Natal, Sushi e Ano Novo!

Oi família e amigos!

Feliz Natal e Ano Novo! I hope you are all having a lovely holiday season! 

Christmas here was pretty much the best Christmas of my life. No joke. We got up really early so Sister Maeno and Sister Fuifui (my companion and another sister in our house) could Skype their families in Australia and Japan, gotta love time zones. But we got to come home and take a nap! I love naps, maybe cause of my name. ;)
On our way home from lunch, it started raining SO HARD that when we got home we were soaked, so we just enjoyed being in the rain. :) I also got to Skype with my family, which was the best Christmas present I could have asked for. They're pretty great. :) 

Another fun thing this week was on Saturday we had an activity at the church where Sister Maeno taught how to make sushi and yakissoba. I love having a Japanese companion! haha I've also been learning random phrases in Japanese, which I didnt really expect coming to Brazil on my mission. Best companion ever! 

We see SO MANY miracles each and every week. One neat thing that really strengthened my testimony about scripture study was that the day after I studied a certain chapter in the Book of Mormon, Sister Maeno shared that same scripture with our investigator E who is preparing for baptism. It was so cool to be able to share the thoughts I had just learned about Jacob 4:7 (please go read that scripture, its EXCELLENT!) and I know that Heavenly Father helped us both be able to be ready to share the message E needed to hear. 

I hope you all have a lovely new year! 2015 is going to be AWESOME! 

Muito amor,

Sister Knapp

Oi família e amigos!

¡Feliz Natal e Ano Novo! Espero que todos estéis disfrutando de las vacaciones

Esta Navidad aquí ha sido la mejor Navidad de mi vida. No es broma. Nos levantamos muy temprano para que las hermanas Maeno y Fuifui (mi compañera y otra hermana en nuestra casa) pudieran llamar por Skype a sus familias en Australia y Japón, con las diferentes zonas horarias. Luego volvimos a casa y ¡dormimos la siesta! Me encantan las siestas, tal vez por mi apellido (Knapp suena como nap, que significa siesta ;)

De camino a casa del almuerzo, comenzó a llover tan fuerte que cuando llegamos a la casa estábamos empapadas, así que simplemente disfrutamos de la lluvia. :) Yo también llamé por Skype a mi familia, y esto fue el mejor regalo de Navidad que podría haber pedido. Les quiero mucho :)

Otra cosa divertida esta semana fue que el sábado tuvimos una actividad en la iglesia donde la hermana Maeno enseñó a hacer sushi y yakissoba. ¡Me encanta tener una compañera japonesa! jaja También he estado aprendiendo algunas frases en japonés, ¡quién me hubiera dicho que iba a aprender japonés en Brasil! Ja, ja. ¡La mejor compañera del mundo!

Vemos TANTOS milagros cada semana. Una cosa muy linda  que realmente fortaleció mi testimonio sobre estudio de las Escrituras era que el día después de haber estudiado un determinado capítulo en el Libro de Mormón, la hermana Maeno compartía esa misma escritura con nuestro investigador E que se está preparando para el bautismo. Era muy interesante poder compartir los pensamientos que acababa de aprender acerca de Jacob 4: 7 (¡por favor, leed esta escritura, es EXCELENTE!) Y sé que nuestro Padre Celestial nos ha ayudado tanto a poder estar listas para compartir el mensaje que E necesitaba escuchar.

¡Espero que todos tengáis un nuevo año genial! ¡2015 va a ser FABULOSO!

Muito Amor,

Sister Knapp

Skype with family on Christmas day

It was so fun to talk to Sister Knapp on Christmas day!!
Best present ever for her family!

