Mosiah 2:41

Oi familia!!

 

It was fun to hear from some of you! I love that Amy is getting excited about missionary work! I also love that the sisters had you right the names down and make specific goals, I think I might have to try that! Sounds like Mom had a fun weekend at Disneyland! One day I want to stay at that hotel in California Adventures!! Jealous! hahaha. Dad, I'm glad that I could be your perfect patient example! hahaha. People talk about getting their wisdom teeth pulled, and I'm like, "Ya, it's not even that bad!" People just need to be more like me! hahaha. Also, I love that you are getting into the Book of Mormon! We go to institute classes, and one of the challenges that the class got was to go a whole week without murmuring. It's harder than you think. You constantly catch yourselves wanting to say something on the more negative side. That might be a good challenge for your students!!

 

My week was pretty crazy! My companions are the Sister Training Leaders, so we were involved in 2 companion exchanges, one after the other. We are just getting towards the end of the transfer, so they were trying to squeeze them in. But that is one of the neat things about the leadership positions for Sisters, is that Sisters get to be involved in exchanges! They were fun! First we had Sister Griffen come to the area, and she was so spunky and made me feel so pumped up about our area and how much potential our Branch has! Then, we had Sister Waddoups, and that was fun, because Sister Waddoups came out on the same day as me! So, it was fun to get to know these others sisters and learn from them! Mostly, the exchanges helped me feel more excited about my area.

 

So, we currently have two progressing investigators, meaning that we have two investigators that we "have taught at least 2 lessons two and are keeping their commitments." Both of which we extended the baptismal commitment to, and both of which did not accept it...for now. One of them is a freshman guy, and he has already been baptized in his church, so he hasn't quite grasped the importance of being baptized by authority. The other, is an Indian woman, and she is already active, but it was hard because she said that they reason she has been liking the church is that we haven't been putting pressure on her...then we invited her to be baptized on a specific date...insert pressure. I think she doesn't quite understand what she said no too, so we will hopefully continue to help her progress towards baptism.

 

It's interesting, because as a missionary, you are encouraged to bring up baptism early, often, and boldly. At first I was unsure about bringing it up so early, because we are encouraged to invite no later than the second lesson. But as missionaries, we don't just invite to baptism because we want numbers, we invite because baptism is essential to us returning to our Heavenly Father's presence. We invite because we love them and we want them to be able to partake of the blessings that the gospel brings. We invite them because we know that Heavenly Father's plan for us is way bigger and better than our mortal minds can comprehend and we want them to receive all the blessings that their Heavenly Father has in store for them.

 

As a member, if you are sitting in a lesson that the missionary asks the investigator to be baptized, and the investigator says no. Don't panic. It's going to be fine. We as missionaries extend the baptismal commitment to people, even when sometimes we already know what the answer is going to be. Extending the invite allows the investigator to know where we see these lessons going, it allows them to have baptism on their minds throughout the whole teaching process, and it allows them to have something to truly work towards. I feel like often, if the investigator says no, the member feels the need to hurry and pick up the pieces, and everyone starts panicking. But, it's all going to be fine. We prepare for investigators saying no.

 

Everyone, be a member missionary!! The missionaries truly can't do it without you! The most effective work is through the members. Look for opportunities to share the gospel!

 

I love you all! Have a great week!

Sister Van Wagenen

 

Scripture that I love to share with members: Mosiah 2:41. :)

Hey Ya'll

Oi familia!!

 

It was fun hearing from ya'll!! (Look how Southern I am...saying "ya'll." hahaha) It sounds like Amy had a fun week in Utah!! I wished that I could have helped Kara celebrate her birthday...but we will just have to suffice with a Happy Birthday via email! Kara, I hope that you had an awesome birthday! I was thinking about you!! Also, I liked that Dad taught about the scattering of Israel, because I totally read that chapter this week, and was studying more about the tribes of Israel and the scattering of Israel!! Look at us all being in sync! Sounds like seminary and school are going well!! I just realized that I heard from everyone this week! Way to go, family! You rock!! Mom, I just got a letter this week, that I'm thinking you sent to the MTC originally, because it had pictures from the First Day of School! So, that was fun...and funny! I get things eventually! hahaha.

 

 

Where to begin...

