District Fairytale??
September 10, 2012
I miss our group in Campo Grande :) They used to call me “Nelsita” haha. My name here is pronounced Nel-(like the way I would say “bear” when I was younger, but with an N) som (but you swallow the mmmmm sound). The work here is ridiculously different from Campo Grande. The contacts on the street, I already talked about. Yesterday, there was a family LEGALLY MARRIED who came to church for the second time, and we have yet to visit them. They visited church when Sister Sone was with Sister Rodrigues, and Sister Rodrigues went back home and took their address with her. :/ Luckily, they visited again; and we’ll get their gaze fixated on the temple. I can’t WAIT for a temple here in Rio.
I miss our group in Campo Grande :) They used to call me “Nelsita” haha. My name here is pronounced Nel-(like the way I would say “bear” when I was younger, but with an N) som (but you swallow the mmmmm sound). The work here is ridiculously different from Campo Grande. The contacts on the street, I already talked about. Yesterday, there was a family LEGALLY MARRIED who came to church for the second time, and we have yet to visit them. They visited church when Sister Sone was with Sister Rodrigues, and Sister Rodrigues went back home and took their address with her. :/ Luckily, they visited again; and we’ll get their gaze fixated on the temple. I can’t WAIT for a temple here in Rio.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
Setembro 7 we made pasteles and fruta de salada [pies and fruit salad], sang the national anthem, and I wore green and yellow... which was hot but worth it. We went on exchanges with the ward mission leader (LMA), and he was wearing green. He said we were matching, and I laughed. He looked confused, so I tried to explain the quote from the movie Return to Me; but I gave up and just said, “Só deixa, Rodrigo. Só deixa.” His full name is Rodrigo Prince Pupo. He served a mission as Elder Prince, hahahhahahaha. Sometimes Sister Sone does a Bruce Carr laugh. I miss that man. I also dreamed the other day that Cameron Carr was on exchanges with us and speaking Portuguese. I hope he finally got into a grad school. Poor white, rich boys. ;) |
We’re excited that one of the counselors of the bishopric (Irmão Pupo) has finally finished the work on his house, so they’ll be having family nights with less actives and investigators. Family night here is like an opportunity to have a party. We can ask a family to have a family night, and WE can invite whomever we like. Also, I think I already said this; but there is ward “integration” every other Thursday, which is like a ward family night. It’s ridiculously wonderful!
The Funnies Did you know our district has a name? It’s *District Fairytale.* Sister Sone said she thinks some sisters named it, and no one has complained so far. The first day I was here, Elder Jarrell, the DL [District Leader] called me and welcomed me to the district —something that would NEVER happen in Campo Grande. The ZL [Zone Leader] called me the night before I left Campo Grande and thanked me for my service. The ZL here is strange... I really can’t read him at all. He's a tall Brazilian, who jokes around a lot and laughs; but you really can’t tell if he’s being for real. I finally hit it on the nose yesterday that he’s a Chinese animated character. Sister Sone laughed a lot. |
The Bears and the Scares
So, we found out this week that we have been working in a restricted area of our ward...oops! We found out because we talked with Sisters Céspedes and Teles about our “encounters.” We found our way to this area because of a referral of a member, innocent enough, right? The man we’re teaching (José Carlos) turned his life around after his wife left him because of his drinking habits. He really is a great guy, and I have faith that with time he can find his way. His daughter is less-active. We went to visit them with a member of the ward. Carlos was not home; but there was some sort of gathering going on, and we greeted the neighbors as usual. After we left the area, the member said that the girls around were prostitutes; and the lady we talked to sells them... I’m now even more worried about Michelle, Carlos’ daughter.
We also made a contact with a family on the street. Their apartment is up against the mountains; and I’m DYING to take a picture of that area, but it’s not a good idea. We tried to visit them, but they weren’t home. The neighbors said they are usually gone. Other neighbors acted like they didn’t know them at all. We returned another day and the father, Antonio, met us in the unfinished apartment hallway... if you can call it a hallway. He said they were leaving that night (they were new to the area). Sister Sone asked again, “Oh, you’re leaving tonight??” and he hushed us and ushered us into the even darker part of the hallway. He said that the neighbors have stolen most of their stuff and do black magic every night. They offer water and food to them, and they don’t even know if they should accept it; but one of the 5 kids is sick. He showed us he had the battery to his car in the baby pusher... STROLLER, stroller, that’s what it is; and they plan on escaping that night. He said he and his family would be at church the next day and give us their new address there. We gave him a Book of Mormon and he was like, “WOW, how beautiful! I have a yellow one. I love it because I can teach my kids.” (Yellow one. He’s talking about the Gospel Principles manual, not the Book of Mormon.)
