"Opa"

"My birthday cake. One thing I have discovered
here is condensed milk. Its good on anything!"

A turtle we found the other day walking
home at night.


The baptismal font in Currais Novos. The water
is green, the font is blue tile, so it looks like we
are baptizing in a river.



Elder Magalhas & I eating Mocota, a soup that has
big bones it it and you eat the cartilage around
the bone. I took one bite and couldn't eat anymore!

Preta at her baptism. It was a really good day
and she was really happy.

Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007
Hello Dear family of mine! Well its been another week here and time just flies by. Thanks for all the emails for my birthday. My Birthday this year was different. We walked all day without much success because all of our commitments were falling through and then our back up plan would fall through too so We walked a lot but it was still a good day. That night Elder Piccin and Elder Moss bought a little cake for me and put some condensed milk on it and wished me a happy birthday with many baptisms. I haven���t received anyone���s packages yet because we don���t have zone conference until next week or maybe even in 2 weeks. Anyway, this Sunday I finally got to get my feet wet here in Currais Novos and got to baptize a sweet lady that we have been teaching the past couple weeks. Her name is Francisca but everyone calls her Preta. Her son was baptized a couple months ago and she went to church and just loved it. She went to na activity of the Relief Society and she couldn���t wait to be baptized. She is 60 years old and just loves when we come by and visit her. She is really a special lady and is really excited about the church. The thing that made her really excited about her baptism was the activity with other women. Activities can be great tools to bring people to the church. We can bring people to activities where they can feel the spirit and have a good time and will feel the need to come to church on Sunday. This week has been going really good so far. We are teaching Francimar. His baptism was scheduled for this past Sunday but he had to go to the other side of the city in the morning on his moto and his moto broke down and he was stranded there until 5:30 that night. He is probably the most humble guy I know. We are starting to teach his little brother and his nephew too. I can really see that through him many people will be blessed and come to know about the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are also preparing Edinaldo to be baptized this week and are helping him quit smoking. So far he has been progressing really good and has a really big desire to quit. We have been finding a lot of people and now it just teaching them and bringing them to church. It is amazing what happens when we just open our mouth. Talking to everyone in all places. The Lord has been blessing Elder Magalhes and me with many blessings, and many new people that have the desire to know more about the gospel.Sorry its so short Today but I gotta go. I love you all and thanks for everything. The work is great and I totally agree with Kari, I love being a missionary. It is hard at times but I have learned so much and I have grown a lot (not physically but more importantly spiritually). Things are going good right now and the work is really picking up. Love your son and Brother Elder Crosby

A must read letter from Kari!

Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007

Hello Lovies! Have I told you lately that I love, LOVE being a missionary? I now understand why the three Nephites greatest desire was to live forever so that they could share the gospel of Jesus Christ their whole lives. Even if I don’t baptize very many people while I’m here, my mission has helped me to gain a love for missionary work. I definitely look at my time here as very precious and as preparation for the rest of my life as a missionary. This week our biggest focus was on involving the members in the work. Its really hard around here because not many have cars and they work all the time, but we set a new high for ourselves for lessons taught with a member present and it was worth all the extra effort. It makes a huge difference to have the members involved. I hope you all are doing your part in this marvelous work. I definitely look forward to being a member missionary my whole life- it is so marvelous!This is likely my last week here in Maywood. I have been here for 4 transfers, 6 months, so chances are that I will be transferred May 2nd. I am going to die when I have to leave here! I love Maywood and it will always have a place in my heart. I love the bakeries on every corner. I love the constant cat calls and whistles and funny one-liners we get daily. I love how open the people are to Jesus Christ. I have learned sooo many things here. It is here that I’ve learned more about my Savior Jesus Christ then ever before. I have had doors slammed in my face. I have had people turn around and run from me. I have been lied to. I have been laughed at, pointed at and mocked. I have been rejected many times. Its those experiences that have made me really understand how Christ felt. His whole purpose was not for himself, it was for others. He just wanted to bring them happiness, yet many didn’t listen and instead He was completely rejected. I too am not here for my own good. I came to help my brothers and sisters to receive eternal life, yet so many people don’t want it. It is here that I have come to really know my Savior and to walk a small bit in His shoes. It is here in Maywood that I have learned to love, really love, others. I can’t completely understand or communicate with them, yet I truly love these people and it absolutely hurts my heart to see them break the commandments. I have learned to look for the good in people and when we look for it its quite easy to find. I have learned here to pray with all my heart and then rely on the Lord to make up for my weaknesses. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve left a lesson that I taught in Spanish without the help of my companion in complete shock because I don’t know how I just did it. I have learned that the Lord truly answers prayers and that He qualifies those whom He calls. I have learned to work with all I have and to put my whole heart into something. Brigham Young has said “Pray as if everything depends on the Lord and then work as if everything depends on yourself” (paraphrased). I have learned to do just that. I have learned to listen and better recognize the Holy Ghost leading and guiding me. For example, the other day while riding on my bike I had the thought to pull over and check a near-by referral. We had something else planned, but I did it anyways. The second we pulled over, a van that was behind us pulled over as well and a family of 4 got out, walked over and introduced themselves. They are a less-active family and really have been wanting the missionaries to visit them. I was grateful that I listened to the Spirit telling me what to do and that I am finally starting to recognize those subtle whisperings that he gives me. It is here in Maywood that I have learned to be happy no matter the circumstances going on. If it’s raining and I’m on my bike, wet, cold, and muddy, I usually still have a big smile. I have learned that happiness really is a choice. I have learned Patience! Boy, have I learned patience. I have learned to be patient with myself and to work my hardest, but don’t run faster than I am able and don’t expect perfection over night. I have learned to be patient with others and to try to see them as the Lord does. I have learned to be patient with the Lord. He has promised us answers to all of our prayers continually throughout all the scriptures. I have learned that He really does always answer, but that it is in His time and His way and that patience it required on our part. By being with these great Latin people here, I have learned what it means to serve others. They would give you the shirt off their backs (they have literally done that to me before. I can’t compliment them on anything that they are wearing, otherwise they will take it off and give it to me!) I can’t even count the number of times I have been offered a couch to sleep on or a free meal by people I met 20 minutes ago. Two strangers knock on their door and they immediately invite us in, invite us to sit on their tiny couches, and get us a cold drink. They are so accepting of everyone, no questions asked, and from them I have learned how I want to be to others. I have learned to feast upon and rely upon the scriptures. In D&C 18:3-4 we are commanded to rely on the scriptures, not just read them, but to depend upon them. I have learned to first and foremost go to the scriptures when I need answers, because all the answers are there! It is so much faster then asking 15 other people- the answers are in the scriptures if we just search for them and rely upon them. I have learned Spanish here! I never thought I would, but it is beginning to come. I have learned the importance of communication in a relationship. It makes a relationship. It is here that I’ve really have become the gospel. Before, the gospel was a part of me. Now after being here in Maywood for 6 months, I think I can more confidently say that its me- its who I am. I still have so many things to learn, but the things I have learned here in Maywood have been just priceless. I am a different person than when I came. I was scared and nervous. I still feel that way at times, but I can see what a different person I am now then 6 months ago when I got here. I loooove the people we are teaching right now and I will shed many tears when we have to part. I love dear Lorenzo who has spent many years in prison for being a hit- man. I love dear Lisa who just lost her son due to liposuction. I love Marcos, who is by for the best looking man in this town, yet sings in a voice much too high and unmanly that I have to bite my lip so I don’t laugh! I love Aurora who always eagerly asks for her ‘homework’ from the Book of Mormon and then quotes back to me almost word-for-word the things she remembers. I love Leanor who calls me her angel and has such strong faith despite her trials. I love these people! I have loved being here and I have learned a lifetime of lessons! It has been the greatest, and hardest, 6 months of my life. I’m looking forward to a new area with plenty of new experiences! Well, time is just about up. Have I mentioned that I love missionary work?! It is the best thing in the world! Love you all, Hermana Crosby

Dance Recital!

You are cordially invited to attend "A Moment Like THis" Dance Recital, Presented by Genuine Dance Studio! It will be held in the elegant RVHS auditorium, Friday and Saturday-May 4th-5th at approx. 7:00 pm. If you chose to attend you will have the privledge of seeing the exquisite, rythmic body movements of various young artists (A.K.A-my sweet dance skills). There will be numerous styles of dance portayed throuhgout the evening including: Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Hip-Hop, Pom, and the Unique Hand Jive. (yes, I am in all of them) So Come One Come All to witness prancing, dancing and swaying, like you have never seen it before!