 

Ok. So, I think I mentioned a little about our investigator, Smita, last week! She is awesome! We taught her last Monday and then yesterday, on Sunday! She is an older lady, and she is technically in the family ward, but we were asked to teach her. We wish we could meet with her more often, but she is so busy! She has been going to church for like 8 weeks now! And it was because she was interested in what we believe, and then called someone to find the church. She went to church, liked it, and then kept coming back! We met with her last night, and we were going to teach about the Restoration, but we only taught a few points because she asks so many questions, and she wants to make sure that she understands everything!! The Beesley family is her fellowshippers right now, and they are awesome at helping her understand and grow! They remind me of my family, because they are so good at helping the missionaries. They are an awesome family! Anyways...we have decided that right now Smita is converted to the church, we just need to help her become converted to the gospel. Which is interesting, because generally it seems like it is the other way around. She loves the family aspect, and she loves the commandments and the lifestyle that we live...but we need to help her come to know and have that relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

We did the booths again this week! On Wednesday, it went ok. We were right next to the "Disney College Program" booth, which was cool...but it was like, "Wait, we can help you go to the real happiest place on Earth!" hahaha. I think we were lacking some energy and Sis. Johnson started not feeling well. We decided that we need to do something to change it up, because currently the booth is really awkward to us, and it was the Elders before us thing, but it hadn't quite become our thing. So, what do we need?! We need candy! Obviously! So, Thursday we got starburst, and grabbed their attention with "Sweet treat for a Sweet message!!" hahaha. Or we would ask people if they want a starburst...because everyone loves starburst and starburst is none threatening. And either sneak in a mormon.org card too...or the ones that were interested would actually stop and ask why we were giving out starburst. And then you're like, "Well...let me tell you!" hahaha. I think the hard thing about the south is that they are preached to so much about religion...and so many have really bad views about Mormons...so, it's learning the right balance. We have to show them that we aren't just another church that is going to go around telling people that they are going to be damned, and showing them that we aren't as strange as people may think. Also, it's learning what people actually want to hear our message, and what people are just trying to save us. We try to be cautious of the churches that have reputations for being anti.

 

We had an investigator this past week, named Heath. We met him at the tables on campus, which is cool. We taught him about the Restoration, and he asked lots of questions, many of which we didn't quite know the answers to. But he seems pretty sincere and we had him pray at the end, and he prayed to have an open heart. Continued revelation is what he is trying to understand. We need to help him recognize when he is feeling the Spirit. We are teaching him again this week, and we are hopeful that he will continue to have an open heart and progress in the gospel!

 

We had P-day on Saturday...and it had been almost 2 weeks since we had had an actual P-day...and it was so nice and so needed! My biggest request was that we go to Target...it was a happy day! hahaha. I finally got a blanket...because I had been sleeping with just a sheet. And I got some trail mix...I like trail mix way too much! My companions probably didn't anticipate how much I love Target...and they are learning how much I love chocolate! hahaha.

 

I'm doing well! Missionary work has it's ups and downs, but I think the way that you handle the downs is really what makes you a good, effective missionary! I love, love, love President Hinckley's quote, "Forget yourself and go to work!" Because I feel like the better you impliment that, the better you are able to be an instrument in God's hands!

 

Love you all!! Have a great week!!

Sister Van Wag

 

P.S. I haven't tried pictures, but next week, I will have to remember to bring my card reader and see if I can send you some! Sadly, the picture taking has been minimal, but I'll work on it!

Baptism!

Oi familia!!

 

Thanks for your letters!! I printed most of the trek ones out, so I will have more time to read them later!! But it sounds like the trek was a hit! I never got to do a trek, but everyone always says that they are good experiences!! Also, it sounds like Kara moved into her new apartment!! How fun!! Yes! Dad, I got your dearelder package! I seriously came home after emailing last week, and it was sitting on my doorstep! It was super ironic considering that I had just told you that dearelder doesn't work! Surprise!! It does! And I have been happily enjoying the sugar cookies that the package contained!! Also, I got both Dad and Amy's dearelder letters, so that's good! I got a letter from grandma, and I got a letter from mom...and I finally got my package from mom!! So, happy day!! All my mail is getting worked out!! Mom, that package is awesome!! I have been thorougly enjoying the trail mix and treats from the package, and I wore my sweater the day after I got the package!! So, thank you!! I am very appreciative!!

 

So, I'm sorry about the confusion with emailing and P-day and junk...since we are supposed to email our Mission President on Mondays, we are still going to have emailing on Mondays...but the rest of the "preparation day" things we are going to be doing on Saturday. So, I'm not exactly sure how that all works out, but I just nod my head and say ok sometimes. But Saturday's are gamedays...and gamedays are really not effective proselyting days, so that is why we are doing it that way. On gamedays, everyone is drunk...and football is a religion. So, we don't want to mess with that. We just focus on teaching inactives on Saturdays.

 

Ok. Everytime I sit to start writing an email home, I can't remember what I have already told you about my area...but I also can't really remember all that happened this past week. I don't even know where to begin.

