hello north america! so...i hate doing this, because i love to write correctly, but this keyboard is a blivin' pain. so i'm not gonna use shift. i hope you can all forgive me, even you english majors out there.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dearest Angela Bosselman, who's been home from a wonderful mission in California for...some months now! Also, GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH congratulations to my dearest Courtney Fernelius, who got called to serve in the BRASIL JUÃO PESSOA MISSION!!! Not only my dear country, but the same REGION! I just about had a heart attack when I read her letter, then commenced dancing and yelling non-words of joy and laughing and crying for about 10 minutes in our once-quiet apartment. My poor companion didn't know how to respond, so she didn't. :-)
I LOVE MISSIONS.
i'm sure getting used to certain things about the culture here. when I go back home, it'll be hard to be surrounded by UNcolorful clothes, and people who don't hug and kiss at the beginning and end of each encounter, food that isn't glorious rice and beans and farinha de mandioca, and FRUIT FRUIT FRUIT. Bananas and mangos...literally grow on trees! LOL. in the streets, in people's yards...gente. I love it.
one thing I'm learning here is to understand that people are truly different from me. and to have patience with this. now, when my companion doesn't respond to everything i say (which is a lot, heh) or makes a decision withing letting me know, or little things like this that used to really irk me, i am getting better at remembering, "oh. that's just the way she is. she's quiet. i'm loud. I'll try to quiet down for her."
maybe I already wrote about this...but the other week I was washing dishes against the will of the irmã who gave me lunch (this is normal) when i started wiping a beautiful little goblet-y glass cup. Suddenly, it broke in my hands, slicing my finger. embarrassed, i stuck my finger in the water, trying to decide how to tell them i'd broken their cup. when i finally let them know (blood spattering the sink) they came running to my aid, and the weirdest thing was I started to feel like i would faint. it was extremely unpleasant...all this business of fainting being romantic is hogwash, my friends. anyway, i had to lie down (que VERGONHA) and recover, i'm really not sure what happened because i didn't lose that much blood. After the fact it was all very funny.
the talent show that i've been preparing since I arrived in DD finally happened...without any support of the ward, because our ward mission leader had a tragedy in the family and wasn't able to help. it was somewhat of a disaster, starting an hour late and with a bunch of last-minute, unplanned acts, but i think some people enjoyed themselves. we all laughed a lot. the best part is, it's over! woooot! lesson learned: don't try to plan ward activities alone. especially when you're trying to be a missionary, too.
this Saturday, we finally baptized Josafá! he is such a great man, has been coming to church for several weeks now, and his family (wife and two kids) will soon follow him into the waters of baptism (hopefully this saturday). we are so happy. the baptism was PERFECT, with almost 40 people, a talk given by his neighber who referred him to the missionaries, a welcome from the bishop and quorem president, and even a choir of almost 10 people! Thank you, bishop Márcio! it was such a beautiful thing to see Josafá receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and be confirmed a member of the church on Sunday...watching from the piano bench (my usual function in whatever ward I go to) i couldn't keep a smile off my face.
This work is so true and so good. I am so grateful to be a missionary. I am growing more than I ever imagined...if I hadn't come on a mission...i don't even want to think how it would be. i needed this SO much.
Two little matters of business. First, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for your letters!! They lift me and inspire me more than I can express! You've been using an address that's fine, but THIS is the real, official address that will maybe get your letters to me a bit faster:
Antônio C. Magalhaes 3247
Sala 402
Pituba - Salvador, BA
400275-000
BRAZIL
Second thing. If anyone wants to give me a Christmas present, I know just the thing. There is an extremely sad lack of safety pins and zip-lock bags here in Bahia, so if anyone wants to just stick a baggie or couple of safety pins in your envelope with your Christmas letter (nudge nudge :-) that would be so cool. Oh, the things we take for granted.
Also, and much more importantly, I would love to hear from you all your testimonies of your Savior, and what He means to you in your life. This is what Christmas is about, and your testimonies will truly strengthen mine...which in turn will strengthen the people I'm teaching.
I love you all and am so grateful for your support and love. Stay strong, always read your scriptures and pray, and if you're considering a mission....JUST DO IT. You won't regret it.
Com amor e carinho,
Sua missionária,
Sister Anne Petty
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