My name in Portuguese - Milena!

Wahoo!!! Yay for another P-day. Its a little weird the time here, because I cant believe that another week has flown by, but at the same time, its feels like I have been here in Porto Ferreira for years, and with Sister R. Silva for months. I think any missionary can remember this feeling. Unfortunately, I have definitely not been speaking Portuguese for years. Ha-ha! I know that I am improving, but the gift of language is definitely a line upon line gift... Its hard to see myself improving as I learn more and more, and realize that people probably really didn’t understand me at the beginning like I thought they did! Ha-ha! But I am starting to understand children, which in itself is a miracle!I had an awesome, awesome week... first I wanted to calm some fears (dad that would be you) the proposal wasn’t all the big of a deal. Its just that I am THE ONLY American here in Porto Ferreira... and being blonde doesn’t really help the cause, and so really any passing guy has to make a remark. Ugh. That is not fun, but I try to turn it into something good by turning it into contact and a lesson! And don’t worry, we are working really hard to keep the rules dad, believe me! ha-ha, we ran home 3 times this week to keep the rules... and when I say ran home, I mean we RAN like 15 to 25 minutes, with all of our stuff, in our skirts, and yes... quite a sight! Ha-ha! But we kept the rules, and made it home, so it was quite worth it!

Yep, things with Sister R. Silva have been awesome, she is quite a worker, I honestly don’t even have time to eat. We have been teaching like crazy, and then after we run home, we sit down and plan right away, which means I am trying to shower/ get ready for bed/ eat dinner/ in like 10 minutes; which normally means like the last few minutes before 10:30 I am standing in the kitchen trying to eat a banana or papaya as fast as I can! Ha-ha! Life is great! Keep this running and not eating up- and I will be way skinnier at the end of this mission.But all this hard work is paying off, I am learning a lot from Sister R. Silva, she is really good at pushing me to teach more, and making me be independent in my Portuguese- which at times is a bit scary... when people don’t understand me- I have to re-explain myself, instead of letting her explain what I meant or was trying to say. She is a powerful teacher- quite bold- and I am trying to be bolder- but at the same time learning to be bold and loving... something I think will take a long time to learn, but I am trying. I know that I am progressing in being bold though- ha-ha this past week we saw some kids of one of our investigators with cigarettes- and these kids are like 5 and 7 I think, and so we tried talking to them to give us the cigarettes. I ended up just taking them from them…and then I thought- ahhhh! Now I have cigarettes. I didn’t know what to do. Ha-ha, a member who was with us crushed them up and threw them away, and then I washed my hands like a bazillion times. Haha, but I never thought I would just, take cigarettes away from somebody. That is bold!

So yep- Sister R. Silva and I are really a great team, and this week we had an awesome, awesome experience… ok well we had a lot of really great experiences- but I wanted the best one, and I think the best experience I have had thus far on my mission. We have been teaching a girl named Milena for about a month now. She is 12, and I think her name Milena, is the equivalent of Melanie in Portuguese. And she is awesome! Her 2 older sisters are members, and were kind of menos ativos until Sister McAllister and I, with the help of a member here, started teaching them. This was I think like 5 weeks ago. Anyways, their family has really been progressing, and Milena was all set to get baptized, started like 3 weeks ago, but her Mother Claudia, just didn’t want to allow it.So we have been trying really hard to talk with Claudia, and help her warm up to the idea- something that has been hard. She loves us, but as soon as we start talking about the gospel- she ran from the room- Sister McAllister (ahh I mean Heather!!) will know what I am talking about. Anyways, Sister R. Silva and I had been praying for an opportunity to talk with her, and we finally decided we just needed to go to her house one morning and specifically talk to the mom, and set a date for baptism… take an action really. And so Weds morning, we prayed and prayed that the mom would be at home, we knew that she had work, but we felt really strongly that we needed to try. So we walked/ran like an hour to her house..... and she wasn’t home. I thought I would be frustrated that she wasn’t home, but I wasn’t, because I knew I had followed the spirit. We ended up teaching another lesson that was awesome that morning- and we taught 2 girls that I knew we would of never met otherwise.

