I WAS CALLED TO THE BEST MISSION ON EARTH!!

I AM FINALLY IN MANAUS!!!

After many goodbyes and a 5 hour plane ride, I made it! I’m here!!! We flew out at 6:30 a.m. It was me, Sister Belloumini and 4 other Brazileros! Flying into Manaus is insane! Literally it’s this little city in the jungle! All surrounding it is trees and plants and everything, it’s super green and beautiful! We were greeted by President and Sister Castro and the assistants! Seriously the nicest people, they don’t speak a word of English, but we made due, ha-ha. We first went to the temple and took pictures! The temple is AMAZING I can’t wait to go inside!! We get to go two times a transfer, how lucky!!

Then we went to their house and ate a huge, delicious lunch! After that we had interviews and a little orientation! Oh man it was so great! Then we went to go meet our new companions! It was soooooooo sad saying goodbye to Sister Belloumini but I know I’ll see her soon!

My new companion is Sister Salgado (which translates to Sister salty snack) ha-ha but she is so great! She is 23 years old and is from Rio de Janeiro! Super cool! She doesn’t speak any English so this Portuguese is going to have to come quickly! My first night we went around with the elders and met the members in the ward! Sister Salgado is new to the area too so we sort of are starting from scratch! Our area is Ciudade Novo! It’s in Manaus and it’s like a city, but you’ll be walking and there will be the jungle on your side! Or like this GIANT snails snailing by you, it’s crazy! Ha-ha!

Friday we had a Christmas conference with the missionaries in Manaus, it was super great! I got to see some people from the CTM and Sister Belloumini! The president and wife spoke and we had lunch, a slide show, a talent show than me and my zone sang this Spanish Christmas song, ha-ha it was so hilarious! Then they had a Christmas program and they had me and Sister Belloumini and another elder sing in English, there are only 3 Americano sisters in the mission! Crazy! We also had to introduce ourselves in front of everyone, but everyone is sooo nice we’re like one big family. I love my mission so much!

They have this song they sing every day and it’s so cute, I don’t really understand what we’re saying but I’m pretty sure it’s cute! Ha-ha!

My home! It's on top of the drug store ha-ha kinda cute i like it.

The food is MUITO BOM! So much acai, coupoasul (sorry don’t know how to spell that) and rice and beans and meat and fish! Man I eat so much! The food is so good! Also our area is HUGE and we walk so much every day! But that’s good because we eat a lot! Ha-ha!

Its either super sunny and super hot or pouring rain! I love the rain! And my umbrella! Ha-ha

our view of the chuva (rain) haha also sometimes I mix up the works chuva(rain) and chave(key) in my prayers and thank heavenly father for the keys hahaha

So yeah the people here are AMAZING!! The Rosangela family is the best! We’re at their home more than ours! They have 4 kids and the little boy Daniel, loves to help me with my Portuguese! Ha-ha I love him! Anyways they’re all set on visiting me and coming to Disneyland when I get home! They never remember my name so they just call me Sister Mickey! Ha-ha! But really the people here are so nice and loving! They’re so ready to hear the gospel! We knocked (clapped) on a door yesterday, and this woman and two daughters answered, we shared with them the message of the restoration, turns out the mom was baptized like forever ago and doesn’t remember the last time she went to church, but the two daughters committed to be baptized! It was the happiest feeling ever! I know that the spirit guided us to go to their home and I know that the spirit testified to them the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ was true! It just made me so happy!

my sick scripture case

Scripture of the week

Mosiah 24:15 "...Submeteram de bom grado e com paciÊncia a toda a vontade do senhor" (and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.)

SHOUT OUTS!

Shout out to the rain to help me not get sunburnt

Shout out to my umbrella for keeping me dry and for keeping away the sun (yes I walk around with my umbrella in the sun, everyone does ha-ha)

Shout out to the trees here for being so green and beautiful!

Shout out to all the bugs who love me so much they decide to bite my poor legs

Shout out to all those words in Portuguese that don’t exist in the English language that makes for a funny conversation with my companion (ha-ha it happens a lot and it’s so funny I don’t know why!)

Shout out to my companion who is like SOOO patient with me she’s amazing

Shout out to everyone who emailed me this week! 32 emails!

Shout out to my flashlight-- we don’t have lights in the bathroom, or bedroom

Shout out to cold shower water because it’s so hot here I never want to take a hot shower

Shout out to the Brazilian version of nesquick SO GOOD

Shout out to my mission song because I just love it so much

Shout out to Irmão Webster-- my dictionary

Shout out to my family because I love you so much, and miss you so much, and really love you soooooo much!!

tchau tchau pica pau!!

--Sister Huisken

*This week Irma Huisken was able to send pictures from her time in the CTM, so older posts have been updated with new pictures!