February 11, 2009

The mission is great we are teaching a family. I am finding new joy in life as I try to help people understand the commandments of God and how to have an eternal family. Being sealed in the temple is the only way to go, you know? Happy Valentines Day to all!! spread the love aka the gospel. I am learning how much missionary work is at the heart of the church, I think we don´t put enough emphasis on missionary work in Grants Pass. The church is so different in Brasil, so new and growing like crazy. People are so accepting and everyone believes in God, it´s not common to find atheists nor agnostists here. Cool. On all the buses they have a sign that says ´Deus é Fiel´ God is Faithful,... and many cars have a sticker that says ém na maos de Deus´In the hands of God... Anyways Brasil is way cool... the fruit here is to die for everything has such rich flavor. One fruit called Maracujá is so gostoso... So many different flavors, at first it´s wierd but then it´s delicious. I love beans and rice I think sometimes more than the average Brasilian, this is good right? I hope to come home with all kinds of new ideas and make you guys a Brasilian feast. It´s kind of strange, for food they have various main courses. a typical Brasilian lunch is spaghetti, type of meat (beef, chicken), beans, rice, juice, salad/vegtable, and potatoes lots of carbs and protien. OH and lets not forget Guarnana aquela soda irmão pratt brought over my last night. Tell him hi for me and that there´s thousands of types of Guarnana here... yikes!! Love you beijos e abraços! (hugs and kissses/ besitos y abrasos). I am focusing on loving the people, loving my companion, loving my mission president and his wife, and loving nosso Salvador! I think the love will help me along in learning the language faster and the gospel. I have such a hard time memorizing scriptures and thinking where to find a particular scripture in the time I need it. It´s really challenging teaching the gospel I guess it makes it twice as hard in another language too. But all is well I am learning confidence. I am almost 1/3 the way home. WOW love you guys, take care, good luck with school and give grandma and grandpa a hug and kiss for me. love, Rachel