hospital hehe (12/25/19)

It's Christmas today, so feliz Natal. This last week has felt like 2 weeks. It had 2 parts, which was two splits--I will explain:

Tuesday: I forgot what we did on Monday, but we got up early today and had more that 10 minutes to get ready for zone conference. We walked to the stake center at the center. My brown shoes--I wore them a while ago, awesome, then today they decided to not be so awesome. Lots of pain. We got to the stake center and rode in a van to Uberlandia for zone conference. This was a Christmas zone conference. Not much different, but we got little chocolates and Presidente didn't talk from 1-5, just 3-5 pm. We also got little chocolates. This day was rather interesting. I got a letter I didn't know I was going to get, and that was so awesome. Lots of people got very large packages, very large packages. My first thought was not "I want that," but "How much was that?" and "Your parents really went to the trouble to send you socks?", among other things. But lots of elders got new socks. Seriously. What a waste. It's expensive to send a package, and you send socks? We're not on the edge of civilization; we have everything here--Subway, McDonald's, Burger King, banks, Mercedes Benz (occasionally downtown). Presidente said we could go in our house at 8. We got back to Uberaba at 7 and had about an hour walk to get home, so I was very exited. I understood wrong apparently. But whatever. I got a little chocolate ball thing and some candies from Presidente and a cup.

Wednesday: this is where it gets good. We had splits today. I went with the zone leader. My comp and I ate at a restaurant before it, and that food was really bad. I felt gross the rest of the day until I just couldn't walk anymore, so we went to the church. Here's a little question: what do you do when you have a headache, you feel a little feverish, feel sick to your stomach, and are weak and tired? You take ibuprofin, right? Or the equivalent that you like. Not here, because if you have Dengue, you die. My splits comp wouldn't let me take ibuprofin, so that sucked. Then I was sick, won't go into detail. We went home. So at this point it's 9, he thinks I have Dengue, I'm using the bathroom every 5-ish minutes, I'm not even in my apartment, and I have 10 reais. Nice. So I went to bed and the next day guess what? He's sick too. But a different sick. He was freezing cold.

On Thursday: my splits comp is still freezing cold, shivering, feverish, the whole 9 yards, so what do we do? Go to the hospital. So we get to the hospital at around 1 and get green wrist bands that literally say "little urgent." Nice. Then at, oh, 4:30 somebody calls us in. They don't have doctors' offices here. In America, you go to the hospital if you are dying or giving birth. Okay, so here, you go to the hospital if you have a cough. We told the doctor our problems, he heard us breathe through the thing they all wear around their necks, and he told both of us we were sick and it was probably a problem with our intestines. My comp for the day had a fever and was cold. Nothing about throwing up or diarrhea. The doctor then prescribed to us the exact same thing, and then my comp went to the back of the hospital and got a shot in his hand for pain. Yeah that's going to be a no for me, dog. Big no. I was thirsty and saw a drinking fountain. Then thought, I don't really wanna share that with all these other sick people. I can wait. And besides, I just get nauseous when I drink water. The member who drove us home made a stop at his house. I wasn't too happy about that. And he was like, "I have the cure for you guys. Coca Cola is great for diarrhea--here's 3 liters; drink up. Also here's chicken feet. It's great for diarrhea too." I think not, but we ate and drank. That sucked. I hadn't eaten anything for 2 ish days, and then I drink Coke and eat chicken feet. Heh. After that we got home and went to bed.

Friday: at this point I haven't eaten anything real, and I drank just a little bit of water since Tuesday. I'm really weak. So what do we do? Walk home. We walked to the center and met our companions, then we walked home. Great to be back with my companion. We're walking home, and I have my back pack and bag. I think we're going straight home. He's already talked with Sister Piros [mission president's wife], and she said don't drink milk, eat yogurt, or eat beans. Still a little confused about the beans. Then we visit a family for lunch. I ate very little and forgot the word for sick. So instead of saying I was sick in my stomach, I said there was war in my stomach. Nobody thought that was funny, but I did hehe. We get home and my comp is like alright, we're visiting these people. How about...no. I was in the bathroom for a while and my comp was like, yeah I was in the bathroom a ton too, so I bought toilet paper. Woah. We're really livin' large now. He used most of it though, haha. We bought more, so we're good. Five star hotel now.

