Dourados 2

Hello, lovely family! This´ll have to be quick. I don´t think I´ve ever received so many emails yet on the mission!! That coke question really got y´all riled up! HAHAHA! I think I´ll have to write some other questions like that to get more correspondence. It was just a question...I know Coke is not against the word of wisdom, just so y´all know. I am striving hard to teach everyone here who teaches this apostacy--incl. other missionaries. :)
We baptized a beautiful family this week-end. My pictures are still on my camera, but I´ll try to get them saved to my pen drive to email y´all some next week, k? Sorry I´m being such a slacker in that department. Well...I don´t know my address here in Dourados...at least the CEP...I´ll find out and mail it to you, Mom in my letter this week. Love you all!
I´m so happy for John and Laura and the twins. Thanks for the pics. And I loved the pics of Nat and the kids too. Kit--cute hair. I love it! I´m excited to see Em´s hair too.
Love, Sister Ellis

dourados

Hi family!
Well...the biggest news is taht I´ve been transferred. After a year in cuiabá, Mato grosso, I am now serving in dourados, mato grosso do sul!! Wohoo!! It is paradise here—the weather is absolutely heavenly. No more 100+ degree weather! Heavenly father is very kind.  sorry for all the typos, this keyboard is very frustrating and many keys are sticking.
WE have been greatly blessed here in dourados so far. WE arrived safely, sister rosa and i, after a 19+ hour bus ride. We have 3 investigators already with baptismal dates—2 are a family for this coming Saturday! Que coisa boa. Truly it is wonderful to see how god prepares people´[s hearts to hear the gospel. Well...that´s it for now. I´ll try to send pics next week.
Love you all!
Sister Ellis III
P.s. Kelly—I´m so happy Matt went over there. What a good friend. What did he say? How long did he stay? You are all in my prayers, tribe 5!]
P.s.s. thank you so much, Rob andChrista for the package! I got it just as I was leaving the office for our transfer! What a blessing. Ister rosa and i loved the pb rice krispies during our bus ride. The other two sisters shared in the reeses pieces adn cereal. What heaven—all that peanut butter. I loved the card too, Christa!  What na artist.

P.P.s.s. thanks, Kit and Kevin for your package. I got it last conference. All the elders shared in the candy. Sister rosa enjoyed trying american cnady. And sister bulhoes loved the picture. Tahnks so much!!!

Question: in y´all´s missions, was it against the rules for missionaries to drink coke? Just wondering...

Hello, family!
Life is good down south. I´m very happy for Nat and Matt. What a blessing she got here safely! I am very grateful for everyone´s updates and emails and pics. Thank you! Thanks, Kelly, for the beautiful emails about Becky. Not going to lie, I did cry again, but I am happy she´s not suffering any more. I loved what you shared about the trees in the forest. I am going to do my best to step up and be more Christ-like and loving because of the example Becky gave me. How blessed I feel to have had those wondeful 2 years with y´all at BYU. Thank you, Kelly, for everything. Thanks, also, for the bday list. Could you send me the bdays of the grandkids, inlaws and their addresses? ...when you get a minute, of course. I know you´re busy. Send my love to everyone. Do you think y´all could make a copy of that DVD and send it to me to watch on Pday? I´d really appreciate it. Thanks!
We are being really blessed her. We are doing our part and watching God do His. We are opening our mouths and He is putting His elect in our path. What a blessing to be led by the Spirit! What a blessing to have God in charge of our lives--a perfect, loving, all-knowing Father!
Sunday, the Gospel Principles lesson was about obedience. We talked about the 2 great commandments--love God and your neighbor. It really made me stop to reflect about my actions in the day to day. Am I showing God that I love Him by the way to talk, act, and think? If we truly love Him, we would never have a mean or inappropriate thought. We would never speak impatiently or do something to hurt another or disobey His commandments. I am grateful for repentance and the chance I have to change to do better! Heavenly Father is so merciful adn wonderful! I feel like singing praises to Him everytime I think about all the blessings He gives me. May you all have a wonderful week, remembering to SHOW you love God through your actions, words, and thoughts. He deserves our very best.
Love, Sister Ellis III

Hey, family. Sister Rosa is from São Paulo, Dad. Her parents were born in the nordeste though.
Life here is good. I am very grateful for the updates from Kelly (I cried reading the whole thing) and from Kit (also cried a lot). Thank you, thank you, thank you! News is better than no news at all. I also am praying for all of Tribe 5--esp. Mick.
We are teaching a great family now. Marcelo (the 11 yr old son) went teachign wtih us Sunday afternoon in the ridiculously hot sun here (100+*). It was so cute. He took us to more than 10 houses of neighbors and friends and only wanted to be called Elder Santos. :) What a beautiful sight it was.
That´s all for today. Time´s up. Love you all! Thanks for the packages Kit, Mom, and Dad. I´m very grateful for you all in my life. I loved the pics of Teairsa. She is adorable!
Love ya!
Sister Ellis

Winter?

So we are now in Brazil´s ´winter´. It is very interesting that winter here in Mato Grosso has a temperature of 95*--120*! What a cold winter! How sad that I didn´t bring my thermals! ;)
Life is good here in Cuiabá. Last week Sister Sena was transferred. Now it´s just me and Sister Rosa. We are having a lot of fun together. We reorganized our apartment and it´s a lot nicer to live in now. It is so much nicer to only have to focus on training one person rather than two. What a relief! :)
This week, we have been working on preparing a man for baptism. He´s 84 yrs. old! He loves to talk. The other day, he was telling us a story about how he used to work all day and all night without eating lunch. He´s quite a trooper--still has great health and walks all over the place--even in this cold climate! ;) It was really funny when he was telling the story. I remembered all the jokes my brothers always told of the old man telling the story of his life--walking to school uphill (both ways), etc. Hahaha!
This is now the third time I am trying to send this email. We went to the lan house this morning and it didn´t send 2 times. Now it´s at the end of the day and we just finished some visits and stopped by to send a line so y´all don´t worry (and to send our report to President). Gotta love technology!
I wanted to say happy birthday to: Becky and Matt (a little late), and to Darrell, Rob, and Kelly coming up. I am so grateful to have y´all in my life. Hope y´all have great birthdays--and many more in the future.
For future reference, the mission requested mail and packages to be sent to the p.o. box.
Sister Rachel Ellis
Missão Brasil Cuiabá
Caixa Postal 10264
78050-975 Cuiabá--MT
Thanks!
Love you all!
Sister Ellis
P.S. Mom and/or Joy--I´d love the recipe of those peanut butter chocolate chip cookies too when you get a minute...:) Thanks!

I tried writing y´all, but the computor froze. Gotta love technology! :)
Now y´all get the condensed version.
Happy Birthday to Matt (late), Becky (late), Darrell, Laura, Rob, and Kelly. I love you all very much and hope you had/have great days!
Thank you Mom and Dad for the packages. I´ll get them tomorrow in district meeting. For you all to know, President gave permission for me to watch family videos on PDay since it doesn´t work to see them on the internet. If y´all want to make DVDs, I´d love to watch them. But I can´t see the videos through email, fyi.
For future reference, send all mail to the mission´s po box.
Sister Ellis
Missão Brasil Cuiabá
Caixa Postal 10264
78050-975 Cuiabá--MT
Thanks! Love you all tons!
Thanks for all the emails, scripture references and quotes. I love being uplifted by you all. What a wonderful blessing to have a family like this!
Thanks Mark and Aup for your help with the blog thing. That´s pretty cool. Y´all are very sweet.
Love, Sister Ellis
P.S. Joy and Mom --I´d like that pb chocolate chip cookies recipie too please. :)

I love you all!!

Well, this week showed some definite improvement. Thank you all for your effort! I loved seeing all the pictures of my cute neices and nephews and hearing all the great news. I´m so happy for Mark in his school work, Rob and Christa being pregnant, Cameron´s bike riding success, Nat´s baby girl being so healthy, Mom and Dad´s new kitchen, Spencer´s success with the Brazilian elect in Portugal, etc.
Thank you so much for the emails. I had to add extra time to my internet hour to read everything, send my report to Pres, reply to yáll, and check the referal site! Opa! What happiness!
The special recognition today goes to Joy Marguerite who wrote 2 emails--the 2nd arriving as my first hour of internet was coming to an end. What a land slide finish!! Safe! It got to my inbox just as I was to write to y´all. Thanks, Joy, for you dedication. Way to endure to the end! You must eat challenges for breakfast! ;)
Thank you for all your prayers, fastings, etc. I am feeling the effect of all your love. Mom and Dad, I haven´t received anything yet because the transfer hasn´t come out yet. Hopefully it´ll come out today soon.
We are going to have a goodbye party for our trio with some great home made food in our apartment---beans, rice, churrasco, cake, cookies, etc. I´m excited! I am truly grateful for this experience I have had with these wonderful sisters. Yet, all good things must come to an end...(sigh). But, I know that God is in charge and always has our best interest in mind.
Life is good. We had some crazy experiences with a crazy woman coming after us b/c she didn´t want her husband to get baptized, but all´s well that ends well. Delson won´t be baptized unfortunately b/c his wife is jealous of me (thinking that he has a crush on me) and is ridiculously fanatic in Congregação Cristã. But, hopefully down the road, her heart will be softened. Sorry, there is no time to share details, it´ll have to wait for after the mission.
Thanks, Nat for Abby´s address. I love hearing about the boys funny sayings. I´ll be sure to pray hard for you and for the baby to move on South. ;)
Spencer--I really hadn´t gotten your email last week b/c I get on the internet earlier than you. Thanks for your update though. I love hearing of your successes!!
In other news, we are working with reactivating a woman and baptizing her husband. They are such a cute couple and have adorable girls wtih bouncing curls. I am very grateful to be part of this process in helping families become eternal.
Love you all!
til next Monday...
Love, Rae (aka Sister Ellis)
P.S. Does anyone know why my email to Becky came back this last week? Did she change her email?

August Already?!!

