Happy Passcao means Happy Easter!

Oi Everyone!    This week has been busy but rewarding! The weather is really nice down here. Last Friday we hit 90s with the sun and all.  The Thunder storms have begun to calm down so Im a little sad haha.  Anyways like i said another busy weeks down South but everyday was Bom.  Last Friday, we had the chance to go Contacting again.  Same busy place in down SP but we had alot of success.  Speaking the language went very well,  It was a little crazy because i can tell how fast I can start putting sentences together and how fast Im picking up the words that everyone says.  We places 4 OLM (Book of Mormons) and talked with alot of people.  We did have a lady come up to us and just start going off about how everything we believed in was false and that our Church is all wrong.  Unfortunatly my comp and realized we only know how to say the uplifting things and that we could only respond with ´´the church is true´´ and ´´have a good day´´ haha I think we made her a little mad but sometimes you just have to walk away.  I have been teaching alot of English to the brazilerios this week.  Our first counselor told us that they all want to learn because of the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016 in Rio.  He also said that this woulld be a good oppurtunity for because we could teach English in the communities.  A few more members of my Provo district made it down here and they let me know that our zone in Provo has only 20 people left.  When i got there, 70 missionaries were there!  This week was also a little crazy because   Our district got disolved because half of the Elders left for the field.  A few going to campinas, One going to Cuiaba and SP Interlagos.  It was a little crazy because of all the chances.  Our schedule got switched around and we ended up joing another district of Americans.  Everyone will leave about a week before me, including my comp, so ill most likely be placed in another district.  I have become a steady eater of rice and beans and all the food that they cook for us.  The food is really good and i come out of the cafe satisfied.  I met a few more missionaries this weeks from West Linn and Gresham.  It really has become the Northwest down here.  Everyone is either from NoCal, Oregon, or Washington with a few east coasters and utahans.  Those VISAS are really starting to come through which is just so awesome.  Missionaries from the US just come in every week now.  I studied alot about diligence this week and the importance that it should have through out the mission.  Its about being steady, consistant, and working till the end.  I need to be doing all i can for everyone i meet.  I wish i could write everyday with all the experiences that Ive been having but unfortunatly i cant.  Fun fact about the the CTM The water drains the opposite directions! I guess thats what it does in the southern hemisphere.  I love you all and I am grateful for this country! I love it here and im getting really excited for Fortaleza! Im still hearing great things about it! 2 weeks from yesterday i report! May 3rd! Hard to believe its almost been two months! I love you all! Elder Anderson        ´´Ask God to put you just where he wants you, and to tell you what he wants you to do, an feel that you are on hand to do it.´´  Brigham Young     ALMA 18:34-35   

Also! Happy Passcão! I love the Savior and his example for all of us! Love you !

Great week in Sao Paulo!

