Bye bye, Bahia!

There is a word that I always knew, and more or less understood, before I came on a mission. But you simply can't fully comprehend how big this word is until you're on the mission yourself.

TRANSFERS.

Imagine being in a place for months (generally around three or four), you know the people, you know the streets, you love the ward, you understand how the bishop likes to work, you know which members have cars, you know where to find the best geladinhos and cheapest paçoquinhas, you understand the transport, you know the bus workers by name....and then, all at once, your world is turned upside-down.

This has only happened to me once on my mission. Until now.

"Reunião de Fax," they call it here. Everyone's tense. The zone leaders (a zone is generally around 15 - 25 missionaries grouped together under two leaders) finally arrive from Salvador, they hold the paper that will tell us what our lives will be like in these next months, and they call out our destinations and companions.

"Sister Petty," they call. I stand. Everyone drums on the table, knowing I will probably leave Dias D'Avila. It's been four months.

"Sister Petty, Dias D'Ávila 1, vai para....PETROLINA, para ser companheira de Sister Taylor!"

Everyone cheers wildly. I clap my hand to my mouth, speechless.

Now, here in Petrolina, I still don't believe it.

All the areas for sisters in my mission are rather close to the hub of Salvador. One, two, three hours away max. However, two or three months ago, Petrolina reopened for sisters! EIGHT hours by bus from Salvador, this city is the only one in the mission that's NOT in Bahia. It's on the other side of the big river São Francisco, on the north part of the mission.

Everyone has always talked very well of Petrolina. "It's very very very very hot," they all say. "And it's very very very good to work!" Apparently the members are fantastic, and really help in the work. The air is dry, the sun is scorching. All the bronzed Brazilians said to me, "Sister Petty, next time I see you you'll be my color!"

The bus ride last night was basically awful, leaving the bus station at 10:20pm, to arrive here about 6am. I didn't sleep. But I survived. :-)

My new companion is a wonderful, sweet sister from Utah, whom I've seriously always wanted as a companion and now I'll have!! She'll be my first American comp...I'm a little nervous about this, but I think we'll do okay with the language.

I will miss Dias D'Ávila MUITO. I love the members so much, and my recently-baptized families will leave a big space in my life. However, I am very excited to start a new phase of the mission. I will work closely with the members, drink lots and lots of water, and grow ever close to Christ as I learn to feel and show more unconditional love.

Thank you all so much for your support, letters, and love. Your letters and e-mails truly lift me.

PETROLINA!

Até proxima vez.

Sister Petty

In Which I Learn What It Means to Be a Member of the Church

My last week in Dias D'Ávila, my friends and family! Probably.

This city (close to Camaçari, if you're searching on a map of Bahia), is heaven. It is flat. It is full of married people. There are geladinhos everywhere.

Here I learned more what it means to be a member missionary. Here I learned more what it means to be a bishop. Here I learned what it is to lead. Although I am still "junior" companion, I haven't felt junior since I arrived here four months ago. My companions, Sister Marciano and Piola, have been wonderful, and with each I have worked on an equal level.

Two experiences of the week to share.

First, Rosa. A few weeks ago, we were brought by a member to the home of her grandmother, who was bedridden but very happy and communicative still. We had the wonderful opportunity to sing several hymns for her, and to bear our testimonies of Christ. We went to her house twice. Two or three days after the second visit, we received the startling news that this grandmother had passed away.

The next week, we went to visit the household who had lost this sweet woman. Rosa, her daughter, received us with open arms. We hugged her and cried with her. She thanked us, from the bottom of her heart, for what the church had done for her. "The members of my church preach of love and service," she said, "but don't show it. The members of your church were always here in my home, helping my mother and me, quietly showing their love through service."

I was so touched, and SO thankful for the incredible members who had shown their light.

Second, the wonderful family we're teaching. They have been off coffee for 6 days now! They are "firme e forte"! They had awful awful headaches the third day, but after we stopped by and said a prayer with them, the headache left. That phone call --"Sisters! Our headaches stopped!"-- was such a testemony builder.

I know the Gospel is true. I know that the commandments are for our happiness--not just in heaven, but RIGHT NOW (Mosiah 2:41). I know that God's hand is in the work.

If you want to read incredible adventure stories, read the Acts of the Apostles. CHIQUE DE MAIS.

Thank you all for your support and love. Don't be afraid to shine your light--you can truly make a difference in the lives of people around you.

I've seen it happen.

Sister Petty

P.S. The language is going well. In fact, sometimes when I'm writing in my journal (basically the only English in my life these days), I have to slow down and think...in order to translate my thoughts into English. Who'd have thunk?