Hello, lovely family.
Question: Is there cream of milk in the States? I certainly hope so bc I´m learning a lot of scrumptious recipies with cream of milk. I don´t know what I´ll do without it!!!
We are being very blessed here. I am receiving a growing testimony of work with members and of prayer. What a blessing to be of use in God´s work!
We were blessed to meet with the irmã who gives class in gospel principles. The Holy Ghost helped us know what to say so she wouldn´t get offended. She was teaching in a way that scared away our investigators. So, we sat down with her and planned out the lesson for Sunday. We shared some tips/techniques of teaching. The lesson on Sunday was 10 times better! It was amazing to see how much she improved. Even the shyest investigators participated--asking questions and commenting. Dón´t worry, we´re not telling the members how to do their callings. The bishop has been travelling a lot and this was the next step for us to help our investigators to continue to progress. We did it very tactifully so that it was more of a team strategy than a critique on the irmã.
Through one of my street contacts who showed up at Church, we were able to find a less active. What a blessing! It is amazing to see how God works. I know it was His plan for us to find this sweet woman to help her in this difficult time. She knows she needs to come back to Church--esp. to help her 2 beautiful girls not make the same mistakes she did.
Mom--I don´t know if you´re getting the emails of my friends, but several have written me asking to receive my weekly emails. If you could please forward my weekly emails to Janelle Oehler, she would be greatly appreciative. joehler88@yahoo.com Thanks! Also, Jenny Mobley wants them and Matt Coffin. Love you! Thank you for all you do. You are the best mom ever!
Love, Sister Rachel Ellis
P.S. Recognition this week goes to Grandma Turtle!! The ONLY family member who wrote me this week. THANK YOU GRANDMA!!!
What a blessing it is we have repentance, huh? ;) HAHAHA!

Jul 29

Hello, family!
Well, more miracles were received this week in Cuiabá, BR! Lourdes was baptized in a joint baptismal service with one of my old investigators. It was a very sweet experience. Really, Lourdes´ baptism was a huge miracle! She´s an elderly lady with lots of back and knee problems. It took 3 priesthood holders 2 times to baptize her correctly! We tried to warm up the water before hand, but it didn´t help much. She was shaking uncontrollably the whole time in the font from cold! (We had a cold front come through this last week-end). It got down to below 50 degrees!! CRAZY! Esp. for Cuiabá! But, Lourdes did it! She came out of the font exclaiming that she was a new woman. It was very cute. How I love her! Now we are working with integrating her with the members as much as possible so it won´t be too hard for her after we are transferred.
I´m very grateful, Mom, that you made me bring that coat on the mission because I´ve used it 3 times now! What crazy weather changes I´ve experienced here in the heat of Brazil. Thank you!
Thanks Darrell, Rob, Kit, Mom and Dad for the emails.
Kit--President said that you could go ahead and do a DVD of the family videos and send them! :) I´m so excited to see everyone!!
And for everyone else, if you have a video to send, ldsmail doesn´t allow me to see it. So, if you really want to share something with me, if you could make a DVD and send it, then I can watch it on PDay. Thanks!
Lots of changes are happening on the mission and I have a feeling that only more are yet to come. But, change is good. Monday will be our PDay now. So...now yáll can program your weekly emails to me on Sunday (the day of rest to write to family members, etc.) and I´ll get to read them Monday! What a deal! :)
Mom and Dad--I would really appreciate it if you could buy some CDs in Portuguese for Lourdes to listen to. (She only listens to CDs and radio from the Universal Church and it would be much better for her to be nurtured by the truth instead of apostasy). :) You can go ahead and buy them with my money from my account. Thanks.
Also, I know yáll are winding up loose ends and preparing to go home, but if you could buy some new garments, that´d be great. Mine are getting pretty dirty even though I wash them every week with agua sanitaria. I use bottom size 26 and top size 28. I like the silky bottoms fine but cotton tops please. Or, you can buy the brazilian garments when you get back if it´s easier for you. I liked those ones too. Thanks.
Urgent: I borrowed the Preach My Gospel DVDs from the assistent for a fireside here and tried to get a copy of it. But, during the days I had it in my bag (in a protective plastic case), it got scratched up. The assistent is going home 10th of August. PLEASE!!! I need someone to buy this DVD for me (you can use my money) and mail it ASAP so I can give him the new one. Jamais eu iria devolver um DVD riscado!! Que vergonha! These DVDS have the training DVDs called The District used in the CTM and other trainings about PMG. Thank you so much! What a wonderful family I have!!
Dad--why is the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible not available in Portuguese?
Love, Sister Ellis
Laura and Nat--I´m waiting patiently to see pregnancy pics of you two. I made a contact with a pregnant lady yesterday and it made me miss my two pregnant sister-in-laws! Thanks!

Miracles...

Well, the biggest miracle I can think of right now is that my email is at 31% thanks to Ze Great DalMuti! :) THANK YOU SO MUCH ROB!
Another miracle is that I finally received emails from my family: Kit, Rob, Emily, Mom, and Dad. I had begun to think my family had forgotten about me. (I haven´t been receiving any letter as of late and very few emails as well). I know it´s silly, but I was beginning to plan to write a depressing email to yáll to get yáll to write me again. It seemed you all emailed me more in the beginning when I was having trouble adjusting to mission life, but now that things are fine, I don´t hear from basically anyone. But life is good and I´m grateful for all the blessings Heavenly Father gives me everyday.
We´re starting to teach with the members more effectively now. We plan with them beforehand and talk about what compromissos we´re going to do, what part we want them to teach, what scriptures they can use, etc. It´s great to see the members in action! They really make all the difference. It´s just a matter of training. :)
Today we finally were able to contact a referal we already tried to contact several times. It truly was a miracle because we weren´t even planning on contacting him. We were looking for an internet place and happened to walk past the lanchonete where he lives and we walked in to find Julio Cesar! Que coisa boa!!
So, President is going strong on the rule to not email anyone but family so I would really appreciate it if someone could PLEASE provide me with the following mailing addresses: Abby Hogan, Dan McIntosh, Matt Coffin, Jared Smith, etc. You can find them probably through facebook or something like that. Also, I heard that TJ, Paul, Chris Ricker, and I´m sure others are getting married. I´d like to see the invitations if someone could scan them and email them or copy and mail them. thanks.
Love, Sister Ellis
P.S. Many of the people I found and prepared in Ala Cuiabá are getting baptized! One of which is Eunice (mother of Mara who I baptized with sister bulhões). She´s getting married this saturday and I´m going to have a joint baptism with the elders who are baptizing her on Sunday. So, I´ll get to see her wedding (in my area) and her baptism!! I´m so excited! Heavenly Father is so good. What a tender mercy.

ps

ps...thanks for the pictures. Everyone looks so beautiful and happy! I can´t believe how huge Nolan, Jared, Brian, Cameron, Ethan, and Sam are! sniff, sniff....everyone´s getting so big without me! :(
Just kidding. I´m happy to see they are all growing up well. What amazing siblings I have that are raising my nephews and neices. Thank you for taking good care of them. :)
O yea! Today I learned how to do bead embroidered havayanas. Chique, huh? :) I´m really excited to get back and open up a business selling flip flops. HAHAHA! But really they turned out very pretty. I´ll show yáll when I get home. ;) HAHAHA! Tchau!

Miracles happen

Hello, lovely family! I am so grateful to be a missionary!!! I have seen so many miracles lately, it´s incredible. Heavenly Father is very, very kind.
First of all, before I forget, here is a referal for Spencer. I don´t know if it´s your area, but if not, could you pass it on? We taught a cousin of the bishop´s wife, and her daughter lives in Portugal! Small world, huh?
Adriana is the daughter of Benedita (our investigator--bishop´s wife´s cousin). ----- Amadora
LISBOA--. Let me know how it goes!
So, we have had some amazing experiences here this week! Heavenly Father is blessing us a great deal. We had a wonderful Zone Conference and then used the Preach My Gospel DVD from the training for a Missionary Fireside in our ward. It talked about the importance of the members and how some sister missionaries taught a couple at the member´s house. They planned out before the lesson with the members, who would teach what. Then, the camera people interviewed the couple afterward and they said that had the missionaries just knocked on their door, they probably would´ve said no. But, because they met them at a friend´s house, they were more open to hearing the message. How awesome is that?!!! The members got really fired up and we got over 25 referals that night out of less than 10 members (who went ot the fireside). Not too shabby. We already taught some of the referals with the members and it has been proving to work real well. Imagine that? Just a little bit of planning and miracles happen! :)
Another miracle: Lurdes. I made a contact with a woman last week. We taught her, but she didn´t show much interest. She gave her neighbors as referals and yesterday we contacted one of the neighbors. Wihtout even asking the neighbor told us to go visit Lurdes bc she likes hearing about God. We knocked before lunch, but no one answered. We returned after lunch and finally she answered. She is a sweet little old lady who lives all alone and is in great pain. She can´t even clean her own house bc of the pain. Immediately, we got to work cleaning her house. It was wonderful! She accepted going to church with us and I just know she has been being prepared for the gospel. She cried from happiness at our kindness and love. Not even her family (who lives close) visits her or helps her at home. She said she had been praying for God to send someone to help comfort her, and then we showed up! What a blessing to be an answer to someone´s prayer! My heart is so full of gratitude. I stand in wonder when I think of how carefully God plans out everything. He truly is a perfectly organized, meticulous, loving Father!
Another miracle. Pedro. We taught him and then he stopped coming to our lessons, didn´t go to church so we took that as he wasn´t interested. Then, we got a message he´d gone looking for us at the church. We tried calling him all week-end, but only got the answering machine. He went to church in another ward where his sister lives and loved it. We finally got a hold of him Monday night adn he went to the chapel for a lesson that minute! We marked his baptism and he is very excited. He is one of the most prepared people I have ever seen. He kept on saying that there is a time for everything...and we have to put God´s will above our own..etc. It is wonderful to see how really we as missionaries don´t do much at all. The Spirit is who does the converting. I feel so privileged to see this process in so many lives up close and personal. I love being a missionary!
Thanks for all your support and pictures, etc. Question: is there cream of milk in the USA? Also, I really, REALLY need someone to empty out my inbox. It´s at 98%. If no one does, I won´t get any mail next week. Thank you for your love and consideration. . Please print out the emails and then delete and purge them from my inbox. Thank you very much, that´s the nicest thing that anyone´s ever done for me! :)
Love, Sister Ellis

July continues on...

