Walkin in a ``winter`` wonderland.... more or less

Less of a winter wonderland and more of an oven. Summer has officially arrived! But that is okay with me. This week has been amazing and VERY tiring. The tiredness started on Monday when we headed to the bus station around 10pm to wait for our 2am bus to Vitória. We tried to sleep a little but it wasn´t working so we ended up playing uno all night. They play with the advanced rules so it was all complicated and to make a short story shorter I kept losing. haha But it was still fun. Then we all packed on the bus and headed to Vitoria for our Mission Christmas Party! Wahoo! We got there around 6am and then waited outside the church building until 7:30am for the other Elders in that area to come open the church. We went in and got all ready for the party/transfers/lunch/festivities. It started around 11. We had the transfers which are always fun. Then President talked for a while while lunch was being prepared. It was great. He just talked about how today was a day to relax and have fun and that there would be no ``practices`` haha. Thank goodness! But it was great! He sure knows how to motivate! We met the new sisters! So cute and bright and ready to work! Three brazilian sisters and one american elder arrived. I love meeting the new missionaries! I felt a little bad for the american elder sitting there not understanding everything. haha I remembering being in his shoes. We ate lunch (delicious) next and then watched a slideshow of mission photos! There is something about slideshows that just makes you feel all sentimental. Ya know? Anyways, it was wonderful and crazy to look back and think about how long I have been here and then think how it isn´t even very long at all. We had a present exchange too and I gained some great flip flops that have a cute little brazilian flag. All of the different zones presented little skits and we all had a ball laughing our heads off. President Araújo even came out as santa! Might have been the best part of the day. haha Also, WE GOT LETTERS AND PACKAGES! Mom and Dad, thanks so much (and caudle) and everyone else who wished me a Merry Christmas! It was perfect and I am SUPER excited to SEE you all tomorrow!

I love Christmas time and I am really happy about how the Christmas season is going for me this year. We had a baptism on Saturday of two men that we have been teaching. One we found our first week here knocking doors and the other was a member reference. It was a great baptism and President and Sister Araújo came and everything. It was really great and I can´t think of a better gift that I could give to my Savior than to help people come unto Him. I know that my role in their conversion was small but I feel privelaged to have been a part of it and to be strengthened because of it. We made a cake for after the baptism but only forgot one thing.... a knife. haha We found one thank goodness and everyone was able to eat cakey goodness after feeling spiritual goodness. I am really grateful to Heavenly Father for the success we are having. It has really been an answer to my prayers. I was scared to train and to be a leader because I didn´t know how and I thought with me in charge we wouldn´t have any success. I have learned so much during the past couple weeks about how to follow the spirit. As a trainer, I am not in charge, the Lord is. I just have to be open to hear His direction and all will be well. I have been reading the conference ensign the past couple weeks and finished today. It is so good and makes me SO excited for April conference!

I hope everyone has a great last week of December and that you make the best of what is left of 2012! Did anyone else notice that the world didn´t end! Que bom! haha Love you all!

Até mais!

Sister Zeller

Best week of my life...‏

or at least it comes pretty close! This week was amazing. Monday we got permission from our mission president to go back to QUISSAMÂ for the wedding and baptism of the family Sister Peterson and I found and taught there. We left just before the city let them mark a date but they finally marked a date and it was this last weekend! So Sister Peterson and I did a little division friday after lunch and took the hot and sweaty 2 hour bus ride back to our beloved Quissamã (my last area for anyone who is lost). It was the best thing ever. We got there friday and got ready for the wedding and then headed to the church and helped set up everything! The wedding was amazing and Ana Maria looked beautiful! AHHHHHHHHH! I was SO happy! What made me even happier was when Ana Maria said, ``Today is pretty great but tomorrow will be so much better (referring to the baptism of her family that would happen saturday morning)`` I love them! When we got to Quissamã it totally felt like going home. We showed up and before we even got to the house a couple blocks away we ran into about a million people we knew. Love it. Then we slept friday night with the sisters in Quissamã and bought a pizza to eat before bed. Sister Vieira goes home tomorrow! SO sad! I have lived with her pretty much since I got here! Vou sentir a falta! We got up saturday morning and had the baptism at 10 which really started at 11:30.  Never starts on time. It was beautiful of course and we sang families can be together forever and gave them that church temples magazine! That is their next goal! We had lunch with some members and it was SO good to see everyone there again so soon! I didn´t want to leave!  but we left around 3 on Saturday and got back to Campos just in time for the ward Christmas party! Our little greenies missed us but they are learning everything and working hard! 

The cutest thing happened at the ward christmas party........ we were waiting to start and walking by the table with all the desserts. This little boy, I think 4 years old, is also eyeing the sweets table. He goes to grab one and his older sister comes up and says ``We cant eat yet, you have to wait until the food is blessed.`` He made a thoughtful face and then folded his arms, bowed his head, and began to say a little prayer to himself. Then he looked up at his sister like, okay its blessed, can I eat it now?  It was SO cute. Man, kids are the besht.

We found out about transfers yesterday night! NO ONE IS LEAVING! Wahoo! I am really happy to stay here with Sister Wedma and finish her training. Our investigator Maurícia is gonna get baptized this week! And a member called us today in the morning saying their friend (other investigator) wants to get baptized too! Double baptism saturday! Missionaries need the help of the 

members!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is SO important!

 

Other funny story....... We were knocking doors and this guy answered and he already knew quite a bit about the church so we started to discuss the restoration. He kept asking us random questions, like ``do you believe in the 10 commandments`` ``Do have church saturday or sunday`` Every answer that we got ``right`` in his eyes he said ``Very good, one point for Joseph Smith.`` I couldn´t help but laughing it was so bizarre. haha Gotta love the mission.

I am SO excited for Christmas. Even though it is december for me it feels like july because the sun beats me up every day. But thats okay. I am excited for my Christmas here in Brazil! Oh yeah, today makes exactly 8 months that I am here in Brazil! Crazy to think about! Christmas is going to be great and I am SO excited to talk to you all! Thanks for all the packages and letters! I will get them tomorrow! Everyone-If you love me send me a Christmas email. yes I will settle for an email this time. Less arthritis for everyone! You still have one week.......... yep, that means YOU!! Thanks Brother and Sister Andrus for the email! Very sweet!

Tchau tchau!

Sister Zeller

Última semana da transferência!!!‏

Yeah. It would be week 6 this week. CRAZY! In a really good way. The only problem is that we are getting 3 new sisters but there is only ONE sister that will be open to train. Everyone else is either being trained or training..... do you know what that means???? Me neither!!! And we aren´t going to know for another week!!!! AHHH!! This could mean that my greenie could train right now and I could train the other newer newbie or maybe the newbies will train each other or maybe they will have two trios! The only thing I DO know is that I DO NOT want to get transfered! I am coming to love this area so much and we are finding incredible people here!!!!! And I don´t want to head to a new area right before Christmas! But everyday I come to realize more and more that this mission isn´t about me so whatever happens will be what is best. Speaking of the best, this past week was just that............ the besht :)

Starting with last p-day! Sister Peterson finally made the BIG decision to get her ears pierced!  It was quite the struggle for her to decide. We went to the pharmacy and she took the plunge and of course we took pictures. Fun little adventure. Last p-day I dug out my first mission journal and I was reading from my first day in the MTC. It was so cool and super weird to look back on this past year. I am SO grateful that Heavenly Father helped me decide to go on a mission. I wouldn´t give the experiences I have had and will still have for anything. I get so excited to think of all the girls that are preparing now to serve and I know they are going to LOVE it! Last monday night we also had a lesson with a friend of a member family at their house. It was so great and was just a perfect example of how much it helps to have members working with those around them to bring them this Gospel. 

Tuesday was kind of like p-day again because we studied in the morning, ate lunch with members, and then headed to zone conference which went until 8 at night. Then Sister Peterson and I carried two boxes of 40 BOM´s from the bust stop to our apartment (it was quite the distance let me tell you and it was a great display of how my arm strength has grown here on the mission).  It was really hard! But we did it. And I got LETTERS! From old companions that I love! And caudle thanks for the pictures! Pictures are pretty much my favorite thing ever!

We had a lesson with our investigator that we are preparing for baptism next week. He is progressing great and his mom came with him to church Sunday! He is about 50 and moved back in with his mom after his dad passed away and when we taught the plan of salvation he LOVED it! He loved the part about the pre-earth life and said that it gives him some sort of extra strength just knowing that! How cool!

Funny story: I asked a lady how she knows that God loves her and this was her answer? Because when I take my medicine it helps me sleep at night. Que bom. haha

Shout out to Brenda! Happy Birthday on the 7th! Wasn´t that pearl harbor too? Also, johnny boy, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY!!!! Welcome to the 22 year old club!!!! It´s pretty fun!

