Growing in Brasil

Ola, world! I hope everyone is doing fantastic...but I wouldn't know because I never HEAR from anyone...except my dear sweet friend's Mom, Sis. Bosselman. Sis. Bosselman, thank you so much for that DearElder, it made my week. My whole district was jealous, because letters are such rare things here! I]m in Brazil. I know you all knew that, but it's still way weird.

Today is my SIX WEEK MARK. AHHH. Only three more!!

Here are some of the things I've noticed that are different in this country:

-toilet paper.
It's like Kleenex! Serio! I feel so rich when I use it. Outside of the MTC, though, the toilet paper doesn't go in the toilet...it goes in a trash can after it]~s used. Ick.

- food.
Beans and rice, lots and lots of fresh fruit, salad without salad dressing, yummy little fruity desserts, lots of meat.

- winking.
Everyone winks here. The first time I was in the cafeteria and got winked at by an elder, I was shocked, but fortunately I was clued-in pretty soon that a wink is not flirtatious here...it's more like a greeting. So now my whole district is trying to get good at winking. Sadly (or maybe it's a good thing, who knows) I'm not very good at all. If I wink my left eye, my right eyebrow goes up. Every time. Alas.

- kissing. Everyone kisses here, too. Kisses on the cheek are a regular greeting, as in much of South America. I think it's great. Hugs just aren't enough anyway. Of course, as sisters, we never hug or kiss any males. Claro.

- the people are so open and friendly! I love them!

This last Sunday, my comps and I were asked to be the coordinating sisters for the whole MTC! This is only about 15-20 sisters, but still, it's definitely a responsibility and we feel very honored. We will conduct Relief Society, lead a couple of other meetings, and just generally help out and make sure all the sisters are doing okay. We're basically little helpers to the MTC president's wife. Yesterday, Tuesday night, I got to play "Called to Serve," (kind of a LDS missionary anthem hymn :-) for the opening song in devotional, with the entire MTC singing. It was thrilling, and I was very grateful for the opportunity. Everyone, if you don~t know piano, I challenge you to learn it. It's worth all the practicing, I promise! After devo, while I was playing postlude, several elders and a couple sisters gradually gathered around the piano to sing while I played. There's an Argentine elder here who's exceptionally good, and it was neat to hear him sing. Last night was just so happy.

Last but not least, we went out and actually proselyted on the streets of Sao Paulo last Friday! It was a little bit scary, but not nearly as much as I thought it would be. Do I speak Portuguese? Sort of. Do I understand Portuguese when people on the streets talk to me? Maybe like three words for every 20. But that's okay! I actually went out and contacted people--real live missionary work--and it was so exciting. Our first contact was two middle-aged men who were waiting on the sidewalk for their boss to call them. Perfect. We stopped and talked with them for 15 or 20 minutes about the restored Gospel, about God, and about the Book of Mormon. I didn't understand hardly anything of what they said to us, but I nodded and smiled and bore my testimony, and it was beautiful. After that, we kept proselyting for about 3 hours, and it was long and sometimes hard, but so satisfying. We gave out all the Book of Mormons we had (5), then just talked to people about the Gospel and invited them to Church. It was a very neat experience.

My district is doing well. I often have to remind myself that they're only nineteen. You would not believe some of the things they've talked about around us sisters. I guess it's good preparation to have sons someday. On the flip side, however, I am astounded every day by the spiritual depth and maturity of some of the elders. Although they're often goofs, they're also fine young men who are going to do great things in their lives.

Okay, my time is up. I appreciate your prayers. I would love your letters too. :-) Pray for me to finally meet someone who is going to my mission. I've been in the MTC for 6 weeks now, and have not met ONE SINGLE MISSIONARY who is going to Salvador! I'm starting to wonder if it's not a real mission. :-)
Keep in touch. The Gospel is real. Joseph Smith truly was a prophet of God, and the Book of Mormon is truly an ancient record of people on the American continents. Huzzah for Israel!
Much love,
Sister Petch (that's how the Brazilians pronounce it)