Saturday: time really flies when you do nothing. It's already Saturday, and I've visited like 2 people and taught 0 lessons and made 0 contacts. I was feeling a little better and decided to try my luck with my yogurt because I was hungry. Sister Piros is very smart for being 8 hours away and talking on the phone. It made it worse again. Nice.

Sunday: I was not doing good in the morning, so I was grateful for the extra hour I had because of the Christmas program. The Christmas program was a little different--it just felt like a normal Sunday. It actually wasn't normal because all the speakers finished early, and the bishop got up and bore his testimony, and that was it. After that, we had choir practice. It's hard for me to sing in English and even harder in Portuguese haha. I contributed quite a bit with my humming, I think. We visited a few people this day, and I realized my bread was bad, so I threw it out. I thought we were getting food tomorrow because Monday is pday, but it's not because pday was changed to Christmas.

Monday: we went to the lan house and emailed presidente. My comp did some prep work for going home in January, so weird. Then we visited the bakery close to the lan house. Those desserts looked so good. But those prices all of a sudden made those cakes look not so good. One piece of cake was 8 reais. Not a ton, but at other places you can get 1 piece for 5 reais, and a healthy amount of pao de queijo for 8 reais. We visited another bakery close to our house, and that one was cheaper. We got lunch and then went on another splits. This is part two of week two of these two weeks. I was with an elder I was in the CTM with. Presidente specifically told my companion and me that we are to speak no English to him. And if I wanted to have a conversation with him and didn't know the words, don't have the conversation. ABSOLUTELY NO ENGLISH. Orders from Presidente himself so wow. Nice. I learned I know quite a bit of Portuguese but really not enough to effectively communicate with others. I feel like I'm about 3 ish years old with my language abilities. I can say some stuff and understand some stuff, but I can't have a conversation like this one where I type and read and know all the words I want to say. All he did was complain. We literally have 2 years here. That's it. Two years to not do stupid stuff like that. After that, do whatever you want, but when you're wearing a white shirt, tie, and Jesus in bold on your pocket, let's not. Then this is how the conversation went: my comp sucks, he's an idiot, he's this this this this this, bla bla bla, Brazil sucks, America is way better, there is nothing here that is better than America, I want my girlfriend, if my girlfriend dumps me I have a few others I'm talking to right now too, I almost didn't come on the mission because I was going to marry her, I want to be in America right now for Christmas, my comp sucks, he does this this this, my house kinda sucks too, in America my house is this, (right now he lives in the nicest apartment in the mission--only Presidente's apartment is nicer), if I were in America I'd do donuts in my car in the snow, my car was so nice, I love the snow, Brazil sucks, I don't like Christmas here. At this point, I broke the 1 rule Presidente gave me and told him (in English) that we are here for 2 years, 2 Christmases here. If you live to be 100, you literally have 80 other Christmases in America, with snow. Buck up and shut up, and shut up about your companion too, geez. That day was very long.

Tuesday: during personal study I read 3 Nefi 11 and Helaman 10 in Portuguese and Christlike attributes, the beginning of it. So good. All that in our 1 hour of study, and my splits comp read 4 paragraphs in the introduction, ironed his handkerchief, used the bathroom, made some food, and then sat there looking at the wall. I was told that's kinda his daily study. Eek. Got back with my regular comp. I love this guy so much. I realized that today. Also I didn't have diarrhea today. Today was an awesome day. Feels weird that Christmas is tomorrow.

