to visit them but they were never home and when they were home, she´d send her daughter out to say she wasn´t home. So....Friday we called and she said we could pass by <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1323850972_3">8pm</span>. So, we grabbed Isabella and went to her house 8pm.....yeah.....she moved. There wasn´t a single thing left in her house. First thing Sister Owens said was, ´I think she forgot to give us her new address...´ Hahaha. I think so! Hopefully the missionaries will find her in her new home.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So, other than that we´re still searching for the people prepared by the Lord to hear and accept the gospel. All this searching and teaching and no results is teaching me to be more bold and testify better. I think being bold is my mission goal, but still be polite and proper...but I think I´m starting to firgure it out. We were teaching a lesson the other day and the man asked what we think of other religions. I said all other religions try to teach good things and from the Bible but they´re lacking all of the truth, which leaves them teaches wrong things and through the restoration we have all the truth again. I think he understands better than a lot of people our message because the people of Brazil are very simple and many aren´t very educated that we have to teach at their level. So, teaching according to the needs of our investigators is priority and I´m learning every day!</span></div>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-29339715066219870822011-12-14T00:24:00.001-08:002011-12-14T00:24:44.717-08:00True life Mason! Nov. 14th<div id="yiv546614235"><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hi family,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I guess I´ll still email you guys today...even though the only person to email me was my sweet grandma Bowen. (I hope nothing horrible happened or I´ll feel really bad). Anyways. I still love you all...for now. ;)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So, this week was adventurous. I think my new favorite thing to do is find people to teach. We came across a lot of crazies this week and a lot of good people to teach as well, but the crazies seem to always stick out more.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We went to the police station to return an ID Card we found on the street and ended up talking to a cop in the office for 2 hours. His name is Luis Manuel de Vilaça. He sang us gospel songs and told us how much he loved his kids and wants to meet a good woman of the gospel. When he started to sing, he told us he wasn´t embarassed and just belted it...he actually sang really well, but it was hard not to laugh at the whole situation. So...that was fun.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> DAD! I have the best story for you! I know a Mason! I true life Mason. He´s in our Ward. His name is Dimas. We had lunch at their house Saturday and it was the best lunch conversation I´ve ever had. Dimas and Ivone are so funny and so cool. They are a couple in our ward, I think they´re in their mid fifties. As we were eating and cracking up because I asked Dimas if he wanted to be the President of a Mission and he said, `No. I want to be Presidente of the Church´ And then he began to tell us his ideas..´if I were President of the Church...´ Super funny. Then his wife, Ivone said, ´Did you know we´re not sealed in the temple? And its not because we haven´t had the chance. Dimas doesn´t want to get sealed.` All of us laughing, I told him if they´re not sealed he can´t be a God one day, he´ll just be an angel and Dimas replied, ´An angel REALLY cool.` Hahaah. We were laughing so hard. Then Ivone began to tell us about a wedding they went to that was a Mason wedding and Dimas was dressed in his Mason clothes (don´t know what those are) and had a sword and Ivone just laughed and laughed the whole reception. She said she knows all the Mason secrets because Dimas talks in his sleep and answers her questions. How hilarious is that!?! Surreal?! I told Dimas my dad loves studying about the Free Masons and our forefathers and Dimas thinks dad is a Mason now. But he told us a few things about them. He said all the things we´ve heard about Masons and the Church is true. And that they only do good things. And a lot of their ceremonies are a lot like the temple. But the whole not wanting to be sealed thing is just Dimas. Ivone said when he dies she´s just going to get sealed to someone else and lock him out of the Celestial Kingdom. I LOVE THESE PEOPLE. So...I know a Mason.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We found a few great families we´re teaching and praying that they are the elect of the Lord. A few of our progressing investigators have dengue...so that´s putting things off course...dang dengue! I guess now is the season of dengue. Fun, fun. But, we´re just working hard and trying to follow every whispering of the Spirit. Super simple things like, knock here. Talk to them. And it seems to be working. I love being this close to the Spirit! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Other than that life is good. It was cool and rainy this week. My umbrella broke so Saturday I got drenched, but Presidente and Sister Araújo had an extra they gave me of an Elder that left it. Miracles happen!!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Today our Zone is Hiking Morro do Moreno (Hill of the Brown Man, I think?) Hopefully its worth it. I just wanted to sleep at home, but Sister Owens wants to go....so, I´m learning every day how to be a better wife and mother. Good thing. I think I really needed it! Love you Guys!</span></div></div>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-2636990414761862652011-12-14T00:21:00.001-08:002011-12-14T00:21:59.406-08:00November 7, 2011<div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Helllooo everyone!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I realize that a new baby was born but you can still send a quick email! Haha. Just kidding. I got the picture that Jenna sent me of baby Hayven. He looks like Bowen...I think. So cute. I can´t believe I have a nephew!!! Woo hoo! I´m so glad that Lynlee still remembers and loves me ... it makes an aunt happy. I also got a letter from Tommy and his family. It is so good to hear about them. I KNOW Bridon and Talon are GROWING...grandma sent me a picture back in September and it was ridiculous! It´ll be crazy when I get back. Its funny to hear about the cold there...what is cold? Haha. These past few days haven´t been too bad it was pretty cool and windy but I know the heat is coming. Its gonna be weird to have a hot Christmas - but hey, whatcha gonna do! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> This week was SUPER SLOW and we were super discouraged, just walking all day, knocking doors, no one wanting to talk to us...NO ONE! But, we fasted Saturday to Sunday and I know this week we´re going to meet the Lord´s elect! I KNOW IT! The Lord sees our efforts even when they bring no fruits. I love Sundays on a mission, they are the best thing ever. Especially when you´re fasting. Taking the Sacrament is really like being re-baptized. I also bore my testimony in my new ´Home Ward´. They´re all so excited I stayed again and me too! And with Sister Owens! Its the best thing EVER!!! We have so much fun preaching the gospel together! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> We´re teaching a few great people. We still have the elect family of Adriana and her son Igor (15) and daughter Dayane (8). We stopped by the other day and Adriana wasn´t there and we were just going to leave and come back another day, but Igor said, ´You guys don´t want to come in and pray?` SO CUTE. So, obviously, we went in and taught him and Dayane about when Jesus visited the Americas and blessed the children. We´re also teaching the husband of a member and he´s preparing to be baptized. It is going to be really hard for him because he smokes, drinks a lot and never really learned anything about religion so we´re taking it really slow with him. But him and his family are so special, I´ve never felt so much love that I wanted something so much for someone as I do this family. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> Sister Owens and I also had a very special day with Carol...she was a 14 year old girl that got baptized two transfers ago. She did visits with us for a whole day and we learned so much about her. She bore her testimony in one lesson about how terrible her life was before the gospel. And it really was terrible. Her cousin that she lives with is horrible to her and Carol said she didn´t want to live anymore, that her life didn´t have purpose...and then she said we knocked on her door and taught her about the gospel and she started going to church and she was happy and she had friends and a new mom and it changed everything. Well, the end of that lesson EVERYONE was crying...including the investigator. It made me realized even more why I´m here and what a sacred work I am involved in. I wouldn´t trade it for ANYTHING...even the hard times.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> So, I got my Christmas package!!!! Thank you so so so so so much! We put up all of our decorations and I didn´t open a single present and I won´t until Christmas day! Are you guys setting up Skype so I can talk to you? I hope so! I´m so excited for Christmas in BRAZIL!!! Woo hoo! Thank you for my cards, the pictures (that are now always with me in my Português Livro de Mórmon), the presents, candy, PEANUT BUTTER, love and everything that you sent! A package means so much to a missionary! I LOVE YOU GUYS! </span></div><div> </div>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-90228146862189729402011-12-14T00:18:00.000-08:002011-12-14T00:18:59.665-08:00Feliz Dia das Bruxas! 10/31<div id="yui_3_2_0_1_13238504775831970"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Oi Família!