Some details that she mentioned. I (her mom) will choose ten that I remember most:

Daily life

1. It is VERY hot and humid!
2. Her companion and roommates are wonderful!
3. People are very friendly. Missionaries are treated nicely
4. Missionaries don't have any time for anything. Life is busy!
5. There are big bugs! LOTS of bugs!!
6. Her Portuguese is improving... she is forgetting Spanish!!
7. She is eating fruit!! (Who? Cristina?) and liking it!! (No! Can't be Cristina, it has to be Sister Knapp! :))
8. They walk a lot, on red ant-populated dusty roads in sandals
9. She feels privileged to have a washing machine, and appreciates walls and a ceiling more
10. Their shower has one temperature only: mostly warm, and that's fine

Now the most important stuff
Things that she is learning

1. She LOVES being a missionary
2. She is learning a lot (spiritual and life skills)!!
3. Overcoming the natural man: being exhausted and still continuing because she is on the errand of God
4. Increasing her faith
5. The Lord answers prayers, all of the prayers, even little details
6. Recognizing miracles every day and in everything
7. The Gospel is very simple and pure
8. You choose your eternal destiny, none can force it on anyone else, or choose for someone else
9. God is just. Loving and just
10. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is precious and pure

When asked what can we send her, what would she need, she said

                         letters!!!!  

She does not have enough time for email (to read and write to everyone) but she can read letters any day she receives them (and they take several weeks to reach her) She can also re-read them when she is thinking about you or needs strength and support.

Here is the address again. You can chose either one:

Sister Cristina Knapp Caixa Postal 2321 Teresina PI CEP: 64001973 Missão Brasil Teresina BRASIL

Sister Cristina Knapp Brazil Teresina Mission Rua Tersandro Paz Nº 2129 Salas 105-108, Centro 64001-380 Teresina - PI BRASIL

  

¡Fue precioso hablar con la hermana Knapp el día de Navidad!

¡El mejor regalo del mundo para su familia!

Aquí os resumo 10 detalles de la conversación que yo (su madre) mejor recuerdo:

La vida cotidiana

1. ¡Hace MUCHO calor húmedo! Es verano en Brasil

2. Su compañera y las otras hermanas con las que vive son maravillosas

3. La gente es muy amable. Todos tratan muy bien a los misioneros

4. Como misioneros no tienen tiempo para nada. Están muy ocupados

5. Hay insectos muy grandes… y hay muchos

6. Su portugués está mejorando ... ¡pero se le está olvidando el español!

7. Ahora come fruta (¿Quién? Cristina?) ¡Y le gusta! (¡No! No puede ser Cristina, que tiene que ser Sister Knapp :))

8. Caminan mucho, en caminos polvorientos y con hormigas…  en sandalias

9. Qué privilegio es tener lavadora en la casa y que la casa tenga tabiques y suelo y techo

10. Su ducha tiene solo una temperatura: tibia, y eso está bien

Ahora las cosas más importantes

Lo que está aprendiendo

1. Le encanta ser misionera

2. Está aprendiendo mucho (destrezas espirituales y de vida en general)

3. La superación del hombre natural: aunque está agotada, todavía hay que  continuar porque su misión es para servir a Dios

4. Su fe está aumentando cada día

5. El Señor contesta las oraciones, todas las oraciones, incluso los pequeños detalles

6. Reconoce milagros todos los días y en todas las cosas

7. El Evangelio es simple y puro

8. Cada uno elige su destino eterno, nadie puede obligar a otra persona, o elegir por otro

9. Dios es justo. Amoroso y justo

10. El Evangelio de Jesucristo es precioso y puro

Cuando preguntamos qué podemos enviarle, lo que necesitaría, ella dijo: ¡CARTAS!

No tiene tiempo suficiente para el correo electrónico (leer y escribir a todo el mundo en su día de preparación), pero ella puede leer las cartas cualquier día en que las reciba (y tardan varias semanas en llegarle) También puede volver a leerlas cuando piense en nosotros o necesite fuerza y apoyo moral.

