Tudo Bem! 06.17.2013

Well I have really been growing this last week. I have learned to love the area I am serving in and I know the Lord wants me here. I know my VISA will come when the Lord needs me to go to Brazil I did run into the Brazilian brother and talked to him he said ask him for help anytime so that is nice. I don't know if I told you before but I am in Battle Creek which I guess is where they make all the cereal so members give us cereal for free, so we have cereal for days! The members spoil us so much I cant believe it. We went to eat dinner at this families house yesterday and the mom is from France, and she is crazy haha but so strong in the gospel, all of her kids are proper and speak french too! Well anyways, she reminded me of you Mom because she has to have a clean house...and this morning I was cleaning the kitchen and I found myself cleaning it the way you always made me. I guess I can say I am grateful for all that you taught me. 

So all day everyday is just knock on doors. We have ran into some pretty cool people, usually its the old catholics that tell us to get lost. One day this old man said you are wasting your time talking to us, and his wife came to the door and said, it is never a wast of time talking about the Lord...and was just encouraging us to keep our faith. I thought that was pretty neat of her to do. I am starting to enjoy this area. Like I said the members spoil us, This old lady took us out to dinner and she brought over some fruits for us to have. We have so much food! 

Well I have caught a little cold, but I am starting to feel better. I also gave the closing prayer in sacrament yesterday. And some members ask me to pray in portuguese when we go to their house. 

One miracle that occured this week was our investigator Santiago Quintano. We have been trying to get a hold of him this whole week! His wife converted a few years ago and his kids are baptized, but he only wants sisters to come over. Well he called us back, but he called us by accident. It doesnt matter bcz we finally were able to set an appt up with him! Well we went over to their house yesterday for lunch and shared a message. I tried to speak spanish to him but portuguese is messing that up. But what was funny is we came back later that night to pick up our car and his friend was there who speaks spanish as well and is not a member, but I was able to talk to him in Spanish just fine, he even said I spoke good spanish. I think it was the gift of tongues in that moment. 

Well I pray for courage everyday because this is all so new. I dont know why the Lord thinks I can serve two very different missions here and in Brazil but if the Lord has confidence that I can do, I need to also. I try and do my Book of mormon study with my portuguese ones as well and read one verse in english and another in portuguese I need to do all I can to study my language because I dont really have a lot of time to do that here. We have seen some really pretty homes here by the Lake and we took a member out with us door knocking. She is 17 but she was so excited and it was great because we did splits so when I went with her it forced me to take control and approach people. 

My companions are really great. They are both from Utah but they really encourage me each day and are so willing to help me with portuguese even though they dont know it haha. But they have taught me a lot and we have fun together. We meet a lot of interesting people here, a lot of people have messed up teeth not to be mean but its true...there is so much nature here and it is so green and pretty. The other day we were door knocking and it started to rain but we kept going. Normally that would bother me but now that I am in missionary mode I just keep going. I am learning each day how to work diligently and be assertive. I dont want to waste a minute where I could have been studying and learning. We meet with an invesetigator today, we havent taught any lessons by apt yet, bcz this is a new area and we are just trying to find our investigators. Well one funny story I have to share we were talking to this old lady outside her garage and she just doesnt understand why we need to book of mormon, well anyways my trainer was like, "i am so sorry but I really need to use your restroom." haha well we got into her house that way, and we talked to her for about an hr. Well I had grabbed a book of mormon that morning bcz I knew we would be giving it away that day, and my companion wrote her testimony in it while me and my trainer were talking to the lady, and we had to go bcz of our cerfew and my companion left the book on the chair. haha I dont know if she read it we havent heard from her, but I thought it was a pretty funny and cool experience.

Well I hope you are all doing well and I will try to send some pictures too! 

Eu amo voces!!! 

Sister Gonzales

First E-mail out in the field! 06.10.2013

Hey everyone! 

