WEEK 28: Breaking into a Bank

Oi gente,

Some interesting stuff in this week's letter, give 'er a read.

TUESDAY

Today we did splits with the zone leaders. I like our ZLs. I always love doing splits because you get to spend the whole day getting to know someone know and learn their teaching style.

SO.... today we broke into a bank...

It was about 9pm and we had to get our money out of the bank so we came up to the Bank of Brazil and looked inside. All the lights were dimmed except for a security light. We weren't exactly sure if it was officially closed or not so I tried the door and it was unlocked, and when we walked in the lights automatically turned on. So we were like sweet let's get our ATM money and then ALARMS started blaring out of nowhere. I put my hands up and turned right back around lolol. I bet whoever saw the camera footage got a kick out of seeing two gringo missionaries crap themselves.

WEDNESDAY

Today we had a family night with Saolo. He's a homie. He brought us all McDonald's from Gama and we feasted like kings. Oh man it was heavenly.

Also we lost our keys today. Spent almost two hours waiting for the key guy to come lol. I've come to enjoy idle time to think. There's certainly a lot of it here lol

Oh ALSO, weird experience today: we were outside the Novo Gama Elders' house, waiting for them to show up. An out of nowhere this crazy mute lady grabs Elder Bryner (our district leader)'s side and kisses his hand. Then she kissed Elder Calazans arm. She reached from my arm and I yeeted it away lol and Maclay did the same thing. Then she started like bowing down at us or something and then walked away waving goodbye. Didn't even speak a word. She seemed about 50 years old. We just busted out laughing after she left. Some weeeeeird stuff like this happens every now and then haha.

THURSDAY

We had yet another family night with Katiane's family. It was fun to sit around and play music after the lesson. As we walked back Maclay and I played some of our favorite songs on the Uke and Guitar. Made some people smile.

FRIDAY

The filed up the giant hole on the side of the road. Gotta admit it was a sad day for Elder Maclay and I. When we first saw it we just took a break from our hard day and sat and stared at it for about 10 minutes. Then an older man came up and started staring at it with us. Then a kid on a bike pedaled over and we all started staring in silence. Haha it was as weird as it sounds but that giant hole was mesmerizing. We all kinda bonded in silence that day.

SATURDAY

We met a new family today and they were SO FUNNY. I wish I could have had our lesson recorded. One dude, Lucas, is a complete comedian. I was laughing so hard.

At one point they asked me where I was from and I said Arkansas and they stared at me blankly (because no one has ever heard of Arkansas here). Then I sighed and was like "...Texas" and they were like "AHH TEXAS!!! YOOOO"

I just say I'm from Texas now.

SUNDAY

We had another lil fire at Ruy's. He's gotta write a 6 page paper all tonight for his university. It reminded me of the college grind.

MONDAY

Same usual Pday stuff. We went to the waterfall again. Since Elder Cordova is leaving soon we all went to McDonald's in Valparaiso. It was sooo good.

PICS:

1 & 2) McDonald's at Saolo's

3) Obligatory Acai pic

4) An exotic chip flavor Maclay and I stumbled across

5) Elder Vega stylin' as always

6) A full moooooooon

7) Usually what lunch is

8) The HILARIOUS family. We're visiting them Quarta-feira (Wednesday). Lucas is the one with the blue hat.

9) The hole has been filled up with cement now. Sad day for all of us.

10) A street in Pedregal

11) Us with the Lago Azul Elders. We hit up the waterfall today.

12) Our last (maybe, depending on transfers) lunch with one of our favorite families.

13) The creek by the waterfall.

14) Artsy am I right

15) Fire at ruy's