Casa, Dolce Casa

Welcome friends, family and people who want to know what is happening in my life. As you will all now know, or will come to know very soon.. (this means while reading this blog post), I, Sister Reising, have officially come home from my mission. Yes. I do know that this may spawn a lot of questions and that is exactly why I made this blog post. I had been on my mission for a little over 7 months and during that time I learned many many things—how to speak Portugues, how to love and serve others, how to live and love everyone through the thick and the thin, and generally just how to be a better person. However, after much prayer, fasting, reading scriptures, talking to my mission president, everything.. I felt like it was just my time to go home. I am here. I am happy, and I am ready to move on to the next phase of my life. As my life motto continues to be, “Live life without regrets.” I can honestly say that I enjoyed serving my mission—it was an amazing opportunity to learn and grow and serve in ways that I could not have even imagined. But as I sit here in my house I know that my place now is here. There really isn’t a whole lot to it. I love you all and I look forward to helping and serving and loving you all from a much closer proximity ☺ Ate mais..

Almost 7 months

Hello friends!

This week I got another batch of letters (packages are still in Floripa), but I should be getting those this week.. I got letters from:
Ludwigs--Thank you for your thoughts. I really appreciated them!
Blanks-- Your sticker packages make my and the other Sisters here SO HAPPY!! Glad to hear that things are going well!
Ginny--Really appreciated your point of view. I agree. Thank you Ginny! (I'm the cat...)
Karren-- Got the Primary package.. working on that..
Natalie-- Hawaii?! Jealous.
(These are the ones I remember.. there maybe were more..)

Happy Birthday week mom! This week we got to know our area a little better.. Sister Mendes is from Fortaleza, she joined the church 9 years ago and she is a fire cracker of entertainment. I have taught her a lot of English-- things that are of the utmost importance (words like boring, awkward, nevermind, random, creeper). There aren't Português substitutes for these.. so I had to help her out a bit.. haha We also enjoy singing "Singin in the Rain" when it is raining outside AND I taught her the hop/skip thing from the Wizard of Oz. The weather here is random. For a few days it is freezing cold and raining, and then a really hot stream comes through. I think it will continue to be ADD like this for a while. The only problem arises when it looks like it will rain and we dress all wintery and when we get to the neighborhood we are working (40 mins away by bus), it decides to be hot.. I had to buy and use flipflops the other day because the boots and the sweater I had were killing me in the intense heat... The umbrella that I had though I still used (just to block the sun). Right now we don't have a ton of new people that we are teaching.. mostly just reactivating members. Sundays are always a huge gamble, waiting at the doors and hoping that all the people you invited will show up to church. It's always great when they do come!!
There are many ups and downs here on the mission, but one thing I have learned is to just keep smiling. :D Hope all is well back home.

Sister Reising

Pictures from Chapecó

So, as promised last week, we totally went to a museum in town.. There is a picture of me contemplating death in a death urn, Sister Mendes and me in a picture of Chapecó and the stadium that we live next to.. The catholic church and a cool statue.. eating 'crepes' (NOT crepes..).. and the fattest dog I have ever seen. I think that my companion and I laughed harder than ever when we saw this creature with a tiny head and a HUGE body.. I hear that there is a youtube video of this dog... .bahahaha

All is well. Just working.. I enjoy the comp, we are working a LOT with inactive members right now just to get to know the area.. but all is good. Hope all is well there!

Sister Reising

Map of Chapecó and the stadium we live next to



Me and Sister Mendes in front of a Catholic church and iconic statue for Chapecó


Brazilian style crepes


Funny dog

(Note from Sam's mom - be sure to check out last week's email, which I just posted yesterday because I was traveling all week. Sorry about that!)

August 15 letter

Dear all..

Hello world! I am still here in Chapecó. You might be thinking.. ah. Then she wasn't transferred!! Slow down fast thinkers, I still WAS transferred.. to the other side of the same city. :) I am still living in the same apartment (where I CAN receive letters - see new address below) and I have a new companion.. Sister Mendes. She is a short fiesty northerner from Brazil and I like her. A LOT. She is the first Brazilian that I have met that enjoys breaking into song and dance, and taking random pictures (today we are being tourists here and we are going to try and find touristy things to do.. I think there are like two things. maybe..) We plan on being goofy and resting before we go off to work this evening.

This week was better. The first couple of days were a nice break in the schedule with the transfer that happened--I was companions with Sister Stahly (an American here) for ONE day! It was magical. We sang musicals and cracked jokes that I haven't been able to make for months. We also enjoyed some ice cream in the street as a celebration of the beginning and end of our companionship.

But now I am working on the other side of Chapecó.. Ramo 1. Honestly it feels like I am in a completely other world.. it is more of the down town, nicer houses.. feels more like a neighborhood in America than the other. It was also great because this companion trusts my opinion and lets me help! We bought a map and I am completely in control of where we go.. we got lists of members and are trying to get to know everyone. It's nice that I get to teach and share and help with what I already know here with her and she is more than happy to let me. Being useful makes the time pass a lot faster. We also enjoy eating meals together and we chat a lot. She is definitely a good companion for me. :D

I would like to throw out there that my birthday is happening at the end of next month and if you want packages to reach me in time, send them now-ish.. (grin) We will have a transfer the week before my birthday so hopefully I will get things then.. As to what to send? I would love rainbow chip frosting and rainbow chip cake mix.. really any kind of cake or brownie mix would be AMAZING. Any chocolate chips.. any corn bread, MUFFINS.. anything in a box that is delicious. If a box is not in your fancy, I love stickers, things to color, and honestly I just enjoy reading the words "Happy Birthday!" I hope that this helps those that were asking.

I hope all is well for you! Till next week,

Sister Reising

Address for letters here:
Rua Pará, 53 D Apt 03
Bairro Maria Goretti
Chapecó-SC 89801-400

(Send packages to mission home address at Florianopolis - but letters can go to the new one mentioned above.)

Six Month Mark

Hello!!!
Tomorrow is my 6th month anniversary! No, I am not going to do anything special, but the day in itself is a milestone. This week we had a Festa Julhna which is kind of a crazy pioneer western thing.. but anyways... I thought that I would send a small message and some pictures.

Eu acho que seria um ideá bom a mandar um Email em Português também. Esta semana tenha muito sol para algumas dias mas agora esta ficando frio de novo. Eu espero que eu não vou ter muitas coisas a fazer la fora, mas vamos ver. Esta semana também vamos ter uma transferência. Eu não sei que vai acontecer, mas eu acho que eu vou ter uma outra companheira e talvez uma outra área. Eu sou muito feliz para receber cartas essa semana também! Próximo semana eu vou saber o que vai acontecer. Eu espero que todas la são boes! Ate mais!