So yes, I learned that the Lord has plans for us, and many times we just don’t know what they are.Anyways, the next day, we prayed and prayed at our lesson we would have an opportunity to talk to Claudia. And.... our lesson was so different. She sat down with us- a miracle- and then she asked us about baptism- another huge, huge miracle!! I felt prompted to challenge her to a special fast this weekend to accept the baptism of Milena, and we set a date for her baptism.... all hinging on the fast. So this weekend we had the fast, starting Saturday- and we opened up with a prayer. Claudia didn’t want to fast, yada yada, and kept making excuses. But Sister R Silva and I said we had started our fast with the other sisters, and invited her fast for a small part. Anyways, this was a hard, hard fast for me- because we had to walk a lot this weekend… and I don’t ever remember fasting without water. Anyways, it was hard, but awesome because I kept thinking of this family.

So then last night, when we met to end the fast, we didn’t know what we were going to talk about. I kept praying all day to know what to say, what to talk about... and I just felt nothing. The older sister, Magali, arranged to have 2 other mothers from the branch at our meeting, and so we all gathered together. And literally one minute before I needed to speak and share a message, I knew what I needed to talk about- not baptism, but faith. I shared my love for the family (I was crying of course! haha) and then challenged Claudia to have faith in Milena and allow her to take this step. Sister R Silva shared a scripture about faith- she followed up perfectly- and then the other 2 members who were there helped so much, and talked about baptism. And Claudia, for the first time- felt moved by the spirit. She cried. And all of her daughters cried, and it was just powerful.After our message, I said, ok, let’s close our fast with a prayer and afterwards set a date for Milenas baptism. So each of us said a prayer, and then afterwards... we all stood up... and no one said a word about baptism. We all just stood up, and Claudia started to prepare some food... and I followed her into the kitchen- and I know what happened next came straight from the Lord because it was NOT from me…I said, ok Claudia how about next Friday for the baptism. And she said, "how about at night because I get home at 6:00. And that was it!! She accepted it! It was truly, truly, a miracle. So we have a baptism this weekend- but not Friday, we are having it Sunday night because of General Conference.

So, this past week was truly a week of miracles. I have felt overwhelmed by the Lords love that I am allowed to help a small part in this work. I don’t know how he has used my weak and simple Portuguese to touch other lives- but He has- and only through the spirit. I have learned to let go of what I know, and what I thought, and let the Lord mold me into what I need to be. It has been humbling, as this past week I have felt weaker and fuller of frequezas then I ever thought. But then at that moment, when I truly learn to let go and rely on the Lord, I have learned that it is His work, I am a small instrument, but with His spirit and power, I can be strong and do great things.

Anyways, I think it is time to end this chapter in this weeks novel. I think it is time to go eat, because who knows if I will have time to eat tonight after our lessons :) haha! I am loving it here! Hoorah for miracles of the Lord- and the greatest miracle of all- that we can be clean every whit and be pure once again through the power of the love of Jesus Christ!

Com Amor,
Sister Melanie Monroe

PS. For those of you who read Michael-s blog- I highly enjoyed Michael’s letter this week. I thought, yes I know exactly what he is talking about... oh yeah. that’s like my town!! haha! And the political music, that song mike- those numbers! haha! are they waving flags everywhere around too? I grabbed some fliers of the political reps for several reasons- one-to mail home to show the family, two because they were heinous examples of graphic design, and three because I just enjoyed laughing at them. Votes up next week... but I am out of time to state my political opinion. or maybe its just because I am not allowed! or I dont know! probably all three!

Avacado with sugar and other specialties

Yes there you have it- I realized this past week that I hadn’t written about this interesting and quite different Brazilian food. The Brazilians eat avocado like a fruit- they always, always put it with sugar, and make avocado milkshakes, or just mash up avocados and put sugar with it. Its way good! It just seems like I am eating a different fruit really- not avocado. I actually made some guacamole the other day for a family here, and they all thought I was mad when I was making it. They all tried it however, and said they liked it... I am not quite sure they were completely telling the truth however! Ha-ha. But other food that has been a huge hit with the Brazilians have been German pancakes- they love this recipe! Ha-ha. And cookies too... Sister McAllister and I only made these once like 2 weeks ago, but since then I have been getting questions about it.