Wednesday, today [Christmas]: I made pudim, big fail. We didn't have milk, and the stores were closed. We're at a shohosko and are about to go home and eat our pudim. I talked with the fam. Don't have any time, lots of food, some desserts, so so so good. I have been craving desserts, and I received today. Also I'm so grateful for my health and my Savior Jesus Christ. :) That's all. Enjoy Christmas wherever you are. It rained a little, so now it's super hot and humid--opposite of home, but it's awesome.

yeah (12/16/19)

We're so thankful for the wonderful
member who sends us pictures!

This week was pretty good. It's a new transfer--my companion's 17th transfer. He goes home in 5 weeks, kinda crazy. We've been teaching 3 people, and they have all accepted baptism. The other 2 people are kinda iffy. One moved, I think, and the other, well, we still haven't visited him.

Tuesday: we taught a guy today. He was so high. He answered the garage door and had a dab pen in his hand and invited us in. I'm not sure how much of the first lesson he will remember haha. Also while people talk, people say eie and ie but eie means what's up, so I'm still trying to figure that one out.

Wednesday: we had lunch on our own today. We knocked a ton of doors today. We also found these mini apple things called acerola. While we were knocking doors, there was a broken doorbell, so I pushed it and shocked myself, weird. So naturally I did it again. It shocked me again. So I knocked after but was rather curious to push it again. Not sure why, so I didn't. This morning was kinda difficult. I don't know why, but today just was loooonnnggggg. Nice. We also taught 0 lessons, got 0 contacts, 0 references, 0 new investigators. That probably contributed to the longituity of the day.

Thursday: it rained quite a bit today. We knocked more doors. We had lunch at a recent convert's house, and he is so good. Awesome guy. He's the only member in his family, and he is very strong. We visited Cidade Nova which is 45 minutes away. Then after we didn't have much success, so we went to Costa Teles. Didn't have much success there either, so we visited one of the people who is progressing. We visit them every day. I hope they aren't sick of us. I also conducted planejamento seminal today.

Friday: I have started Helaman. I rather enjoy Helaman. I've never read Helaman on my own, but it is rather good. Nice. I've also had dreams every single night. So cool, but so weird. I don't remember many, but there are a few noteworthy ones. What they were, don't remember now haha, oops.

Saturday: I learned a ton today, terere and other things like bomba are drinks and straws for those drinks. Learned a ton of stuff about little ice cream things that look inappropriate, chup chup is what they're called. I also want a hacky sack. It was so hot today. We stopped for a coca and found a pen on the ground. The Coke didn't help a ton with the heat, but the ice cream and water did. Next time I'll just get ice cream and water. We had lunch at a member's house an hour away. He had a movie playing and goodness, movies are so dramatic.

Sunday: church was good. It was hot. We brought some people to church, and our friend who is progressing bought a white shirt and tie, so cool. I didn't know this actually happened in the mission.

My homie turned 100 this week, and so did Jacob. Well not 100, but he had a birthday too. No pictures because its 6:10, oops.

Food :) (12/09/19)

Alright muito rápido

My custom job.

The rest of Monday: learned the word conhece. When I would say voce familiar com profetas, that's basically asking do you know prophets personally. Conhece is like are you familiar with prophets. Kinda backwards of what I thought was logical heh. My comp got a haircut today. I am still growing out my hair to try to fix my #2 cut on the sides and a #3 or #4 on top haha. Also didn't get to make pudim because we didn't have enough time. Dang

Tuesday: we had lunch with my 99-year-old amigo. He turns 100 in 3 days from today (on the 9th, not this Tuesday I'm talking about). Uhmmmmmmmmmmmmm we taught 2 lessons, dunno what else. Lunch was 45 minute walk from our house.