Hello, lovely family!
Life is wonderful here in Cuiabá! I´m loving my new mission president and his wife. They are absolutely adorable! I love that they love to have fun and laugh. I just know we´re going to be great friends! :)
Plus, miracle of all miracles, I found a frisbee here for R$2,70!! Woohoo!! Today we played Ultimate for the first time in over a year! I was in heaven. What a great exercise. :) So, those pictures of us are really life size?
Kit--When you get back, could you send me that picture you adn Kev took when you were pregnant in the snow dressed in black? My ex companion liked it a lot adn wants a copy. Thanks!
Em--Did you ever get your birthday present?
Darrell--Sorry about the finger. I am so grateful I´m not there to not have had another accident too. I still have the reminder from last trip to Aspen Grove! :) But, congratz on the volleyball.
What a great, talented family I have!!
Life is going great. I´m so happy that all we have to do is our part and that the Lord will do His. It really is amazing how you can be up the creek without a paddle, and then you open your mouth, talk to a few people and find a whole bunch of new investigators!! It is so true that God fulfills all His promises. The elect are drawn to us when we live the 3 D´s as Pres. Oliveira teaches: Dignity, Diligence, and Discipline.
Love y´all!
--Sister Ellis

July 1

Hello, family!
How are all the preparations for the big family reunion?!! Thanks, Mom and Dad and Em for the emails. I loved hearing from yáll. Thank you for remembering me even with all the chaos of packing and remodeling. :)
Life is good here. Not going to lie, it´s kinda rough being in trio, but I know this experience will only be for my good (DC122). I´m already learning a lot of patience. It´s amazing how you can think you learned a principle and then God places you in another situation, only fro you to find out you knew absolutely nothing! Hahaha!
But, the work is moving forward. Sister Rosa is an angel. I am very blessed to have her as a second companion. She´s our mediator in companionship inventory! :) She´s ridiculously calm and doesn´t ever get offended or mad. I´m learning from her example that I need to simply choose not to be offended. What a great lesson to learn now in my youth!
Today we had a great a pday! The best one yet actually. We played soccer, water balloon volleyball, and Oink Piggy Oink with our district/zone. The only sad thing was that I forgot to put on sunscreen and thus got ridiculously burnt. I look like a tomato! :)
HELP!!!!!!
I am in desperate need of someone´s help. My inbox is 99% full and if someone doesn´t empty it out (printing off the emails and purging them) I won´t get any emails this next week. They will all be sent back. I know you are all busy, but PLEASE...could someone please just take a few minutes to help me out?! Thanks so much!
Love, Sister Ellis III
P.S. Did anyone else ever get put in trio? How was it?! Any advice?

June 24

Hello, lovely family!
I am so sublimely happy. I love being a missionary! It truly is such a huge blessing to be focusing all my time and effort on the Lord´s service. Another transfer came out. I´m staying in Verdão with Sister Sena. Sister Barboza went home and Sister dos Santos is going to another area. Plus...I´ll be training another sister, Sister Rosa. So, we´ll be in trio. (smile) I don´t know how much more time I have. So, I´m going to send this and then write more if time permits.
Thanks, Spencer, for the letter! I finally got it. :) Our old zone leader took all our letters with him last transfer and finally returned them this last zone conference.
Thanks, Mom, Dad, and Em for the letters and pictures. President Milder´s email is: pmissaocuiaba at terra dot com.br. Love you!
--Sister Ellis

P.S. Please note: if my friends want me to write back, I can´t send an email. It has to be by snail mail. So, email me your mailing address adn I´ll write back asap. Thanks! :)

P.S. i´m starting a ward choir! Que coisa boa! I´m so excited for teh work in this ward adn so grateful to be a part of this marvelous work and a wonder. I have some experiences to share, but I´ll haev to write them to mom and dad and they can read them to yáll at aspen grove.
question: Nat--is there a picture of sam in the nov 2008 ensign? it looks exactly like him in elder hales talk about christ-like courage...

June 17

Hello, wonderful family!
First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY!!!! How does it feel being 16?! Did you get my birthday letter? Keep a weary eye out, because the word on the street is something else will be arriving soon....;)
Well, life is good. The work is moving forward and I´m very excited for all the families and men we are teaching right now. (That sounded kinda weird, but the focus here is families and men baptized. Families, obviously. And men to be priesthood holders and leaders in the Church).
Sister Sena and I are doing well. We have a lot of fun together and are working in harmony. It´s kinda creepy how much we are alike. (Kinda good and kinda bad at the same time) ;) Just kidding...but seriously...we are helping each other become more Christ-like. What a blessing to have her help. I am so blessed to have her as my companion. I feel bad for her though. She comes from a family of 9 too. But only her and her sister are members. She doesn´t get emails from any family member and has only received 2 letters from her mom in the 3 months she´s been on the mission. What a blessing it is to have such a supportive, wonderful family. Thank you all for your love.
We are teaching a man right now named, Adriano. He is really special. He told us that he always felt like something was missing in his life. After he went to Church, he has been receiving many blessing in combating Satan´s temptations. He´s so excited with the Church, he is inviting his friends and family to hear the lessons too. It is so beautiful to see the gospel work in the lives of people!
Well, the gospel is true. I love you all so very much. How grateful I am to know that we are all sealed together and that each of us is doing our part to insure our place in the Celestial Kingdom! Keep working hard! Don´t let up! I want to be with each of you for eternity!
Love, Sister Ellis III
P.S. Thanks, Nat for the pictures etc. I love hearing about your cute boys.
P.P.S. Thanks, John and Laura, for the updates. Good luck with those cloth diapers! ;) I´m still waiting for a picture of Laura with her cute belly...Nat too! Thanks, Caity, for the pretty picture. I loved it! Thanks for remembering me! I loved the pics of Brian too. What a stud!

June 10

Hello, lovely family! Got little time left, but just want yáll to know I´m alive and well. Working hard. I will fast for Rob adn Christa this week. I love you all! Hope everything is going well adn yáll have fun at Aspen GRove. May God bless you!
Sister Ellis
P.S. my mission president, `President Milder, only has a few more weeks left. :( He leaves on July 1st. I am very g rateful for this time wth them adn excited to learn from my new president and his wife. Love you!

June 3

Hello, family!!
Well, thank you Mom, Dad, and Grandma for the emails. I love hearing from y´all. I loved seeing the updates from Mark, Aup, Tea, Kit, Kev, Ryn, Elle, and Eden. Give Elle a huge hug and kiss from me for her belated birthday, k? :) I am so excited to get to sing with her when I get back. (But don´t worry, I´m not trunky). I hope y´all are showing my pictures to my adorable neices and nephews. I don´t want to get home and have no one remember who I am! :)
Well, that´s nice that you think I´m skinny, Mom, but really I think I´m either heavier or the same. But, I´m drinking that diet shake you gave me and trying to cut down since I´m on the half way mark.
Sorry, Dad, that I´m not more mature. There are some things that just never change...;). I do love a good laugh. But don´t worry, I am trying each and every day to be better and I think you are right. I do need to be a little bit more reserved in my behavior. I will strive to improve in this way this week. I´ll let you know how it goes.
Life is good. A sweet couple (in their 60s) is being reactivated right now. We taught them with the Bishop and his wife last night and were all edified by each other´s testimonies of the restoration. I am so grateful for the gospel! I love hearing other´s testimonies because it strengthens my own. What a blessing to be able to be learning so much with these spiritual giants here in Cuiabá. I feel so blessed to have these opportunities and experiences. I don´t know how I got so lucky, but I´m grateful.
Altair´s baptism went well. He´s so cute! First thing he said when he came up out of the water was, ´that was quick!´ Hahaha! Everyone laughed. It reminded me of Emily´s comments at Melanie´s baptism, ´that wasn´t so bad, was it?!´ He went proselyting with us Monday. He was praying in his heart the whole time that people would receive us well and was so happy to see his prayer answered! He was marking return visits very boldly and inviting people to church fearlessly. You wouldn´t have thought he only had 1 day of being a member! :) I was very proud of him. He´s going out with us again tonight and I´m excited to see what miracles we´ll receive. I am so grateful to be a missionary! I love seeing people´s lives change.
Well, I love you all a lot. Gotta sign off before the internet closes down on me.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Clay on June 6th! I love you so much, Cuz. Thanks for being so wonderful. I´m grateful for your frienship and support. May God bless you. Know that I´m praying for you always.
Love, Sister Ellis III

9 MONTHS!!!

Hello, beloved family! I hope everyone is fit, fine, and fantastic! I am loving life and making the most of each day.

Today I hit my 9 month mark--officially hump day! WAAAA!! I can´t believe I´ve already been serving nine months and I only have 9 more! This time literally has flown by! AHHHH!!! But, I am going to treasure every day I have left and just take one day at a time.
Note: My MTC companion told me the sisters in her mission take 9 month ´pregnancy´ pictures on hump day. I thought that was pretty funny, so I took some today too! Hahahaha! I know, I´m still pretty crazy. :) But you gotta know how to work hard AND play hard, right? ;)

We´re working hard, preparing Altair and finding new investigators to be baptized--prosperous ones since that´s what Dad wants. ;) I love every day. I am very grateful to be alive and to have this marvelous opportunity to learn more about the gospel every day. D&C 50:24

Love, Sister Ellis

P.S. How fun that Kit and Kevin have their own place now! I´m really excited for y´all.
P.P.S. Just following up: Who sent the email to my friend Matt Coffin? mtcoffin at gmail dot com Please inform him that I would love to write him, but I need his mailing address. Thank you for being such a loving family!

May 20

I have no idea how much time I have left, so I´ll be quick. Life is good here in Cuiabá! I love serving a mission. It´s great hearing all the news of my friends serving missions as well.
Latest Miracle:
We were getting shut down by a cute little man, João. He didn´t want to get baptized anymore and then entered his neighbor, Altair. Altair accepted being baptized on the spot and is truly an elect! He is kinda slow, but very pure and has a great desire to know the truth and obey God´s commandments. He doesn´t know how to read, but Sister Sena and I will be going to serve in a community center to help out with a literacy class and Altair is going to participate to learn how to read and write! He is always early to our appointments--´an appointment with God is more important than anything else. Other appointments can wait.´ (Those were his words) :)
So, life is good. I want to wish Mom a happy Birthday tomorrow! Hope Kit had a good one on the 18th. I was thinking about you! Love y´all!
--Sister Ellis III

P.S. I wanted to ask if someone could forward this on to my friend, Matt Coffin. His email is mtcoffin at gmail dot com. Thank you for doing this! Matt!! Thanks for your email. I´m not allowed to email you personally so hopefully you get this. Email me your address and I´ll snail mail you and respond to your questions next Wednesday, k?

May 13

What a blessing I´m learning patience on the mission! I just finished writing y´all and then, the internet stopped working and the computer shut down on me. Hahaha! What a blessing! :)

This´ll be quick.
Spencer--what a blessing you are helping your companions be prepared to serve as zone leaders! I know you are working hard and giving a great service to the Lord. I´m so grateful to have you for my brother.

Rob and Christa are doing in vitro?! Since when? I think the Great DalMuti needs to take a minute to remember to fill in the Hard Working Sister on his life. She is waiting...:)

We are being blessed with lots of miracles here on the mission. I´m very grateful for all the Lord is teaching me. One of the latest miracles was Cid. We were lost finding a member´s house and asked for directions. He asked if we were mormon and asked for a Book of Mormon. We tried various times to set up a teaching appointment, but it never worked out. He had already been taught and interviewed to be baptized in another city here. Yet, he told us that now was the time for him to be baptized. A couple days ago, he called and asked if he could be baptized soon! HAHAHA! It was the best phone call I´ve ever received. So, we marked his baptism for this Saturday and he accepted on the spot. What a blessing to be part of this great work! How grateful I am that we were lost that night and Cid helped us out. God truly works in mysterious ways. Like is says in the New Testament, some plant and others harvest.

