At Syracuse University!

Real life. This is where they filmed the opening scene of the MUNsters (how fitting is that?!) Cool University huh?

[A bit of explanation:  Dan has nicknames for all of us and never calls us by our names.  Adrienne started out as Adleman Jr. ?? and eventually became "Mun".]

 Huzzah! Back to the good ol days of my awesome sunset/nature/cemetery pictures!! Isn't this awesome?! It was just the picture perfect moment!:) 

 Sister Christensen and I! This was a beautiful day and we were walking by an awesome cemetery! You know how I love those cemeteries minha familia! 

Mom, my home:)

Happy p-day my dear friends!! This is us on a Wal-mart excursion on this blessed p-day.  Middle is Sister Christensen my Trainer and Katharine is a member of the YSA branch that I'm over. She is so stinking nice. She says it's her job to take care of us and took us shopping and out to Subway for lunch #sostinkinnice #ivowtobenicetothemissionariesforeverandalways #letusalldothesame

WARNING: Not for the faint of heart!

24 Februay 2014

Hahah I probably have no idea but I can already tell maybe a leetle bit that this is missionary WORK. It's super fun at the same time though:)

Man, where to begin?! I left this until last again. . . next week I will be better:)

So, I'm in Syracuse NY! SY University is in my area and it's the coolest! The first 2 things my trainer told my about the area: "We're over a YSA branch and a ward so we go to 5 hours of church on Sundays + meetings" and, "As of today our area is a walking are!" Word. So, this week we trudged through mini lakes, pouring rain and snow storms! Don't forget the crazy wind! A construction cone almost took me out the other day. Thanks to my deft dodging skills I was good. It led to a conversation with some lovely old guys on the side of the road though, score!

I've already asked our zone leaders if we can get a little boat to replace the car, they're working on it (work faster!)

My companion's name is Sister Christensen and I think I'm the luckiest greenie in the world! She gets rights to work, is probably the nicest person I've ever met and just a great example. We get along famously!:) She's almost 22 (gah birthday ideas??) and did 2 years at BYUI before this as well as taught English in China for 5 months. Cool beans:)

I feel so stinking blessed to be here for my first area. The people (not just the members) are SO nice. They (literally) welcome me with open arms. We've already been fed like 4 times. I seriously love the people here. I think it's so cool that I get so many bonuses as a missionary. My capacity to love and be patient with as well as my confidence has already gone skyrocketing! It's scary talking to random people but Sis C helps me and everyone here is so friendly to boot! My very first morning, get this: We were walking to an app and start talking to this student also going to SY Uni. He's from India, named Rohit and had been to the Sacred grove! He was very open to religion and all ideas and we seriously walked together for like 45 minutes and gave him the first lesson! It came so naturally and went so well. I felt prompted to give him my Book of Mormon with my testimony in it. President Worthlin challenged us to give it away in the first couple of weeks . . . challenged excepted! It was like a perfect missionary day for the first day of my mission that was given to me. I was so happy!

Another perk of being a missionary: People just talk to you and trust you. That's something I've always wanted that has been kind of hard for me.  But now with Christ's name on me at all times I just have this extra power that is guiding me, lifting, me helping me. Really, I can feel it:) I can feel all the prayers as well. People all over the world are praying for "the missionaries!" It's the coolest feeling, I can't even really describe it!

Man, I'm the worst, I PROMISE to write this letter first next time. I've had so many adventures! Visiting literally crazy less-actives having totally wacky "testimonies"  born to me, serving at a Methodist church with a bunch of crazed people trying to steal all of the free clothes, trying to figure out the buses and getting the wrong one, walking all the way across our area to an app because we didn't know about the blasted "weekend bus" schedule, give me a break! The Sy oranges (umm all the mascots were already chosen?) lost :( GO ORANGES. I'm getting a "greenie dinner" next week, they're infamous here, there's this one member. . . yikes! 

The whole members working missionaries thing? I have to admit, I didn't necessarily believe that it was happening, it just seems to ideal, you know the way they show it in the MTC? It is happening here in Syracuse! Theses members are fantastic! I honestly cannot express my amazement and admiration in words, it's SO cool!