Hmm while we are on the topic of food... I thought you all might enjoy a recipe. I haven’t made this, its from a Brazilian sister- and the way Brazilians measure things are a bit different... ok well its actually non existent. They just throw things in, sabe. And so if this cake doesn’t turn out, (cake is bolo in Portuguese by the way) don’t blame me! Ha-ha. But yeah, it’s a recipe for carrot cake, which is way way different her. Way good, and I will write the chocolate frosting too... but I really hope it works out! Ha-ha!

Bolo de Cenoura (Carrot Cake!)
3 eggs
3 carrots (ok maybe like 4 or 5, the carrots are bigger here)
1 cup oil (this seems like a lot......I don’t know)

Ok so they put all this in a blender... yes everything here is made in a blender! so yep, blend it all up in that liquidificador (blender)
Mix together-
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
Then put the egg mixture in the flour mixture slowly.
Then put in1 Tablespoon of Yeast

Then you bake it. I don’t know how long or what temperature.. sorry. They don’t have that kind of thing here. You just throw it in.

Then for the chocolate topping! (yum)
1.5 cups of milk
6 tablespoons chocolate (like um the chocolate that you use to make chocolate milk..I forget the name in English, it has sugar in it already though)
1 spoon of butter
3 T of sugar

You put all of this on the stove, and let it simmer I think for 20 minutes. Then you let it cool, and it should get thick…Ok so this part is the part I am nervous about.. I didn’t entirely understand the Brazilian woman when she was saying this part. And so yeah, when this chocolate part has a cooled a little, put it over the cooled cake.

SO there you have it! A Brazilian recipe! Ha-ha... I feel like I am on a cooking show, expect that I don’t know anything.

Ok back to the real stuff...

Other then cake the Brazilians have really good sweet rice, which is yummy, and ice cream with flavors like milho verde (corn) which is really, really good. They also use condensed milk for like every desert. You should see the supermarket here- they have a HUGE section for condensed milk and juice. It’s funny.

Oh and other funny things that have happened- so far I have been proposed to (again) and another guy tried to kiss me this week. ha! Ha-ha, that was funny. I have some really good dodging skills I must say. Because the culture here is to kiss everyone on the cheek when you meet someone. So kissing her- not a big deal. Weird for me! (yeah I can so hear my friends laughing at me right now) anyways...

And this week I was asked how is the way the Brazilians clean funny... I guess this is hard to imagine unless you have seen it. Really its just crazy. You have that gimongous squeegee and you spray everything down with water and go at it... and for doing the dishes, water is flying everywhere, soap is flying everywhere.... you get the idea! ha-ha. It’s crazy! The funny thing is, I wash dishes this way now. It is a bit easier to be sure.

And- it sure has been fun living with a Brazilian companion. Sister R. Silva is otimo- she is from the northeast- and she has the sweetest accent. I feel like I have Etta James for my companion, she is this cute short black woman, with a deep and really, really soothing voice. At times I just listen to her speak because it’s really relaxing, but then I get all lost and confused because I wasn’t trying to understand what she was saying. We haven’t had any problems communicating, and she is really patient with my Portuguese, so its fun!

She is so nice, but incredibly bold. Wow! It has been really fun teaching with her- we taught 7 families this week, which was really hard, but so awesome to really focus on this. Yesterday we had a bit of hard morning- we walked like 2 hours before church trying to get our investigators to church and all... but yeah, in summary- we had no investigators in church yesterday… a bit discouraging because we had worked so hard this week. But then after church we had the most awesome day- we taught 3 families that I really felt had been prepared to hear our lesson.

Well, I really could just keep on writing- but I probably should come to an end. This is probably another long chapter to my novel-like emails. But I wanted to thank you all who read my blog and who write me letters. This week I received a TON of letters when we had interviews with the mission president- and it seriously felt like Christmas! It was soo awesome…and I honestly needed it so badly. It has been like 5 days without hearing or thinking English...The first few days with Sister R. Silva were a bit tough because I couldn’t quite understand her accent... and so yeah, when I got those letters- ahhh it was awesome! Thank you thank you!!!!