I am praying for all y´all. Thank you for the cute pictures and updates through your blogs. I am working hard every day to be better than I was yesterday. Perfection is an ongoing process. The more I progress, the more I realize I have so much more to do! But, I know the Lord will help me in this process. What a blessing it is to have the gospel in our lives! What a miracle to have the Atonement. Repentance truly is a blessing.

Love, Sister Ellis III

Maio

Hello wonderful family!
Thank you so much for all the updates and pictures. Tearisa is absolutely adorable!!
It´s fun to see my cute little Mark as a lovng dad. Aww...I can´t believe my little
baby´s all grown up and a father now! :)
In other news, Stake Conference was wonderful. I received lots of instructions from the
Lord how to improve. I am striving to look for the good in my apartment companion. I´m
doing my darndest to try to love her and serve her and thank her for every little thing
of good she does. It seems to be helping our relationship already (aos poucos).
Also, Dad shared a saying that goes like this: It´s really easy to please God, but much
more difficult to satisfy Him. I thought this was very poignant. When we succeed in obeying
Him or do a good deed, He has that surety that we can do what is right and He´s only going
to want our best from then on! What a deal!
Everyone loved meeting Dad. EVeryone has been telling me time and time again how they know
he is a man of God. I just smile and say thank you. :) HAHAHA! One thing that Dad really
focuse on was Isaiah 55:8-9. God´s thoughts are not our thoughts, neither our ways, God´s
ways. His are much higher. This work and gospel are His. We need to do this work according
to His will if we are to have success.
I just wanted to thank Dad for what he said in the Priesthood session. This helped one of
the men in our ward, Pablo, feel the desire and need rekindled to serve a mission. He´s a
great guy and really has all the makings to be an amazing missionary. Yet, every time we
hinted at him serving a mission, he said that he didn´t have the desire to serve and
therefore it wouldn´t be right to go without the desire. Now, he knows more that ever, that
he needs to serve a mission! I´m so excited for him! He really is going to help so many
people and he himself will learn a lot. What a blessing the Spirit speaks through us,
right, Dad?
So, Mark--I´m totally game for that bike trip. Wanna hold off and do it july 2010?! ;)
Thank you so very much, Mom, for the suitcase loaded with goodies!! I was in heaven (and
all my companions too as I shared with them). :) They loved the chili and are wanting the
recipie. Could you send it please? Thanks for the recipie of the chicken. I´m excited to
make it the next time lunch falls through. I´m so excited for our phone call! I´m glad
you liked the bookmark. I saw such pretty flowers and always thought of you. Then I had the
great idea to start pressing them in my scriptures and make bookmarks. My companions thought
your bookmark was so cute, they started pressing flowers too and are making bookmarks for
their moms! :) Your mother´s day card will arrive a little late, ok?
Happy Mothers Day to all my wonderful sisters and sister-in-laws! I am so blessed to have
yáll in my family. I´m so grateful for the way you are raising my adorable neices and nephews.
Muito obrigada!
In other news, we are working with some families close to Irmã Marlene. We taught one of her
clients (she´s a hair dresser), JOanita. Her husband, Figueredo, is liking the messages a lot.
She´s so happy to see how the gospel is already blessing her life and she wants to keep
progressing to become a member of the Church! We taught her son and his family too, Roni.
They are so amazing. What a beautiful family. We taught them the first lesson and they loved
it. They offered to give us dinner, but we had to run home to make it on time. They saw us
running away and came after us in their car to give us a ride home. It was so sweet. What
a blessing it is to come to know such wonderful people! What a blessing to come to know so
many of my spiritual brothers and sisters. ´We are family!!´
In other news...my companion and I had a chocolate cake food fight today which was hilarious!
Kinda messy...but really funny. We got a video and lots of pictures. :) Don´t worry, we
cleaned it all up. Dad--did you know that the elders promised me chocolate cake if I
introduced them to you? Hahahaha! How funny is that?!
Life is wonderful here on the mission. I love you all more than words can express.
-Sister Ellis

Apr 29

so I just finished typing up my relatorio for president milder adn it erased everything! So, this is gonna be short, cuz I have to re write it.
We had a meeting with Pres. Milder Monday about hte law of sacrifice adn really quick what stuck out the most to me was that sacrifice is an expression of love. Thus, our love is measured by what we are willing to sacrifice for that person. This was taught by Elder Ballard. I love you all and am grateful for your prayers and emails.
Thanks, Laura, for that poem! I thought it was hilarious!!!
Love, Sister Ellis

End of April already?!!

Hello, Family!
So...I basically only have a 10 minutes now so this´ll be quick.
We finally moved into our aparment here in Verdão. It took a lot of work, and we spent a few days without electricity, but now everything is coming into place! It is such a blessing to be living here close to where we work. Our house is really cute and we are working hard in this ward. The members are really excited to have missionaries here again and are excited to go teach with us and give us referals. It is all coming together! :) I am working on being led by the Spirit to do this work according to the Lord´s will. Everyone is excited to have Mom and Dad coming and they remind me of it constantly! I´m excited too, just trying to stay focused on the work.
So...there´s a lot of Dange going around here in this area and I was wondering if someone could send some very strong deet bug spray asap. I don´t want to get dange!! Lots of people are dying from it too so it´s kinda scary, but I know that as God´s representative, He will bless me and protect me. Thank you for all your prayers.
We were also thinking it would be fun to have competitions with the members to see who can give more referals and reward them with American candy. Does someone want to help out with that? ;) Also, one of the Brazilian sisters here loves gummy worms and I said I´d ask for some for her.
Plus, my sweet little companion hasn´t received one email or letter or package from her family. She´s one of two members out of 10 children. Her parents aren´t members either. She´s learning English right now and sings I am a Child of God all day! :) It´s really cute. She´s working on an assignment to write a letter in English right now. So...I thought it might be sweet if some of my loving, thoughtful siblings and adorable neices and nephews, wanted to do a service project and send my companion some drawings/letters or something. Just an idea...
How wonderful that Abby is home. I loved the pictures, Nat. Tell her to write me an email please!
In other news, I am learning a lot of patience. I am also learning a lot by the members examples. I love seeing and hearing the member´s testimonies. There are truly some amazing people here! I feel so blessed and honored to get to rub shoulders with them and work with them in building Zion.
We worked a lot with Irmã Nilsa this week. She is quite the trooper! She is kinda old and has vision problems (aggravated even more by the sun). Yet, even so, she went teaching with us several times this week in the blistering hot sun of Cuiabá! She bore testimony powerfully and boldly to everyone we encountered. It was so cute! She was even dressed up like a missionary--skirt and blouse, and comfortable walking shoes. I want to be just as active in preaching the gospel after the mission. What a great example she is to me!
Thank you everyone for all your updates and support. I love you all very much.
Love, Sister Ellis

April 15

Holy Cow! I had so much to do today, this internet time started as an hour, then an hour and a half and is now going on 2 hours! I had a lot more to report to President Milder being a senior companion now and then I had to read everyone´s blog reports. Thanks for all the updates and pictures! I was in heaven seeing my beloved family!

Laura--I don´t really know what that means, but I´m praying for you adn the twins.

Nat--I´m so excited it´s going to be a girl! That´s hilarious about Sam and his girlfriend! Watch out.

Joy--What a dirty little trick. You know how guilable I am! And it´s even worse via email when you can´t see or hear the tone of voice! But, I will forgive you. :) I´m glad the boys are all growing well and developing their abilities and talents (acting, playing instruments, grunting, etc). :)

Life is good. I´m kinda stressed out about training and all, but with faith in every footstep...:) My companion, Maria Sena is very sweet. Actually, she´s a lot like me! HAHAHAHA! In the good ways and not-so-good. It´s really funny and Heavenly Father works--giving me a junior who is the same way I was when I arrived. God really does have a great sense of humor! :) I´m learning a lot about working hard, setting a good example, teaching, and following the Spirit.

This morning I studied patience which is a celestial virtue (according to Pres. Monson). I am grateful for this opportunity to develop more patience with others and myself. It is wonderful to see how God counsiled the sons of Mosiah in Alma 26 to have patience in afflictions and if they would, they would be blessed greatly. That promise was fulfilled and they were instruments in the Lord´s hands in brining millions of souls into Christ´s fold! Wow! What a great example! I never knew the virtue of patience was so powerful. This week, I´m really focusing on developing more patience.

The work continues forward. We are living in 8 sisters in Cuiabá right now and commuting to our area of Verdão. It´s kinda rough, not going to lie, but what a blessing to exercise patience! We study and plan in every corner of the apartment--kitchen, hallway, bedroom, etc. It´s pretty funny. Hopefully, we´ll find an apartment soon in Verdão and get to move there.

I´m excited to see Mom and Dad at Stake Conference. (Want to go teaching with me and my companion?!) That´d be a blast! But, like Mom, I don´t want to break any rules. But, we do have a goal to teach 20 lessons with members every week so as your calling is to serve Dad and be a witness of Christ, maybe you could kill two birds with one stone and go teaching with us! HAHAHA!

I´m glad the baby blessings went well adn everyone had fun at Conference weekend. Holy Cow! Emily is getting so grown up!

I would have to say one of the biggest miracles of late is that I got transferred to Verdão. We (Sis. Barboza and I) had been working with Estella (less active) and her family (two sons and husband), but they weren´t in our ward boundaries so we didn´t have permission to continue. I prayed a lot that something would happen for us to continue working with them if it was according to God´s will, because they had gained a trust and love for me and I for them. Then, what would you know, but I got transferred to their area! YEA! I am so happy and grateful for the opportunity to continue working with them. Truly, God hears and answers our prayers. I´ll keep you all posted on their progress. We´re going to mark their baptismal dates this week.

Well...I´m working hard and truly striving to be 100% obedient to be worthy of the companionship of the Spirit. Thank heavens for the Atonement and the opportunity to repent and do better every day!

Well, I love you all so much. Thank you for being such a wonderful, supportive family! May God bless you all!
Love, Sister Ellis III

P.S. Is it true, Dad, that the Church doesn´t ´allow´ Conferences with just the Sister Missionaries? I heard from Sister Cavalcante that y´all did Sister Zone Conferences in MBSPN.

