"Lord, I Would Follow Thee."

Wow. First of all, thank you all so much for the letters!! I was definitely feeling the love this week! Thank you, thank you!

I forgot my journal so. . .we'll see how this goes.

Sunday: Music and the Spoken Word. So great! I encourage all ya'll to watch it every Sunday from 9:30-10:00, it's a perfect Sunday activity! For R.S Sister Nixon (?) the Geneal Primary President spoke to us! I can't even tell you exactly what she said, but it was another beautiful moment where I felt the Savior's presences so strongly! Those moments of feeling His love and just KNOWING he loves me and that He's aware of are so sacred to me and I am so grateful for them! It was a beautiful feeling.

Monday: We had to go onto BYU campus for Sis M to get her fingerprints done.  DAD.  We parked in the parking lot of the Talmage building. That was a close one. I did not like combining my life with my other life. I was getting a little antsy. You were right there!!!! I took a sad little picture but forgot my camera this time. I'll send it next week. crazy!!

Tuesday: I've been going to choir (huzzah!) so I got to sing in the choir on Tuesday night at the devotional! Brother and Sister Cousee (slaughtered that) of the general bishopric came and gave some grate talks.  They are both native to France and were living in Paris until not to long ago when he got called to be a 70.  He talked a lot about our personal relationship with Christ and accessing the Atonement in our personal lives before we can help others do so.  It was awesome.  At the end we sang "Lord, I Would Follow Thee" and I just felt like I was singing all by myself to Heavenly Father.  Honestly, that's want I want to do! That song has never stood out to me before but it's perfect.

Wednesday: I got to host for real this week!! It was SO  much fun! I got to host four new sisters! Now there's four little newbies that I get to say hi to everywhere! Everyone was surprised that we got to do it after only 2 weeks, which mean we'll probably be able to do it 2-3 more times! It was honestly such a blast, we got 500 new missionaries!!  I also got to help with the orientation for our 5 new elders.  It was great to see you newbyisha and nervous they were, I hope we get to be besties with them too!!  Yesterday they're ties were all coordinating but I just couldn't get myself to ask. . . . so I got Elder Gardner to and sure enough, "yeah, it's pink tie Friday!" Bless, them, they all had bright pink ties.  I love it and I hate it. I think I'm going to like them:)

Thursday: SISTER M GOT HER VISA!!!! After only 2 weeks of being here and 2 moths after turning her stuff in! It' s honestly so stinkin sad.  We were all planning on having each other the whole 6 weeks:( I will miss her SO much. We got along so well and have become so close. Mom along the lines of what I was telling you though, I'm a leetle bit grateful because this is how I'm going to become best friends with Sis Burte, I'll will get to know her so well and hopefully be the best companion and help her in any way that I can.  There is good in this situation:)  We had to go to the Doctor for Siter M's toe and while there sis B and I made friends with these elders from South London!! They going to Holly's mission!! It was the best.I felt like one of those missionaries who is dying of happiness because they're speaking in the language they miss. I was melting. Honestly, he wasn't really cute at all but his accent. . . .and all of a sudden he just was.  his "mates" he went there "loads of times." Aaah we had a jolly little chat.  I know this is so not missionary related but thought you guys would appreciate!!

Friday: We're kind of all on the verge of hysterics because of Sister M so we've just been laughing to the point of tears like 5 times a day. Yesterday we were teaching one of our progressing investigators about the W.O.W and read a verse about his body being a Temple.  He went off on this analogy about his body being fragile like the window, pantomiming cracking etc.  We were all good or so we thought.  Sister M looks to us for clarification: "So, he thinks his body is going to crack?" We about lost it.  After the lesson we were in the hallway laughing on the floor, I kid you not.  During a differnt lesson this week, Sis M saved the day again. What am I going to do without her?? Sis B was attempting to relate her experience with appendicitis ( as you can imagine this was a pretty brave attempt as she was lacking about 90% of the vocab for this story.) She's trying to explain her intense pain right? We don't actually know the word for pain. (well now we do!)  She looked to us for help and Sister M: paused, pointed to her stomach and said really loudly and slowly " O-O-W-W."  Yes.  We all (including Marcos) We laughing out loud. It was then one of those laugh during the prayer moments and a real battle for a while there. (lines of the week. #win #whatamigoingtodowithouthat?)  We also taught our first TRC lessons for the first time last night!! The second lesson was with the sweetest couple from Sao Paulo!!  They were so sweet and I instantly loved them and wanted to go to Brazil asap!! I really vaguely understood them and was able to (SORT OF) talk with them!! It's amazing that even though we're not teaching "real lessons" or "real people" the Spirit can be there and Heavenly Father guides me and gives me ideas. Really faith, and putting for the effort goes a long way. Like Elder Bednar said, "Faith is an action word." The MTC is amazing and I don't want to be anywhere else!! 

