God's Hand Is In It

A mission is something else. It's this amazing opportunity to give just a little bit back to God. It's this exciting experience that cannot be replicated by anything else. It's this special period of time that is unique for each and every missionary.
And my mission experience has been no exception to the unique rule.

I arrived back into the United States yesterday and was released as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I had to return home from Brazil due to health problems.

After just under four months out, I'm now home. And there are no words to describe how this feels. When I was heading off so few months ago, the idea that I'd be coming home before my 18 months were up never came to my mind. It wouldn't happen to me... so why even bother entertaining the possibility.
I was ready to lose myself in the work and serve my Father, giving back just a mere fraction of what He's given me. I was ready for that year and a half to be my mission experience. I was ready to grow and learn. I was ready to be a missionary.
But sometimes... our plan for our life isn't the plan that God has for us. This is the case for me. Now,  there is nothing to do but trust in God. That is all one can do when they are pulled away from the dream they thought was right for them. I remember... I remember so well how much I wanted to serve... I can remember that so well. And it kills me to be sitting here. My heart has broken. I feel cut down. Cut back. Rejected. How did this happen? Is this really even happening? When will I wake up and everything will be back to normal... back to how it's supposed to be?
It's that thought... the thought of how it's supposed to be... that gets us. It's getting me that's for sure. It's this thought which makes it crucial to look to God in times like this because He knows what's happening even if we don't. It's faith in Him that will pull us through. It's faith in Him that will pull me through.

Plus He understands. He understands perfectly. Everything I can't explain, every emotion that I can't express, every pain this situation gives me -He understands. And I will rely on that because I have nothing else I can do at this point.
I don't know if more mission is waiting for me or not. Frankly, I'm kind of confused on what God wants from me. All I know is that He loves me and it'll all be okay. And for now when nothing actually feels okay that's all I need to know.

I'm thankful for that knowledge. I'm thankful that through the confusion I can have the peace to know that God is aware of me and has a plan for me. Maybe those three and a half months was all He needed from me. And if that's so, then I am honored to have been able to give that to Him.
He is the author of a perfect plan for me and for that I am eternally thankful because He can lead me better than I can lead myself. It's hard and it hurts. But the things I learned have come home with me. I have learned so much and grown so much. My testimony has grown and I know more than ever that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. It's true. It has to be. Nothing else could give me peace in such a hard time. Nothing else could make so much sense to me. Nothing else could feel so right. My life has been forever changed and is continuously shaped by Christ and His love for me.

Missions are hard. Coming home is hard, especially as early as I did. But God's hand is in it, this I know.

-Carrie Damstedt

A LONG WEEK

This week has felt quite long.

We'll go with I've been sick and not been able to do much of anything. On that account, my email will not be very long. I don't have any stories or any pictures. I'm just kind of truggin' through right now.

But I know that God is with me. He has a plan for me and for every one of His children. The trick is figuring out this plan and aligning our will with His. Sometimes all we can do is trust in Him and His will and His timing. And regardless of how we feel or what we think, His love is ALWAYS there for us to hold onto. And what a blessing that is. Even when everything else seems impossible and wrong, God loves us. He always has and always will. I take great comfort in that.

Best wishes to all of you.

-Sister Damstedt

FRUITY Carrie

Hello from Brazil!

It's a busy place being here. It's fun to see people that actually will talk to you. I like that about here. It's hard though in other ways because LOTS of people like to say they are never at home and busy and stuff but we'll walk by again and they'll be there. It's their way of rejecting us. Which is fine. Rejection with a smile is better than and angry rejection.

I'm pretty short on time right now and there isn't much to tell other than we walk everywhere and already in 2 weeks, one of my pairs of shoes have holes and probably won't last much longer. But oh well, what can ya do? 

There are SO muny kinds of fruits here. and this is one that I had never seen or heard of before. It's called jabuticaba and is sort of kind of like a large circle grape with a giant seed in the middle. I can't decide if I like them or not. Anyway We were walking down the street and they were all over the ground. I asked my companion what they were and kind of slowed down to look and whatnot. She didn't know and we kind of puzzled over them for a second. Then some men across the street who were sitting by a building yelled to us what they were and were like "we'll get you some to try!" So we went over and started talking with one of them while the other ran off and eventually come back with a bag of them. We then had a lesson thing with them on the street and talked a little bit. It was very cool and I'm very good at sharing scriptures in Portuguese. That happens here. Strangers will just sit there and listen to you and pray with you on the street. It is amazing. We are trying to get with them again and teach a real life lesson soon. But it's hard to refind people or contact them when you don't have a phone. But we'll find them again if God needs it to happen. It was a very cool experience.

Hope you all have a great week! Remember to see God in your lives everyday because he is there.

-Sister Damstedt

What is Optional and What is Not

I'm going to apologize right up front for this email and all that will come from now on. I'm kind of in Brazil and the key boards are very different. So spelling is going to be rough I think. And that`s just your heads up. Plus it`ll only be getting worse as I use Portuguese more. Ha... Portuguese.

