Christmas Time!

           So here they celebrate Christmas mainly on Christmas Eve. We got to go to a member's house for dinner that night around 8 (and that was early for a Christmas Eve dinner here!) It was really good and fun. I sent a picture of us by their Christmas tree. They are really well off. Especially here in Brazil. They have a super nice house. Then on Christmas morning I opened up that Christmas package I have been carrying around for the last two months- talk about a build up of suspense! It was perfect- thank you! I am going to buy some bread and jam today so that I can have a pb and j sandwich! I am super excited for that! I have missed my daily pb & j :) I also gave all the sisters living with me little gifts and cards I had made. I was the only one that had thought to get gifts for the other sisters... Haha, it was actually really cool to give completely unexpected gifts though. They were all super excited, even though they weren't amazing gifts or anything. After that we had study as usual. We then went to our Almoço appointment and had time to skype. After that it was back to work as usual! It was more or less an average mission day other than skype and presents. The only thing is that because it was Christmas, most people are home with their families and not really interested in letting in two strangers to share a message. So with that in mind we made other plans! I made Christmas cards for all of our investigators and then Sister Malta and I went and visited them all and sang some Christmas carols. That made for a lot of walking! Usually we pick one area to work in each day, but to visit all the people that we teach, we had to basically walk the entire city! It was really cool though. They were all happy to see us and I think they were able to feel our love for them and how important Jesus Christ really is! We were out serving as usual- even on Christmas! We also wrapped a couple of copies of the Book of Mormon (very beautifully, I may say too) to give out. I really liked that. What better gift could we give for Christmas?! While we were walking to an investigator's home, I saw this lady sitting on the curb all alone. She was probably in her upper 20s. I stopped to talk with her (of course!). I learned that she was waiting for the bus to head to work. She didn't have any family here in Alfenas and so her Christmas wasn't so great. She was feeling very alone and sad. It was cool to be able to talk with her and brighten her day a bit. I decided to give her one of my wrapped copies of the Book of Mormon. You should have seen her face light up! I think that may have been the only gift she received that day. I am so glad that I have the opportunity to be here and make a difference in people's lives. It was amazing to spend this Christmas completely focused on other people and bringing them joy. So even though I miss you all like crazy, I am happy to be here sharing this glorious message.

Finally opened her Christmas gift!

Of course she found a tree for Christmas!

 

This week I also developed a very deep gratitude for seat belts. Don't worry, I didn't get in a car accident! I am safe and all is well! This week we had one of the members and his wife come along to our lessons with us one day. He offered to drive. Ben, I take back anything negative I have ever said about your driving. You are an AMAZING driver. Haha, this brother makes your driving look like road-test perfection. You know in Harry Potter when they ride the night bus? It was seriously like that. Not even exaggerating. He was weaving in and out of other cars at neck-breaking speed. It was supposed to be just one lane, but he treated it like there were two lanes. I swear we only had centimeters of space between our car and people, cars, signs and everything else we passed. And the back seats of the car did not have functioning seat belts. I have never wanted a seatbelt so badly in my life! I was praying like crazy the entire time that we would survive the car ride. But in spite of my doubts, and the laws of physics, we somehow made it to all of our appointments in one piece. Without even a single scratch on the car. I seriously do not understand how that was possible. Needless to say, I am more than happy to walk on my own two feet in the future. He can just meet us at people's homes if needs be.

Loving the work as always

Okay, the Maxwells may have a slight obsession with flowers...

Beautiful and green! I love it!!!

 

Well, I think that just about sums up my week.

 

And Happy New Year too!

We are just getting started!

          This week was AMAZING! In just one day I had six dates and two proposals. That is six baptisimal dates and two marriage proposals. Haha, two different crazy old men asked if I was married or not and offered to take the position. It was pretty hilarious. Don't worry though, I didn't accept their offers ;) 

          So on Tuesday we had zone conference out in Varginha. And this week we will have our Christmas conference in Juiz de Fora... So a lot of travel and not as much time in our area as I would like! But it is good. The conference was really good this past week. I learned a lot of thing  that  need to improve on and got a nice spiritual boost. President and sister Cascardi are both amazing! On Wednesday Sister Malta and I stayed in Varginha to go on splits with the Sister Training leaders. I was really nervous about this... they report on how you do to the President! Haha, I know, a classic Emma moment ;) In  spite of my nerves though, it was an amazing day. I actually think that was one of the funnest days I have had on my mission yet! Sister Rico (who I was on splits with) has a totally different personality and teaching style than Sister Malta. I think we fit together better personality wise. Sister Malta is always very serious in our lessons and work. This isn' a bad thing at all, but with Sister Rico we were laughing and joking around all day. It was a completely differnt experience to be in lessons and have investigators laughing with us and feeling more like friends than stuents. I think I have been focused so hard on trying to copy everything that Sister Malta does that I lost a little bit of myself. It was really good for me to be with another companion and remeber that I need to be myself! There are so many differnt ways to teach and each way will reach different people. So I need to be myself becase there are people out there that only i will be able to reach! I think that as I progress in the language I am better able to let my personality through too. When you can't say much it is hard to have much of a personality ;) The language is coming though. With all the travel a lot of my language study time gets cut. I don't like that, but it's alright. Each day I think I get a little better. I love how after I study a new concept in the morning I then notice it everywhere I go that day. There is so much to learn still! One Amercan sister i met at the zone conference has been out for just over a year now. She speaks English with a major accent and doesn't remember some words. Haha, I hope that I can reach that point where Portuguese is so natural. I haven't had any portugues dreams yet I don't think. I don't really know though, I never remember my dreams! 

