Monday, 4 August 2014

Waffles, Sister Cox and Piraquara


(Piraquara is the name of the city in which she is currently serving)
July 28, 2014

Dad, no, We didn't actually get to eat any waffles. . .. sad huh? The other day I was asking Sister Cox if she had ever had German Pancakes " Um. . . no, I don't think so. Oh! But I've had waffles!" I don't know, it made me so happy. I then was trying to explain to her your things with waffles, and biscuits and cheese. . .. .etc.Let's just say I'm not really sure how you came across especially because I was explaining in Portuguese, but hey! Good stuff.

Annnd. . ..  I will be staying her this transfer with Sister Cox!!! *cheers, of joy,happiness and relief* Yay! We are so pumped:) I love this ward, and Sister Cox and yeah, it will be great:)

Segunda: Remember the wacko picture with a bunch of people wearing bedsheets? Well, we were all Lamanites, duh! We had a lesson about Samuel the lamanite, and the Dad was Samual and held a huge umbrella with TESTIMONY written on the front. Everyone else was lamanites and we all wrote 2-4 temptations that are personally hard for us, crumpled them up and threw them at Samuel trying to hit him. We then read some verses in the BOM abou this story and how some of those lamanites repented, how we can ALWAYS repent and then we will revcieve bençaos! ( blessings) We bought some treats and stuck them in a container and labeled it BENÇAOS. It was really good times my friends. Feel free to use this activity at any church function, Sis. Cox and I would just really appreciate it if you would contact us first so we can work out the copyright details etc. The family, Sylvia, Carlos, Alan, Lujan e Melanie were only baptized like 8 months ago but they are so great, and so firm in the Gospel! It was great for Eny, she had a blast and met new friends in the church!

We had a really amazing, spiritual lesson with Branca and Ari where we finally got to talk with them together again, help Ari see the importance of going to church and just SEEING if this church really is different, the spirit was so strong, we worked so hard to help them, again, I felt impressed to say and ask certain things to help Ari quit being so stuborn, He FINALLY did, said he would go to church, everything was hunky dory, it was the day of avo's (grandparents) in Brazil, Branca had made us these cute little towel things that we said we liked, seriously it was just a really rewarding lesson/experience etc. Minus the fact that the DIDN'T end up going to church yesterday:( Yes, this happens, it's normal. But, I was so sure, the spirit was so strong and I really love them so much, I feel responsible for them, urg. It's just really the saddest thing ever when these things happen.When you invest so much spiritually, and emotionally in people, an experience, you KNOW what you felt, the impressions you had, and then nothing comes of it, it is a really bummer indeed. I wanted to write more about that lesson for you guys but I don't really have the energy to seeing how things worked out. . . :/ But I do have 4 pages in my journal written about it, so that's good.



Ok, I've been wanting to do this for a while but keep running out of time. I've compiled a list of  "Coissas Culturais" para voces, so you you guys can know a little bit better how it is over here!

-Like the picture we sent last week, we always clap when docking doors. Everyone has a gate and you clap to get people's attention. Sometimes this results in like 4 different people coming out, but hey, sweet!

-NO ONE has carpet here and it's the saddest thing, I miss it a ton! They all use tile, easier to clean and cooler in the hot months of the summer

-No one has a dryer here. NO ONE. not even the really rich people. So everywhere you go, you see clothes lines, people hang them everywhere , it's great!

-People strap huge speakers to the tops of cars and drive around the streets reeaaaally slowly blasting advertisements that are really loud and soooo obnoxious! They repeat the same advertisements like very 15 seconds, it's the worst!

-They greet each other here like they do  in Paris. Always kisses on the cheeck. Everyone with everyone, the only exception is grown men, thank goodness! It definitely makes for many awkward times as a sister missionary however. .. ..yikes!

-There are dogs EVERYWHERE. Seriously, they just live in the rua and asa result. ... . .there are always so many. Plus, everyone, EVERYONE, has at least 2 dogs. And when we clap they all go nuts and it 's the most annoying thing and I don't think I will every like a dog again in this lifetime. Seriously.

-They always make huuuuge almoços ( lunch) especially for us as the missionaries) And so after lunch we're always so full and tired and just want to sleep! They eat again at like 8:00 or 9:00 and always eat the same thing every day. Whenever the'yre not eating almoco they eat cafe. Or, cafe/tea/hot chocolate/ and mini white bread sandwhiches with some cheese and meat. They're not very creative with their food here,but I love it nevertheless:)

Well folks my time has come again. Time goes so fast here. Well the days are sooo long but time in general flies. I can't believe it's already August! Speaking of. . ..Coltran I sent you a package! It's, as dad would say, a little rare, but also super cool, just like me! ;)

I love you guys and miss you a lot. I feel like I'm really far away from you. . .. . . hmm;) But it's good, Serving a mission is really such a privilege. And yes, it really is for the missionary. We can change so much if we decide to. Missions are also so very hard. But you know what? Worthwhile things are. Very hard, very worth it:)

I love being a missionary and am trying every day to love it more, to improve and to be more like my Savior.

Much love,

Sister Ventura

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