Flavor, Sun, Maracujá, and Amazing Members

Brasil is so...flavorful. I love seeing little old carts being pulled by little donkeys, little brown children of every age playing futebol in the streets/yards/fields, entire families on one bicycle, every kind of person driving motorcycles, chickens in the streets, crazy drivers, trucks full of guiaba (fruit) that I love to smell as they go by...ahhh. So much flavor. This week was so incredibly hot. It feels like the sun is about a meter in front of your face here. Does anyone know what kind of fruit is "maracujá"? It's amazing. The juice is fantastic and super easy to make. Estaca Petrolina = POWER. My dear friends and family, I am having the special privelige (I don't know how to spell anymore) of working with a missionary stake. The stake president (who lives a block away from us missionaries) has a fire in his soul for missionary work, and has animated the entire Petrolina stake to be excited about the work. For example: this Sunday was "Missionary Day." They put on an activity at the president's home, and out of the blue they asked us missionaries to do a quick training on how to do a street contact. We gave them a five-minute training and did a quick practice, then FOOM! sent them out into the streets. They left without complaint, and In half an hour they came back with 27 member referrals and spiritual experiences they were excited to share. Missionary work isn't just for the missionaries. Never have fear to invite, invite, invite. For those of you who aren't members of the church, talk to a friend who is. Ask them why they do what they do, and how they know what they know. They will be happy to tell you. My "filha" is doing fantastically. I'm almost forgotten that I'm training. Her testimony is strong and she is not afraid to share it. I hope to be a bit more like her each day. Thank you all for your letters of support and love. They inspire me to better teach, work, and love here in Pernumbuco, Brasil. Com amor e carinho, Sister Petty P.S. The other day I was talking to my district leader on the phone, and I was a bit quieter than usual. We'd had a rough day. My district leader was like, "Sister Petty, não fique desanimada!" and his Argentine companion, hearing the conversation, shouted, "O que? Isso é apostosia, Sister Petty não PODE ficar desanimada!" P.P.S. Today my companion and I played four-square with the elders (I taught them). Halfway through we realized something...we had four squares, four people, four languages and four countries represented! (Me, my Cabo Verdiana companion, our Brazilian LD, and his Argentine comp). COOL.