I am in a trio our poor trainer has to train two of us becuase I am the "visa waiter" thats what they call us and Christina can you believe that my trainer is Sister Richardson hahah tell Elder Teeples that she is wonderful! but really she is a fantastic trainer and I feel so blessed to be here. 

Angela I am totally living it up we have a car and our apartment is soo nice we have 2 bathrooms. Our ward is great! I felt like a celebrity yesterday because they havnt had sister missionaries for years! (We are also opening up a new area i am in Battle Creek) Well anwyas we were just bombarded yesterday and we went in to introduce ourselves to the young womens and they just got so excited haha it was great! And appearantly there is a brother in our ward from Sao paulo everyone was aksing me if I met him and I havnt yet but that is so great I can practice my portuguese because I really need to! Also our ward mission leader is young but he is great he served in ventura a few years ago. I love our Bishop he really wants me to get my VISA soon and he is encouraging the ward to pray for me, His wife served in italy and I told her I was italian she is great she will say stuff to me in italian and I just reply back in portugues. There is also a guy who is from honduras who is not a member, but his wife converted and his kids are baptized. Everyone wants him to get baptized. I mean he goes to church he supports it but I guess he only wants to get taught by sisters, and he speaks spanish and I speak spanish (well I used to) so I dont think thats a coincidence that I am here.We went door knocking a few times, its taking me some time to get confident in that.

Our first day here we went to a funeral Im trying to erase that from my memory bcz I tried to talk to someone she was super rude and ya pretty much got rejected but hey, I am doing the Lords work and I just figured the ruder people are the truer the church is. But that was my only bad day, but I am re-gaining my confidence and our second day we fasted and we ran into some amazing people, tender mercy from the Lord...I was def in culture shock for awhile the poeple the atmosphere it is all so very different. Well I dont have any pictures this week sorry I will try my best next week. 

Well I am glad you are all doing well and that abuela is doing well, I pray for each of you by name each day. The mission is the hardest thing I have ever done and most of the time I feel like people just hate us, but then you meet some people are just sweet spirits and even though we get rejected I still feel peace because I know this gospel is true, and I know heavenly father hears my prayers and that Jesus Christ is my savior and He would do anything for me!

The elders in our district actually leave across the street from us haha but they are great one of them said something that has really helped me, when people reject us he said, its ok heavenly father still loves you and he loves you even more that you tried! Its so true we were told that we take away peoples agency when we dont share the gospel bcz we dont give them that opportunity to learn more or to turn it down.

Well my area is Battle Creek if you want to look it up, I guess its the cereal capital of the world! Our ward is very loving and we have a lot of work to do here in Michigan! My trainer is amazing! She is very postitive and encouraging and practically my mom haha since she does handle my money bcz this technically is not my mission so my funds go through her, but we have so much food from members I think I will be just fine for awhile.

Well its a little humid here I guess its preparing me for Brazil! I am enjoying this time I have to grow closer to the Savior and to gain confidence in myself! I know you all are so supportive and I am grateful for that. Cody I appreciate your letter I will try and write back next week, we are at a library and we are being timed so I really want to re-read your letter and write you back in portuguese as best I can and please correct my mistakes I really need all the help I can here because I am only speaking english.

Well I love all of you..Marcel Matteo Gianina Viggo and Carlo! Tell aunt Stella I love her and I will write to her soon! Take Care, I know that families can be together forever, and I like that song better in portuguese! Well Eu amo Voces!

Sister Gonzales

Michigan! 05.31.2013

Oi! Familia! SO I am guessing you all heard that I am being re-assigned to Michigan, Lansing. I personally think this is a sign because Toto lives there and Abuela needs to get baptized!! Anyways so to answer Angela's question. Everyone in my district is going to be serving the Sao Paulo south and Sao Paulo Interlagos! One of our elders going to Interlagos got his VISA yesterday and leaves this week...they do not tell us our status on the VISA. However, the rest of us got re-assigned. Me and another sister are going to Michigan, two other Sisters going to Des Moines, Iowa and another on is going to Colorado. Our elders are going to Arizona, Pocatello! ( So happy I didnt get that one! haha) and one got re-assigned to his home mission which is weird! My comps and I are all going somewhere else... I leave Wednesday at 7 in the morning from SLC and Arrive in Minneapolis at 10:30 so I will probably be calling around that time there so I dont know wha the time zone difference is...anyways I arrive in Lansing at 3:34 and then who knows what will happen then! 