          This week I also tried Açai for the first time. Oh. My. Goodness. It is amazing! It is kind of like a super thick fruit smoothie/ frozen yogurt. When Sister Rico found out i had never tried it she insisted that we get some. Apparently it is something you can only get in Brazil. I got mine swirled with soft serve vanilla ice cream in a cone coated with Nutella. Enough said. It was beautiful and delicious. I wish I had had my camera with me so I could show you all. 

          I had a lesson this week with a boy who is 14 and his parents. Two of the boys friends are members and came to the lesson with us. They bore such strong testimonies of the Book of Mormon and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I think their simple testimonies were more powerful than anything we could say as missionaries. I hope you guys share the gospel with your friends and take the opportunity to help missionaries teach now. You guys don't have to wait to have a black name tag to share the gospel! 

          We have been having a ton of rain here. It rains nearly every night. On Friday night though we had a crazy rainstorm. I am talking full out down pour. It was like entire swimming pools of water were being dropped out of the sky. The streets literally turned into rivers. In some places there were even some pretty intense looking rapids. Needless to say, Sister Malta and I were soaked! Though when you run through the rain and huddle under overhangs with random strangers for a bit it is easy to strike up conversation, make them laugh about the crazy weather and then get their address so you can visit them later with a lesson ;) I have to admit though, every time I saw a car driving down the street I was worried that it would be swept away by all the water! I couldn't help but remember our favorite scout safety phrase- "turn around, don't drown!" Haha, I was cracking up and I couldn't manage to explain to sister Malta what was so funny in portuguese. Haha, she probably thinks I am crazy, but that's okay.  Oh, there was also this crazy lightning. It wasn't bolts of lightning, but rather the entire sky glowed. And in different colors too! Blue, green, purple... It was really cool. 

Sister Emma Maxwell

Queijo!

All decorated for Christmas

Getting right to work

           So this week I experienced the full roller coaster range of missionary emotions . We had a referral from a ward member for Cristiane, a mother of a family of three teenage boys. We went to teach her and she was seriously the golden investigator. She ate up everything we said and was so ready for and open to the gospel! It was amazing. Just as I introduced our message and told her what our purpose was as missionaries in that first lesson she teared up. It feels so good in those moments to have the spirit work through you and the message come across thro ugh my simple português. We met with her several times throughout the week. Each time she had read her assignment in the book of Mormon had had really good thoughtful questions for us. We taught her about the Word of Wisdom and she immediately agreed to give up coffee. She drinks it all the time, but wanted to give it up completely right then because what was what the Lord wanted- no slow transition or anything. So Sunday morning we called her before church to just make sure she was coming and that's when everything started to fall apart. Her husband decided that he didn't like her learning about the church and didn't want her to go. He didn't want her to meet with us anymore or have anything to do with the church. It is absolutely heart wrenching. I  had to hold back tears when Sister Malta relayed the message to me. I know that she knows the church is true! She has felt the spirit and is so ready for this gospel, but now she is being held back! So I went from sky high excitement to the slums. We were able to set up an appointment this week to try and meet with her and her husband. I am really hoping that he will listen. That he will let the spirit in and understand the blessings that the gospel will bring. If not for himself, then at least for his wife and children! We are trying to get one of the men from the ward to come with us too. I think that will help him feel a better connection and maybe be more  open. We have already been fasting and praying for her and her family. It is so hard to just have to realize that people have agency and leave it in the hands of the Lord after you do all that you can. Haha, I don't think shaking them and trying to knock some sense into their heads would be very helpful here. So as frustrating as it is, all we can do is love them. Offer them everything we can, and then let them choose.  

