Christmas!

Here are some pics from the package delivery system!  Although we didn't get to see her today, we were able to talk with her and she got to talk with her brothers for a few minutes too!  The three of them are really missing each other!  That they were able to talk to each other today from 3 different countries, was truly a tender mercy.

My Favorite Things About the CTM

Hey guys!! so p day was the best day of my entire life haha. I got up at 5:30 and went to the Sao Paulo Temple and it was so amazing and I loved it and it made me miss all my old lady friends that I worked with at the Jordan River temple. After the temple we got to walk around sao pualo a bit! it felt so good! i got me a steak from a burger place and it was the most amazing thing ever I almost cried.  OH!! it was Elder Moons birthday on pday so we baught him a cake as a district and learned how to sing happy birthday in portuguese!

On Thursday we had to go to the Policia Federal to get fingerprinted. I really enjoyed that too, it was a nice little adventure. Elder Moon talked to a family there and ended up getting his first contact on his 7th day in Brazil!!

Sundays at the CTM are soooooooo good. we have choir and devotionals and lots of learning things in english so i can actually understand whats being taught! we also have a filme on sundays and its just like family movie night in portuguese and that is one of my favorite parts of sunday. i never get to see the end of the filme though because i have to go to a sister training meeting every sunday and wednesday.

Yeserday i went on my first splits! My companion is a brazilian and she doesnt know english but she is so sweet and patient with me! When we taught our lesson I wasnt much help but I got to ask the get to know you questions and then bear my testimony in portuguese at the end! It was a way cool experience.

Some of my favorite things about the CTM:

-My instructor, Irmao Ferreyra. Hes a big Peruvian teddy bear and hes so funny and spiritual and just so humble and the best teacher ive ever had.  One thing he told us that i want to share is that the first thought always comes from Christ. the other doubts and hesitation that comes after a thought to do something good comes from satan. we all need to listen to that first good thought and just do that good thing!!

-atividade fisica.  We have to run 5 laps on the track every day and then we get to play sports and it is so hot but I love it!! it makes me feel so good.

-clac. basically its puffed corn with carmel flavoring that kind of tastes like cardboard but i definitely eat at least 2 bags of that stuff a day its my favorite thing. i think clac is the only reason im thriving here haha

-chocolate pizza. I finally found a pizza that I actually love!! yayayaya

-brazilians. they are so sweet and kind and they just want to take care of me and i love them so much. yesterday i cut my hand it wouldnt stop bleeding and my brazilain roomates took such good care of me and were so concerned for my well being it was so nice.

-my district.  They are amazing i love them all so much

-and last but not least, THE SPIRIT OF GOD. and THE GIFT OF TONGUES. I love being a missionary!! and like sister vuyk told me, the gift of tongues works just enough for it to be a miracle, but not so much that the language isnt a challenge. Also sister vuyk left this morning and it was so sad to say bye to her but shes going to be an amazing missionary!!

I love you all so much!! I hope you have a super awesome Christmas (I cant email the week of Christmas) so Ill talk to you all in 2 weeks!!!!!!!!

-Sister Hitchens

TUDO BEM!!

Brazil CTM District

Triplet Companionship

Brazil CTM

Hey all!! Just so you know I only have 50 minutes to email each week in the CTM so sorry if I dont respond to you personally, know that I love you and I love reading your emails!!

Im not even sure what to say theres just so much that has happened! So the 8 people that were on the plane to Brasil with me are the only Americans that came to the ctm that day, so we are a district. Im in a trio with Sister Belnap and Sister Blanscett, which can be hard at times but I love them! once a trio always a trio I guess haha!! Elder Ethan Burbidge from institute is in my district too so thats fun.

My first 3 hours in the ctm were the most overwhelming 3 hours of my entire life. They just hit me with all this info that was hard to understand because the instructors dont speak the best english. we checked in and got our nametags and emailed home and took pictures and did passport and immunizations stuff and got a quick rundown of stuff and then they sent us off to lunch by ourselves andi didnt have time to comprehend what was going on haha. BUT God is so good and on the way down to the cafetiria i saw sister rachel vuyk from home and i basically just ran into her arms and cried cuz you know, emotions. she made me feel so much better. then i went off and had my first round of rice and beans and it was awesome. Also Elder Soren Selph from home is here too, and he's thriving! haha, he hypes me up when im in my sala de aula with my district.

on Sunday I was called with my comps as sister training leaders for my zone!! Nansi was right, but i wasn't expecting that to happen on my 5th day in Brasil haha.

yesterday I taught my first lessons to our investigators in Portuguese, and it wasn't too bad. Tomorrow for pday i get to go to the temple too and im so excited!! i have to get up at 5:30 though so im not too excited about that part. 