Let me just say that yesterday was one of the best sundays of my life! We had a TON of investigators that came! One couple came that we taught saturday and invited to church. The wife said she is always nagging the husband to come to church with her and what not and so she was really surprised when we invited them and he said Yep, we are going! And they came and they loved it! And the ward here is so amazing and everyone was so welcoming and friendly and great! It makes such a difference. I feel so bad for all the sundays of my life before the mission that I casually walked by the missionaries to go to sacrament meeting without thinking for one second what I could do to help them. If they had investigators who were visiting that I could help or if there was anyone that needed a ride to church! Some things are gonna change when I get home! Every member a missionary and I am so grateful that I learned that as a missionary and will be able to apply it as a member!

One of the coolest things happened sunday too. So it was fast and testimony meeting because of conference and as soon as the sacrament was over and the bishop starting to open time for testimonies almost half of the congregation stood up. My first thought was, ``Wow, a lot of people need to use the bathroom.`` I was kind of amazed when I saw ALL of these people go up to get in line to bear testimony. I have never seen so many people so excited to share their testimonies. It was so cool to see and it made me so grateful for the testimony I have and the opportunity I have to share it every day here. I hope that I will always be this excited to share my testimony during testimony meetings!

Well, next week I will know my future meaning you all will know too! Thanks for all the prayers and support! Also, I AM SO EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS! I have been all year :) Love you family, you da bomb.

Tchau tchau,

Sister Zeller

4º lunes‏

After stake conference. This is my zone here in Campos!

One year older and wiser too!‏

Yep. My year mark came and went! And it was pretty great! It was fun. We went and got pizza for dinner with the other sisters! YUM!!!!! We took a pictures, of course, and had a blast. It was weird thinking about where I was a year ago and how much I loved the MTC and how fast this past year has gone by and how every week is flying by faster than the last. I am trying to take it one day at a time but it´s so hard when the days FLY by!!! And not to mention it is already December!!!! This month is going to be packed full of things! Transfers, firesides, baptisms, christmas, new years!!!! Gonna be great! S. Wedma and I are doing great here in Campos. This last week we marked a baptism date with our investigator. Yesterday was his second time at church and he is reading the BOM and everything. He says that when he reads he can feel the strength that it gives him every day! Ahhhh! Such a good feeling!

Yesterday was Stake Conference and guess what little city in the middle of nowhere is part of my stake????? You guessed right! QUISSAMÂ!!! (my last area for those of you who don´t remember. Shame on you.) S.Wedma and I and our investigator were sitting towards the back in the gym part of the church as I started seeing people from Quissamã show up! I started freaking out and tried not to make a scene because church had already started. There was a lot of silent freaking out and smiling and waving and blowing kisses and oh my goodness it was so great to see everyone again. And the family S. Peterson and I found when we were there and were waiting to mark the wedding date came!!!! It was so good to see them! And their wedding will be next friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the baptism saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! S. Peterson and I are going to try and get permission to go to Quissamã to be there! Say a prayer that President will say YES! I got so happy to see our recent converts from Quissamã! What a great feeling! 

Random happening of the week: We ate crab for lunch at a members house this week. It kind of grossed me out but it was pretty fun. You have to snap off the legs and suck out the meat!!! What is up with that???? hahaha I never knew that was how you eat crab. Good to know. 

We are having zone conference tomorrow so hopefully I will get some letters!! A mission shows you who your real friends are! haha jk jk but seriously. haha You still have time left!!! We are also going to practice our skit for the mission christmas party on the 18th (transfer day). My zone will be doing a parody of Joseph in Egypt. Should be funny. 

Back to stake conference yesterday. Let me just say that as a missionary every talk you hear in church you try to hear as the investigators would hear them. And this stake conference was PERFECT! Everyone bore such a strong testimony and talked about prayer and receiving answers through the holy ghost! I was so happy! Our investigator LOVED IT. The only tip of improvement I would have given is to share the reference when you cite a scripture! haha Every scripture they shared our investigator wanted to mark so I had to use my scripture mastery seminary skills to find all of the scriptures the people were reading! haha We got the majority of them. Just a tip for when any of you give a talk next time. haha Conference was SO GOOD. The stake president gave a talk and talked about forgiveness. How we need to forgive everyone or it will only hurt us. How sometimes people in the church get offended because of this and that and she looked at me wrong so I´m not going to church anymore. Little petty things that when you look at the bigger picture it doesn´t even matter. You shouldn´t give up something like following Jesus Christ just because you didn´t win first place at the YW fundraiser bakeoff or because someone offended you. If anything these experiences give us a chance to become even more like our Savior by learning patience and charity. Not always easy to do but definitely worth the try. Let me just say it was a really great stake conference.

Let me just say: I AM EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For oh so many reasons. It is gonna be great! Get ready for a great chat family! haha I want to hear some good stories.

Glad things are goin good at home. Send me pictures of the kitchen! and other cool things! Mom I think the package will get here in time. 3 weeks right??? Dá!!!! We didn´t get to watch the christmas fireside because it started at 11 our time. But we are gonna watch the rebroadcast............... some day. haha And I may or may not be listening to it as I write this email. haha  Should be good. I am pretty excited!

This week is gonna fly by so until next week!!! and yes, it is sure heatin up here!

Tchauzinho! Amo vocês!

Picture in the other email!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy!

Sister Zeller

Feliz Aniversário pra MIM!!!!!‏

Yep. You got that right! Somebody here is turning 1!!! Um ANINHO! That somebody would be me if you were wondering. Friday is the day! That whole one year mark and all! I think I might cry! haha Happiness or sadness I don´t even know. haha We are gonna do something cool. Like buy pizza and eat dinner at our apartment. haha okay not THAT cool but actually pizza is pretty cool. Anyways,  that will  be pretty exciting and I will try and have pictures next week. Weird to think where I was this time last year and it blows my mind to think how many things have happened since then and how fast it has all gone by. But on to my week...........

Let me just say that yesterday was THE BEST SUNDAY!!! So last week S. Wedma and I fasted on saturday for our investigators to come to church on sunday. Sunday came and NO  ONE came. But I knew we couldn´t get down and that Heavenly Father was just holding the blessing for a little bit longer and THEY CAME! Yesterday we went with a member before church to go pick up one of our investigators and He LOVED church. He said he felt touched the most when we sang the last hymn in sacrament meeting ``I´ll go where you want me to go.`` A favorite of everyone I think. But he really liked church and the members were GREAT and helped him and introduced themselves and I was just giddy. He gave us his brothers address and said he and his family want our visits too! WAHOO! Then, AFTER lunch we went to visit this family of 5. Parents and 3 girls. We had only taught the mom and the girls once and stopped by almost every day this last week trying to teach them again with no luck. But sunday was our lucky day and they were ALL home. I think that was the most perfect lesson I have ever had on my mission until now. The whole family was listening, the mom the dad and the three girls, 12, 10 and 7. They were answering all the questions and we actually understanding it! They commited to read the Book of Mormon and to pray and they want to visit church too. Then at the end we all kneeled down in a circle and the dad gave the prayer. It was the picture perfect Preach my Gospel lesson! I couldn´t wipe that smile off my face for the rest of the day! They are so great! And they are legally married. haha Que Benção!!!! Sister Wedma and I are seriously being so blessed here. THis area hasnt had to much success lately but I think that is why they sent sisters. hahaha jk but seriously. I am just so grateful for the help of the members. It really makes such a difference. 

Also..........

-We made tacos for lunch one day this week and the tortillas we MADE and they tasted ALMOST like cafe rio. DELICIOUS!!!

-We went to Wal-Mart here. I was hoping to feel like I was in America. haha didnt happen.

-This last week the holiday was ``Day of the Zombie`` Just in case you were wondering. haha

-Thanksgiving we bought some bread and I drooled dreaming of moms orange rolls.

-My shoes have a hole in the bottom and I wish I had ducktape. haha

-My tan lines are getting better and better every day. 

Funny story: So this week was SO hot we almost passed out walking. But we lived. And we tried to teach this one lady and she let us into her yard to talk but would NOT invite us into her house. We were all dying of heat standing in the blazing hot sun and then S. Wedma moved to the side a little and then the lady moved too and we realized she was standing in the shade from S. Wedma. The lady was really short and when we realized I almost laughed out loud. She wouldn´t let us into her house and she wanted to stand in our SHADE! hahaha oh man.

If anyone wants to send a christmas package (and i am pretty sure you want to) You should send it soon!  If it gets here by the 15th of december then I will for sure have it on Christmas. After that there is no guarantee! But family, can I just say how excited I am to SEE YOU ALL on Christmas! My first Christmas in the sun. Should be fun.

Anyways, I am glad thanksgiving was a blast and that you all missed me like you should. haha Miss you too! I am so grateful for you guys. I love you guys so much and pray for you always. And also congrats to the family that got baptized in our ward! Cant wait to meet those cute kids when I get home!!! Até mais!!

Tchau!

