So my Brazilian roommates reported to their missions early Tuesday morning. Brazilians serving state side stay in the MTC for 19 days. It was sad to see them go, they were really really cool. The best part was just that we could hang out each night and do our best to talk to them and they´d talk to us. We would laugh and joke with each other a lot. In portugués there are a lot of puns. The Brazilians get a way bigger kick out of them than we do back home. For instance the word Irmão means Brother. So you walk up to someone and say Irmão and stick your hand out to shake. Then when they reach for it you say voltar mão and take your hand away. This is because Irmão, brother, sounds just like Ir Mão, go hand, and voltar mão means return hand. haha so you say go hand return hand and fake people out.
So in Brazil the whole armed guard thing is pretty intense. Last week at the Correio, (post office), an armored truck came to pick up some valuable mail and so of course all the guards got out. Well all the guards carry their guns out and ready at almost all times. So it was cool to see this ripped black man wearing a bullet proof jacket walking around with a gun. haha When we flew to brazil all the guards in the airport had their guns out too.
In Salvador there are lots of hills, muito quente, lots of black people, and lots of voodoo. People build little voodoo shrines on the corners of streets and you can put coins in them for good luck or whatever reason. They make the shrines out of like a big lizard (i think), with a chicken head in popcorn inside. Something like that, but really crazy. We were told to ignore them. Don´t even give them attention. Exciting stuff.
So today after our temple session we got to go see the baptismal font. The baptismal font in the São Paulo temple is Beautiful! There is lots of tile and mosaics instead of paintings. Also the Worker told us all the wood is super precious. A man had a ton of it for 10 years before the temple was built. Brazilian mahogany. Then it became illegal to harvest, but his wood was fine to sell. He couldn´t sell it for 10 years and then the church was able to buy it all and use it for the Temple. Pretty cool because now it is super rare.
On monday i was studying outside and i saw a rat scurry across the wall of the CTM. The way the ctm is built on the bottom floor you can walk around and there are lots of open spaces and walls that lead outside and to the gym etc. It´s pretty nice especially because it´s so hot.
I bought a bag last week that got my name and mission embroidered on it by some members here in São Paulo, i get to pick it up today! I´m excited. This Friday is the day we get to go proselyting! So I am super stoked to place some Livros de Mórmon! haha I am having a great time here, trying not to over eat at meals, actually succeeding at not overeating. Tonight is pizza night here at the ctm so i am stoked. The pizzas are weird and random flavors but pretty good.
As for the time being, i´m learning a ton about the gospel, a ton of Portuguese and coming unto Christ!
As for the time being, i´m learning a ton about the gospel, a ton of Portuguese and coming unto Christ!