Chocolate

Wednesday: we knocked doors today, and apparently knocking doors is a contact. Didn't know that. We need 84 contacts per week for our mission-set goal. There were some words in the Book of Mormon I didn't know. I wrote them down, forgot about them, and read them just barely. I know all of these words. English is getting hard. Oh yeah, we met this guy, awesome guy. We're like halfway through the first lesson and then my comp is like will you be baptized? And he's like, yeah sure. Didn't know that actually happened. And then we didn't visit him for the rest of the week. I think the date is like the Saturday after this one. Interesting.

Mini eggs

Thursday: we had lunch with papi noel, not really, he's the guy with the huge beard [we didn't get a picture of this, so we'll just have to use our imaginations]. We left our house at 10:30 and got there at almost noon. He's quite literally on the other side of our area. Then right after basically ran past our house to try to teach somebody before they went to work. We made it with approximately 1 minute to spare. Aaannnnnnddddd they weren't home. So we went home and had planejamento and then visited some people. One person in specific stood out. She answered the door almost naked, said it was because she was making food and the rain. Okay, whatever, we don't care, put some clothes on. After she changed, she talked to us for oh, 3 hours. She talked about how she has very fat gold fish. It's impressive how long some people can talk about something so, um, different? interesting? I don't know what word I'm looking for. My legs were in an abnormal amount of pain. How do people stand for that long? People also get nuts when they find out our name is Elder and Elder. They're like WHOA WHAT YOU'RE BOTH ELDER?????? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE! HE'S AMERICAN AND HE'S BRAZILIAN???? They seriously want to tell other people about it haha. We explain elder is a title for missionaries, and Benny, yeah I'm probably never going to say that for the next 2 years. This lady just made fun of it, and they made fun of America I think. So Benson is much easier to say, and it's super similar to bênção which is blessing.

Irmao Almir's house on Sunday with more food.

Friday: we went to dois mil [neighborhood 2000]. I have come to a little more peace with this neighborhood, but like I still don't love it. I shook somebody's hand, and a bird pooed on my arm, weird, mid handshake. A warm thing of water landed on my arm, no that's not water, that's poo. My comp said that it is a good thing that it happened--it means good luck. I think I understood wrong. We gave a nice lesson about temples and families to a recent convert. We also got dinner today. Nice. We were at somebody's house for like 2 hours. We taught them a lot about the Plan of Salvation. I hope we got our point across. I hope we answered his questions. Then we walked 30 minutes, and we tried to teach another family. They were like nah but we've got some food, here eat. So that was awesome. Then we tried to teach them, and they were like nah we forgot your message, tell us again. It was weird, but that was some good food. They they gave us some cake. God must really love us. God really loves us hehe.

Sent to us from Irmao Almir.

Saturday: we knocked on the wrong doors today hehe oops. We messed around and impersonated other elders, well, each other. We visited a reference, and she was awesome. She had really good questions, then she was rather interested, then her sister showed up and was like spirits are in the earth and other weird stuff. She also gave us popcorn. And maracujá juice [passion fruit]. That stuff was so good. Like wow. Then we visited a member and he was like here's some food, and we watched UFC. Interesting. But the food was amazing. We taught a few lessons today. Today was really good.

Sent to us from Irmao Almir.

Sunday: so Sunday was amazing. It was the primary program today, and that was amazing. There were 6 kids and 3 really littles. The spirit was strong, but our investigators were like this is kinda weird. Well, the spirit will do His thing. We went to lunch and well, we were there until 5 pm. hehe oops. We had so much food, ice cream, cheese and goiabada [guava paste], and oh it was all so so good. We talked a ton. I gave a message about Ammon and the sons of Mosiah and how they were protected. Then their son showed up from Uberlandia, and he was like yeah so Uberlandia flooded, and there were 4 cars that flipped. [Click here for a video of the flooding on December 8.] And he got a new bike. It's a Yamaha 750, and I forgot to get a picture because it was raining. After, we went to somebody's house, taught them a lesson, and they were like eat some food. They gave us coxinhas and cake, and juice, and soda, and it was all so good. Then we went to a member's house and had chorosso, nice, that was so good. I ate way too much food. It was so good. I want every day to be like that.