Our pretty sis all dolled up!

Tami is SMOKE 'N HOTT for prom this year and I wanted to show her off!! wink wink. The coolest thing is that she's even more beautiful on the inside!! Tam you are a babe! love your sis Lisa

Baby count down...

one of my other friends who is also pregnant told me about this pregnancy ticker that counts down until baby comes. I thought it was cool because it shows what the baby looks like each month and the development of the baby. Now everyone can follow along. Yeah for baby!

Hello from Reed

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2007

Hello family! Thanks everyone for the emails and updates this week. When it rains it pours, and that is kinda funny because last night it poured on us and we showed up to the house soaking wet (details will be given later). So first off, Congrats Bret and Becki! That is really exciting news. A baby! I cant even imagine Bret taking care of another human being, he can barely take care of himself. Just kidding, You two will make awesome parents. Parabéns! Thanks for the advice Mark, Sometimes its rough and I need a little boost. Thanks Tami for the emails and everyone for the updates.Alright, so here in Currais Novos a lot has happened lately. FIrst off, Today was transfers but luckily I didnt have to pack my bags up and leave. I get to stay here for at least another 6 weeks with Elder Magalhaes. The work is starting to pick up here. We had quite a few people come to church this past week and we have 4 baptisms marked for this Sunday. We will continue to work with these people and prepare and teach them throughout this week so that Sunday will be a day they will never forget. Things are going good and I am getting used to the work here. Elder Magalhaes is a good guy. He is from Rio Grande do Sul and we get along great. He has 2 more transfers than me and so he helps me a lot with the stuff. We are finding people here and are starting to have some success. References are amazing. I feel bad because when I talk about referrals I feel like a hypocrite because I didnt help the missionaries much before the mission. I could have helped a lot more, SO my advice is to give the missionaries referrals even if you think the person won’t accept or go to church. Who knows what will happen?Anyway, quick story, a week and a half ago Sunday, Elder Magalhaes and I were walking on the street. I saw a lady about 45 years old with a teenage son and a little girl. Usually I don’t make contacts with women like this but I had the thought to talk to her. So I stopped her and shook her hand, asked her name and presented myself. It turns out she was sealed in the Recife temple 5 years ago to her husband but they havent been going to church for the past 2 or 3 years. This was totally shocking to me. Her in Currais Novos, there are 2 families that are sealed in the temple; the Branch president and the Elders Quorum President. Other than that, there are just singles and youth in the ward. She told us we could return and visit them in their house any day. So last Wednesday we went by and talked to them. They are just awesome people. They invited us in and we ate dinner with them and just talked with them and found out why they stopped going to church. It turns out that they stopped paying their tithing and the president of the branch got up in front of everyone in sacrament meeting and burned them by name. They left with bad feelings and slowly stopped going to church. They know they shouldn’t have stopped and they still know the church is true but they haven’t gone back yet. Anyway, we are working with them to try to reactivate them and they have a 14 year old son that isn’t baptized that we will work with. Anyway, last night in the pouring rain we went to their house and they have a huge dog. He is usually behind a door, but last night because of all the rain he went crazy and somehow opened the door and bit David who was with us.Anyway, I gotta go I love you all. Have an awesome week. Your son and brother, Elder Crosby

Lady in.... orange??

Prom was this weekend! As you can see we had a very bright, cheery group! It was all so much fun. During the day they took us out to shipwreck to ride 4wheelers and shoot guns. Ya'll better watch out, im a pretty good shot those clay pigeons didnt stand a chance! haha. After that we got all prettied up- Lisa came home and did mine, hilary's and jaydes make-up, which i really appreciate! Then we went out to dinner and on to the dance. The dance was definantly hoppin! Every one danced the whole time, which is great, because thats what dances are for! Ray is an excellent dancer so that was a plus! Lisa and Jake decided they should come "crash" prom, so they showed up for a little while! Im kinda bummed that this was my last Prom ever, but I ended on a good note! By the way I dont know who all i told this- but 6 od us girls ordered our dresses off e-bay from this chinese lady who custom makes them. They turned out to be really pretty and fit great- the best part is they only cost 15$! So that is a fun memory too! well this is getting long, So yes this is PROM 2007! I love you all!