Use Google translator. I hope it doesn't botch it too much.. just a hint of my life. haha

These pictures are of the baptism here, my english class in Ingleses, and some pictures from the party. Much love!

Sister Reising

Warm in Winter

Hello Friends and Fam..

This past week was WARM!!!! miracle! Thanks for all of the prayers.. Really appreciated them. It is raining today, but it is still warmer than before, so BONUS! it was great. This week was pretty good. Marked a couple baptisms but it was raining on Sunday so the people didn't go to church. Always some kind of an excuse.. Then again, here people don't have cars and for some the church is about an hour walk away, so we understand, but still.. it's somewhat of a pain. This week I also had the opportunity to give a talk! Last Sunday when I was asked I just stared at the guy and said, "What? You want me to give a talk? In Português? For ten minutes?!" He jokingly said, "No sister, you can talk in English. Of course Português!" So, it took a while to write out.. thinking in English and writing in Português, but it went really well! A full ten minutes and everyone understood everything and really liked it!! YES! Huzzah! Other than that, we are still walking a lot..

Letters I got:
Blanks-- You rock my world! Stickers and the awesome card? LOVE. Stickers here are like gold, so thank you. Appreciated it!
Elin- Thanks for all the letters too. I will do my best to get some thoughts down on paper for you.
Elizabeth- Thank you for the update! I am glad that she is doing well! Brooke will be in my prayers. Loves and hope you're doing well!
Annie-Glad that cat is keeping you safe. Dust is scary!
Lunds- That package was amazing! Starbursts and tootsie pops? I love them! American candy for the huge win!
Parents-That last package with the junior mints was great too.. they just kind of melted together...haha

My new mission president has us write him each week as well so I don't have as much time to write, but I like him a lot. Has really good direction and is helping me a lot too.

Requests: big Bag of m&ms. No need to send more rootbeer candies! Love them but have a lot. I will be able to get packages and letters again in three weeks! (maybe sooner). Thanks for everything!

Loves
Sister Reising

From Chilly Brazil...

Hello world!

Well, this is definitely the coldest 4th of July that I have ever lived through. This past week had some fun weather. It included really really cold days and days a little warmer.... because of the rain that engulfed the area. It was fun though because I feel like I can finally say that I parted and walked through the 'red sea.' Many of the streets here are cobble stone and with the rain and the red clay combined on the many MANY big hills, there tends to be a red river that runs down the street. While I was walking home from one of the neighborhoods in the rain I realized that it was not even worth my time to try and avoid the streams of water anymore, my shoes were completely soaked... instead I focused on the fact that I had an umbrella, it was raining, and there were street lamps. Yup. I sang singing in the rain like there was no tomorrow!!! Danced, skipped a bit. My comp probably thinks I'm crazy--no not thinks, she should know by now... haha but I have to say that it was one of the best rain experiences to date in my life.

Other than the crazy weather, this week was pretty good. This week we talked to a lot of people and have some new contacts. We also had a reference for a young man who we taught last night and he went to church--SO he will be baptized this week or next!! #5! woo

Our new mission president is coming this weekend, so that will be good! I am interested to see what he changes and does. Hope you all have a great holiday weekend!!! Here are some pictures from the transfer!
My "mom"-sis colares and "dad"-sister godoy)
My 'grandpa' Sister F. Santos
Elders staying warm in the chapel

Newly in Chapecó, Santa Catarina, Brazil ~

[Note from Sam's mom: The red spot outlines the town of Chapecó (roughly 175,000 people). The light highlighted area is the state of Santa Catarina, which is the mission boundary for the Florianopolis mission. Where Sam has been serving until now is on the island on the far right (ocean side) - where the headquarters of the mission in located. The boundary on the far left of the state borders Argentina. Chapecó was founded by Italian immigrants and has a majority of its population descending from Italian, Polish and German ancestry. It is 2,200 ft above sea level.]

Hello All!

As of right now I am sitting in a lanhouse (internet cafe) in Chapecó and it feels like my hands are going to fall off of my body!! Yay for being transferred to one of the coldest places in the mission for the dead of winter!!! Wooohooo! As far as the actual transfer part of the transfer.. We went to the center for one last big meeting with President and Sister Queiroz, I met the new American that is going to be trained by Sister Colares (my old comp) and gave her a few (a lot) of tips and things that I wished I could have had explained to me in English.. I GOT YOUR PACKAGE mother dear (but I couldn't actually get it in my house and opened until Saturday night). We got on the big fancy bus with reclining puffy chairs and headed off on our 13 hour bus ride through the night. We watched glorious mormon classics like The Book of Mormon Movie (strangest/funniest thing ever), Work and the Glory 3, and then Charly (to which basically everyone cried and therefore pretended to be sleeping when it ended) (or maybe that everyone was just me... hehe). It went by relatively fast.. got to sleep a bit.

My new companion is Sister Godoy from São Paulo (not Lori's mission). She has been on the mission for the same amount of time as me, but seeing as she didn't have 2 months learning a language in the MTC she has had one more transfer than I and is the senior companion. I actually kind of enjoy the fact that we have a similar amount of time. It makes me feel more like an equal contributor to the companionship instead of just someone to bop around behind and be directed on how to do everything.

{Random insert for Lori Lund---There is a guy in your mission that was dating Sister G. and he said that two sister missionaries contacted into him while he was at a restaurant.. Was that you? Ever contacted into some guy who has a crush on a missionary in a restaurant? OH! And if you remember Sister Stahly from the MTC, she is totally in my mission and is living in my apartment! She's the one who had the idea to dress up for Halloween. I was talking about my best friend in São Paulo and she said that she was in the MTC with you for a month and has pictures with you too. haha random}

We are now in Ramo 2 in Chapecó which is larger than the other Branch (Ramo). The city is split in half by the main avenue. There are a LOT of missionaries here. In just my branch we have 4 Sister Missionaries and 2 Elders. There are 6 more Elders in the other Branch too. It's kind of fun. We go in groups for lunch and there is a lot of work to do here in the large city. The only downside is that there are now 3 companionships for the members to give references, and neighborhoods are strangely split up. The other two Sisters are Sister Boyer (my comp from the mtc) and Sister Stahly (Americans) and those two sisters also live in our large apartment. It is amazing!! For the first time in 3 months I am able to actually talk and express myself and have a personality again! I didn't really realize how much I missed using my own language to communicate and it is so nice to have a break from only Português every once and a while. Before I came it was only those two americans and 5 Brazilian sisters with them and I had only heard the Brazilian point of view of the situation.. that the americans don't try to talk to them, that they are probably saying bad things about the other sisters.. I personally decided that I wouldn't let Sister Godoy feel left out, so whenever she is in the room or near we speak in Português, but still. It's amazing. The other sisters explained that they weren't talking bad about the Sisters.. they were just trying to remain sane.. Plus, sitting in a room with 5 Brazilians all talking fast when you are still new to the language? Yeah. I sure know that I wouldn't have been able to understand them.