           We had our branch Christmas dinner this week here. It was a BBQ... haha, yes a BBQ for Christmas. It was a little strange, I am not going to lie. But when Christmas is in the summer it makes sense. The Brazilians really do know how to have a good BBQ too. It is totally different from American BBQs, but it is really good. Oh, you know that saying that "knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing it doesn't go in a fruit salad"? Haha, well, that saying doesn't apply here. I guess Brazilian wisdom is a little different. They make this "tropical fruit salad" here  where hey lay out lettuce on a plate and then put mango, kiwi, pineapple, beets, tomato and cucumber on top of the lettuce. It is really pretty and really yummy. You don't really mix the fruit together, but I just think it is funny that they call it a fruit "salad" and it has tomatoes in it. I had to tell you guys because my Brazilian companion didn't understand why it was so funny... Haha, sometimes the cultural difference makes it hard to tell jokes  :) I am grateful that it is hot here and sunny though. It doesn't really feel like Christmas. I think that is a good thing. If it was snowy and cold I would probably think of Christmas more and miss you guys. So it is a blessing to be in the heat of summer. It makes it easy to lose myself in the work  and not get homesick.

           I feel like I have already grown so much here. This has truly been a humbling and amazing experience. The language is coming  along well. I understand most everything now. I still get lost in some non-gospel related topics, when people talk fast or when a big group is having a conversation. We had lunch with a big family in our branch this week and they reminded me so much of our family. They were all joking around and teasing each other and just enjoying life to the fullest. It was so fun! But let me tell you, it is really hard to focus and follow all that conversation and teasing with so many people talking! I also squish ants with my fingers now- you were right Jono! We just have so many and in our house that I have quickly overcome that fear. Anything bigger than the tiny ants is still outside my comfort zone though... I eat meat off the bone- people here don't believe in boneless, skinless chicken breasts like you do Mom ;) And I have some killer tan lines already. Haha, I am going to have to wear a watch and these shoes for the rest of my life! 

I love you all so much!  And remember, the best gift that you can give this year is the gift of the gospel! 

 

Love,

Sister Emma Maxwell

 



Brazil is so green! It makes me happy!!!

Preaching to the herds....



.... better luck next time Sister Maxwell



Still Alive!

My wonderful family and friends!

 



Heading to the field!

What a crazy week this has been! I made it to my mission safely and got straight to work! I am serving in Alfenas right now with Sister Malta. She is from São Paulo. We are actually opening up this area. It had Elders a while back, but now we get to reopen it with Sisters! It is pretty exciting , but it means we are basically starting from scratch. All we have is a an old, outdated area book. There is just a branch here in Alfenas, but the church is growing. They just finished the construction of a brand new chapel- it is pretty cool because everyone we talks to knows about the "beautiful new chapel". It makes it easier to invite people to church!  But I had better not get ahead of myself here. I am going to start with leaving the CTM.



New companion Sister Malta

 

So I left the CTM on Tuesday morning at about 3 am... so yes, I was exhausted by the time I finally made it to field. Hopefully it doesn't show too much from the pictures the president and his wife sent. When we first arrived we went to the chapel in Juiz de Fora for some orientation and then we walked to the President's house for lunch. They have a beautiful home with an amazing view of the city. Great food,  great people... what more could I want? After that we went to the mission office for some more orientation and interviews with the president. As part of that rotation we went out street contacting. I was paired up with Sister Su'a. We did pretty well, but by the end of our time out there, it was obvious in comparison of numbers that we were the only companionship that didn't actually speak Portuguese fluently! Haha, I am so grateful to have a Brazilian trainer to help me out! That night we stayed with the Sisters in Juiz de Fora. The next morning we had some more orientation, went out to lunch and then received our new companions and areas. The build up for that was crazy. We had to wait so long and we were all so anxious to know! But it was worth the wait. Nearly immediately after getting our companions we were rushed off to the bus station to go to our separate areas. My bus wasn't until around 6 so we just sat around for quite awhile. We  then had a six hour bus ride... that wasn't the greatest thing in the world. Haha, it was pouring rain and the window I was sitting next to leaked. It was quite the adventure. You know, I was really wanting to take a shower... I guess the Lord really does hear and answer our prayers ;) That bus took us to Varginha where we spent the night with some other sisters. We got in around midnight and a member took us to their apartment. We couldn't take our bags though... none of us were prepared for that! So we all just shared what the sisters living there had for the night. The next morning we took another bus and  finally made it  to Alfenas! We were greeted by the branch president and his wife. They took us to our little house in the city to unpack and get settled in. Alfenas is a small city. We cover some more rural parts too. It is absolutely gorgeous here! Rolling green hills and colorful little houses- I love it! I will try to send some pictures. We are sharing this house with another set of sisters that is opening the area with us. Let's just say that is was pretty obvious that Elders lived in the house before us... It was pretty nasty. We did a bit of cleaning then and a lot more this morning. It is now clean and wonderful! Perfect for all of our needs. No spiders yet even (fingers crossed that it stays that way!). We do have a ton of ants and other little bugs though. I am hoping the cleaning helps with that. But nothing too bad. I saw gecko in our house last night- he is my new best friend. I love him because he eats all the bugs :) 