 

Um...Tuesday we had a Mission Leadership Council in Macon. Ok, explanation. So, my companions are both Sister Training Leaders, so kind of as a default, I am too. Which is weird, because I am being trained. So, I'm like a wannabe Sister Training Leader. But we drove to Macon, which is like a 2.5 hour drive. Also, Georgia is an hour ahead of Alabama...so we had to wake up at like 4:30 our time to get to our meeting at 10. Woo! But it was good! We were trained, we were fed lunch. All was well! I also found out that even if my visa were to come, I will for sure finish off the transfer. So, I will for sure be here a full transfer, and then each transfer that I start, I can be sure that I will be here for another 6 weeks. So, that was kind of nice to find out. I just wish I had some perception of how long I will be here...I am completely content being here, I just wish I could mentally know. It would be nice. But oh well! I will be wherever Heavenly Father wants me to be! Also, I asked one of the leaders to order me an English nametag...because it gets real confusing when someone is looking at my nametag and they can't read it. I can just see the look of confusion on their face!! hahahaha.

 

Wednesday and Thursday we started up a booth of campus!! It was weird getting into the swing of things. As a missionary, you have a mentality to "talk to everyone", then classes get out and there are a ton of people, and it is so overwhelming!! So, we are learning to discern through the Spirit, those that would be open to our message. Because you definitely get those that ignore you OR you get the ones that love to come and Bible bash with you. So, it's interesting. Sis. Snyder got pretty bible bashed on Thursday. We are still learning how to tactfully and kindly get out of those conversations. I was simultaneously getting Bible bashed...but mine was done a lot nicer. Sometimes the booth can be discouraging...but we are prayerfully trying to find those that Heavenly Father has prepared.

 

Friday we had a Zone Meeting in Columbus, which is like an hour away...plus time difference. There are only like two companionships in the whole mission that are serving in Alabama...so we are the only ones that are off on our time. But it was funny because as Sister Training Leaders we did a training on working with the members. I'm sure those that knew I had only been in the field for a week and a half were like, "what is she doing giving us training?" hahaha. Whatevs. It was strange how many people just in my zone that I have a connection with. 4 of us came out on the same day. Sis. Snyder is from Fresno. One Elder was in my Freshman Ward at BYU. One Elder is cousins with the Kelloggs/Bogles/Grants. One sister is friends with some of my friends from Mesa. Welcome to the Mormon world! Connections everywhere!!

 

Saturday we had a baptism!! It was pretty exciting! Her name is Betty, and the Sisters had been teaching her and had committed her to baptism before I even got here. So, I wasn't part of the whole process, but I was grateful for the portions that I did get to be a part of. I was so cool to see how the Atonement has worked in her life and has truly blessed her. She really is one that Heavenly Father had prepared. It was so cool to watch her come out of the baptismal font, and be so overwhelmed with emotion from feeling the Spirit. I was so grateful that I got to be a part of that moment.

 

I have only been here 2 weeks, and I already feel like I know the Branch so well!! Mom, I think you heard...that there is guy in the YSA Branch that is cousins with the Tanners. So, that was a funny connection to make. But anyways, we love the Branch! It is still interesting to figure out how to be in YSA as a missionary, but we are continually learning. We have our ups and our downs, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary and to testify of Christ. When we come across those that disagree with us...mostly I just feel so sad for them and the truths that they are missing! I'm so grateful for the knowledge of the Atonement and the knowledge that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that we are literally His children. I just started reading Jesus The Christ...and I am so excited to better come to know Christ.

 

I love you all!! I hope you are all doing well!!

Sister Van Wagenen

Georgia!!

Hi family!!

 

I spent so much time reading your wonderful emails that I have no time to respond now!! It's a good dilemma. I appreciate it!!

 

It was so fun to talk to you last Monday. It seems crazy that it was only a week ago, it seems like it was much longer than that. Man, I don't even know what to say with such limited time.

 

So, Tuesday morning we had transfer meetings, and I was going in to have lunch, and across the room I see Sister Brittany Snyder. Turns out she started her mission in the Atlanta Mission, but when the Macon Mission was created in July, she ended up in this mission! So, that was fun and random. Then, we go in for the transfer meeting to find out who our companions are, and low and behold, we are called to be companions. What the random?! Right?! You never expect to end up with a companion that you already know. Granted, we don't know each other very well, but we still know each other, and we have Clovis in common. We made a comment that we knew each other and the Mission President got a little nervous because he didn't know that, but I obviously didn't know that she was even in this mission. But we are in a trio, with Sis. Johnson, who is from Riverton, and she knows Andy Nielson, so that's fun. Sis. Johnson and Snyder were companions for this last transfer.

 

We are over a YSA Branch in the city of Auburn, Alabama. So, ya...I'm actually serving in Alabama right now. It's been an interesting week, because the area got whitewashed and Elders used to serve here. So, it's been interesting trying to figure out the area, and learning how to best serve in a YSA Branch. Serving in YSA is a completely different feel. The first couple of days we were having a hard time getting a grasp on how to best find people to teach. We are right next to Auburn University, so most of the kids go there.