Love,

Sister Ventura  "Vamos para frente com fe"

Dad, here's a line of the week for you!! We were practicing different verbs to be, to go and well. . . "sua mai vai universidade!" Word.   

This our whole branch, my little 2 week family!! We have SO much fun together and I am so grateful for their friendship! Most of them are leaving this week, some to Brazil and some for reassignments.  The Elder on the far left got his Visa and he went through the L.A consulate and only turned in his stuff a month before me!! Who knows, keep those prayers coming!

 My lovely companions!! I love them both so much!! I got so stinkin lucky with these two! We're convinced that even though we've only been bff's for 2 weeks, we're already bffs for life.  We're already planning a reunion at BYU post-mish:)  SISTER M GOT HER VISA!!!! After only 2 weeks of being here and 2 moths after turning her stuff in! It' s honestly so stinkin sad.  We were all planning on having each other the whole 6 weeks:( I will miss her SO much. We got along so well and have become so close.

Sister B. Yeah, this happens in personal study sometimes. . . they other day we were all out for like 15 minutes. . . . #desajaitado  Yup, of course I looked up awkward!!

We made it to our second week!!

These are my comps! The caption of this picture is: Capanga Vida=Thug Life, obviously. That's what we lead over here. Of course the elders taught it to me and I thought it was hilarious! Epitome of missionary life!

Sister B has great drawing skills!! ( I can't believe I'm the girl with short hair now!)

Don't Let Your Companion Go to Hell.

Yeah, I mean, I think that pretty much says it all.  I went to a leadership training this week and honestly that's what stuck with me the most. I think we can all apply it, ready go!

Ok, so I feel like my last letter was a little scatter brained and stressful, like I don't even know what I said! This week I'll be a bit more organized! How I'm feeling right now: I am just so happy and grateful! I KNOW that this is where i'm supposed to be and I'm really trying to enjoy every single moment and learn as much as I possibly can. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! I mean, how often did I/will I have time to read the Book of Mormon for at least 30 minutes a day, learn a new language and just completely focus on the present and becoming completely familiar with my Savior and helping others do the same?! NEVER EVER. So, I am just so happy to be right here:)

Ok, I'll start with last Saturday after I wrote: we got to go to the Temple!! It was so busy and took like 4 hours!  As we were sitting in the chapel waiting I was looking at the Picture of Christ with His arms outstretched and just kept thinking " Come Follow me." and realized that that's what I should be doing and striving for always.  All of the things that I was supposed to be doing that were stressing me out are designed to help me follow Christ. That's what I really need to focus on and everything else will fall into place.  It was really, really lovely to be able to go. We get to go again in a little bit!! I love the Temple! Also: everyone we saw was wanting to talk to us etc. ( it was weird to be in the outside world as a missionary!) and while in the Temple I realized that people don't really love us. They don't even know us. But they love who we represent and what we are doing, it brings us all together!

Sunday: Meetings all day=garros.  But then we got to go to Music and the Spoken Word before R.S. It was soo nice to be able to be calm and listen to beautiful music and feel the Spirit. I'm really grateful for the little times I'm able to sit in silence and feel peace and just think. Like in the shower, oh yes, i still take my 30 minute showers, I need them now more than ever!! The Elder were joking about taking a chair in there and just sleeping. . . one of them really did it. . hahha. Anyway.  One of the songs played was one of my favorites called Homeward Bound. It made me think you fam, here are some lyrics.  "No matter where we travel our hearts can always be homeward bound." I love how that applies to you guys and to my heavenly home.  Also," Set me free to find my calling and I'll return to thee somehow." No words necessary, beautiful.  Sunday night I went to my first devotional! It was great except that there were these elders behind me who were in like 3rd grade, They would not shut up and stole my name tag. When they wouldn't event stop talking during the prayer I was so mad, that is not ok. I put an end to that, they apologized and then we became bffs.

The stupid computer just logged me out so now I have like no time, I had  so much to say!!!

