Mel's mission pics

Mel in the Recife Mission office

The Recife Temple

Recife missionaries

And Mel with the "Holy Scripture"

Street contact

MTC missionaries

Sisters Ortolani, Woodward, & Kennard

Finally in Recife

Well, what a week it has been. Holy Cow! So…Friday was the big day. I received my trainer (or Mom as they call it in the mission language). Her name is Sister Bueno. I actually stayed with her and her companion the last week for Christmas and stuff so it’s good because I have already become acquainted with her. Lets see….first off, we went shopping for groceries. Talk about an adventure! So we all know I don’t speak Portuguese…well, try finding food in the grocery store when you don’t speak the language and the food is all different. It was a challenge to talk to S. Bueno and tell her what I wanted to eat or buy…but we made it through. I pretty much have to bring my dictionary with me everywhere. After that, we went out to visit investigators and recent converts. No one was home. It is kind of rough lately because everyone is partying or out of town for the holidays. We taught one lady and her son…but she was very close minded and didn’t think it mattered what church you went to as long as you went to church. We went around and tried to find other people after that. After trying multiple places we prayed for help and decided to try knocking on a random door. BAM. A woman named Teresa let us in. We taught her and her friend Viviane the first lesson. We invited them to church on Sunday and they said they would. Well, Sunday came around and we went to pick them up…they weren’t there. Apparently they decided to go to the beach instead. So that was quite a let-down. I was looking forward to that. I have heard that people are very nice and accepting here but they don’t follow through with their commitments. It would appear that that is the truth. Let’s see….yesterday was way different. We went to church and I had a hard time staying awake the whole time because I didn’t understand much of what was being said. My brain kind of turns off. I hope that changes real soon cause I NEED to learn this language. So anyway...after church we ate at the bishop’s house (who´s entire family speaks English). That was cool. I actually got to share the message this time. I only help with the lessons a little bit because people have a hard time understanding me because I don’t know how to speak well. So I tried sharing it in Portuguese but when I didn’t know a word I would say it in English and they would translate it for me. It was very cool. After that, we went and taught a member named Lula and his mom Maria who is inactive. That was a lot of fun. They were really nice and Lula speaks a little English as well. I have been feeling really alone because I can’t understand anyone and I can’t communicate very well what I want to say so I think God decided to give me a break because after we taught Lula and his family, we taught another woman named Taciana and her mom Eva. Taciana also spoke English. It was really nice and more relaxing. You know me. I am my mother’s daughter and I worry a lot. So it’s been quite stressful here. I had a little breakdown on Saturday when we went to the temple and their visa machine wouldn’t work and my card wouldn’t work at any of the atm´s I tried to get cash from. I didn’t know what to do or explain anything. It was sooo frustrating. I wish sis. Bueno spoke English. I really think I would learn more cause then she could explain to me what things were instead of me guessing or just not understanding and moving on. All the American missionaries I´ve talked to keep saying, you’re going to love it here! I´m sure I will….I just need to learn this dang language! I can’t wait till I can help more in lessons and talk to people on the street with no problem. AHHHH. I´m sure it will get better. Like I´ve said a billion times….God sent me here with a purpose. He wouldn’t have sent me if I couldn’t learn. So that’s my week. Recife is beautiful. It is ridiculously hot ALL the time. I am constantly sweaty. I´m getting used to it. Everyone is sweaty so it’s really not that big of a deal. Also….all the women hug and kiss on the cheeks when they meet new people. That has been quite an adjustment for me. I´m getting used to it now. Thank you so much for the Christmas presents. I opened them the day after Christmas. Mmmm. I love the chicken in a biscuit crackers and the cookies you sent. Food is always a good present. There are hardly any familiar brands of food here. So…I know you´re sending me a box soon and I have compiled a list of things…IF you have space or the means to send, it would be very much appreciated. -Deodorant. (They don’t really sell stick deodorant here) I like the lady speed stick freesia smell. Well, I like any smell except the powder smell actually. -Hand towels. The towels I have seen here are CRAP. They don’t absorb anything. I need kitchen and bathroom hand towels. Not necessary, but if you have space.-If it’s possible…I would still like my dress and more of my clothes. I can wear pretty much anything here. All the clothes I used to wear to church, I can wear here. They aren’t strict on it at all. Cotton blouses would be nice. I have some that are not button up but are still nicer looking that would be good. I know you packed up some of my clothes though so if that’s too much of a problem, I will deal. Oh yes, and my shorts! P-days we can wear shorts and I would like those plaid shorts that I have….or the blue ones with the pin-stripes down them. -Any other food you can fit…like cereal is cool! Oh yes…and do you have any idea how to get rid of ants? We have ants EVERYWHERE. They are in all the houses I have been in also. I don’t know what the deal is. We clean…but they are always there. So annoying. If you know how, let me know. I loved talking to you on Christmas. I hope you’re doing well. I love you and I miss you so much. I will talk to you later. Love, Melissa

Extra notes: You’re going to have to wait for a year from April to give me a hug...but I have a feeling it will go by very quickly. Man...I am getting eaten alive also. I think the mosquitoes know I´m American. Ha-ha. I have sweet blood or something. :)


Man if I can learn this language...I wouldn’t have so much trouble. I do love teaching people. I just wish I could express myself better. I WILL have amazing stories when all is said and done here...that’s for sure.