I love you all so very much and I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be here!

Love you sibs write me yo's!  K bye!:)

Love,

Sister Ventura 2 Nephi 22:2 

I just don't even know what to put right here

Mom. My p-day will probably be NEXT Monday:) Don't worry, I'm not too lost in the work yet! ;) Also, guess what I found out? I'm travelling all by myself!! I thought I was going with these other visa waiting elder that I knew but noooo. Apparently on their itineraries but not on mine there's a little ditty about sorry, we didn't have enough room for Sister Ventura, so she's travelling alone! What? Hahha of course, this would happen to me! I'm actually super excited though/super nervous. Any tips for me?

I'm so excited out of my mind that I don't really feel motivated to tell about my week but I will:) Lucky ducks. Dad, I ran into the Wilson girl and we hugged and cried (probably not) and everything, I wanted to take a pic to send but didn't have my camera with me! And the Sibling of the month award goes tooo. . . .Kali bear! Kali, thank you so much for the nice hand written note! I'm going to do my best to write back today ok boobear?! Tayler, don't feel bad, you'r a REALLY close second place. like reealy close. I love you guys (brothers included!)

Tuesday during the choir number was fantastic.  I've decided, that singing is one of the purest forms of worship (not my words--I guess I agree). In Portuguese the verb for to worship is adorar, I really like that :) Anyway, I love being here and I wish I could tell you about all of the times just this week that I've been able to have the Spirit bear direct witness to me that I am loved and that I am doing the right thing. It's a fantastic feeling. But I know it's because I'm being more obedient and striving to do what's right more than I ever have in my life. I can't even tell you where I read about this but through some scripture study and remembering and just putting things together I've learned this: Heavenly Father really wants to bless us with happiness and blessings and answers and help and He can just as much as we are obedient and put forth effort! He actually cannot bless us/give us answers if we don't do our part. It's one giant covenant.  I don't know if this makes sense but it's true!! This kind of leads into the other things I've really been thinking about this week. I feel like I've seen through a window. A window of how my life can be, not just on the mission. Just in these 6 weeks, I've learned so much about my Heavenly Father and my Savior and about myself and how to live with them in every aspect of life and I do not want that to change! Of course It's so much easier on a mission and particularly at the MTC. But I want this experience to change me (not ME but like I've just been explaining, I want to be able to really LIVE with the Savior in my life always, to continue to love the scriptures and learn new things about the Gospel etc etc). Unlike Europe I don't want to have had this giant experience and then go on my merry way basically unchanged.  Hope this makes sense.  I just feel like I've seen what life is REALLY about here. Everything else we do is (or is supposed to be) for one purpose, to return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ forever. I hope this doesn't sound like another person or some unknown "missionary" because it's not, It's me and all of these things I keep discovering that I really already knew are making me happy so I know they're right! 

Wedneday was a super busy fun day: We got to host again which was a blast. We also go asked to demonstrate for the new missionaries Wednesday night, they do this how to begin teaching workshop. It was trippy to be on the flip side! These 6 weeks have gone by so fast! I was so nervous and Sis B was probably so annoyed because I kept saying I was going to throw up, it was bad haha. It was a great experience. One of the guys from the district was our instructor and we're tight now. It's a huge deal. He's like a celebrity to. . . missionaries. The elders here are so annoying about it! Then I got (had to, what?) to help to orientation for our 8 new elders. Yee hah.  

Friday we had in-field orientation all day. It was  A LOT of info, but really useful and got my excited for the field! It was also the probably the best v-day ever hahah. Thanks so much for the packages mom! basically our whole floor had a party with all of that goodness! Boo bear I did get one other Valentine. .. . an elder gave me a hear with a virtuous woman scripture. .. no further comments.  Also mom those bags of kisses? I went to give them to a district down the hall and I went over in my head like 20 times how i would NOT say. . . . want my kisses? Yeah well. " Do you want some kisses?" Aaaaah.  "I mean these chocolate kisses that I have from my. . .Mom!!" Gah!! Of course I said it. One of the Elders: "Wow you're eyes just like bugged out of your head, yeah we thought you meant the other kind." Whatever, it was the worst/best/ that is my life! O que e minha vida?       