 



Alfenas

We had lunch with the branch president and his  wife that first day. Guess what we ate?  Yep, rice and beans! Good thing I like rice and beans! But to make things a little more exciting, we had chicken heart too! It wasn't bad. The texture was kind of weird, but the flavor was fine. So now I have eaten chicken heart on a stick roasted over a fire. Bam. The boys should be proud of me for that one. That is the only really crazy food I have had here so far though. The members feed us lunch everyday and then we just work all day. I usually have a little snack when we get back to our apartment at night, but we don't stop for dinner.

 

Those first couple days we spent most of our time meeting members and getting to know the area. After that we really got down to work though. I thought I knew Portuguese when I left the CTM, but it is all too clear here that I still have tons to learn. Anything outside the gospel is pretty hard for me to understand. But it gets a little better everyday. And hey, it's only my first week. So I am not too worried about it. I know it will come with time and practice. On our first day of real work here, I got kind of discouraged. We were knocking doors (well, clapping outside of gates... that still feels a little weird!) and no one was wanting to talk with us. It was raining, and we were exhausted! We then decided to say a prayer. We huddled under my umbrella on the corner of the street and offered a prayer. The very next house that we went to let us in for a lesson. And then the next three after that too! It was a miracle! I know that the Lord really does hear and answer our prayers. We cannot do this work, or make it through life without Him. I am so happy to be out here serving as a missionary! I love this work and I love this people!

Sister Emma Maxwell



Final week in CTM









 

Final Week in the CTM

        This week was another great one. It is my final week here at the CTM! That is crazy. It feels like I have been here forever, but then not at all at the same time. It is fun being the oldest group though! It makes me feel good about my Portuguese ;) It is really cool to be able to give the newer missionaries advice too. I know I always loved to talk with the older groups! The construction on the usual girls' floor here is finished now so they aren't putting any new sisters on my floor. That makes my Sister Treinadora role much easier. It doesn't take nearly as long to get ten sisters in their rooms with the lights off and quiet! So that means a little bit more sleep for me :) 

          So there is one other American district that came in at the same time as us. We are all really good friends. So last p-day we bought them a bunch of candy and left it with a note in their classroom. Then on Friday, their p-day, they surprised us with a cake, pastry thing! It was basically the best night ever. So we have this whole nice-prank thing going between our two districts. One of the Elders in my district bought Sister Su'a this bag of little plastic babies as a joke for her birthday. So we then took all of these little (slightly creepy) babies and hid them all throughout their room. Their class is directly across the courtyard from us so we can watch each other through the windows. We were waiting in anticipation for them to find the babies all day! It was so funny when they finally did! I am really going to miss all of these friends that I have made here at the CTM. Especially my district and our companion district! We have had so much fun together.

             I also had one of my life-long dreams come true this week.... I started an a capella group!! Every night we eat dinner really fast now and then use the rest of our meal time to go to a classroom and sing. It is so much fun! We are pretty good too. It is just me (soprano) Sis Su'a (alto) and then two guys from another district. It is so fun to sing with them all. They are really good too. We just take hymns and sing them a capella and then sometimes mix them up and add descants and new harmonies... I love it! Sis Swenson walked by the other say when we were singing and stopped in. We all thought we were going to get in trouble! But instead she said we were really good and asked if we would sing in an upcoming devotional. Unfortunately, we will be gone by then. But she is really musically talented so that was a huge compliment coming from her!

            This past Sunday as we were trying to decide on goals for the week as a district, I asked everyone what kind of missionary they wanted to be. As we talked about our ideal and the kind of people we wanted to become, the spirit was so strong. It was amazing to see everyone's testimony through their desire to serve the Lord. We came up with the best goals yet through that. With what we wanted to become in mind, we were really able to focus in on what we needed to do to get there. That made the hard goals seem worth it too. I think this final week is going to amazing. We definitely are cracking down. Not that we weren't working hard before, but now our focus and determination is even stronger. I know that I have a lot more to learn before I am ready! Yet at the same time, I am anxious to get out there. I feel like I have reached the point where I know enough to realize how little I actually know. Which I guess is good. I think that I am ready to leave the CTM. Not because I know the language perfectly or all of the doctrine inside and out, but because I know enough to be able to serve the Lord. I don't think there is much more I could learn just from actors or sitting in classrooms all day. It is time to brave the real world and start into the work the Lord has prepared for me! 

