Week 1 IN BRAZIL

Ok, so I had some trouble logging on, so I don't have much time. We got stuck in a holding pattern outside of Atlanta and we were going to have to land somewhere else to refuel, but with the prayers of 20 something missionaries on board we were able to land and rush to our connecting flight to Brazil. It was long, but I was able to sleep for most of it. I was looking out the window as we came into Sao Paulo, and I thought wow, thats pretty big. Turns out what I was looking at was just a suburb of the city. The plane turned, and even from thousands of feet in the air, I couldn't see the other side! Sao Paulo is HUGE! Four other missionaries and I waited in the airport for a couple hours while the church travel people helped the other missionaries that were on the flight catch connecting flights to their missions. Then the 5 of us got in a van and drove to the mission office to drop off luggage and then we went to have lunch with President and Sister Martins. After that the other elders and I went back to the mission office where we would sleep, but first we went out contacting with the office missionaries and I taught (mostly listened, with the occasional testimony) my first lesson! I didn't understand most of it, but it was exciting nonetheless.

 

I was assigned to serve in Itepetininga (population ~ 150,000, or so I've been told) with Elder Ahmed. There are 2 branches here and we live with the other set of missionaries in an apartment. Elder Ahmed is from NYC has been out from a year and six or seven months, and he's awesome. He's trained several times before, and he was a zone leader for a long time until this transfer. He's fluent in english and spanish and now, portuguese. Most people we meet think he is from brazil because he speaks so well. Elder Ahmed and I are assigned to the eastern half of the city. We live in the "centro" which is a relatively nice part of town, but many of the neighborhoods in our area could be described as "humble". Which is great! Especially because we are opening this area, so we had no one to teach. Had. Now we have our planners filled for days in advance with scheduled appointments. It's awesome! The people here are, for the most part, very friendly and willing to at least let us in and talk to us.

 

Portuegese is coming along. I can understand most anything gospel related if people talk slow, and I can follow normal conversations, but not quite understand everything. I've been told I speak fairly well, but I know that I probably sound like a caveman, with simple sentences and unconjugated verbs. But I'm learning fast and Elder Ahmed is super helpful.

Oh, one last thing, it is freezing cold here. Like, I can see my breath. In Brazil! and it's windy. So I just wear my suit most days, and Elder Hendrixson lent me a sweater to wear at night time. You don't need to send me any, because by the time they get here it will be blazing hot. I'll probably buy one today since it's PDay. But I'm totally fine, so don't worry!

And the food is absolutely amazing! I've loved everything I've had so far.

Ate mais!

Love,

Elder Carr