The rain came down!

Hey family!

So this week we finally had an investigator go to church. It was really a tender mercy of the Lord. Church started and we had no one, so we went and did contacts during priesthood and Sunday school, but no luck. Then when sacrament started I noticed a woman that I had never seen before. Renata is the wife of a less active member. Roné is starting to return to church now, and brought his wife yesterday. Tomorrow we will teach them. Sometimes despite our best efforts no one we are working with works out, but the Lord will always bless up, just sometimes not immediately. Anyways that is who we are working with right now. We have a good number of other investigators, but no one is progressing yet. So lets see what happens. 

This week we received a lot of rain, I mean a lot. Tuesday the streets turned into a river, and we were walking in water up to our knees. Also we figured out that our old, worn out house is not water proof, and leaks water, a lot, lucky not in our bedroom, haha. The weather is weird, one minute it is clear skies and heat, 10 minutes later it is a downpoor, then 10 minutes later it is clear again. It does this all day. 

Oh and we went to Floresta da Tijuca today with some members. It was really cool we got to see some cool waterfalls and stuff. We would have to go if you guys ever visited Rio.

Glad to hear the family is doing well. Send them my love. Love you all and have a wonderful Week!!!!!

Elder Ottosen

Working a new area

Hey family!!!

Man strange weather it sounds like! Who knows what we will see next, haha. So this week was a bit better. Still no one in church, but we are finding some new investigators, and making some good plans with the ward. We found a woman, Teresa, knocking doors. She lives with her two adult sons, and was really interested to learn more. We are also starting to work in a new area. It is kinda far and we need to take a bus, but there are lots of houses, and the people are a bit more open. It is really weird cause most of our area is full of people on the streets always, the new area seems like a small deserted town in comparison. We also had interviews with president and some ward meetings about missionary work. Hopefully everything will combine together and help us get some results. But I talked in church yesterday. It is so weird, but I like talking now. I talked for 30 minutes, and I still had more things I wanted to say. haha The blessings of a mission. 

Anyways glad to hear things are good with the kids in School. Tell them good luck for me.

Tell Grandma and Grandpa super super thanks for the presents. Honestly it means the world to have grandparents like them. Also tell the ward thanks for the letter. I got famous people that we are related to! haha way awesome. Thanks.

Tell all the future missionaries good luck. 

Experience of the Holy Ghost and baptism: A missionary I live with baptized a Friar. The day before his baptize they got there and he had balloons in his house. He said tomorrow was his birthday because he would be born and a son of God. Right after he got the Holy Ghost he told the missionary he felt something really warm in his chest, and asked if this was normal.

Thanks for the love, the advice, and the help. You are all the best family I could every have, and make me so happy. 

Lots of Love, Elder Ottosen

Ps. Two cool things happened. One, found American Skippy peanut butter in a Chinese store this week! Needless to say I was estatic and bought it. Also you guys remember the alpine bike jump? Yeah well while walking past a TV store one of the TV´s was showing people going off the Alpine Bike Jump, so yeah, Alpine is famous in Brazil. haha

Record heat for the New Year

Happy New Years!

Anyways how was the week of you guys!? Yeah New Years I passed sleeping, I thought I would wake up from all the fireworks, but no. haha Not much different than a normal day. 

This week was alright, but honestly still not a lot happening. We have been talking a ton with our LZ´s and our LMA to find new investigators in our area. We have some ideas and I’ll let you know if anything works out. We have been walking a ton, and we had a great privilege last week. It was the hottest day in Rio since 1917. Registered around 110 but because of humidity and lack of wind it was giving the thermal sensation of 122. Man got to love the heat. haha That blows my mind it is cold around there. haha. Unfortunately because of all the heat, tons of rain came and Tuesday there was some huge floods in Xerém and Saracuruna, my old area. A bunch of houses were destroyed, but I think the missionaries there are fine. Besides that things have been pretty normal. Honestly we are doing almost everything to find new investigators but many people travel and work, and their free days they go to the beach. No one wants to stay at home in 100-degree weather. But I´m not overly worried, the Lord´s will will be done. We have interviews with president tomorrow and I’m excited for that.

Anyways last week we watched Emma Smith, My Story, I think it is called. Really good, I recommend it. Puts my troubles in perspective. haha I loved it. Oh I should probably get my card tomorrow I am thinking. 

Anyways tell the entire family I love them and am praying for them. Thanks so much for the weekly letters, I love them. Anyways love you guys! Take Care!

Elder Ottosen