            I will be leaving the CTM some time on Tuesday. I know I won't get to write again from here, but writing from the field next week just depends on my president. SO I may not get to write home next week- so don't worry if you don't hear from me! 

I love you all! 

Sister Emma Maxwell

Loving the Work... and the butterflies!

      So before I forget, I have to answer some of your questions from last week. I would love to get that green book. We only have the big ones here. Also, could you possibly send my flag? I forgot it at home! I think that is all that I forgot though. Or at least that I have realized so far. I haven't had to talk in church yet.. but I am sure that will come soon. We do have a "choir". But all of the missionaries are in it. We sing for every devotional for the president and his wife and whoever is speaking.

           So during our physical activity time we can play volleyball. There are only a few courts so you don't get to actually play much though- so usually I just run on the track and work out. But one day this week I was playing with my companions. All of the sudden something flew past my face. I turned to see a huge, gorgeous butterfly! I don't think I have ever seen a butterfly that big or colorful in real life. It was amazing! As I watched this butterfly drift gracefully through the air and pondered the magnificence of God's creations, however, the volleyball game continued on around me. I was brought back to reality by a volleyball spiked directly at my face. Haha, luckily I turned at just the right moment so it just grazed off my shoulder rather than hit me full force in the face. I confessed to my companions afterwards that I had been distracted by a butterfly... I don't think they´ll ever let me live that one down! 

             I also had proselyting this week! It was absolutely amazing! Before hand, I wasn't nervous at all. My companions were working up a panic over the whole thing. They were worrying over every little thing that could possibly go wrong, and I was nearly doing a happy dance out of excitement! So we left the CTM around 13:30 and headed for a public bus station. We had three copies of the Book of Mormon each- so nine total for my companionship! When we reached the bus stop a few blocks away, our instructor told us we could start handing them out (we aren't supposed to around the CTM). That is when the nervousness hit me. It all of the sudden became very real that I was in a foreign country, about to share the most precious thing in the world with a complete stranger in a language that I barely knew! It was terrifying. But I plucked up my courage and went to talk to a guy with a broken arm. I figured that if he was slightly crippled he would have more trouble beating me up if he didn't like my message (haha, just kidding- he was just the closest person to us) Anyways I started talking to him about how he had broken his arm and got to know him a bit. Then we got on the bus and kept talking. I found out that he was going into International Relations and spoke English along with about five other languages. That was such a temptation! Knowing he spoke English and trying to struggle through in Portuguese! But I stayed strong and didn't use a lick of English! Naturally, the conversation drifted to why I am here in Brazil. I was able to share my testimony with him and give him a Book of Mormon! My first Book of Mormon placed as an official missionary! Woo! By the time we had arrived at our stop we had given out 2 copies already! Then within 45 minutes at the square/park we had given out all 9 and helped the Elders place a few too (apparently everyone wants to talk to three beautiful, very humble ;) American girls!) It was such an amazing experience. The people here are so open to the gospel. They would sit down and start reading the Book of Mormon immediately. Not a single person turned us down! And many even gave us their phone numbers so they could meet with the missionaries! The people here are so ready for the gospel. The Elders even had someone come up and say that they had heard about our church and wanted to buy one of the books- what a miracle! That would never happen in the US. I am so grateful to be here among such a loving, open people. Their faith in Christ is so strong! 

              The dryers here at the CTM are very finicky. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. We have a set time to use it though, so if it doesn't work then you are out of luck! This week they didn't work at all! So we had to hang up all of our clothes all over in our room. I sent you a picture of that (hopefully it came through). It was pretty great. Haha, we seriously pulled out our suitcases and were draping clothes over everything! It was a bit chaotic, but worked well.

   

I love you all! Have a wonderful week full of lots of good adventures! 

Love,

Sister Maxwell



Minha!