Anyways, the work is trucking forward here; I am learning to love all the moments that you feel as a missionary- the joys, the sorrows, and all the in betweens. My message for the week- help the missionaries!!! It is so hard to work with the members at times, but when we do teach with the members, it’s a huge, huge difference! I have been trying to better understand why baptism is so important, and I feel like I am only starting to grasp our purpose in life, and the potential we each have! How awesome the gospel plan is!!

I love you all!
Com Amor
Sister Monroe

Minha mae saio e minha madastre chegou!

Ok so roughly that means- My mom left and my step mom arrived! Ha-ha, on the mission your first companion in the field is known as your mom (or father) and your second is your step mom. Last week was Sister McAllister’s last week in the field, and in missionary terms "I killed my companion" which means I was the last companion with her. We had a really special week- my first baptism!!! Wahoo!! Anyways, first off, I wanted to write some other cool things, and then I will write about that baptism!

Ok first off- I love my name now. Mel!! In Portuguese, this means Honey ( I cant remember if I wrote this before) and here in Porto Ferreira, they sell things with Mel everywhere... and Icant contain myself. I have pictures of many things with Mel now, and signs that say "vende se mel" which is like saying- selling me! Ha-ha. So I love this, and its really cool to hear that my name actually has a cool meaning... I use to think that Mel was just like an old balding man... but now, it’s pretty sweet. (No pun intended) so that’s fun!! I will send some pictures to my mom of this!

Oh and I don’t think I told this story- the dogs here are nuts. i hate them. the other day we were walking and one just started biting my skirt and my legs and wouldn’t leave me alone for a good few minutes. I finally just turned around and nailed it with my water bottle. Sister McAllister started laughing hysterically, and said she had wanted to do that for a long time. I had just had it, the dog left me alone.. I just hope no one else saw it... they are all slightly attached to their dogs here, but frankly all the dogs are slightly heinous and smell of chi-chi. Nasty. I just keep thinking of nestle and Choco and Cassie (well may she RIP) Yes, I don’t know if anyone knew it but our dog, who thought she was a cat, died a few weeks ago (ok so only Ali and Natalie and talvez Amanda will think this is interesting!) and so yeah.. I like those dogs. But Brazilian dogs... ick.

Ok so we had a really busy week trying to visit everyone and get ready for the baptism- and it was awesome! I am sorry if my email last week was a bit down, but really I am loving it here and working hard! This baptism was Benedito, a man who I saw on the street and was in a wheelchair, asked him if he needed help, didn’t really understand him, and just started pushing him. Sister McAllitser asked him for his address and scheduled a lesson with him, and in our mission presidents words we "just pushed him right into the font!"

Ha-ha, but no... he was really just special. It has been awesome to see the spirit start to touch him and change him. Every time we taught him it was awesome to see him change just a little. And then the day of the baptism, it was so awesome- he arrived 2 hours early. He was so excited! I felt nervous up until the end- he only has one leg, and so I wasn’t sure how they were going to baptize him, but everything worked our great and it was awesome!! But, it’s interesting, I felt excited, but still a little anxious. Yesterday when he was confirmed with the Holy Ghost, that’s when I felt like it was complete…and its true, no baptism is complete without the Holy Ghost. But yeah, it was awesome.... truly without words the joy and excitement!! Wahoo!!

Anyways, another really exciting thing that I have watched progress is that a man, named Geraldo in our ward. He and his wife Marlena had been inactive for years, years, and years. We started visiting them, and my companion sister McAllister made the comment that if they came back to church it would be a miracle. Well.... in a visit a month ago, I felt impressed to make some comments about eternal marriage to them (they haven’t been through the temple) and testify to them about the importance of going to the temple... and promise them some things I KNOW did not come from me. I just opened my mouth. It is really incredible to see the spirit working on people, and know that you are just an instrument. But anyways, Geraldo and Marlena have been coming back to church for the past 3 weeks!! And Geraldo received the priesthood, and I cannot describe how things have completely changed... it was a real testimony to me that missionaries have other jobs besides helping people to be baptized. We are here to help people endure to the end as well... and the joy that I feel for this family is just as great as I feel for Benedito. Pretty awesome…and indescribable.