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So, let me start off by trying to answer your questions. Yes, they technically have ´Halloween´ here and its called Dia das Bruxas (Day of the Witches) way cooler title than Halloween I think....but no one does anything. I think its just a thing they adopted because its such a big deal in The States. Answer to some of grandmas questions - they have McDonalds here but not as many as we have and its really expensive. A Big Mac Meal is like $12 or R$20 they also have a place called Bobs thats fast food, but its also expensive. We eat with members every single day and I´m not sure if its being a missionary or being a missionary in Brazil, but I think they think we are starving because they just force the food down us every day at lunch. I will eat to the point where you´re eating and throwing up at the same time and the members will still say, `You didn´t eat anything. Did you not like it? Do you want me to fry you an egg?´ I don´t know why they think we will eat more than them. Its really funny. We don´t really COOK that much because I will not use a gas powered stove - I´m too scared - and we don´t have very much time. I usually just snack on crackers and yogurt and the amazing fruits they have here that we don´t have in The States. Hope that answers your questions!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Yes, I got the photos of Lynlee and Ellee. SO cute!!! Love the spaghetti. I can´t believe how big they are getting! I only have one picture of Liv that grandma Bowen took in our pool. I printed it and put it in my Hymn Book of Art along with some of Lynlee and Ellee. I can´t believe I have a nephew coming!!! Woo hoo!!! Tell me how everything goes and send PICTURES for goodness sakes!!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Mom, you sound like you are being a perfect missionary with your friend KB at work and she sounds awesome. I think the only next thing is to go with the Missionaries to her house!!!! I love visits with members. Its so much better. I´m glad to hear you and Dallin are studying together and I hope he gets his Patriarchal Blessing soon. That would help so much. It is really essential for a mission...I´m learning. Sister Nicascio is so funny. She is in the tribe Manasses and she keeps telling me she wants to be in the tribe of King Benjamin because she loves him from the Book of Mormon. I keep telling her they´re different people - but, what can you do. She is so hilarious. I love being with a person who only has 2 years in the church. We´ve learned so much together!!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So it is HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT here. I can´t even describe it and it was only 32 degrees Celsius yesterday...its only the beginning. Blech. But even at night it started to rain and we were walking to a members house it seemed even hotter. It reminded me of dad. Every morning when he used to take me to school on his way to work and it was cloudy and rainy he said, ´I loved days like this on my mission because the clouds keep the warmth in the air.´ Well, I don´t love days like that on my mission. :D Haha. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So, transfers are tomorrow and I´m staying again! I don´t know how I feel because I think, definitely I will be transfered next time which is right before Christmas...but what´re you gonna do? Follow the Spirit! Sister Owens is staying too and Sister Nicascio got transfered. Another 6 weeks of adapting, teaching and learning from new experiences. Wahoo! Missions are so weird. But AMAZING.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So, the crowning moment! Geter got baptized! Family complete! At the end he thanked me for being persistent. Haha. Bishop said they could go through the temple in one year...I´ll be just finishing my mission. How perfect! I can just see him baptizing his son in two years and going through the temple and being sealed to his family FOREVER! I love this work that I have the priviledge of being involved in. I´m growing and learning so much...even when I don´t know it. I passed my 6 month anniversary this week...one more year focused only on the work of the Lord! I better take advantage.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">This week was full of trials and challenges, more than the other weeks if you can believe it...but it sufficeth me to say to you that you don´t need to worry about me because I KNOW that I have angels watching over me and taking care of me. Its undescribable the miracles that happen when you are an instrument in the Lord´s hands. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I hope everyone is doing good and excited for Christmas! I am! We have a phrase here to have a White Christmas...people dressed in white to get baptized! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Thanks AGAIN for all your love, support and your prayers. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!!!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Sister Kelsi Kate Johnson</span></div>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-68166174050539617082011-10-23T19:04:00.000-07:002011-10-23T19:04:53.576-07:00What the ???? !!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5OM1b4iziysJWNIoBPn0R2blNjbn56QkGrJhBV_01vb3OHm_OKiuzfJVEXCZCwB4k3C8exN1hJbPf5JWuXafmToELvrPBToSHzawYgzHOR5DoJNlHBs-3lMJfN2b-xoJ82rVK2oji7I2/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5OM1b4iziysJWNIoBPn0R2blNjbn56QkGrJhBV_01vb3OHm_OKiuzfJVEXCZCwB4k3C8exN1hJbPf5JWuXafmToELvrPBToSHzawYgzHOR5DoJNlHBs-3lMJfN2b-xoJ82rVK2oji7I2/s320/035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Birthday to Me!!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ10FgSX0EqxTMq3q2b9D7vlGI_2-Udv-4mJ7KPK9G1m38tHiJBCLxxl9Li3TTFJ7ooaOaubCdW7SxD5G0_zcDjxBOCllQvlQUTHCXd091dCwDw4J51e2FCU3BE-PC1t2Ehf7b8n7WyVGq/s1600/kkj+001_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ10FgSX0EqxTMq3q2b9D7vlGI_2-Udv-4mJ7KPK9G1m38tHiJBCLxxl9Li3TTFJ7ooaOaubCdW7SxD5G0_zcDjxBOCllQvlQUTHCXd091dCwDw4J51e2FCU3BE-PC1t2Ehf7b8n7WyVGq/s320/kkj+001_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbC-op8KpN6lu3Z8r6i05gCAfCJRXjwZuYP6boQI0o4VHNIZt5Xz5iazRevuUhE46X77coBk8M3870EfzKK7jpOfb1qcYxk6kB9SmXFfcWiF11BqUAiLKBv4he6p1aamYLQaXqrAAUL3j/s1600/kkj+005_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbC-op8KpN6lu3Z8r6i05gCAfCJRXjwZuYP6boQI0o4VHNIZt5Xz5iazRevuUhE46X77coBk8M3870EfzKK7jpOfb1qcYxk6kB9SmXFfcWiF11BqUAiLKBv4he6p1aamYLQaXqrAAUL3j/s320/kkj+005_3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a Super P Day and got to watch RIO!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Thanks for all of your emails! They were all really great to get! I printed out the good stuff and I´ll be putting it in my hymn book of art!!! Love the pictures Jenna, the girls are getting so darn cute and all the stories I hear about them are hilarious! I need to hear more about this personality that Ellee has!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Mom, so my package. The only other things I can think of is a journal, peanut butter and I need pictures of Arizona...especially if you can find the ones of us at Fossil Springs on the computer. People always ask me what</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1319420102_0">Arizona</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">is like and all I can say is hot. I got nothing. :D My hand is fine. Sister Owens makes fun of me and says I have leprousy...but its all good. For Christmas when I call, I don´t know anything. All I know is we go to a members house and I guess you guys call me...but last year Sister Owens Skyp´d her family...which would be cool...but when I know, you´ll know. :D</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">This week was kind of slow. We´re still working with all of our investigators. Adriana is still elect and we´re going to start teaching her kids too. I love how perfect the gospel is and how it applies to everyone because its the gospel of the Lord! I´ve been learning a lot about the Children of Isreal, strangely enough, mainly because the Patriarch is in our Ward and he´s obsessed with</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1319420102_1">Israel</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">. If we have a lesson about charity, he teaches about Israel, if we have a lesson about honesty, he teaches about Israel...this week was special because the lesson was on...I don´t know how to say it in English...the reuniting of Israel? Coligação in Português. So this morning I read about Moses and the Children of Israel. Its so cool to learn about the deeper principles of the gospel...especially because we teach so simply every day. Sometimes its just nice to read Jesus The Christ and go deep. :D Patriarch Wilson says, The greatest proof that God lives is: ISRAEL! Hahahaha. Anyways....</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Me and Sister Nicáscio got into a huge fight...I hit the wall a few times...I think I have a bit of Bowen in me...but being servants of the Lord we repented and forgave each other the next day. I decided what my problem is. I´ve discovered how important my mission is and how much it means to me, it´s really sacred to me and to see her just pack her bags and want to leave (because she did it again) makes me so sad, to just give up...but I figured it out, its her way to throw a fit (she packs her bags, I punched a wall). This might not be very missionary like to write home about but I´m trying to be real. But seriously. All is well now and I KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that I am learning how to have a better marriage and better family with this companionship. I´m learning more about patience and humility than I could ever learn another way.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Something funny, that´s also not very missionary like, but it brightens up my day sometimes is Sister Nicáscio learned how to say, ´What the hell´ from an investigator that heard it in a song. We told her what it meant and she knows its not good, but she likes to say it and its always at the perfect time. Like when Sister Owens walks way ahead of us she´ll say ´Sister Owens. What the hell?´ Its terrible, but really funny.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Okay, sorry, enough of that. Everything is going good so far. I´m healthy, wealthy and wise and learning so much. I literally would not trade my mission for ANYTHING!!!! Everything people have said about missions I´m starting to understand. Its so true. The Best Two Years....but that doesn´t even begin to describe it!