Hey Everyone! Well this week has been very good indeed its awesome i realized how fast time flies and how fast time is moving while being in the CTM.  6 weeks today! 3 weeks as of yesterday! hard to believe but Im counting down the days. 20 left until FORTALEZA! Im excited to go because all my Fortalezans left yesterday for the field.  They were only here for 3 weeks because of course they already know the languauge but its ok because I will be with them soon :).  Last wedensday after email we left the CTM to go run some errands around town.  We just went over to the postoffice and did some other stuff.  P.s.  Mom Anything come to your email about missionaryties? thats something to look into.  Its just like dearelder except specifically for Brazil.  Hopefully you get something soon about it. (missionties.com, I believe is the website)  When we were out, I felt a little like Dad trying to barter with the brazilians.  Trying to use the words I know and asking the questions as best as I could.  Alicia, I brought back my St. Martin skills and tryied to barter with the locals.  Didnt work so well haha! I recieved a new calling, Piano Player for the CTM Choir.  Yes thats right someone said I played and they came asking.  So now every Sunday and Tuesday evening I play for the CTM choir.  Its pretty fun.  Mom thanks for making me stick with piano lessons all those years.  I guess you knew that some day I would be playing for choirs some day.  I forget to tell you last week, at conference, there was a photographer here taking pictures of the missionaries at conference.  From what Sister Clark (wife of president) told me, she was from the ensign.  So look for me next month! There has been alot of lightning storms this past week.  Everyday the dark clouds move in around 4pm and then it just starts to down poor and the lightning and thunder come rolling in.  Its really cool! however, the brazilians say its a common thing at this time because of the air.  All apart of the fall.  On Sunday I learned that there are 15 stakes in the city of Fortazleza alone! Which is incrediable since there is that many in just one city! Supposively the temple there has started constructiona and it might be done before i leave!  There was also a good talk given in church, in which our first counselor in the branch presidency talked about the country of Brazil and the Prophesy being fulled.  When Elder Nelson came to dedicate the CTM he said that if the members of brazil remain faithful they will be blessed in all of their doings and this is a promised land that will be richly blessed.  That was said about 13 years ago. and Today i can see that coming true! Everyone talks about Brazil as if it was Heaven on Earth and its true that everyone is faithful. Look up everything on how the Brazil economy is booming and youll see! Yesterday we did a fun activity in class.  We were given a random word and had to make a short contact with it.  I had ´´cake, shoes, orphan, and book´´  interesting words to use, but i made it work.  For the record there is yet again another Nicholas Anderson here from Seattle.  Must be a good name to have or something haha! Mom did i leave that yellow fever card at home? if so ill need that to get back home. just letting you know.  Well today we went to the Federal Police station to get fingerprinted so I could get a residence card for Brazil.  Looks like Ill be staying here for awhile :) Each day i wake up more and more excited for the Field. This week i focused on my purpose and Why i here?  I decided that even if i left tomorrow this experiences that Ive had would have already changed who i am.  I becoming more firm with this gospel and i know its true! ´´The gospel is here to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable´´ Harold B. Lee    The work is progressing and I love you all! Thanks for your support and prayers! Time to go barter with some more brazileros.  Love you! Elder Anderson

Tuda Bem!

Hello Family! Well I have reached the 1 month mark as of Saturday hard to believe I know! Supposively there should have been in a letter in the mail for you with my address by i guess you haven´t gotten it yet!? desculpe! here it is.  there is no return on this keyboard so just ill put commas for the return.  Elder Nicholas Anderson, Brazil Fortaleza Mission, Brazil Mission Training Center, Rua Padres Antonio D´Angelo, 121 Casa Verde, 02516-040 Sao Paulo- SP, Brazil  there is is mail takes about 10 days from the US to here so if you send anthing do it soon or send it straight the mission home only 3 and halfs weeks to go! since im starting my 6th today! man how time flies when your staying busy but I know that what I doing is right and the Lord has a plan for all of us.  This week has been awesome, after the Email last week i went to dinner and i was there to greet Elder Sivertson.  Going from a MTC with 2000 missionaries to a MTC with 200 makes it alot easier to catch old friends! We greeted eachother with a huge hug and had tons to talk about.  Amazing how only a week goes and you can talk as much as we did! haha! Because last week there were 30ish missionaries that came into the MTC ´´americanos´´ have been taking over this place! its funny! The brazileros love it though!  We got 6 new members in our district but 3 already left for their missions yesterday and one leaves next Tuesday! The days with new missionaries is always fun for me because the freshest ones think Im brazilian so they try and speak it to me and I will carry on the convo for as long as I can and then so ´´Sorry Elder Im from oregon!´´ haha on Friday we contacted on the streets for the first time! it was soooo cool.  Elder Clift and I were given 5 Book of Mormons within our companionship, we get on a bus, and then they drove us to the busiest street in Sao  Paulo.  Its a business district that reminded me of NYC.  We got off  the bus and the leaders so ´´ok, have it´´ haha Elder Clift and I say a quick prayer and start talking to everyone we can.  We dicided to go into a park and see who we could talk to in there.  The park was so dense meaning that there were so many trees and stuff.  So the first person I contact I just say ´´Hi I´m a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints´´ Whats your name´´ all in portugues and so I am asking questions and the girl says ´´ um mumento, Voce Americano´´ and I say ´´yes´´ and she says ´´good cause I speak English´´  It was soooooo cool! I was like how lucky is that.  The rest of the contacts were good and everyone we talked to came away with a book of Morman or a better understanding of why two americans are speaking some sort of Portugues in Brazil haha.  Conference was soooo good! I enjoyed all the talks and felt that they all had a unique message.  I likes Niel Andersen´s during Priesthood and also Enjoyed Dallin Oaks and Boyd Packer´s.  All of us Americanos were stuck in one room watching in english thank goodness! There was about 50 of us and we all had a good time being able to understand the messages fully in our native language.  The weekend was watching conference, eating, watching conference, eating and you get the picture.  It was funny cause we had alot of free time so Elder Clift and I studied and took naps, which we were ALLOWED to do! suprisingly! We went to the Sao Paulo Temple today for Pday and it was just as awesome as the Campinas.  I am grateful for temples and all of the blessings that come from them!  I heard a good quote by James E. Faust this weeks ´´ There are two kinds of missionaries, ones that serve in Brazil, and ones the WISH they could have served in Brazil´´ How cool is that coming from him. ( a return missionary from brazil) Like everyone says those brazilians love their missions and I am doing just that! I love this country and I love the People! I am getting very close with all the missionaries esp. those going to FORATLEZA! whooo I love you family and i love you friends.  My skinny legs are just gettting going with the work but I can feel myself getting deeper immersed in it everyday. Love you all! Tuda Bem! Elder Anderson