Portuguese is way hard. Ha. It`s so pathetic how much I don`t know about this languauage. I have the ability to communicate semi well, but that means absolutely nothing when you don`t know what anyone is saying and so you can`t respond because you don`t know what the conversation is about. It`s so pathetic, it`s funny. But I am learning. I`ve almost been here a week and already I can tell I`m understanding more and more. I can tell words apart form the others I just have a very limited vocabulary so I can`t understand them. Which is fine. I`m pretty used to it. It`s weird how not being able to communicate or understand because so normal so quickly. I`m very used to it... I just try to pick up what I can and go from there.

Let`s talk for a second how different it is here than in New York. We can literally go up to people, tell them flat out that we are missionaries, tell them we want to go talk to them about Jesus at their house another day, ask for the address, AND they give it to us. The first day was the WEIRDEST thing ever. I am used to up front flat out rejection and now nearly every person we talk to tells us we can come to their house and talk to them about God. We have yet to find anyone at home (we have only tried 3 or 4 people) but the fact that they say we could come back and they don`t say ``don`t come back`` is a miracle to me. I`ve talked to a single person that flat out told us their religion and that she wasn`t interested and wouldn`t let us talk at all to her. My companion was like ``what the`` and I was like ``ok whatever. that`s normal``. It was funny be cause she was ALL caught up on this. But that was my life the previous six weeks.

Here is very different. Here is a small list of them: stop signs are optional. Cross walks are optional -I'm pretty sure I could die every time I cross the road- Lanes are optional. Ends of redlughts are very optional. If you are a motorcycle, everything is VERY optional. |Showering is NOT optional -it is so hot and we walk around a lot so we get gross- Everything here is great in a very different kind of way. Like the juice. I will never be able to drink the juice in the US again. Oh my goodness. It is heavenly here.

I love my mission presedent and his wife. THey are very sweet. In the car ride from the airport to the mission office, they gave me a phone that had a picture and they were like "do you know him?" And I was like no. I don''t. But apparently I will never get away from being in an area where I am related to people. Because their daughter married someone in my family. I don"t even know how we are related, But even in Brazil I"m finding family.

Well. Last week I was is New York... and now I'm in Brazil. I don't really know what happened there. But here I am and here I go, learning Portuguese and talking to more strangers than I ever have in my whole life. I hope all is well with you all there in the States. All is well in Brasil! HOpe all have a great day! 

For my poictures- One is of my district. We have 6 sisters and 2 elders. Which I find to be a bit weird but Tudo Bem. And the other is of the veiw from my bedroom. It`s wonderfully beautiful here. But it is HOT. And we walk A LOT. Which is fine. I know both would be coming with being in Brazil. 

She Made It

Last New York Email

Well the next email I send will be from Brazil! Isn't that superb?  (BY THE WAY, WE DID HEAR FROM CARRIE AND SHE GOT TO BRAZIL SAFELY). 

I really don't have much to talk about though. The other sisters that we live with had a baptism this weekend. And that was INCREDIBLE. I love that. This man was so in love with the church. He was a miracle that they found. 

It's sad saying goodbye to New York. This really was part of my mission and I met so many people and learned so many things here that I wouldn't have had the opportunity to experience had I gone to Brazil right away. I'm surprised that I'm leaving this soon but it's slowly sunk in that it's time. Even if it doesn't feel like I'm really leaving the continent today. It's a new and exciting time in my life to be going to Brazil. I don't even know Portuguese. Ha! It's great. I'm so excited for that experience. Well... the fun of it will probably wear of real quick, but it's one thing I'm looking forward to as of right now. 

This is a leaf the size of my face. Literally. We found it in the Sacred Grove when we were at the Temple last week. 

This is the guy who was baptized yesterday. He is a hoot. and we all had a jolly grand time eating at his house all the time. He is the gourmet chef. He is great! 

Well I hope all is well where you are. It's all well in NY and I'm sure it will be in Brazil too! 

Have a magnificent day! 

-Sister Damstedt

VISA: Here I come Brazil!

Well this is the email that I'm sure everyone was thinking would never come, because I sure didn't think I'd ever be sending it. But I'm pleased to announce that my visa has come and I will be going to Brazil next Monday! Yay! I will finally be able to use all that Portuguese! It's going to be a fun and exciting new part of my mission and I'm overjoyed that I will be going. But man-oh-man does it feel crumby to know I have to say goodbye to EVERYONE. I don't like that part. But so it goes... 

Anyway... This week was grand. Lots of fun things happened. I went on exchanges and had ice cream and went to Niagra Falls and ate pizza and taught the gospel. I can't really ask for a better week. I'm excited for this week as well because I finally feel like we have a full busy week! And that makes me happy. I hate having time that I don't know what to do with. AND on Wednesday I get to go to the temple! Oh I'm overjoyed. The Palmyra temple looks really similar to the one we have in the Tri-cities. And man are we so blessed to have one so close. Go as often as you can because we are SO BLESSED. It's a beautiful place to be and I'm super excited to go this week. 

I don't really have much to say about the week other than that my visa came. I can't decide if I believe them yet or not.. but apparently it actually did come. After basically 10 months, IT CAME! (: The Falls! I would sure say this is a cool place to go. If you ever have the chance, I recommend it. But go to the Canada side, everyone says it's much better over there. I wouldn't know... but rumor has it. Either way it's pretty much the coolest.   So I got myself a sweater... just in time to leave ha, naturally. But I also influenced my companion for the better and got her in on the ways that sweaters make life better. And of course nothing is better than cookies in a sweater. That was a great day! 