Sister Zeller

Feliz Dia das Graças!!!!!‏

Yay! Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving! I can´t even believe how many things I am thankful for. One of them is this past week. So I guess I will tell you about it. Sister Wedma and I are finding our way around this city a lot easier now and I dont even have to look at the map.... that much. haha I´m getting there. We have been finding a TON of new people and it is so exciting and kind of overwhelming. and don´t get me started on the RAIN this week. I think we did more swimming than walking this week. and you think I´m joking. But I only am a little bit. It rained so much we walked through water almost to our knees for a couple blocks. haha good thing my shoes are crocs! haha I saw a guy on a motorcycle ride through the intersection and go pretty much all the way under the water but he came back out. Maybe that is normal here??? We have this great new investigator who just showed up at church on sunday because he is taking a theology class and has to study a different religion and chose this one! He chose right!!!! We had the best lesson with him about the restoration and he is going to read and pray. The good thing about this is he has to read because its for a class! But he is gonna pray too! We had a lesson with another guy who we talked to through the interfone on his house and the last time he just asked us to leave our message in the mailbox and come back. We did. And we came back. And he had read the pamphlet and wanted to know more about prophets and as we were teaching he asked , ``can I just visit the church? is that okay?`` UM YEAH! Way cool lesson too. Sister Wedma hit her one month mark in the mission! Party! I still remember my one month mark and I can´t believe how fast all this time has flown by and that so many things have happened.

This thanksgiving I am so grateful to be a missionary. I am so grateful to wear the name of Christ and do His work. I am grateful for the trials and difficulties that I am having and the times that are really hard. I am grateful for the chance to see the gospel light up people´s lives while lighting up mine as well. I am grateful for all the things that I am learning here and the goals that I am setting. I am grateful for a great companion and a great area. I am grateful for a prophet and apostles on the earth to guide us. I am grateful for the Priesthood and the worthy men that hold it. I am grateful for my family and the knowledge that they are mine for eternity. As annoying as it is sometimes I am grateful for agency and the power that we have to choose. More than anything I am grateful for a Loving Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ.

Feliz Dia das Graças!!!!

Also, I am grateful for TURKEY BOWL! (2014) haha

Tchau tchau,

Sister Zeller

Dreams come true!!!‏

Yep. I was transferred. And dreams come true. But I will get to that in a bit. First of all, Happy Birthday Dad! What are you like, 40 now? You are getting old. Man, my dad is cool. Also, feliz aniversário Macey Jones Petersen!!!!!!! You old lady you!

So last monday was our last day in our beloved Quissamã. We had our christmas party with S. Vieira e Araújo. We sang ALL the christmas songs in the hymnbook and decorated our christmas tree (more like christmas stick). We actually had real christmas lights! Wahoo! It was way fun to spend one last night with the sisters. We also spent a ton of the day packing. I hate packing btw.

Tuesday we were at the bust stop at 5:30am to take the 2 hour bus ride to Campos and then meet up with the rest of the ELders and then take the 4 hour bus ride back to vitoria. It was a long morning and it was SO sad to leave Rio!!! BUT.......... at the church we met the 4 new sisters! They are all so cute! 2 Brazilians, 1 utahn, and 1 argentina. Pretty cool! And the winner for greenie with the best trainer is????????? Sister Wedma da Silva from Recife! Yep, I am officially training now. My comp is 22 year old Sister Wedma. She is from Recife and hit the 2 year member mark this past week (we celebrated with cake of course). She is awesome and I am loving my time with her so far. That was part of the dream that came true.

The other part: I returned to RIO! I am now serving in Campos 2. It is city and favela at the same time. haha There are areas of both. The downtown area is SO NICE. We want to convert some rich people cause I heard its really hard. haha The last part of the dream that came true.......... Sister Peterson is training the argentinan in Campos 1!!! So we are living together and serving in the same ward! It is pretty much ``the besht.``

So on transfer day we got to take the 4 hour bus ride back to RIO. Wahoo! The elders were like ``We left the apartment SO CLEAN for you guys.`` HA! Girls and boys have very different definitions of clean. Needless to say we spent a lot of time scrubbing and cleaning this week. It has been pretty rainy this week but we have been working hard and trying to navigate our way around in this new huge area (which isnt too hard because of my wicked map skills).

This ward is great and there are a TON of YW that are preparing to serve!!! It is gonna be a great adventure here! At the transfer there was a training about working together. They showed a video of a guy with one leg and a woman with one arm doing ballet together and it was beautiful. They talked about how we should focus on each others strengths and not weaknesses and always try to work together. Right now this obviously applies to life as a missionary with companions and what not but also just life in general with pretty much every person around you. We should always look for the best in people. Anyways, I am excited for this next week and I know its gonna be a good one! November is just FLYING by! Pretty soon 2012 will be in the past (if the world doesn´t end that is).

Tchau! Amo vocês! Até mais meus queridos!

Sister Zeller


ALso, I heard about Obama. BUMMER!

Tchau Querida Quissamã!‏

First off. It´s November. Thought I would point out how crazy that is. And yes, it´s that time again. Transfer time. And yours truly is getting transfered. We got the call thursday night. CRAZY! I totally thought I was going to stay and Sister Peterson was going to leave because she has been here for 6 months and I have been here less than 3. But we are both leaving. Tomorrow morning WAY early. Tomorrow we will have to leave Rio and head back to Espirito Santo and from there we will head to our new areas with our new greenie companions!!!! New EVERYTHING! My stomach has butterflies but it will be a good ``learning experience`` right. Isn´t that what you say when things get hard? haha It is pretty true though. None of us can stay in  our comfort zone or their would be no progress. We have to always keep going. This Gospel is always about progress and God knows WAY better than us how we are gonna learn and what experiences He will let us pass through. Moving on...........

RACHAEL IS COMING TO BRASIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT!!! Too bad it´s not the best mission here in Brasil (Vitória is, duh) but I think Fortaleza is second best or something like that. I am SO excited!!! Ahhhh! Portuguese is the BEST! (Italian second best). Spanish is way down there (jimmy). How funny is that? The brunettes in Italy and the blondes in Brazil! Martha is going to..........???????????? They will have a temple there! LUCKY! So she leaves in march? What a great birthday present to me!!! Get that visa paper work in girl!! haha NOW! haha I am giddy! Did anyone else guess right besides me???

So back to me. haha. Last p-day we had our halloween party in our apartment with the other sisters. We carved pumpkins (and taught the other sisters how to carve pumpkins haha) and ate cake and other goodies and took pictures with  our fake vampire and hillbilly teeth. We played skip boo. I may or may  not have lost. Don´t wanna talk about it. There was even a full moon. It was a lot of fun! 

Today we are having our Christmas P-day because we won´t all be together on Christmas. More on how that went next week. But yeah, I am leaving here and have been saying goodbye to everyone and everything. All the missionaries say they will come back and visit and never do but I WILL! Now I have someone to come back with, RACHAEL!!!!! I am going to have to learn to walk again because I have been on a bike all day every day for the past 12 weeks. WEIRD! I am gonna be tripping all over the place! Sister Peterson and I went and had dinner at a Pizzaria (Pizza place if you couldn´t figure that one out) the other day and it was delicious! They don´t even have pepperoni here though! We were talking about how nice it is to go into restaurants because the people have no choice but to be nice to you and talk to you! haha So good every once and a while! haha Friday things cooled way down and some rain clouds rolled into town. So it has been raining the past couple of days. I have been trying to enjoy my time on the bike and we made our last ride out to the little town we have been working in. I have been taking a bagillion pictures of everything and am going to miss this tiny town so much!!!!

Sunday was really great. There were a ton of people that came to church and it was so good to see the frequency go up because it has been weak the past couple weeks. Our investigator Ana Maria bore her testimony on faith. It was so good. She said how faith is when everything gets in your way of following God but you just keep going. She talked about how sometimes it is hard to sit in church with your kids running around and other things people use as excuses not to go and how really your testimony and faith will help you overcome anything. It was SO good. We are pretty sad we are going to miss their wedding and baptism but she said she will send us pictures. We had an FHE last night at the church that the members did for us to say goodbye. They had a TON of food and we took a TON of pictures and their was a TON of crying. Sister Peterson and I thanked everyone and bore our testimonies and Ana Maria started crying and then I started crying. Oh man. It is so hard to leave people and it just makes me so grateful to know that we can all see each other again someday.

I am so grateful for the time I have had here. I have learned so much in these two short transferes that I have had. There are some members here that are just so amazing. They sacrifice anything for the Gospel and help the missionaries so much and always talk about the Gospel with everyone without awkwardness, embarrassment or hesistation. I have learned a lot with them and I am going to miss all of the wonderful families we have been teaching! But the work goes on! I am sad to leave the other sisters too. Sister Vieira is going home in December and I wanted to live with her so bad her last transfer! Tudo bem!

Mas, uma boa semana para todos vocês! Te amo!