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Thanks Carolee for writing me too! Its good to hear about your family. Bailee is dating? I can´t believe it!! She better not be married before I get home....we´ll see! Talon will find something he likes to do..I still don´t know what I like to do..besides preach the gospel of course!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Dalls, get my email right! I need to hear from you too! Keep going to mission prep, even though you feel like the outcast. I felt like the outcast too. I went for a year and was the only girl, ever. Talk about outcast, always talking about Elders and the priesthood! Hahaha. No, but you´ll learn a lot! I was bummed that they didn´t put that new teacher in sooner!!! Cheer up</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1319420102_2">Dals</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">. 3 years isn´t that bad...especially when you´re on your mission. You won´t even be thinking about it...you´ll be way too busy! Just work on becoming a better you/future missionary every day! I love you and I miss you, but we´ve got a work to do!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Thanks everyone for your love and support! You will never know how much it means to me! (unless you served a mission...then maybe).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Sister Kelsi Kate Johnson</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">P.S. for Lynlee: Love you. Love you more. You do. I do. Woohoo!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">P.S.S. JENNA. In those pictures I got in my package...what is the one with Lynlee on the elephant crying and Jared sleeping or something...I need to hear this story!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">LOVE YOU!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Desk vs...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDT0Fv3y1CXuBqHxwSSDZ1wRvmmWwYrZPPt_jekY0WNFY9XKt1yT3UeTK9VkuGMYScB506My1Q01FYgafJLzSZa3QwUKr6zYV799XKAYBCq1lppKmbpy9dt-ZUCL0_fR4rYYSCgKMjW_9/s1600/kkj+009_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDT0Fv3y1CXuBqHxwSSDZ1wRvmmWwYrZPPt_jekY0WNFY9XKt1yT3UeTK9VkuGMYScB506My1Q01FYgafJLzSZa3QwUKr6zYV799XKAYBCq1lppKmbpy9dt-ZUCL0_fR4rYYSCgKMjW_9/s320/kkj+009_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My companions desk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-24408131764846014952011-10-23T18:47:00.000-07:002011-10-23T18:47:30.262-07:00October 10, 2011 with Pictures!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnY8vn-_w3F7aCDd9Tx_TR1aMeLNLLu7j9E7SI92z4uPA2-AvUi_Voc0VPXpe6bheVzobqPnk4yTawOtKcvHYz3LV1twAmAOUBvl_2tPfRQn6Q39Zhw6zSHLegno9q7B06rmVW-CmOlSTS/s1600/KKJ2+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnY8vn-_w3F7aCDd9Tx_TR1aMeLNLLu7j9E7SI92z4uPA2-AvUi_Voc0VPXpe6bheVzobqPnk4yTawOtKcvHYz3LV1twAmAOUBvl_2tPfRQn6Q39Zhw6zSHLegno9q7B06rmVW-CmOlSTS/s200/KKJ2+001.jpg" width="200" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwrZ-ol0yQdelY20eExS9_dMvuWPpQH86OnfmfjuZNqz9LLVyKRotC4uvDW4WyJ8DX7nr_8FXaI90PrPZ80YvecfwB4kWs7vPFOtFLKc6HJc9OnKtyHVVqBnPYvemzg6DiAJ7kVWkR3HZ/s1600/KKJ3+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwrZ-ol0yQdelY20eExS9_dMvuWPpQH86OnfmfjuZNqz9LLVyKRotC4uvDW4WyJ8DX7nr_8FXaI90PrPZ80YvecfwB4kWs7vPFOtFLKc6HJc9OnKtyHVVqBnPYvemzg6DiAJ7kVWkR3HZ/s200/KKJ3+011.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Hi Family!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">It was so good to get all your emails this week! Especially Bowen´s! It´s so good to hear from you, even though I know you are busy getting ready to have another baby!!! Woo hoo! I like Hayden Mac or is it Hayven Mac...either way...I like Mac better. But if its Heyven Dallin it would be HD and that is also Harley Davidson...soooo hmmmm. :D Holy crap. I can´t believe it about Layla, that is terrible! And yes, Jenna, I saw a newspaper about Steve Jobs. Its weird when I see stuff like that in passing and realize how detatched I am from the world. A member of our ward told me yesterday that a bunch of gays protested outside of BYU - what horror! Its funny in</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1319419329_0">Brazil</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">when you talk about the goings on of the world every one just says, ´Jesus is coming´. I love it!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">So. This week. We got a reference from a member of the most elect woman I´ve ever met. Her name is Adriana. She has a son thats 15 and a daughter that´s 8. We taught her Saturday and she accepted being baptized the 29th of this month. She came to church Sunday. Loved it (even with the class being about the Gathering of Israel). We taught her about the BofM Sunday and she´s already begging to feed us lunch. We told her that if a members lunch ever fell through we´d call her. She´s super excited and super awesome. My testimony of references is growing. We spent about 3 days knocking doors this week, in the hot sun, and NO ONE wanted to hear our message. But one reference, from one memeber and we have a baptism! Give references to the missionaries!!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">It rained about 4 days out of 7 last week. It was really great, and cool, because summer is coming and its getting HOT! But I fell twice. First time was just funny. Second time, I caught myself with my hand and I have some weird blister infection...but its getting better! No worries!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Its funny. You know how you have some days when you just can´t talk? It happens the same with me in Português. I was talking to a lady on the street the other day about our message of the restored gospel and she said, ´He´s the only way.` - - - pause - - - com in Português means with, we have two saying here. ´Com liçensa´ is like ´excuse me´ and ´Com certesa´ is like ´exactly´ or ´of course´ - - - I meant to say ´Com certesa´ but instead I said ´com liçensa´. Sister Owens and Sister Nicàscio were a little ways away cracking up as I tried to finish my contact without laughing. So funny. But, my Português is improving every day. I had a lady the other day that thought I was from</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1319419329_1">Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">! Always a confidence boost!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I´m having a great time here this transfer. We´re learing to have fun and be joyful as we work hard! I love it! So many funny experiences and so many miracles too. Its amazing to see as a missionary how fast and easily our prayers are answered. Especially with lunch. It seems like every day I pray for something to eat...our members made it! Heavenly Father wants his missionaries fed good! But with summer coming I´ll have to eat less so I can walk in the sun and function. But its going to be awesome!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Thanks for your emails and your love and your prayers! I love you all so so so so much! You´re the best family ever. Isabella bore her testimony yesterday that she has the best family ever and I wanted to get up and say, Correction. I have the best family ever...but I figured it would ruin the Spirit.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Thanks everyone! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Sister Kelsi Kate Johnson</span><br />
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</span></span>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-19942649311753947622011-10-23T18:33:00.000-07:002011-10-23T18:33:36.118-07:00October 3rd, 2011<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Hello everyone! How are you?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">(side note, the s and the e on the computer are not really working so if I miss a letter its one of those) :)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">First, Conference was amazing right?! Yes, I got to watch all of the sessions and all in Português - it was so good. A lot about families and the Atonement and really, those are the to central points of this gospel. Families Forever and The Atonement. Did Jeffrey R Holland talk during Priesthood because I didn´t see him during the other sessions - sad, but all of them are great! What happened to Robert D Hales, it looks like him and Richard G Scott traded places. I love the spiritually fulfilling experience that conference is!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">So, this week was a lot like last week. Lots of ups and downs, but thanks to my Heavenly Father I have a new perspective attitude and I´m doing my best through the hard times and I know I will be a better wife, daughter, sister, aunt and mom because of it!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I carry a picture of my family in my scriptures and when we eat with members or teach invetigators sometimes they want to see my family, so I always have it. 3 times now, women have called dad ´´gatão´´ or ´´bonitão´´ They use gato here as like he´s hot and bonito is handsome - but when they use âo ending its like saying ´really really´ . . . so congrats mom . . . your husband is really good looking. I just wish they´d tell you and not me because I never know what to say....thank you? Haha.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">We have an investigator that sells coconut water. Literally. They have stands here that sell you juice straight from the coconut. After our lesson she just cut open a coconut, poured it into a cup and gave it to me. I didn´t like it that much, but how cool is that?! I LOVE</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1319419328_0">BRAZIL</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Sister Nicáscio did a contact the other day and after saying bye she told the lady, ´em nome de Jesus Cristo, amem.´ We have a LOT of hilarious experiences like that everyday. Its really funny. Me and Sister Owens currently can´t get through a hymn without cracking up....I don´t even know why! Ah, missions.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">We had an awesome Sisters Training with the APs and Pres and Sis Araújo. It was really good. A cool thing that Pres said was I will not receive any blessings from my mission until I get home, because all the blessings I receive here will be for the work of the Lord. I though that was really cool. Also, afterwards...let me tell you how awesome of a mission dad I have. I was having a hard time that day and weeks ... as you all know ... so I asked Pres to give me a blessing. He led me into his office told me to sit down, asked my full name and blessed me with exactly what I was needing blessings for! I grew an even bigger testimony of the servants of God and how He will inspire them to help others in their time of need.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Other than that the work keeps moving. We´re teaching a lot of husbands of members still and its going great. Its awesome because they already have a base of the gospel, Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. The work keeps moving onward and I´m so thankful everyday that I am a part of it! You can imagine my smile in conference everytime somebody mentioned missionaries! Just to the The Prophet of the Lord is praying for ME! What an honor! My goal is to do all I can to make my Father in Heaven proud...and my family at home of course!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Thanks for your love and support! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">LOVE LOVE LOVE,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Kelsi Kate Johnson</span><br />
