Boa Tarde Familia!!!

HEY everyone!

It´s already been a week? Wow, time flies. Missionary life is good. I still don´t understand most of what people say, and it doesn't help that they speak muito rapido. But as I read the scriptures and Preach My Gospel, I am understanding more than last week, which is a good sign! One of our investigators we taught said that my Portuguese was better this week than last! woohoo! One day it will all come together.

Nothing superly spectacular happened this week. We just walked and studied and taught and walked some more. We had a companionship swap for 24 hours since Sister Oliveira is a sister training leader and that was great! Don´t get me wrong, Sister Oliveira is a fantastic companion, but it was cool to see another part of the mission! 

I think I already mentioned this and if I did, I´m sorry, but the people here are awesome! Every time we teach, and I am lost for a word or am reading a scripture and having a hard time with pronunciation (which happens 24/7), someone jumps in and helps me! It´s great! I need all the help I can get! 

Okay, so most people here haven´t ever seen snow before since its so wonderfully hot and not rainy here....so the other day, Sister Oliveira and a member were asking me all things snow related. They asked if we built snowmen or make snow angels or had snowball fights to which I enthusiastically responded that of course we do! They laughed and were amazed that what they saw happened in the movies when it snowed actually happened! lol

This week my testimony about eternal families really grew. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be with my family forever because I love them so much! I love my Savior who lived for me. Suffered for me. Died and was resurrected for me so that I can live in His presence again with my family! 

Nothing else really to report on. I love our investigators. I love this gospel. And I know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us each individually. I love you all so much! Thank you for all your prayers and support! 

Love, 

Sister Hilchie :)

Jordanopolis Here I Come!

  Oi família! Todo bem?

Well I´ve made it one week into the field and so far so awesome! I am serving in a cute, little town called Jordanopolis just outside of São Paulo, and serving with five other companionships in a zone called Rude Rumas. For those of you who don´t know, each mission is divided into zones--with about 5 or more companionships. Then each zone is divided into districts with 2 or 3 or 4 sets of missionaries. Then each district is divided into areas with 1 set of missionaries. If this made not sense whatsoever, talk to my parents! My new companion is Sister Oliveira! She is from Rio de Janeiro, and is superly awesome! She is very helpful and patient with me and my Portuguese. I am learning a lot from her and slowly but surely, little by little learning more Portuguese and how to be a fantastic missionary. 

Scooby Doo is alive and well in Brazil!!

So life as a missionary is exhausting and hard but totally awesome with the fantastically, spiritual moments outweighing the less-pleasant moments. Cada dia, we go out on the streets and talk to people sobre who we represent and why we´re here. Then we ask if we can come to their home another dia and share a message. The people here are so friendly and willing to listen to us even if they don´t accept our invitation. Most of them say they are too busy, while others seem genuinely interested. Then there are those who look at me all confused-like after I´m done talking, and that´s when I know they didn't  understand a word I said because of my accent. At this point Sister Oliveira steps in and saves the day! 

Now I am going to back tract and start from the day before I left the CTM (Sept. 7). In Brazil, September 7th is their independence day so the cafeteria was all decorated with streamers and flags, and we had a HUGE lunch with ICE CREAM!!!! I haven´t had ice cream in over a month, which is really sad, so when Sister Hubert and I saw it , you could say we were a bit excited! And sim, just in case you were wondering, it was super delicious!

Sis Hilchie and her district/teachers in the CTM

After a fantastic last day in the CTM, it was finally time to leave for the field. We met President and Sister Broadbank--who are so kind and loving and basically my parents in Brazil! (don´t worry mom and dad, you guys are still O MELHOR)! After meeting the President, we went to a chapel where the rest of the missionaries were waiting for us. As soon as we walked in, a massive army of missionaries stood up and started clapping and hip hip hooraying! They filled me with a renewed sense of energy, and I was honored to be able to serve in São Paulo right along side them. 

After things settled down, and meeting Sister Oliveira, a member drove us to our apartment in her little Fiat. Now before I tell this story, you must understand that:

1. Brazilians are probably some of the craziest drivers I have ever seen. 

2. In this little Fiat, we had 2 huge suitcases in the trunk, 2 in the back seat, and 1 in the front seat

3. I was sitting in the back seat squished by two huge suitcases and a smaller carry-on suitcase laying on top. 

So we were driving to our apartment when the driver makes some crazy turn, and the next thing I know that small suitcase is headed straight for my head. Luckily I looked up just in time and stopped it with my super strength. *phew* it was a close one... but the best part is that I had to hold it from falling on my face for a good 30 minutes until we arrived at our apartment. 