But anywho. I decided that here I wouldn't be mistaken as someone who is quiet and shy, so on Saturday at the ward's FHE I decided to go forth and learn everyone's names. It was quite fun! The only ones that I had a hard time with were the names that have no base whatsoever in english and that I didn't already learn in Ingleses. I could tell that the ward members really appreciated it and now I know a lot more about them than I did in my other ward already. It was also great because the only person that I asked "So, how long have you been a member?" to isn't Mormon and therefore I was able to set up an appointment to go to his house this Saturday.

This area is huge and hilly.. we don't use the bus here like we did in Ingleses.. but the hills are good when its freezing-they warm you up! The only problem is that the other sisters before us left us nothing (no investigators, nothing).. SOOO we are starting from scratch. I did my first contact of the mission the other day. It's actually kind of strange how easy it is to do here in Brazil. You just ask if you can leave a blessing in their house, they either say that they're Catholic and not interested (rare) or they invite you in or give you their address and phone number on the street. I am interested to see what results we get from this. These days we are kind of just wandering around with a map and trying to get to know the area. Sister G was in Chapecó before, but she was in the other Branch, so it's new for her too.

Basically it just now is starting to feel like the mission that I had expected. The contacting and how it's all working now. As for the package-- LOVED it! I would give you my address here for letters and packages because once you're in Chapecó you generally don't leave for a good 6 months.. but we are trying to move apartments right now. Our apartment is big and nice, but the showers have a tendency to only have luke warm water which will just randomly turn off. When it's freezing outside (and I can see my breath while normally breathing inside), the worst thing to do is to take a shower in icy water (did that yesterday). Woo!! The package was perfect. Had everything that I was just thinking that I would need. We are excited about the American things too, even though in the cold it doesn't feel like July 4th should.

Lately I bought a pair of boots, and some more tights and gloves. The heating pad is great!! Only problem is that the only outlet it doesn't work in would be the one next to my bed.. haha of course. It DOES work in the one by my desk so I will be warm while studying. We are trying to get permission to get a heater in our apartment--Sister Q was all for it, but seeing if we have the funds is another story.

Anywho, next week I will send more pictures.. I left my camera at home. I will also make a list of things I may need. As of right now I am finding most everything here. Clothes are kind of expensive, those boots were the only ones that were in my size that fit in Chapecó.. soo thanks for the support! Hope you are all having a cheery summer-ish!

Love,

Sister Reising

First Transfer Coming

A few of us Sisters at lunch with Sister Queiroz

Hello all!

Sorry for the month long silence. The mission definitely has its ups and downs, and the past little while was a bit of a down (as one might say.. haha). This week I am being transferred to Chàpeco! It is 12 hours away by bus and cold... yay 4 winters in 2 years!!! I will have another Brazilian companion, but we will be living in a really big apartment with 2 american missionaries (Sister Boyer, my comp from the MTC, as one of them). Sister Colares spent 6 months in that city and loved it.. I am pretty sure that I will be there for a while now too--it seems that people go there and kind of stay.. But it will be a good experience I am sure. One bad thing is that I will only receive letters and packages there one time per month... so if you want to send me something fun, send away... If you need to tell me something important? Send me an email!!

This week is the last week with President and Sister Queiroz--they will truly be missed--Great leaders who really love all of us. I am excited for the new mission Pres to come and am looking forward (A smidge anxiously) to his new rules...

This week we went to the Mission Center a few times--one time to go and have lunch with Sister Q. in the mall with some other Sisters relatively near to us.. I MET SISTER CALDER (LORI LUND!). She was awesome! It was such a nice break to be able to talk to someone that has things/experiences in common.

While we were there Sister Q told us about someone who works in a pharmacy in Floripa--she mentioned that two sister missionaries had come over to give her dying father a blessing and asked if Sister Q knew who she was talking about. Its was us! One day we were visiting one of our investigators that we love, and she said that her neighbor's father was sick and wanted a blessing of comfort. Sister Colares and I went over there and saw this little old man curled up in a ball on his bed. He was tall, but he was quite literally just skin and bones. He looked so sad, and couldn't even talk. My heart immediately reached out to him. Sister Colares and I knelt down by the side of his bed and she prayed (left a blessing for him). The Holy Ghost was so strong.. both Sister C and I and the daughter of this man were crying. It was simple.. a prayer for him to have comfort.. After we prayed we left. We didn't teach, we didn't spend a long time there.. And then the only other thing that we heard about that man was that 5 days later he passed away.

However, Sister Q. told us that a miracle happened that day for that family. The woman she met said that after we left her house her father became more alert and sat up. For the last 5 days of his life he was himself again. He talked to his family and was present for his last moments. It was truly a miracle :). I can honestly attest to the fact that when you pray in the name of Jesus Christ miracles can happen!! (and sometimes you have to wait a while to know the fruits of your labors and faith). I have such a strong love and testimony of Christ and I am so grateful that I can be here to help change people's lives for the better.

I hope all is well back in the states!! :D

With love,
Sister Reising

A family in Ingleses that I love

Florianpolis in June (winter)

Barbara, with the largest, most patient and awesome cat ever!

Middle of May

Oh hey,

Im still here! I added some more photos for you to look at.. These are from my companion's camera.. I think that they are all pretty self explanatory except for the last one. (others are people we are teaching, an awesome bird from an investigators house..) That one is of me and Nicole--one of my favorite kids here! Whenever I come over we always get up to something awesome--yesterday we found that we both enjoy math and she 'taught' me a couple of things and was impressed that I could so quickly know that 12 fours is 48. (she is nine). In that moment I decided to show her my 'trick' and she and I made an entire multiplication table. It was great fun and she had patience to figure out every single one!! She was also great a week or so ago because we went over to their house for FHE [Family Home Evening]. About 10 paces in front of their Apartment Sister Colares said, "Oh, and by the way, YOU will be giving the lesson! Not just a short brief message" (which I am now accustomed to her springing on me all the time). Me and Nicole (pronounced Nick-cole-ee) got up to some awesome drawing and taught how faith is like a little seed. Basically, she's awesome.

The transfer came and it looks like I will be in staying here with Sister Colares. Yay English class! I had many students tell me that they hoped that I would stay.. saying silly things like, "If you're not the teacher, I am not coming back.." haha Oh my students.. how I love them all dearly.

