Pictures from the CTM

Sam and her companion at the cookie place across the street from the CTM

First Week At The CTM. Had a Little Trouble But All is Well

hello hello! oh what a week! now i truly understand what people mean when they say the days go by slow but the weeks fast. it feels like we got here yesterday! and now im taking off my newbee sticker! its so busy here and we*re all learning super fast. teaching is still really hard because theres so many words i want to say but dont know. we try to memorize as much vocab as we can before the lesson but someitmes it just jumps right out of your brain when you need it! but then sometimes you remember things you barely studied, amazing how the spirit works! two awesome miracles this week. but first my companion is sister sowers, my beloved facebook friend. it is so great that we get to be together! and our roommates are wonderful. the four of us are like a little companionship of our own haha. we cant send pictures from the mtc but gary wait elder nielsennnn took one of us today after the temple and he said he would send it asap. yayayyay! they are from texas and virginia, such great sisters! and it was so good to see elder nielsen today too! his portuguese is amazing...of course. he has a little accent now haha. ok so miracle one> first night we get here, go to our room and guess what? my luggage will not open. i was 100 percent sure of the combonation but nope did not open. i started crying because it had all of my clothes everything in it. so bad and sad right? so my companion was like lets just cut it. i was uuhhh i guess thats the only option. but then we prayed and decided to go downstairs to ask for help. the irmao downstairs was sooo nice and he said he would get a lock cutter. so he comes up and he has these huge lock cutters and hes like ive never seen a lock like this. then he goes have you tried 000. tried 000 and it opens. power of prayer and the priesthood. it was amazing. seriously such a miracle because theres really nowhere to buy luggage here at all. it must have got reset in security. but seriously such a cool experience although emotionally draining haha. then yesterday i got a really bad headache and the elders gave me a blessing after i went to the doctor. i went and rested for awhile and when i woke up i was better! today im feeling better than ever! its so great! its certainly been an adjustment being here but i think im getting used to it. we are getting a new set of missionaries today from provo which we are all excited about! the food is good, the people are sooo nice. everyone says hi to everyone. the brazilians all want to practice their english with us. so its very basic conversation at meals but we do communicate somehow. they love seeing pictures of family, im so grateful i brought those. even though we cant say much to each other, ive made some amazing friends here. they are just so warm and welcoming. it makes the whole experience 100 times better. it really is such a blessing that i can be here. the language is hard, mostly because theres so much a i want to say but dont have the words yet. but its only been a week so i cant expect too much! goota go! love you guys so much!

 

-Sister McKenzie

sorry about the spelling and lack of caps descuple! love you! keep praying!

First email from the CTM

hih ihihihi! i only have ten minutes so excuse the bad grammar and spelling|! i made it the ctm, you should have gotten the picture. my companion is sister sowers!!! we have such an awesome district and even though i was tired today, i had a lot of fun. the ctm is really cool, its in the middle of Sau Paulo and it seriously feels like heaven after you walk the streets haha. the food is wonderful!! they have lots of things to try and everything is way flavorful and good. i am so glad i brought the luggage i did, it's perfect. a few things you need to know... NO packages to the mtc at all. only letters and make sure they have the right address on them ok. oh and Jesus stickers aren't necessary apparently, so no worries there. So many miracles today, there really is such a power and peace that comes with being a missionary. i talked to three people on the way here and got all their emails and they want to hear about my mission!  I got to teach today! and i prayed in Portuguese! ps sooooo glad i took that class at byu, so helpful here. oh my p day is Wednesday so i will be emailing then. i really do love it here. it's definitely different than the States but people are friendly and i know im here for something so much bigger than myself. i cant believe im actually here!!!!!!! it's so wonderful and even better because everyone else is excited to be here too. they said we are the lucky ones for being able to come, visas are imposiblleeeee to get right now apparently we know that firsthand. i love you guys so much. know i am so happy and i haven't been crying or anything, all smiles for sister mckenzie! i got to teach a practice lesson today and i talked about you guys and how special the temple is and how much the gospel brings peace into the family. as i said it, i felt more grateful for that knowledge than i have ever before. it's amazing that i can be here and feel that same spirit. it's just the most amazing peace and comfort to know these things. keep praying and scripture studying! and know that i am happy and safe! although guess what i am that i didnt think i would be! colddddddd!! it's rainy and actually freezing here. im soo glad we packed those cardigans! and everything we packed. i am so happy that im able to be here. it really is such a blessing. gotta go, snack time with the whole building! love you all so much!

-Sister McKenzie

She made it to the CTM !!!!

Dear Parents,

We are happy to send the good news that your missionary has arrived safely at the Brazil MTC.  What a great joy and privilege it is to greet each missionary as they come through the front door of the MTC for the first time. We promise to take good care of your missionary.

They now have companions and are settled into their rooms.  They are assigned to a district with capable and caring instructors for language and lesson study.  The branch presidents and their wives, will soon give them a second greeting.  These couples are rewarded in their callings through the love they always develop as they embrace and watch over the missionaries.

The MTC has a full time live-in physician to care for their health needs.  He is assisted by his able wife. We are also happy to report that the Cafeteria food is abundant and very good.

Your missionary will be able to e-mail home on Preparation Day after a morning at the Temple.  This will be either Wednesday or Friday, depending on individual assignments.

Your very important young person is about to make an eternal difference in the lives of others.  We hope you will be encouraged and comforted by this quote by President Lorenzo Snow: “ There is no mortal man that is as interested in the success of an elder when he is preaching the Gospel as is the Lord who sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord's children".

Please accept our love,

President Ralph Degn and Sister Mary Ann Degn

ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION . . .  

DO NOT SEND PACKAGES to the Brazil Missionary Training Center. All packages must be sent directly to the mission where your missionary will be serving not the MTC. If you have already mailed a package to the Brazil MTC and it arrives after your missionary has left for the field, please understand that the package can not be forwarded to his or her mission and will be returned to you.

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE SENDING HAND WRITTEN LETTERS. Please write your missionary´s first and last name. Your missionary will provide you with his district and box number. Also, please DO NOT SEND ANYTHING BY FEDEX, DHL, UPS, or other private carriers.  The cost to get this type of correspondence is exorbitant.

São Paulo Airport

She Made it to Sao Paulo

One of  Sam's friends found her at the Sao Paulo Airport this is what was sent to us this morning at 6am :) Small world.

"Hello! This is sam's friend from BYU! I just ran into her and her cute companions in the São Paulo airport. She has arrived safe and sound an she sends her love."

Saying good bye

Saying Goodbye for 18 months