Sister Zeller

Feliz Dia Das Bruxas!!!!!‏

5th week of the transfer come and gone! We will be having transfers in
one week! Sister Peterson and I already know that we are going to be
getting split up to train so we are really gonna have to enjoy this
last week together! I just REALLY hope I stay in this area it is so
great here and we are teaching so many amazing families. Also,
tomorrow we are going to enter the marriage process with  one of the
families!!! They are so excited to get married and baptized! It should
only take about 20 days after tomorrow to be able to mark a date! THey
are so cute. We have been having problems with transportation and this
family lives in one of the more distant areas and there was no one to
give them a ride to church sunday but when we got there they were
there! They came on their bike! Yep, singular! As in, one bike. haha
the whole little family rode on their one bike a couple miles to
church. They are so great!
Moving on to my week, we had our district meeting on tuesday and we
got letters! Thanks becky and caudle!
Also, THIS WEEK WAS HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT!!!!! I am pretty sure it
hit 100 maybe more. The good thing about riding a bike in the heat is
that it kind of makes a little breeze for you. We have been using a
ton of sunscreen!!! I keep thinking of that story of shadrak, meeshak
and abendago (I have no idea how to spell their names). They were put
in the furnace and didn´t get burned! Maybe that can happen with me!
haha I just need a bit more faith! Vamos ver!
 
We got to go to the ``Casa Rosa`` this week. The pink house in
english. It is the house of the old plantation owners way back when
that the city restored. It is so BEAUTIFUL. We took the tour but on
that same day they had school tours too so we were with a bunch of
high school kids. They asked where we were from and then after the
tour they were all taking pictures with us. haha I think they had
never met anyone from a different country or anyone with blonde hair.
hahaha It was pretty fun.
 
Today we are having our pday halloween party. We are gonna carve
pumpkins and put them in front of our apartment. Sister Vieira said
she is embarrassed to put our pumpkins outside cause that is not a
thing here. WHatever! It´s halloween!!! haha almost.  We are going to
do tye ``die`` and play skip ``boo``. as well. Believe it or not
Sister Vieira came up with those little puns (on accident actually she
was just trying to spell them in english. haha).
 
Funny fact: I have a cold. In Brasil. How does that even happen? haha
 
We started a lot of new things this week. Sister Peterson and I are
starting to teach seminary here and the other sisters are starting up
institute. We are making little scripture mastery songs but in
portuguese. haha It is kind of a blast. We are starting to work in a
new little part of town and we visited this lady and then afterward
helped her get water out of her well. Good thing my arms are so strong
now!!! haha jk jk but seriously.
 
This week is going to be great! We are gonna have a really fun
activity here on thursday! You are all invited haha The transportation
problems are getting resolved and we are being blessed for working in
this heat! haha
 
Whenever we do visits with this one member he always tells everyone
how we left our country, our family, school and everything to serve
here and then he says we spent 40 hours on a plane to get here. It is
funny because everytime he says this the number of hours we spent on a
plane to get here goes up. haha I try not to laugh everytime and just
nod my head. haha I love the members here!
 
Mom, HAPPY BIRTHDAY again! I am glad the kitchen is coming along great
and excited to cook some brazilian foods in it with you when I get
home! Send me a picture of the bridesmaid dresses! Quero ver! Tell Sid
hello and that its totally on when I get back with phase 10! I´ve
still got it! That is cool that he is staying with you guys. I CANT
BELIEVE RACHAEL IS GOING TO GET HER CALL! AHHH!!! You can always call
the mission office and tell them, I am pretty sure their is an
American working there. You can probably find the number online and
then they can call me and tell me where and when she is going!!!! I am
dying to know! It´s gonna be Brazil!!!!!
 
Have a great Halloween everyone! I will scare a Brazilian for ya!
 
I will send pictures next week!
 
Tchau Tchau!
 
Sister Zeller

Lake Ugly and other pictures

The proud new owner of a Brazilian made hammock...‏

Yep, that would be me. But I will get to that story later. This week was pretty full as always and the transfer is nearing the end point (two weeks left but in missionary time that is like a day). I can´t believe how fast it is going by and we are anxiously planning our halloween p day party. Tuesday night we had the ward FHE and we played musical chairs. We were only lacking one thing, music so we improvised and sister peterson sang hymns while we walked around the chairs and played. It was way fun. We have some really great investigators... FAMILIES! Lots of them need to get married so it will be a while but it is SO cool to see people progress and just see a difference enter their home. Wednesday we went and scoped out a different little way distant area of the city. An hour bike ride. And the wind was SO strong. My legs were kind of shaky as we walked from door to door when we got there. haha But it was the most interesting little town, area, I don´t really know what to call it. Bairro in portuguese so do what you want with that word. Anyways, this town used to be a slave town and they are just a couple barracks looking buildings with doors all in a row that the people live in. Their is one cute little catholic church and then a giant rundown manision which is where I am assuming the plantation owner or whatever lived. It was way cool to see and they actually have a little museum that got to walk through explaining the story of the tiny town. So everyone that lives there is a descendant of the slaves that used to live there. The people were really receptive and we are thinking and praying a lot about if we should really start to work there. The hardest thing here is transportation because the church is in the center of the city and there are no buses on sundays. We will figure something out!

Funny random happening: I overheard two four year olds argueing about soccer teams and talking players and stats and everything. Yeah, they love it here. haha I had a good laugh.

We had a fireside Saturday night and we have been preparing a choir in the branch to sing. Yours truly is the chorister for that choir and my oh my what a stressful job that is! haha Also, my arm is sore. But it turned out really great and I think the fireside pumped up the members to really help those who have fallen away come back and to help those who don´t yet know about the Gospel join the club!

We are gonna have an activity next thursday and we are gonna do a bunch of little games like that minute to win it show? heard of it? Feel free to send me some ideas that are fun! Ramo Quissamã will thank you!

So on to the hammocks... We were waiting for the bus to come and so we were sitting on this bench when this guy walks by with a bunch of hammocks doing his thing to sell them. I smiled at him and he came over and started showing us the hammocks. 30 reais he said! We said sorry but no thanks. 25 reais! No thanks! 20 reais! Sister Peterson said she would buy it for 10 and he said deal so we each bought a hammock for 10 reais (like 5 bucks). We put them in our backpacks and then started laughing and shaking our heads at what just happened. So yeah, I have a hammock now. 

I have been reading the new testament and Jesus the Christ lately and man am I mad that I never put much effort into studying them before. There are some great parables there! One I have been thinking a lot about lately is the women and the lost coin. She loses the coin and then pretty much goes crazy looking everywhere trying to find it. That is how it is on a mission but at the same time that is how it should always be for the rest of our lives. Trying to find and help those that are lost. This church is a church of workers. Everyone has an important role to play and the work is never done. 

Well, until next week! Thanks for the prayers, the letters (I will be getting some tomorrow, thanks!), and all the support! Rach..... CONGRATS!!!! I cannot wait to find out where you are going and praying that it is BRAZIL! But I am sure wherever you go you will LOVE IT! Keep up the good work on the house! Eu amo vocês! Tchau Tchau!!!

Com amor,

Sister Zeller

Pictures....

The first one is a sign directing you to ugly lake. haha I asked someone if the lake was ugly and they looked at my like, what are you talking about? haha

The other one is the old run down mansion house. Pretty cool.

Feliz Aniversário Katie!!!‏

Katie, I didn´t even forget about your birthday. I only forgot to say Happy Birthday last week. So I am saying it now. And it still counts. Love ya!!!

Anyways, this week was reeealllly good. So many more experiences to share. First off, I have one announcement to make... tomorrow make 6 MONTHS in Brazil. Yeah, I celebrate a lot of dates. Pretty cool to look at my portuguese when I got here and then today. Thanks goodness I understand people now.... and I think they understand me. haha But these 6 months have really been amazing and have flown by oh so fast. And I am so happy that I have many more months to come here! Moving on to my week....

Last monday for lunch we made little pizzas at home and I made a ``Z`` with pinneaple on mine and tried to send a picture but it didn´t work so just try to imagine it. It was pretty cool.

I read ``Our Search for Happiness`` again this week and man that book is so cool. It explains the gospel so simple and is directed towards nonmembers with the purpose of helping them understand our faith. It is awesome and I already want to read it again! I need more study time!!!

We were doing visits with a member (the first member here in Quissamã to be exact) and we were teaching this lady. We invited her to say the closing prayer and she agreed and then bowed her head and we waited but she didn´t say anything so we assumed she was praying silently. Tudo bem. We waited and waited and then I opened my eyes to look at the member and he was cracking up!!! Silently of course. Then Sister Peterson made a little nose with her backpack and the lady sat up real quick. I am pretty sure she fell asleep. hahaha 

We had THE COOLEST experience the other day. We went to contact a lady that we had talked to in the street and when we walked into the house another her sister was cooking in the kitchen. We said the name of the church again and her sister said ``Hey, I´m Mormon too!`` Turns out her sister lives in Rio and was baptized a few months back. She was the cutest new little member and we had a great lesson with her sister! It was so cool! The same thing happened again two days later when we were contacting a different lady. We pulled up to her house and her aunt came out. We introduced ourselves and she said she lives in RIo and is preparing to get baptized with an Elder Rodriguez! I know you guys don´t remember this but Elder Rodriguez from my district in the MTC is serving in Rio! It´s totally him! It is so cool to see how missionary work really does spread and you just never know how it will effect other people! So cool!