A note from President Clark and Sister Clark in Brazil (Nick on the 3rd row & far left)

Dear Parents,

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

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

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

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

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

Please accept our love,

President Donald L Clark and Sister Zaza Clark
 

ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION . . .  

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

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

 IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO REPLY THIS EMAIL.

Elder Nick Makes It to Sao Paulo CTM

WELLLLLL! I am here! and man has it been a crazy week! I am excited to finally be here in the CTM but it has been a little wierd since the get go! I have my 30 minute limit but ill try and squeeze everything in here.      So we arrived in Sao Paulo at about 645 in morning on Wednesday after the immigration line and customs line (80minutes) we got all our bags and just went on Faith that someone would be at the sidewalk to get us.  We walked out of the doors and there was a little man with a sign that said ´´Lds Church Travel´´ it was kinda funny because then some lady comes grabs our passports walks away for about 5 minutes and then comes back and tells us all to go to the curb. So imagine 15 missionaries, jet lagged, in a country that no one has been to and then their expected to go out and get into some van haha it was ok though. We just decided that we would stick together.  After loading all the bagage we piled into a van which we were short one seat so an Elder ended up sitting on the floor.  It was basically a 15 passenger van.  So we take off down the freeway for an hour weeving in and out through traffic and finally get to the CTM.       We were greeted by the executive secritery that thank goodness spoke ENGLISH! After talking with him and his wife and being introduced to the CTM we were able to take showers and get cleaned up.  I slept most of the plane ride thankfully but I also had a Brazilian sleeping on my shoulder.  Of coarse i get the seat in the very middle of the plane.  It reminded me of the trip down to Chile though, the over night atmosphere, different language beeing spoken, and the nice dinner that they give you.  Dad they had STEAKS!  Anyways after the tour of the CTM I got my new comp.  His name is Elder Clift From Sac. California.  Becuase missionaries visas come at different times and it doesnt matter how long youve been in Provo. Your new comp could be the same ´´age´´, older, or younger.  Elder Clift is one week older than me so it works out just fine.  Our Portugues is about the same although I hit those flash cards hard the last few weeks so I had alot of words down.  We played basketball that night and it was really fun.  The brazilians are really funny when it comes to Basketch because they dont like to follow all the rules.  Jason Leland! I need you to get down here to help me teach the brazilians how to hoop US style haha.  However my district taught a bunch of them how to play ´´knock out´´. They love it! My new district is really cool! theres 2 from Salem and Medford and two from Washington.  And everyone Yet again! Sunday in Church I was called as District Leader.  When I was talking to the branch pres.  He said I feel like Im not saying anything new to you.  and all i could think about was saying is you are right President.   Well like is said this week has been busy so the next part of the email im just gonna jump around a bunch....  the Brazilians are awesome! they are all really nice and are just as eager to learn english as much as americanos wanting to learn portugues.  I guess you could say we have all learned the universal language of hand guesters haha.  I met about 15 brazilians going to FORTALEZA! and they were all excited about an americano going! Everytime I seem them around the CTM they come up to me and start talking and its just really fun! they all new a few words in English and there are about 5 elders that say that they really want to be comps with me in the field.  My teachers are cool Irmao Federico and Reboiah they both served in Brazil but are fluent in English.  However they want to learn more words too so I think we speak more English than Portugues in class.  My language has gone from 30 percent to about 70 percent since being here! I am always speaking to the brazileos at meals or any time i seem them.  They teach me as i teach them so it all equals out.  The food is good! Beans and rice and usually some sort of meet!  The fruit is even better! the Bananas are sooo good! I got a haircut on monday which doesnt look so bad the barber hardly spoke english so the universal language came into play.  However he did put about a 45 degree angle on my neck line so i had to do some fixing after words.  reminded me of the time when mom tried to cut my hair.  This place reminds of the CCM in chile! Its a high rise and in the middle of a busy neighborhood.  Its a little wierd.  Everyone from the US are all on the same floor so its nice not having to speak the language All the time.  However, i still like to sneak it in here and there.  I love you all and I am very greatful to be here FINALLY IN BRAZIL! WHOOT WHOOT! We went to the Campinas temple today for pday and it was sooooo cool look it up on LDS.org under temples its beautful.  I love this country and love the work.  Its picking up and becoming my life literally.  I am loosing myself faster than what i thought! Got your emails, sorry i couldnt respond, Missy post my new address online love you! 

