November 20, 2008

Familia,

I was very excited to get a reply, but I am still unsure as to whether or not you got my long e-mails from the last couple of weeks and I know that at least someone got the message that I sent so I may include a copy of what I wrote before, so if you already got it... I am sorry.
Oh I love you all! I so appreciate your prayers! I got your first letter just yesterday. It took I guess about 13 days to get to me which is so long. I think that normally it doesn't take that long though. 8 days is normal, or so that is what they say. Packages take upwheres to 3 weeks though.

Today I was able to do some real missionary work, at least a little which was really fun. Our instructor Irmã Maite gave us each about 6-7 pass along cards to give out today on our p day.
When I got your letter mom, iI was in class with my district, and i did something that I shouldn't have done, I opened it, and saw gGrandma´s handwriting, and I just started crying. I shouldn't tell you that except that it was so funny because all the Elders in in my district reacted so funny!!! I was laughing/crying. the elder next to me ELder Johnson, who I want to set up with Rebecca when he gets home

(just like Aunt Kaye) was using his hymn book to fan me. Hilarious! I was laughing so hard. But, no worries, it didn't last long, and that is the first real cry I have had, so I guess it was good, and worth it just to see how all these boys had no idea how to react to my tears. i explained a little about Grandpa, which I think is why the tears came.

SO 1 more funny story though. I bought a scripture case cover thing that has my name and mission, and a Brasil flag on it, and they spelled my name Sister Gudd. I thought it was so funny though that I don´t think that I am going to have them fix it.

We are working so hard on learning the language and doing all that we can in any extra minute to learn Portuguese. We go to choir, memorize on Sunday etc... I feel best about my testimony though. it is really great to be able to express my testimony to people here and feel the spirit.
I memorized the first vision in Portuguese and we are working this week to learn the first lesson medium in Portuguese. we have done it a million times in English, and it is very cool. This is a crazy week because we have so many milestones to pass off to out instructor this week. we have to have the med. lesson in Portuguese, the second short lesson in Portuguese and the second med-long lesson in English. But we can do it, lots of brain power, i never imagined i even had.
SO mom, all these my district here says that you should get on to missionarymoms.net I think. All their moms are writing and keeping tabs, so if you are interested, in all your extra time and all.... right... Thanks again for your beautiful letter.

Dad I found something out, and you have to read Jesus the Christ page 37 or 39. I talks about Adam and Eve and their partaking of the fruit literally and Talmage is very outspoken about it. I loved it.

SO I am trying in my own study time to read the book of Mormon while at the mtc so far so good.

Well, I need to go, but I am loving it here, and the food is excellent every few days they make something like American food. The other day we had Doritos, and I don´t think that I have ever loved them as much as I did then.. Tender mercy sometimes. Rice and beans every meal everyday. I make something like a cafe rio salad everyday which never gets old.. Yummm....

Love love you
Sister Judd aka sister GUdd