Katie, don´t even worry. We had a party for you here on your birthday. You didn´t even come. We had an activity on the beach Friday and it was SO MUCH FUN! We got permission from President to go and we ate lunch, played soccer, and built a sand temple. I´m pretty creative I know. It was a holiday here in Brazil `` Dia das crianças`` Day of the children. Thanks children for a great activity! We got totally sunburned. I felt like I was at shasta or something! Happy Birthday Katie!

Then Sunday was great too. Testimony meeting was a treat as always. A little ways into our investigator came up and bore her testimony about the difference that the Gospel has been making in her family! It was the cutest thing ever! We are so close to setting a wedding and baptism date with them! Just waiting for some documents to come! I can´t wait! I hope I will still be here!

I love being here, in Brasil. I love the palm trees (speaking of palm trees, one of our investigators after a lesson went out to his palm tree and cut down some coconuts for us haha) and the mountains in the distance. I love riding a bike. I love rice and beans. I love the people. I love portuguese (most of the time). I love teaching the gospel. I love seeing people find happiness. I love studying every day. I love my Savior and am so grateful for the plan of salvation. I love being a missionary. And I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!

And I love you all! 

Tchau tchau!

Boa semana!

Sister Zeller

Still wont let me attach pictures! Que tristeza!

Conferência Geral!!!!!! Boas Notícias!!!‏

A week only has 7 days so I don´t even know how everything that happened this week fit in but it did and it was amazing. First off, it is now October for anyone that doesn´t have a calendar and was  wondering. I can´t believe this year is already winding down and Sis. Peterson and I are already planning our halloween party we are gonna have. Pumpkins and everything. Well, we are gonna try our hardest. Starting from the beginning of the week, last sunday was kinda hard so we spent p-day relaxing and did some shopping here in Quissamã. We made  hamburgers for lunch that were delicious!! We relaxed at home and just had fun hanging out and chatting with the other sisters in the apartment. And of course I painted my nails. Tuesday morning we got up at 5 to catch the bus to Campos (two hour bus ride) at 6 for a zone meeting. The bus was waaayyy late and we ended up getting to the meeting at like 9:20 and had to leave at 10 to catch the bus back. haha But the little spiritual upliftment that we had time to get was  great! and not to mention LETTERS! Wahoo. Thanks for the letters people. Every time we have a meeting like this I think  I won´t have any letters but I am always pleasantly surprised so thanks a lot. Joey Tanner and caudle! Obrigada! For real though, thanks. I love the letter the ward relief society sent! Tell Sister Davis I love her! and josiah and christian! And all the sisters who wrote little messages for me!

Anyways, later that day we stopped by a bakery to buy this little treat here we are addicted to and the lady handed one to me and it was covered with ants! I was like...... ummm.... this is covered in ants. haha She just looked at me and then took it back and started brushing off the ants behind the counter. Yeah, we went somewhere else. but I had a good laugh about it.

So Sunday was Election day here in Brasil and so this week was crazy with rallys and parades of cars down the streets and flags and little propaganda. They also have these cars that drive around 24/7 (literally, good thing I sleep with ear plugs) playing music of the candidates. But things got way intense this week with the music and everything. It is funny in pretty much all of our lessons this week a time would come when we would have to wait a few minutes for the car with the little song saying vote for me really loud to pass by. For some reason it always happens as we start talking about the first vision. haha But anyways they are having the election for mayor this year in Quissamã and there are two candidates, Fatima and Octavio. If you want to hear the music for both of them dont even worry, I have it memorized without even trying. The other night we were entering into the gate of a members house only to realize a  parade of cars and people were coming down the street. It was way loud and cool so we watched for a second as it started passing. Then we started to go inside and I turned around to look one more time and what do ya know Octavio was standing right there at the gate! He smiled at me and shook my hand and then sister petersons hand. There were people taking pictures and everyone was yelling. I felt pretty cool. And turns out he won the election yesterday too! Moral of the story is... I know the mayor here :)

I have been reading a lot lately in the New Testament. I think I might have mentioned that already but hey this is my email and I will talk about what I want to. Anyways, it is so great and I am loving reading about the life of Jesus Christ and the amazing miracles he did here.

Funny short story: So sister peterson and I have the same shoes. chacos. This little boy the other day told us we had `chinelos de Deus.`  Sandals of God. We have had other people tell us too that our sandals look like Jesus´ sandals. haha, we are missionaries!  We couldn´t stop laughing but I definitely liked the nickname for our shoes.

Friday we had to head to campos again for interviews with Presidente Araújo. The interviews went great and we found out some more details about the future here in the mission. This next transfer we are losing 3 sisters and gaining 4 and losing 3 more the transfer after that. So pretty much I will be going from 3rd youngest here to 3rd oldest and I am going to be training next transfer! Ahhhh. I knew it was coming but now it is real. We are getting two americans, 1 brazilian and 1 sister from Argentina. Sister Peterson and I will train the two americans. I hope they are excited!!!! I still have a couple more weeks for the idea to settle in and to prepare myself to make the jump from junior to trainer. Looking on the brightside I get to go through the 12 week program for the 3rd time in my mission. hahaha Que Bênçáo!

Saturday was conference and oh boy was it a different experience. All of the members (well like 4 of them) watched it in the chapel and Sister Peterson and I decided to listen to it in English upstairs. Every time a car would drive by in the street with music for the candidates we wouldn´t be able to hear anything. And the electricity in the city went out right towards the end of the session.

When President Monson announced the changes to mission ages I FREAKED OUT!!!!!!!!!!! My jaw dropped open and my eyes were wide open. I am sure it was pretty funny to see. I couldn´t believe it and I just kept saying it over and over, ``what? 19? what? 19?`` I can´t believe it!!! That is SO COOL! I started crying too of course thinking of Rachael and Martha! You two are gonna be out at the same time!!! AHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! I am still in a shock of sorts. Wow. Yeah, it´s still sinking in. Did everyone see that one kid with the shocked look in the audience too??? Pretty funny. He must be 18. haha

We watched the second saturday session in a crowded hot little internet house sharing one pair of headphones. But the connection was good so we were very happy. Sunday we tried to watch it again but the internet was pretty shaky the afternoon session. CAN´T WAIT FOR THE LIAHONA. That is all I´m saying. Pretty much whenever they mentioned missionaries during conference I cried. haha Good thing I will still be here for the next one. That is comforting at least. 

I loved Elder Uchdorf´s talk about enjoying life and to stop waiting for certain events to be happy. So true. All the talks were amazing. I especially loved Elder Hollands talk and how he talked about Christ asking us the question ``Do you love me?`` If we truly love Him we will keep His commandments. It is as simple as that. We just have to choose to love Him and the rest will follow. I don´t know, that talk just made me think a lot. Loved it.

Well, I am sure there are more things that happened this week but that is all I can remember! Love you all so much! Keep preparing for the wedding, missions and whatever else is going on back there in the good ole US of A! Keep me posted on everything! You are always in my prayers and I thank Heavenly Father every day for giving me such a great family! Tchau!

Beijos!

Sister Zeller

Seja bem vinda primavera!‏

Another transfer has gone by! What??? Good thing Sister Peterson and I will be staying here in Rio with our cool little bikes and helmets. I´m pretty happy about it. Oh yeah so last monday made FIVE MONTHS here in  Brazil. In case you were wondering. haha I bought a yellow and green brazil jersey to celebrate. This last transfer was like the most perfect transfer ever. We worked our butts off and we have seen a lot of changes here and of course we are having a blast! The other two sisters that we are living with got transferred though and they will be heading out tomorrow. It is fun to do the calculations and try and figure out who will be getting transferred where. With the sisters of course  it isn´t too hard because there are just too many elders. But if our calculations are correct the newbie that is coming in from recife will be heading here with us and I think Sister Viera will train her (I already lived with sister viera and she is the bomb. I am very excited. She makes the best pancakes.) I am pretty sure we are right and we are way excited! This last week was great!
Last monday when we woke up (i dont remember if I already told this story or not) our apartment floor was covered with water! So here the freezers are weird and every once and while you have to unplug the fridge and let the freezer defrost but there was SO MUCH WATER! We spent the morning cleaning it up. Luckily you have to be clean as missionaries so our things weren´t all over the floor. For lunch we bought some food at a bakery and went to the cute little square here they have with a fountain. It reminded me of New York. This is the cutest little town. Then monday night we went and had an FHE with our recent converts. We played barbie uno and someone said, man you americans have the most complicated games. haha it was way fun! Uno is a hit here!!!

Funny questions that little kids asked me this week?
`Do you know justin bieber?`
`Do you guys come here on a plane everyday?`
`Do your eyes change color at night?`
`Do you know any words in portuguese?` hahaha I laughed so hard at this one.

I love the children!!!!

