In Which I Tract in Sao Paulo, Wear an Ugly Tie, and Feel Like a Celebrity

[ONE WEEK OLD--sending messed up last week. So we get two in a row!! :)]


Thank you so so so so so much to those who have written to me, either through DearElder or by hand. I know I always say this, but that's because it's always true: letters are like gold here. Thank you all so much for writing. I will write back soon.
TRACTING in Sao Paulo was amazing. We were basically dropped off on our heads on a curb on the busiest street, told "Boa sorte!" and left. Sis. Johnson, my amazing comp, and I talked about the Gospel with about 15 people, and gave away several copies of the Book of Mormon. It was a very thrilling, terrifying, rewarding, emotionally exhausting experience. I'm glad I got to do it...but I'm also glad my mission is in Salvador, not Sao Paulo. :-)
Yesterday, the Argentine, Brazilian, and I finally performed that musical number, and it went so well! We merged three hymns, and I figured out how to transition between them on the piano. In one, there was even a key change, which made me feel kind of cool.
Another thing that made me feel cool was the other night when a bunch of Brazilians were saying goodbye. Sister Johnson and I literally had like 20 elders that all wanted to get their pictures with us, and for us to sign their notebooks. We felt like celebrities. They loved us.
Last week I mentioned that I was alone, and had been for six weeks, when it came to missions. But HOORAY, that same day, at dinner, I found out that a whole district (about 11 or 12 elders) had arrived, and they were all headed to Salvador! I almost split my face in two grinning. I'm also afraid that I probably scared the poor elders with my excitement to see them. "She's been waiting her whole life to meet you," my companion told them with a grin.
As this is the last week, my district is trying to be harder core about the language. We now had a horribly ugly tie that we have to wear if we speak English during any time of the morning, and I ended up wearing it during lunch a couple days ago. All the Brazilians thought this was pretty funny.
On Tuesday, we watched a video of a devotional by Elder Dallin H. Oaks...that I was THERE for! It was so weird to be watching it now on an old recording. This Sunday I'm conducting the departure choir. This means I'm in charge of almost 100 people, and I have about 40 minutes to put together 10 minutes of performance music. Wish me luck with that!
Sorry this was so short. I'm leaving for the mission field in six days, and I can hardly believe it. I love the CTM SO much...my two months total have been wonderful, in Provo and here in SP. The Gospel is real, and Jesus is the Christ. I am so grateful for the Atonement, and for the knowledge that families really can be together forever. I love you all so much, and I hope you keep being the wonderful people you are. If you have time to write, I would love to hear from you.
Much love,
Sis. Anne Petty