Cate Mission Weekly Letters

OI! Well this week was awesome! Friday our mission had the unique experience of having a devotional with Elder David A. Bednar and his wife. Due to COVID restrictions they could not come in person, so it was all through Zoom. But, they showed us a picture of the room they were in for the devotional and it is way cool! I attached a picture, I am so thankful for technology that allows us to do things like this! They are seriously amazing, I learned so much! At the very beginning of the devotional Elder Bednar told each of us to not take notes on what was said during the devotional, but rather to listen for things that are not being said. He told us during General Conference he looks out at all the people in the Conference Center and watches people taking notes at top speed. He told us it is much more important to learn by the Spirit and write down impressions than it is to write down exact quotes of everything. Every missionary in the mission was then terrified to write anything down. Bu...

Bom dia!!! Another week flew by here in Campinas! Between managing all six of the mission's facebook pages and teaching lessons, there's never a dull moment here. Since I've been here, Sister Queiroz and I have sent roughly 80 referrals from people commenting and liking things on our Facebook page, it's crazy! And we are still sooo far behind on everything. The Lord is definitely hastening His work! We got to go to church in person yesterday which was amazing! I was asked to play the piano, so all those 5:30 am piano lessons really did pay off:) And last night we had a video call lesson with this cute older lady from our congregation. She asked me if I knew an Elder Johnson who served here in Campinas 59 years ago. I had to tell her sadly I did not. She then proceeded to ask me if I had a boyfriend and if I would be interested in dating one of her grandsons. I love Brazil. Just some other highlights/realizations from the week: -introducing peanut butter to the Brazilian...

Oiii, tudo bem?? This week was a great first full week here in Brasil! I'm learning a lot, that is for sure. Whenever we walk somewhere, my comp Sister Queiroz (truly an angel) asks me "how do you say ..." it has been super helpful, I've learned a lot of new words. To explain the title of the email, I have been trying to learn the word for fire extinguisher, but it is not going well. For the longest time I kept saying "extintor de inferno" which would be hell extinguisher. Soooo not quite the same thing but I'll get there some day! In other news, I didn't move! Wahoo! So I get to serve here in the Campinas 3 ward. Sister Mesquita left which was really sad, but we still get to talk with her all the time because she is our new STL!  And I actually get to serve as a Social Media Specialist here in the mission! So kinda wild because Sister Queiroz and I are responsible for managing all six of the facebook pages here in the mission! Kind of wild because I...

Oiiii!! Well it's official, I made it to Campinas! After waking up at 3:30 in the morning (big shout out to Sisters Reese, Staheli, and Lundquist) I flew from Eugene to Salt Lake, then to Atlanta, then on to São Paulo. I was hoping to get to see/travel with other missionaries, but sadly I had to make the trip on my own-it was soooo strange not having a companion! But! All is well! I got picked up at the airport and went to the mission home where I got to meet President and Sister Saucedo, my Mission President and his wife! They were so kind and let me take a nap at their house before the first session of the conference started. They also took me to see the Campinas Temple which is absolutely beautiful. I hope things will be normal enough sometime in the next eight months so I can actually go inside!  I'm currently living in the city of Campinas with Sisters Mesquita and Queiroz. And I am CONVINCED these two are the most kind and patient souls on the planet. I am experiencing wh...