Tuesday: For the devotional Elder Bednar came!! It was amazing! He said fantastic things so I'll try to include a few : fear is the absence of action, faith is pressing forward in faith.  why do bad  things happen to good  people? We are His disciples, why should we expect it to be easy for us when it never was for Him? Also, He trusts us to learn what we can/are supposed to from our experiences.  Don't press the Lord; if we wait upon the Lord we will be blessed to see the miracles all around us that happen every single day. I know that is true! And that was an apostolic blessing he left with us!

I have so much more that I want to say but am running out of time!! :(  Dad he also talked about the importance of turning outward  like Christ instead of inward like the natural man:) Mom, know that I am learning SO much and experiencing so much and overall very happy:)

Oh, we got to host on Wednesday because some sister didn't have one! It was funny because we barely know what we're doing! Now I see her all around and say hi to her, it's awesome:) and it was trippy to see all the newbies, what? that was just me!!!! We officially got asked to host this Wednesday, so we'll all do our own person, I'm so excited!:)

Tell Gary that actually the percentage of sisters here is only in the upper 30's, I was surprised!

Language update: Of course it's hard and really difficult/frustrating but we stopped to remind ourselves that: Last week we taught ourselves to pray and bear our testimonies and memorized our purpose and this week we memorized the first vision and we are learning so much every day!! I keep asking my teacher to tell me the why and how of this and that.  One day he was like," sister, this is only your second week! You didn't know any Portuguese 10 days ago!!" True, true:) Also, it's so similar to spanish, so my little bit of spanish experience is really helping, and there's a ton of cognates:)

Lines of the week ( besides the one already mentioned): Sister Burt when talking to an elder in the zone about her BOM knowledge in addition to his Bible knowledge," I'll be the BOM to your Bible ELder!" Silence. #accidentalmissionaryflirting

Sister M when talking about how difficult it is to get our investigator to talk to us: It's like finding a needle in haystack. . . . what?? If you could just ask the needle where it was, it would be so much easier!! Hahah yup, why has no one though of that??

Like I said, we only have us three sister in our district so our zone is like our district really. We have  SO much fun at meals etc and laugh so much, it's the best. There's really so much to laugh at, I love it!

Umm Well, I know there's so much more to to say but, I love you all! Thank you for the letters everyone! And thank you so much for the package Mom!! I'll hopefully write more next week!!

Press forward with faith,

Sister Ventura

P-DAY ROCKS!

Ummm yes, thank the heavens for P-day! We weren't sure until last night if we were for sure going to get one. Our teacher said not until next Saturday after we has already been told that we would have one. I about broke down. I didn't realize how much I wanted to write you guys and tell you all the things I've been experiencing in just 3 days! When he said that I almost started crying. My comps took it like champs ( I was wondering what was wrong with them, I wondered out loud about it like every 30 minutes.) Last night after we (uh mostly me) made him go check and told us that we DID have one I almost started crying again!

Emotions run crazy here.  In one day I feel grumpy, not excited to be here, I want to go home, but I also always feel the Spirit, learn a lot, laugh, and want to go to Brazil! Those emotions usually all happen at least 2-3 each day:)

My companions (I'll try to send pics but I don't know if I'll have time to figure out how it works today:) I'm in a trio! Sister Burt (who is also going to Curitiba) and Sister Marzarella (whom I have like a girl crush on because she's so cute! I haven't told her yet and I hope she doesn't look over and see this. . .!) They're both oh so nice, pretty quite, and hard working, I'm pretty lucky.  We all teach each other a lot and all have certain strengths and ideas.  I think I really like being in a trio, there's more to work with! We are our whole district! Kind of weird and a little sad because it's not as easy to make friends. It's also awesome because we get to work more one on one with our teacher and all can stay at the same learning pace.  After meeting with our Branch President on Thursday night I got asked to be the Sister Training Leader. At that point I was feeling pretty overwhelmed and it just really added to my stress. I don't know much about it yet except that since we don't have any guys I also have the responsibilities of the district leader soo. . . that's awesome:) I get to go to more meetings, tell my "district" all the news from the President and help with orientation for new sisters. WHAAA? Umm I just got here! President said that he doesn't usually do this until the 2nd or 3rd week. Oh and most importantly: love and serve my companions even more and get our mail:) Simple as that! One last thing about the companionship ( like I already told you mom), It's a bit frustrating not being able to to what I want when I want! Every little decison suddenly us up for debate and then reform by 2 other people! It's really good for me I know, I need to be aware of others needs and learn to compromise what I want. But since when has that been easy/fun?