So...here are some of our latest pics. One was after a night of playing ball. I've found a good, athletic group of guys that play twice a week and I took that pic when I got home. This week I began a research project that I've been trying to get started for a couple months now. There's just a lot of red tape involved to do a simple little survey. So, Saturday I set a booth up at the mall and administered a survey to diabetics who stopped by to get some reading material. Things are great. Our little ones are bundles of joy. We've definitely been blessed with some special kids. Congrats to Bret and Becki for conceiving.

A quickie note from Kari

Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2007
Oh I'm so glad that you all remember me! I was beginning to wonder after 2 weeks of no mail! Pero, no se preoccupe! We don't have much time today because today we spent all day at the BEACH!! Once a year we get to go to the beach as missionaries and just be on the sand and play volleyball, etc. It was quite a nice day and we all got a little burnt. Oh, it was just heaven to be out on the fresh air though. After wards we went and ate at this little restaurant in Beverly Hills, which was outrageous. Me and my comp. were sitting there deciding what to order when Sinbad, the actor/comedian, walked by and said "Hey ladies, how you doin?" He muttered a few lines to us before rushing off to the bathroom- very nice man! I didn't quite get enough time to slip him a pass-along card though- bummer! The high of the week included a great Zone Conference. It is always very edifying. They focused a bit on learning spanish too, which I was just needing. Sometimes I wonder if this language really will ever come. We just speak English so often, that I'm not really totally exposed to it and so it's really hard to learn. One day, I keep telling myself... Another high was teaching this family of 10 people- all of baptisimal age- the 1st lesson, a very powerful first lesson too. We were all standing in this tiny hall because they don't have a room big enough for all of us, around this shrine of their dead son (the one who died of liposuction). It was covered in candles and flowers- A moment that I will never repeat in my life i'm sure! I LOVE being a missionary! They are progressing quite nicely. Anyways, We must get going... Thank you all for your letters! Yay! I'm happy now! Oh and Mom, I just got your package today b/c we came to the mission home... THANK YOU!!!!! I was freaking out!! Muchas thank yous! I LOVE YOU ALL TONS!! oh and ps- Thanks for the pictures. Milea is an absolute doll. And dear Jake is a cutie-pie as well Lisa, I must say! I approve I think, but I need to get a letter of some sort before I can totally approve! Anyways, Thank you all... Never enough time, but always lots of Love!! -Hermana Crosby

pics of Holy Week!

Life size doll of Judas that they tear up and burn!

Semana Santa (Holy Week)

Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007

Well Hello everybody. It was really nice to hear from everyone and to hear that everyone is doing good. Here everything is great. This past week was a little tough yet again but things are looking better. There is just such a difference from one area to another but I am adjusting to the work and the people here and am learning what works and what doesn’t. There are 2 ways to learn, by watching or by doing. Right now I am learning by doing and I have learned a lot so far. So this past week we taught a lot of lessons and visited a lot of people and we walked a lot. We taught a lot of people in this neighborhood that is one of the furthest away from the chapel called DNR. The missionaries usually don’t work there because it is so far away. It is like 30 minutes away from the chapel walking. Anyway, we received a referral of a lady there so we went there and talked with her granddaughter that was really interested. Then we made some contacts and before you know it we had about 15 people there in that neighborhood that we were teaching. I was thinking, man why don’t the missionaries work here more often? Sunday I got my answer. Nobody from that neighborhood went to church. They all had an excuse or just flat out weren’t home when we went by their house. So we cut all the people except for a family that actually had a good excuse. So I learned from that experience that I will work in the areas where people will go to church. This past week was what is called ‘Semana Santa’ or ‘Holy Week’. It is the week of Easter and Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are all holidays. It is a Catholic Holiday week and what they do is a little strange. So what they do is Saturday they make a life-size doll and they stuff it with stuff to make it look more or less real. They carve the head out of a coconut and it looks like a person. They call it ‘Judas’, the apostle that betrayed Jesus and what they do is that night they tear the doll up to pieces and burn it and just destroy the life-size ‘Judas’. People go crazy tearing those things up and everyone makes a doll. That day I saw over 10 of them but I only took 2 pictures that I am sending. I thought this was pretty strange and that although what Judas did wasn’t a good thing, we shouldn’t go making dolls of him just to tear up. It reminds me of Voodoo or something like that. Anyway, Things are good and the work is progressing. We have a 27 year old guy, Francemar that will be baptized this Sunday. He has really changed these past 2 weeks. You can just see it in his face. He is a good guy and He is really trying to do the right things. His sister is going to come to church too so hopefully with time his whole family will come to church. Well, I better wrap this email up. I am good, I had a little cold this past week which was kinda weird because It is in noway cold here. We had a thunder and lightning storm the other night which was the first that I have seen here in Brasil. I think I got sick from that. Anyway, Im better now and the work goes on and doesn’t stop for anybody. I love you all and hope everyone is great.Your son and Brother, Elder Crosby

