WEEK 31: Bringing the HEAT

TUESDAY

We're trying to find people to teach. In the area book, some old missionaries that passed through here said something about a kid named Evaldo that was pretty cool. We passed by today and he was, in fact, pretty cool. He said he's interested in receiving missionary lessons again.

Turns out I'm actually training Elder Franca because it's his first transfer in Brazil. He's already been serving in Cape Verde for two transfers while he waited for his visa, so he already knows the ropes. Training him is a breeze.

WEDNESDAY

HOT. It's sooo so hot here. Today stayed at about 107 degrees until 5pm. We spent all that time walking across Taquaralto. My shirts are starting to get ruined from all this sweat. Haha I bought a towel to help but it's no use.

September-November is the hottest part of the year here, that's why it's so bad. It's ok though mom I'm drinking plenty of *purified* water! And I have ice cream for dinner most nights to balance out the heat.

THURSDAY

We live in a tiny 3 room house with another companionship. It's pretty fun honestly but super close quarters. We all share a smartphone because Elder Franca and I weren't given a cell phone haha. We do all our missionary work like the 1800's missionaries: with just the scriptures and a few teaching pamphlets. It's hard coordinating without a phone but we're making it work.  

FRIDAY

The past few days have been 100% walking in swampy 107 degree heat from lunch until 9pm BUT now all that hard work is paying off because we're starting to find a lot of people to teach. Tomorrow and Sunday are already packed full of people to teach that we've met from knocking on doors. I'm glad stuffs starting to happen 'round here.

Today we were standing on the side of the road wondering what to do because we couldn't find a certain house we'd been looking for. Someone named Jonathon was baptized two transfers ago and we were trying to follow up on them. While we were standing on the road this little boy comes up to us and just stares at us and smiles. We're like... hello! and he doesn't say anything. Then we're like what's your name?

He said his name was Jonathon & he was friends with the missionaries a long time ago and invited us to his house. It was the very same Jonathon we were looking for. We taught them a loooot about priesthood and what restoration means. They were just kids and young teens but they actually understand a lot of what we were saying. They're really excited about church Sunday and one of the girls said she wants to get baptized.

SATURDAY

We taught that girl about Christ's baptism and I asked her if she knew who baptized Jesus Christ.

Me: "his name starts with a John... and ends with a 'the baptist'"

Her: "ummm"

Elder Franca: "John the Baptist"

Her: "AGH why'd you tell me, I almost had it"

SUNDAY

Today was fun. We did splits and I spent the afternoon with a guy named Andre that got off his mission last year. He gave me a lot of good tips on mission work.

PICS:

1) Our bed situation. Elder Franca sleeps below and I sleep above with some duck tape and plastic knives holding me up.

2) Eating lunch one day

3 & 4) Walking

5) Eating w/ Bishop's fam

6 & 7) I wear this hat & sunglasses every day now to survive haha. Also Elder Franca sold me that tie I was wearing so I wanted to show it off. It's from Africa.

8 -10) We found some unfinished parking garage and had a lil photoshoot.

11) Eating lunch with the other missionaries of Taquaralto

12) Some cool street art