Well I hope everyone is doing alright. Things are great up here in New York, but not for long! Hope everyone has a marvelous week! 

Hard Things and Delicious Food

 Well another week has gone by. I can't really understand how time actually goes by because ever day seems to never end and then suddenly I'm back to another Monday sending emails. It doesn't make any sense to me, but hey I'm okay with that. 

This week was actually really great. Sister Astorga and I made some wonderful progress in finding people who were interested and with one of the current people we are teaching. He doesn't have any religious background and doesn't believe in God... but wants to learn about why people read the Bible and why religion is so precious to so many people. And this week we had the best lesson with him of all time. He still doesn't believe in God but he is open to the possibility that maybe there is. He sees holes in the things he grew up learning and told us that we motivated him to want to pray and find out if there is a God. Can I just say there is nothing more rewarding than seeing someone that you really don't actually know that well, but love with more of your heart than you can explain says something like that?!? When they tell you they appreciate the effort that we are making to teach him and help him. There is nothing better. It's fulfilling, rewarding, and is the reason why I'm on my mission. It's amazing the way everyone just grows into your heart and you love them so much.

At the same time, this was the worst week of my mission. When Sister Astorga and I were sent to our area, the mission president told us that we would be opening a new area and that we should do that however we felt would be best. And since we live with another set of sisters and have to share a car and the current area was SO big, we decided to be an area by people. Well, this week, the President decided that he wanted a geographical boundary for our area... which meant that no matter how we split the area, we would have to pass our people to the other sisters. There is nothing worse than the feeling of leaving them. We found, taught and connected with them and loved them so much... and now with our boundaries being different, we have to pass them on to the other sisters. It is the hardest thing. And it breaks my heart. And now I know exactly how each time I'm transferred is going to feel. Except that it'll be worse because I won't be in the same ward as them if they join the church. Oh being a missionary is hard. But God is in it. I don't know why, but there are reasons for what is happening. Things that we don't know or understand are always in  the details for why things happen. And as hard as it is, all you can do is trust that God knows what he is doing and it'll work out.

There is one investigator that the other sisters found that is amazing and is a gourmet cook. So we get DELICIOUS food from him all the time. Probably 2-3 a week. It's incredible what he feeds us. He actually is getting baptized this month and we are more than excited for him. This is a picture of one of the meals that he fed us. It was so good as always. In our ward there are 4 sets of missionaries and so the ward members like to have all or some of us over at the same time.... so we get fed a lot. It's really great to see the members so excited to have us here(:  

Also, at our last district meeting, we had a contest and our district leaders had a bunch of old trophies from a ward member who was getting rid of them.... We won.... 3rd. But should have gotten 4th... because we cheated a little.... hehehe.... We repented. But it's a really cool trophy. It says "BEST IN BREED" across the front. It's really nice and is a fun memory(: 

Finally Getting Warm

Hello! 

This week has been pretty great! We are super blessed up here in New York. We've been very sloooowly finding people who either want us to teach them or like us enough that they'll allow us to come over a second time. It's a challenge, but I've found that if they talk to us once and are friendly in that encounter, they normally will talk to us again. Up here where we are, the church isn't known much (or at all) and so no one realizes that we are pretty much normal people. This is so sad to me because this is the place it all started! WHY don't people even know about us. That's why we are here I guess. 

In the last little bit, we found this perfect little lady and her husband while walking and I adore them. I can't get over them. She is especially precious... they both went to the Sacred Grove 10 or so years ago and both felt the Spirit so strongly and she told us that she knows it's true. Ah, I can't handle it. But alas, they currently are very involved in a biker church and by very involved I mean that her husband is an ordained preacher. So we really don't know where this is going to go. But they want us to come over and eat salads and baked goods with them and talk about God and since we love them and have very few people to teach we are all for it. I'm actually really excited to see what happens. I love them so much. 

I actually love everyone here so much. Especially the people we are teaching/contacting as friends right now. We are super blessed and I just can't handle it! This is why I'm here... for them and it's happening and I am so happy.

So these pictures... One of them is me on my bed as it was for the last three weeks. As a visa waiter to a hot place like Brazil, I have literally nothing to keep warm. No coats or blankets or sweaters or tights. Nothing. BUT when I go to the mission home, one of the Older couple missionaries gave me that wonderful coat up cuddled up under on my bed in the picture. And since It is as cold as Alaska in our house even when it's warm outside, I really had that and two small blankets to sleep with. So that was a fun adventure... curling up under that all the time. But then the mission sent us more blankets and every night is oh-so-cozy now. And slowly, I'm accumulating warmer clothes from Walmart every P-day. 

Also that is a picture of the biggest cupcakes in the world. We ate them at a Family Home Evening that the ward holds in a member's home for any one and they love it when the missionaries come. So we went that night and it was delightful. Those are all the four lovely sisters who live together.  This week certainly has been a food week. We have been given pies and cup cakes and the members always shove dessert into us after making us eat everything in their house beforehand. It's a pretty great life to lead. I love being a missionary.