Happy Easter!!

Our latest Easter garb. Our little family at church. We're actually waiting 2 more months to give Kaemon his first haircut. If Pompa is up to it, we want him to give Kaemon his first since he gave me my first haircut.


I'm trying to be like Jesus.


Kaemon's warming up to his little sister Milea. We dyed Eatser eggs today and Kaemon got a motorcycle aka "moh" with a German accent in his basket.

Hey Mom. It got cold again so we were able to dress little Milea in the warm outfit you bought for her. She loves it!





We laid down this little contraption with hanging things on it for Milea to lay under and Kaemon joined her shortly after and gave her a little kiss.










This is Kaemon...on the first day that he's ever peeeed in his potty (with the use of chocolate as bribery).

I'm all JACKED UP!!

Yeah so I had a little incident Monday night at my weekly retreat playing church ball. I burned my defender and had a clear path to the basket for an easy lay-up when a guy in desperation to stop me stuck his foot out right when I was planting it to jump and well, you see the results below. It hurt sooooooo bad! I drove my stick shift home 20 minutes and immediately iced it and wrapped it but it kept me up most of the night. Becki took me to the hospital for x-rays after consulting with Mark at 5am the next morning. The doc said it looked like a hairline fracture but what is just as bad or worse is the severely sprained ankle. The doc hooked me up with a black boot to wear for at least 3 weeks until I go back to see him again. I went in to work at about noon that day. I know, I'm one dedicated employee! Becki and I are in currently on our vacation in Victoria, British Colombia right now and so I haven't been able to elevate it hardly at all. It is super swollen. My toes are seriously as purple as a plum! Even darker than in the picture. And my leg bubbled up kind of like a blister too which was wierd. You can kind of see the blister thing in the pics. So I'm crutching around everywhere here. They have given me some preferential treatment as we've boarded the plane and the ferry boat ride from Seattle to Victoria. So... don't sprain/fracture your ankle, it's not fun!!

"I wanna talk about me"

E. Magalhaes, Cristiano, Moss & Reed at the mine here in Currais Novos last P-day

"The family of Simeo and Jaqueline & Kauany that were baptized Mar 24. They are really
special. I loved teaching them and am really sad that I had to leave from there. "

"Zuleide, the woman that wanted to be bapitized, then didn't want to, then finally decided to
be baptized. It was really special to be able to baptize her after she had known the church
for so long."


"The 5 baptisms we had last Sunday- Michael, Jaiza, Rodrigo,
Diego, and Gigleyson."