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</span>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-5783404411038964742011-10-04T22:51:00.000-07:002011-10-04T22:51:31.357-07:00September 26th - New Transfer!Thanks for all the pictures and the stories! They磛e really cheered me up!! So we had transfers Tuesday and me and Sister Nic醩cio are together, but I磎 in another trio! With Sister Owens. She磗 from <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317792806_0">Alaska</span> and she磗 the best friend I ever had! I love her! She is always happy and funny and awesome and I need it with my other companion. This week was rough. I know missions have ups and downs, but I磎 pretty sure they磖e not supposed to be like this...but I磎 making it through with Sister Owens. I can磘 even explain it, Sister Nic醩cio is just really hard to live with and teach with...but I磎 praying as hard as I can every day for charity, patience and humility. It all came to a point (again) <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317792806_1">Saturday night</span> when we got home late because I had to sing at a fireside and Sister Owens played the piano. Long story short, Sister Nic醩cio was REALLY REALLY mad and because she was mad, I was mad. But we got home, she went to bed and I just looked at pictures of Lynlee and Ellee and cried and cried and then went to bed and cried and cried, just wanting my mom! Its funny how when something goes wrong, the first thing we want is our mom. I came close to calling President, just so I could call you and talk to you...but I pushed through. I learned a lesson about the Spirit. I磛e always know how essencial the Spirit is in our work and if we don磘 have it we might as well not leave the house that day, but also, the Spirit drives my desire to work and the more I have the Spirit, the greater desire I have to share the gospel with others. Missions are hard, but I know if I push through I will be a better daughter, mother, sister, aunt, wife and child of God because of it! I磎 doing my best and trying not to complain...I磎 so greatful for a great and amazing family that loves me and prays for me and ward family too! Bispo Marcelo, here, said that he wants to have my records sent to his ward. I don磘 know if its because he likes me or because I磛e been here so long...either way...I love this ward too, but its my second ward family...not my first! ;)<br />
Sorry, I don磘 have much to report this week. The week of transfers is always a little blah because it seems like the week doesn磘 start until Wednesday. But its been good. We磖e still visiting Volmar. He磗 so dang cute I wanna punch him!!! And we have a lot of other people we磖e teaching. We磖e also focusing on the husbands of wives who aren磘 members. I don磘 understand how they磖e not members. I don磘 understand how a husband can take his wife and kids to church every day, drop them off, and go home, without a problem in the world. Eternal families! HELLO! But, that磗 what I磎 here for - to figure out why they haven磘 been baptized and received all the blessings of being a member of the church and help them gain a testimony that its so true and so perfect! Its interesting everyday when we invite people to be baptized and they say yes and then you give them a date and they磖e like, Whoa, whoa...I don磘 know about that. But, eventually, with the Lords elect, they understand and they can磘 wait to get baptized and receive all the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Every day I磎 learning more and more about how God works with His children and how he wants me to teach and share the Gospel with the people of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317792806_2">Brazil</span>. <br />
Brazil is such a special country. So many people here have had dreams about the gospel and about Jesus Christ and it was their witness that the gospel is true and they want to be baptized. Its not very often that people have vivid dreams about the gospel, but in Brazil it seems very frequent. I love this country. They磖e so pure in heart and simple. Its such a different experience during Testimony Meeting, so many people bare their testimonies and conversion stories and its always so simple and perfect. I always think how much dad would love it because you don磘 have to worry about people speaking blasphemies. :) You can just sit there and listen to the speakers and feel the Spirit so strong. Its great! <br />
I did get to watch General Relief Society Conference in Portugu阺, and yes, my notes are in Portugu阺! Pretty cool, huh? I loved President Uchtdorfs talk, in Portugu阺 it was about the flor : 创N鉶 esquece de mim创 I think its funny how, whenever the Apostles talk to the women they always say, Its okay. Calm down. You磖e doing great. No one is perfect. - Because its so true. I can totally tell the difference between Elders and Sisters. Talking with Elder Spencer at transfers was hilarious. Hearing all the stories of all the things the Elders do and then being a Sister and feeling like a slacker if you sit on a seesaw and take a picture. Haha. So funny. <br />
I CAN碩 WAIT FOR GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOO! I磎 so excited! I learned a cool thing to from a member of the ward. All the talks are pre recorded in Portugu阺 by translators. Except, Elder Richard G. Scott records his own voice in Portugu阺 so when he is speaking this weekend I磍l get to hear his actual voice! Every one in Brazil refers to him as the Brasileiro. (you can look up older conference talks of Richard G. Scott in Portugu阺 and hear his voice if you want) Also, obviously, the Prophet doesn磘 have a talk pre recorded, so there is a man that can translate very fast and he translates the moment the Prophet is speaking. I thought that was pretty cool.<br />
One more thing, a member of my ward here has a friend that needs a place to stay for about 10 days in the US and practice English. Val asked me to ask you if you guys would be able to help. She said it would be in December, but doesn磘 know exactly the dates yet. Let me know if you guys would be willing to do that! Awesome sauce.<br />
It was so good to see pictures of every one at my birthday party. Bridon and Talon are getting SO BIG! CRAZY! Oh! I got my package during transfers! Perfect!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!! You磖e the best family in the world, hands down and not just because of the package, but because you磖e my family!!!!!!!<br />
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!!!!<br />
Sister Kelsi Kate JohnsonSister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-89263872632877958272011-10-04T22:38:00.000-07:002011-10-04T22:38:37.157-07:00Things get interestingHi Family! <br />
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I hope all is well! No, Jenna, I will never get tired of the pictures of the girls. They are getting so big! But I probably don´t need ´Spin art of myself´. :P I can´t believe you´re saying things like, when Ellee walks in. I still can´t see that little bean curd walking!!! I loved the story of Lynlee singing...totally remember her made up songs. I love them! Ugh! I miss them so much, but, moving on. <br />
Dad, air conditioning in our apartment? Hahahahahaha. No. We have one fan (like the old kind that you set on the floor or a desk and it turns slowly back and forth and you can do a Darth Vader voice, yeah, that kind) We only have one outlet in our room and its by my bed so the chord goes under my mattress to the fan right next to me and if I move AT ALL it turns off, then I´ll move again and it turns on. Its really funny. But its better than our last fan that I had to hit to get it to start spinning. Oh, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317792809_0">Brazil</span>. Its such an adventure! <br />
So, this week was rough. I´m not going to lie and I´m not going to leave anything out. Are you ready? <br />
Everything went normal, we just couldn´t get anyone to talk to us - but that happens sometimes, I wasn´t discouraged. Until Friday. We went and visited Phelipe my first baptism. He hasn´t come to church since he was confirmed. He´s back to breaking the commandments and living at his girlfriends house and he´s really unhappy. He was telling us all his doubts he has about the church. He read Mormon 8 to us how our churches shouldn´t be rich and lifted up and pride and then he printed off pictures of rooms in the Temple and said, ´Look. That doesn´t look rich? Everything is gold.´ Me and Sister Powell are pretty sure he´s looking at Anti-Mormon stuff online because he was reading the BoM from the beginning and to suddenly decide to read Mormon 8 is really random, and then to print off pictures of the temple and then he said he wants to visit the other Mormon (reformed) churches. So, I couldn´t hold back the tears, I started crying right in the middle of the lesson because a lot of things have happened with him that I know he is supposed to be a very influential person in the church, but because of the choices he is making right now he´s not on the right track. It just shows how twisted Satan is because Phelipe is basically trying to use the Book Of Mormon to disprove the church...there isn´t a chapter about that in Preach My Gospel. All we could do was telling him that Satan was working on him and if he wanted to know the church was true he needed to read the Book of Mormon and pray. His main problem is looking at other people in the church and their weaknesses and not his own. But he´s a member of the church now so its ours and the members responisbility to love him and help him any way we can. <br />