While he was talking to us, the little kids on the street would gather around and interrogate us as to what we’re doing. He would tell them that we were praying and told them to go away... it was creepy. It reminded me of the body-snatchers. Even the little kids were part of it. We related the story to Sisters Céspedes and Teles that night, and they said they ran into the SAME family the very day they moved here from Belo Horizonte and were sad that they didn’t know their address and didn't have a phone.
So, we found out this week that we have been working in a restricted area of our ward...oops! We found out because we talked with Sisters Céspedes and Teles about our “encounters.” We found our way to this area because of a referral of a member, innocent enough, right? The man we’re teaching (José Carlos) turned his life around after his wife left him because of his drinking habits. He really is a great guy, and I have faith that with time he can find his way. His daughter is less-active. We went to visit them with a member of the ward. Carlos was not home; but there was some sort of gathering going on, and we greeted the neighbors as usual. After we left the area, the member said that the girls around were prostitutes; and the lady we talked to sells them... I’m now even more worried about Michelle, Carlos’ daughter.
We also made a contact with a family on the street. Their apartment is up against the mountains; and I’m DYING to take a picture of that area, but it’s not a good idea. We tried to visit them, but they weren’t home. The neighbors said they are usually gone. Other neighbors acted like they didn’t know them at all. We returned another day and the father, Antonio, met us in the unfinished apartment hallway... if you can call it a hallway. He said they were leaving that night (they were new to the area). Sister Sone asked again, “Oh, you’re leaving tonight??” and he hushed us and ushered us into the even darker part of the hallway. He said that the neighbors have stolen most of their stuff and do black magic every night. They offer water and food to them, and they don’t even know if they should accept it; but one of the 5 kids is sick. He showed us he had the battery to his car in the baby pusher... STROLLER, stroller, that’s what it is; and they plan on escaping that night. He said he and his family would be at church the next day and give us their new address there. We gave him a Book of Mormon and he was like, “WOW, how beautiful! I have a yellow one. I love it because I can teach my kids.” (Yellow one. He’s talking about the Gospel Principles manual, not the Book of Mormon.)
While he was talking to us, the little kids on the street would gather around and interrogate us as to what we’re doing. He would tell them that we were praying and told them to go away... it was creepy. It reminded me of the body-snatchers. Even the little kids were part of it. We related the story to Sisters Céspedes and Teles that night, and they said they ran into the SAME family the very day they moved here from Belo Horizonte and were sad that they didn’t know their address and didn't have a phone.
Rebels Without a Cause
SO, sometimes we like to go running on the Play. The Play is the first floor that looks like it should be an open parking lot but isn’t used for anything. We live on the floor just above the Play, so we don’t have downstairs neighbors. Saturday night, the other apartment complex was having a party on their Play floor and playing American music—the music both Sister Sone and I LOVE. Sooooo, we got the idea to do our planning for the next day (sisters here have to be in by 9:00 p.m. instead of 8:30, as they do in Campo Grande) and then go running heheheheeee. Sister Céspedes and Sister Teles [who live in the same apartment] came home late—right when we had finished planning—and decided to join us for our in-the-dark-with-music run. It’s totally their fault. Totally. |
As soon as we started running, the music STOPPED; and they were doing the “Welcome to our party, have some dinner” introduction. Really??? They’re starting the already-started party at 9:30 at night???? Man, God’s really funny >.< so we ran without music, after all. As Grammy would sing-say, “The Lord knows the intent of your hearrrrt.”
P.S. Mom, I FINALLY got your 4 letters from missionties. I have yet to read them all. Hehe.
P.S. Mom, I FINALLY got your 4 letters from missionties. I have yet to read them all. Hehe.