Date: Wed, 04 Apr 2007
Hello Family! Is everyone ok? I havent got an email from anyone but Kari in 2 weeks so I am a little worried. So I am here in Currais Novos and things are starting to pick up for us here. My first week here was rough. All of our commitments were falling through and it was a little tough for me but now i am adjusting and things are looking a lot better for this week and the next.
So I'll tell you a little about my week. Thursday we walked a lot and taught a few lessons where most the people decided they didn't wasn't to hear any more. Friday was the same thing, a lot of walking and making contacts and teaching people that we are no longer teaching now because they decided they didn't want to listen anymore. Saturday and Sunday were really busy. Saturday morning we went and visited people before lunch to confirm for conference. We walked as much in that hour and a half than we normally do all day. Then we ate lunch and then we went to pick up the people we confirmed to watch conference. 2 people came, Dilmara and Flavio, both of which have decided that they don't want to listen to us anymore. Dilmara doesn't want to hear anymore because she went to The Church of Grace (A Igreja da Gra����a) and she heard that we are servants of the Devil and she didn't want to hear anymore. That was a little stunning and we talked to her and she finally said, I just don't want to go to the church of the Mormons. Flavio is a really cool guy that we talked to on the street last Thursday and he went and watched the Saturday morning session and really liked it. We went to his house Monday and taught the first lesson and when we tried to mark his baptismal date he was really reluctant so we left it open until after he read and prayed. So we went back this morning and talked to him and he read and prayed and felt peace and felt like it was an answer but he said that he can't follow the answer because he has too many problems and he cant tell us about the problems and so its frustrating. We will continue to visit him though to see if we can see what the problem is.
As far as General Conference, it was great. They didn't have it in English here yet again but in these past 6 months it seems like I have improved a little bit on my Portuguese and so I understood all of it. It was such a good conference. I didn't get to watch the priesthood session so I was a little bummed about that, but like Kari said, if you go to conference with specific questions, you'll get specific answers. Many times it seemed like they were talking directly to me. Any way I learned so much this weekend. But they always go back to the basics. I don't know how many time the 1st vision was recited I think 3 or 4, and how many talks were about repentance. I have found that this is what we need to know and build our testimony upon, The Restoration and the Atonement. These two things are the most important things. We should study these things and bear testimony to others about the Restoration of all things, and The Atonement. One of my favorite talks was by Elder Henry B Eyring, talking about procrastination. This is one of the things I can do better on, procrastinating. Also I liked the talk by Elder Holland about our words. He said "A chicote fere a carne, mas a lingua quebra
os ossos��" which means that the whip wounds the meat, but the tongue breaks the bones. It is really true. There are power in words.
So this week has started off a little better. Monday was a really good day of teaching and finding people. We were looking for this referral that a member gave us and we were walking around and asked the moto taxi where the road was and he explained. So we were on our way there and the guy on the moto that told us came up behind us and told aked us if we found the road and pointed out where it was. So I made a contact with him and he invited us to come over and talk to his mom and grandma the next day. So we marked for Tuesday at 6:30. Well an hour later, the guy stops us on the road as we were walking back from teaching the referral and he told us that everybody was at his house right now waiting and that we needed to go there to teach, so we went. When we got there there were 3 ladies there and after we sat down the guy brought 2 more neighbors in to listen too. There was his mom, grandma, aunt, and 2 ladies that were neighbors there. So we left the first lesson there and it was a little short because we were pressed for time, but left the book of mormon with them and they said they weould read. It was pretty cool. We went back last night and the guy had read but the other old ladies hadn't. He had a lot of doubts because it was hard for him to accept anything other than the Bible. We marked another part and he said he would continue reading and praying and intends to read all the book of Mormon. So that was a good experience and they are all such nice people there,
offering us dinner and candy and juice.
Tuesday was a realy good day too. We found this family that is just awesome. The mom and Dad are married and really receptive to everything, and they have three daughters, 18, 14, and 13 years old. We taught the wholefamily and the spirit was there really strong. It was my first time to teach a whole family with all the kids there where the kids were older and could understand everything. It was awesome and they said they would go to church and read and pray and so tomorrow we will go back and see how the answer was.
SO ya. Things are great here and I am doing good. I feel really lucky to be able to hear conference way down here in Brazil. I know that this is the true church and that the fullness of the gospel is restored to the earth. I know the atonement is real and that Christ lives. I love
you all and hope to hear from you SOON (Meaning before next Wednesday) .
Love
Elder Crosby