Anyways, one of my dreams came true this week and I finally found Goiyaba ice cream!!! Wahoo! So good! It is a fruit here and it makes the best juice ever! Also, maracuja ice cream is pretty tasty!
So the baptism of Natalia, the daughter of lady who got baptized the week before, was scheduled for this last saturday. We go there on wednesday to have the dad sign the paper and he kept saying, I think she needs to wait and get to know the church more but I will sign it if that is what she wants and then proceeded to ask her if that is what she really wants in a really influential manner with many subtle messages saying you dont know what you want. We were getting really frustrated and finally natalia said, Fine, I will wait. We were kind of annoyed but knew we just needed to keep having faith. So we told natalia to read and pray that night for another confirmation. We came back friday morning and natalia was SO  EXCITED to talk to us. She said she read and prayed and had a really cool experience and got an answer. We were ecstatic of course. She said she talked to her dad straight up, I know all I need to know and I want to get baptized. Sign the paper. She is so great and the baptism was beautiful! We went on friday to clean the baptismal font (which is really one of those little swimming pools). We got it perfectly clean and put the tarp cover on it. Then friday night was THE BIGGEST STORM EVER! It woke me up in the middle of the night it was so loud and there were just a ton of light flashes through the windows from the lightning. Good thing I have my little eye cover and ear plugs to sleep with :) hahaha Dont judge. anyway, we went in the morning to check on it and the tarp and blown partly off and a ton of dirt fell in. Seeing how it takes like a day to fill up the font we grabbed some strainers and went to work sifting out the dirt. Yeah, we are dedicated. haha It was really fun actually and we have way good sifting skills because that font waaas looking great. Okay, it was just a tad bit dirty but still. Great week, great transfer, I am loving life and loving the mission. Puxa vida que está passando tão rapido!!!!!!

I am glad to hear the wedding plans are coming along. November 17th will be a great day! Manti temple??? kinda random! That leaves the portland one to me! haha tudo bem! Martha I am glad your birthday went great. Also, thanks for the email becca! Good to hear how you are doing! I hope everyone is doing great and enjoying the transition into fall as I am going throught he transition to darker tan lines and more freckles! I love you all!!! Tchau tchau! Até mais!

Sister Zeller

Feliz meio Aniversário pra mim!!!!!!!‏

Yep. That is right. My half birthday is coming up this friday. September 21st!  Party! Weird... I haven´t even gotten all your packages yet. haha they must be on their way. Jk jk jk Martha, stop getting mad. I will stop trying to steal all of your attention. But, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 18! Wow! I can´t even believe you are turning 18! So crazy and wrong!!!! You are the little sister and that is supposed to literally mean `little.` Stop growing up. But I hope you have the best birthday ever (actually I know your birthday next year will be better because I will be there). Have fun!!! Okay, back to me.... haha

This week is the LAST week of the transfer!!! What?!?!?! Six weeks went by so fast! Transfers will be next week but a really smart little bird in a tie and a name tag already told me I will be staying here with my companion for at least one more transfer! Wahoo!!!! I am so glad! I love it so much here and we are having a Ton of success!!!! Speaking of success, we had a baptism this week that was just beautiful! We have been teaching this amazing family and even though the dad is a bit slow, actually he is reeeaaallllyyyy slow the rest of the family is amazing. The mom and older daughter were baptized on Friday night and the other daughter is going to be baptized this saturday. The older daughter is 18 and she wants to go on a mission really bad! AhhhH! She is going to be amazing! We were so happy that day and I kept thinking of that scripture in Alma 31:38 that is talking about Alma and how he wasn´t given any trial that wouldn´t be swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Something like that. But it is so true. All of the challenges about a mission are totally forgotten when you have moments when you can see the gospel touch someones heart and change their life. What a privelage it is to be here!

Now some funny things:

All the little kids are always yelling us to speak english or trying to climb on our bikes or telling us we dont need helmets. haha The other day we were talking to some kids then we started riding away and I was thinking ``this is weird, the wind is really pushing me fast`` Then I looked behind me and this five year old little girl was running behind my bike pushing it. I started laughing so hard and then she gave up. haha kids these days.

Here in brazil they dont just cut oranges down the center. You have to peel it with a knife and then you can eat it. Just so you know, I am TERRIBLE at it. I almost cut my finger off the other day. I am going to stick to the American way. haha

We sang at the baptism, I believe in Christ but it was like portuguese and english and it was way cool.

We went on splits again and I always get a little nervous but it was totally fun. I am always worried there are going to be awkward silences and I won´t know what to say but one thing on the mission I have learned: People like to talk. A lot. haha In all parts of the world.

We rode out to a different little town this week for lunch one day. We rode down this dirt road and it was the most beautiful ride. Palm trees and cows as far as the eye can see. haha We took about a million pictures. 

The other day it was raining ash. They are burning all the fields and all of the ash was coming down on us pretty much the whole night as we rode our bikes around.

During the middle of one of our lessons the lady we were teaching started busting up laughing. I was teaching about the great apostasy and she just started cracking up. It was so awkward. haha We tried to continue and she would get it together and then a minute later bust up laughing again. So weird.

This week was so tiring. Mostly physically tiring. The wind and sun are really kicking it up a gear. But I am so glad to be staying here for another transfer and really pumped about how the work is going here! Thanks for the prayers and support! I can feel it everyday!

I am glad the house is getting whipped into shape (i know you are really doing this for my homecoming and the whole ``katies reception is gonna be at our house thing`` is just a cover story). Thanks for the love!!! Love you all!!

Tchau tchau! Beijinhos!

Sister Zeller

Also, the computer isnt letting me attach pictures. Lame. Maybe next week!

Also, Rachel Draper I need your new address to send you a letter!!!!! Love ya!

Pictures

Vou morrer durante verão!!!!‏

Well hello again família. 

 

This week, as with every week, flew by!!! But here are some highlights:

 

-Monday we made hamburgers for lunch. Typical Americans. haha They were great. The avocados here are GIGANTIC and delicious. And they have these little tiny potato chips they put on everything that I am in love with. So our hamburgers were pretty high class. Fine, I will include a picture :)

-We watched Errand of Angels that sister missionary movie on monday. So cheesy. We laughed so hard but I actually did like it. Some parts were so TRUE! haha

-We have been visiting our elect family and preparing for their baptism this saturday!

-One of our investigators bought us flip flops. Always a treat! haha

-We started a new thing. Popcorn and planning. It is exactly what it sounds like. We eat popcorn while we plan.

-I found a church CD in the house that I am lovin lately. Gotta love EFY music!

-Our bikes have been having some serious problems so we took them to get fixed and when we got them back the people had taken our little cute baskets off. For no reason at all. And we wanted to make them give us baskets but that requires a certain vocabulary in portuguese so the Brazilian sister is gonna go back with us. haha Where am I supposed to put my backpack while I ride? haha Also this week Sister Pet. got a flat tire. It was on friday when EVERYTHING was closed for the holiday. But this nice guy fixed it for us on his day off for free. We are gonna go back and teach his family :)

-This week the weather has been heating up like crazy. I am getting scared for summer. Yikes! The people here say this is nothing.......

-Wednesday we got to wake up at 4:30am to catch a bus to the city of Campos. Trying to sleep on the uncomfortable bouncy bus was a total failure so I settled for taking a million pictures out the window along the way. Pretty much all the graffiti, bumper stickers and billboards here talk about Jesus. It is kinda funny. We had our zone conference. Our mission president talked about how in this life we need to focus more on becoming rather than doing. You can DO everything right but what is important is what you BECOME. It was cool. Campos is a way old cool city. I took a lot of pictures. 

-I GOT LETTERS and PACKAGES! Wahoo! One of the perks of zone conferences  is that we get all of our letters. Thank you everyone for all the letters! I will respond.... just be patient. haha Also, mom I got your package and it was wonderful. Caudle thanks for the photos. Turkey bowl 2013 is gonna be awesome! Macey and Rachel and the Jones family! Thanks so much for the package! It has been sitting in the mission office in Vitoria for a while. I knew it was there and it was torture having to wait to get it. I loved it! All the little notes and... surprises (rach). and chips. Yum. I loved it! And I am lovin the popcorn! My comp is too! Thanks so much! 

-Thursday night we had our night of integration at the church with the members and our investigators. It was a success and way fun. We had a questionarre game that we played and you had to find people who matched the criteria and write down their names. It kinda reminded me of FHE at BYU and all the get to know you games. haha It was way fun and we had ``cachorro quente`` hot dogs. They are the most popular church food here. Like green jello.

-Sunday we passed by the church at 7:30am to drop off the keyboard before heading to Santa Catarina and one of our investigator families was just sitting on the sidewalk waiting for church to start. We were thinking what are they doing here this early? We explained that church didnt start until 9 and they came back. We asked them how they got there because they dont have a bus on sundays and they said they got a ride in the van that passes for the Universal church. haha Thanks for the help! 

-We had a ton of investigators at church on sunday and it was so cool! The relief society sang As Sisters in Zion during sacrament meeting and yours truly got to be the chorister (how do you even spell that?) I was way nervous but it went well. 

