Last week when I emailed I was emailing from a LAN house in the center of Osasco close to the Stake Center where we had our activity with some other missionaries in our Zone.

Afterwards, we crossed the street to catch a bus back to our house. There is a bus stop on the street of our house in our neighborhood, Yolanda. That very morning as we left we saw the bus with #2 pass by us on the street, so we took note that it was a bus we could catch to return. So what do we do when we see the bus with #2? We get on the bus and start driving! Another indicator that I saw to ensure we were catching the right bus was the sign on the front that said the bus passed the library by our house.

I wanted to write a letter so I took advantage of the bus time and wrote away quickly and messily (is that a word?...it looks weird...but then again I don´t know much about my own language anymore!) After a little while, Sister Felipe got my attention and asked me if it seemed like the bus was going in the right direction. I looked around and saw that we were crossing a bridge that I had never seen before in my life. I had never taken that bus before so I told her I didn't know and that we should see if he turned around at the part of the freeway that had a return that was coming up. Well he turned on it but then continued in a different direction. Our suspicions that we were indeed on the wrong bus started to be confirmed so Sister Felipe went up to the front to ask the worker that takes your money as you enter where we were and where we were going!! Well it just happens that that SAME bus has two routes and you have to look on the side of the number to see if its going to Yolanda or Helena Maria! We, of course, were heading towards Helena Mara! Its still in Osasco atleast, not crazy long from our house, but not very close either. The worker told us that we could wait until the end of the route, and then go back with them, because they change back to the Yolanda route after the HM route. AY AY AY!!

We didn't have the slightest clue which bus to catch if we descended earlier, so we stayed until the end of the route as he said to do. On the way back to Yolanda, we got stuck in major traffic and were completely stopped at one point for about 15 minutes. We then passed by in the Center on the same street that we had first gotten the bus...seriously...and continued on until we finally made it home! What time was it when we reached out gate? Just about 8PM! We were on that stupid bus for well over 2 hours!!!!

But no...the story doesn't end there! We went to open the gate to our house and the lock wouldn´t open! We were locked out of our house! NOOOO!

A little background: Elder Dawson, the senior couple Elder that is in charge of helping with the houses had come by to take our Tank since we got a washing machine (and oh am I so grateful for this machine!!). Our lock has already had many problems and we have to do a special system to get the gate to lock. We had been meaning to change it for some time now but hadn´t. When Elder Dawson left, he too had problems in getting the gate to lock. He finally succeeded but it appears the lock had had enough and decided that it would never open again!!!

We tried for a while and then went to an appointment we had. After wards the investigator came with us to the gate and tried to open it too. No luck. During this process we had talked to a Sister in the ward that lives close by because we were going to return something to her, but without being able to get it out of our house we had to way to return it. She told us that we could stay in her house if all else failed.

All else failed...so for the first time on the mission, we had a SLEEPOVER in the house of a member!! It was very strange....very very strange! But she was super sweet to us and reheated their dinner for us to eat some and made us a milkshake and breakfast the next morning too. Very sweet!

Luckily the next morning a Key maker (what are they called in English?!) met us at out house at 7:30 and was able to open the gate and install a new lock.

We are now happily in our house again! And more grateful for having a house than ever before!

So that was our adventure this week!

In other news...

This same member that let us stay in her house is pretty much amazing and loves to help with the work! She gave us a referral last week of a woman named Nalva. We went there and she is a woman who is completely in need of the gospel. She was so open and sincere about what she is going through and we were able to testify and really feel the spirit in her house! Her and her 2 daughters went to church yesterday and really liked it. She was emotional throughout many parts and I know she is starting to realize that in follow Jesus Christ she can feel peace in her life again and have direction. I am very very blessed to be able to help her in coming to know more about the sacred plan on our Heavenly Father.

The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the kingdom of God on earth. I have no doubts of that. I love the gospel. I love my Savior and am so humbled by all he has done for me.

I invite all of you to get to know the Savior, Jesus Christ better by reading, pondering, and praying about the Book of Mormon, and the Bible. Apply the principles the scriptures teach in your lives and you will find peace and true joy.

Love you all!

Sister Knudsen

A letter to mom-

mom-

I´m glad the time with Andy was so good! I loved the part about Erik. He never learns; hahahaha! He wasnt doing this boom box thing before but it was a good idea!! Im sure he loves it! I can just imagine him changing the song every 5 seconds and saying "I hate this song!" hahahaha. Oh how I miss him!

I definitely felt the vibes and love from you all on my birthday! It went very well!! My companion planned a surprise party for me with Benedita, José, Maria, and the crew there in their house. It was very fun!! And one of our ward missionaries, Carol, bought us a pizza that night to celebrate! Oh and an Elder in our district made me a bunch of brownies that he is becoming famous for. YUM! It was a great birthday!