April 8

Dear Fabulous Family,

Well...4 new sisters arrived yesterday and the biggest shock of all is that I am going to train one of them! AHH!! Talk about butterflies in your stomach...:) I know Heavenly Father knows what He´s doing and that He will magnify my abilities. I don´t know her name yet, but we´ll pick them up in a couple hours.

So, I only stayed with Sister Barboza for about 3 weeks. :( She´s so sweet and I´ve really loved being her companion. We worked really well together. The happy news is that we are going to be living together still (we both are going to be training the newbys). After almost 7 months in Cuiabá, I´m moving to another area! Crazy! I´m excited for this new chapter in my life and mission, but it is bitter sweet saying goodbye (as you all know). We are moving to Verdão. We went looking for apartments Monday and Tuesday (hahaha--good old memories of SW) and finally found one that is finishing being remodeled. It´s a really cute green color (freshly painted) and on the fourth floor in a very safe condominium with 24 hr guard watch. We will move in Monday. I´m really excited! The members seem really helpful in Verdão. The bishop´s first counselor and ward mission leader helped us a lot looking for apartments. (What a blessing to have a ward family wherever you go in the Church!) I´m also excited for the challenge this new area represents (apparently they haven´t baptized a lot recently). I´m excited to fire up these members! They still meet in a house, but already have the land to build the chapel. Now it´s our privilege to baptize more people to fill up the future chapel!

So...Dad, when you come, do you want to go teaching with me and my companion? Live up the old days? I think it´d be a blast! And it´s always good to teach lessons with members, right...? Mom--are you coming too? I thought I was going to get transfered out of the stake so I wouldn´t see yall when you came, but I´m still in the stake!

I was hoping someone could send me a penn drive. This makes a lot more sense to save my mission pics on because it´ll be less money and hassle than buying and finding a place to burn CDs every time my 1 GB memory card fills up. Could someone send me a pen drive please? Thanks!

Congrats, Darrell! I know you´re going to give excellent service to your ward. You are a hard worker and the Lord will help you wiht the needed inspiration. That´s awesome about your calling, Joy! Hahaha! 4:30am is kinda rough, but I have faith that the Lord will give you the strength you need. You´re an amazing woman! How´s the organ playing coming?

Kit--Could you send me 2 copies of that pregnancy picture of you and Kev in the snow wearing black? Sister Bulhões and I wanted a copy. :) Thanks!

John--Congrats on BYU! That´s my vote cus then we could study together! AWW...:)

How were the baby blessings? Thank you all for the emails and updates. Emily--thanks for the drawing. It is very bonitinha! ;) How have you been? How was the quick trip for Conference?

Love, Sister Ellis

P.S. Could someone pass along the message to Abby that I would love to hear from her when she gets a spare minute? Thanks!
P.P.S. Rob--Did you know Joey Stocking got engaged?! How crazy is that that Carnivorous is going to be a married man?!! HAHAHA! I´m really happy for him.

APRIL 1ST!!!

Well...I thought about only sending this to those who emailed me this week (which include: Rob, Kit/Kev, Nat/Matt, Spencer, and Grandma Turtle), but then I decided to ´do unto others as you would have them do unto you´. What a great blessing it is to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost helping me to be more Christ-like with every decision! ;)

So...I have to share this amazing recipe of a fruit salad dessert I at Sunday. It is positively sinful!! Dad, you´ll love it! You cut up all the fruit and then as a sauce, you mix creme de leite and sweetened condensed milk. It is amazing! The family loved the story of ´it´s gone?!´ that I shared as I cut up the fruit, remembering all our fun times in São Paulo and Dad´s great love for fruit salad and ice cream.

I am so excited or General Conference!!!! I hope you are all having fun together. I´m not really going to think about that part since you´re all together having fun and couldn´t even remember me long enough to write a quick email! (sniff, sniff)

Thank you, Mom and Dad and Em for the easter egg. I am going to eat it with my companion very soon.

In other news, we were finally blessed with an apartment check from President Milder this week. He saw how many things were broken in the apartment and ordered repairs/replacements. Yea! Among these repairs included our shower. I have been taking cold showers morning and night every day for the last 6 months and in conditions of probable electric shock! (there were electric wires that were uncovered and received a bath of water with every shower we took). The day our shower was fixed, we got soaked and arrived home freezing cold adn soaking wet. It was such a blessing to have a safe, warm shower. I had forgotten how heavenly it is to have a warm shower. Heavenly Father is so kind! :)

Everyone here is excited for Dad to come. They always remind me every time I see them (the members, that is). They always say that I´m getting trunky too. But don´t worry, I´m staying focused on my goals this month and we´re already going to have the baptism of 2 amazing women this Sunday--one single mom and another 34 yr old single lady. They are both very special, Juliane and Lindinalva. They are studying the scriptures even more than we ask them to and are completely enthralled in learning more about the gospel. It is such a beautiful thing to see the lives of others blessed with the gospel. I love having this opportunity!

Love, Sister Ellis III

P.S. Thanks for the pictures, Nat and Kit. Holy cow are Ethan and Elle getting big! They´re huge!! How fast they´ve grown in just 7 months.

March 25!!!!

Great day, Great day!!!
Today is March 25!! I´ve been waiting for this day my whole life! This is the only March 25th 2009 I will ever live so I´m going to cherish every second!!
Hahaha! Like that little SW taste? I´m teaching my companions through example about positive self talk in the morning. I´m finding that SW truly is inspired mission prep. I´m using a lot of the techniques here in the mission field and also lots of the activities we did in group meetings. Thank you, SW! :) Hahaha!
So...I´m having a blast with Sister Barboza. Dad asked for more info about her. She is really sweet and a hard worker. She looks kinda serious on the outside and I´ve thought she was upset with me more than once in this last week, but I´m learning that´s just how she is. Not everyone wears their emotions on their sleeves like I do! ;)
I´m having a blast teaching her English and also how to sing and lead music. What a blessing I have to put into practice the things I learned at BYU! I´m trying to remember now all the little song games we used. She has a good ear, she just lacks the confidence to try. We did English study this morning with both pairs. It was really fun for Sister Reynolds and I to be English teachers! It´s so fun to see your ´students´ grasping the concepts and applying what you´re teaching. I love to see the wheels turning in their heads. I know I´m just going to love teaching children after the mission! :)
We did some of the pages in the BYU English Grammar book they got in the CTM and then I taught them ´I like Bananas, Coconuts, and Grapes´. HAHAHAH! It was so cute! They really got a kick out of it and now it is stuck in our heads!! Thanks, Mom, for teaching me so much. It has not only blessed my life, but is now blessing the lives of others around me. We sang it where I stopped singing and they had to continue. It was a really effective exercise to test their intonation and also their pronunciation. What a deal!
Hmmm...in other news, we had a ward activity last night called Noite de Integração. It was an improvement from the last one we did (only 10 people or so --incl. the 4 missionaries). This time there were about 50! We also had a cute investigator couple there. We were really happy they came. He´s jewish (inactive) and doesn´t really believe in much of anything. She is recently baptized in an evangelical church. They were having serious marital issues when we got their referral from a recently reactivated couple. They were hesitant to give it to us since she just barely baptized in this other church (last week in fact), but we persisted and knocked on their door. It was a miracle. She got really emotion because she said we were an answer to her prayers. Eric asked when meetings were at church b/c they wanted to visit and that´s when we invited them to the activity. They arrived early--beating most of the members by half an hour. They really had a great time. It was so cute to see them getting into the games (guestures and do you love your neighbor) and laughing with the members. We´re probably going to have to move slower with them, but I´m really excited to help them out! They have only been married for 3 years and I know the gospel is what they need to have a happy and eternal marriage.
We are going there tomorrow to probably teach them to do a ´companionship inventory´ and then to invite them to a FHE at the house of their member friends who live in their condominium. What a privilige it is to be an instrument in God´s hands!!
So...the short story would be that the work is going forward here in Cuiabá. In other news, we heard that 3 new sisters will be arriving April 8th. I´m really excited!!! (The mission has only ever had 8 sisters on average. Now we´ll be up to 11!)
I love you all very much.
Way to go, Laura with the surprize for John. I thought it was awesome! Hang in there with everyone else getting sick.
Sounds like y´all are going to have a fun get together at Conference this time. Play lots of Nertz for me. ;) HAHAHAAH!
I do have one request. It´s actually a plea rather. I have no body spray/perfume. I only brought lotion with me and it´s too hot and muggy to be overdosing on lotion when I also have to apply sunscreen. My poor companion is probably suffering lots because of my smell. It would be nice to have some kind of spray to put on for church, conferences, etc. Or just to relieve these poor Brazilians who have to hug and kiss me out of custom´s sake when we greet them. Please have compassion on my poor companions and these innocent Brazilians. Will someone please send me perfume/body spray ASAP? Thank you.
Love, Sister Ellis
P.S. Mom--I don´t know if you are already doing it, but Jenny Mobley would like to get these emails forwarded on to her if you could. Thanks!
P.P.S. Grandma--Thank you so much for your email of love and support. I love hearing from you. Please don´t ever apologize for emails. I love hearing your news. Feel free to write me an email of whatever length you desire. The only thing I don´t appreciate receiving are forwards.

March 18

Hello, lovely, growing family!!!
I am so exstatic to hear Laura is pregnant!! With TWINS!!! I´m so excited to have twins in the family! There are 4 families with twins in our ward. Thanks, Laura, for the email and the news. I´m so happy for y´all!!
Well, the baptism and wedding and confirmation of Mara, Gilson, Felipe, Thiago, and Junior went very well. It was so beautiful seeing them all in white, imagining them all (in a year) dressed in white again to be sealed in the temple!! What a privilege it was to find and help out this beautiful family receive the blessings of the gospel! And it was even sweeter because Sister Bulhões and I got to stay together until after their confirmation. We received the news that we´d get separated 2 weeks earlier, but Pres. Milder let us stay together til after the baptism. It truly was a tender mercy.
Now, I am with my 2nd companion, Sister Elenice Gomes Barbosa. She is from Bayeux close to João Pessoa. She is wonderful! I love getting the opportunity to learn from her example and learn some different ways to teach. She walks a lot faster than Sister Bulhões and we are having a great time working diligently to acheive our high goals for this month.
The baptisms of the girls fell through, but we are going to try to teach Yasmin with her parents. The good news is that I know God is preparing others who are ready to accept the gospel and be baptized this month of March!!
The Area Presidency (cough, cough...Dad) has been putting a lot of emphasis on baptizing every week. I am psyching myself up for this. Elder Ballard taught that baptizing has all to do with attitude and hard work (or in other words not accepting excuses). I am increasing my faith everyday. I know that God has the power to help us baptize every week when we do our part (10 contacts every day, asking for referals, teaching with the Spirit, etc). I am so grateful to be a missionary!! I can´t believe I already have 6 months on the mission! What a privilege it is to spend every day helping my brothers and sisters receive the blessings of the gospel. I will never have a chance like this again in my life to devout myself 100% to preaching the gospel. I am soaking it all in.
Thank you all for your prayers and emails. Thanks again, Kit, for the pictures and drawings.
Thank you so much, Becky for your email!!! I was so ridiculously excited to hear from you!!! I love you so very much and am praying for you. Give Mick my love and all Tribe #5.
Love, Sister Rachel Ellis

March 11

Yesterday we had a miracle in finding Mariza´s house. Her mom gave permission for her to be baptized after many prayers and fasts, but then took it away again. So, Sister Bulhões and I made a chocolate cake and bought guaranã and took it as a peace offering. (Her baptism is scheduled for Saturday 14th--Mariza´s birthday). I know a miracle can happen so long as we exercise faith (2 Ne. 27:23). I have been studying Mormon 9. It is so sad how he says that if miracles have stopped in our day, it is because the children of men lack faith in God. So...we were trying to find her house and had to walk through this jungle passageway on the edge of this smelly little river. It was quite the experience! We didn´t even know if it was the right way, but in the end, we came out right in front of her house! Truly a blessing. Sister Bulhões took a picture of the passageway we took and I´ll save it to my CD today.