So again, a pretty uneventful week. We learned some more things....ate more....pooped more :) That’s pretty much missionary life in the MTC. Ha-ha. We did go and teach in this thing they call TRC (Teaching Resource Center) where members from around São Paulo will come in and pretend to be investigators. We taught our second lesson (The Plan of Salvation) in Portuguese. I pretty much put everything in God’s hands because I really didn’t have sufficient time to prepare for it. We started preparing it only like 2 days before. I worked hard to remember everything and when we actually taught the lesson it all went fine. I was super nervous though. We actually had an investigator in our room with a bunch of members. It was very cool but very nerve-wracking. God blessed us so much though. I remembered the majority of what I had prepared to say, and was able to say it understandable and simply. Even though Portuguese is killing me....I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to learn it. When else would I learn another language with so much help from the Lord? It’s really good too because my vocabulary is so small in Portuguese that I am forced to keep my lessons simple....like they should be. There is a quote from John Taylor that says: It is true intelligence for a man to take a subject that is mysterious and great in itself, and to unfold and simplify it so that a child can understand it. I feel like I am really forced to do that right now. It’s so good though because in English...I think I would be tempted to tell the investigators everything and that would only confuse them. All they need to know right now are the basics.

Oh yeah... I forgot to tell you last week...when we went to the São Paulo temple; we did the session with President and Sister Jackson. They are the mission presidents of the São Paulo Interlagos mission and they are in Nana and Papa’s homeward. Pretty cool. I had met them previously because they spoke at the MTC but it was cool to do the session with them. This world is so small. Oh and I don’t remember if I told you or not, but I met a guy that went to school with Erica and Alexa Ortolani. He saw my name and was like, hey, I know some Ortolanis’. Elder Cook is his name. He is a great missionary. He is actually in our ward. Sister Kennard and I have actually trained a few districts on how to use their planner and how to study effectively and his district was one of those. He and his companion Elder Clark will be great missionaries. You’ll have to pass that on to Nana and Papa so they can tell Kent or something...or you could tell Kent. Either way. That might be cool to hear.

I’m growing accustomed to the fact that I can’t talk to ya'll every day...and that’s okay. I get to talk to you every week. I’m really trying to lose myself in the work. I know it will be a lot easier when I get in the field. Can you pray for my trainer? I am praying hard that she will be patient with me. I need someone who is very patient and understanding. It’s going to be a rough month trying to speak in broken Portuguese. I don’t know if I’ll even be able to understand what she says to me let alone any of the members or investigators. I think I’m going to feel very alone. It’s going to be an interesting experience but I’m really looking forward to actually getting to share my testimony and the spirit with people that are investigating the church. Plus I’m excited to actually get to Recife. There is 1 girl that just got to the MTC last week....A Brazilian...that is going to Recife. This is the first sister that I’ve met that’s going there. There are a few other Elders as well. I don’t think my mission is very big because there are always small amounts going there. It’s cool though. I hope that we get to spend more time together as a whole and getting to know the mission president and stuff. That will be a really awesome experience. I don’t really know what is going to happen once I get there since it will only be 2 days before Christmas. It’s going to be a very different Christmas this year. I don’t know what to expect, but that’s okay. It will be so humbling to actually spend Christmas really celebrating Christ’s birth. I feel like the majority of Christmas is centered on presents and candy and decorations....and family (which is good) but that it will be cool to really reflect on why we have Christmas in the first place, you know?

Did I give you a sufficient enough letter to post on the blog this week? I love the family. Seriously. Can I say that? My family is so amazing. I couldn’t have asked for a better family. Seriously. I love you so much.

Well, I’m glad that I make you proud :) Oh yes...I am pretty positive that I will be calling you on Christmas but I don’t know any of the details yet. If I can’t call you....I’ll pretty much be heartbroken. Did I mention that I’m very jealous that you will be in Utah for the all the family Christmas parties? I miss nana and papa.

Can you please tell Dad to learn Portuguese....that would be AMAZING. I really don’t want to lose my Portuguese when I get home...but I’m contemplating learning Italian when I get back...but I don’t know if that would be very useful. Maybe I will move there for a little while or something...that would be amazing. I’ve just heard that Italian is very close to Portuguese. I think if I learned Spanish I would forget Portuguese but I’m still thinking about that too. You better have your phone on your hip!!! If I call and you don’t answer...that would be a very very sad day. I’m just about out of time though...maybe 5 more minutes. So in case I don’t send another one. I love you. I’ll write again next week. Last P-day in the CTM!!! Whoa. I only have 2 weeks left here...that’s crazy.