As of right now, we aren't teaching too many different people.. Just working with Suelen (baptized 2 weeks ago) and her mother who may be baptized this coming week. But Sister Colares has a kidney stone which is giving her a lot of pain. She is a trooper though. still hits the floor running everyday at 6:30am. It has been a little bit slower, but hopefully it will pass soon. She made me memorize "Hospital da Caridade" just in case.. haha but I don't think it will get that bad.

My mom asked what we do on PDays;. Sister Colares is a fan of sleep (Even more than me.. hard to believe, I know), so we usually wake up, clean the house, run errands, email, go home, write letters and sleep. Today however we also got manicures. For some reason manicures and painting your nails is a huge thing in Brazil all the women go every week and change colors and comment on the each others nails (not something Im used to doing)... Its also really cheap, but also more painful than I remembered from the states. I think Sister Colares has it in her mind that she will transform me into a Brazilian (fashion wise). She is well on her way with the awesome shoes and the bright pink nail polish.. haha

I hope all is well with everyone!

Much love,

Sister Reising

ps. I think that I have become the animal and kid whisperer.. All animals come and sleep and curl up with me and the kids too.. I think Sister Colares doesn't mind though, she's much better at talking with the adults.. hehe

Day After Mother's Day (and a phone call home)

This week my message will be a message of Pictures!! Hope you enjoy!

There are pictures of my first baptism with Suelen, my apartment (the biggest room), my companion making lunch, me and my roommates from the ctm in Brazil.. loved them, me and the sand dunes a while back... me playing ping pong with my last opponent (i was teaching her), and me and Danielle in the mtc in provo right before I left.

I will send more next week! hope you enjoyed!







[Note from Sam's mom: We had an hour-long call via Skype with Sam yesterday and it was so wonderful to hear her voice and have a two-way conversation! Her dad was in Florida, so we got a 3-way call going with her brother Alex and I here in Washington. She was in the home of the Bishop in her area, using his computer. She reports it is starting to get cooler there, but it's still in the 70's. It likely won't get colder than in the 40's in the dead of winter (July) - at least where she is right now on the coast. Transfers will be happening a week from tomorrow, and she has no idea if she'll stay put or be transferred to another area of the mission. We'll see what the mission president thinks in a week or so. She finally got the box of Easter stuff I sent- so it took about 4-5 weeks to get there, but she's receiving letters in a little over a week's time. She reports she hasn't heard from very many of her friends since she arrived in Brazil - but has loved letters from her cousin Jared, a friend from year 1 at school (I'm sorry I don't remember her name!), Annie, and Elin (thank you thank you!)... she's feeling a little homesick - 15 more months feels like an eternity away, and news and support means a lot. Despite her fight with mosquitoes she is in good health, and we enjoyed some detailed descriptions of daily life. And I believe she mentioned she has already done some shopping to add some vivid Brazilian color to her wardrobe. It was a great Mother's Day - so awesome to talk to Sam!]

3 Months Out Milestone Reached TODAY - 1 Month in Florianopolis

Dear family and friends!

First thing I learned this week? I do have allergies! Surprise!! Not really allergies, but since I am not accustomed to the mosquitoes here and I am eaten alive nightly (sleeping doused in bug spray, in pants), I had my first allergic reaction. Party. Luckily I was in the best possible place for it to happen.. I was at a mission meeting at the center, with the Mission President and his wife (a nurse).. He was giving us a message and all of a sudden my face started getting red, and hot.. my heart started beating fast for no reason, I was having a hard time swallowing.. I had no idea what was happening.. It was so strange!! My companion just looked over at me and asked what was wrong.. trying to explain it in Portugues was also a bit of a party. But I got water, and sat by a window and the symptoms went away. After I was talking to the mission president's wife and she said that it was stress--but then she saw the huge mosquito bites on my leg and said- "Those are horrible! Allergic reaction!" She gave me a shot, got me medicine.. she also said its normal because we don't have those type of bugs in the states, but yeah.. that was a party!

Other than that, the week was pretty long.. a lot of appointments fell through, but we also have a baptism confirmed for this saturday!! AND she wants to do it in the ocean!! Good times (pro of being on the beach). Other than that I have rediscovered my affinity for small children--I can communicate with them in small gestures and sounds-- I even had a ten minute HomenAranha (Spider man) fight with a few of them.. it. was. AWESOME! Sister Colares keeps up the talking with the adults when I'm lost and I just stick to making faces, entertaining the kids, and smiling.. a LOT of smiling.

Something else that I found interesting is the 'cleaning' habits of Brazilians. All of the sinks have cold water only.. Soap? Maybe.. In my house we clean every p-day.. We use water with laundry detergent and a broom to wash the floors and a squeege (sp?) type thing as well. Also, washing things like cups and such only requires a run under the water... hot water, soap? Nope! I am impressed that more people don't get sick...

Another fun Brazilian thing are the buses.. There are crazy speed bumps on the road everywhere (huge) because everyone speeds like there is no tomorrow. The smaller roads are unevenly paved with big stones and therefore any trip by vehicle is a bumpy ride! (Extreme Mr Toad's Wild Ride). Without fail every time that I am standing on the bus I lose my balance and almost fall on someone to which my companion always laughs.. I guess I'm just not used to the crazy yet.. haha. Also, you want to cross the street at a cross walk? Good luck!! No cars slow down, and on many of the smaller streets there are no sidewalks so you and the cars become best friends! haha Its definitely a new world down here.

Now that I have the medication I am doing well, even though it does make me a little sleepy. I will be calling on Mom's day around 4 my time! Sounds perfect! Hope all is well!
Love you!
Sister Reising

3rd Week in Ingleses

Hello world!

How are all of you doing? Brazil is doing well! This week was a week of holidays in preparation for Pasçoa (Easter). In the US you get to have that day on Sunday, but in Brazil? You get a four day awesome holiday weekend. This means that everyone goes to the beach.. literally. Everyone. All of the stores close down, restaurants that are not in tourist areas close down, everyone is out of their house, and everyone is at the beach. Tons of tourists, a horrible bus schedule, you know, all the perks! haha It made working a little more difficult because many people were not in their house, not many people came to class on Thursday and Saturday because everyone was out traveling, but in spite of that it was a good week. One of the students from English class had a party and invited us so we stopped by for an hour (normal thing to do in Brazil--its only polite), and they had a ping pong table set up.. Needless to say, I started playing with someone, and then all of the good ping pong players there wanted to give it a go! It was fun! I think all of the people there were shocked that a white american missionary woman in a skirt could hold her own at ping pong, but it was quite a nice break in my day!