Another blessing: I was contacting a man at the bus stop when our bus came. It only passes once every 30-40 minutes. We´ve been teaching Mariza adn Yasmin after their school at noon in the park by their school. Sister Bulhões hopped on and was calling me. I tried to finish the contact as quickly as possible, but by the time I turned around, the bus was already driving away!! Sister Bulhões mouthed ´RUN´ in Portuguese. I obeyed. Hahaha! I ran after the bus in my dress with my bulky bag, down the main highway in Cuiabá, hitting the side of the bus for the driver to know I was there and by way of a plea for him to let me on. Sister Bulhões had been telling him that we couldn´t be separated and the guy who takes the money was giving a play by play about how I was running after the bus, etc. Miraculously, the driver´s heart was softened and he opened the door for a split second--just enough time for me to jump in. As soon as I stepped in, he stepped on the gas again. Whew! It truly was a miracle! Hahaah! I wish I had a video of so many things on my mission to go back and watch. It definitely was quite the scene with everyone on the bus gaping out the windows, etc.

Thank you all for the emails. I love you all so very much. But, I would like to repeat that I do not need nor want any forwards. Time is much to short on PDay. I would rather here your own words, dear family, or see pictures of you rather than random things. Thank you though for thinking of me. Thank you for taking me off your forward mailing lists.

John, how was your birthday, long lost brother? I hope you had fun and are enjoying your 3 adorable kids. How´s Celeste? Did she get my letter and present?

Kit--Thanks for the adorable drawings from Ryn and Elle and the picture and homemade frame. It warmed my heart so! I am so blessed to have such adorable, loving neices! (And a very loving, thoughtful sister to think of me). :) Thank you! It is sitting on my desk for me to look at every day.

So...are there cadbury eggs yet there? The easter eggs are starting to get put up in the super markets here. Do they do that in Portugal, Spence? I love easter!! Unfortunately, the eggs are too expensive for my reduced budget so I won´t be buying one. If I could, I´d buy a Sonho de Valsa one. But, if anyone gets sick of having too many cadbury eggs lying around, I will sacrifice and eat them for you. ;) Hahaha!
Love, Sister Rachel Ellis

March 4

I have exactly one minute left from 50! It took me that long to read all the emails and blogs. I loved them all! THAnks everyone! Happy birthday John. What all did you do? Congrats, Joy on the marathon. Love, Sister Ellis III
Pls my email is getting full again...

end of February...

I can´t believe it´s already the end of February!!! CRAZY!! I have been on the mission already 6 months! I want to cry when I think of how fast this is going by. I still have so much to improve!
So...this week was a very interesting week. I had to face a lot of big, ugly monsters of my character. Unfortunately, I had been going through life letting these faults grow, without even realizing. Thankfully, the mission brings all those ugly, terrible characteristics to the surface very quickly. So...I´m working really hard to change. I´m really sorry for all the pain and grief I have caused all of you just being so proud, selfish, adn insensitive. Thank heavens I came on a mission!!! No promises I´m going to be perfect when I come home. Com certeza this is going to be a life long battle for me. But, I do promise I´m going to be a little better than I was before. Thank you for your continual support and prayers. I am so grateful.
Sorry this is going to be so short. I spent most of the time reading all the emails, blogs, etc. Thank you! I love hearing and seeing all the latest of my cute neices and nephews. Aup--I hope Tearisa starts eating better. I loved Mark´s commentaries. You are so funny, Mark. Business in the front and party in the back! ;) Nat--I hope you´re feeling better now and the boys too. I´m glad to hear you adn Matt had fun in Brazil. Is Abby home from the mission yet? I´m sure it´s getting close, huh?
I was wondering if there was any way someone could send me things for my converts--CDs of hymns, CTR rings, hymnals, things like that. There isn´t any thing here in Cuiabá. Also, my companion and I were thinking how great it would be to have access to those seminary videos (like the one of the man who walked outside the fence in Africa and got eaten by the crocodile). You know how people learn different ways...some visually, auditorally, etc. Well, I was wondering if anyone had access to those and could burn them on to a DVD for me. I was thinking Joy or Matt might have an idea o n how to get them since y´all have served as seminary teachers...;)
Well... that´s my time for now! HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Kev and Cameron! I hope you both have a lot of fun and have many more years of health and happiness!
Love, Sister Ellis III

Feb 18

Dear Family,
Well...the Lord is definitely blessing the work here. This last week, we were able to go to the cartório and mark the civil marriage date of Mara and Gilson for March 14th. Then, they and their three boys (baptism age) will be baptized on the 15th. This process truly was a miracle! We marked their marriage and baptism a while ago to be exactly after Gilson got paid. With back to school expenses and medical check-ups (their 9 yr old is recovering from cancer), they didn´t have the 200 reais to get married. We told them to pray and try to borrow it. We did the same and received the idea to call the 2nd counselor in the Stake Presidency and explain the situation to him. He and his wife are in our ward and so sweet and giving. They ended up giving us the 200 reais and said Mara and Gilson didn´t even have to pay it back! Miracle #1.
We went to the cartório on Monday, but it turned out Gilson´s birth certificate wouldn´t be ready til Friday. So, we marked again for Friday morning. Sister Bulhões and I left the house early so we could be one of the first people in line when the cartório opened. It didn´t end up opening til an hour after we thought, but it was a blessing we were there early because a huge line grew behind us. We got in and got all the documents filled out, money paid, etc. within 40 minutes. Plus, the workers accepted my CTM temporary ID so I could be one of the two witnesses even though I didn´t have Brazilian documentation. Miracle #2.
So, now, we´re just praying for Miracle #3: to be there for the wedding and baptism of this amazingly beautiful family! (The transfer comes out a week before the wedding and baptism). I´ve already asked Pres. Milder about extending the transfer just a week or so, so we´ll see what happens.
We did a Family Night with them a couple nights ago and they loved it! We made a FHE chart for them (complete with moveable name cards) and helped teach them how FHE works. Gilson directed his first FHE and the two year old (Vinicius) gave the closing prayer. It was so beautiful hearing Mara help her son pray to Heavenly Father. I am so grateful to have this opportunity to see the progress of this beautiful family. What a tender mercy from Heavenly Father!
I taught them a few games (incl. Zim Bong that Spencer shared a couple emails ago). They had a blast so thanks, Spence!
Yesterday we had a meeting with Pres. Milder in which he shared what he learned at the last meeting with the Area Presidency. It was wonderful and yet again, I was instructed about all the things I need to change and improve personally and in the missionary work. Thanks, Dad. ;)
Mom--I got your cookies. Thanks! Pres. Milder took a tax of half of them, but Sister Bulhões and I shared the rest. Sister Milder wants the recipe. Could you send it to me? I don´t know how to get ahold of Sister Cavalcante, but I´ll try to call her brother and get her email or phone number for ya.
Emily--Did you receive the email from Jarrett? Have you replied yet? Thanks for the drawings. Now Sister Bulhões calls me ´mad scientist´ from time to time. ;) She thinks you are hilarious! What´s the latest with Mariana?
Aup--Thanks for adding me to the list. I´m excited to get your updates.
Joy--That´s hilarious that you got a Facebook! Hahaha! Thanks for adding me! ;)
Kit and Kev--I absolutely loved the pictures!! It looks like Ryn is in heaven with a new baby sister. Thanks for remembering me.
Love, Sister Ellis III

P.S. Funny Story--While we were waiting in line at the cartório, a man kept on walking by, staring at me. I wanted to go contact him, but by the time I thought of it, he walked around the corner. A couple minutes later, a car pulled up to the curb and motioned me over to the window. The guy was in the passenger seat and apologized for not having the courage to talk to me. Then he asked for my number! HAHAHAHA! It was absolutely hilarious!! He didn´t even tell me his name or ask for mine and still hasn´t called. Isn´t that funny? I couldn´t believe it--no make-up, missionary clothes, hairy legs, etc.

ps

I forgot to share with you my favorite scripture I discovered recently. Mormon 7:7
Also, Happy Birthday (late) to Jake! Could someone pass along the message? I don´t have his email address or mailing address. Thanks.
Also, if anyone ever chooses to send me anything again, what I would really like are CTR rings for my RC and CDs of hymns (preferably in Portuguese) because most people don´t know how to read music and don´t know the hymns well. Thanks!
Love, Sister Ellis III
P.P.S. Thanks, Kelly for the update. I love you both more than words can express and am praying for you all the time!! Please give Becky a HUGE hug and kiss from me! Tell her that I´m rooting for her! ;)

This week...

Well...Life is good here in Brazil. Thank you for all your prayers and advice. I love you all very much. I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family! I´m happy Eden made it safely. I´m looking forward to someone sending me those pictures soon. (hint, hint).
Just a quick experience. We are teaching this girl Yasmin who we met months ago. She never came to church and said her mom didn´t like the church at all. We ran into her again a couple weeks ago and then she showed up at Church with a friend! They came last week too and we got their number and taught both of them. Yasmin is very sweet and wants to be baptized. We are now just praying her mom will allow it. Yasmin gave us the number of a less active young woman who is her friend from school. We visited her yesterday and she said that she had prayed just the day before that we would come visit her so she could have the strength to go back to Church! I love being able to be the Lord´s servant and see miracle every day. What a blessing it is to work with the Lord in answering prayers!
Love, Sister Ellis III

FEB 4th

Hello!