The package hasn´t come yet, at least into my hands, because we don't have as many opportunities to get our letters and packages from the office these days. I will most likely get it on the 28th when our whole mission is going into the office to hear Elder Bednar speak. I am super excited!! That week will be transfers too, but I am pretty sure I will be staying here with Sister Felipe for at least one more transfer. I am really excited because I will be able to take a 3 generations photo with her and Sister Winters! Its pretty rare to take a "mission" 3 -generations photo, but I will take one as daughter and as mother! Its fun! I took one with Sister Winters and her trainer, Sister Correia in my first zone conference, and now a couple months before Sister Winters goes home (December 8) we will get to take another one with Sister Felipe!

But I am looking forward to my package when I can get it! You guys are the best! I love you tons!!

Update:

*We have met some really cool people this week and I am excited to keep working with them!

*The bishopric in the ward here was released Sunday...they were having some problems...as we are told "Its a stake matter" That's all I know. But I love our Bishop and the counselors and everyone was very sad to see them released. For now a counselor in the stake presidency who is from our ward is acting as Bishop. Its kind of strange...Ive never seen this happen before, but I am sure it will all work out.

*Today we were going to hike Jaraguá Peak but it rained all day so instead we did an activity in the stake center with some other Elders. Played Risk and Ligretto! YES! One of the Elders here, Elder Anderson loves games as much as I do and both his parents served missions in Germany so he has all the good games! When he told me he had Ligretto I freaked out a bit!! Good times! Tell Amanda I thought of her!! It was a very fun day!

I love you!!

Sister Knudsen

PS: Tell Krista thanks so much for the card and email and that there is a card I will be sending this week for her!

Thanks!!

Happy Birthday Erin!!!!!

It's Erin's Birthday today! We all miss her so much & love her adorable personality. We are grateful for her willingness to serve & for the great experience she is having in Brazil. We appreciate all of her friends & family that have been so generous to her with letters, packages, tapes!!! She really does have quite the fan club. April is coming up soon & we can hardly wait to see her!!!! Keep her in your prayers and don't forget to keep the letters coming! She loves them.

Thanks!
-Andrea

Erin & her nephew Andin last April.....

Hello my beautifuls!!

Hello my lovely family!!!

Sounds like you are all having a blast together! That picture of the beach made my mouth water...but I think I can wait a little bit longer! I´ll try at least!! My companion took a look too and has a burning desire to go there too!

Love love LOVE that picture of Cam, Andin, and Ollie, where Cam has a face full of crumbs. hahahahaha. Awesome.

I hope the field trip goes well. Sounds like a really cool place!

Send my love to Suzie and Brian and wish my twin, Aunt Nancy, a happy birthday for me!!!!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes! It will be a normal day for me here, but I will make sure to celebrate a little with Sister Felipe! She likes to make cake and I love to eat cake, so it will go well!!

I´m glad you liked the sweets and other things from here! The things you really loved I will try to send more of so let me know what things were your favorites. Oh and Andy, the round chocolate ball things with the wafer are call BomBons here like our peanut butter bonbons that mom makes. BomBons are the rage here. They have all kinds of types. Yum Yum!

I don't remember which fruit juice was in the white package...was it cajú? Some of them I haven't tried yet, but let me know which it was and if its really good I will have to try it! haha!

Hailey! 8 teeth already?! Crazy! The tooth fairy seems to have gotten richer...maybe she sold all that land with the orange trees?!!

Andrea, do you know the Roché family in your new ward yet? Laurie and Pat? Their son, Ryan, just left to serve a mission in Argentina. He is best friends with Elder Andraszczyk who is my zone leader here. He wanted me to ask. :) (Andrea's edit: how crazy that this missionary's mom she's telling me about is my daughter Cambria's preschool teacher!!! Small small world.)

Question: What is the recipe for the marinade for fajitas?

So...remember when you asked if I needed things and I couldn't think of anything....well for the future...(Christmas?) I remembered that I could use 2 new white undershirts from downeast or shade. My other ones are getting old.

Church yesterday was SO wonderful. We had a fast and testimony meeting full of the Spirit. I had wet eyes during practically the whole hour! It was very focused on missions. They were talking a lot about the fact that the age changed to 18 years old for Elders, and how we are needing a lot of missionaries right now to further the work. Then a bunch of the youth bore there testimonies about how they want to serve missions. It was very special. Even better was that we had a surprise visitor, Vagner. He is the boyfriend of Adriana (sister of Henrique) who we were teaching when we were preparing Wellington to be baptized too. He always said he would go to church but then something always got in the way. It was a serious war against Satan. They ended up breaking up and he didn't want to learn more...but then they got back together recently and he finally came. I was so shocked and happy when I saw him walk in the door. He really liked church and said he´ll come back next week. We are going there this week to watch the file "Together Forever" with him and Adriana. I am excited!