 

On Thursday we ended up walking around campus a little bit and finding people to talk to and invite to institute. We really like using the mormon.org cards and using it initially as an invitation to attend insititute classes, then we feel out how much they are willing to talk to us. We have two ladies come up to us...and I experienced my first Bible bash. It was interesting. Sis. Snyder hadn't experienced one yet, and she has been out 6 months, but we definitely learned from the experience. My problem was that I didn't know how to politely get out of the conversation. But this week we will be setting up a booth on campus, and we heard that the Elders have done it in the past, and sometimes people come up just to Bible bash. So, we have already worked on tactics on how to politely get out of the conversation without opening a can of worms or have all your time wasted by someone that is just trying to rip you down. But we did talk to people that were friendly and seemed interested.

 

We have found that our best source of finding people is truly through the members. So, we are focusing a lot of the less actives and visiting them. Then, every person that we visit we extend them the committment to invite a friend to an activity or institute. The members are awesome and they are surrounded by nonmembers. The members are really good at inviting their friends, so I think as we really work on strengthening the branch, then we will continue to find people to teach. We visited a less active member on Saturday, and she invited her friend to church on Sunday, and her friend liked it and wants to keep coming. So, the members really our are best source of help.

 

Saturday we were really worried because it was football day, and football is no joke in the South. They start setting up stuff to tailgate on like Thursday Night, and they started drinking Thursday night as well. So, that keeps things interesting. We were warned by the members that people are more hostile on game days, and that it probably isn't even safe to try and tract that day. So, we were kind of worried about filling our day, especially when we are working with YSA who have such iffy schedules. But Heavenly Father really did bless us. We were able to find people to visit and help. Saturday night we weren't sure what to do during the game, and we had felt impressed to go to a shopping center. We were feeling so awkward about it, and we ended up at Target, really not knowing why. We felt weird about just going up to people in Target and talking to them. But then we saw a sister from the ward that we had tried to visit earlier that day, and it hadn't worked out, and we had both ended up at Target. Even she had meant to go the mall, and had ended up at Target. It was just a testament that Heavenly Father knows that we are trying to work hard and be good missionaries, and that He will provide a way for us.

 

Things are good!! We are continually learning and growing with working in a trio! I told my companions that I had said that I didn't want to be in a trio, but Heavenly Father was like, "Sister Van Wagenen, you are really funny, here is a trio just for you!" hahaha. It's good! With any companionship, you continually learn how to best work together and strengthen your companionship!

 

But I am doing well!! Last week was interesting getting things rolling here, but this week is so busy and we are so excited to do what we can to bless this Branch!!

 

Love you all!! I am out of time, so I may not be able to write people back! But I'm so grateful for all of your support!!

 

Tchau!

Sister Van Wag

 

Address for the Mission Office, and then all my mail will be forwarded to my apartment in Alabama:

 

400 Northside Crossing

Macon, Georgia 31210

MTC week 5

Oi familia!!

Yep. It is true...I am off to the GEORGIA MACON MISSION bright and early MondayMorning!! The fact that I am leaving the MTC in just a couple of days is all so surreal!! I am about to be talking to real people with real salvation!! Oh my goodness!! It's also so crazy that we just found out last night, and then we have a few days and we are gone! I'm excited though!! I am excited to go to Georgia! I know that is where I am supposed to be for now. Rumor has it...that Macon is a rough part of Georgia. Some Elders from Georgia said that the mission was closed for a little while and they just barely re-opened it. But I am sure they will keep the Sisters out of the rough areas. Also, the Elders said that people in the South LOVE the Sisters! So, that's good!! We will be fed really well, and most likely we will be getting cars because it is pretty spread out! So much for working off the MTC cookies and brownies...some good Southern cooking + cars = no hope. hahaha. YOMO!! I am a little nervous about being in the Bible Belt, because I don't feel like I know the Bible all that well! So, that will be interesting. I feel like you can tell what people's intentions are though. I might have some entertaining stories of people Bible bashing me. Woo! 

This week has been fun and crazy. Because it was our last week, the monotony was more broken up!

Sunday we heard from a man that is over the Missionary Department of the Church. I can't remember his name. He really talked about how as a missionary, Satan will try to push every one of your buttons, because he doesn't want us to succeed. And as a missionary, you really can feel your "buttons" being pushed sometimes. But it is so important to recognize Satan working on you and push out the distractions and center our focus on serving. I really want to serve my mission giving my all to my Heavenly Father, so that when my mission is up, I can truly have no regrets. 

Monday and Tuesday we taught our "investigators" for the last time. It's good. Because sometimes when you are so close to your teacher, it is hard to stay in the right mindset of them being an investigator. Our guy teacher sometimes helps us through the lesson, and we have had some pretty entertaining moments with him! Dad was asking about Portuguese, and I don't really feel all that confident with it. I can hold my own in a gospel conversation, but obviously my "investigators" are talking slower and using vocab that we are more familiar with. I am trying to get verb conjugations down, because that is definitely the hardest part, knowing how to conjugate, and not having to sit and think about it for a while before you speak. I am hoping that in Georgia, I will be able to figure out ways to keep my Portuguese up, so that I am not entirely incapable of speaking once I actually get to Brazil.

