The mission is doing weird things to me.
For example, my companion and I discovered a common love for Pokémon this week. We have been drawing a picture of a Pokémon in our planners each day, and I expect this tradition to continue at least through the rest of this transfer. We have talked about our favorite Pokémon. We have talked about the horrible things we would do to be able to play Pokémon right now. AND, we worked together to make a list from memory of all 151 original Pokémon. We clearly have problems. This is the kind of thing that I have learned to do out here to remain sane, even though it probably just makes me sound crazy.
We did a division this week. I spent a day in a nearby city called Porto Ferreira with the district leader's companion. We ate lunch at a member kid's house because the irmã who was supposed to provide lunch had forgotten about it. We just showed up at the other kid's house and his mom (grandma, maybe?) made lunch for us on the spot. This was the second time I had been to that house because we did a division a few weeks ago. The lady who cooked lunch is like a cartoon character. She is permanently surrounded by a cloud of smoke because of the cigarette that is always stuck in her mouth. Like many Brazilian women, she doesn't talk; she yells. We greeted her with a handshake and she kissed our hands. I have never felt more uncomfortable. Even though she was a strange -- maybe "unique" is a better word -- lady, she was incredibly generous. She made us lunch and said that we were always welcome there.
While I was in Porto Ferreira, we taught a girl about the Restoration. Her member sister was there, which helped a lot. My temporary companion is Brazilian, so I couldn't speak a word of English for that whole day. I was surprised to find that I can survive here without it. My ability to communicate with people is nowhere near perfect, but I surprise myself sometimes when I see how far I've come since I left the Promised Land. The girls and my companion wanted me to offer the opening prayer to our lesson in English, so I did. It was so weird! I haven't prayed in English for months, so that was a strange experience.
Bruno, that guy who stopped us in the street a couple weeks ago and asked how he could become a Mormon, stopped us in the street again the other day. He thanked us multiple times but said he doesn't want anything more from us. He isn't willing to quit smoking or drinking. I guess it's just too much fun, huh? It's so hard to keep going after stuff like that happens, but there isn't really anything you can do.
We have been teaching a kid named Guilherme for a while now. His grandma and aunt came to church yesterday, and they liked it. We have to get the grandma to stop drinking coffee and the aunt to stop smoking, but I really think they could be baptized. It would be amazing to help all of them join the Church together so they could stay firm.
Guilherme's aunt brought her two kids with her to church. During sacrament meeting, I asked her if her six-year-old son would like to draw, and she said yes. I opened my planner to a blank page and offered it to the kid. I got my planner back at the end of the meeting, and it had scribbles all over the cover and on most of the pages inside! I think it looks better this way, actually.
We have interviews tomorrow, and if I don't get my Christmas package I'm going to explode the universe. BUT I am so grateful to have a Christmas package (in transit) and to have such a loving family! I love all of you so much! It took coming to this strange place and being away from you for a long time to realize how amazing you all are. Thank you for everything you guys have always done to help me grow, and everything you continue to do. I love you!
luv
booga
P.S. My favorite Pokémon is and always will be Blastoise. I know you were wondering. And I'm not a loser!
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