Love you all, talk to you soon!! e-mail me or preferably dear.elder me (I'll check my e-mail like one more time tomorrow just to check) about the for sure time/confirmation etc so I know you're good ok? K, vamos para frente com fe!

Sister Ventura       

ALSO, THIS IS OOBER IMPORTANT: I bought my pone card yesterday. This is how it works. It has 500 minutes on it but automatically uses 130 minutes every time I use it. So even if  you guys don't answer it will still use up 130 minutes.  Based on my itinerary around what time do you think I'll be able to call? Mom, I'll admit, I didn't realize when I found out I'd be able to call that it will be your Birthday! Huzzah!! Perfect!  I am so stoked out of my mind to talk to you people!!

Our new temporary missions!!!

Temple walk last Sunday, it was FABULOUS outside!

Parcells, thank you for the fun Valentine's Day cookies!! My companion and I (and a few choice and lucky others;) loved the treat, they were so good! Love you guys!

Loved the famous sugar cookies, Mom. Did you make them all nice and crunchy on the bottom on purpose?? Just how I love them!! We all enjoyed them. My teacher said thank you. I gave him one of the big ones and said you made it for him:) Poor guy had to teach us on V-day!

Pic Sister Bert drew of us!

Travel Itinerary!! 

Thank you!! This was so much fun!

Tayler, this one is mostly for you. I call it, "The struggle is real." 

See that pop tart? I had set my heart on it. I literally tried to buy it like 4 times.  I didn't have money on my card, then the machine was out of order, then again, then again, then I finally was victorious. Ate Fim.

This is because I did this week quite well If I do say so myself, while ya'll were in Cali partying it up I was over here eating some bad food and speaking some bad Portuguese. Word. 

This is how I really felt.. . .

comp pic!

February 8, 2014

GUESS WHAT.

YES. THIS IS REAL LIFE. This morning I got my call to. . . . . . .  THE NEW YORK UTICA MISSION!!!

Anyway, we woke up at 6:30 and went to check right away! I was and still am SO happy/excited! I thought I wouldn't be and had been praying for excitement/ a love for my "new mission" well I got it! I had literally rolled out of bed to go find out. Afterwards we were in line to get a sack breakfast (still repping the sleepy head look. . .) and I swear we saw everyone we knew. I was just excited I was bursting and just telling everyone! It was the best 6:30 of my entire life! I'll be getting my travel itinerary on Thursday and will be able to e-mail again then so we can set up a time to talk. YES I GET TO CALL AND TALK TO YOU LOVELY PEOPLE!  I'm so stinkin excited! I'll let  you know:) Also mom, I'll probably send you a letter with a couple of things I'd like to have before Saturday since that's when I'll be packing, hand written though:) 

Even you can even calm down enough to read about the rest of my week here it is:) Oh Also, thanks for the letters everyone! You all helped me fulfill my goal of getting mail everyday ( this is a pretty one sided goal for you all so good work) There's only been one day here that I haven't gotten mail I believe! #luckiestmissionaryintheworld!

KK. If you can't tell I'm still totally geeking out!

 Could someone get a hold of Kelsey Billat and tell her to write me?? I want to tell her about this whole N.Y thing, she doesn't live in my mission but still:)

Tuesday: Not really a big deal or anything but guess who said the closing prayer for the MTC devotional? Yours truly. Yes parents be proud.  I literally had to practice in my mind before hand because I haven't said a prayer out loud in English for 5 weeks! I made it through without a word of Portuguese slipped in there though:)   I wanted it to be Elder Holland so I could talk to him afterwards buuut it wasn't .. . Instead it was a 70 (Elder Evans) who had lunch with Elder Holland that same day! So, I shook the hand that shook the hand of Elder Holland! I"ll take what I can get:) I was basically a celebrity for like 48 hours.  More like an excuse for Elder to talk to me hahah. "Nice job on the prayer!" " Hey thanks, I've been doing it since I was 2."  And while we're on this note, It's hilarious what Elders will do to make conversation! During gym EVERY day: "Hey Ventura, fresh sneaks!" "Hey thanks, my Mom gave them to me."   3rd e-mail request out of the blue " Hey. Can I have your e-mail?" "Hey sure, we've known each other for 2 weeks and we'll never see each other again!" Of course I always give it though Mom, don't worry! Hahah anyway, the MTC is full of delightful little times similar to the above, I seriously love it!

