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.

Well, I was thinking about this all morning while we were on our way to and from the temple, and I have come up with a blank. Nothing really spectacular or amazing has happened this week so I don’t really know what to write to you about. We did all the normal stuff all week. We had class, ate, more class, ate, gym time, slept….and over and over again. Normal week. We taught our first lesson in Portuguese. It was pretty cool. On the week that you don’t proselyte, you do this thing called TRC. I really have no idea what it stands for, but we’re supposed to teach members from around the area. They come in and pretend they’re investigators. There is a camera in the room and they record your lesson and then you watch it afterward. Apparently they didn’t have any members the day we taught because we just ended up teaching some Brazilian missionaries. It was still good though. We got through the lesson without too many snags. My parts are really simple and to the point because I don’t know much Portuguese. I just say what I know, but that’s okay. It was cool. We watched it and I don’t think we did too badly. They even asked us a few questions and we were able to understand them and answer their questions alright. It was cool. So did Kelly make it back yet? I bet she’s having so much fun at home with the family. I understand how hard it is now to be away and I’ve only been gone a month! Crazy! I can’t believe 1/18th of my mission is already over. I got to work really hard for the next 17! It’s so crazy how short we’re out here. The time just flies. I think its going to fly even faster when I get out of the MTC. It’s actually really strange. The days seem really long. We work and study all day every day…but the weeks fly. It’s weird. When people ask me how long I’ve been here, I want to say a week, but it’s been 5! Holy cow!

Oh yeah, and I can receive emails from anyone on my myldsmail account, Melissaorto@myldsmail.net I just have to write them back. So you can tell people they can email me if they want. Just let them know that I will probably write them back on www.missionties.com If not, it will be 3 weeks later in the mail. Just fyi. So….hows the preparing for Thanksgiving going? I have heard that they have a big lunch for thanksgiving with normal thanksgiving food mixed with Brazilian food. I have been told they serve turkey and mashed potatoes and pies and ice cream. I sure hope it’s good. I’m thinking I may not want to eat breakfast tomorrow so I can eat more at lunch! I won’t lie though; the food here really isn’t bad. The rice and beans never fail. Every day they serve it. Then they serve other random things…a lot of meat. I have salad almost every day. They serve really bizarre desserts. I’ve only had a few good ones. They also serve strange fruit. I haven’t found too many that I like. We’ll see what it’s like in Recife. I can’t wait to go, but I’m also really nervous. Portuguese is hard!!!

Mom, I got your letters this week. Thank you! They always make my day. Getting mail here is like Christmas. Seriously. We’re going proselytizing again this week. I’m excited. If it’s anything like last time, I will LOVE it. Last time was so amazing. I’m sure it will be cool again. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Oh yeah, one last thing. Sis K and I taught our first short lesson in Portuguese to one of the teachers, Sis. Michelotto. We were practicing it. Anyway…after we were done she critiqued us and told us what to do better and what went well and all that. They we just ended up in a conversation about Portuguese and she told us that God will bless us so much learning it. We are learning it for him. We didn’t choose to learn it for ourselves. We’re learning it to serve him. Wow, I never thought about that. How true though. I never chose to learn Portuguese. I’m doing it to share the Gospel with my brothers and sisters. Of course God will bless me to learn it. I mean, I knew he would bless me, but I never thought about the fact that the only reason I’m learning it is for him. Never in my life would I say, hey, you know, I should learn Portuguese. Yeah anyway…I thought that was a good thought. Well, I guess I better go now. There are a million elders waiting to use the computers and I’ve been on for a while. I love you so much. Thanks for all the love and support. I love hearing from you. Keep up the good work! Keep sharing the gospel! It’s amazing! Tchau! Com amor, Sister Ortolani

1 month down 17 to go.

This week was ótimo!(great). We went proselyting on friday and I was scared out of my mind thursday night cause I thought that it was going to be really scary and I don´t really speak português yet but let me tell you....it was the best day yet! The Lord really takes care of his missionaries. I prayed to have courage, to have the spirit, and the gift of tongues and he blessed me with all three. It was fantastic. We met 4 people who spoke english, which was cool, and a whole bunch of other people. We talked to this man about how God loves all of us and has restored his gospel on the earth through a prophet and also revealed the book of mormon. He talked to us for a while just asking questions and stuff. Then we decided instead of giving him a pass-along card, we would give him book of mormon. It was amazing. He seemed genuinely interested. He was asking us why we chose to talk to him out of all the people on the street. He seemed really touched that we were sharing a message with him. It was soo cool. We met another girl who said she had studied philosophy in New York City and had a lot of questions about life. We gave her a pass-along card and told her that the book would answer many questions. It was so cool. We also met another woman and shared our message with her and she was so sweet. We gave her a book of mormon too and told her to read Moroni 10 and the introduction. We told her it contained a promise that if she would read the book of mormon and pray to know if it was true that God would answer her and tell her that it was. She seems genuinely interested too. Before we parted ways she wanted to make sure that she understood which chapter she was supposed to read and then gave us both hugs. She was so nice. Sure, there were people that listened to the message and took the card to be polite, and a few that just shrugged us off and didn´t want to listen, but the people that really showed interest made up for all those other people. We truly had the Lords help and guidance as we walked around. It was a place called Avonida Paulista or something like that. Apparently its equivalent to Wall Street for Brasil. There were a lot of people walking around. It was so great. It really made me want to work on my português so that I can share more. The Lord definitely blessed us though and we were able to talk to many people and understand and answer most of the questions people were asking us. Wow. What a wonderful day that was.