Moroni 7:33 "If ye have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me." Remember that! Whatsoever thing! What a promise is that. If we simply have faith we can do what God requires. And as a missionary, you realize just how much help you really do need to do what God requires, because talking to strangers isn't anything easy!

Love you and have a great week!

-Sister Damstedt

Drowned Biker?

This week the weather has been the weirdest. So I get here and the first day is sweltering. IT is so hot. And then the next night it's freezing. And it goes back and forth all over the place every few nights. Getting up in the morning is REAL hard when it's cold.... and I often fall asleep while I'm praying. It's a struggle every morning and I'm trying my best to repent and do better. But there was the first rainy day. And of course since I didn't plan to be a biker, I'm in a biking mission. Well Sister Astorga and I got to ride around in the rain and get all wet and dirty and talk to a few people and it was great. It rains A LOT when it decides to rain and the streets, sidewalks, and front yards get really flooded. Everything is uneven so there are some parts that are perfectly dry and others that have literally like 17 feet of water. It's pretty fun. In a wet kind of cold way.

Also, the first day of biking, Sister Astorga's bike likes to break... so we get to play mechanics and fix it. or walk home and wait for you upstairs neighbor from Tonga to help us fix it. That might have happened. 

Really though, other than the weather and the other small things like I wish I had my sweaters to snuggle into and that no one really wants to talk to us, things are going great. My companion is a doll and the two sisters we room with are something else. We are having as much fun as a missionary is allowed to have(; ha. Sometimes more though. 

Have a great day! D&C 6:36. I wrote it in my planner and don't know why or what it says, so hope it could maybe apply to someone out there(: Enjoy!

-Sister Damstedt

Well here I am in NEW YORK. Being a missionary and whatnot. I will tell you right now that this is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life and it has only been about 5 days. It is something else. The MTC doesn't prepare you for squat. Especially if you spend all your time learning Portuguese. BUt that is ok. I'm learning quick.

So I have a story about my companion: Sister Astorga. She is a doll and I love her to death. She is from Guatemala and is Fluent in Spanish. ANd wouldn't you know, Portuguese. (she says she isn't, but she can speak it) The cool part about this story is that my mission president didn't know that she was fluent when he assigned us together. This was SUCH a tender mercy from the Lord. We also are living with two other sisters, one who is going to The Brazil Rebeirao Preto mission just like me. So three of the four in our house can speak together. It is the BIGGEST blessing. Even if we don't always use it as much as we should. It just showed me how much God does love me and wants me to be successful in my mission, in New York and later in Brazil.

On my first day here, President Francis took all the new missionaries to a bunch of the church sites. It was a miraculous day! We went to the Hill Cumorah, the Joseph Smith houses, the Sacred Grove and a few other places. The Sacred Grove was my favorite. We always talk about the first vision and that it happened in the Sacred Grove... but I guess it had never really been real to me. I mean it was real but it just was one of those things. But then we went and I was there and it WAS real. President let us go off alone for a little bit and I cannot describe the way that place feels. We have the ability to bring in a testifying spirit when we talk about this experience, but to BE THERE was something else entirely. Sitting on a bench I was looking around and it was so clear. This happened. It happened here. And I knew it. More than I have ever known. Joseph Smith saw God and he restored the church. I cannot deny it. The coolest thing about my mission is that all the sisters who are called to serve here work as tour guides at all these sites, so I've been learning SO much about the early history of the church. There is a nickname for our mission and it's the Cradle of the Restoration. Everything that happened in the first few years of the Restoration happened in my mission. There is a Spirit in those sites that cannot be replicated. I know it is holy ground and I know that it is true. If nothing else comes from my time spent in New York, I will know that more than I ever have. But more things will happen for me than just that. They already are.

It's a privilege and a blessing to be a servant for the Lord. It is hard and it is tedious work, but it is not harder and it is not more tedious than what our Savior had to do while he was doing the Father's work. And I am here to find and teach those who are ready to receive this truth. Some days I don't know how that will happen, but I've been called to do it and I know it will. 

Here is a nother picture. I stayed in the house that Brigham Young's father built my first night in the mission. It was the best night sleep I'd had in 6 weeks and probably will be for my whole mission!

First Photo from New York

First photo from New York.  One of these other sister missionaries had her family come to pick her up and the mom sent me this photo of Carrie with these two other missionaries.
Suzanne

Reassignment While Waiting for my Visa

Hey friends and family,

Today was a great extra surprise pday. I got all packed and am basically ready to leave the MTC. Minus the fact that there is a day in between now and when I leave. So basically I'm going to be living out of the free bin because I don't know where any of my things are in my suitcases, I packed and repacked them like 4000 times to be able to make the weight in each. I'm ultra bummed that I had to get another bag... All of those books they give you really weigh you down, literally. And seeing as I'm still supposed to be able to communicate once I finally get to Brazil, I need to take them with me. But still I don't know where All the other stuff came from. I mean I picked up a few t-shirts from the free bin because I realized that I needed more work out shirts as a runner because I sweat a lot apparently. Since I've never been a runner, I never would have known that. I'm not REALLY a runner now... but for the majority of gym times, I've been working on it. And I am quite pleased to announce that probably three weeks into my stay, I successfully ran two consecutive miles without stopping. And I'm am proud of it.