I cannot believe I am going to Michigan, but I am excited for it! This week we had something called in field orientation where you go to different work shops and learn about everything basically! We practicied approaching people at the airport.. I am not going to lie I am a little nervous for that for some reason. They gave us pass along cards to hand out while we are at the airport too! Then we just learned about asking referels and working with members it was good but long! Then we got our re-assignments that day and luckly Dad answered the phone when I called....

Well this week I am def going to need to stay focused...one of my comps leaves monday so she will be leaving us. It is sad to leave because we have to say goodbye to the friends we made, but also it feels good to finally go out and interact with real people.

So last Sunday, as Marcos and Angela know  someone gets called up randomly to give their talk in Sacrament meeting! Well that was me! I had to give a talk about baptism in Portuguese! After my branch president came up to me and said Sister Gonzales I think the Lord really wanted to hear from you today because I had someone else I wanted to talk, but your name came to my mind twice... I knew I was going to be speaking too haha, but it was good..this week is fast sunday, so they dont feed us and we get to bear our testimonys in english. I do have a portuguese hino book, I also got a small english one just to take with me to read the words when I am traveling. I feel spoiled here in the MTC, we get discounts and fed every meal.

So a few weeks ago I said Janice Kapp Perry came and wrote a song for sister missionaries, Well I would like to share the lyrics to it... The tune to this song is the same as Sisters in Zion. The song is called. "The Sisters of Zion" And if the boys think its lame whatever, this is for Angela and Vanessa and all the other girls in the family to enjoy. the lyrics are;

"The Sisters of Zion are called to God's labor.

We willingly serve Him with Spirit and Light

We go to the nations with truth everlasting

We teach of the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.

We thank thee o God for a prophet to guide us

We trust in his word and our purpose is clear.

The angels of Heaven are walking beside us.

We'll share our glad message with all who will hear.

We go forth enlisted with Helaman's army

In numbers much greater than ever before

With power and Spirit we'll faithfully witness

The Heavens have spoken and truth is restored!"

The last verse of this song gets me emotion, especiall the part where it says we go in numbers much great than every before! Bcz it is so true, God's army is increasing, and it is because we have a Prophet who can receive modern revelatoin, to help build up the kingdom of God!

Well, This week has been great. I saw josh again haha my comps think he is adorable. Also I love the brazillian sisters that live next to us, the other night they came in our room and wanted to take a pic with us and their brazillian flags I will send you some pics as well! They are so sweet and they totally changed my heart about brazil. I mean I already love Brazil, but now I just really can't wait to meet the people there. But first I need to focus about the people I wil be serving in Michigan! Mom please send me my family history chart! And I do not have my new mission address yet, I will let you know what it is when I get it...Keep Dear Eldering me....Eu amo voces! Ciao Ciao.

Sister Gonzales.

So the pic with just me is with my host sticker.... that means that I picked up the missionaries who were being dropped off by the curb and I took their luggage and took them to their room and got their books and all that stuff... I was so sore the next day I had three sisters to host.

The second pic is with me and sisters going to Brazil and the Brazillian sisters...And I would just like the say that 3 people have told me Gonzales with an S is brazillian. First a nurse here asked me if I was from Brazil and I was confused and then she said my name is spelled like I was brazillian....Then I asked one of the Brazillian sisters and she said Gonzales with a Z is spanish and I told her my last name ends with an S, she got all happy and she said ohh you are brazillian then. haha So I am practically brazillian now, just need to speak better portuguese.  