Well, just really quick, I loved the pictures of Téarisa and of Kit and Kevin! Kit—you definitely do not look like a whale and that was such a beautiful picture! All my companions just stared in awe. ;) I don´t know how I turned out the ugly duckling of the family, but at least I have beautiful siblings and nephews/nieces to show off to everyone! Joy—That´s pretty awesome about your half marathon. My friends, Sister Reynolds and I are going to do that when we get home too. You really are my inspiration—thinking of you running 11+ miles when I run in place in my cramped little apartment for 30 minutes every other day! Hahaha!

Mom and Dad—I´m so excited you are getting to see Sister Pinzon! Tell her I said hello and give her a huge hug and kiss from me! Tell her she needs to write me soon cus I wrote her my very first pday and have never heard back! I just got a letter from my friend, Elder Viniscius Sant´Anna from Rio and he said you were going to be eating dinner with his parents. How´d that go? Elder Sant´Anna is really sweet and we joke around that he´s my ´brother´. So, all that was missing at that family dinner was us two! Hahaha!

Did y´all get the video of Christmas from Pres. Milder? Unfortunately, he didn´t really get a lot of our number, but oh well.

Em—Sister Bulhões thinks from the looks of your pictures that you are really quiet!! HAHAHAHAHA! I laughed so hard! Can y´all imagine Emily quiet?! Definitely the opposite of reserved. But, that´s what makes he so special in our family, right? ;) Yes, Em, many people have seen your picture b/c Mom, Kit, and Rob sent pictures and I´ve been showing them to members, investigators, etc. Hey! Did Jarrett email you yet? I´m sending you a letter today with pictures and I think you´ll get a kick out of it, k?

Well…I´m just getting over being sick. I spent Saturday night running to the bathroom toilet. Needless to say, I didn´t go to church. One of the YW came and stayed with me so my companion could go to church and support our cute Milena who got baptized. I was so sad I wasn´t there!! But, everything turned out well, I heard. Lots of members were at the baptism and we had 20 investigators at Sacrament Meeting! The Bishop gave me a blessing and I started working again Monday and yesterday, but I´m still kinda weak. The best thing was that Bishop had promised to buy us icecream when we beat our past high of 15 investigators at church, so, last night after our meeting, we reminded him of that promise. Unfortunately, I ate way too much and started to feel sick again last night and this morning, but it´s passing. I know, I need to be careful. He challenged us to have 150 people in attendance at Sacrament Meeting next and then we´ll get ice cream again. I love having goals to work for! Hahaha! Then, we also have a goal to get 100+ lessons with members in a month. I´m really excited for this one. We´re planning some things to help get these members excited about helping in the work. Any suggestions of what´s worked in the past with y´all? Life is great being a missionary! Heavenly Father truly is blessing our companionship! He has heard our prayers for the past 4 months to teach whole families—mom, dad, and kids—and now we are reaping a vast harvest of beautiful families to teach! Que coisa boa! ;) I love being a missionary and am very grateful to be a part of this work. What a blessing God uses the weak and simple to do His work, b/c otherwise, I definitely wouldn´t have any place serving a mission. I know I have much to improve, but I am learning more every day.

Thank you for your prayers and love. May God bless you all! Know that you are in my prayers always.

Love, Sister Ellis III

P.S. Thanks Nat for your email! I´m excited to hear about your trip! Hope you guys have a blast!

P.P.S. Does anyone have any news about Becky? I´m really worried. I haven´t heard from her in a couple weeks—from anyone in Tribe 5 really. PLEASE, if anyone has any news, share it with me! I promise to still work hard no matter what. I just don´t like being left out of the bubble. Thanks.

P.P.S.S. CHRISTA!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!!!! How does it feel to be a year older and wiser?! Did you go to a spice girls concert again this year? I want to know what all you did! Write when you get a chance. Congratulations to Rob about England!! That´s awesome! I´m so proud of you! It´s nice that I get to hear of y´all´s amazing lives from someone in this family....;)

PDay #2

Dear Family,
I hope this works. This computer is kinda shady. We´ll see...

Wow! Our meetings with Elder Cook were amazing!!! Lots of our recent converts and investigators went to the fireside on wednesday, so that was good. He and his wife talked a lot about FHE on Wednesday. He also left an apostolic blessing on the families here--that they could be more united against the buffetings of Satan. The surest way to strengthen our families against Satan´s attacks are having FHE. I already made one FHE chart (like Mom made kinda) for one of the less active families. I´m going to make more now because of that fireside. How are all your FHEs going?

Yesterday was our missionary meeting with him. It was wonderful! He told us that Elder Didier (Area Pres. of Brazil) wrote the Missionary Purpose in Preach My Gospel. How cool is that? I asked him about how PMG was written, how long, etc. A group from the missionary department and a group of teachers in the MTC (not the RM teachers, but the older ones) wrote the first draft. Then they turned it in to the prophet and every apostle to read and pray about and make changes. Then they printed PMG. All in all, it took about 2 years. President Monson´s comment was that there were no ´true accounts´ (aka stories--but he doesn´t like to use the word story) in the first draft of PMG. So, Pres. Monson provided basically all the true accounts in PMG. Neat, huh?

He left an apostolic blessing on us missionaries too. It was a very spiritual experience. He cited DC 31:5. I know this is the best thing I could be doing in my life to ensure that you all, my beloved family, receive blessings. I am striving every day to ´thrust in my sickle with all my might´ so that you all will be blessed. (Especially you, Becky, and Natalie, with your pregnancy). Please know that you are all in my prayers.

Sister Cook is adorable!! I love her a lot! She did a ´singing time´ in the middle. (I want to be just like her in that respect!) :) Then she shared her study of the Christ-like attributes (ch 6) with scriptures and hymns. I am going to start studying like that too.

Elder Cook then shared the 4 Great Loves Missionaries need to have to have success: 1--love people, 2--love companion, 3--love Mission Pres and wife and follow council, 4--love Lord. One thing I thought especially interesting was that every missionary is considered next to the prospective mission president before the exact call is made. This is because your mission president has a great contribution to your character. I know this is true. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to serve under Pres. and Sister Milder. They truly are an amazing couple and I am learning lots from their examples and council. In loving the Lord, Elder Cook, reminded us that a testimony of Christ is the deciding factor between inheriting the Celestial or Terrestrial Kingdom. (DC 76:79) You NEED to be valiant in your testimony! How comfortable are each of us in testifying of our Savior Jesus Christ?

Well...I think that´s about it. I hope you were able to glean at least something from that. Love you!

Sister Rachel Ellis

P.S. Elder and Sister Cook flew to São Paulo and said they would be having dinner with Mom and Dad tonight. Have fun!

Jan 28

Dear Family,

Oh my goodness!!! I am so happy for Mark and Aup!! She´s beautiful, your little girl. What´s her name? How long was she nameless after being born? I can´t believe my brother is a dad!!! Crazy! I´m so happy for y´all! How´s it feel being parents?

Kit—Thanks for all the cute news about Ryn and Elle. It made me kinda baby hungry, not going to lie, but I´ll get over it. ;) See how Ryn can´t even be happy with her accomplishments now without you saying good job? Just a comment to ponder…Hey! If you get a chance, could you send some pictures of your cute belly before Eden comes?

So…life is beautiful as a missionary. We´re really busy preparing for Elder Cook´s visit. We´ve been visiting less actives and recent converts like crazy! I just hope they will have enough room for everyone to hear Elder Cook! Thankfully, Sis. Bulhões and I will have a front seat as I am going to accompany the choir. Oh how grateful I am I learned to play the piano! Thanks, Mom and Dad! Tonight he is going to speak to all the members in Cuiabá at 8pm. Tomorrow, just the missionaries have a meeting and lunch with him. I´m pretty excited!!! I read the article Elder Holland wrote about Elder Cook in the Liahona. He is truly an amazing man. What a blessing it is to receive the visit of an apostle of the Lord on my mission—esp. here in Cuiabá which is in the middle of nowhere! I´ll let you all know what I learn from these meetings next week. Or maybe on Friday if I have time. Pres. Milder split our PDay because of the visit of the apostle. Today we´re only sending an email to y´all so y´all don´t get worried. Then, we are going to work like normal to visit as many people as possible to tell them about the apostle. Then, Friday, we will have our normal PDay.

Today I studied about prophets. I liked the promise in DC 20:26 to those who heed the prophets´ words. Truly, they speak for God (DC 1:38). So, even if we don´t understand the reasons for their counsil, we should follow it anyway. God knows much more than we do! (Isaiah 55). We had a meeting with Pres. Milder on Monday. It was truly a spiritual feast! He quoted Spencer W. Kimball when he said that any excuse—even if it be valid—only weakens our character. That was pretty bold and I was touched in my heart of the things I need to improve on. As they teach in SW, there are 2 kinds of people in this world—one looks for an excuse and one finds the way to accomplish their goal. Pres. Milder ended talking about the last week of Christ´s life. I was so touched by the Spirit, remembering all Christ did for me! Yes, He was perfect in all things, but that doesn´t mean it was easy for Him to do what He did to atone for all mankind! What a perfect example we have of 100% selfless love! He had lived a perfect life and then, all within about 24 hours, He felt all the pains and sufferings of every imperfect being that ever lived! And the pain was so terrible, He didn´t want to go through it. Yet, He focused on doing the Lord´s will (saving us) and not on His own (being free from the immense pain). How grateful I am Christ did all He did for me. It is because of His love and selfless sacrifice that I can repent of my imperfections and gain eternal life! What perfect love!

--Sister Ellis III

Jan 21st

Family—
I am so happy to be a full-time missionary!!! Life is wonderful here! We had the best Sunday of my life this last Sunday. We had 15 investigators at Sacrament Meeting (5 families). That was the most we´ve had so far on the mission and it was a total miracle. Sister Bulhões and I went to wake up 4 of those families. We were running to their houses and apartments in the rain in skirts! Hahah! We really must´ve been quite the sight. We got completely soaked, but it was definitely worth it to help those families find the way to church to feel the Spirit. Now, they know how to get there, and now they can go by themselves. Unfortunately, none of the couples are legally married, so we are working now on helping them get married so they can be baptized. The documents take at least a month to get ready. We´re going to baptize 3 people this week end. These really are miracles because 2 of them tried to back out or not make the commitment in the first place. We let them vent what the real reason was for their hesitance in accepting baptism. Then we marked their baptism. CREW method, baby. ;) Hahaha!