It's also weird to hear Christmas music in Portuguese and English and not have snow but have heat.

Sent to us from Irmao Almir.

Panificadora (12/2/19)

Chatting with Benny today.

This is bakery in Portuguese. I want to go in every single one and buy all the cake and bread. I cannot.

Monday: so I found out it's cold here right now. Interesting. Today was good; I read the scriptures while my companion slept, I think.

Tuesday: I was the senior companion again today in my area, with Elder Neeley [mentioned last week; he went to Brighton with Benny]. That was a ton of fun. District counsel was a ton of fun too. We visited lots of people then accidentally went to the wrong house. It turned out really well. It was the house of a less active member and a family that was rather interested. I'm not sure how much they understood from 2 Americans, heh. We visited them a few more times during the week, but they aren't really into it anymore. Bummer. We had lunch in the other zone with a member at a really good restaurant.

Wednesday: I'm not really sure what happened today. I don't remember anything from today. Weird. We went to neighborhood 2000 and taught a lesson, and my companion was like there's a baptism in 3 weeks, wanna go? And they were like, not really. Then he was like, you wanna be baptized? And they were like, not really but it sounds cool, I think I'll go. He then told me I was baptizing them. Interesting. We will see how this one plays out.

First video chat with Benny!
Thanksgiving 

Thursday: talked with the fam today. That was pretty awesome. It was Thanksgiving in America, and nobody has heard of Thanksgiving here. It rained a ton a ton a ton today. Wow oh wow. We were knocking doors, and it started to rain. We knocked on one last door before it was too rainy to hear, and they said no we don't want to hear a message, it's raining outside. haha. You enjoy your dry house. I talked to my companion for about 3 hours because it was raining and lightning-ing and thundering so loud. He also doesn't have an umbrella, but we talked about food and Christmas and Thanksgiving. He now wants to come to America in 2 years for Thanksgiving. We will see if Christmas lives up to the hype here. I think it will.

Friday: I can't remember anything from today other than we saw a brand new straight piped BMW 335i. Nice. Those were some beautiful turbo noises. hehe. Other than that, I forgot what happened today.

Saturday: we fasted after lunch until lunch on Sunday, kinda difficult. Lunch was interesting. We were on our own and bought hot dogs and hamburgers and rolls. We got home and made them. These aren't the soft rolls that Mom makes and come out of the oven. It was an interesting combo. I did a good ol' hot dog and hamburger mixture. The rolls were a little firm, but it was rather good. After that, a member drove us somewhere. It was so nice to be in a car again. It was so familiar. Although we were in it for all of 2 minutes, it was really nice. The car wasn't very nice, but the feeling of being in a car was nice. Also a 14ish-year-old girl said that my eyes were beautiful. Interesting.

Sent to us from a member.
Eating lasagna.

Sunday: fast Sunday, I bore my testimony and it was rather broken, but somebody said they understood me this time. I had something planned and got up there, and nothing was in my mind, nice. We had lunch at Irmã Cristina's house and had panquecas, and they were so so so good. I don't know how to describe them, but I had 4 with meat and corn and cheese, and 1 with just mozzarella. Wow that one was good. The rest of the day was good too. I also learned how to make pudim--super easy, milk, sweetened condensed milk, 3 eggs, and some sugar. That's it. Nice. I also gave the message at lunch. I talked about 2 nefi 27:12-13. Good verses, and we have the testimonies at the beginning of the book. We may not have the plates, but we have the paper book. We also experienced a ton of rain today. We went to an irmãos house and he gave us bolinho de chuva, which is cake of rain. It was a deep fried dough. It was so so so good. We also had some lasagna stuff. That was way good, too. They heated it up at 8:58 pm and we had to be home in 2 minutes. haha.

No pictures today because the computer isn't happy today.