Week #2 in Provo MTC

OI!

Hope everyone is doing well!

So lets start with this last week! Sunday was the first Sunday in the MTC in my portugues branch.   We had a good fast and testimony meetings and it was just so awesome to be there.  Although everyone was bearing their testimonies in portugues I could still figure out what they were saying by picking words out and such.  After we had branch council followed by a Mission conference for the entire MTC.  It was so cool The entire MTC presidency spoke about non other than missionary work.  Followed by the mission conference we had our temple walk around the prove temple and it was cool. All we did was walk around the temple but when your inside for almost every hour of everyday its all worth it. After we had district meeting and district interviews. Because it was fast sunday come dinner every missionary was chowing down everything they could get their hands on. My district and I wanted to exploded after dinner because we were all stuffed.  We had an MTC fireside following were the Provo Temple president and matron spoke to us.  Heres a great thing to picture., 2000 missionaries singing ªCome Thou Fount of Every Blessing!ª It was sooo cool. Of coarse they sing my favorite hymn.  We ended the night by watching the testiments and hitting that sack right at 1030

 

We stayed very busy this week! The portugues is improving alot! We are getting through our prayers alot faster and alot easier. Plus we started teaching lessons too! You definatly do not waste a minute in the MT.  We found out that our district is part of a pilot program where the teachers speak nothing but portugues. No wonder we were so lost the first few days haha! Devotional on Tuesday was really awesome Kent F. Richards of the Seventy spoke with his wife about teaching with the spirit.  Something that I was really interested in learning about.  He said something that stuck out to me that I will remember ªRadiate the Spirit of truth and the message that is with in you with your countanceª something that I will definatly think about when teaching come time for the field.  I challenged my district to get the Joseph Smith account memorized in portugues! What a blessing it is to have hard working and diligent missionaries we all succeeded! We had our service activity for 70 minutes where I cleaned about a classrooms and stuff hmmm fun right.. 