I am so grateful to be a missionary of the Lord Jesus Christ. I really can´t even express in words my gratitude for this privilege. Heavenly Father is so kind to me. I love being His mouthpiece and getting to see first hand the miracles when people find the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for all your prayers and news. I love you all so much!
That was one thing that impressed me this week. How blessed I am to have been sent to this family. Thank you for all the support you all gave me growing up and continue to give, tirelessly! Thank you for all the concerts you went to, plays, all the games you played with me, etc. Paula is a less active we are reactivating. Her mom is espirita and really stubborn. I love her to death, but she isn´t really supporting Paula and it breaks my heart to see. Paula went to New Beginnings all alone the other night. Her sister, Fabiele, was going to go, but ended up going to a cook out with her older sister instead. We went to get the mom to surprise Paula, but she absolutely refused to go! I couldn´t believe it. She had nothing to do, but just didn´t want to go to church—even when she knew it would´ve really made her daughter so happy. This experience made me so grateful for my parents and family. You all put my interests and needs above your own so many times—just to show your love for me. You really showed your love—not just through the words you said, but through your actions. And that speaks a lot louder than any amount of words ever could. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!

One thing I thought was hilarious is my mission president. In all his trainings, he defines words for us—that is breaks them down and tells us where that root comes from. It´s just like the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding! HAHAHA! It cracks me up! I love President Milder and even more now that he reminds me of cute little Gus from that movie! HAhaha!

Mom—Thanks for the recipe book and pictures. I loved them! You are so sweet! I shared your story of how you stayed active completely alone in your family with only 12 yrs. Old with Paula and Fabiele. We are baptizing Fabiele on Saturday and Paula we are reactivating. It is awesome to see their progress! Paula is starting to use modest clothes and wear skirts to church! I was wondering, Mom, could you type up your testimony—how you stayed so firm in the faith without the support of your family even at such a young age—and send it to me:? I think it´d really help some of these girls we´re teaching. Also, can you send me your scone recipe? The one that you cook in the oven? Thanks. ;) THANK YOU SO MUCH for printing off and deleting my emails!!! It was such a beautiful sight to see my inbox with only 55% instead of 94%! Thanks! What an amazing woman you are. I really am so blessed to have you as my mother. Is there anything I can do to help you? I´m glad your trip to Fazenda Bela Vista went well. I´m excited to go there when I´ve been ´honorable released´ as Dad said. ;)

Mark—That companion of mine, Sister Reynolds, and I are planning to take a road trip to Iowa after the mission to visit y´all and learn how to make those earrings k? Just so you can get prepared…We´re willing to baby sit as well! ;) Hear that Hank?!

Kit—I´m so excited to have a new niece!! I won´t comment on the name you chose. I know my opinion really won´t change anything anyway. I´ll just let you guys choose and I´ll love her no matter what you call her. I need pics of your belly!!!!! I´ll study Timothy and get back to you next week, k?

Nat and Matt—I`M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!! Rest assured, you are in my prayers!! I have been praying you could get pregnant again soon. Heavenly Father truly does answer our prayers!! Happy Birthday, Nat, this week! I love you so much and am so grateful for you as my sister!!!

Dad—HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW!!!! I love you so much. Thank you for all your support and wisdom you share with me. I´ll take good notes with Elder Cook and share them with y´all. I´m going to get to go to the member meeting and the missionary one (cus I´m going to accompany the choir). What a blessing to play the piano!! Who´s the authority that´s going to accompany Elder Cook to Cuiabá? I think you should. ;)

Rob and Christa—Thanks for the pictures. I loved them! How are y´all? Haven´t really heard much from your end…

Clay—Thanks so much for the email. You are such a great cousin!! I hope school is going well. Send me another update asap. (when you get a chance) Also, tell Mick happy birthday from me. I don´t have his email. Give him a big smack on the cheek from me, k? 

Sorry this email is so sporatic. I´ll try to organize my thoughts better next time. ;) So…does anyone want to report on what they learned from reading that talk from Elder Kimball or John? Or did no one study them? What are you all doing to help the missionary work in your respective wards? I want to hear a report! You have 7 days til I check this email again…Love you!

this week...

Hello! This has to be quick so please forgive any grammatical errors. ;)
This week was good. I am learning a lot. I would like to ask for the pregnant ladies in the family to send pictures of their cute bellies! I am missing the fun of seeing you personally, but I don´t want to miss it completely!! How are you feeling, Kit and Aup? Anyone else pregnant?
Mom and Dad—did you get my DVD of pictures? I certainly hope so. We had family home evening with Sister Cavalcante and her family here from my ward. Her niece was baptized this Sunday and it was a beautiful baptism. I really like Sister Cavalcante. She is so sweet!!! She told me lots of stories about the mission that I never knew. You two were awesome mission presidents! She loves you a lot. I passed along your emails to her fyi.
I would like to suggest that everyone who reads this email read the talk by President Spencer W. Kimball entitled, ´It Becometh Every Man´. I loved it and I´m sure you all will too. Just go to lds.org and search for the talk. ;)
Mom—Thanks for the Excedrin and the makeup. I will remember your advice to use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!
Dad—I received a check from SW in a package from Jenny Mobley that my old roommate had given her. What should I do with it? Hang on to it till after the mission or send it to you?
Mark and Aup—Thanks for the body wash and earrings. I loved them! My companions liked the earrings too. If you´re feeling generous, they wouldn´t mind having a pair as well. ;) But don´t worry too much, Sister Reynolds will be back up at BYU with me after the mission. You will love her when you meet her! Thanks for the advice. You are so wise!
Joy—I don´t know if I thanked you for your Christmas package. I thought it was so cute the little tree and the sugar cookies snowman tin. My companions and I enjoyed the candy as well. Thanks for thinking of me even when you have so many other things to take care of!
Jenny Mobley—I got your package too. Thanks so much! It was so good to finally hear from you? So, you got a ring on that finger yet? ;) Where´d you get that KHS pencil from Homecoming 05? Did you save it since then?! Haha! You can email me you know. That´d probably be easier for you and faster for me to get your news. I´ll just have to write you snail mail. Love ya!
In other news, my wallet got stolen out of my bag Friday. Unfortunately, I had over 200 reais in it. I had been feeling I shouldn´t carry around all my mesada with me. That´s what I get for not listening to the Spirit. Let that be a lesson for you all—ALWAYS follow the promptings of the Spirit. If you don´t, you will surely regret it! Thankfully, I had listened to the council of my mission president and been saving some money for previous mesadas. So, I´m not going hungry. ;) What a blessing! Heavenly Father really is so kind to me.
I have some really good news for Em. I found you a husband!! Hahaha! He is pretty much the sweetest guy I have ever seen. He´s 15, black, has a great smile, is a worthy priesthood holder, is excited to serve a mission, teaches lessons with us, sings beautifully, etc. What more could you ask for?! I´ll pass along your email to him the next chance I get and yáll can be pen pals, or keyboard pals, k? ;) C´mon, just give him a chance, k? Spence—I also have a few options for you. Don´t think about it now, but when you get home, I´ll introduce you to some of my companions, k? Hahaha! Truly, I have developed a knack for Christ-like service on my mission. I seek to serve everyone I come in contact with—even remembering my siblings far away! What a blessing!
But seriously, I am really so grateful to be serving a mission. In my interview with Pres. Milder, he asked what was the difference bw the sister Ellis that arrived and the Sister Ellis I am now. So many things have changed I didn´t even know where to start! I told him I was learning a lot and maturing a lot on my mission. When I got here, I thought I knew everything. (He said that wasn´t too hard to see! Haha!) But now, I realize how little I know. I am so grateful for the gift of the Atonement and that I can repent and change. Please forgive me, dearest family and friends, for being so horrible and selfish. I really don´t even know how you all tolerated me for so long. Please be comforted by the fact that I am learning and changing for the better. When I come back, I hope you will all be able to see the light of Christ shining through me. He is my example in every way. My goal is to become more like Him with every passing day. Please forgive me for all the hurtful words or acts I have done. I have no desire to be that girl I was before. I will not be that girl I was before. I only want to be an instrument in Christ´s hands.
Monday, we had a meeting with Elder Tobias (member of the 70). Coming up on the 28th, we are going to have a meeting with Elder Cook (member of the 12)! I am so excited! What a blessing it is to learn from the servants of God! May God bless you all. I love you so very much. Thank you for your love and prayers. Know that you are in mine as well.
Love, Sister Rachel Ellis
P.S. I have been studying about how we need to build upon the rock of our Savior. If we build upon that foundation, we will not fall even when Satan beats upon us with all the temptations and evils of the world! Hel 5:12, 3 Ne 11:39-49, 1 Cor 10:3-4, DC 6:34

Jan 7

Family—

Well...the work continues onward here in Cuiabá! Today is Sister Bulhões´ 23rd Birthday! I made pancakes for her this morning and some irmãs from our ward are making cake for her tonight.

We´ve had some more miracles this week which is a blessing! A couple months ago, we tried to find a referral from some elders. They had baptized the mom and wanted us to teach the son and his family. We walked and walked up and down this highway, but the address didn´t exist and no one knew a Benedito. So, we couldn´t do anything more because the elders didn´t pass on his telephone number. This week they finally called and gave his number. We set up an appointment and finally found their house (ridiculously far, but it was worth it!). They live way out in the boon-dogs. We felt like we were serving in the amazon! ;) They are a very sweet family with a great desire to know the truth. I´m excited to teach them more. The mom only says good things about the church (of course) and so they´re very interested. Thanks to another church he used to attend, they are legally married!!! Halleluiah!! Benedito has a very serious illness (I forgot the name) that has no cure. His stomach swells up and his legs and feet. It´s hard for him to walk, but even so, he promised to come to Church (even though he has to walk a long way just to make it to the bus stop). It was so wonderful to feel of the Spirit in their home and see this man´s faith.

I hope you are all doing missionary work in your respective wards. I know you´re probably rolling your eyes, but it´s always good to have a reminder, right? There is always room for improvement. I would just encourage you all to think back on your missions: how you would´ve liked for the members to give you referrals and be actively seeking investigators for you (which is their duty as members). Remember, DC 88:81 says everyone who has been warned must warn his neighbor. And then we are given the promise that our sins will be forgiven when we bare our testimonies to others (DC 84:61). Don´t be afraid that you won´t know what to say, the Lord promises to bless us in that very moment with the right words (DC 100:5-7). I love you all so much. I am so blessed to have you as my examples and friends. Thank you for all the love you are showing to the missionaries in your wards by helping them in the work (teaching with them, inviting them to teach friends at FHE, giving referrals, etc.). Just think back on your baptismal day. How did you feel? Wouldn´t it be great to share those feelings of joy and happiness with our friends, aquaintances, neighbors?! Que coisa boa!

Love, Sister Ellis III