Other news, last Saturday night we were coming home on the bus and as we passed in front of our church, Sister Colares heard an older woman in front of her say, "I think that's the church my daughter was talking about.. I don't know anything about it." Good thing S.C. speaks Português because I can't overhear things well.. S.C had a thought that she needed to talk with her and she introduced us as missionaries of the church in question. She then asked if we could go over to leave a blessing on their house/answer any questions that she might have. The older lady said that we could, and on Sunday after church we went over there. This older lady lives with her daughter and her daughter has a 4 year old son. We came over, left a blessing, went back a couple of days later, taught the first discussion, the daughter and her sister and their kids all came to church on Sunday, and they loved it! She almost didn't go, but her mother encouraged her to go saying, "Just go and see. If you like it, you can tell the missionaries that you liked it. If not, you can tell them that you didn't." (Thank YOU Brazilian Grandma!) The daughter and her sister came, they loved church. We spent 3 hours at their house last night re-teaching the first and second discussions (for the sister's sake), and it looks like at least the daughter wants to be baptized THIS Saturday at Stake Conference!! It's amazing! Her sister and her nephew felt the spirit too and want to be baptized, the mother needs to go to church, because she too likes the church. Its Amazing!

I received a letter from Mom, Dad, and Lori this week! LOVED THEM ALL!! Thanks for all the support! Love you!

Sister Reising

Second Week in Ingleses

Olá minhas familia e amigas!

I hope this letter finds all of you well! This last week quite literally flew by.. Tuesday, however, inspired me to write this following story in my journal. I decided that it would be best to share it here with you as well so you can fully understand the Brazilian life that I am now leading..

"So.......... I woke up this morning at 4 am, wasnt feeling too good, and I went into our tiny bathroom. As I was sitting down, I drearily looked at the green tile wall about 2 feet away from my face. But it didn't look the same. Right in front of me about a foot and a half off the ground was a brown smudge that I hadn't ever noticed before.. I blinked, trying to get the sleepiness out of my eyes, and the brown sandy smudge came more into focus. But it wasn't just a smudge... it had a tail, and fingers, and toes! I leaned to one side to see if the light would catch it/it had a shadow/was 3D. Sure was! I blinked again, really making sure that I wasn't still dreaming and its eyes opened and it stared at me. I just stared right back. I just kept thinking, "I think it could be justifiable if I screamed right now. There is a lizard/salamander on the wall in my bathroom 2 feet away from me. Its beady black eyes are staring at me." The other part of my brain was thinking, "Sam, it's just a lizard. You're in Brazil. Don't freak out. You're just tired. Plus it hasn't moved--it's not hurting anything/anyone. Leave it alone." So I decided, as long as it didn't move-and by move, I mean viciously and aggressively start jumping ninja/squirrel like in attack mode--we would be fine. I sat there. It sat there. I got up and left and it stayed completely still. I drowsily fell back into my bed waiting for sleep again all while keeping an eye open on the crack of my open bedroom door--just to make sure no Rambo salamander made for its revenge.

In the morning I woke up, found my dictionary, and the first word I said to my companion was "Lagarto" (lizard). She just started laughing and said, "So I guess you met Prysbyla." (Named for her last companion who hated it). It seems like this 3-4 inch long salamander has lived here longer that I and he enjoys eating all of the bugs that eat me. Therefore, for now, me and Prysbyla will be friends--as long as he keeps to living when I'm sleeping."

Other than that one morning, I only have seen Prysbyla at one other time this week. I went to put my clothes in the laundry machine and as my towel touched down I heard and saw a lizard running around inside. This time he/she looked a lot smaller and more friendly, but still, I had to wait and coax it out so that I could wash my clothes. Oh Prysbyla (sounds like Pris-bee-la), we will live to have more interesting encounters, I'm sure.

I told this story to my English class and they all started laughing and saying how they all have these little lizards in their house too. My English class and I share a good bond. They all enjoy my silly ways and I think they are all comfortable with me in learning English. A companionship of Elders comes and helps us too, one teaches with me and one does a conversation class with those that can form sentences, and I'm pretty sure that the larger basic class enjoys me. There are all ages, from 6-60 in the class.. and a couple of the teenagers wanted to add me on facebook, (you can accept them Mom.. haha). One of the older men in the class invited Sister Colares and I over to share a message. He is a guitar player/singer and teaches lessons. Once we were there he pulled out tons of music and played his guitar and we sang with him. It was hard for me because it was just lyrics and chords and all in Português, but I picked it up. We sang him and his wife a hymn before our message and he said, "Sister! You're a singer!!" He keeps bringing me music and wants to sing (even hymns) whenever he comes to class. It cracks me up! I am considered an amazing singer because I can read music, and stay on the notes? This means that I sing.. ALL THE TIME. and I love it!

As for letters and packages, I havent gotten any packages but I hear that there is some mail for me in the Center, the District leader just needs to go and get it for me. I got your letter mom with the pictures and it was great!! In fact, if I may ask--if anyone could send me pictures of seattle, London, Friends, family, ANYTHING--actual picture pictures, I would appreciated it. Brazilians are crazy for photos and everyone has a little photo book. I havent had time to assemble one for myself, and I cant print out pictures (or emails), so its kind of difficult. But that is something I would love!

Thanks for all the communication and the love! I really appreciate it! Missionary work is sometimes really hard, little children are super cute but are also REALLY distracting when you're trying to bring the spirit--and as my mission president said, that is our whole purpose. We could debate about The Book of Mormon and the Bible all we wanted, but the thing that converts people is the spirit that the Missionaries bring while they teach. It's hard, but rewarding.

Must go! Love you all!

Sister Reising

First Week in Ingleses

Sam and companion, Sister Colares (from Manaus, Brazil)

Olá Minhas Amigas e Familia!!

Que bom que eu estou aqui! Agora é dificil escrever em Englese, mas eu vou tentar. Jota Kah (JK).

Por favor, Imagine that you are sitting at a family dinner--whole extended family there, everyone laughing and talking at the same time, food getting passed from one to the other, people arguing, kids running around... Now, imagine that in Português and you dont speak a word of it. Welcome to my first lunch here!! It was CRAZY! I thought that I understood Português, and I do, most of the time.. But with many people all talking at once at speeds that I doubt a police radar could read I was, as one might say, a bit lost. That was a great way to be welcomed to real Brazilian culture. The women there were adorable though. My favorite had to have been the grandma.. she was so wrinkly that I couldnt help but think "what is holding this woman together?" but at the same time, she was super short (as most Brazilians are) and she came up to a little below my chest. Also, she had on glasses that made her eyes look ginormous and basically she looked like a human version of Wall-e. Therefore, she's my favorite. :) Could I understand a word that she said? Nope. But did I love her anyways? Sure did!! :) I love the people in our ward. Every one sees me and says,"New Companion?" Followed by "Does she understand Português?" Sure do! (as veçes) Everyone says that I am really doing great so far. Do I follow absolutely everything? Not even close. Am I able to talk for long periods of time with people, if they are patient and talk relatively slow? Yes I can!