They are having a revote for president, so there is still a little bit of advertising going on, but for the most part the local music and other annoyances have ended. THANK GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love you all! I hope you have a safe drive home, family, and that all is well with you!

Ashley: Hope all is well at home and at school with you!!

Erin

Photos!

Cake that Sister Felipe made with passionfruit juice! Yum!

FUNNY STORY...So I received this card in the mail awhile ago but forgot to tell you guys. Either a funny joke or a serious one...don´t know! But I figured whoever did it deserves a shout out on the blog. hahahahahahahahaha.

Raspberry jam cookies that I used strawberry jam since its a lot cheaper here! My zone LOVES them. Thanks Kvavles!!

The mess that elections make here! In the distance you can see the school bus vans they use here. To the right is a pay phone.

I loved President Monson´s talk as well! I have no doubt that He is a prophet of God, and THE Prophet of God on the face of the earth in this moment. I also loved the talks by Pres. Eyring, Pres. Uchtdorf, and of course Elder Holland. I also ADORED the talk about the Personal Line and Priesthood Line of Revelation. That principle is SO important for people to understand in order to understand that this is the ONLY true and complete church in the world. I am really excited for the ensign now so that I can study that talk more and use it when we teach.

So they aired the RS broadcast between sessions yesterday so I had almost 6 hours straight of conference! Good times! I did a split with a sister in the ward who served a mission in washington DC and watched most of conference in English with her. I only watched RS and the last session in portuguese. We are spoiled that we get to hear these great men and woman with their own voices, etc. Its just not the same with a voice over. It was cool though because Sister Beck and a few other Elders who know Portuguese or are from brazil did their own voice overs in the language.

FUNNY STORY!!!

So...the other day Sister Felipe made beans for us to eat. There was just a little bit left so we left it to cool so that we could put it in the fridge. Well...we forgot about it and a few days later (yeah...) Sister Felipe looked and it was growing a little life there inside. So she had the idea to put it over the burner with water and soap to kill all those little germs! Well...I assumed that she had a grand plan behind her actions, so I didnt think much more about it and took a shower and got ready for bed, thinking that I should probably check to make sure she remembered to take it off the fire before sleeping. But then I forgot all about it and went to sleep!

Then...5 AM hits. You know how sometimes you wake up all the sudden and have no idea why? That's what happened with me and I was overwhelmed with the smell of BURNT....VERY VERY BURNT....

I jumped out of my bed (literally...I sleep on the top bunk!) and ran into the kitchen thinking Could it be?!) When I entered the kitchen I saw the small blue glow of the burner still cooking away...

And the pan inside was BLACK BLACK BLACK...(see photo for proof!)

First off, I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOO GRATEFUL to my Heavenly Father for blessing us and keeping us save when our house could have taken fire. I was in a continuous prayer of gratitude that night and the next day and still am SO very thankful that we are alive and our kitchen is intact.

Secondly, once the initial "we could have died!! or burnt down our house" thrill wore off, Sister Felipe and I have fully taken advantage of how hilarious this was. Just look at that picture...it took a good 3 days of scubbing to bring the pan back to useful life.

Moral of the story: Don´t turn off the light in the kitchen, because then Sister Felipe will forget about her crazy ideas! haha! And dont let your food grown life!!

Good times. :)

Other than that, a few updates about the week:
*We had Zone Conference this week so I got to see Sister Santos and some other sisters. Elder Teichert who was in my MTC district is in my zone for zone conference now too so I got to catch up with him.
*I am excited for my package from you guys...you are the best!!
*Thatiane still needs lots of prayers and just to clarify you say her name (Tah-Chi-Ah-Nee) :)

Photos
*A beautiful purple tree and me
*The pan

LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!

Sister Knudsen

muito obrigada!!

Hello family!

Hahahahaha! I was debating on whether or not to warn you guys that someone would bring a package from me but then I ended up forgetting anyways so it was kept a secret! It was Elder Gratil who brought it. He was my first zone leader -- the one that lives close to us and went to Gilbert High, etc. He ended his mission 2 weeks ago so I sent it with him. He was kind enough to bring it to you guys...well I kind of forced him, but yeah...I am very grateful!!!