Anyways, these are just a few of the stories of things that have happened this week... I will never have time for all of them, but it has been an awesome transfer with Sister McAllister. It was hard to see her go- I hope that someday I can be the kind of missionary she was- we truly worked miracles here together. Small miracles, small things, that will someday make a difference. She is awesome- and I am so excited that will hopefully-kind of- in a strange way be related to me! Ha-ha!

Anyways- my new companion is... drum roll please... a Brazilian! Wahoo! Sister R. Silva. She is awesome, really happy... I don’t think she has another expression besides smiling. And rumor has it she is a hard worker. Yes! otimo! So yep, this will be fun! I hope I can understand her... ahh I am a little nervous, but lets just say I have been bumped up to accelerated Portuguese... ha-ha!

Ok to finish up- there were a few questions to answer…anyone feel free to ask questions and email them to my mom, I love hearing what people are wondering and thinking! I love you all!

Ok- this week’s question-What was the biggest culture shock in Brazil, and besides people, what is my favorite thing?Well (thanks Robbie for the questions!) umm biggest culture shock... that’s kind of a hard one... honestly the way people clean. It never ceases to make me laugh.... its honestly just funny. The way they clean dishes... it’s quite a production. And my favorite thing- probably the fruit....its heaven. I eat a ridiculous amount of mamao and pinapple and banana and tomato and tangerines. Ok wait I think tomato is a vegetable... but they are so good here. Oh and mamao is um papaya… I almost forgot the name. Way good! And I love the flavor milho verde here- its corn- and the use it in ice cream and cake- way good!!

I really need to go! Love you all!!!
com amor,
Sister Monroe

Top Ten

Well, I was hoping to answer lots of questions from different people this week, but I forgot a small detail to talk with my family first off... and things seem to be pretty crazy with the family... sooo, I want to try this again…If anyone has questions for me, please just post them on the comments of the blog. (and Kimberly, I am assigning you!) my little sister will email me them to me in the next week and then I can answer them! So I am hoping this will work, because it would be fun to know what everyone is thinking. Ok…so my brother wrote a top 10 list of funny things he had learned this past week... and I actually have been making a list of funny things I have learned about Brazilians...that really are quite hysterical. I cant take credit for all of these ideas, because my companion and I talk about them…so here it goes-You know you have been in Brazil too long when.... (Ok so too long is relative because I have a long amount of time left... but already these are universal truths that I have grown to accept)

1.You are embarrassed to flush the toilet paper.Ok so no had told me this at all- but everyone here throws their toilet paper in a trash can next to the toilet. Lovely... not really all that interesting, but highly strange.

2.You think everyone eats beans and rice.It actually is really, really good. I actually look forward to lunch because I always know what I will be eating. I love it. And you know what it is really good with beans and rice? Banana! ooh yum!!

3.You punctuate every sentence with a finger whip snap thingy.Ok well I can’t...because I my fingers can’t do that snappy thingy. But everyone else does it! All of the Brazilians snap their fingers to emphasize alot…or many... or GET ON IT! ahaha. And now I know why all return missionaries always do this snappy thing.

4.You can’t take a shower without wearing shoesI haven’t seen carpet in 3 months... and the other day I saw a big rug... that was really weird. I don’t even where sandals anymore because It is really just too dirty in the city.

5.You site acid as a major problem in your health.Ha-ha... everyone here is always talking about ohh this food has too much acid and isn’t good for health. Really something I have never heard before Brasil. hmmm…interesting.

6.Your white picket fence dream becomes one of a 15 foot iron gate with spikes on top. All of the houses have this gate or portão in front…and we clap our hands to answer. All of the houses are pretty old and cool looking, with paint pealing and stuff... ok I think its cool, but really it is kind of sad and just old.

7.You can’t end a sentence without saying não e?
Other common phrases include ´nossa´ and ´sabe?´ It is funny to hear with is slang in Portuguese.