My lovely companion, Sister Colares, from Manãos (the jungle.. literally) is very patient with me. She is learning English, mostly because I am forcing her to.. hehe, but she's so fun. We laugh all the time, she helps me and explains how to do things in Português, but most of the time I understand. Or we'll just look at each other and decide that what we're trying to say is not really thhaaaat important and therefore we'll stop. OR, I will just smile and hand her my dictionary for her to look up the word. I'd say I understand 90-95% when just me and her are talking, and probably 70-75% of when we are talking to other people.

I get to teach an English class 3 times a week! It's absolutely amazing! I love it! I have anywhere from 20-40 students depending on the day and that is how we do most of our contacting. (and on my first day one student brought me a sack of colorful chalk! I love Brazilians!) We have them fill out an info sheet and at the bottom we ask them if they would like us to visit them. Many people do! We went over to the house of this one family that I loved from the first day--they were so sweet. We talked with them for about an hour about a lot of things, and then we asked if we could share a message. We started off singing a hymn (as we always do here, interesting), and the wife started to cry. We shared our brief message and the entire family was just beaming. We could feel the spirit so strongly there. They said that we could come back and hopefully they will continue to progress with us. It was so cool to actually be in a house with a family and really teaching by the spirit this week!

My lovely companion loves to look over at me with a smile and say, "And now my companion would love to share a message with you." She did this the first meal that we had when my head was quite literally spinning because of the Português chaos, and I grabbed my unmarked scriptures in Português and found a scripture I remembered and shared a message. It was fine because it was with the members (we are fed lunch--the biggest meal--every day by the members), but later we were with an investigator and she looked over at me with that same smile and asked me to share a message. I knew LITERALLY nothing about these people. She hadn't said a word about what they needed. So I grabbed my scriptures and a different scripture came into my head. I hadn't thought about that scripture in quite some time, but I opened up to it and shared it. It was EXACTLY what they needed to hear. I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. After we left my companion was like, "That was perfect! Totally a witness that you were guided by the spirit. That was exactly what they needed to hear." I can't even begin to relay all of the different times that I have felt guided by the spirit here (in just 5 days), but I have--it's incredible :)

I love it here! The people are great--my first day a couple of people thought I was Brazilian, but I think they were just old, and were blind ...and deaf.. haha. jk. I can't wait to get more tan so that I WILL fit in!

As for mail. I didnt get anything when I was at the center on Weds, but we are going again this Weds and hopefully I will get something then. I think I will be brought my mail about every week because we are so close to the center. The only random things that I could dream to ask for would be hand soap in a dispenser (they only have bar soap here and it gets pretty nasty) and a couple magic erasers! The walls in my apartment are horrendous!! (it previously belonged to Elders), but I think that that would be useful. I have access to General Conference talks here--I will get the Liahona every month, and I also have my notes from it.. Wasnt it grand? :)

LORI LUND!! Im totally going to send you a letter. Prepare to get excited now! BAH!! The entire time I was at the MTC I was thinking, Lori could be walking outside RIGHT NOW and I wouldnt know it!

LOVE YOU ALL!! I can't wait to have more things to tell you!

'Legit' Sister Reising (Seester Hey-sing) (how its pronouced here)

Oh! Random: If you're ever in Brazil and in need for a laugh, just try to have Brazilians say words like "World, or Think) Probably the funniest thing ever (they dont have these sounds in Português)

Ps These photos are of me and the one km walk to a member's house for lunch, my comp and I right now before I get my hair cut (so excited to see again!) and of the AWESOME DISNEY wall we found. LOVE IT-- Brazil knows what's up too.. hehe

Arrival in Florianopolis ~ April 5, 2011

I'M IN FLORIANOPOLIS!!!!! And, yes, I am VERY VERY EXCITED! My PDay [preparation day] will be on Mondays, so I will be able to write you a more complete letter then, but I found out that I'm going to be in Ingleses (on the island), and I am going to have a Brazilian companion! I am so excited! We just arrived here and met my mission president and his wife (who I already love), and so far we just took care of some police paper work and such. I already met someone in the police station who gave me his number because he wants to learn more about the church.. AND he is in my area. The people here are so amazing and open. At the MTC they took us for 2 hours out into a Park and we had 5 Books of Mormon to hand out. We handed out 6! (we had to take one from some of our Elders that were near.) These people are so open. One person even just came up to us in the park and saw we were Mormon and asked us for a Book of Mormon! Its just amazing! Also, the president told me that I'm going to be teaching an English class (with about 30 people) and in this area the Sisters usually have a baptism once a week! I'm so excited!! I think my sense of humor goes over better here than it does in the states and therefore, I already feel Brazilian. Also the mission presidents wife said that the key to getting to know people here is smiling and having fun/joking with them.... ummmmm.. that's my life. SO. Yup! I loved my roommates [for the week in Sao Paulo at the MTC] and we would talk all the time in Portugues, and I can already talk with anyone. I don't understand absolutely everything, but everyone I talk to says that I'm doing really well, so I'm super excited! LOVE IT! I will write more on Monday.. but thanks for everything! (I haven't gotten my mail here yet, but that doesn't mean that I won't..)

Love, Sister Reising (officially a missionary)

Florianopolis is on the southern coast

The mission boundaries are the State of Santa Catarina

Florianopolis appears to be an island with various communities, and Sam's first area is on the north tip, Ingleses. The mission headquarters is located in the Centro area (mid left).

Photo (from the web) of Ingleses community and beach. The whole island is known for beautiful beaches.