Then Saturday. The day of Julia´s baptism. You think would´ve gone swell. Well, it was about 2 hours before her baptism and we were on the opposite side of town looking for a reference from a member. Sister Nicáscio was REALLY angry and frustrated that we couldn´t find this street. Me and Sister Powell were using it as an opportunity to do contacts. But, Sister Nicáscio´s anger boiled to a point where she was being really rude and angry and we just did not have the Spirit and Sister Powell had had enough and sat on the curb and just started crying. Then they started fighting, because when one thing goes wrong everything that has ever happened in the past comes up. So my companions were yelling at each other in the street and crying. All the while I was smiling and laughing to myslef because a 5 year old little boy on a bike was coming closer and closer to us to listen. He ended up so close that I could have reached out and touched him. I finally got Sister Powell up (who had been at the point of bawling that I had to tell her to take deep breaths like mom always told me) and we started making our journey to the chapel that was an hour away. Also in this moment I learned how much Português I know, because I had two companions with arms folded, not speaking, and me talking to people about which bus we should take and calling members (up until this point I haven´t used the phone because its really hard to understand people on the phone ESPECIALLY in Português), but the Lord helped me through it all and by the time we got to the Chapel Sister Powell and SIster Nicascio had resolved their problem. ***I will talk about the baptism last*** So, then yesterday we had transfers. About <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317792809_1">9:30</span> Elder Espinosa called and said I will stay here and so will Sister Nicàscio. The first thing beloved Sister Nicàscio said was, ´I don´t want to stay here with you.´ So that was a big confidence boost. And that Sister Powell will be transfered. Needless to say, this next transfer will be the greatest learning experiences of my life. I know I have a lot to learn about patience and charity with Sister Nicàscio and I´ll be needing your prayers. Sorry, this email is kind of heavy, I´m just trying to be real. Do Elders have these problems?<br />
***But, the baptism!!!!!!!! The Baptism was perfect!!! I actually cried. The first baptism I´ve cried at, but it was possibly a mixture of a lot of other things too. I got to help Julia change after she got baptized which I think is the best priviledge ever because you get to be the first person to hear how they feel. She was telling me how happy she was and it was strange because she felt really light. I loved hearing that. I told her she will never forget that feeling because I still remember how I felt! When we returned Carol (who was baptized last week) was bearing her testimony about how the gospel has already helped her so much and that the Lord sent 3 angles to her house (I´m one!) to teach her the truth. She also said she remembered how light she felt after her baptism. It is so amazing everyday to have your testimony strengthened of the gospel and how true it is. Then, Isabella got up to bear her testimony. That´s when I started crying. Isabella too. She talked about how happy the gospel had made her and she´d never felt such love among a group of people and that she knows this is the Lord´s church. It is so interesting to see Phelipe and how angry and unhappy he is and then see Isabella and her family is getting baptized and how happy she is. Who would you rather be? <br />
Isabella even spoke yesterday in church. She talks and sounds like she´s been a member for years. Her family is truly a special family to the Lord. We were over there the other day and she was saying something about being a member of the church of Jesus Christ and her 6 year old son Lorenzo was at the fridge and he turned and said, with a cute little lisp, ´Dos Santos Dos Ùltimos Dias´ (of Latter Day Saints) It was adorable!<br />
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Oh! My birthday! I think Isabella tried to send you a video and pictures. We went over to her house <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317792809_2">Monday night</span> for Julias Baptismal Interview with Elder Maxwell and Espinosa. I was the last to climb the stairs and as I entered the kitchen Isabella had a cake and everyone began singing Parabéns (Happy Birthday) and jumping. I started to cry because it was so nice to know that even though my family is so far away, I have other family here that loves me and cares about me. And that´s definitely Isabella! Then, Tuesday, my actual birthday, my comps relit my candles and sang to me as I was exercising and they filled my desk with treats and breakfast. It was really different to be away from home, but it was good. :D<br />
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So, today is a Super P Day because our Zone had the most baptisms so we get to watch Rio (in Português)!!!!! I´M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its gonna be awesome! Also, I get to stay in this perfect area and keep working with my other ward family to preach the gospel!!! My job rocks!<br />
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How are all of you? Grandma and Grandpa Johnson? Grandma Deen? Jenna, are you pregnant? Is Dallin doing his Mission Papers yet? How´s my mommy? My nieces? Nephew, Jerônimo? :D I hope all is well. I love you all SO SO SO SO SO MUCH!!!!!!<br />
Com amor,<br />
Sister Kelsi Kate Johnson<br />
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P.S. Jenna, we have a couple here that have two of their grandkids here from the US. They´ve only been<br />
here for 2 months and are speaking fluent Português. I can teach your kids if you want!Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-60318908386957874972011-10-04T22:36:00.000-07:002011-10-04T22:36:20.824-07:00Still catching up... September 12th 2011Oi Família! <br />
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Thanks for all your birthday wishes. I was thinking, this is my first birthday away from home, but it´ll be an adventure! My party sounded great. I got the pictures of the girls Jenna sent but the video didn´t work. Lynlee´s hair is so long and they are both getting so big! SO weird!!! I won´t know who they are when I get home. Its weird to think, I will spend my whole age of 22 years old on a mission. Kinda cool. Cool that Dallin got kept on. I knew he had the hard work gene somewhere! Its funny you mentioned calling for Christmas, mom. You don´t work on Christmas right? Because I don´t know how it works if you´re not home and I will need to talk to my mommy on Christmas! But, all will work out. It will be weird to speak English because I can write and type in English fine, but speaking is rough. Me and Sister Powell try to have 15 minutes of English to teach Sister Nicáscio and it is awful. We can´t do it. So funny. <br />
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I haven´t gotten the package yet, but I haven´t gotten mail this transfer because we haven´t had a Zone Conference or Meeting with the President and he is the one that distributes it...so maybe next week at transfers. Also, DAD, can you get me President Andersons address or email? I want to write him in Portuguêse so he can start practicing now! :D <br />
I love hearing that people still remember me. That´s always nice. I can barely remember quotes from Dumb and Dumber. Its so weird. Its like not being able to use a part of your body. But its good for me. Replacing movie quotes with Português and scriptures.<br />
<br />
This week was good. Its starting to heat up and become summer (varão). Scary. I have a wicked heat rash (put that in the blog!) But I love the heat, I just don´t love hugging people when I´m all sweaty and we hug every woman we meet. But. Vamos! Sister Nicáscio was looking at pictures that you guys sent me and said I have lost a lot of weight. I can never tell, but numbers don´t lie. So thats cool. I´m going to come home skinny and tan without even trying. :) But the food here is really good, its just not good to eat a lot when you walk as much as we do and with it getting so hot. I still haven´t really had to eat beans, but when I do they aren´t that bad. I was craving tacos with cheese sauce this week, so bad that my mouth was watering. Haha. Missions. Me and Sister Powell ate a X-Tudo (pronounced: sheess toodoo) its a hamburger with meat, tomatoes, cheese, corn, green corn, batata palha (basically Ruffles chips crumbs), lettuce, egg, bacon, and some sauces I´m pretty sure cause heart blockages. It was good, but a little much. I think just the X-Bacon is good on its own. Ah, Brazilian food is so good! I´m going to start taking pictures of more of the food I eat so you guys will understand better.<br />
<br />
This <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317792809_1">last Saturday</span> we had one baptism, for Carol. She is so perfect. We helped her change into her jumpsuit thing and as she was walking back to the room she started to cry, happy tears. I just hugged her and told her to remember this feeling forever. It was a perfect baptism. I don´t think there is such thing as an imperfect baptism. I sang a solo, I Like To Look For Rainbows (Quando Eu For Batizado) because the Bispo made me. This ward loves me and I love them! Transfers are next week! I hope I stay again, but whatever the Lord wants! <br />
