Carnaval and Transfer

Hello Everyone.

 

Tomorrow is Carnaval, so we are using the computer of our Bishop.  This means that all four of us are taking turns to email on ONE computer.  There is still one more after me.  We have been here over an hour and a half already.  Everything is closed, you see.  There are no internet houses open in all the city.  We even trekked to the Centro to check the internet houses, and not a one open.  We have already wasted so much of the preparation day!  So frustrating.  But the Bishop´s house is really nice.  It´s actually in a high rise in the Centro.  Anyway...

 

The transfer happened.  Elder Hein went about half a mile away to the mainland in Vila Velha.  Elder Rodriguez and Elder Brito went way far away.  I am companions now with Elder Bagley.  He is an American, from a small town Hemet, California an hour outside of San Diego.  He speaks nearly flawless Portuguese, though.  Everyone we meet thinks he is Brazilian.  And that´s not an exaggeration.  He is coaching me on pronunciation.  He doesn´t like to speak English almost ever.  Elder Anderson is now companions with a Brazilian (non English-speaking) though, so I cannot complain.  He teaches very well.  We get along, but he is very quiet.

 

The other two in the house with us are both Brazilians from São Paulo.  I am learning how different Portuguese from São Paulo is from Portuguese from Fortaleza and from Salvador.  Everyone has different expressions and accents.  One of them is a brand new Elder with less than a month since entering the CTM (MTC) in São Paulo.

 

We have gotten lost a few times as I have guided the group of us four to lunch.  Embarrassing, but eventually we found the destinations, even though we had to call and have one of the members find us and escort us to their house.  What can you do?

 

I played Monopoly Deal in Portuguese with the other Elders in the house.  I won.

 

The weather has been cloudy, breezy, and rainy here.  A welcome break from the burning sun.  I barely even perspired one of the days this week.

 

Believe it or not, tomorrow will be 6 months since entering the MTC for me.  I will be 1/4 through with the mission.  2 months in the MTC, 2 months in Georgia, and 2 months in Vitória.  I´ve already had 7 companions!

 

Have a wonderful week everyone.  I have a host of beautiful photos, I wish I could send them all.

 

Abraço,

Elder JOSHUA BODILy