Missionary work in Portuguese is hard!

Sister Colvin and Sister T -- WE'RE GOING TO RIO!!!

Friday, July 12, 2013

Missionary work in Portuguese is really hard when you can't speak Portuguese!  I know what to say and teach in ingles, but I don't know enough Portuguese to be able to express myself.  But I am learning.  Thank heavens for a patient and hardworking companion.  I really love Sister T.  We have been on the same page emotionally since the first minute.  Today we taught our first investigator lesson in Portu"gles" (as our teacher, Irmao C would say).  It. Was. Rough....There were certainly some things we did well, but it was extremely humbling - especially because the other sisters are Sister W (who is fluent in Spanish, so pretty fluent in Portuguese) and Sister M (who is very positive and give commentary on everything) really did a great job with their first lesson.  Humility.Patience.Work.

Our schedule is crazy - we get up 30 minutes before everyone else because our breakfast is at 6:30 am.  Everything is early! Our dinner is at 4 pm, but we are still scheduled to go to bed at the same time as everyone else...meaning we are exhausted by the end of the day.

Random Facts:

• I am senior companion which is done alphabetically and we switch in 3 weeks.
• There are 8 elders and 4 sisters. 
• We are learning a TON of Portuguese
• My companion is popular.  She attended BYU for a year and knows a ton of people.  Everyone loves her, as do I.
• I see Garrison all the time.  We have the same schedule. He seems very happy.  I remind him not to eat the fried pancake and sausage sticks...(yes, they exist). He has a nice companion, Elder W.
• The food....is nasty. It is really greasy and unhealthy. I've been eating the salads, wraps, eggs, and fruit, but because our mealtimes are so odd, I am often STARVING during class time.  
• Despite being exhausted, it's hard to sleep at night.  I slept very poorly the 1st night, and last night I took a sleeping pill (thanks for remembering to include that in my first aid kit Mom!).
• We don't get to study in our rooms....it would be so much easier to focus if we could, but we are being obedient.  

The place we wish we could study!!!

 I saw one of my favorite sister missionaries today and had to get a picture with her before she leaves for Guatemala!

Sister W and Sister Colvin