First E-mail from the field

so I´m out in the boonies. at least it feels like it compared to São paulo centers like Casa Verde or Paulista. It still is city as far as the eye can see in all directions, but in a different way. Mostly there are just houses and lots of trees. Like the jungle type of trees. They are really thin trunk wise and at the same time very green. Since my last email there are a few funny things that happened so I´ll tell you guys those things because I have a WHOLE HOUR. so basically the last week at the MTC went as follows: do nothing important and just laugh a lot. My instructors decided we knew enough so we just partied. I guess first of all when 4th of July came around i pressed the organizer for music to only have patriotic american hymns. For some reason that made a lot of people pretty mad at me. So that made me just keep pushing for it and then laughing when people get mad. So of course I won the battle minds and wills between missionaries and we sang america the beautiful, the star spangled banner, etc.

The next thing that happened is my favorite instructor irmão Carboni came back from having kidney stone surgery. Apparently kidney stones aren´t super uncommon down here, and they blame it on genetics, but it´s their diet. They eat A LOT of salt. I have to drink sooo much sometimes because of it. Especially today. But anyways, Irmão Carboni came back and the next thing that happened was he proceded to tell us of the fun times at the hospital. Arguably the funniest story i´ve heard since i left, but that is probably just because he is a Brasilian who kept saying words that shouldn´t be said to missionaries on accident.

Next we went to The Presidents house. Imagine entering Jurassic Park, fences and all, and then having a rediculous series of 25 story buildings that look like giant museums. That is where they live. I felt uncomfortable there because of the rediculous amount of money being spent, but it´s just because in Brasil money spent and relative safety go hand in hand. I´m glad no one worries about us, because our house is awesome

So then next we went to my transfer meeting. It was a humbling experience because the American missionaries couldn´t really remember english and some had accents. My first goal: forget english in 1 year. My trainer is Elder Bush. He´s a cool kid from Utah. Knows Rian Murray because he played rugby as a freshman the year before I went to college, so small world.

Anyways then we went to my area. THE FUN PART BEGINS. We had an investigator and a member come pick us up and drove back in a little suzuki swift TYPE car but who knows what it was. I kept an eye on the speedo on the highway and it was between 140km/h and 40km/h the whole time so that wasn´t too bad. Then we went over a speedbump and i felt the street through the floor boards. I LOVE THIS PLACE. so we went and taught just a little bit that night. That was a new experience. This one young couple we visited lived in a single room. Imagine my room the way it is, but with another smaller closet and that closet is the bathroom. Just with a little sliding wall thing. Super humble people. But happy too. I was suprised by the level of interest that the members we were working with had. They all were quick to help bear their testimonies or teach what they knew or whatever. Good or bad it is definitely help.

As far as portuguese is going, I can understand kind of. I can talk a little. Like i´m never totally in the dark because i understand at least every 4th word, especially verbs, but I very rarely if ever understand it all. But I´m doing well and it´s fun to try and learn more and help people who I can tell have the potential to suck the marrow out of life if they just knew how. They could have so much enjoyment if they could just understand what I knew, despite their less than american living standards. They are already much happier than most people you meet on the street in america to begin with. People will just welcome us into their little homes, give us a hug, give us their best food, make sure that we know we are loved. They are all so nice. seeing them struggling to know the truth like i got to last night breaks my heart because what else do they even have? That young couple had one room. One bed, one dresser, one little family. But he was smiling. His life is far from perfect but he kept his dog from biting my leg and gave us his only seats and then listened as he sat on his bed. I just can´t believe the openness that these people have. The member that was with us just looked at him and told him that he would be happier if he would just investigate the church with his wife because they aren´t just investigating a church, they are finding the truth. I wish people could understand that. I´m not just from some church. I have something that can change your whole reason for being and giving you an infinite source of happiness. My companion related it to like if the guys wife made a delecious cake. How can he know unless he tries some of the cake if it is good or not.

But whatever I wanna go try to do some contacts.

I love you all and I hope that you guys are doing good. It´s warm here. I´ll explain more about things next week. Monday will be my P-Day from now on.

see ya

No word yet from the boy! Mom is anxious

As you can read, there has been no e-mail this week from Elder Scott. But, his mission president knows enough about parents to give us news and photos. He looks much thinner but happy and always cheesin' up the grin for the photo op. We miss him but i would not want him anywhere else right now.