Tuesday we got to hear from Elder Anderson for our devotional. He talked about Sacrifice and Love. "We sacrifice the things we love, and we love the things that we sacrifice for." It was really good! Then, after the devotional, there was a thunderstorm going on outside, so they had us stay in the Marriott Center for a little bit while they waiting for the thunder and lightning to go down. So, we just sang songs and Elder Anderson walked around and went around shaking people's hands. When they gave us the clear...we entered the rain and kind of jogged back to the MTC! We were all soaked!! It was actually pretty fun!! I was just like, "save my notebook and my scriptures!!" hahaha. The valuables of a missionary!!

Wednesday was quite eventful. There is a sister from the district ahead of us that has had to stay behind because of foot problems, so I gained another companion. So, Wednesdaywe went to the Health Clinic with her, and she found out that she will have to have surgery next week and that she will be staying 3 more weeks after this week. So, a whole month extra!! I would die! They gave her the option of a medical release, but I think it would be harder to go home and come back out. But Wednesday was kind of rough for her!Wednesday I also got to host the new missionaries coming in! I was pretty excited!! Then, we were at the curb and a sister in my district stepped up to help host a sister, and I was tearing up just watching the sister say good bye to her parents. I was thinking, "Oh man, I don't know if I am going to be able to do this!" I was still standing there waiting to see a car to host, and they summoned me in a different direction, and I was asked to host a foreign sister. The foreign missionaries get here on Tuesday, so they were already getting used to the MTC, and I didn't have to watch them say goodbye to anyone! It ended up being good for me!! The first sister I hosted was from Germany, and she spoke fluent English, and she already loved the MTC!! She was so cute and everything went smoothly. Then, I was asked to host a sister from the Philippines, and it was an adventure. The poor sister had some type of surgery on her feet that morning...I think for like ingrown toenails. And her English was kind of rocky. But I took her to her temporary room, so that I could help her move her stuff to her permanent room, and she wasn't all packed yet. And her suitcase would not close, she was so persistent to get that thing to work, and tried for a good 15 minutes. And I was like, "Sister, I really don't think that is going to close. Maybe we should just try to carry it together." And she was just like, "I can't carry this thing." Oh boy. So, we went and recruited some sisters outside to help us carry her stuff to her new room. I felt so bad for the poor Sister. She was already so overwhelmed by being in the United States and speaking English all the time. But we finally got her all settled in her classroom.

Thursday we had in-field training, where you go to classes to prepare you for the field. We talked about "Finding" and how to "Use Members" and just talked about not putting yourself in the mindset of being a "planter," because Heavenly Father hasn't just called us to plant seeds. It was crazy because reality was setting in that we were leaving the MTC and that we were going to talk to real people with real needs and real salvation!! Ahhh!! It's crazy and overwhelming and exciting!!

Thursday we also had to go with my new companion, Sis. Spencer, to a doctor's appointment for pre-opp stuff. We left the MTC and went into the real world for a little bit!! It was weird to be driving around Provo. We only really went from the car, into the doctor's appointment, and back into the car. We were all excited to leave the MTC...and then we realized that it really wasn't all that exciting. hahaha. I saw some of Provo from the car. Woo!! hahaha. It has been really interesting to have a second companion. It is just different, because you are having to cater to more needs and be patient. 

Then, last night, we got our re-assignments! We were expecting to get them today, so when we got them yesterday, it was so surprising!! In my district, we have 3 going to South Carolina; 3 going to Cincinnati, Ohio; 2 going to Georgia; 1 going to Las Vegas; 1 going to Salem, Oregon; 1 going to New Jersey; and 1 going to Jacksonville, Florida. So, we are all over the place!! I think there are 5 Brazil Sisters that have been re-assigned to my Georgia Mission, but I only know of my companion!! My companion and I are the only companionship that is staying together!! 

But things are good!! I'm excited for the adventure that awaits, and I'm enjoying these last few days in the MTC! 

Amo voces!!

Sister Van Wag

Devotional in the Marriott Center. Pre-rain!!!

In-field Orientation

My district with our re-assignments!!

My building that I basically live in!

Post-rain

Temple

Our bedroom

Service

Doing the language program called TALL on the computers! We love TALL... ha!!

Gym at the field

My district at the temple after a temple session a few weeks ago!

My companions being hosts!!

MTC Week 4

Oi familia!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOTHER DEAREST!!! I feel so lame saying Happy Birthday over an email, but it will just have to do. I hope that you are having a wonderful day!! I love you, and know that I am thinking about you!!