Mostly though, other than packing, there isn't really much going on. Just waiting and still studying in Portuguese. Which makes sense since I'm not going to Brazil. But really, I do love Portuguese and I love how far I've come and how awesome I feel like I am. Sometimes during lessons I forget that I'm speaking in Portuguese. I forget that it's not English and that I'm not really logically supposed to be more comfortable in this language than the one I've spoken for the last 19 years of my life. I love how that happened. The other day I was asked to pray before our service project and I had to do it in English and it was the hardest prayer I have ever given. I seriously haven't prayed in all English for over a month. Praying is normal to me in Portuguese now. And I think I probably won't switch back. I mean I use English when I can't think of words or don't know them, but mostly it's Portuguese. 

Oh, I got to leave the MTC again. One of my companions had to get their wisdom teeth out yesterday because they didn't actually have room for them when her dentist said they did so it was infected and causing problems. So we went out and got that done and it was just as weird as the first time. I'm not sure how the world outside of this place works anymore. I'm going to have to adjust a lot. 

Well, here are some pictures: 

1) Me pointing at BOTH of my missions! How blessed am I?? I get two missions! And I couldn't be happier. I can't even believe that it was only yesterday that I got my reassignment. It just seems so normal that I'm going to New York. It seems so perfect and I can't wait! Fun possibility about my mission: the Sacred Grove might be in it. HOW GREAT would that be if I got to visit. Oh how I hope it is in my mission and oh how I hope I get to go. That would make me so extraordinarily happy. 

2)This is a rock that has been in our room for the last few weeks. It's kind of like a pet in a way. We love it. We found it while cleaning out a pipe chase for service and decided to keep it just in case we needed to give someone as a present again like we did for one of our Elder's birthday. But we didn't need to and we (mostly me) became sort of attached to it. It is a really nice rock. (sorry it's sideways. Computers are hard and I can't make them work) 

I hope that all is well wherever you are. Have a great day and know that you are in God and mine's thoughts!

-Sister Damstedt

Hey friends(:

I just looked at my reassignment(: 

I just can't handle how excited I am for this. 

It was like a second mission call except for this time I didn't want to open it. 

But as soon as I looked and as soon as I saw it, I knew that this is where I'm supposed to go before Brazil. 

So here is what you all are waiting for: 

I have been reassigned to labor in the New York Rochester Mission until my visa comes(: 

I can't stop smiling. 

I'll be leaving the MTC on Monday morning at 3:35 am to catch my 8:25 am flight. 

I can't wait to finally go out into the world and serve the God I love. 

This is my time and it's finally here. 

I am a missionary. 

And I know this church is true. 

With love to you all, 

-Sister Damstedt ~Now a member of the New York Rochester Mission ~(: 

(: 

In my last email I was all excited that I had been in the MTC a month. That happens to be a false statement at that time. In my brain I was thinking: four weeks=one month. Well it doesn't. But as of right now, I HAVE actually been here a month. More so actually. To the point of I'm one of the oldest sister hanging around... I'm getting my reassignment this week... and that I'm leaving within the next eight days. What has happened here? What has happened to this month?? I mean I just got here! But no... I have been here a whole month. It's a little sad and a little relieving. I think the next 17 months will fly by considering how quick the first one was and all I did was sit in a classroom all day every day. 

I have no word about my visa. So I'm expecting to be reassigned this week and be heading off into a new U.S. mission come next week. As the visa rumor giver, I will pass on the latest visa situation gossip that I know. Apparently, visas are in short supply because the U.S. only lets so many Brazilians have a visa, so this makes Brazil say that they'll only give out visas to that same amount of Americans. Another little tid but is that the San Francisco consulate (I think that one at least... regardless of the name, the one in California that my paperwork went through) is having problems. So basically no one who goes through that consulate gets their visa, hence why I do not have mine. So that little rumor of more people from Washington get called to Brazil because our consulate goes quicker for us is apparently false. I am the proof of that. However, all hope for other people getting to Brazil is not lost. The Houston consulate is the lucky place to go through. Two elders in my district went through that one and both received their visa this past week and are heading down to Brazil! What a treat for them! I'm so excited for them. They are going to do so much good down there. I'm so excited for them. 

I finally got a picture with Elder Wells. I'm pretty sure he is leaving the MTC tomorrow. That lucky dog. He got here after me and left before me. Oh well. I've learned quite a bit during my time here and I'm thankful for so many of the experiences that I've had. Like last week at Devotional, there was another MTC world wide broadcast and Elder Neil L Anderson came and spoke. It was super cool. And after wards, there was a crazy rain storm with thunder and lighting to the point where they made us stay in for a bit before walking back to the MTC campus and so Elder Anderson went around and shook hands with a bunch of people. I was no where near close to the people he met at the front, but Elder Wells said he was like a row away. That must have been so grand to see him so closely. I however, was seen on the telecaster (is that what the video screen is even called?) by basically ever MTC goer ever because I was in the choir. That was fun. Elder Wangsgaard emailed me saying he saw me. So that was fun. 