Another miracle happened. We´ve been teaching Isabella´s husband and daughter Julia. Geter is ready for baptism he just needs to quit smoking. But we´ve been having problems with Julia because she´s a rebellious 12 year old and I think didn´t want to get baptized just because her mom wanted her too. But after Carol´s baptism she told Sister Powell, ´Agora, só falta meu batismo.´ (Now we´re just missing my baptism). Sister Powell said What? And Julia said, `Sim, eu quero batizar. Posso fazer próximo Sábado?´ (Yes, I want to get baptized, can I next Saturday.) We of course said yes and Irmaõ Sylvio even announced it in Sacrament Meeting. I am so thankful the Spirit touched her heart and helped her make this decision that will change her life! Isabella was so excited when we told her, because Julia didn´t want to tell her. This family is so special. I can´t wait to see them go through the temple, because that is fullness of joy right there! I thought I had fullness of joy when I saw an Irmaõ in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317792809_2">São Paulo</span> that looked and sounded just like Nacho Libre give Elder Hanson an <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317792809_3">Anaconda</span> Squeeze, but I think this is better.<br />
<br />
Besides this my week was pretty normal. Normal companion struggles, awkward lessons, meeting elect people every day, doing the Lords work in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317792809_4">Brazil</span>. I love it!!!! Thank you all for your love and support! I love hearing from you every week. Its true what all missionaries say, even if they don´t respond they love letters! SO TRUE! It keeps us all moving forward! Sorry, this was kind of a rambling letter.<br />
<br />
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!!!!<br />
Sister Kelsi Kate Johnson<br />
<br />
P.S. Be sure to tell me or ask me things you want to know and I´ll try to respond,<br />
I never know what to say. :DSister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-53390413108587613512011-10-04T22:32:00.000-07:002011-10-04T22:32:57.933-07:00Another Week 9/5/11I apologize that I am running behind on getting Kelsi's letters on here. I will get back on track! <br />
From September 5th....<br />
<br />
Hello everyone!<br />
This week was kind of slow and boring, but at the same time a lot of things happened. So many things happen in one week on a mission its hard to put it all into one email, one day a week, but I´m trying.<br />
So, I told you about Sister Nicásico and wanting to go home. Well, she stayed and the first couple of days was really hard, but she found her groove again and we´re back to doing the Lord´s work, His way on His Time. So that´s nice.<br />
As I told you, we´re teaching a LOT of great people, but everyone´s baptisms fell except for the angel Carol. I have a stronger testimony now of weekly planning and planning with the Spirit because this last week we DID NOT plan with the Spirit and our week and our goals showed it. Yesterday was much better though, so our fruits will show it! <br />
Carol, ah blessed Carol. She is a 14 year old girl we found ´batendo palmas´. (more or less knocking doors). She lives with her cousin right next to the chapel. She´s lived on her own since she was 12 and I think she´s been through a lot in her life. But she has accepted the gospel with open arms and can´t wait to get baptized. <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317792464_0">On Wednesday</span>, we went to teach her about prayer or reading the scriptures and I felt like we should change it to the 3rd lesson about Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End. I told Sister Powell and we changed it. As I taught about Baptism Carol´s face lit up and had the biggest smile I have ever seen her smile. Then, I explained about the Holy Ghost and she began to cry the happiest tears I think I´ve ever witness. I know she is a special spirit of our Heavenly Father and is going to be a great leader in the church...probably with young women. You never get used to daily miracles.<br />
Other than that we´re teaching both of Phelipes brothers Marcelo and Pedro and Isabellas husband Geter. Geter is awesome. We haven´t even taught the Word of Wisdom and he´s already lessening his cigarettes and drinking. Also Pedro and Marcelo...and Phelipe. All the boys are going to be strong Priesthood leaders one day! I love this AREA!!!<br />
Last night we had the priviledge to have a Fireside with our ward and the other Elders in our Districts ward with Presidente and Sister Araújo. It was really good. Us, the missionaries and the youth sang `Que Manhã Maravilhosa´(Joseph Smiths First Prayer) to the tune of Come Thou Fount. It was really good. Then Presidente and Sister Araújo spoke about their conversion stories...very cool. Me and Irmã Paulina sang the closing hymn as a duet ´É Tarde A Noite Logo Vem´(Abide With Me Tis Even Tide). Then Presidente and Sister Araújo took us home. Still as funny as ever. As we were walking to the car President stopped and turned to Sister Araújo and said, `Sister. Giff me da keyss.´ Then me and Sister Powell told him that she studied English in College and he needs us to teach him English, not the Elders and he said he´d like to have Sisters in his area....so that would be fun. We´ll see! President always remembers me because I email him in English and I taught him the word: amazing, because I use it a lot. So when I´m with him he uses it as much as he can. They´re both a crack up.<br />
What else. I think thats pretty much it. Brazilian food is growing on me. I´m even experimenting with beans here and there. I ate some kind of casserole yesterday and I still can´t figure out what vegetable it was. The juice here is delicious! They literally just put fruit in a blender, add suger, strain the pulp and drink it....why didn´t we think of that?! <br />
Also, my mosquito net broke two days ago, the first night was okay, but the night afterwards I had 10 mosquitos bites...on my face. I don´t know why they love my face. Whyy??? But we got it back up last night and somehow I woke up with two bites on my forehead. Mosquitoes are so weird. Its weird to think that while I´m sleeping I have these insects just buffeting on my face, lip, eye. So weird. But this is a mission! And I love it! <br />
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!!!!<br />
Sister Kelsi Kate Johnson<br />
Fica firme família amado! Eu te amo muito!!!Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-62304534613261133042011-08-22T14:02:00.000-07:002011-08-22T14:02:22.778-07:00But I pressed forward...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Hi Family! <br />
Boy do I have some stories to tell! This week was much more different than the others. Tuesday night I could tell I was starting to get sick. I had a sore throat and the head cold kind of thing and was getting more and more weak and really bad body aches. But I pressed forward. My contacts were really horrible because with all this going on my brain was not working in Portugues very fast. We went home, did quick planning and I went to bed. I was up every hour with a fever and body aches so bad I couldn´t sleep. The next morning when Sister Powell and Sister Nicáscio woke up and could tell that I was even sicker than before. They called Sister Araújo and she said to take me to the Hospital because it could be dengue. I was really weak, achey and tired but we got a bus to the <span class="yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1314046057_0" style="cursor: hand;">Vila Velha</span></span> hospital only to find out they didn´t take our insurance. Too weak to do another bus we all pitched in for a taxi to a hospital that did take my card. Long story short, the doctor saw me, checked my breathing, asked if I had asthma (I said no) and looked at my throat. It was a replay of the time I had really bad strep and the doctor went to swab my throat to do a test, but just looked in it and was like, ´Yeah its strep.´ Only in Portugues. So I had to get a FAT shot in my arm, I didn´t look but my companions said they were praying for me when she took the needle out of the toolbox (yes, literally a tool box for tools). But I survived. We returned home and got my medicine from the Pharmacy and Sister and President Araújo came to our apartment. Then the coolest thing ever happened. Since we were in a trio President said he would take me to their house and I could stay there until Friday and they would bring me back in the morning. And thus the adventure began. It made sense too that instead of three missionaries staying in a house, they take me and my companions could teach our investigators. So, I packed my stuff and moved into the suite in Jardim a Pena with the President and his wife. It was AMAZING! I got to rest and study and have homeade pineapple juice every hour. It was just like living at Grandma and Papa Bowens again. President Araújo reminds me a tiny bit of Papa Bowen. He´ll tell a story and make himself seem much more suave than he actually was and give the Papa Bowen look with the raised eyebrows like, `You know´. I will never forget my time at the Mission Home. The first evening we sat and talked in the living room, Presidente Araújo practiced his English with me and me and Sister Araújo would just laugh and laugh at his stories and his English. His accent is hilarious. The second night they had a real English class with Elder Swanson and Elder. It was hilarious. President is so funny when it comes to English. But the stories will have to wait for a letter or Christmas or something.<br />
I returned home, rejuvenated on Friday and worked hard all weekend. We taught Phelipe who is having a hard time coming to church and with some aspects of the church but the Spirit was very strong and I know if he prays he will know that all aspects of the church are led by the Savior and he will be happy when he keeps the commandments. I got a little glimpse of how <span class="yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1314046057_1" style="cursor: hand;">Nephi</span></span> and Ammon and them felt when they saw the wickedness of the people or the people that wouldn´t keep the commandments. But I´m praying hard for him because I know he will be a powerful leader in the Church. So, that was the crazy week I had.<br />
