I WORE PANTS!

Hello!

Time is seriously flying, I passed my 6 month mark this week, which is totally crazy.  The start of this transfer was a little rough, since I wasn't expecting to be called as a trainer, but it´s all working out.  It´s actually helped me a lot to go through all the training stuff with Sister Mareski, because it's helping me see what I need to go back and work on.  Being a missionary is a bit like that video of a kid trying to put tennis balls back in their tube and every time he bends over to pick up another one, the one he already picked up falls out.  I think this metaphor applies to life as well, because seriously, there´s always a million things to work on at once, and once you start trying to improve one aspect, it seems like the rest suffers a little.

Sister Mareski is really funny, and I like working with her.  She´s already a really good missionary, and likes to get things done, so we accomplish a lot.  I am also lowkey learning how to cook, and we're going to make coxinhas today, which I am absurdly excited about.

Changes in the Ward

Our ward is definitely in a transition stage.  Our bishopric and every other organization got released and recalled over the last two weeks.  It´s kind of cool to see how excited a lot of the people are for their new callings.  One of the counselors in the bishopric is an older gentleman that has only been a member for a year or so, and you can just see the light in his eyes that he´s been entrusted with such a big calling.

Things I´ve Learned This Week

Ice cream is definitely the best way to break a fast.

The Book of Ether is kind of depressing every time you read it.

It is possible to be sitting at the bus stop, and still miss the ônibus.

Pet birds are actually pretty cool.

Do I Need to Learn Creole?

So, I am starting to meet and teach more and more people that are from Haiti, and have varying levels of ability to speak Portuguese.  It´s starting to get to the point that Sister Mareski and I had a semi-serious discussion last night about whether or not we should start learning Creole to be more effective teachers.  One of these people, Coq, is a recent convert who just moved here from Argentina.  Luckily he speaks English really well, so we are able to teach him, but it´s a bit of a language mishmash.  He reads the Book of Mormon in French, we read in Portuguese, and we talk about it in English.  It´s a bit of a struggle, but it´s really cool to see the realization of D&C 90:11

For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fullness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Our friend Coq.  He moved here from Argentina about 2 months ago, and he doesn't speak a lick of Portuguese.  He speaks English, French, Creole, and a bit of Spanish, but not Portuguese.  He´s a recent convert, so we visit him once a week and read the Book of Mormon with him.  It´s really funny though, because he reads in French, we read in Portuguese, and we talk about it in English.

We broke our fast with about three water bottles and ice cream

We´re basically master chefs

 Irma Silvana has about 16 of these birds and it´s fun to play with them.

I wore pants and we saw a pretty tree, so that´s thrilling

Our friend Coq.  He moved here from Argentina about 2 months ago, and he doesn´t speak a lick of Portuguese.  He speaks English, French, Creole, and a bit of Spanish, but not Portuguese.  He´s a recent convert, so we visit him once a week and read the Book of Mormon with him.  It´s really funny though, because he reads in French, we read in Portuguese, and we talk about it in English.