So we were able to go and talk to Thatiane and clear up her doubts. The stuff she read on the internet made her believe that we think God is a man who walks the streets with us or something...I dont know. Ridiculous! We helped her to realize that she already has a testimony that these things are true. Now she will be praying a lot to help her mom let her go to church again. For now she doesnt want to strain their relationship so she isnt going. Keep praying that her mom will soften her heart and have a desire to learn about the gospel too...and from the source this time, not the internet!

I am feeling a lot better than I was last week. I know that Sister Felipe will teach me a lot since she is a recent convert of 2 years and worked a lot with the Elders in her area too before the mission. She has a special insight into the work. We are learning and teaching one another!

Miracles this week:

First off, the Spirit really worked on Thatiane and helped her remember how she always feels so good reading the Book of Mormon and going to church.

Secondly, we found an awesome family yesterday. Just listen to this story...it all happened because of the Lord, for sure! We received last week a referral from the internet for a Paulo on the Road Maria Quiteria de Jesus Medeiros, number 121. Its very close to the boundary of our area and a place that I´d never gone before. He asked for representatives of the church. We went there yesterday and tried to find the house. Note about Brazil: The house numbers are crazy and never have much of an order. Sometimes there is a light order...but in the midst of 100, 105, 120, 137, there will be a random 21, or 6903....yeah. You cant really trust the numbers here! Anyway, after a long haul....we found the number 121. The problem being that there wasnt a Paulo that lived there. We talked to everyone who was there in the front, and no one knew a Paulo. Great...all the way on the edge of our area for nothing, right?! Well we decided to pray for direction. When we ended our prayer we stood there for a few minutes thinking. I felt like we should walk back on the road and knock a few doors to ask if anyone knew a Paulo and Sister Felipe agreed, so we went back and hit a few doors a little farther down the road. No one knew a Paulo or invited us in when we invited them to hear our message. We kept going and decided to ask two girls that were selling hamburgers at a little stand if they knew a Paulo. One of them said there was a man named Paulo that lived in 118 down in the bottom (there was a little entrance with about 5 houses that all were #118...its hard to explain...its just how Sao Paulo is!). She said she didnt think it would be him, but we could try. Anyway, we went down there just to check and the daughter of Paulo answered the door. It wasn´t him who called but when we told them a little about our message they invited us in. We taught an awesome first lesson to Paulo, his wife, and their daughter. There were a few other kids there too but they came in and out. But this family appears to be sooo elect! Paulo goes to an evangelical church but he doesnt really like how they always yell, etc. His wife thinks the yelling is completely ridiculous and loved how we pray. They were really receptive...it was an awesome experience. I know the Lord put us there to find them. Who knows who put the referral for this other Paulo on the internet...but I have no doubt that the purpose was to find this family. I know the Lord answers our prayers when we ask for his help and act with our faith. When we do our part, He will ALWAYS do His.

I love the mission...its an opportunity to become who God wants you to become. For him to teach you that you have so much to learn but that you can learn it. That you can use your faith in him to work miracles. I am deeply grateful to be here serving Him.

Pictures!

Me and my daughter! (Sister Felipe!)

The pancake bear that I made for Sister Santos on her birthday. hahaha...

Our calender of baptisms from the last 2 transfers.

My desk!

Us with Thatiane (I look super horrible, but oh well!)

A pasta and vegetable creation that was very very good!

Our Zone before the last transfers.

So I think I have gained about 8 lbs on the mission...I hope its not so. Dont worry to much...I will start eating less and lose the rest when I get back! Yikes!

Love you guys like crazy!

Sister Knudsen

Busy little bee......

Sorry no time to answer the questions this week but a quick update:

I am going slightly crazy!

I turned senior and trainer on Wednesday. AHHHH! Sister Santos was transferred and I received my "daughter" as the new sister you train is called. Her name is Sister Felipe and she is from Manaus. She is very sweet and I like her lots, but I am struggling a bit. I would appreciate your prayers for a few reasons...

1. I miss Sister Santos a lot...

2. Thatiane, the 15 year old girl in the photo and her mom read a few things on the internet about how we believe that God is a person just like us since he has a body, etc....stuff that people write that is semi-true but not explained properly, and now she as doubts and doesnt know if she wants to continue on. Her mom wont let her go to church any more either...since she sees that she is doubting a little bit. She is a girl sooo elect...and I am really really really broken inside. She just called me right now before I started writing this email and told me that she and her mom decided they need to find a religion together and one that they agree with, etc. It broke my heart. Sister Santos would know exactly what to say, but I dont know. I know I need to rely on the Spirit and it will all work out, but I am worried that I wont know what to say to her to help.

I am just a little stressed turning trainer...its a big responsibility and we all know I hate being in charge of things...Why am I a stresser?! ugh!!

But anyway, I AM happy and I am trusting in the Lord. :) It will all work out!

Love you all so much!

Sister Knudsen