Em outro news, I was studying em Moroni 10 when I re-realized that Christ loves us. He loves each of us individually. We are children of God. Literally. Because He loves us, He wants to help us in any way He can but we must go to Him first through prayer with fé and a sincere heart. Through the Holy Ghost, He will help us. He loves us. He won´t leave us alone in this world because He cares for us.Through Cristo, anything is possible. I know that to be true. 

I was also reading in Mosiah chapter 2 (which I recommend all to read) and King Benjamin was talking to his people about service. We owe everything to God. He gave us our life and this earth we live on and everything we enjoy daily. The least we can do is serve others because by serving others, we are serving God and showing our gratitude for everything He has given us. 

I love you all so much and remember to SMILE!!! :D

Have a wonderful week!

In front of the Sao Paulo Temple

Love, 

Sister Hilchie :)   

Arrival!

Dear Family of Sister Hilchie, We thought Courtney was in the red shirt, but we were wrong! Sister Hilchie has arrived safely in the São Paulo South Mission. I have had an opportunity to visit with her in a personal interview, and I am inspired by her missionary efforts thus far and know that she will make a great contribution to the work of the Lord here. We are so pleased to have her! Sister Broadbent and I love her already, and we appreciate her desire and preparation to serve the Lord. It will be a wonderful experience for us to work with her in this great missionary effort as the Lord hastens His work here in Brazil and throughout the world. We know that our Heavenly Father will bless her, as she is obedient and diligent. Thank you for your willingness to share her with the people she is serving her in Brazil. May you feel peace and joy in her service.  I have attached two pictures: One of Sister Hilchie with my wife and me and another with her new companion, Sister Oliveira. With our love, President and Sister Broadbent

Courtney and President and Sister Broadbent

Courtney and her trainer, Sis Oliveira

Tranquilo com un grilo!

BOM DIA FAMILIA!!!!  I hope you are all doing fantastic and adjusting well to school life! This is my last week in the CTM. CRAZY. Time has flown by but at the same time, it seems like I have been here FOREVER. Somedays Sister Hubert and I just have to live meal to meal while other days, it seems like we are running from one thing to the next. I am really going to miss her and my district...but its all good since her and half my district is going to São Paulo Sul--so I´ll have some familiar faces!  This past week was one of those weeks I lived meal to meal half the time. We would study and study then eat and learn about some weird verb conjugation that doesn´t exist in the English language then eat and teach our investigators. Such an exciting week to say the least! But I feel like I learned a lot this week and most verb conjugations and other Portuguese language things are clicking, which is an awesome feeling since I will be in the field next week around people who speak little to no English.  Although my week wasn´t super exciting, something pretty awesome happened to me yesterday that I just have to share! So last week, Sister Hubert and I got dry erase markers and have been writing little messages on each other´s desks all week. So on Monday I wrote: Eu quero um brownie! (I want a brownie) because I was really in the mood for a brownie. But I knew I wasn´t going to get one anytime soon since all we have for dessert is of a pudding consistancy in a variety of forms. But yesterday, my wish came true! We were having a district devotional after our Tuesday devotional--which was so super spiritual and amazing--when Brother and Sister Hale walked  in carrying a box. However what Sister Hale pulled out of the box completely made my week! It was BROWNIES!!! I totally flipped and thanked her so much for making us brownies! And yes, they were very delicious and definitely made me the happiest girl around!  Now about the devotional yesterday...Brother Sharp spoke (our new doctor at the CTM), and his message was astounding! He is a pediatric sugeon and served in the army for a while as one. Anyways he told us these stories of these three children he had opperated on: one had touched a high voltage electricity circuit, which blew her up into the air, burned her really badly, and left her with no toes. The second, whose mom was advised to have an abortion but didn´t, was born with no arms or legs, and the third was stuck in the birth canal for 10 minutes without oxygen and as a result, led to cerebral palsey (sp?). After tenderly telling these stories, he asked what these 3 children had in common? --> they will all be resurrected with PERFECT bodies! Even though they´re not able to enjoy everything we take for granted daily (like walking, hanging out with friends, and just being a normal kid) when the resurrection happens, they will be able to because their bodies will be made perfect. I am so grateful for Christ and the love He has for each of us. So much love that He died for each and everyone of us and then was resurrected on the third day so we could return to live with Him and be resurrected when that time comes! I know that this gospel is true and I am so excited to start sharing the message that Christ lives with the people of Brazil next week!   I love you all so much!  Love,  Sister Hilchie :)