please disregard my
drug reference as the title of this email if it offends you...
Hey people!
2 whole weeks in
Itabainana holy cow! It feels like ive been here my whole life... This week was
kinda long. I didn´t know how tiring it is being a missionary... But we had the
son of the couple who was baptized last week get baptized on sunday so
that was cool. and we have a guy whos been investigating for two years getting
baptized on saturday! my companion said im good luck and i cannot
disagree. speaking of my companion, shes so great. she can be really sarcastic
and keep a straight face like me so we get along great. and im just now
starting to be able to understand jokes and sarcasm in portuguese, most of the
time that just goes straight over my head because im so focused on finding out
what theyre saying. ive been doing this annoying thing where if im really
tired, ill be saying a sentence and then an english word will slip in and
everyone will look at me funny. yeah portugeuse is still hard, but i was able
to understand a little bit more of what the investigators were saying this week
so hurrah for israel!! but i still havent even met all of our investigators we
have so many. its like the gentlemen jugglers trying to keep all of them and
the recent converts and the less actives straight. but i love love them all!
its funny little tender mercies you get as a missionary like you're running after a lesson to catch the bus and it
comes right as you get to the road, or instead of seeing the drunk guy on the
street youre trying to teach about the plan of salvation whos laughing/crying
through the whole thing as strange, you see him as a son of god who needs love
and a purpose in life.
one of the families im
closest to here is irma jucealma and irmao adaymeir who are recent converts
with a whole mess of kids. 6 to be exact, all under 13 i think. those kids are
my favorite even though theyre pretty dirty most of the time. they run to you
in the streets and kiss your hand and pick you flowers, theyre so loving. this
week we got to help them build a bathroom out back of their house. they were so
so so excited because they were gonna have a real bathroom, can you imagine?
and that night they wanted to give us dinner but we said no they didnt need to
but they kept insisting and insisting so we said ok. the mom brought some
rolls, a little tub of butter, a little block of cheese and a bottle of
guarana. i knew that this was all the family had to eat that day. the kids kept
walking in and out looking longingly at the table , but they kept asking if we
wanted more and more to eat. they are so giving I couldnt believe it. even the
little 2 year old adriann said´´you want more sister?´´ i am so blessed to get
to meet the people here.
one time we were
contating on the streets and stopped a dad and his son and asked if we could
teach them. he said yeah and gave us his name and we started talking about the
church. then he said ´´im sorry, i lied and gave you a fake name because i
didnt know you. but heres my real name and address´´ haha crazy right? theres a
line in PMG that says that people will recognize the missionaries as servants
of god. i think thats what happened there.
i´m learning how to do
things the brazilian way like mop the floor wih a big squeegie and wash my
clothes in a bucket. whats also cool is that its pretty much like a utopian
society in my house. brazilians are very community mindful, so if you make
something to eat you make enough to share, if you buy food everyone can use it
to make stuff, i kinda like it. but i cant help but think still about being on
time everyday and that things could be done a little bit more efficiently. but
i guess we´ll see with that one.
okay random
#justbrazilianthings. we were teaching a lesson with a 13 year old girl and her
mom was there with 2 other little kids, and we´re talking and all of sudden the
mom just starts breast feeding right there and i baby barfed in my mouth oh it
was horrific. also i was asked two different times in the same day during
lessons to pray for the people in english. i was all for it but my comp said it
was a no go :/ people ask me how to say stuff in english all the time and im
happy to cuhs maybe then they wont think im a complete dink who doesnt know how
to say anything! they always ask my companion if i speak port, right in front
of me. im like hello i am here too thank you. but i do need to speak up
more. also funny is that no one can say my name ever, im lucky if i get sister
and something that sounds like it starts with a w.
we also had a district
meeting in lagarta which is about an hour away. theres 4 sisters and 4 elders
in my district and they seem pretty cool. two of the elders are americans which
is pretty weird. one i know from the mtc too so thats nice. i had my first
interview with prez gomes and hes a chill guy, very in tune with the spirit and
wants to know about my health cuhs lots of missionaries have problems with
their feet or ankles or legs. but my shoes are sooo much better equipped than
the girls here so im set.
missionary work is
tough, alot of the time id rather just sit at home and take a nap, but then i
meet someone on the street who has been wondering about their purpose in life
or how their family can be together forever and then i remember why im here.
but i miss you guys! everyone here is amazed that all my family is active
members. you guys really are the best. stay strong and keep doin the little
things to solidify your testimonies! thats really what its all about. i love
this gospel, i love my savior and i love you!
até segunda-feira,
sister
walker