              Minha! Haha, I am glad that I got you all with that story last week! I wish I could have seen your faces as you read it. Hopefully I got a few laughs out of you all and I didn´t lose too much trust in the process! I love you guys!
              So this has been another great, but crazy week. My district went on an English fast on Monday. We are taking today, p-day, off. So basically what that means is that none of us are speaking any English! It is super hard sometimes, and exhausting, but I think it is definitely helping! We know more Portuguese than I think we knew we did. It also makes it clear how much more we really need to learn. It was kind of weird to use English again after all of that... That´s a good sign, right? So the only times that I have spoken in English the past two days was to explain a couple of grammatical concepts to some Elders in my district- I didn´t have the vocab to do that in Portuguese! But other than that it has been 100% Portuguese! Crazy! So I was also made Sister Training Leader on Sunday... I did not see that one coming! I had only been here for two and a half weeks! There are so many sisters that are more experienced and qualified than I am for that position. So I am a little nervous about taking it on. I´m just counting on the fact that the Lord will qualify those He calls. I think it will be a really cool responsibility. I get to know all of the sisters much better than I would otherwise and I get to greet all of the new sisters each week too! I get to help with their orientation and be their go to with any questions (though I don´t know that I have all the answers for them!). My companions are a little bummed about it though because now hey have to come to all of my meetings with me! And that means they can´t take naps on Sundays. Haha, they still love me though- so it´s all good. I am also responsible for making sure everyone is out of the bathrooms and in their rooms with the lights off every night. That part is a bit of a pain. It means that I don´t get to go to bed until after everyone else. And sometimes girls are slow! But it hasn´t been too much of a problem yet- so don´t worry :)
               My favorite experience from this week was a lesson with one of our investigators, Elaine. She is divorced and is fighting for custody of her son with her ex-husband. We decided to teach her a lesson about faith in Christ. One of the pamphlets has a picture of Christ raising a girl from the dead. We used that picture in our lesson and focused especially on the girl´s parents. It was through their faith that their daughter was raised from the dead. I testified to her that if she had faith like that girl´s parents, she too could see miracles in her life. The spirit was so strong! As I testified, she started to cry and then I of course cried... the Maxwell curse/blessing. It was amazing. I think the best part was that our "investigator" was really just our teacher acting. We were all just pretending, but in that moment it felt so real. Our love for her was so strong and her hope in our message was just overwhelming. I love being a missionary!
                This Saturday I get to go out into São Paulo to go proselyting! How crazy is that?! In just a couple days I will be out in the streets of Brazil sharing the gospel in Portuguese with real people! Haha, I am so excited for it! But to make up for my last letter, I´ll be completely honest with you- I am also really nervous. I don´t feel ready for it quite yet, but I know it will be fine. With the Lord on my side, what could go wrong?
                 And now for the funny story of the week! We got two new Elders from Provo in our district today. Because Provo doesn´t have the immersion that we do, they are a bit behind in the language. They are both great though and fit right in. Anyways, so last night we were practicing teaching with our teacher in class. Elder Child (one of the newbies) was supposed to be a member present in the lesson. He kind of zoned out in the lesson though. I am pretty sure he was on the verge of sleep. So then our teacher, who is pretending to be an investigator turns and asks him to share an experience. He nearly jumps out of his seat when she calls his name. It was pretty funny. Then of course he didn´t know what she had asked, so he had her repeat it. Some how he misunderstood her though. He thought he heard "cantar" which means to sing. I wish you could have seen the panicked look on his face! Haha, I think we should have let him think that was correct and had him sing a bit for us :)
                   Alright, I am just about out of time for this week! I love you guys! Have a wonderful week!
-Sister Maxwell