A couple of days ago, I left the MTC. My companions and I literally walked out the front gate past the security booth, across the street and down the road. It was the weirdest thing I have ever done here. We had to go pick up a prescription at the BYU health clinic. IT was the weirdest. We seriously just left and no one asked or questioned or anything. We just left like that was the normal thing to do... even though it is the furthest thing from normal. But I did enjoy getting out for a bit. Even though I just really wanted to get back in as soon as I was out. It was fun. 

Here are some pictures from my week. There is the one in the laundromat with Elder Wells and his companion. Awkward mixed gender missionary pictures at it's finest. You think you don't know what to do with your hands in pictures outside of the MTC, just wait till you are in. It just gets bad. Also here is a picture of all of my district. I'll just say they are a motley crew.... with very distinct and interesting personalities. All in all, I think there is only like four of them that I could see myself actually being friends with if I had met all of the outside of the MTC. But that is the goodness of the mission, it brings you into places you normally wouldn't go and to people you normally wouldn't meet and teaches you to love them. And I do love my district. Yes, sometimes I want to strangle almost every single one of them at times... but mostly I've been learning a lot about how to accept and love people based on who they are, not on who I wish they would be. It's been an experience, that's for sure. 

I hope all is well over where you all are. I'm doing great and I'm more than excited to finally be heading out into the field and feel like I'm part of the work I've been called to. I know that I spent the time I needed here at the MTC and I'm ready to go. I'm ready to serve God. 

Carrie and the Map: Here's Brazil

Hey all of you.

I have been in the MTC for almost a month now. And I can't even believe that. I am basically amazed that I'm alive because they work us so hard here. I do believe that I have been having the most uplifting experience of my life here and I love it. It's so hard but it's so great. 

I've been seeing lots of people here in the MTC from back home. Which is a great feeling. IT's like "wow all these people I know are also serving missions!" And that is really uplifting. I've seen Sister Wadsworth, Sister Porter, Elder Graff, Elder Ostler, and Elder Colette. IT's just fun to see a few people here that you didn't get to know in the last few weeks. 

I also have seen Elder Wells. Which I didn't even know would happen! I guess I just didn't connect that he would be here at the same time as me. But In the book store he said hello and I was like "no way! Cousin!" So that was fun. 

Welp. Nothing has really happened since last week. I'm learning more and more but really it's the same thihng every day. And I love it. I still don't have my visa and I probably won't know if it's here or not till next Friday when reassignments come. I'm expecting to be reassigned and I'm ok with that. I'm actually really excited. This way I'll hopefully be able to have some experiences teaching in English, which I really have come to love and appreciate over the last few weeks. So I'm pretty excited for this upcoming week. 

I hope all is well wherever you are. 

I really don't have much more to say.... so I'll say things in Portuguese. Because that sounds fun: 

Oi. Eu quero falar em Portuguese um pouco. Eu nao posso falar moito bom mas eu posso falar sobre o evangelho muito. Nos Aprendemos mais sobra palavras da igreja porque nos usamos los muito. Em licaos e em classe e em nossas testemunhos. Eu acho que eu estou muito bom com portuguese mas eu sei que nao estou. Eu gosto de achar estou. Em classe, nossos professores nao falar muito en ingles e eu gosto de lo muito porque escutando de eles esta divertido para mim. Eu amo escutando e sabendo que eles falaram. Esta um sentimento muito ultimo. Eu se que Deus me ajuda com portuguese. Nao posso este obra sem ele. Eu lhe amo. Espero que todos de voces amam ele tamem. Tem um bom dia! 

I feel like I have a handle of speaking broken Portuguese. 

Everyone have a great day and remember that God loves you all so much. That is the greatest feeling ever... to know that an all powerful being is on our side wishing for our salvation and helping us achieve it because he loves us. Just soak it in. Let it become such a part of you. Because It is so true. God loves me and you. And I love God right back. Until next Tuesday!

Sister Damstedt

Popsicles Can be STICKY

I'll start off with an entertaining story from my time here at the MTC: 

I was going to eat a Popsicle and went to lick it. As I was going into the lick, my tongue hit it more than I expected and got stuck. That was embarrassing a bit. And like 5 people in my district were laughing and laughing and dying. They were like "put it in your mouth and it'll melt off of your tongue!" And I'm like Absolutely not. But they insisted it would work. So I eventually caved (since about half of my tongue was stuck and my tongue was freezing) and drew my tongue back into my mouth and closed it. And my entire mouth sealed to the Popsicle. Shut. Frozen shut around a Popsicle. I was so upset. I knew it was a terrible idea and did it anyway.... So then everyone in the caff near by me was laughing and looking and telling me one hundred different things to do to get myself unfrozen. So i started dripping water off my finger all around my lips and then tongue until I was free. And that all happened in under two minutes, so as you might imagine my tongue was mighty cold. as were my lips. It was an experience. 