I met another triplet here, his name is Ilder Ames. his brother left the ctm a couple of weeks ago and his sister is at college. that was exciting!

oh, i did laundry yesterday and had to hand wash one of my dresses, so shout out to mission prep and Bro Moyes for preparing me for my mission haha!

This morning in my sala de aula elder Whelan in my district found a cockroach just chilling in his book bag so that was a great way to start off the day.

I love you all and I love being in Brasil!! Im so grateful for all of you.

I know that heavenly father loves us and the gospel is true. stay safe everyone!!

the flight was meh. i got to sit next to sister belnap on the way to brazil though so that was really nice to get to know her because we are companions now and i lover her a ton. yeah there were 3 other missionaries at the gate and they are all in my district. I have 2 companions actually, which is hard. LOVE YOU SO MUCH THANKS FOR EVERYTHING

In Brazil!

Hey guys! I made it to the CTM!! I got to travel with a really awesome sister, sister Belnap and 5 Elders. One of the Elders is Ethan from Institute so it was nice to have a familiar face right off the bat. I email on Tuesdays so I´ll talk to you then :)

I guess I´m supossed to tell you to follow the CTM´s facebook. It´s centro de treinamento missionario-brasil

Also I love you a ton

Getting Ready

Full Time Missionary

Emmy is now a fully time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!  We had a wonder evening last night as a family. 

 The airport drop off was a little anxiety provoking though because the parking garage was not accessible so John had to drop us off curb side to get her checked in and up to security.  It took what seemed like forever for the shuttle to get John back to the terminal from the economy parking lot. Our time in the airport was rushed and before we knew it - she had to go.  She is amazing and took it all in stride.  So proud of her!  Love you soooo much Emmy!  

And just like that, she was giving us the thumbs up....and she was gone - Happy Sad

Her friends left these on the table while we were at the airport 

Emmy's Missionary Blessing

December 3, 2018

President Hutchinson set you apart as a full time missionary to serve 18 months in the Brazil Goiania Mission.

·      Heavenly Father loves you

·      You are a special young woman

·      You have already given much to the world and your family

·      You are full of charity

·      Bless you to recognize the gifts you have been given

·      You have innate powers

·      As you search for the purpose, Heavenly Father will help you recognize your strengths and He will show you how to use your strengths to serve others

·      You will also recognize your weaknesses and our weaknesses can become strengths

·      You will find strength in your challenges

·      None is perfect – and that is ok

·      God will magnify you in all ways

·      You will have a great love for the people of Brazil

·      You will see poverty and want – as a representative of the Jesus Christ you will preach the gospel

·      The greatest gift to the people of Brazil is your testimony

·      They are all children of God and you will teach the message of repentance

·      Bless you to understand the language and in time, to master and comprehend it

·      Trust in God

·      You have been given great and wonderful skills to be able to learn the language

·      Bless you to recognize the Holy Ghost’s influence.  He will help you share your testimony

·      The Holy Ghost will give you strength and increased understanding

·      You will have a marvelous experience and because of the Holy Ghost you will have a source of power

·      You will understand the reason of your mission is to testify of Jesus Christ

·      Come to know the Savior

·      Feel the love that he has for you

·      Share your testimony of the atonement

·      You reflect the image of Christ in your countenance

·      You will witness of healing power

·      You are a daughter of God

·      You have divine purpose

·      Study your patriarchal blessing

·      Your mission will have long lasting effect on your life

·      Your posterity will be blessed because of your mission

·      Find joy and comfort in your calling

·      Love the people

·      Bless you to find the MTC and have great joy and happiness

·      Bless you with a sense of power and humility and strength 

·      Those in your mission will benefit from you being there

·      Bless you with a feeling of home, peace and happiness

·      You will be a powerful example

·      You are blessed with leadership

·      You will be a comfort to other missionaries

·      You will serve members and your temple experiences will be a blessing to you as you help them strive to go to the temple

·      You will fortify and strengthen the people to go to the temple

·      Help them understand the importance of the holy garments

·      As you meet the people of Brazil, you will find those that are prepared the hear the gospel. Guided by the Holy Ghost, you will witness “mighty miracles”

·      It will be marvelous

·      Your family will be protected in all the different parts of the world

·      Your family is blessed because of the children

·      Parents have great faith and sacrifice to have you serve

·      Angels will be around you

·      Spirit of the Savior upon you