8.You turn your car off when you drive downhillI have only been in a car a few times, and 2 of those times were yesterday when this old member and his wife was driving us. I think I might cite this as one of the scariest moments in my life- because he cant hear, he can barely see- and he is this old man driving through the crazy streets.... yeah, you can imagine. It was highly amusing/scary!

9.You think that cement is better than grass for your front lawn, and you water it faithfully. Ok so every day, and I mean every day… all of the Brazilians have their hose and they water and clean out their driveway and front sidewalk. I honestly have no idea why. The ironic thing, is that they don’t clean the inside of their house…it is quite amusing... I guess that cement just needs watering to stay...er.... cement?

10.A blender is a must have in the kitchenLiterally every meal, and every Brazilian has a blender which they use all the time for everything- cake, juice, vegetables.. you name it! it has a really funny name in Portuguese too- luquidificador. It’s a hard one to learn, but I have mastered it because I too use it every night for my banana agua/milk shake!

Ok so, one other funny thing- I finally dreamed in Portuguese!! I have actually been dreaming a few weeks in Portuguese now... but I am pretty positive that I am not fluent…because I didn’t even understand my dream. Actually every time in my dreams they are speaking Portuguese and I speak back… and sometimes I don’t even know what I am saying. Interesting.Anyways, I thought those were some funny things that everyone would enjoy- but this past week has been really awesome.

For the first time I am going to admit something... and maybe this will be the first proof that I am indeed changing on my mission... I am in a really hard area and I have been having a really hard time. Now, I write this, not because I want a lot of letters that say- stay happy, keep working , etc…because I still feel happy, I still feel positive... but mostly I am worried that if I don’t share a little about the struggles, no one will quite understand the triumphs.I have cried a lot the past few weeks... not because of Portuguese, not because I am homesick... only because of the area here. This branch here is a very hard area- one of the hardest in the mission. My mission president and his wife told me that makes it so hard are the members. I think there are only a handful that have the priesthood, and the majority of the people are inactive, and at the beginning were not really responsive to us. Truly, we have had to spend the majority of our time teaching the members to try and get them to come to church. It has been really hard to feel love for someone so strongly, because I truly feel a great love for each of the members here, and to testify and teach people, and then to see them destroy their families by not following the gospel. I don’t know if I am quite describing everything I am seeing here…but believe me when I say that I have never spent so much time pleading with the Lord to help me know what to do. Sister McAllister and I have both cried a lot over this area.And in these hardest times....I know that the Lord is there. I have found so much joy in the simple things... and the Lord has truly poured out his blessing on Sister McAllister and Me.

We have a baptism this weekend of one of the most loving man I have ever met- Benedito. We met him 3 weeks ago, and I know that he is a blessing from the Lord. He is so humble, and definitely comes from humble circumstance. It has been a joy to teach him, and to see the light of Christ begin to glow within him. This is what a mission is all about!!I don’t have too much time left- but I want everyone to know I feel so grateful for this opportunity to learn and grow. I truly do love this area here, and because it is difficult, it makes success that much sweeter. As we have worked really hard the last 3 weeks to serve the members, teach those who are inactive, and constantly visit everyone, we have begun to gain their confidence.

This past weekend was really awesome- we were able to see some members bare their testimony that have been less then less-active. To see these members come back to church, and to hear them bare their testimony, has been a miracle. It may be a small thing... but to me, it is a huge.I have felt my own testimony grow so powerfully... I have been able to grow close to my Savior in prayer- I know that he is there, and I know that he listens. Thank you to all for your letters and prayers. They have made a great difference!I love you all!!
Love,
Sister Melanie Monroe

Oi! More from August 28, 2006

Sorry my last email was short, you just never know how the day is going to be on those p-days. We spent most of the day going to Brazilian shops looking for things for Sister Mc Allister. I am sure glad I am not leaving anytime soon. It seems stressful! And it’s hard because you can’t really remember what things are in the US…well, I can, but Sister McAllister can’t…so it’s hard to know what to take home to her family. She keeps asking me, “Sister, is the food really that different?” Ha-ha…Oh how the time flies by. I’ve only been here three weeks, but I can tell I will be the same way when I leave. You just get so focused on your mission that you completely forget other things J Anyways, enough rambling…I thought I would write out a typical day so you can get a feel for my days here:

6:00 Up and stretch. My legs are always sore- I say this not to complain, but just to say I have to honestly never been this sore in my life. I am certainly getting a good workout each day! Yay for this “exercise”or err…stretch time J

6:30 Shower and get ready, which consists of well, brushing and braiding my hair. It’s too hot to do much else to get ready.