Aquí está la dirección de nuevo. Podéis escoger cualquiera de las dos:

Sister Cristina Knapp Caixa Postal 2321 Teresina PI CEP: 64001973 Missão Brasil Teresina BRASIL

Sister Cristina Knapp Brazil Teresina Mission Rua Tersandro Paz Nº 2129 Salas 105-108, Centro 64001-380 Teresina - PI BRASIL

  

Muito Amor,

Sister Knapp

Caroling at a nursing home on Christmas Day

The mission FB page posted some pictures of the missionaries caroling and delivering goods to some nursing homes.

La página de Facebook de la misión subió algunas fotos de los misioneros cuando fueron a varias residencias de ancianos durante los días navideños para cantar y llevarles material y comida que recolectaron en sus conciertos en la iglesia y el centro comercial.

Christmas concert at the mall

The missionaries in the Teresina area had a Christmas concert at a shopping mall. Here are some pictures downloaded from the Mission Facebook page by Cristina's mom.

Los misioneros en las dos estacas de Teresina tuvieron un concierto en el centro comercial Riverside. Aquí hay algunas de las fotos que la madre de Cristina bajó de la página de Facebook de la misión. 

With the mission presidents

Merry Christmas!!

Batismo y bolhos bonitos

Oi familia e amigos!

FELIZ NATAL PARA VOCÊS!!!! I love this time of year that we get to share the gospel of Christ with everyone around us! There's this lovely video that I think is called He Is The Gift in English that I invite you all to watch (it should be on lds.org) because its wonderful!
http://www.mormon.org/christmas?cid=HPFR112814529

This week was the baptism of A!!!! He was so excited! We went to fill up the font in the morning and when the waterlevel was at 3 inches, the entire church ran out of water! So we prayed and prayed and right as we were going to leave the water came back! AND THE FONT FILLED NO PROBLEM! Prayer works! Also, Sister Maeno and I made two cakes for the baptism. Wow, they were....pretty hideous. haha But they were yummy and everyone wanted more! haha Just goes to show you can't judge based on appearance! 

Another fun thing was that Sister Maeno and I got to paint princesses on the wall of the room of a recent converts daughter. My companion is an awesome artist and I got to help by painting grass and outlining the dresses. Pictures of that and the cakes to come! 

Also, as of today, I am 2/18 done with my mission! Time sure flies when you're having fun! 

Muito amor,

Sister Knapp

Oi familia e amigos!

FELIZ NATAL PARA VOCÊS!!!!  ¡Me encanta esta época del año en que podemos de manera especial compartir el evangelio de Cristo con todo el mundo que nos rodea! Hay un vídeo precioso que se llama "Él es la dádiva" que os invito a todos a ver http://www.mormon.org/spa/navidad

Esta semana fue el bautismo de A !!!! ¡Estaba tan emocionada! Fuimos a llenar la pila bautismal por la mañana y cuando el nivel del agua había llegado a los 10 cms. de altura, se cortó el agua en toda la iglesia.  Así que oramos y oramos y justo cuando ya nos íbamos desesperadas, ¡volvió el agua! Y LA PILA SE LLENÓ SIN PROBLEMA! ¡La oración funciona! Además, la hermana Maeno y yo hicimos dos pasteles para el bautismo, que tenían.... uan pinta horrible. jaja ...pero estaban deliciosos y ¡todo el mundo quería más! jaja sólo para que vean que no se puede juzgar por la apariencia.
Otra cosa divertida era que la hermana Maeno y yo pintamos princesas en la pared de la habitación de una niña cuya familia se acaba de unir a la iglesia. Mi compañero es una artista increíble y yo la pude ayudar pintando la hierba y delineando los vestidos para terminar el mural. A ver si os puedo mandar fotos del mural y las tartas.

También, a partir de hoy, ya he terminado 2/18 de la misión. ¡El tiempo vuela cuando uno lo pasa bien!

Muito amor,

Sister Knapp

What is the opposite of white Christmas?

Ola familia e amigos!

Life is good here in Teresina! Its not real that its almost Christmas though because its SOOOO hot! haha But everyone is singing Christmas carols and I write December in my planner every day so I guess it must be true.

