Big news!

Hey Family!

So first off the big news, as part of the new missions being created, the mission Brazil Juiz de Fora, affects the Rio de Janeiro mission. July 1st it will be divided, some of us will go to that mission, and some of us will stay. We don´t know anything more yet, but we are all really excited. This means more missionaries in Rio, more work done, and more baptisms, hopefully a temple soon. I will let you know when I know if I will go or stay, but it will probably be a while still. Anyways this week we almost baptized Lucas and Flavia, but their mom wasn´t ready to let them be baptized yet. We are going to try hard for this week, and we are teaching their entire family now so lets see what happens. Sunday an old investigator showed up at church. Concieção is a woman from Angola, but has been here in Brazil for 10 years already. We are also receiving more references from the members here and having more work done.

So yesterday I talked about the atonement in church, it was so cool to be able to talk about it, honestly something so wonderful, something I will never understand, but that can bring so much peace and happiness to our lives. What a blessing we have to know about it.

So I went to the ortho today, I should get my new retainer soon, so don´t worry about that anymore. Oh I am not sure if I told you but I got the package with Paige’s presents and everything. Thank you sooo much. You guys are the best ever.

So I have a request, could you see who in my ancestory, including you and dad, have served missions, and then send a list to me. I just thought it would be cool to know.

So I will send some pictures of the shoes right now, also I will talk to the bishop this week and then let you know next.

Thanks for the missionary updates, and for the advice. It means a Lot

I love you so much!

 Send my love to the family!

Elder Ottosen

A bit familiar

Hey! 

Sorry bout the late email. We went to the city center on Monday to do my visa papers, and then on the way back my comp got really sick, so we had to say at the assistant’s house. We got back yesterday, but he was still sick so it didn´t work out too well. 

So the week was a bit difficult cause of carnival. Lots of people traveled, but we made it through safe and sound, haha. One of the days we had a conference with president, man it was awesome, he talked a ton about love and charity. I can´t explain everything he explained so I will just say that when we truly have these attributes in our lives, everything else will work out well. I basically already knew this thanks to Dad´s awesome teaching, but it was able to be expanded with President. We also were able to find some new investigators. While knocking doors we talked with this woman who wasn´t going to let us in, and then I said something about Joseph Smith, and she said she was interested to learn more cause she had heard about him from the TV. We taught her and she is way awesome. Her mom was also there, and it was cool cause she asked if I had been there before. I said no, and she said because I looked familiar, and this is why they let us in. They usually would never let strangers in. It’s funny because being a tall redhead, there aren´t a lot of people that look like me in Brazil. It really shows just a small part of the Lord’s power.

In church on Sunday we had 107 members, a lot better than the 50 on Carnival. We had Lucas go to church again. We weren´t able to teach them this week, but are anxious to teach them today or tomorrow. There is also another ward close by, Queimados. It has been closed to missionaries for over a year, so we are responsible to work there if needed. We heard there is a teenager going to church there ready to be baptized, so we will see what happens. I am really liking this area.

I am glad to hear that everyone is doing well. Send them my love.

Anyways things are started to pick up hear. Man it is crazy how many opportunities the mission gives you to improve, to learn, and to become a better, more prepared person. I love it, it isn´t easy, but it is wonderful.

Love you all! Have a wonderful week!

Elder Connor Ottosen

My new area

Hey Family!

So first off my comp is Elder Barbosa from Belém do Pará, way up north in Brazil. He has 1 year and 6 months on the misson. I like working with him. 

So Nova Iguaçu is interesting. First off it is really big. Unfortunately all of the members except the bishop live so far away that we have to take a bus to get there. Most of the area is like Saracuruna, so really pretty humble, dirt roads, lots of people on the streets, but I like it like that. The Center of the city, close to where we live, is pretty nice. It has a big mall, some super nice apartment buildings and nice restaurants. A little bit of both worlds. Our chapel is the nicest I have had yet, it even has air conditioning in the sacrament room. 

We have about 80 to 90 members that are active, but only 50 went yesterday cause of Carnival. Speaking of which… It is pretty calm around here, a few crazy parties in the center of the city, but not too big. Like 99 percent of the people here travel for the beach, or the center of Rio for Carnival. It unfortunately is making it really hard to teach. We are returning around 7 at night. Both because it can be dangerous because of assaults, and because the are often parties, groups of men that put on women’s dresses that walk around the streets, and there have been some bad encounters with missionaries in the past. So it is better to avoid. ha. We were able to have one investigator go to church yesterday. Lucas is 17 years old and a friend of our bishop. The missionaries here have already taught him, but this week we are going to see about marking a date for baptism this Sunday or the next. Also some other good news, 

I don´t know if you guys remember Cintia? A woman we were teaching in Saracuruna that almost got baptized, but wasn´t able to because she wasn´t married. I guess she got married and baptized last Sunday! I was so happy to hear that!

Man I am so glad you guys got the package! I was hoping it would get there safe! Yeah I will go to the ortho the second I find one around here. So last week we were supposed to get 19 or 20 new missionaries. Unfortunately only 10 got here, all Brazilians, the other 10 are Americans and are waiting for their Visas.

So I am glad to hear Grandmas surgery went well. Send her a hug for me. I am constantly praying for all of you guys.

I love you all so much and hope that you have a wonderful week.

Love, Elder Connor Ottosen

Time for transfers!

Hey Family!!

So I am being transferred! I am going to Nova Iguaçu. I pretty much don´t know anything about it, haha but we will see how it is. My new comp is Brazilian, Elder Barbosa. No relation to Captain Barbosa from Pirates. ha. So this week was a bit better than last, but not a ton. We were able to find some new investigators, and I think they will have a bunch of people to work with this next transfer.  We actually had a confirmation yesterday. Before I got here they had a baptism of a mom and her nine-year-old daughter. But they left the church very soon after, and the nine year old daughter didn´t even get confirmed. We have been working with them for the past 4 months, and finally she was confirmed yesterday. So that was cool. Also it is carnival this upcoming Friday, so we will see what happens. But overall I am really excited to work in my new area.

So sounds like things are going well in Utah. That’s crazy you were able to see two missionaries, and one from Culiacan. Haha wow. And I am glad you guys had a good time in Florida! Sounds like it was really pretty awesome! That is strange thought about the tornados in winter. 

So say hi for me to everyone. Sound like everyone is doing well! And tell Grandma I love her and to get well soon. Too bad about the 49erns. haha maybe next year. 

So we haven´t had flooding after that day. But we still have tons and tons of rain. People are saying that it is unusual. We got to go to one other place for Pday. I place called Vista Chinesa. It was a little annoying cause it was cloudy, but I will send some pics. 

Anyways I got to go. Love you all and wish you a wonderful week!