First Letter from Sao Paulo Brazil

Hello! Well, there is no enter button on this keyboard, so welcome to a one paragraph letter! OK. I AM HERE IN BRAZIL! I LOVE IT! It is beautiful. Warm, I also think that I am close to Lori, but I have no idea. We got to go to the temple today in Campinas! It was absolutely beautiful. The area around here is a mixture of California (with all of the small rolling hills), but its the greenest place I have ever seen. It is very humid, but my dry skin from Utah is absolutely loving it. Sister Boyer and I asked specifically for the opportunity to go because we technically don't have a pday before we leave for Florianopolis next week. (only have 5 days here). Our roommates are Brazilian and I LOVE IT! I actually feel like I can talk now. In Provo I would say things but then have to repeat myself multiple times so that other people could understand me, but now I get to talk fast and I am understood! I also enjoy that my sense of humor is very much accepted here. Even though I am NOT fluent by any means, I am good enough to talk with many of them and we joke around. Playing volleyball here last night was entertaining too because they are all quite short and only mildly terrified of me when I hit the ball. I understand mostly everything that is said. There is obviously a TON more vocab that I need to learn because I can only talk about the church, but my lovely roommates are kind and help me through it. Some of the Brazilians speak english and they like to practice. Basically, I am SO GLAD that I am here, even though it is just for less than a week. There are also a TON of elders here that are going to Florianopolis, so that's exciting! We also are going to go out on the street and get a couple of things that I wanted to buy (scripture cases) because it takes a day or so to order them. Anyways, I love it here! Please tell all to send any letters or packages or anything to the mission home at Florianopolis, I will receive it when I get there. Hope all is well!! --and if all continues as is now, I may not want to come home.. Its amazing here!! (PS I made a Brazilian friend on the plane, his name is Aquiles. He was awesome, and helped us with our Portugues and is interested in the church too! woo!!) BYE!

LDS Temple at Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Safe Arrival at the CTM in Sao Paulo

A photo came by email to Sam's parents - proof she made it safely! It was taken March 30, 2011, upon arrival of 37 missionaries at the CTM in Sao Paulo, pictured with the President of the CTM and his wife.

Here is the email from the CTM President's office that came with the photo:
Dear Parents,

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

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

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

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

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

Please accept our love,

President Donald L Clark and Sister Zaza Clark


ADDITIONAL information . . .

DO not send packages to the Brazil Missionary Training Center. All packages must be sent directly to the mission where your missionary will be serving not the MTC. If you have already mailed a package to the Brazil MTC and it arrives after your missionary has left for the field, please understand that the package can not be forwarded to his or her mission and will be returned to you. The only other option is for us to open the package and forward the letters and photographs, giving the rest of the content of the package to the missionaries that are here.

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

Going to Brazil!

Information from Sam's Mom...
This afternoon Sam called us from the MTC in Provo with the exciting news that her visa came in! There has been a tremendous backlog of missionary visas to Brazil, and so this is great and welcome news! With only a week to go of her training segment, the travel department wastes no time...she will fly to Brazil tomorrow (March 29) and finish up the language prep in the Sao Paulo CTM. Then the week of April 4 sometime she will venture further south to her area of service.

We are looking so forward to hearing her accounts of the first few weeks in Brazil, so stay tuned. I have posted the address of her mission home in Florianopolis. With only a week in Sao Paulo, if I mail a letter tomorrow to Florianopolis...she may actually beat it there. Nothing could be better when she gets there than having some welcoming letters from friends and loved ones when she arrives.

She was so upbeat and happy - will be up all night tonight packing, I'm sure. Her companion during her time in Provo, Sister Boyer, also got her visa and they will be traveling together. They go to Detroit first, then Atlanta, then on to Sao Paulo. It will be a long day of travel. She is nervous and excited all at once.
Thanks everyone for your support!

Week 8?

I'm almost done with the MTC? When did that happen?

I only have one week left of the beloved MTC before I am sent out into the field. I still don't really know if it will be to Brazil or somewhere in the good ol' US of A, but I will know next week! Technically I could get my visa any day now--people who filled out their online application on the same day as me are receiving them, but so far Sister Boyer, Adamson, and Elder Daley are still waiting every day for that beep of the intercom to send us away. If I don't end up getting my visa, I will be receiving my reassignment next week. A few of the Sisters that got their reassignments this week are going to North Carolina and one Elder is going to Oregon, but less and less people are reassigned. In fact, many of the missionaries that are just getting in are receiving their visas and leaving before us.. (don't worry, I'm only a little jealous.. haha). Either way, next week I will know where I will be going!!

New news about the Brazil MTC though, I guess they have a new rule that they are now calling all missionaries to Brazil from America to go to the Provo MTC no matter what for the entire time. So, if you know a missionary that has their mission call to Brazil, make sure to check which MTC they are assigned to--No more Brazil MTC for Americans!

I'm excited for General Conference to happen! No, I will not be able to leave the MTC to go and be there personally in Salt Lake, but will be able to watch it! Excitement!

BTW, Thanks Dad for the DearElder in Portugues. I could read it! (even though I'm pretty sure you just used google translate because it was just a smidge strange)! Glad to hear that all are doing well!

I don't have much time to write much else, but if you want to get a letter from me or know anything else, please write! I always respond! :D

Hope all is well!

Love,

Sister Reising

Week 7

Dear ALL!!

I AM SO OLD (at the MTC). There are so many new districts, and telling them that I am in my 7th week here makes me feel like I’m a grandmother to their preteen experience. I don’t have a lot of time to write today, but I’m getting excited because one more sister got her visa, and more and more are coming in every day! If everything stays on schedule for me, I might get my visa sometime next week! INSANE! I’m excited to get out and do the work, but it is honestly a bit daunting at times.. I am still loving the language, and teaching is just fantastic!

LORI LUND: Did you know, once I get to Brazil it will cost ONE PENNY to write you? GET EXCITED. Also, anything you would recommend bringing/leaving, now that you’re in Brazil? LOVE YOU!

All others, once I get to Brazil the best way to communicate with me will be through email. I will have to write letters back (snail mail), but that should take under 2 weeks to get to you. If you send me anything in the mail it’s kind of REALLY ambiguous when it will get to me. Once I’m there, I will know – but most missionaries have said that it took 3 weeks at least to get their mail while in Brazil. I will also be able to send out mass replies on this weekly email to my parents.

I must be off. It has been a good week! Learned a lot, excited to learn more. I can feel the presence of the Holy Ghost/Spirit every day, and I know that that is the only reason I am learning as well as I am. Super grateful!

Send anything that you want me to have quickly, soon! I may be leaving next week (no idea, but maybe). I hope to keep hearing from you. Thanks for the love and support!

Much love,
Sister Reising

(Note from Sam's mom: She will know with more certainty once she gets to Brazil about the best forms of communication. Inside informers tell me a regular size letter costs .98 cents to mail to Brazil and usually takes about a week. That would be if she's located in a bigger city. I'm just not certain at this point if her mission email address is to be used outside of family. Her specific mission president will advise. There's something very wonderful about receiving letters in the mail! I'll keep the sidebar on this blog updated with her most current address and preferences.)

MTC Week 6

Hello All again!!