One Week Left! 05.24.2013

This is the pic of me and josh I look gross this was right after gym...

Angela The pic I took with that girl from san bruno was on someone elses camera so I am gonna find her today and then send you the pic later! okay

First of all why has abuela not written me any emails?! Is she okay? Anyways how is everyone doing, did christina get my email too? Well I have officially been gone for a month now, time sure does fly. My companions and I are doing well, and we do get along well I was just saying its always harder to get 3 people on the same page rather than 2. So this week the girls on our floor left for the phillipians they were so funny just freaking out the night before weighing their suitcases every 10 mins haha...but now we got a ton of international sisters that moved in this week, 2 are from Brazil and they are going to temple square. I feel like our whole building is full of international missionaries and our room feels like the minority haha....it was so funny the other night I went down to the vending machine and this sister was trying to ask me for help but she didnt speak english she spoke spanish so I was trying to speak to her in spanish but it just came out in portugues and I told her I spoke spanish but that I am learning portuguese so it just came out in portuguese haha she was so sweet, she was from mexico and I told her I was mexican and my mom is from Argentina. She looked at me and said O bonita and was so happy and gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek haha I love latinos they are so funny and I kinnda missed that because my room everyone is gringa haha and when I told one of my companions about that she thought it was weird she hugged and kissed me bcz she didnt know people did that and I was like well you are gonna be in for a shock in Brazil haha....

So anyways this week my companions have been sick so we had to do some splits and just stay in the room, but they are feeling much better now which is good! This saturday we get to skype people from Brazil and talk to them and probably teach them something...I am excited for that! I ran into Josh yesterday, I didnt even know Vanessa went to Canada. I also ran into this girl from san bruno that said she knew you angela I dont remember her name but I did take a pic with her so you will probably recognize her... I do not know where they are reassigning me yet but they will let me call home to inform all of you so probably closer to my departure date be expecting a call... I am suppose to leave June 3.

Well not much news to say, everyday is study, then class for 3 hrs. Oh so yesterday because one of my comps was sick the other one stayed with her and I went to class to get notes but we were teaching that day. And we were suppose to teach 3 of the elders in our district and my teacher was going to make me teach by myself, so I found 2 sisters down the hall to just go with me so I wasnt alone with them and help me out, talk about winging and lesson!! But it went well for the most part, it was like exchanges so it was a good experience. Anyways, the food here is the same every other day, but I cant complain bcz atleast we get fed. Oh angela you will probably think this is funny, so when that group of sisters left who are going to the philipians, they left so much stuff in the give away bin that my companions and just thought it was a treasure chest haha so we took a bunch of stuff from there and we will probably go put it back when we leave. My district is now the oldest in our branch so this sunday one of us is most likely going to get called to speak, and my companions and I are the new door greeters haha...Cant believe we are the oldest ones...Its funny I told my companion that all of our friends left this week and then we have to just endure one more week, she just started laughing...but its true all of our friends did leave, we are the only ones now...but I am excited that the girls who live next to us are from Brazil, they are really friendly and will help us out a ton. I just think its funny how foriegners get so excited about their mission call to temple square and over here we just hope to get out of the states. Well not too much has happened since last week, Im sure this upcoming week will be crazy and hopefully we get our re-assignments this week too.

Tell the kids I say hi and I love them and miss them!

Eu te amo voces!

Hopefully you will be getting a phone call within the next ten days! If not then I have to stay here a little longer, but eventually I will get out of here and into the real world! Thank you for everything...ciao ciao!