Oh, yes, it rains. I think like once every two weeks. It rained yesterday but it worked out because the old man, Volmar, we are teaching won´t go to church unless he can take us in a taxi because he doesn´t like feeling dependant on other people..... so, basically, we have an investigator that takes us to church! <br />
I love you guys and love to hear about your lives! Even if don´t respond specifically to each, I love reading about everything thats happening. I´m glad you are serving your fellow man because that is what the Lord will ask us in the last days! These are the last days! I read today in Jesus The Christ that the last days are so close, that in the time of Joseph Smith (200 or something years ago) The Savior was calling the last days ´today´. Kind of crazy. But I´m excited for the Savior to come!!!!!!! Is that a weird way to put it? <br />
Anyways, LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!!!!!<br />
Sister Kelsi Kate Johnson<br />
P.S. Tell Dallin to go to Mission Prep or I´ll never talk to him again!!!<br />
LOVE YOU!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">2nd Letter a minute later:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">I don´t know what I was thinking...I still have 20 minutes!<br />
So. Adventure at Presidents house. When I got there I felt kind of awkward because I didn´t know what I could or couldn´t do, but it got better with time. We ate lunch and I slept. After I woke up it was about dinner time and Sister Araújo made some kind of something like roast and onions and carrots and stuff, but she put it in the blender for me to eat as soup for my throat. It was actually pretty good. After that me and Sister Araújo played piano and sat and talked in the living room about temples, about traveling and about English and Portuguese. Right as she was telling me that she has fears to speak English because her pronunciation is bad but President doesn´t care he just talks and talks the best he can....President walked in and sat down saying, We spekin ingles? and then he began to say all kinds of things to me in English. He told me the story of how he met Sister Araújo and when they got lost in <span class="yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1314046096_0" style="cursor: hand;">Salt Lake</span></span>. At one point Sister Araújo turned to me and asked if I was understanding and before I could answer Presdient was like, in Portugues, She understands! She understands! (like, just let me tell this story) Me and Sister Araújo laughed so hard. He was also telling me how he traveled back and forth from <span class="yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1314046096_1" style="cursor: hand;">Fortaleza</span></span> to <span class="yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1314046096_2" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 0%; cursor: hand;">São Paulo</span></span> a lot and he came to a word he didn´t know so he did his hand like and airplane and went ´Sssssss!´ I turned to Sister and was like What word is Sssss!? Now we have this inside joke where when we don´t know what to say we go Ssssss! We laughed hard after that too!<br />
The next night, English class was even funnier because Elder Swanson and Elder Athans would give President and Sister a scenario that a missionary might call and they need to respond in English. Elder Athans put his had up to his ear like a telephone and said, in English, VERY SLOWLY `President. My toilet is broken.` President got all serious. Leaned back and then forward, put his hand up to his ear like a telephone and said, ´ Okee, vhary wew. Sory.´ We all started laughing so hard, but Elder Athans persisted with the telephone to his ear. ´President. What should I do?´ President, with his hand up to his ear like a telephone, in broken English, ´Okee, I go sershing fora salution. I vill call joo in a cupple days.´ We all laughed again. We did this with various other situations like headaches and missionaries that wanted to stay home. It was so funny, I wish you could have been there. I could not control my laughter and it was laughter I needed because although Sister Powell and Nicáscio are awesome, they aren´t very funny and I need funny! But, I got it! <br />
It was an awesome couple of days that I was able to rest and recover and get to know my Mission mãe and pai. They really are like my parents now and I can turn to them whenever I need to...it didn ´t feel like that before, but now it does. It was cool too after dinner on Thursday me and Sister Araújo sat at the table and she read the Friend in English and I read the Liahona (Ensign) in Portugues and we´d ask each other what the words we didn´t know meant. It wasn´t fair though because when she asked a word, I´d explain in Portugues and when I asked a word she´d explain in Portugues. But it was fun and helped a lot. I learned how much the President does for his missionaries and how he loves every single one. I got to see behind the scenes the work of a mission president and its truly inspired and vital work. Elder Costa of the Seventy is coming tomorrow and we get to hear from him in our Zone first. Pretty exciting! <br />
Its amazing how each moment that happens on my mission has a purpose and has a lesson that I need to learn. Every hour, every minute is important. It makes sense why people grow so much in a year and a half, two years. I can´t wait to see how much I still have to grow!<br />
LOVE YOU GUYS! Send my love to my nieces too!<br />
Love, Sister Kelsi Kate Johnson<br />
Hope at least some of this makse sense.</span></span></div>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-81728582597846438682011-08-12T09:47:00.000-07:002011-08-12T09:47:54.651-07:00Silently Cracking Up<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">So, first of all I have to tell dad. The Stake Patriarch is in our ward and is so cool! He loves Pink Floyd and even invited us over for PDAY to watch David Gilmour Live at Albert Hall...seriously. But we had to turn him down, obviously. :( But he´s awesome. His name is Wilson. He was a hippie, left his home and lived on the streets for two years and everything! Awesome. Now he´s a Patriarch. This gospel is so cool.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">Our Baptism for this Saturday fell. Merisvaldo, the Baiano, we´re still working with. He has to quit smoking and we we´ll probably have to review all the lessons again. But he´s awesome and hilarious. We had asked him if he was reading the Book of Mormon and he said yes, but it didn´t sound very truthful so Sister Morales asked him if he read the part about the white horse and he was like, Yeah, it was a pony né? We were laughing SO HARD, it was really funny. I guess you had to be there. Then he was making dinner and kept offering us stuff and all of a sudden he said I´m gonna go buyt you something to drink...and super fast he jumped on his bike and said to watch his food and he took off! SO we were left sitting alone in a Baiano´s house. Me and Sister Morales were cracking up...like the silent cracking up like...is this real? So funny! But he´s awesome, we just need to keep working with him!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">Sunday was amazing. It was testimony meeting and Isabella bore s powerful and simple testimony and Presidente Araújo was there. Perfect. The spirit was so strong in the chapel. So many people after Isabella bore their testimonies and mentioned her and the Sisters. It was so amazing. Indescribable!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">So, I didn´t get transferred! I get to stay here! But I don´t know who my companion is yet, hopefully she´s ready to work hard because we have a lot of work to do!!! I´m so excited. I love this ward and this area!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">Jenna - if you could get me Nathan Halls, Danielle Whipple and Alexa Betleys addresses that would be awesome. Facebook would probably work the best. And eanyone else that would like me to try to write them.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">Other than that I´m working hard. Mission are really really really really hard but I keep on keeping on doing what I can...thats the key. Just keep going! I love you guys.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYEkyuCZWUorDo37fJt9tH-jK5mYFVw5pNl4_QeBnP0l-hhDtqMfDBu7q7qUjU8CYRvrBQft7m8VVLdj4yrIKM1qPeTGBnp4ybYDToj3tHG__EE6wPn7O2KhFZmIrycgJ8znG6PCdyw_m/s1600/KKJ+038-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYEkyuCZWUorDo37fJt9tH-jK5mYFVw5pNl4_QeBnP0l-hhDtqMfDBu7q7qUjU8CYRvrBQft7m8VVLdj4yrIKM1qPeTGBnp4ybYDToj3tHG__EE6wPn7O2KhFZmIrycgJ8znG6PCdyw_m/s320/KKJ+038-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">Sister Kelsi Kate Johnson</span></span><br />
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</span></div>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-44881062536956307162011-07-20T22:53:00.000-07:002011-07-20T22:53:54.029-07:00Johnsons BabyAll I hear about here is HP7. An Irmão fixed our shower this morning and said he was going to see it with his kids. The 2 cutest Brazilian girls you´ll ever meet. I think they´re on the same level as Lynlee & Ellee....just Brazilian. I can´t wait to watch it when I get back. Me and Sister Morales were joking we should call Presidente Araújo and ask him to go see Harry Potter because of all the gospel related metaphors in the movie. Voldemort = Satan. Harry goes to the Spirit World and comes back. The Liahona (Harrys snitch) Tell Melissa, she´ll get it! <br />
But the work is going great! I emailed mom and grandma Bowen about our investigators. Its so amazing to see the work move along. Its booming here in Brazil. We´re not running to appointments like mom heard, but we could really use splits to double our work! One thing, I´m gonna do when I get home is spoil the Missionaries! Rides, food, anything they want because I know what its like. <br />
We can listen to uplifting music. Our new Presidente changed the rules because it used to be only MoTab except on PDay anything uplifting. It´ll probably change back to MoTab during the week though beacuse of how Elders interpret things....like seriously one Elder listened to Guns N Roses and told President Picket that is was uplifting to him...good ole Elders. <br />