And now I'll tell a stinkin' awesome story: 

In the MTC we do this thing every week called TRC. It's basically us talking in Portuguese to member who come and volunteer. Kind of like what the missionaries do after dinner at member's houses. They share a thought and whatever. So we were doing our first one last Friday and we hadn't really prepared anything because we had just finished prepping and teaching a lesson for one of our investigators. So we were like "quick! What do we talk about??" We decided on the Book of Mormon. So We had to go in like under a minute and we were scrambling for a scripture to help in the message we were sharing. So I was like "oh Mosiah 2:41!" Because I love that one. And so we found it, read it in Port really quick, and went off. We got in with the first guy and were chatting it up and then moved into what we were talking about: The Livro de Mormon. And Sister Mapa, along the beginning, decided to ask what his favorite verse in the BOM was. He was like "um.... em Mosiah.... capitulo dois...." And me and Sister Auna were like oh sakesssssss... "O ultimo verciculo." And roughly translated that meant: the scripture we had picked out to share. So we kind of like open mouth gasp/laughed for 75 seconds because we couldn't believe that had happened, couldn't remember any Portuguese any more and couldn't decided how to handle the situation in the Portuguese that we couldn't remember. That was one of THE COOLEST teaching experiences so far. 

Also cool story: 

Richard G. Scott came and talked at last Tuesday's devotional. It was the first ever MTC broadcast. So all the MTCs all over the world were either watching live or waiting for it for the next day. It was so inspiring. Twice during the meeting, he bestowed on all the missionaries learning a new language an apostolic blessing that according to our faith we would receive the gift of tongues. Coolest thing ever. And his talk was also pretty stinkin' great too. He is such a great speaker. 

Also, side note... I realized after sending the email talking about the MTC to Travis about the cord was stupid because he is going to Mexico. And not here. So that was dumb of me. My advise probably was lame and invalid for him. But if anyone else is ever entering the Provo MTC, it is very much so a thing. 

I don't have my visa. No one in my large district has. I'm basically just counting on being reassigned. I'm ok with that. I'm actually excited for it. Then I'd have experiences in a stateside and abroad mission and that would be awesome. I mean it'll be sad not to use my Portuguese but I'm not really worried about that. I'm far enough along that I think it'd be easy to pick up again. When I'm reading t, I'm basically pro. I noticed that this last week. I can read and basically understand everything that is going on. I love that. It's so evident that I am having help from on High to be able to speak this language. I love Portuguese. Things make sense in it. I find scriptures and I love them so much more in Port. I'm pretty sure I was supposed to be born into the Portuguese language but that there was a mix up, I came to English and so now I'm catching up with destiny and learning Portuguese. I love it so much. I cannot wait to learn even more. 

It's crazy to think I've been here for basically half my time. It feels like I just got here and it also feels like I've been here for forever. I love it though. As much as one can love the MTC. Something that is sad around here is that there aren't any good days and there aren't any bad days, just good moments and bad moments. That is the truest thing I'm heard about the MTC. Everyday is filled with so many different things that you really can't say any particular day was a good day. But There are always tender mercies and the smallest blessings throughout the day that counter the moments when you are hungry or tired or worried about anything. Those good moments are the best. Especially since being hungry and tired happens quite often. We, as visa waiters, are just thrown into the schedule wherever they can fit us. Which means getting up half an hour earlier than the rest of the campus. SO I, as a person who values and needs more than 8 hours of sleep to function cheerfully and correctly throughout a day, is going off of about 7 hours by the time I fall asleep after lights out each day. This has been one struggle but it is all working out. 

I Hope all is going well back wherever you all are. Have a great day! 

Sister Damstedt

Here is a picture of the food I get to eat. It's not bad. Today's lunch (pictured) was actually SO GOOD. I enjoyed this meal thoroughly. 

A Birthday ROCK

Hey everyone!

This is the birthday rock we sisters gave an elder on his birthday. It has all five sister in my district and one set of the elders.

THis is a really big bee hive/wasp hive we found on our temple rock. It is literally the size of my face.

So things are trekking right along! I don't know what it is, but the saying, make it till Sunday is so true. After the first Sunday came the hardness didn't go away, but it was faster. Well looking back it feels faster. Everyday is long and hard and feels like three days in one that will never end... but filled with things that make it so you never want it to end but long for bed. Like the two sessions of 3 hour classes we have every day. That's great. But I'm learning so much and I can't wait to get into an actual mission field where what I'm doing is actually helping someone other than me.

My Portuguese is doing fine. I'm getting a lot better at reading than I am at speaking, but I think that's a stress thing. I can think in Port pretty well, just making it come out of my mouth is hard sometimes. But we did a pretend lesson with a tricompanionship of elders the other day and we had maybe 20 minutes to prepare... and well we did what we prepared and then they asked a question that we weren't expecting. The coolest thing ever happened: I was just like "BAM - Portuguese words" flowing out in a choppy, but very informatively confident way. I was pleased.

We finished with our first investigator last week and it was basically just a "yes I'll agree to everything so you can work on Portuguese" experience. This week, we started teaching anew one and tomorrow another new one. It is hard! Knowing what to say and then saying it is even harder... because we CAN"T yet. It's such a learning experience. I'm learning a lot about patience and rewording sentences with a limited vocabulary. It's pretty fun. I'm a miserable way.