Today we got to go to the São Paulo Temple. It was beautiful. They have stained glass windows in the front and in the celestial room. It was cool. For lunch today, our teacher took us out to a restaurant where they go around and cut off pieces of meat right on your plate. It was interesting. I actually ate a little chicken heart. It wasn´t bad. It tasted pretty good but it was very chewy. I really like getting to know a new culture. Its cool to experience new things like that. Oh yeah, on our way to proselyting....we saw a Sam´s club...and a walmart. Haha. Apparently they have them here.

On sunday we had a fireside (like we always do) and President Jackson and his wife spoke. They are the mission presidents of the São Paulo Interlagos mission. Guess where they´re from? Bountiful. Guess who´s ward they´re in? Nana and Pàpa! I was pretty excited when they started talking about Bountful that I had to run up and talk to them afterwards. It was pretty cool. Its strange how small the world really is.

I was showing my district pictures of my family the other day and my teacher was looking at them. He stopped at one of the pictures of dad and said, Wow! He looks like a really cool person. I was just like, what? Haha. He said he thought dad just looked really happy. Then yesterday I was talking about how I spent the last three weeks before I came here at home and how my mom and I played video games all the time. Paçanha (my teacher) was like, holy cow! I want to meet your parents. They sound so cool. I assured him that they are. I really do miss you. My district probably gets sick of me talking about you. It seems like its a regular occurance that I bring you up. Sounds like things are good at home though. I just wish I could be there. Oh well, I´ll spend Christmas in Brasil I guess. Haha.

My mission address is

Brazil Recife MissionRua São Francisco, 110/102
Paissandu-Recife-PE
52010-020
Brazil

I love you so much! And miss you tons! Com Amor, Sister Ortolani

Pictures from Brazil

Melissa sent some pictures from the MTC. Enjoy.

First picture is of all the American Sisters on Halloween. We dressed up as Elders. haha

The second picture is of my whole district. The third is of Elder Lobo. The one I told you about earlier. He left yesterday to go to his mission but he was really cool. He spoke a little english and he always told me that I had a really good accent. My teacher actually told me that too. Hopefully when I come home I´ll be speaking portugués like a brazilian!

Mel's 4th week out

Oi! Tudo Bem! Well, 4th week...here I come! I can’t believe we’re starting our 4th week already. Pretty crazy. The time has really flown by. I know we really haven’t been here that long but it kinda feels like we just got here. Well, I didn’t tell you before, but when we got here we had to surrender all our money and our debit cards. The gave us 60 reais and told us they’d give us 60 more in 5 weeks. So here I am on my 3rd week and I only have 15 left. Yikes. I developed some pictures to send home and it cost me 20 reis! Holy cow. Yeah, I didn’t know it was going to cost that much. So now I don’t have enough money to mail them home. I don’t have envelopes big enough to put pictures in and I still need money to get on the internet and mail letters so I’ll have to figure that out in 2 weeks or so. I’m going to borrow an elder’s card reader and try to send an email with pictures. I hope that works.

Thank you so much for the package! It made my whole week! I was so excited to get stuff. Oh, I talked to one of the ladies in charge here and she said that the MTC doesn’t have to pay for clothes so if you want to send that dress along....that would also be appreciated. You could send me one of my skirts too if you want, like the blue one with the polka dots. Turns out that my skirts only have to be below the knee. Could you send me hangars too? Turns out I should have brought them cause I haven’t seen them sold anywhere around here. My clothes just get wrinkly really easily. I can’t believe I got that package a week after you sent it. I got the letter from mom the same day as the package too. Did you send them on the same day?

And I saw that you signed up for mission ties. I think that might be fun. How much did it cost? I wasn’t really sure how it all works. I do know that I can write to anyone though and just have them email the letter so they get an email with my handwritten letter attached. Pretty cool. Oh, I got a letter from Nana and Papa so if you could tell them that I received it that would be very much appreciated. I love getting mail. It’s always so exciting. Can you give me nana’s email? I forgot to write it down.

Oh...I translated something....and our district quotes it all the time...anytime someone says QUESTION.

Pergunta: Qual urso é melhor?? J That means: Question: Which bear is best? Lol. Yeah. We’re dumb but we laugh every time. One of the guys in my district is hilarious. He watched the office all the time so he says quotes from it all the time. It’s great.

Oh yes, I had a really hard time deciding which scripture I wanted on the plaque. I really like 1 Nephi 10:19. I think you can put that one on there. I also really like 3 Nephi 20:30-31 and 1 Nephi 9:6. Moroni 10:35 or something like that is also really good. I had a really hard time deciding.

Well, the language is still coming along. Slowly but surely. We’re going proselyting on Friday and I’m scared outta my mind. Holy cow. I can’t speak enough Portuguese to have a conversation with people. Yikes. It will be a learning experience for sure. My companion is progressing so much faster than me and the rest of the district. It’s insane. She kinda makes me feel inadequate but I guess that’s not really her making me feel that way. I’m the only one that can make me feel that way, but MAN...Portuguese is just REALLY hard for me. I just keep telling myself that I’ve only been here 3 weeks and I can still learn more cause I have 6 weeks left at the MTC. Still scary. Well, I don’t know what else to tell you about. I should have probably written some stuff down but oh well. I hope everything is going good at home.

I love you so much. I hope all is well. I love hearing from you so keep writing lots!

Com Amor,

Sister Ortolani