Man, I can't believe that I am here again emailing. I seriously feel like this week flew!! I mean, some of the days feel kind of long, but all of a sudden it is Friday again! I can't believe that I have been here 4 and half weeks!! Next Friday I will be getting my re-assignment...or I will find out that I got my visa...but most likely I will be getting a re-assignment. So, that's exciting and crazy!! We only have like a week and half left! Reality is setting in! As certain moments, I think, "Man, I am so ready to be in the field and teach real investigators!" and then other moments I am like, "Oh man! I really don't know Portuguese!!" So, it's a whole lot of mixed emotions up in here. But I am excited for next week!! 

Dad, I loved your story about the Elder that knew Sister Van Wagenen...sadly, you were both referring to different Sis. Van Wags. He must have been in the same district as my second cousin, because I don't know him. I can see how there would be confusion though...we are both Sister Van Wagenen, we are both going to Brazil, and we are both from California. It's really quite ironic actually!! 

I hope everyone had a good first week of school!! It seems like mom is getting in the swing of things with seminary!! I didn't get updates from Lauren or Kylie this week, so I am hoping there weeks were good...or at least got better. I loved the letters I got from people though! Lauren sent the handwritten letter...and she wins on writing the most random letter ever. hahaha. Both Lauren and Kylie's letters made me laugh. Kylie shared with me her schedule and next to lunch she wrote, "My main squeeze Lunch Lady." So funny!! Also, I love that McKay says, "Good Job Mckay!" when he is potty training! What a cutie! Amy, I will try to think of good missionary goals for you...I would start with just making an effort to bring the church up in conversations with your friends...or talk about your family and that you have sister on a mission! Then, you can explain all about missionaries!! I love that you are making an effort to be a missionary!! Kara, good luck with school this week!! You are going to be an awesome teacher!! And yes...the MTC does get monotonous...but we keep going. 

Mom, I got your snack package! So thanks! Dad, I got your dearelder package...and I read the outside that said "Chocolate Covered Cinnamon Bears" and I got really nervous that the whole thing was going to be bears, and it was a decent size box. I mean, I am not complaining about bears...but a huge box of them, that would have been bad news!! hahaha. But it had chips and dip, so that was fun! I brought it to planning time last night for my district to partake of...but it caused some chaos, and not so much planning, so...we will have to figure out another way to share the goodies without being a distraction! Also, Sis. Hansen continues to amaze me...she sent me a dearelder package too!! How nice is she!! Thank you, Sis. Hansen!

Ok...now I start the struggle of actually trying to remember what I did this week. 

Last P-day we got to go to the temple!! It was great! I loved it!l I can't really saw much more...but it was so nice to be in the temple again!! I had missed it. (Sidenote: I saw Stephanie Neilsen and her husband in the temple, so that was fun. I just saw them walk by, but it was cool. I think she is amazing!)

Sunday, my companion and I got the most prestigious calling in our Branch, we are the official Sacrament Greeters/Hymn book passer outers. Ya, be jealous!! hahaha. But there are really only a few callings in the Branch, so it is fun to have a responsibility. Even though every sacrament meeting, we are all stressed out until they announce which two missionaries are speaking, then we can breath and relax. Sunday night we watched a talk by Holland and he talked about how amazing it is that we live in this dispensation, which is something that we often take for granted. The people of the Book of Mormon, preached and testified of Christ, but they knew that they eventually would fail. But they saw our day and knew that they were writing for us, and they knew that it would be a day that people would listen and that we would succeed!! How amazing is that!! We live in such a blessed time, and we often don't appreciate that!

I don't know if I fully explained our "investigators," but we teach both of our teachers and they pretend to be real people from their missions. So, each companionship is actually teaching different investigators, with real stories and situations. Then, this week we also started teaching another companionship, and they are pretending to be non-members from home. My companion and I get taught too...it's an interesting experience to be on the investigator side of things.

So, Monday, we were sitting in class, and a teacher that we didn't know walks in, tells us in Portuguese that our teacher is sick and that he will be teaching. Then, he says that those that are supposed to teach her today will be teaching a new investigator, he writes the room number on the board, then walks out. I was like, "wait! What just happened?!" hahaha. So, we went and just talked to him and got to know him, and whipped out a little bit about the restoration, and I whipped out the First Vision in Portuguese, that I had finished memorizing a few days before. So, that was fun. But it really shows us that we are progressing, when we can not have any time to prepare and just go talk to an investigator, and give a lesson according to their needs. Look at us go!! hahaha. 

