Sept 25

Dear Family,
Hello. Life is wonderful! I am on my last Pday. I can´t believe how fast this time has gone! I´ve been learning a lot and made it through a lot of ´growing pains´. J
We went to the São Paulo temple today. It was our second time in Portugues. We ended up being in the same session as Elder and Sister Newman (the missionary couple that is going to watch Emily while Mom and Dad are at conference). What a small world! I know them b/c they serve in a branch presidency here at the CTM.
I leave for the mission field on Tuesday!!! I´m so excited/nervous. So...we´re going to talk about something else.
I am going to conduct the choir Sunday night singing I Know that My Redeemer Lives. It´s a really pretty arrangement that is on na EFY CD. Hopefully that will go well. I´m also going to be playing the Brazilian national anthem and the opening and closing hymns for the fireside!
I want to share some notes I took from my branch president this last Sacrament meeting. He shared the story with Saul and the Amalekites. ´Obedience is better than sacrifice.´ --1 Sam 15:22. The first mile is the obligation for the good missionary. The second mile is the place of blessings for the excellent missionary. I decided I am going to work harder than I have every worked before (even selling books). The Lord deserves my very best! (more than Southwestern) J
Anyways, that´s about all for this week. I need to go get my last Hep A and B shot! L I hope everything is going well for y´all. I hope Mark had a good birthday and that the power gets turned back on soon in Houston. I´m happy everyone was safe from that storm.
May God bless you all!
--Sister Rachel Ellis
p.s. I hope Mom was able to get everything done with Spencer. I can´t believe he´s already in the MTC! Time flies! I was just remembering what a cute little boy he was. Remember with the gallon of milk and dad making him fold his arms for the prayer so he made sure his finger was on it?! HAHAHA!
p.p.s.
My mission address is:
Missão Brasil Cuiabá
Av. Hist. Rubens de Mendonça, 1731
Salas 8, 9, e 10 -- Bosque da Saúde
78050--000 --- Cuiabá --MT