7:15 Breakfast. My latest food kick has been a half of a papaya and a banana for breakfast! Yeah for lots and lots of yummy fruit…I really eat a ridiculous amount of papaya, banana, pineapple, tangerines and strawberries! Yummy!

7:45 Read the Book of Mormon in Portuguese, and pray that someday I will understand all the words…or verses at least!

8:00 Personal study. This time flies by! I love this chance to read the Book of Mormon and Preach my Gospel. My brother made a comment about Preach my Gospel that I just love- I think I will just quote him here: “It is the cliff notes to the scriptures. Imagine a book that taught how to find happiness and peace, how to understand our eternal origin and destiny, what we must do in this life to obtain those blessings, how to receive answers to prayer, how to develop faith and become more like the Savior.” Yep, it’s nice to have a brother who always puts things perfectly. Booyah. I love this time and it passes quickly.

9:00 Comp study – This is always a lot of fun! I just love talking to Sister McAllister! First off, she understands my Portuguese and she is so patient. She is teaching me so much in how to be a good missionary.

10:00 This is suppose to be time for language study…but we normally end up leaving early to walk to some part of the city for an appointment.

10:00 – 12:00 Proselyting, walking, and teaching. We try to talk to everyone that will listen.

12:00 Lunch, normally at a ward members casa. This is always rice and beans, a little meat, and lettuce or tomatoes or zucchini, and sometimes pasta. You know what is super good? Rice, beans and a banana! Yummy! Ha-ha, Brazilians really do eat a ton of rice and beans, but it’s pretty good! I like it!

1:30- 9:00 Proselyting, and more walking, and teaching. We normally walk straight up for at least three hours a day- there are far off neighborhoods- and luckily for us we are teaching someone in each big neighborhood, and so I get excited to walk to these places even though most of them are a good 30 to 40 minute walk.

9:00 We return home, I eat a whole pineapple J or make a banana smoothie/shake, we plan the next day, and shower!

10:30 In bed! Wahoo! I am always exhausted J

Well there you have an average day. In the week, there are always exceptions, but that’s what makes it exciting. I continue to love this city – Mom, you asked what it is like – I don’t know what pictures you saw of Porto Feireira on the internet, and there are some beautiful spots in the city – like the river, and the big Catholic cathedral. But the majority of the city reminds me a lot of Tijuana. All of the houses are pretty close together- there are a few occasional rich houses, but mostly it’s just really poor. I have yet to see carpet, but I can’t complain. I am pretty sure as far as Brazil goes, we live in a really, really nice part. We are in the richest state of Brazil, and I am a sister. They don’t put sisters in bad parts J and don’t worry Mom, we do try to avoid walking through bad parts of town- but sometimes it can’t be helped.

Anyways- as far as a few highlights of the week- we are teaching a man in a wheelchair- Benedito, who we met on the street. He has a great attitude, and it is so exciting to see him progress. He also referred us to his friend, who has cancer- Moacir. We had a very spiritual first lesson with him. He goes in for surgery this week, so we won’t be teaching him for awhile…but, he is awesome. And we are teaching a woman, Virginia, who walked an hour by herself to get to church yesterday! We were so excited! So things are going great here!

One last thought, Moacir, who has cancer, asked me this week a question that made me think…He asked, “Are you afraid?” And quickly I found myself replying “I have no fear, because I have the knowledge of the Gospel.” How awesome that with this faith there is no room for fear to exist! Yay for this knowledge…Ok, I am off! I love you all!

Love,
Sister Melanie Monroe