Kari's week

Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2007
Helllloooo! Family, how is everyone? Is everyone still alive? Has anyone been getting my emails? Do you remember who I am? Just curious! Anyways, Here's some highlights of my week: Monday we ate some great shrimp, octopus, and fish tacos made with fresh corn, warm tortillas and topped off with cactus salsa- just heaven! I ate way more than I should've, but wow! They were outrageous! Me and my comp. made them at our apartment- kind of funny, the best Mexican food that we've eaten was made by 2 white girls! I'm learning to make the real stuff though and it's so tasty! Cactus salsa is to die for! Can't wait to make if for you! Tuesday we went to the Visitors center with the Figuroa Family. This family is just great. We've been teaching them for about 2 weeks now and they are progressing really well. Aurora, the mom, also has 2 other sisters who are currently being taught by missionaries. They've committed to baptism, but don't have a baptismal date yet- tomorrow we will probably pick a date. I love this family and they really like us and always give us delicious Mexican food and mangos and chocolate- what more could you want! The V.C closes in 2 weeks so we were lucky to get to go with them before it closes.
- General conference was just amazing, don't you all agree? I left feeling so uplifted and just really motivated to be better. My biggest goal that I want to work on is letting virtue always garnish my thoughts. The talk from Elder Holland about words really hit me. I want to make more of an effort to never let rude, sarcastic comments escape my mouth and to be better at not complaining, murmuring, or being pessimistic, but rather having all of my thoughts and words be uplifting and Christ-like. I want to be better and not gossiping or pre-judging people. That was one of my favorite talks as well as Elder Scotts about prayers. I had so many of my personal questions answered directly, as well as so many questions for my investigators. Its amazing how when we go to the Lord with specific questions that He gives us specific answers. I wrote down about 7 questions that I wanted answered before conference and all of them were answered in one way or another- just amazing! I Love general conference! I can type the rest of the email about the things I learned, but no time! What was everyone's favorites? We are teaching this less active lady and her 'Husband' who is not a member. Her 21 year old son just passed away last month and so she's just starting to come to church again. The story of how he died is just bizarre, I couldn't believe it. He got liposuction and they didn't tie the tubes off right and he died within hours. So sad- exercise and eating right is just so much safer isn't it! Marco, the boyfriend/husband, is really great though. We taught them today and I think he'll be baptized- the spirit was strong during the lesson and he understands everything and is looking for the truth. Lisa, the less active, thought Joseph Smith was Pocahontas's husband! We have a lot to teach them!
Favorite Quotes of the week:
*As me and my comp. were pumping our hearts out on our bikes the other day, we passed a black man who yelled at us in an accent that only black men have "you go speed racer!"
*six year old little tublet, Miguelito, was sitting in the back seat of a car of a members as we drove to the V.C. and was trying to force-feed my comp. perros calentes (hot dogs) and Doritos and kept saying "Se le gusta, se le gusta" (I know you like it) as she continually turned her head. He probably said it a good 50 times! Darling kid!
*While teaching a first lesson to a lady for the first time, she carefully studied the painting of Joseph Smith and was blown-away by how much he and I looked alike! "It's the nose" she insisted! I've never been told that I looked "just like Joseph Smith!"- I guess I'll take it as a compliment!
*We knocked into this man in his early 30's covered in tattoos wearing a little white tank top who spoke English. Right in the middle of me and my comp. bearing testimony of The Book of Mormon he looks at me and says "you're very beautiful" and then turns to my companion and
says, "Sorry, I'm having a hard time focusing- I just can't keep my eyes off of her"! Awkward!
Anyways- that's what's going on with me! Life is so great! I love being a missionary. Everyday we meet so many great people and I love being an instrument in the Lord's hands. I hope everyone is doing well and I hope to hear from you soon! Just like Oliver Cowdrey said,
"These are the days never to be forgotten"
Love you lots! Su hermana e hija, Kari

Dental Hygiene here I come

Yay! I finally got in to Dental Hygiene School!!! Hot diggity Dog!! I knew All the work would pay off!! well, I was worried there for awhile. Thanks you so much for all your prayers on my behalf. I'm so excited to go. I've been wanting this for over a year now and am stoked to finally be there. I will start the two year program at MCC Red Moutain in the Fall. It feels so wonderful when your dreams start to come true! Thanks for your love and support!!

There is a lot of competition in AZ and I was one of 20 to get accepted!

Weekend in Pittsburgh

So this weekend we went to Pittsburgh, PA for my first ever 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles) called Just a Short Run to raise money for the leukemia& lymphoma society. I was just mainly curious to see if I could do it. I think the furthest I've ever ran before that was like 8 miles. Anyways it was hard; my ankles were hurting, but I ended up getting 41st overall (there were 600+ runners) with a time of 1 hour and 32 minutes (which is a 7.04 minutes/mile pace). Here's a link to the official results. For show the top hit "all" and then "go". I think I'll have to train a little harder to be able to run a full marathon. Afterwards we went to the zoo, which was an adventure. Kaemon had to be carried the whole time, but seemed to enjoy seeing all the animals. My favorite part was the big, new aquarium they have. In this one tank they have these "fish" I've never seen before called seadragons-they looked like something straight from the dinosaur age.