Well time is just flying by here. I can´t believe this transfer is almost over. I hope so bad that I get to stay here longer. I am loving it here so much and things are going so well with Sister Peterson. This really is the best little town. The people here are so humble and simple and great. And I love my bike too :)

I hope the plans are coming along well for Katie's wedding and that all the home projects get done it time. Tudo vai dar certo! Take lots of pictures! Mom, be careful on that ladder! Remember that my room is still my room! haha Martha, I hope college is going great and you are getting into the swing of things! Jeff, another year of high school started! How exciting! Dad and Alex I hope you had a great time in Alabama. Rach and James, you didn't email so I dont know what is going on but I hope you are having fun doing whatever you are doing. Katie, I know you are like crazy in love or something like that so just keep on doing that I guess. Your wedding colors should be ``earthy tones`` haha remember that??? Love you all!

Tchau tchau!!!

Sister Zeller

Sweet Pictures!

One stoplight town.... Just to get an idea of how small it is.‏

Actually, not even that. This town has zero stoplights. haha And the towns on the outskirts have about 5 streets. haha I´m lovin it. So last P-day was great. I made some cookies (yep, it was actually me who made them, believe it) They don´t even have the little pre made nestle ones you can just pop in the oven either. I had to get my hands dirty. Moving on, sis pet. and I went on a little shopping trip to a little store in town. We tried on a bunch of clothes and had a good laugh. Brazilian fashion is actually pretty funny. Did you know that here a striped shirt and floral skirt totally match? haha I love it. A lot. But it was good and relaxing and just what I needed. Tuesday morning we went on a wild goose chase trying to track down information about marriage in this little town. We have about a billion investigators that need to get married before they can get baptized and the laws here are totally unclear and marriage is way expensive. We are trying to find info on the free marriage law but everyone sends us to another building to talk to another person. We will succeed!!! Anyways, I am really learning how to teach the gospel simply here. Lots of the people we teach don´t even know how to read and so we really just start with the basics. We had a family come to the ward FHE tuesday night and it was way fun. We played that smurf game where you have to guess the action. So funny.
SO MANY THINGS HAPPENED THIS WEEK!!!!
Thursday was my nine month mark! Pictures included. I can´t even believe it! Sister Pet. made me a cake and we had a little celebration and as hard as it is to believe (or not hard) we ate pretty much the whole thing just the two of us. haha whoops. Good thing we are riding bikes all day every day. Speaking of bikes. As we were riding our bikes home that day we were trying to go way fast to get back to town before dark. Too bad the wind was SO STRONG and we were going about 0mph. So hard to ride uphill against the wind. I was laughing pretty hard at how ridiculous it was. haha Then on top of it all the chain kept falling off my bike and so we kept having to stop and use the flashlight and fix it in the crazy wind. When we got home I had bike grease all over my face. haha It was a fun little adventure.
Friday, SHE hit the one year mark. We bought little deserts at the padaria and sang happy birthday and I made a cute little sign (picture included) and took pictures. So crazy! It´s kind of crazy how the more you want time to slow down it just keeps speeding up!!! Que coisa chata!

We also had our zone meeting... but it was too expensive for us to go so we got to listen in by way of our cell phone. haha It was kind of nice to stay in the comfort of our own home but be at the meeting at the same time. Kinda like general conference. haha

So we are teaching the most amazing family ever and have had so many great experiences this week with them. We have been praying so hard for them and oh man has it paid off. Pretty much they want to be baptized and the mom is crazy to be a missionary. She wants preach my gospel and everything. We are like giddy as missionaries and totally got home and jumped up and down when she told us she wanted to get baptized. This is the family that last week we went and visited their church and this week they came to visit the church of Jesus Christ. And they absolutely loved it. It is so true that some people want the truth but they don´t know where to find it and so they are doing the next best thing. The only problem with this family is the dad. He is a bit difficult but I am not worried. His time will come. I played the piano for sacrament meeting on sunday and I kept looking at the congregation waiting to see this family. Finally, I looked and they were there and I was SO HAPPY! AHhhh! Best feeling ever! They are like kids in a candy shop. They are eating up everything about the gospel and just don´t want to stop learning and asking questions. The elect really do exist. They are amazing and what a privelage (I am forgetting english and don´t remember how to spell that word) it is to be able to guide them in this process. Sometimes as a missionary when we find someone who is really strong in their faith it is easy to say, oh they are never going to want to change, they like their church too much. But sometimes they really just need to hear the truth once and they will accept it. The mom said that when she heard our testimonies she just had the best feeling and knew it was true. We watched the restoration dvd with them and it was actually pretty funny because the sound wasn´t working! Only the background music but no voices so we all had to read the subtitles! But they still felt the spirit because the message was the same, even without speaking. It was great. Then they made my comp and I sing a church song in english. We sang I am a child of god and they loved it. haha 

We went on splits the other night and I thought I would be way nervous to kind of do everything myself but I totally wasn´t. It was totally a success!

We are finding a lot of new people and I can´t believe this transfer is already half over. I think I am going to stay here though so it´s all good. 

Oh and yesterday the moon was the coolest thing ever. It was way low low on the horizon and was reddish! Sweet!

 I am glad to hear everything at home is going just swell (although mom didn´t even email me so I´m kind of just guessin here). Dad, the garden is awesome and I don´t even believe that Martha, little baby martha, is going to COLLEGE! That is just wrong! Thanks for the pictures though! She is going to love college. I love you all and am waiting for the package still. We are having zone conference this wednesday so if it has come already I will get it then. Thanks btw! Tchau tchau! Beijinhos! Hope the wedding plans are coming along!!!

Sister Zeller

ALso, this friday is Independence Day for Brasil! Gonna be a party here!

VIDEO!!!

Signs things aren´t going so well:‏

...During long bike rides in Brazil you don´t have a windshield to protect you from all the bugs... you only have your face. haha Yeah, it is a great feeling. I just try to keep my mouth shut. haha Another sign things aren´t going so well is that I am about to hit HALFWAY! What?!?! This thursday will make 9 months and then it will officially be downhill. Crazy crazy crazy and I don´t even want to think about leaving Brazil!!!! That journey song keeps coming to my head ``woah, you´re halfway there woah living on a prayer.`` Totally works for my situation. haha Friday Sister Peterson will have one year in the mission so we are gonna party it up this week in a very missionary style. Don´t even worry. I am having a great time with Sister Peterson. It is cool to have an american companion once in a while and have her understand my little movie quotes and stuff. Dont worry, we still speak portuguese all the time. Except when quoting movies, and kid history. Duh. but anyways....

This week was crazy full of experiences. Last p-day we made cookies (well, sis. peterson kind of made them while I `taste tested`them. Someone had to do it! I am pretty selfless.) We had an FHE and played spoons. I almost won. But the 6 year old beat me. Pois é. I love being able to speak portuguese better and joke around with the people. Man it feels great to be able to get to know them. Afterwards we delivered cookies to all the members and they just LOVED it. One thing about BRazil, they dont even eat cookies here. Like, at all. They were so excited about this new ``biscuit`. haha So funny. 

This week the city was out of water so we were trying to be savvy with our water use. Hard with four girls living together but we are managing. And we used my little water sterilizing kit yesterday to have drinking water. It was pretty fun actually. haha 

Can I just say that it is hard to ride a bike uphill against the wind! But I know my thighs are getting stronger and stronger and I am probably gonna come home looking like the hulk. I am almost a bicycle pro. I said almost alright.

This week was great with our investigators. Our baptismal dates are looking great and we are hoping to have a baptism saturday. People this week seemed to be more receptive than ever. Wishy washy investigators are changing! 

Thursday we had a night of integration at the church to help build friendships between the members and our investigators. We played charades with playdough. I forgot the name of the game or if there even is a name for this game or if it is just charades with playdough. Anyway, you get the point. It was way fun though. They dont have a church building here. It is a rented house with two stories but it works. It is cool how that doesn´t even matter because the spirit is still there. 

One problem... I am getting so used to eating dessert after lunch that when we don´t have it I feel like something is missing in life. haha We make a lot of stops at the local bakery. Yum!

We went one day without our bikes because some members gave us a ride in their car. Everyone all day kept asking us ``but where are your bikes?`` ``why aren´t you two using your bikes?`` It was really funny how everyone was so interested in the fact that we were walking. But it was weird. I felt like I was moving in slow motion all day. Bikes are the way to go.

Sunday morning before church we biked out to Santa Catarina. THe little town we are working in right now and were passing by our investigators houses. ALmost EVERYONE bailed on coming to church. Ugh. But one family came and it made it all worth it! They are so cute and are really progressing now. 

We found a different great family and they are legally married! Jackpot! So hard to find. They are pretty strong in their religion but they are reading the book of Mormon and willing to give it a shot. They invited us to their church to hear the two daughters sing and our mission president said it was okay so last night off we went to Igreja Missão Evangelica! Wow, what an experience. It was so different than our church. They sang and it was great and cool to see that other people really are trying to follow Jesus Christ as well. But also made me so grateful for the amazing church we have and gave me that much more of a desire to help people find the truth. They talk REALLY loud in other churches. And they welcomed us as visitors and actually invited us to speak in front of everyone. haha I had no idea what to say. They were all yelling hallelujah and gloria and stuff and waving their hands. Good thing Sister Peterson went first and she asked the pastor what he wanted her to say and all he said was ``church, church, church.`` In english. She just bore her testimony and then I had to go up and I did the same. It sure was a crazy experience. Its not every day as a missionary you get to bear your testimony in front of a congregation of another faith. haha but it was definitely an experience I will never forget. Oh man. 