Sister Gonzales

Hey - 05.17.2013

Oi familia! So just so Mom doesnt worry, I did go see the chiro and physical thearpist bcz my back has been hurting but I am just going so that they can stretch it out and teach me how to stretch it better so that I can take care of it myself, no big deal.Also marcos was right I do need really good soles that is also why my back is in a little pain. Also Mom please pay attention when I say this. SO A LOT OF MISSIONARIES HERE AT THE MTC ARE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING VISAS, AND A LOT OF THOSE MISSIONARIES ARE THE ONES GOING TO BRAZIL. SO BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT THESE MISSIONARIES WAITING THE ENTIRE TIME FOR THEIR VISAS IN THE MTC THEY TEMPORARLY REASSING THEM SOMEWHERE STATE SIDE, AND WHEN THEIR VISA GETS THROUGH THEY IMMEDIATLEY SEND THEM TO BRAZIL, OR WHEREVER THEY ARE GOING. SO I WILL MOST LIKELY GET TEMPORARLY REASSIGNED ANYWHERE STATE SIDE, AND WHEN I DO THEY WILL LET ME CALL HOME TO LET YOU KNOW WHERE AND WHEN I WILL BE LEAVING. SO BRAZIL IS STILL MY MISSION BUT I CANNOT GO THERE WITHOUT A VISA SO WE SERVE IN THE STATES UNTIL WE CAN LEAVE.

Anyways, this week has gone by fast, we had the privledge to hear from Russell M. Nelson speak, he was so cute and him and his wife talked a lot about how people on the other side of the veil are rooting for us to go find their famlies, and that the people we do find and teach, their families on the other side played a huge part in finding them because they are prompting us and helping us find these people who are ready. Also my branch president told us that Brazil must have some anxious people on the other side because Brazil has been on fire lately. I believe it. And also Elder Nelson and his wife told us missionaries that we can pray for angels to be with us, and those angels can be people in our family who have passed away. I just thought that  was really neat to hear. I never really thought about how involved those people are on the other side. Also Mom if you could send me our family history chart that would be great, because I was suppose to bring it and now that every devotional tends to be about family history I feel guilty not having it.

Well, I dont know what else to say, um.. my district is speaking much more portuguse and my portuguse is coming along pretty well. I am learning how to be more disciplined with my time and I am trying my best to work diligently and not get distracted, I know that study time is important and the more obedient I am with it the better I feel. Also Angela did you ever have TALL time, where it was language study on the computer? Well I try so hard not to fall asleep during that time haha but hey I am getting up early everyday and going none stop until 10:30. Marcos would say, "Welcome to the Mission." haha.

Well I have gone to the Provo Temple, it is nice, today I even ate some breakfast there, it was a nice break from the food here. Also Angela I was getting worried because I didnt receive any dear elders from you this week haha. Also thank you Mom for the package. I loved the letters from the boys and I dont even know what to do with all of that candy!

Another cool thing that we get to do here is TRC. Which is we actually get to meet with real people, they are volunteers and we get to share with them a message in portuguese of course, but they are not acting so we really do have to help them with whatever it is they need. I like doing that. Well I defenitly feel more focused now then ever before, and being in a trio companionship is hard, we have companionship inventory like every other day haha but we work through it, it all works out eventually. Ohh and on Sunday for Relief Society Janice Kap Perrry spoke to us and we got to sing all of her songs, and we even got to sing a new song that she just wrote that is specifically for sister missionaries. Everyone was emotional when we sang it, and she is going to be releasing a sister missionary cd out soon with that song. She said we were the first sisters that ever sang that song so that was pretty cool. I cant wait for that cd to come out. And after Relief Society, we got to meet her! So I have about 2 more weeks left, and also you should be expecting a phone call before I leave the MTC so you know where I am going.

Also I hate these timer things on the computer haha Angela knows what I am talking about, but now they give missionaries an hr to write emails. Ah I feel like P days are the most stressfull days haha but its good. Well I cant think of anything else, but Mike and Vanessa is Josh here at the MTC ill be on the look out for him, and tell Gianina I love her and I miss her. Also Dad how can I write to Stella is there an address or something you could give me. Well thanks again for the package, and angela dont worry me again by not writing a dear elder haha jk but I was wondering. Well I am sad the Warrios lost, my mission could only bless them so much haha. Time sure is flying, glad you are all doing well.

Eu te amo!

Sister Gonzales <3