 

Our teaching are pushing us really hard to get the portugues in us. We are giving it our all and its progressing.  Not as fast but it is moving forward!  We taught the first lesson to our teacher and i was focusing in on teaching by the spirit.  As i started to recite the Joseph Smith Account I couldnt help but cry because of what I was feeling.  That story is so powerful and so amazing. An event that truly changed the world.  Thursday We taught in the TRC and continued to Contact more people and set up investigators. 

 

Personal and Companionship study is going very well! We stay busy and just want to learn the language. 

 

Today we went to the temple for Pday, planned and wrote letters.  The weather was absolutly wonderful!   I am having a really good experience and I am continuing to progress with the language. Keep praying for me and for the dang visa! A few elders in the zone got them this week and are heading out next thursday lucky! I love my district and love that i am always busy.  I am learning way more about myself more than i ever have.  I love you all and cannot wait to here from you.  Use dearelder.com to reply its faster plus I donºt have alot of time on the computer for email.  We have zone conference tonight which im pretty excited about.  Atemice Tuda Bem!

Elder Anderson

Vi um pilar de luz acima de minha cabeca, mais brilhate que o sol, que descia gradualmente sobre min! Beginning of the Joseph Smith Account

3.5.11 Nick's 1st Letter

Ola Familia!

Well I have served the first couple days. It is crazy how much time has flown by. I have literally lost track of days which is unbelievable.  It was busy from the get though.  After Jason picked me up we drove down to Provo picked up Joey and then headed out for lunch.  Where we saw The Albrecsons eating getting ready to drop off Joe.  My last meal on the outside was Cafe Rio which was most excellent :)

When I got dropped off I went throught all the lines, got my badge complete with the dork dot, my schedule, and my ID card.  Little did I know I would look down at my packet of stuff and find my companions name.  What do I find? Elder Wilson Tucker Sivertson. Yes thats right. My companion is Elder Siverston (Wilson of coarse) from Damascus Oregon! It was so funny cause we sat next to eachother on the plane and everything.  Who would have know that 2 years ago when we met that I would be meeting my Companion haha!

The first day was little overwhelming, they moved so fast and it was just nuts.  I walked into my classroom and my teacher Irma Chamberlin just starts speaking portuguese right off the bat.  She is really nice and helpful and has already taught my district how to pray and bare our testimonies.  My district is all Elders.  Elder Batschi from Washington, Elder Palmer from St. George UT, Elder Jubitz from Hood River Or, and Elder Van Den Berg from Conneticut. We all get along very well and feel very blessed to be together. Its awesome! I was just bushed when I got back to our dorm and hit the sack right at 10:30.  They weren't kidding about all the materials you would recieve here. I have to Preach My Gospels, 7 Portuguese books, and a new set of Portuguese scriptures cha ching! Thursday was also very busy. We were so tired from the first day but just kept pulling through! I love it that I get so exhausted but don't want to sleep cause I can just learn so much! We met our branch president (President Braithwaite) and the Branch Presidency on Thursday night. They are all very nice and very helpful.  After the introduction meeting we all bore our testimonies and man was it just so awesome! I loved it! After we were pulled out of our classroom invidually for interviews from the presidenct.  They just asked how we were and how we were feeling.  After my interview President Braithwaite asked me to be the District Leader for my District.  I'm not sure what he saw but he says he has High Expectations for me in the MTC and in the Field. I guess being a missionary will be bigger than what I thought :)

It seems like all we do is study, sleep, and eat haha! The food is ok but the bathrooms are even better if you know what I mean. I go to bed just so tired every night but ready for the new day when my alarm goes off at 6:15 oi! My P-day will be every Friday so you can expect an email then.  They say were in good standing for our visas since we have already filled out the online applications.  Some Elder's in my Zone have been here for 9 weeks already :/. All I can ask is that you pray for my visa to go through and to help me with the language.  I am learning so much and it is so great! I love the work and how hard it is because I know it will be rewarding.  I have seen alot of people from school here.  My roommate who is going to Korea and my FHE sister is in my zone! Plus alot of kids from my mission prep class and ward! I love the work, the language is hard, but the gospel is everlasting! Hope your day is going well. I love you all and can feel the support already! Obrigado!

Amar,

Elder Nick