Ok. But Monday afternoon, we met with Irmao Gessel, who is our investigator "Douraci," so...he is our guy teacher and he pretends to be a 45 year old woman, so there's that. Anyways...the lesson before we had taught about chastity and had her commit to moving out. So, we walk into the lesson, which is really just in a classroom, and he says, "Do you like my new house?" and we say yes and get all excited. Then he/she tells us that he/she that it is really small, and that she didn't have enough money to eat breakfast. So, we tell her that miracles happen and that God will provide for her as she continues to exercise faith. Then, we are about to pray...and an Elder knocks on the door, looks in, and starts apologizing for interrupting, but he asks if he can steal our extra chair, and then leaves with the chair. And then our teacher mutters under his breath, "seriously", then he goes of as Douraci, "I am so poor, and my house is so small, and people are stealing my chairs!!" It was seriously SO FUNNY!! We were all dying laughing! Then, he began praying, and I was struggling to stay serious!! Then, on Thursday we taught her again...and my companion walks in and says, "It looks like you got your chair back!" and he says, "Miracles do happen!!" Oh man! So good!!

But then after that our lesson on baptism and repentance went really well. Our teacher will give us feedback on our lessons, and he said that we did great and that he didn't have any feedback to give! Pat on the back for Sisters Van Wagenen and Peterson!! Our Portuguese is obviously not perfect, but we are really learning how to be good teachers. Like, asking a lot of questions and really addressing the persons concerns. Positive reinforcement is always nice to get! 

Emily Briggs came in on Wednesday! And it's the best, because she is literally in the classroom right next door to me! So, I get to see her all the time!! I love it!! 

New moto in the MTC/as a missionary...YOMO...You are Only a Missionary Once. "Should I eat a mint brownie?!...YOMO!" hahaha. It's going to be a really bad philosophy when I come home with extra weight...but whatevs. I'm over it! hahaha. 

Ok. I don't know what else to say. I am doing good!! The language is hard...the more I learn, the more I realize that I don't know Portuguese. But we are learning! I can have a pretty good conversation about the gospel! hahaha. Normal conversations...a little more difficult. But we are getting there!! I love you all! I love hearing from everyone!! Seriously, stuff that you think it boring...I love hearing about!! 

Have a great week!!

Tchau!

Sister Van Wag

MTC week 3

Oi familia!

Tudo bem? Another week has past, and here I am! Super crazy that I have been in the MTC for 3 and half weeks! Over half way!! When you first get to the MTC, you feel like you are going to be here forever! Then, before you know it, you are over half way! With the Brazil Missionaries, you the countdown is to the day that you get your Re-Assignment. It's not even a countdown to when you go to Brazil...because we realize that is not realistic. But the group 2 weeks older than us got their re-assignments last night, and we were seriously so excited for them! We are excited for the day (in 2 weeks) that we find out what stateside mission we will be serving in! The only downside to going stateside will be the struggle with Portuguese, once we eventually get to Brazil. But we all know that we will be wherever Heavenly Father wants us to be. So, if we are supposed to be in Brazil, we will get our visas and go to Brazil...and if we are supposed to be in somewhere in the US...that is where we will be. I am really not worried about it. Plus, it will be so cool to experience a foreign and a stateside mission. Plus, stateside you have access to like Walmart or Target...and that in itself is a blessing. hahaha. Priorities.

Thanks for the letters! When you get letters, it is like a measure of how much you are loved. So, like no pressure...but...pressure!! hahaha. I think Dad thinks that I am being deprived of food in the MTC, because he keeps sending me treats from dearelder. I am feeling the love, but so is my stomach. The ironic thing was that the day that I got the package, I was thinking about how I really need to hold back on desserts around these parts. It is really hard to resist when they have delicious treats every meal...especially if they have BYU brownies...or ice cream...like, there is no hope of resisting. But I shared the delicious frosted sugar cookies with my district last night! They were super appreciative! Elder Huxford said, "Tell your dad that I love you....I mean HIM!" hahaha. It was pretty funny, especially since he got a little embarrassed. Classic.

This week has been good! I feel like the days really all just blur together, I am really struggling to remember what even happened this week. Also, the days become pretty monotonous, so sometimes it is hard to think of something that stood out about the day...I'll need to look at my journal. I am so proud of myself...I am journaled everyday since I have been here! Good job Sis. Van Wagenen!! hahaha. I am normally an awful journaler, so this is a big accomplishment.

Sunday was great!! Basically Relief Society is like my favorite thing!! All of the Sisters in the MTC have Relief Society together, and we always have amazing speakers and you are just like, "Ya! Look at all these awesome Sisters, and look at us being missionaries!" And you get all spiritually lifted up and are reminded that you are part of such a great work! And it is the best!! This past Sunday we got to hear from the General Primary President, Rosemary M. Wixom. She was awesome! She talked about "To know. To love. To follow." She talked about knowing Jesus Christ, and to truly have Him be your best friend. Be so thirsty and hungry to know Jesus Christ, the way we long for food or water. To love others and go in with the attitude of loving, serving, and showing gratitude. Don't convince people of the truth, show them love and bring them the truth. And to follow the Savior among the Nephities. We can't heal hands or sight, but we can heal hearts. We don't need to be able to speak to show Christ's love for people. It was so good, and the spirit was so strong. I think one of the reasons that all of the messages are so great, is because they always hit home. Also, temple walks on Sundays are always so nice!! We get to break free...and we just relax and enjoy the temple grounds! Sunday night we watched the Testaments. I had forgotten how cheesy that movie is...but at the end when Christ comes to the Americas...man, it gets me every time! 

