A Skeletal Painting

I really like to paint.

Obviously, I cannot spend time painting or drawing right now, as I have chosen to give this year and a half to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

However, I would like to try now to paint a little picture for you of Brazil, or at least what of Brazil I have experienced in my two weeks in the mission field. I don't have long (and I don't have brushes or paint) but I will do my best.

First, the PEOPLE. They are everything that everyone said they would be, and more. Everyone here in Bahia is brown, beautiful, relaxed, and friendly. They are also very religious. I have not met one person who doesn't believe in God! And oh...they speak a different language. This is sometimes really neat, sometimes hilarious, and sometimes downright discouraging. You all know that I love to talk, and not being able to communicate complex (or even some simple) emotions is very hard. But I'm improving every day!

I look and sound very very American. This has some advantages and disadvantages.

Disadvantages: I get stared at, yelled at, laughed at, and most of all I can't communicate well. Also, people like taxi drivers charge me more money for things.

Advantages: because I attract attention, I can try to let this help me. When I talk, people have to really focus in order to understand me, and this is good simply because they're focusing. The second thing I've been enjoying may sound kinda strange, but it's been really neat for me. Because I'm very white, and stick out like an albino buffalo, almost everyone I pass on the street looks at me. When someone looks at me, and I see it, I hold their gaze and smile. THere's really nothing like smiling sincerely at strangers, and getting a smile back. I can't talk to everyone I pass, but I can smile! Every day I look into the eyes of men, women, and children, happy, sad, rich, poor, hungry, needy, and try to light up their day a little with a smile. It's a thing I can't really describe.

BAPTISM this week! GAHHHHHH Milena is 14, and is an absolute doll, and was baptized into the Church this last Sunday. This was a joy that I cannot describe. The Church is true and real and brings joy to all. I'll try to post pictures next week if I can.

Oh yeah, sorry, I was painting a picture. I'm almost out of time, so I'll have to rush this last part, sorry.

HOME LIFE. All houses here are small, smaller than I've ever been in in my life, and on the outside most of them look rather small and sad. But when I step into these little homes, I find them all to be clean and tidy, and the people inside are happy. The people here eat a lot of beans, rice, meat, and fruit. That pretty much describes every meal (which means lunch. People here really only eat one meal a day). Oh man, I'll never be happy with artificial juice again! Foods I miss a lot: pepper, cheese, peanut butter, milk, and whole wheat bread.

ANIMALS. One thing that's been really hard on my mission, and I absolutely did not expect, was how many ANIMALS I would see, and how hard it is not to touch them! Animals I see here in Brazil, most of them every day: birds, dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, lizards, monkeys, and bugs (I counted bug bites below my knees the other day. I have 37. Did I tell you all this already?) And these are all roaming around wild! Stray cats and dogs like you wouldn't believe, but also what appear to be stray horses and cows walk the streets of Catu. It's so strange to me. I saw a HORSE digging through a trash pile in the street the other day! In the city!

Okay, so this wasn't actually that descriptive. There's so much to say, and so little time! It's so incredible to be here in Brazil, talking to people on the streets and teaching them in their homes. I know the Gospel is true, and that Christ lives and loves us. The church is true all over the world, and is the same everywhere. Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. I know this to be true, because the Holy Ghost has witnessed to me.

I love you all so much, and thank you SO MUCH for the support and love you have shown through your letters. I always appreciate more letters, so don't ever feel that you're bothering me or something...cuz that's just silly. :-)

Much love, and until next week,
Sis. Anne Petty