Thanks family (and the Rews!) for the food that was sent! I was quite pleased. The hunger problem is diminishing slightly. Because of the food and because my stomach has adjusted to the food time and portions and lengths between eating. That was one of the hardest adjustments. The food is fine, but I do miss Taco bell. And baking. The cookies just aren't as good and I don't really want to eat them. So I don't. Thanks for the prayers and everything.

Dad, I am impressed to hear you found that bag all by yourself (with Mark's help I'm sure, that fashionista.) It's perfect. and the granola bars are great!

The other day I saw Sister Garrett (sp?) on campus! She is a teacher here at the MTC. She saw my name tag and approached me and it was her! With her cute little pregnant belly! I thought that was a fun thing, seeing one of the sister missionaries from back home... off and going on with their lives and having children. Well in three more months.

Also, if Travis hasn't left yet, let him know that to upload pictures here at the MTC it's a struggle. You basically need an SD card reader to get the pictures. Some cords don't work. You can buy them here around 7 dollars for the cheaper generic type but more advanced ones here are more expensive... for fancier cards or whatever. And since I don't know how much they are in the real world I can't compare. But that's something no one told me and it was a bummer and is dumb.

Every so often, I'll remember what I am: A missionary. I'll stop and smile and realize that It's finally happening. I love that. I love that I am here and that I am serving. It took me longer than most to get out here from my calling, but I did. It's funny to see people react when I say I got my call last November. They just can't even understand. And then I explain a touch and they are like "uh... oh." It's funny. Even funnier is the visa thing. EVERYONE (especially the elders) want their visas to come. They  think that the MTC in Brazil will magically be better... or easier or something. So they are silly. So the first few days that was a thing: to ask about everyone's visas and when they put it in and whatever else they felt was needed. And I'm always like, "mines been in for 8 months...." And they just widen their eyes and are like "YOU KIDDING ME?? Mine is never coming." And I say "yeah that is basically what it means."  But it's weird... everything would be so different for me if I hadn't have extended my call date... I'd be off somewhere else teaching and forgetting my port.... I wouldn't know the elders and the sisters I know.... I wouldn't have had my teachers or investigators. Sometimes I let my mind wander to that what would be different.... but then I realize it isn't different and I'm here now. I'm ready now and I'm serving now. I am a missionary. And THAT is what matters. Right now.

 God be with you all. I pray lots every day so you're in them. Exercising my Portuguese vocabulary(; Have a great day and remember God loves you and so do I! 

Bom Dia!

MY pictures: The first Sunday here was a fast Sunday...and I was SO Hungry! And then that was on our temple walk with my companions. Sister Auna is the shorter one and Sister Mapa the taller one.They are great!  More pictures will come next week!

Week One!

Hey family and friends!

Well I made it past Sunday at the MTC and let me tell you, the MTC is a place like NO OTHER. I love it, I hate it, I can't imagine being any where else.

One fun thing that happens here is dinner at 4, which means I'm starving a couple hours later. I've gone to bed hungry every night. So that's a thing. Also my feet are often swollen. from the sitting and walking that I look like bigfoot. it's great.

Also for my parents, I have two thing: one to worry about, one to not. You don't need to worry about my atendance at BYU in winter 2015, but you do need to worry about my abikity and capacity to be able to attend college. I told you and many others that I would be home in De=cember. This is false. I will not be home till January 27, 2015. So my simple counting skills are shot. I should probably just drop out of college. Mom and dad, can you contact BYU and find out how to extend my defferal?

I love the spirit that is here. We were thrown into Portuguese and had to teach our first lesson the second day. Which was way hard and kinf of awful. This place is crazy like. that. And almost every day since we've taught. I really feel like I've tripled my abilities but coming out with what I had is REALLY helpful. I'm basically a star(; But It's amazing how much more comfortable I am with Port from the 5 days that I've been studying compared to the few months I had learning prior. God is here helping me. This i Know.

I still don't have my visa, sad, but rumor has it they are going faster so fingers crossed. I can't wait to get to Brazil!

I have two companions because there are 5 sisters in my district. Sister Auna and Sister Mapa. I'm white they are Poly. So I'm the odd man out. IT's fun. I want to send pictures but I don't know how.

I'm having a great time.

Please send letters (and mom and dad that package would really make my tummy happier. hint hint. ) because that is the most exciting part of the day.... to see if anyone sent something. Also there is Dear elder. So family figure out that because it is was convenient and so fast and easy. I'd like stuff from anyone really.

I would send pictures but I can't figure it out.

Have a great week and may God be with you and bless you.

The church is true.

-Sister Damstedt

Carrie's Departure

 We got up this morning and took Carrie to the airport and said goodbye to her there.  Her grandparents picked her up in Salt Lake City.

 This is the MTC, or Mission Training Center.  She will be there for about 6 weeks learning Portuguese and hoping her visa arrives so she can then leave for Brazil.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has several in different parts of the world.  Since she didn't have her visa, she will get her language and religious training at this one in Provo, Utah.  We think she will be a great missionary.  She will be gone 18 months and will only be able to call home 3 times (2 Christmases and one mother's day.)

Good bye Carrie, we are proud of you and good wishes to you!