My email is pretty short this week. Or maybe you still think it´s too long! Too bad, you have to keep reading. I am loving this area. I love riding a bike and looking out into the distance and seeing nothing but fields and fields. The stars here are so bright and the moon is like my favorite thing in the world. The little kids in the town are always running up to us and asking us if we speak english and if we are from germany or france. I love the kids here. They are so cute and I just want to help all their parents teach them the gospel so they can grow up and know how much they are loved. I think that is the hardest thing about rejection on the mission. Looking at the kid and knowing they are gonna suffer because their parents didn´t want to change. But then I remember to trust in the Lord and I know he will take care of everything. 

Well, family. Thanks for all the emails. It was almost email overload this week but it was great. I love to see pictures! I am waiting on the package but I know it will come soon. Love you all and you are always in my prayers!!! Some day you can all come to Brazil with me and then you will understand how amazingly awesome it is. Or I will just talk your ears off when I get home about all my experiences. haha Probably both! Be excited!!! Estou voltando já!!!! haha

Love you! Tchau Tchau!

Beijos!

Sister Zeller

I attached a video of Sister Dias and I singing our favorite song. We changed the words a bit. We heard a guy playing this song from a speaker on a bike. It says, ``(random name) everyone knows him`` Then in the background he says ``Yep, everybody knows me`` then they say ``he is a way cool guy`` and then he says ``Yeah I´m pretty cool`.` Rough translation but you get the point. When we first heard it we about died laughing and we sang it to each other pretty much every day. Que Saudades da Sister Dias!!!

Pictures: sister peterson making cookies and writing cute little notes for the members. The elders totally don´t do this!

Also, a sneak peak of our area and our well beloved bike path we use everyday! Thanks random brazilian bike rider for making the picture great!

Tchau Espirito Santo!‏ -pictures

Tchau Espirito Santo!‏

I´ve been transfered.... to the middle of nowhere!!!! haha But it actually is somewhere or so they tell me. But it is true. I´m not in the lovely state of Espirito Santo anymore. Our mission boundaries actually include a couple cities in Rio de Janeiro and Menas. Guess what? I am now livin the good life in Rio de Janeiro! Not the city. haha Pretty dangerous there I hear. But I am in a tiny little town called Quissamã! I love it already. But I will get to my new area later. Here is my week so far (It´s been quite the rollercoaster):
Monday I think I already talked about this but we went to the Garoto chocolate factory and that night went to an FHE. One of the members made a slideshow of all the pictures they had with us missionaries. It was so good and fun to look back on all the good times!!! They had a TON of photos. It rained again that night and parts of certain streets were kind of flooded. Man the rain here can be crazy.
Tuesday we got up and started packing and kept packing and then packed some more. I don´t know where all of this stuff came from!!! haha (I know what you are all thinking. What a packrat. NOT TRUE) People give you things when you are a missionary. haha Sister Dias was also giving `presents` to us. aka things she didnt need anymore cause she is going home. haha It was pretty fun. Sister Dias decorated a planner for me and wrote little quotes and scriptures all throughout it for me to use this transfer. And so I don´t forget about her. Sly dog. It is pretty cute though and I get so excited to Plan! haha One things though, she accidently marked all the dates one day off. haha I had a good laugh when I realized it because we joked about it before. haha it came true. pois é. After we finished packing we headed to say goodbye to dearest Mariana and my little guy Caduzinho. We decorated a BOM for cadu. We put a picture of him and highlighted some scriptures and wrote messages for him to read when he gets older. He already committed to baptism and it is totally OUR baptism. haha jk but seriously. And of course we included a picture of us `sissa dias` and `sissa zella.` Man I love that kid. We said our goodbyes and he winked for us as we left. haha We had lunch with the bishops family and then we dropped of Sister Dias luggage at her hotel and headed to the church for transfers!!!! It was crazy but somehow I already knew where I was going and with who. Of course I wasn´t sure but I had a pretty good feeling. And I am super happy with it. We took a ton of pictures and said goodbye! A couple of the YW from the ward came too and they were balling. Their ward is getting Elders now.... enough said. jk Elders are good too. haha I left with Sister Peterson and we headed to the bus stop. We waited for about an hour and then rode for 4hours to Campos, Rio de Janeiro. We got there at about 11pm (past my bedtime I know) and some members took us the rest of the way (two hours more) to Quissamã. We got there pretty late. I unpacked a tiny bit and then went to sleep. Wednesday was good to get all settled in and try out my new mode of transportation...yep, that´s right. BICYCLES!!!! I already served in a car, walking, and now I get to try out bicycles. Yep, I´m pretty sore right now just in case you were wondering.
So we live with two other sister. My companion is Sister Peterson. She is from Orem utah and she is the bomb. She has about a year in the mish so far. In my last apt. it was 3brazilians and 1 american and now it is 3 americans and 1 brazilian. How things change. haha But it has been way fun so far. I didn´t stand out so much in my other area but now we are like the only white people. We are two blondes on bicycles with helmets. We stand out kind of a lot. Not to mention sister peterson has bright blue eyes. haha Gonna be interesting. We are all working in the same ward but the other sister work here in the little town and Sister Peterson and I bike out to the little villages to teach the people there. It´s pretty awesome so far. Riding the bike looking off into the distance and only seeing fields and fields and palm trees. Pretty sweet. It is way beautiful here. Here in the city they have a ton of cobblestone roads. Let me just say, cobblestone and bicycles do NOT go together. haha enough said. Skirts and bicycles dont really go together either. haha add in the wind and that is my life right now. haha But I am seriously loving it. I get home dead tired but it`s totally worth it. The people here are very simple and we are working hard to find those elect few. The members here are great and it is amazing to see the sacrifices they make for the Gospel.
Thursday was interesting. I didn´t eat to much for breakfast (first mistake) and I was already feeling a little lousy. We headed to a little town about a 30min bike ride away before lunch. We rode back and when we got to lunch I was way thirsty. When we started eating I started having really strong pains in my stomach and was way dizzy. One of the sisters asked me if I wanted to lay down and I said yes and then I kind of passed out. haha Don´t even worry. I´m fine now. I am just glad I didn´t pass out into my plate of food. Although that would have been pretty funny. I woke up a few seconds later on the bed of the lady who was feeding us lunch. I felt like I was going to die and was having the worst pain in the world (obviously It wasn´t the worst in the world but almost). It just wouldn´t go away and I was kind of writhing in pain on the bed. So weird. The lady in the ward said that I got even whiter than I already am and no one knew what to do. They asked me if I wanted a blessing and I said yes. A Brother in the ward came and gave me a blessing. I couldn´t even open my eyes to look at him but i heard the blessing he gave and felt his hands on my head. After the blessing the pain wasn´t immediately gone but it started to pass. I fell asleep and woke up a couple hours later totally better. I stayed at the members house while my comp went and taught our lessons for the day. The lady made me a vitamin shake and dinner and it was kind of the best. haha I am so grateful for the Priesthood and the worthy men that hold it. They can truly bless the lives of other people. I am totally better now so don´t have a heart attack mom. Love ya!
Thursday we got up early and headed to the bus stop to head to Campos for a Zone meeting. We slept on the bus so that was nice. The meeting was way good. This zone is awesome and the leaders are way good. Before heading back I bought an ice cream cone at McDonalds which for some reason made me SO happy. haha We got back to town and had a full day of lessons. We are teaching a ton here. Some of these areas have never had missionaries before.
Friday was a day of RAIN! I brought the rain with me everyone is saying. We can´t really ride our bikes in the pouring down rain so we had to wait it out a couple times.

Sunday was quite the experience. So here they don´t have a ward, just a branch. The church is just starting out here so things are kind of chaotic and the missionaries do A LOT. Sister Peterson and I are the ward pianist and we lead the music. I also gave a last minute talk on Sunday. haha But things are great and we are really going to work hard to help out this area. There is a lot of work to be done!!!!

Fam. I love hearin from you! Hey, isn´t michael serving in Rio??? Sweet! We are in the same state! I am glad the vacation was fun and I am totally pumped for the shasta trip 2013! Here I come! Send me pics! I pray for you guys always! If I had any free time I would use it to miss you but I don´t! haha Sorry (said like gilly)! haha Love you all!

Até mais! Tchau tchau!

Sister Zeller

Pictures #1- Cadu with the BOM we made for him. What a doll.

Picture#2- Monday when we went to the Chocolate factory.... with JEANS! and tennis shoes! We were pretty excited about it.

Picture #3- Jasmine made me a Brazil ring! Love her!

Picture #4- Saying goodbye to Diazinha! I am gonna miss her so much!