This week has been so good! We have a baptism planned for this Saturday! A has been coming to church with his sisters who were recently baptized and he loves learning more about Christ. He is so excited to be baptized! :) We also have been teaching our next door neighbor who is probably one of the most amazing humans ever. E came to stake conference with us this week and she loved it! 

I don't have tons of time left, but I just want to share with you all how much my testimony is growing each and every day. I know that even though this work is so hard, it is SO WORTH IT to be able to share what I know is true every minute of every day! I know that even though the language is super hard, just like it is promised in Ether 12:27 in the Book of Mormon, Heavenly Father will help our weaknesses become strengths through faith in Him.

MUITO AMOR from Cidade Jardim!

Sister Knapp

Mom's note: She didn't send pictures today so I post here some info about the weather in Teresina

Lições em Teresina

Oi família e amigos!

Well here I am, having survived my fist week in the mission! My preparation day is on Monday, but because yesterday was a holiday we are emailing today. Just got back from a zone conference that was amazing and testimony building and exactly what I needed to hear. One big message that I´ve been hearing lately is what is found in the beginning of Ether 12, that we don´t receive a witness until AFTER the trial of our faith. That´s how we learn and grow and gain more faith and trust in the Lord. But I know that He definitely helps us in so so so so many ways!

I´ve learned LOTS of important lessons here in my first week of the mission:

1. Bugs are not my favorite. There´s a family of vampire mosquitoes in my closet, cockroaches and ants, a rat that ran out from under my bed the other day, and lots of moths and butterflies (and it´s pretty common knowledge how I'm terrified of those...)

2. My Portuguese is not very good. 

3.Its super hot

BUT I´ve learned more important things to go along with those:

1. Cristina might be afraid of all those creepy bugs, but Sister Knapp isn´t afraid of vampire mosquitoes or giant moths or rats. Because I´m a missionary and my work here is too important to waste time being scared!

2. I can´t speak Portuguese on my own, but prayer and fasting and the gift of tongues are REAL! So when the people I'm teaching don't understand what I just told them and I have to apologize and have my companion translate, THAT'S OKAY! Because one day I´ll be able to speak well but until then I will do my best and just remember that with God all things (even speaking Portuguese) are possible!

3. Its really hot. But my awesome umbrella shields me from the sun and Heavenly Father answers my prayers for strength to keep walking and smiling and teaching!

My area, Cidade Jardim in Teresina, is awesome! The people are so amazing and there are so many great people to teach the life changing message of the gospel! My companion, Sister Maeno, is an angel (and shes from Japan so that's super cool) and super patient with me. Basically its awesome every day even though its hard hard hard work. But prayer is real and I KNOW that the message of the Restored Gospel is worth any sacrifice I have to make to share!

Muito amor para vocês!

Sister Knapp

Sister Maeno and Sister Knapp

Zone conference in Teresina

Safe and sound in the mission field

Cristina arrived to Tresina on December 2. Here are some pictures that the mission president's wife sent  today :) together with this message. So precious! (especally for a mom that is dying to know what's going on :)

                          Querida família

Sua querida missionária chegou em segurança.

Ela está muito bem e feliz.

As fotos da  missão estão no    www.facebook.com/missaobrasilteresinaoficial
Qualquer dúvida pode nos telefonar ou enviar um e-mail.

Sinceramente

Presidente e Sister Siedschlag 

Arrival- at the airport

Interesting fact about the missionaries that arrived with Cristina, it shows how the Cruch is growing and getting more diverse. Of the 11 elders and 3 sisters. 6 elders are from the USA, but none of them from Utah. 5 from Brazil and 1 from Honduras. 3 sisters: 2 from Brazil and Cristina.

One thing that made me smile is the the sisters that came with her, their last names are Nascimento and Maria. Perfect names for Christmas :)

New missionaries

Her first companion is Sister Maeno, who was born in Brazil and raised in Japan, so she speaks Portuguese as a native.

Sister Knapp and Sister Maeno