Thursday: We got to skype two girls from Brazil for our TRC experience! I did a lot of smiling and nodding, they were so nice though! One of them was my age! It's amazing what the Church can do with technology!

Friday: We had to go to the health clinic to get Sister B some pills. I was sitting there waiting for her and just kept thinking how I was a real life missionary no longer in the MTC and how wearing my name tag automatically gave me so much responsibility! I could just feel it! I knew I could not leave that building without acting like a missionary and talking to someone.  They could all see that we were missionaries but you know they were all absorbed to their phones. That feeling when you get forced out of your seat to bear your testimony? Yeah that basically happened. Kali and Coltran: there was a little boy with his dad that was your age Kali and reminded me of you Coltran! I really wanted to talk to him! So I did:) I went and talked to him and his dad, turns our he has an older sister on a mission too! I told him I  knew he always wrote his sister (hint to all you siblings out there) and he said he liked to draw her pictures. He was so stinkin' cute, it was so nice to see a little kid again! It was really nice to have a real little missionary experience if that makes sense, and I was so happy! When  we were leaving I told Parker (the little boy) to write his sister again. haha ( I got your back Sister!) Then I saw sister Ewell (sp?) on the way back. She hopped out of her car and we took a selfie for you Mom! Hopefully you got it?  It was a lovely day:)

A couple of things: I want you all to know that I know that the dawn always comes. Whether it be a couple of hours later, a day or a week, or 5 months it always comes.  I'm so grateful for the gifts of happiness that Heavenly Father gives me. Happiness is a gift and it's beautiful. It comes as we strive to be as close as we can to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I read some interesting scripture somewhere, sometime about how obedience is directly linked to happiness. Heavenly Father WANTS to bless us and He can the more we follow Him! Speaking of scriptures, they are a gold mine people! Seriously, I love them, and have been amazed over and over again at the things I keep finding! They are amazing.

Lastly: I don't want to be anywhere else right now, I feel so lucky every day to be working to closely with my Savior. Family I miss you and think of you everyday and am SO grateful for you. I have the best family in the world:) This week we taught a lesson about families being forever and I used a picture I brought of you all, it was lovely:)

I love you all so much! Talk to you again on Thursday!! 

Love,

Sis V. 

My long lost branch!

Our half way mark!

Highlight of my week was getting to eat dinner with this beautiful sister!!! Miss her and love her so much but I'm glad she's doing so great and loving her mission so far.  (Emily Mae Atwood)

 This was the coolest, I got to have one of my sunset moments! I love to go to the temple, and then we came outside at the most beautiful moment:) I love sunsets because they're constantly changing but every moment is different and yet so beautiful in it's own way:) I don't have time to apply that to life, sorry!

With Irmo Hodson before Sister M. left!

I love and miss these girls!

1 February 2014

I am the Missionaries!!

Hahah yes, I meant to write that.  Last week while on our Temple walk I saw a group of missionaries (surprising i know) and just out of instinct my first thought was: "The missionaries!" Hahah and then, "I am the missionaries!! still can't quite believe it!