Beautiful Day, Beautiful Sister Missionaries

Locked Doors and Companion fun

Minha!
       P-days are the best day ever  :) They really are fantastic though- temple, family and freedom from  the CTM! Woohoo! It was really cool to go out into the city last week  and get to interact with people in a more normal environment. I need  to learn a whole lot more Portuguese, but it was awesome. Oh, there is  this little shop here that makes these leather scripture covers that  you can get personalized with your name and mission. And then they  burn any picture you want into it too. So cool! And pretty cheap too!  So I ordered a set for my scriptures. I need a case anyways, so why  not get a sweet Brazilian one, right?
         I have a couple stories for you guys this week! The first one happened just yesterday. So here to learn the language we get to spend about an hour each day using computers and the TALL program. It is really helpful. Well, yesterday we went up to one of the labs (a room with about ten computers) and  set to work. When we finished up, we went to leave, and the door  wouldn't open... At first I thought the Elders were just messing  with us, but I gave the handle a try and sure enough, we were locked in. The little lock knob thing was broken off on the inside and we were stuck! So then we had to wait for someone to pass by the room and try to yell through the door and explain in Portuguese that we were stuck. Haha, it was quite the process. They don't teach you the words you need for that sort of situation in Preach My Gospel. Eventually we got the point across and the other missionaries went for help. After about an hour of being stuck in the room it became apparent that we were not getting out through that door. So we took the ties of each of the Elders in my district and tied them together to form a rope. We then put it out the window (thank goodness there are no screens here!) and climbed down to the ground floor. It was awesome! Probably the coolest CTM experience ever.
         My second story is about one of our lessons. My companions and I teach first, and then the two sets of Elders in my district go and teach the same person. Well, when we came out of our lesson the Elders were in the hall waiting for their turn  to teach. This time, our investigator was one of our instructors. He had just changed in the bathroom in the hall into his investigator  "costume". Our Elders found his stuff in the bathroom and so they  decided to put it on. Haha! So then Irmão Alonso opens the door for the lesson and sees the Elders wearing his tie and his sweater and his glasses! Haha! It was the funniest thing ever! We stayed to see his reaction of course. He greeted them as usually at first but then when he noticed his face just went dead. He was so close to breaking character! Haha. They made it through their whole lesson as normal though. It wasn't until they got back to class and Irmão Alonso came in that he finally broke and we all laughed about it.
          Okay, so I hope you really enjoyed that first story, but it wasn't totally true. I  hope I had you going a bit with it! Haha, the Elders we stopped in the hall actually just went and got one off the janitors and he came and unlocked the door for us. The tie rope would have been cooler though. We did decide who we'd kill off first if it came to that though ;) I would have lived- they all need me for help in class with Portuguese!
          On a more serious note, everything here is going really well. I didn't realize how much I had learned until a new batch of American missionaries came in. That was when I realized how much Portuguese that I actually knew. It is amazing how the Lord has helped me to learn this language and progress! I still have tons to learn, but I am to the point where I don't need notes in my lessons anymore!! Woohoo! It is the best feeling ever to be freed from that. We are getting better and better at teaching each day. We currently have two investigators we teach each day and then we also practice teaching a member too- like those after dinner spiritual thoughts. Those are really nice because you can just have a good discussion about the gospel! Our actually lessons have gone really well too though. Our first investigator committed to baptism. One of the ones we are teaching now has a baptismal date and the other one is on the way. I still can't believe how much I love them even though they are just instructors acting. It is cool.
          This past Saturday was a really hard day. That was the day we started teaching two new investigators, and our language time with an instructor doubled! It was a very stressful, mentally demanding day. Plus, we didn't get to really celebrate Halloween. We wore orange and black, but that was it. Then Sunday was fast Sunday. But no one here remembered to tell us, the newbies, that in the CTM the fast starts after lunch! So we showed up for dinner only to find out that we weren't going to be fed. That was just one more thing on top of a very hard day! That evening though, everything turned around. We had an amazing discussion about the  scriptures together as a district. It was just what I needed! I wish I had time to write more, but I am going to have to go! I love you guys! Have a great week!
-Sister Maxwell

Portuguese, São Paulo, and Cockroachs

          So first off I love it here! The language is difficult, but it is coming along really well. We taught an "investigator" and entire lesson in Portuguese on our second night here! That was crazy. We had it all planned out before hand, but then the investigators have to go and ask questions... Why in the world would they do that?! Haha, the questions are the hardest part. You don't have any prep for those. Yet those are the things that matter the most and you really need to be able to explain and testify about! I probably sound like a caveman when I talk, but I am always able to get my point across... eventually. I heard ta really funny quote about the CTM-  "Your first week at the CTM is like drinking from a fire hydrant." You get a little bit of water, but mostly you just hurt your face. Haha, I love that! It is so funny! I don't know that it is completely true for me though. It is a bit overwhelming to transition overnight to a completely new language, but it hasn't been too bad honestly. I am to the point where I can understand just about everything that our instructors say and what other Americans say. I still get lost talking with the other Brazilian missionaries though!

They talk so fast and slur everything together and drop out a bunch of words. It will come eventually though. We speak Portuguese all the time here.

          Oh, so I did make a funny language mistake in one of my lessons though. I was trying to tell our investigator, Jennifer that I was going to school to become an elementary school teacher. I didn't have the vocab for that though, so I tried to say that I was becoming a teacher for children. Well, I used the word filhos for children because that's what we learned in our language studies. Only no one ever specified that filhos means your own children... Haha! So then I had to go through and explain that I don't actually have children. It was pretty funny. Now I know the difference though.

         It is so cool to be able to share meals with native Brazilians. I feel like that is one of the best ways to learn- just talking with them. They are all so nice and patient with us. I love them! The other day when we were eating with some Brazilians we somehow came to the topic of pancakes. We then spent a good 5-10 minutes trying to explain what pancakes were in Portuguese to these Brazilians! It was hilarious. At one point they asked us to draw it for them... haha, but pancakes are just circles, so that was no help. I never realized how difficult of a concept a pancake was. I love the Brazilian people though. Already! It is amazing how much love I have developed for them in such a short time.

          Monday night we were in a lesson with Jennifer and as I was answering one of her questions and then testifying of the Savior and His love for her, I was overwhelmed by a huge feeling of love for her. I started crying, of course (I'm definitely a Maxwell). Even though I knew that she was just acting and was already a member, I so badly wanted her to know the gospel was true and to understand the joy that comes from a relationship with Christ. It was absolutely amazing. That's why I am here. That's why I am on a mission. I am so excited to spend the next 18 months completely dedicated to the Lord. I want to share the joy of the gospel with everyone! Now I just need to get this language down so I can actually do that... 