I can´t believe how many leaps and bounds Missions make you take. I can´t wait to see who I am when I am done with my Mission! Whenever you forget yourself to serve others you end up the more blessed one it seems like. <br />
You´ll have to look up a Brazilian Hairdresser named Berto. I guess he´s really popular. He cut my hair today for free, because he´s a member and I´m a missionary. The perks huh? Also, I guess you need to put me on a Brazilian type Facebook called Orkut. So my ward members here and investigators can stay in contact with me. Whenever you have time. I know moms are crazy busy. By the way, are you pregnant? Just checking.<br />
I can´t think of anything else specific I need. I have some shirts in my closet if they didn´t get sold I´d like. Those Target ones. They´re the same...white with grey polka dots and a plum colored one. You have the same kind I think. Other than that surprise me! <br />
Thanks for writing. Don´t forget to tell my nieces how much I love them!!!! I love you guys too! Thanks for being great examples to me! LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!!!!!!<br />
Com amor,<br />
Sister Kelsi Kate Johnson or Johnsons Baby as they call me here....like the shampoo.Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-38961185537854242102011-06-24T12:22:00.000-07:002011-06-24T12:22:11.776-07:00FYIWe recieved an email from Sister Johnsons mission president informing us that she arrived safely in Brazil and is going to be a great missionary! The address to send letters to is on the right side of the blog. ---->><br />
It is the address for her mission home. The mission president let us know P-Days are Mondays so we should hear from Sister Johnson this Monday. Thanks!Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-19585452566658420102011-06-20T11:30:00.000-07:002011-06-20T11:30:41.920-07:00I'm In Brazil!<strong><span style="color: #f6b26b;">1st Letter from Brazil... On Wednesday, June 15th, 2011</span></strong><br />
<div _yuid="yui_3_1_1_2_1308592707547145"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"></span> </div><div _yuid="yui_3_1_1_2_1308592707547145"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Hello everyone. just to start off my grammer and punctuation will be terrible because this keyboard is in portugues. anyways. how goes it? hope you are all doing good. grandma bowen emailed me about the cabin and the fire and such. sounds fun....but....i~m in brazil! yup. truth. or verdade, as we say here. so the São paulo ctm is completely different than provo. its really laid back and easy going and kind of annoying if youre planning on learning. the teachers are fun and awesome but they play around and easily get off task but its great. its a great change from provo.....did i mention i leave for the field on TUESDAY???? yes. because we~re getting a new mission pres they~re sending us a week early so it doesn~t get too crazy. so......thats crazy to hear the night that you arrive in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1308593798_3" style="border-bottom: #366388 2px dotted; cursor: hand;">brazil</span> but i~m really really excited. i~m just ready to get out and start working for real! i haven~t met any north american sisters going to vitória yet so i bet ill have all brazilians comps until maybe im here long enought to train someone. so cool. my new district is amazing. its almost creepy how well i fit in here. elder spencer is dl and hilarious and amazing at the same time. elder pettitt, the one that hurt his ankle is here today but they still might not send him into the field for awhile. bummer. other than that life is life. we got to watch a dvd from provo of when dallin h oaks spoke at the mtc (the one i missed by a day). it was really good. i love hearing from the special witnesses of the Savior. OH. coolest part. duh. we went to the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1308593798_4" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: #366388 2px dotted; cursor: hand;">São paulo</span> temple today. it was so gorgeous. we did an english session but part at the end was in portugues, except i did it in english. it was really neat to see that the gospel is the same every where! we have the truth. by the way, mom, have you talked to marilyn? how is she doing? in 4 minutes i will be walking the streets of são paulo. were eating with mauricio our teacher. i love him he talks like <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1308593798_5">christopher walken</span> and is a cute little chubby brazilian. hilarious. i~m excited. friday we~re going to a really busy part of são paulo to contact people. really awesome. so...next pday i~ll be in the field. crazy!!! heres my address: sister kelsi kate johnson/brazil vitoria mission/rua joão baptista parra, 633/salas 1501/1502 / edf. enseada office, enseada do suá/ 29052-1213 vitoria-es brazil .... the / are the next line, i cant figure out enter. love you guys so much, sister kelsi johnson!!!! ps the food here is hit and miss sometimes great sometimes not so great. its an adventure!!! as is life. love you guys!</span></div>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-52567196472863625732011-05-31T10:06:00.000-07:002011-05-31T10:06:24.253-07:00My Visa is READY! My visa is ready but I don't know when I will actually be leaving for Brazil. I'll keep you posted and I've heard I can call you from the airport- we'll see.<br />
We have been going to the temple on our P-day- Wednesday's. We eat breakfast there, it is so good. We have also been playing volleyball alot. Me and elder Pettit (who is about as tall as me) make a pretty good team. He has "mad hops" as Bowen would say. The Elders have finally figured out that I am a pretty good setter, so now they pass it to me to set them up for a spike. It has been fun.<br />
Thank you to Cindy, Eryn and my cousins Bridon and Danner for writing to me. By the way, Bridon and Danner you guys have great handwriting. Thanks also to Jenna for keeping up my blog.<br />
Russell M. Nielson came and spoke to us about obedience. Elder Anderson and Elder Nielson have both told us that we have the ability to call down the powers of heaven because of our callings as missionaries.<br />
Apparently the week before I got here Elder Scott came and blessed everyone here with the gift of tongues, so I guess I "missed the boat" on that one. Please pray for me to received it.<br />
I can't believe I have been here a month. I get scared when I think about going to Brazil, but I can't wait for the real work to begin. I can't wait to actually be teaching Real Brazilian people this wonderful gospel! So Amazing!<br />
<br />
Love you all, KelsiSister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-53954026048269882372011-05-20T10:39:00.000-07:002011-05-20T10:43:14.854-07:00Almost there...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Kelsi's still waiting on her Visa. We can track it online and it's been in "Receiving" these last few weeks. Well, it finally moved to "Processing" !! We've heard it only takes a week or two from this point so hopefully we'll get the good news soon. Here she comes Brazil!</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqCPdWI5KpA28qpfMdvcIztSKfml0ijyK-dAQFdHMAPA5wpHdZTDb8MeieMMutBO_Qbu0gcT9AMLDAarnvvyesDyTCECs3Pt1UoGCgQP15KZhvCeGFM_1L3yqRDhR3D0Fzlxx2Jqe_Bp-/s1600/DSC05985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqCPdWI5KpA28qpfMdvcIztSKfml0ijyK-dAQFdHMAPA5wpHdZTDb8MeieMMutBO_Qbu0gcT9AMLDAarnvvyesDyTCECs3Pt1UoGCgQP15KZhvCeGFM_1L3yqRDhR3D0Fzlxx2Jqe_Bp-/s320/DSC05985.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597487705796258666.post-18705217646302950152011-05-10T13:56:00.001-07:002011-05-10T13:56:50.667-07:00Another from May 4th, 2011<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Sorry my email was so scattered and messy. We only get a half hour and a big red timer counts down on the corner of the screen. It’s very stressful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The MTC is amazing. Everyone is so friendly and loving. It’s Zion. My companion is Sister Dunow like I said, plus the other 2 sisters and 6 other Elders. We all get along great. Me and Elder Pettit quote movies all day too. Sunday we had mission conference with our MTC Presidency and a devotional that night. Both so uplifting. Between those we had Sacrament Meeting with our Branch (all Portugues speaking, but not all Brazil – some Mozambique (jealous!) and some Portugal.) I bore my testimony is Portugues. It was nerve racking, but great. Its really easy to face your fears here because everyone is doing it. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last night we had a devotional from Stanley G. Ellis of the seventy. Another great talk. On Sundays we get to watch a church movie. Sister Dunow and I watched the Testament – so good! But boy are the Elders 19! Everytime theres a kiss they: “Wooooo!” and whistle. So immature. Elders…. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyways. This letter is jumbled and crazy too. Sorry, We are way too busy to be homesick here – until I sit down to read your emails. I just think about how cute my neices are. Aw! I wanna punch ‘em. I have the sisters saying that now. Ha.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, We had our first TRC yesterday. We had to contact people in Portugues as they sat in ‘living rooms’ that are decorated for that purpose. Then we had to teach one of them the 1<sup>st</sup> lesson. Me and Sister Dunow did pretty great. Our first contact was a couple that had to be in their 80’s and the man spoke Portugues in his weak, soft voice – so cute!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyways, I’m learning a TON! Super busy and life is amazing as a full time servant of the Lord!</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: right;">Love, <span style="mso-tab-count: 9;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sister Kelsi Johnson<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span>Sister Kelsi Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05265591841684945481noreply@blogger.com0