Then, on Tuesday's Devotional, we had heard a rumor that the Devotional was being broadcasted, so we knew that it had to be someone big if they were going to Broadcast it. And in walked Elder Richard G. Scott. It was great. It was the First Ever Broadcasted MTC Devotional...it was broadcasted to all of the MTC's around the world! How neat is that?! It was so good to hear from him, because like I said, they know exactly what we need to hear, and it is always so wonderful to be reminded of the great work that we are part of. He gave us an apostolic blessing that we will be able to learn the language, depending on our faith and hardwork. It is really hard to doubt your ability to learn a language, when an Apostle of the Lord gives you an Apostolic Blessing that you will be able to learn your language. So that was great...I think I remember Kara saying that an Apostle did the same thing when she was in the MTC. So neat! He reminded me of how much of a blessing it is to be able to learn a language, even though it can be really discouraging. He really talked about the importance of prayer, and really talked to our Heavenly Father because he knows us perfectly. He said, "Can we ever really comprehend the immense power of prayer?" He wants us to succeed! He will show us our potential and capability that we did not know that we had.

I really have gained an even stronger testimony of prayer in the MTC. I was having a hard time...last...Saturday I think it was. And I was thinking how normally I would just want to talk to mom. But that is one of the amazing things about a mission, you don't have those normal supports in your life, so you are able to more fully rely on your Heavenly Father. Because He knows us perfectly, and He wants us to turn to Him. What a great blessing it is to more fully rely on Him, because I am so inaqeduate, and I know that I can't do this without Him. I am merely an instrument in His hands.

We have two investigators right now. Douraci, was the one that had the really heavy situation...but we talked to her this week about Chastity...which we were nervous about. I barely know how to talk about Chastity in English, better yet, Portuguese. But it went well...we just didn't leave her with a firm enough committment. So, the next lesson we committed her to a specific way to live the law of Chastity. And we know that God will provide her...basically she needs to find a house. But she committed to Baptism and living the Law of Chastity. So that's good. It's neat to watch her progress. Then we got our second investigator, Silmara. She was super quiet. We talked about God's love for her, and we taught her how to prayer. It was good, because it was our first time meeting her, so we were able to plan our lesson off of her needs. I felt that our lesson went well, and Sis. Peterson and I balanced each other out well. 

Sis. Tirrell was gone last week for vacation, and it was so nice to have her back!! It really is so nice to have a girl teacher! Yesterday she had interviews with the Sisters in the District, and it was just really nice to talk about things with someone other than your companion.

This week my friend, Mary Jane Lund, came into the MTC! It was soooo good to see her!! She is the cutest!! There is another girl here from Jerusalem, Stephanie Cabamongon ...and then one of the couples from Jerusalem, the Petersons, are in a Branch Presidency here! So, I saw them on Sunday night! They are the cutest!!

All the Elders were making up riddles the other day...and I got a few made about me...

Elder Hardy: "I go to BYU and I like to party, Israel is my favorite country." I don't know if that was supposed to rhyme...because if so, he failed. Elder Hardy is the Elder that is always making people laugh and telling funny stories. So, I don't want to laugh at him, because you know that it gives him so much satisfaction. But he says funny stuff! But he is also sooo distracting!! hahaha

Elder Gonzalez did a poem that was way better than Elder Hardy's...but I can't for the life of me think of what it is...it was something along the lines of loving Jerusalem and knowing everyone with a white name tag (the teachers). I guess I talk about Israel too much...whatevs! They can get over it!! hahaha. Also, I can't help it if I am just popular and know all the teachers...hahaha JOKES! I don't actually know all of them, but I do know a good amount of them.

I feel like this email is not all that exciting. I'm becoming more spiritual and less funny...sorry about it! hahaha. But I am doing well, and I am continually learning and growing!! I love the reminders that I get that I am where I am supposed to be!! How blessed I am to spend 18 months focused on studying and teaching the gospel!! I know that it will fly, and I want to take advantage of the time that I have!!

Love you all!! Keep the love coming!!!

Tchau!

Sister Van Wag

Ok. First picture is with Sis. Craft. (I think that is how you spell it) Her family used to live in Fresno. Her mom was the primary president in Orchard View Ward. She is super cute. She left a few weeks ago for Portugal. 

Sometimes Sis. Peterson and I match and we honestly don't even mean to. So, that's precious. Also, today we get to actually GO IN THE TEMPLE!!! I'm so excited!! I have heard such good things!! The temple has been closed and it just opened up again on Monday, so this is our first P-day going to the temple! Hooray!! I've seriously missed it!