           So to answer some of your questions: I did get to go out of the CTM this morning to go to the temple. We went to São Paulo. They did a session in English for us. So that was cool, though I kind of wanted it to be in Portuguese. We get to go out into the city after e-mailing for a bit too. We can do some shopping and etc. Other than p-day though, we are just in the CTM (well, later on you get one day to go out and proselyte). We spend all day just studying and teaching. It is exhausting, but wonderful. The food is really good here too. Most of the time I have no idea what I am actually eating... but it tastes good, so that's all that matters! I always ask what it is so I can learn the names, but my Portuguese isn't good enough to understand an actually in depth description of the food. Oh, they also have pre-cut toilet paper here. Weird.

             The CTM is really open too. There are a bunch of garden areas and the ground floor is just open to outside. So that means we get some bugs in there... The other day when we were walking through the garden to lunch, my companion started to say something, but I just kept walking... and stepped on a giant cockroach(or however you spell that)! It squished all over the bottom of my shoe. It was so gross! I asked my companion why she didn't say anything and she said she couldn't think of how to say it in Portuguese! Haha, I told her that preventing me from stepping on a huge bug was cause enough to use English!

                I hope you all stay warm up there in New York. If you ever get cold, just think of me down here in the tropics surrounded by palm trees in the heat of summer ;) Haha, I love you guys!

- Sister Maxwell

Temple in  São Paulo



Whole District at the temple

 Sister O'Reilly, Sister Su'a, and Sister Maxwell

I made it to Brazil!

           I made it to Brazil! It is sunny, 75 and perfect here. I love it already. My p-day is on Wednesdays. So that should be when you'll hear from me next. I am in tio of sisters here. I met both of my companions in Atlanta and we flew out together. Their names are Sister O'Reilly from Connecticut and Sister Su'a from Missouri. They are both great. We are the only three sisters in our district. On my first plane from Rochester I sat next to this super cute little old lady on her way to see her first grandchild. It was so fun to talk with her and get to know her. After chatting for about an hour I found out she was from Victor! Haha, what are the chances? I gave her my mission blog info so maybe she will follow it :) In between flights I wandered the airport for a bit and then found an Elder on his way to Columbia. We both accidentally introduced ourselves using first names before we realized we are missionaries now. Haha, after that I had the Sister Maxwell thing down. We got some food (Panda Express!) and then found a Sister headed to Peru. That Sister and I then found about 20 other missionaries headed to Peru. But non going to Brazil! They all left for their flight and then just about 5 minutes later I ran into two Elders that just arrived from Salt Lake headed for Brazil. We gathered more and more missionaries until our flight departed around 8. No one else heading to Brazil arrived nearly as early as I did. I guess Rochester is so small that was the only flight they could get me on. It wasn't a bad wait though. On my nine and a half hour flight from Atlanta I sat next to a Brazilian man. He spoke 7 languages and had visited 49 countries! Crazy! He taught me a bit of Portuguese and told me about things to see and do in Brazil.
         I can't wait to get out and actually start serving! Haha, it is probably bad if I am ready to get out and I have only been in the CTM (Missionary Training Center) one day. The CTM is great though. When we got in this morning they fed us breakfast (there was this thick, creamy warm milk stuff that was really good. I don't remember what it was called... it almost tasted like milk after you eat cereal, but thicker and better. And the juice!! Holy moly the juice was amazing. SO GOOD!) and then gave us an hour and a half to unpack, shower, nap, etc. I just unpacked... I am a bit more organized than my companions ;) Oh, as I was unpacking my knee got cut open some how. I don't know what happened. All the sudden I just noticed blood all over the floor. It wasn't bad though. And thankfully the floor is all tile so it was super easy to clean up. My room is on the fourth floor and looks out over São Paulo. It is a beautiful view. Our windows don't have screens so we can open it right up to outside. That's pretty cool. As long as no bugs come in! My room has space for six sisters in it, but there are only three of us right now. We may get more sisters in in the weeks to come, but for now it is pretty spacious. My favorite moment so far was walking into the CTM and having the Sister Swenson (the CTM president's wife) pin on my name tag. I keep looking down to check and make sure it is still there. It is the best feeling ever to have that name tag on with my name right next to Christ's. It is an honor and a moment I have been looking forward to my entire life.
             I have a bunch of pictures to send already, but I don't have time to today. We have meetings with the president and then head straight into classes after this. I have a feeling that after this, no one is going to be nice and speak to us in English anymore! Let the immersion begin! I am super exited to learn the language and be able to communicate with the people. Oh, random fact, they have purple trees here! Bright purple! The trees are all in bloom and some of them have bright, lavender purple blossoms. They only have a few leaves so the trees actually look purple. It is really cool. I will have to get some pictures and send them to you at some point.
          Alright, I have to go! I love you all!
-Sister Maxwell