Food: THERE'S AS MUCH CHOCOLATE MILK AS I WANT HERE. On the first day I was pumped and had it 3 times! (Yes I realize there was only 2 meals. . .) I quickly realized that this might become a problem so have designated dinner as the chocolate milk meal! Huzzah! The actual food though. . . .Umm there are lots of options and fun meals and lovely people serving it. I've had a stale bread-stick and french bread and some stale noodles, it's cool. I just barely had some enchilada casserole. I kid you not, I sat down and noticed the inch thick pool of grease on top. .. yuum. On my second bite there was this purple, tough mystery meat. .. yuuu. But then I realized that the whole meat thing was probably going to be a daily occurrence on the mish so I better buck up!

The opposite sex tension. .. yikes!: Yeah it's definitely there! Pg 33. That's the page in the missionary handbook that talks about the don'ts. Everyone just flirts with their eyes. .. They've told us not to do that either! Hahha. No high-fiving, no picture taking, no one-on one talking, pretty much no acknowledging??  Yesterday I popped my head into a classroom to see if our books were still there, an elder was in there by himself (umm hello companion?!) And when he saw that even my mead might be in the room alone with him and hurried to run out. This made things more awkward because I was standing in the doorway and he rush out as I was trying to get out and yeah:) But bless him, exact obedience brings miracles! It's actually surprising to see how many people don't follow the rules here. . . .the flirting, staying up late, idk what else but it's kind of disappointing, I'm mean, we're only on our first 6 weeks folks! Plus we're being monitored all the time, in the field it's just on our honor. Hmm.

I saw Andy again on Wednesday night, Joy's roommate on Wednesday night, Karla yesterday, Christian from my ballroom class and another girl I know from school. ALSO. right after I met my teacher he was taking me to the computer lab and who did I see running down the hall towards me?? Emily!! It was the best! Sorry if I was supper glazed over/awkward emily, I was definitely still in shock!

Aaah there's so much I wan to say, I want to tell you guys about everything that's happened every day! Buut there's' just not enough time! There never is!

The days are super long and filled with a lot.  I go through every emotion at least twice a day! In the mornings I usually question my life and just want to go back to bed. But then I am so grateful that I learn and feel the spirit, laugh and work hard every day, it's a lot!

Just quickly, some things that I learned this week: We taught our investigator yesterday?! Umm what? Si, em Portuguese! It was. .. rough, but really cool. We also taught ourselves how to pray yesterday and kept doing it all day! I was saying how atimo (awesome, not sure on the spelling) we were and kept thinking how great it was that I can understand and speak this much in just 2 days! Afterwards one of our teachers was talking to us about that very thing and and said he knows that Heavenly Father is giving us the gift of tongues and that He is allowing us to do this. DUH Adrienne! We pray for the gift of tongues all the time, this isn't me! I'm working WITH the Spirit and will be able to do so much more if I remember that always! Another thing I realized on the first day, well it hasn't really hit me yet. We talked to some real investigators as a group and I realized. These people, as well as the ones I am going to teach are REAL people with REAL problems that are huge and not just some scenario. I am not capable of fixing those things on my own. I'm just some kid, not even a psychologist, but even if i was I wouldn't be capable to heal everything that everyone's gone through. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can and I want to work through them! This is no joking matter, I think we all kind of feel like it's Youth Conference or something, it's not. These are real people's lives! Hope that made sense:) Also. They keep emphasizing that we are representative of Jesus Christ as of when we got set apart! That means that I am to act as I think that Christ would in every single thing I do! That's why people love the missionaries! Cool stuff. Majorly trying to work on that!

D&C 68:3-6. A very comforting scripture. I am all about that! It really helped me the other day when I was feeling pretty overwhelmed. Now I just need to apply faith! Go read it if you so desire! I'm pretty sure I have a lot more to say but I've already written a ton. I love you Dad, Mom, Tayler, Krey, Coltran and Kali!  Pray for me, I could probably use it:) I love you very much!

Love,

Sister Ventura

P.S.  How could I forget! When our zone leaders introduced themselves to us we were all going around saying a couple of things and one of them was something unique about yourself (will I never get away from these awful get to you know you questions?) Our one zone leader gets up: "I'm Elder so and so and a unique fact about me is that I used to model for male physique magazines in my spare time." I would have loved him if he was kidding. He was straight up for reals dead serio.  I died laughing inside. Sister M. burst out laughing an then tried to cover it up. Win. Another sister in our branch said for the longest time they would call him Elder physique, not to his face unfortunately;)