06 Jul 2010

To the Family of Elder Michael Scott Christensen, Sister Jackson and I were delighted to welcome Elder Christensen to the Brasil São Paulo Interlagos Mission this morning. Please be assured that he received an enthusiastic welcome from his leaders and fellow missionaries. Details of his first day in the field with a few pictures should arrive shortly by conventional mail but we wanted you to know that he arrived safely and was warmly greeted. Elder Christensen has been assigned to labor with Elder Collin Daron Bush in the Vista Alegre Ward of the Embú das Artes Stake. As you can imagine, those who receive the assignment to train new missionaries are among the most faithful and dedicated missionaries in the mission. Elder Christensen has been asked to write you each week on Preparation Day (Monday). We would ask you to write him weekly as well. The importance of a letter each week from those he loves cannot be overstated. Please remember to share family news and personal experiences that will help him focus on the work of the Lord and increase his desire to serve with all of his heart, might, mind, and strength. Given the time difference with the United States, e-mail correspondence should probably be sent by Sunday evening. Packages and correspondence sent by conventional mail should be addressed to the Mission Office as follows:

Elder Michael Scott Christensen Missão Brasil São Paulo Interlagos Rua Euzébio de Souza, 121
Jardim Londrina – São Paulo – S.P. CEP: 05638-100 Brasil
We look forward to our association with Elder Christensen as we work together to build the Kingdom of God in Brazil. We are so impressed with his desire to serve and feel sure that he will be a blessing to his companion and to our entire mission. If you have any questions or concerns, please don´t hesitate to contact us. The mission e--mail address: 2013045@ldschurch.org.
Love, President Christopher G. JacksonBrazil São Paulo Interlagos Mission

ULTIMO DIA DE PREPARACÂO‏

it's the last p-day i'll have in the MTC of Sao Paulo. I'm tempted to say good riddance, but honestly it's been pretty fun. There have been times of pure boredome, but we always figure out a way to make things interesting over here. I guess I'll share a couple of the more recent ones. SO, first off, last night we spent a good hour or so playing a retarded game called ninja. Honestly it was pretty stupid, but very fun at the same time. I just was making it rediculous and doing flips and stuff. The reason that was funny was because we had to do it silently because we weren't supposed to be doing that. BUT OH WELL. I say if we can finish our work and planning, then we can spend our extra time trying to not go crazy. So yeah that was fun. The other thing was pretty epic. We had a guy come in from provo who is pretty funny. His name is Elder Farley, and he is some kid from the portland area that is a lot like my highschool friends. So for once i can relate with someone about funny things like farts. So anyways, he tried to fart on a kid the other day, but totally overestimated the amount of force required. yep you guessed it, I have officially witnessed someone pooping their pants and I'm not even out of the MTC yet. That seriously made my day. Actually it made my week. BUT on to more serious things. The more I study the gospel in it's basic principles the more amazed I am at the complex simplicity it contains. That is the only way i can describe it. It really isnst THAT complex at all, but it applies to every situation. God says, ``you'll be happy if you do this ____创 and it just becomes a matter of trust after that. He's not lying, but sometimes we think it's too simple or too general or whatever. The cool thing that I've personally been witnessing it, it's not too simple for anyone. Life really is that easy. Our Heaven Father tells us how to be happy and we just have to do what he says to recieve that blessing. That is a concept that everyone hears their whole lives, but I can't think of THAT many people that apply it to exactness. Kind of a shame. But yeah, I've been making an effort to just live it and test if it works or not in all situations. If I wake up on the wrong side of the bed, I'll just apply a basic principle that leads to happiness, make sure heavenly father knows what I'm looking for, and record my results in my journal. Not suprisingly it works every time. This is an interesting concept in a world full of so much unfairness and so many hurt feelings. The atonement can take all of that and make it fair. Take my word for it and investigate to see if you get the same results. you will. Oh yeah also, mom I am getting your letters. Don't worry about it. I think everyonce in a while a letter gets lost, but usually i get them. And rachael that picture looks pretty funny. I honestly laughed harder at the original. But i saw the pirate patch coming beforehand. And Todd, just write whatever you want from now on because i~m headed to the field. I probably wont get a P Day next week, but after that I am a real missionary. Boom. Everybody needs to start sending the letters to my mission address now because I will no longer be in the MTC. Love you all. SEE YA.