August 21, 2015 - Saõ Paulo, Brazil CTM

Well, most of this week has been a blur so I'll be using my journal to write this.

On p-days we are allowed to go out and explore a little piece of São Paulo after the temple visit. It is so different from home. None of the streets around us are level at all so you have to pay attention to where you are walking, and the drivers are crazy.

 

Happy Birthday Casey!! August 16th right? I hope I'm right. (almost, it's the 14th)

 

The mission president made a special visit to our district on Monday. He ended up just talking to us, saying how we were special and that we needed to ramp up the use of our language. I don´t think he knew that we had planned an English fast for the next day. The English fast was way harder then any food fast. I was so tempted to say or sing things in English. I have seen an improvement in our districts ability to speak the language since we got here.

 

During a devotional that was given this week I had the thought of the importance of the intent behind an action. after thinking about it for a while it hit me, even Laman and Lemuel were obedient to their father, the prophet. That just reinforced the importance of intent of an action.

 

We were able to go out and proselyte this week and it was really cool. Funny thing, three of the people we ended up talking with spoke English. Made me think of the best two years. Some of the people seemed really interested and started reading the Book of Mormon as we walked away. We recommended for them to read the introduction and Alma chapter 32.

 

The bus ride getting there was an adventure. People here have a different perception of personal space with people and with cars. You're standing up in the bus the whole time, never get over about 45km/h, but it made me jump a little. One of the guys made the joke that he couldn't believe the bus driver left a whole 5 inches in-between the two cars.

 

Random things:

• We are all able to understand the Brasilian roommates a lot better now
• "Our Search for Happiness" is a great book
• It turns out Elder Karren´s brother brought the family of one of our roommates back into the church.
• The track here is tiny, one lap probably wouldn't even reach from my house to the Carrs or Wittes, but I'm having a lot of fun playing volleyball.
• I´m getting used to sleeping with a fan on.

 

Elder Quain