THREE PEOPLE GOT THEIR VISAS IN MY DISTRICT THIS WEEK!!!!! Sister Magleby (going to Goiana), and Elders Kubeja and Manon (Sao Paulo North)!!! They are leaving next Thursday for the Brazil MTC!!! EXCITEMENT! Sister Wulford will probably be the next to get her visa and then the rest of us. If everything keeps going according to schedule I may be in Brazil within/around the next three weeks! (that's hoping, PLEASE keep your fingers crossed and keep praying for us!) This week they got 18 visas and it seems to be speeding up quite a bit.. we'll see if this break in the visas keeps up!

In other news, we now have three new roommates who are all going - eventually - to Brazil too (none to any missions I am familiar with). They are Sister Wells, Sister Percival, and Sister Kersh. So far it has been pretty fun getting to know them. Super entertaining to see new missionaries come in. Sister Boyer and I were welcoming them while they sat and listened in amazement. I remember thinking, when I first got here, about how much I wanted to be able to speak well in Portugues, and now I'm the "experienced" one (from a new missionary's perspective anyway!)... And only after 5 complete weeks - haha! Oh how the tides have changed!!

The new Sisters all had their alarms going off at crazy times (2:30 am) thinking it was 6:30 because they forgot to allow for the time change---and the next morning some alarms went off in their still-packed suitcases.. So sleep for me during their first night wasn't the best, but they have had their first full day and are excited to be bearing their testimonies and also praying in Portugues! Baby Steps! (or as one might say, line upon line, precept upon precept--just like learning the gospel! Start out small until you understand one thing and the other knowledge will follow!)

We are definitely getting into a very good schedule and habit and we are all quite aware of all the things we need to be doing at all times. The weeks are all similar, and for some reason they just speed on by. It was our district goal to be able to teach the first lesson in Portugues this week because we had to teach an investigator at the TRC (a person who speaks Portugues as a first language, and volunteers to come in to give us practice. So it's not just our teachers, aka: more of a big deal), and it worked out really well!! I love teaching all of the lessons in Portugues and getting to know people, to see exactly how the gospel can bless their lives specifically.

I think my favorite part is recounting Joseph Smith's first vision. Every time that I recount it, the spirit is always so strong in the room-- peace, warmth, a feeling of love, confirmation. I also love thinking about how our church is literally the same gospel that Jesus Christ had on the Earth while he was here. After Christ died there was an apostasy from the faith because there were no more prophets, apostles, and therefore the priesthood (which the apostles all prophesied about in the New Testament). And then because one boy wanted to know which church he should join, what ONE church had the truth, he searched for an answer in the scriptures and read James 1:5 which told him that if anyone has a question and asks God, they will receive an answer. This young 14 year old boy followed seemingly simplistic counsel and went to the woods to pray. Because he truly wanted to know and because he prayed with real intent looking for the truth, and because God knew the purity of this boys heart and what he would do with the knowledge, God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph.

They told him that none of the churches had the fullness of the gospel and that the gospel of Jesus Christ had to be restored to the earth. And that is what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is. It is the same church from the New Testament that Jesus organized (with prophets, apostles, AND the priesthood (the power and authority to act in God's name)). And everyone can know this for themselves if they read the Book of Mormon (another testament of Jesus Christ) and pray with real intent (see Moroni 10:3-5). I know that you can receive an answer because I did. I do every day, and I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have to be a representative of Jesus Christ and to share this message with the world!! (Especially the people of Brazil.. when I get there... in hopefully around 3 weeks..)


If anyone has questions, please let me know!! I would LOVE to answer them!

I love you all! Thanks for the letters! (Thanks Alex, I really appreciated it!!!)

-Sister Reising

Half-Way Done at the MTC

Sister Reising with her companion, Sister Boyer from Baker, Oregon
Sam's District (from L to R) Elders Johnson, Paxman, Kubeja, Daley, Hoffman, Manon and Barlow. Sisters Reising, Boyer, Adamson, Magelby, Wolford


Hello all!!

I can't believe that I have already passed my ONE MONTH mark! I am 1/18 of the way done, only 17 more months on the mission! And, if they all go as fast as this one has flown by then I will be back in a heart beat! Thank you all for you letters! (Karren, I was so glad to hear that you're going to keep giving my parents a hard time... Some one has to keep them on their toes!). I loved hearing from some of the Sisters in our ward--really appreciated that little bundle of letters. Speaking of letters, I am hereby calling my brother to repentence! QUE ISSO?! (What is this?!) Your sister is out on a mission for a MONTH and I get no news from my favorite brother? Work on that. Let me know how things are going and, of course, artwork is always accepted! :D

Other than letters, this week has flown by like all the others. It's so strange to have friends that I have made here all get reassigned. One of my sister friends got reassigned to Seattle!! If anyone sees a bubbly, kind, red head named Sister Checketts wandering around please send her my love!

We are getting to the point in class where we have to speak Portugués at ALL TIMES! It's hard to speak ALL of the time - so tempting to slip into English to explain things, but I'm enjoying the challenge. We are also going to be having a Zone Conference coming up in a few weeks and our teachers (Irmã Gonzales and Irmão Cope) assigned our district up to do the musical number. I guess when they volunteered our district, all of the other district teachers stated how jealous they are of our singing talent. Something along the lines of their districts wishing they could sing with us.... Not going to lie, some of the districts of all elders are not necessarily able to carry a tune... but with 4 musical sisters and 8 musical elders, we do a good job! I love us!

I don't know if I already said this, but Sister Wolford and Sister Adamson are going to São Paulo North (along with Elders Daley, Manon, and Kubeja), and Sister Magelby is going to Goiana. Sister Magleby would LOVE to hear what is going on in Goiana, and I would love Lori to know that she has some GREAT elders and sisters to look out for. I have told them all multiple times that Lori is in their mission and they are all prepared to find; meet; and love her! If someone could help me get more info for Sister M. and someone could tell Lori who's coming, I would REALLY APPRECIATE IT!

I love being a missionary! It is fantastically fun, hard, educational... all of it. I'm so grateful that I have this opportunity to serve the Lord and to let everyone that I'm able to teach know about the gospel! Huzzah! Please let me know if anyone has any questions about being a missionary, or anything about the MTC. I would love to answer questions. Thanks again for all of the support!

Much Love!

Sister Reising


PS. EVERYONE NEEDS TO GO TO SEE "DROOD"!!! (At The Overlake School in Redmond, WA) It opens tonight and plays tomorrow night too!!! Please go, and then tell me how wonderful they all are! Break many legs!


My 5 Roommates during 1st month: from left Sisters Haygood, Taylor, Boyer, Reising, Christensen, Holmes
Sisters Reising and Boyer in front of the Provo UT Temple