Pictures from Tuesday that I've procrastinated! :)

1 - We didn't have a pressure pan to make beans (did I already send
this one?). So I put on pressure.

2 - The view out my window!

3 - The OTHER view out my window - who recognizes that building?

4 - Eu e Sister Piola, from Santa Catarina.

5 - Needs no explanation.

6 - I love to watch the sky.

7 - Avacado. Yes, I'm serious.

8 - We decided it'd be nice to have a car.

9 - Yes, that's a foot. Of a chicken. I ate it. Was it good? What did
it taste like? Well...very...footy.

10 - Me, loving the things you all send me! Thank you Emily Conger and
my wonderful family!

Coisinhas

Well, my third transfer here is closing! I will hit 10 months of the
misison in my SECOND area. Wow.

The police are back! YAY! Everything is better now. Let's see, since
I've been here, the post office has been on strike, the bank has been
on strike, and now the police have been on strike...who's next? I
honestly have no idea (and don't want to know!).

Today I will just give snatches of my life. Being a missionary is a funny thing.

WORDS that have gained completely new depth and meaning to me:

-heat
-sweat
-cobblestones
-hills
-close
-far
-lunch
-miracles
-love

Oh, adventure that I had recently. I ate a chicken foot. Did I tell
you that already?

One time my companion and I randomly starting singing Backstreet Boys
in the street ("I Want it That Way"). Good thing no one was around.
Funny: she knew more words than I did. And she's Brazilian.

People here don't know what cookies are. They truly don't recognize
them when I try to offer them. "Wait...are they sweet? How do I eat
them?"

This week we taught a girl name Jessica WITH a pair of Jehovah's
Witnesses! They came to the door while we were getting to know
Jessica, and we invited them in. When they saw we wouldn't bite them,
they entered, and we all talked. Then they taught Jessica and we
participated. It was way cool.

My friends, I love the mission. I love Brazil. I am so grateful for
the time I have to serve - it's passing way way way too fast.

My hands are hurting, because we had the opportunity to carry
groceries for a stranger across the whole city. (about 40 minutes of
walking). P-day or no, we are here to serve.

I am here to feel, in some small way, for other people what Christ felt for me.

THANK YOU FOR THE LETTERS!!!

Sister Petty

In Which I Resist the Urge to Beat Up the Policeman

Well...this week was unlike any other I've had on the mission, and
hopefully will ever have.

To sum things up, the police in all of Bahia have decided to go ON
STRIKE because they want more money. Translation: no police in Bahia.

I won't give many more details, but just know that because of risk, we
missionaries had to stay at home for almost four entire days, and it
was just about the death of me. I never knew how much I loved to
contact people in the street and teach lessons and challenge people to
be baptized until I was forcibly prevented from doing so.

(Please don't worry. We missionaries are safe. The Lord is looking out for us.)

As I sat in our little apartment dreaming out the outside world, my
thoughts drifted to street contacts. I realized that I have about
three that are the most common.

~ Common Encounters ~

The Classic:

Sister Petty, planner in hand, looking around like a lost American,
approach a stranger on the street: "Um, excuse me, do you know where I
can find this street-with-a-long-confusing-name?"

Baiano, opening up when they see I won't bite them or throw a Book of
Mormon at them: "Yes, it's through here, go straight, pass the orange
bar and the park and it's through there."

Sister Petty, acting like she understood perfectly: "Hey, thanks. Wow,
you know this city well...how long have you lived here?...Where do you
live?...We're missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, can we come visit you sometime and leave a message
about Jesus Christ?"

The Foreigner's Advantage:

Baiano (sometimes the middle of a convo, sometimes out of nowhere):
"You're not from around here, are you?"

Sister Petty: "Nope. I'm here as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ..."

The Geladinho:

Sister Petty, calling to a house that has a sign "Vende-se geladinho"
in front: "Hey, what types of geladinho do you have? Peanut?
Perfect...I'd like one."

*happily shlurping geladinho* "We're missionaries, can we come visit
sometime and leave a message about Jesus Christ?"

(Geladinho: the greatest thing in Bahia to a tired, hot missionary.
It's basically a popsicle in a little tube-bag, and lots of houses
make and sell them. They're usually about 15 or 20 cents.)

**********

I love the mission. I know that repentance is real and is only
possible through Jesus Christ. I know that He lives, and for Him I am
here in Bahia.

Thank you all so much for your love and support.

I still love letters. :-)

Sister Petty