Honestly this week was a bit rough but also was full of a million little miracles and I learned so much.  I think this was due in part to the fact that all my friends left! I realized that this is how the whole mission is going to be so I better get used to it. I also realized that I think I really rely on my circumstances and those around to determine my current state of happiness. I think a lot of us do that. BUT, these experiences and the opportunity i have to be currently on a mission are helping me to realize that i don't have to, nor should i, do that! Christ is there for me always! i need to rely on Him, tell Him everything and base my happiness off of Him, because then i will never be let down:) I by no means have this down to an art, it's definitely really hard but i learning and i've come so much closer to my Savior this week, it's amazing.  i realized that that's a possibility. i don't just have to feel close to Him when i'm going through a tough experience, or a really sacred one.  It is definitely a possibility to have Him with my always; to include Him, in every little thought and action, every single day. this isn't just for missionaries, i'm just now realizing it!  It's possible for anyone who tries, even just a little bit! Anyway, something that I learned this week, that I'm going to continue to learn about and practice.  I'm just so amazed and grateful for the closeness i've felt from my Savior this week.  It's also been bit tough thinking about you all together for Tayler's b-day and then next week in Cali. . . definitely wish I could come with you! I'll probably be thinking about you all a lot, think of my me: on the beach, on space mountain, watching the light show and ALWAYS!! Have fun my lovely family!! But: whenever I start to get a little homesicky guess what consoles me?? I get to call ya'll at the airport in just about 3 or less weeks!! SAI FORA!! Also, i should be getting my reassignment next Saturday! (keep praying for that visa folks)

Sunday: Fam, remember Elder Stephen Allen?? He came and spoke again! Sister B dragged me up there afterwards, I'm so glad she did, he remembered me, and had written down that I told him I would be there:) What a lovely person, it was fun to talk to him:)

Tuesday: For the devo choir number we sang this special version of  Called to serve where the choir sang a descant part and the entire MTC sang together like one giant choir, it was fantastic, there was such a feeling of unity. i am SO grateful to be able to sing in the choir!

Wednesday: This is the day that I gained my very own conviction that O Livro de Mormom e verdadeiro. Honestemente, 100%.  I think I've known for a while but not know that i've known.  That was starting to worry me. I knew that as a missionary i would have to testify of the BOM every single day.  when elder Bednar came he gave the most amazing testimony, i wanted that too. I've been praying for it and in class my prayer was answered.  We were reading in 3 N  ch 11 ( I think?) where Christ is teaching.  Let me just say this: Hosanna literally means, "save now." I invite you all to go read that chapter ( I really hope that's the right one, if not I'll have it next week!) And with the knowledge of what Hosanna means, dissect the way in which the Savior answeres this plea. Verses 17-the end of the chapter are where it's at.  He IS perfect teacher. He taught how we are being taught to teach in the MTC. i just had the most beautiful feeling of conviction, this is an amazing book and now I can say along with elder Bednar and many others that I KNOW that this book is true.  i find myself so excited for the 1/2 hour I get to study it each day. Going in with a specific question is amazing! It's a beautiful book, i love it:) Also, I got to eat with Emily!! I was the besst! Allie and Kayla: I know you lovely people were there spirit;/

Thursday: this day started out really rough and i was convinced that it was going to end that way (nao positivo!!) I found some really comforting things in the scripture and then we had this lesson with Marcos that was muito legal!!! We had been really trying to teach with the Spirit and ask 'inspired questions" With our first investigator, it did not go well and i was really frustrated. Marcos, has this intense love of the BOM, has quit drinking and BECAUSE he knows that baptism is a big responsibility, agreed to work towards baptism!! The Spirit was there so strongly and we were so happy afterwards! It's amazing to me that even though these investigators are just our teachers ( I was pretty doubting of this idea at first) when I put in the real effort and real prayers, Heavenly Father has helped me in real ways and with His real spirit! I have felt Him guiding me while preparing the lessons! It is amazing to me!

I thought I had a rough week but looking back. . . I've been so blessed:)

Friday: We did TRC again! Same result: the first lesson with rm's was. . . fine. But when we got to the cute old Brazilian couple?? Melt my heart! I have this love for these people when i first see them! And they do for me! Their hearts are big and they're just great! I could understand so much last night, it was awesome! They kept telling us that our language was good and that I looked like a doll. .. hahah they said i really look like a lot of people in Curitiba! They also showed me a pic of their son who lives there right now and his address. They said to go over and he would feed us! Buuut he's preety good looking and my ageish so that won't be happening! It's amazing to me how much i love these people though, i just know I'm supposed to go there and be with them! I cannot wait!

Tell sis Tarwater thank you for the ward newsletter! That was soo nice of her!

I love you guys SO much and really miss you, i pray for you all every day!!

Love,

Sis. V

The language has really begun to click this week, we have found that we can say almost anything we want (roughly) in Portuguese! It's exciting!