I am officially on a mission in Brasil. And just to clear the air, tis true.
The food is magnificent. Rice and Beans all the way baby. But seriously though, Their chocolate and bread, and churros..... I think I am going to chuck all my stuff before I come home and just bring CHOCOLATE. fill my whole suitcase with them mmmmm.
I am serving in the berâo geraldo ward right now and I absolutely love it. I will admit... It is pretty much the hardest thing I have ever done in my life by far. The first few days... I kinda had this huge realization that I don't speak Portuguese, I didn't know what I was doing, what I should do, and that this.... this was real difficult.... I will deem them the 4 worst days of my earthly life. Days where for the first time ever I was questioning, what in the world am I doing here? I am not helping anybody. I felt absolutely and totally alone. We would walk the streets and talk to people... and I just wanted to melt away. I couldn't pick up my feet for another step, I didn't want to speak, really I just wanted to be home . Society, music, comfort, people I could talk to. All that.
And then there was a turning point.
A realization of sorts. Being a missionary does not mean I have to change ME- What I love to do, how I laugh, how I talk to people. It doesn´t have to change the way my mind and heart run. I am Alissa Still. Okay- it may sound weird reading. But suddenly I was walking with a purpose again. I was talking!!!! in PORTUGUESE. I was smiling. laughing. Basking. Starting to open my eyes to the beauty that is Brasil.
So. I am thinking that I hit the block already- apparently most missionaries hit it in their third or fourth week- the block as in.... having doubt. Really truly missing all that is home, walking around with a grey cloud.... that kind of thing.
the realization that I am not along- I am part of a living breathing force. and God is on my side.
So cheers to all those family friends and bloggers, things are looking up :)
Especially now that the first week is over, and we are makin french toast tonight. heh heh
We met this lovely lady named Nadir. Well, actually we were battering puertas when we came across this house with a 3 legged dog. Nadir came to the gate, and began talking to us. She is such an amazing lady- she takes care of a bunch of animals who walk the streets, she has a life story like no other, AND she refused to let us leave until we ate ice cream. She invited us in, and I ended up sharing the Restoration lesson and her husband came and joined us. We gave them a book of Mormon and she read and knows its true!!!!!!! She wants to be baptized! Keep her in your prayers, she got bit by a crazy dog, when she was trying to break up a fight.
My companion is American, she is super cool. and pretty much refuses to speak English. I'm sure in the end it'll help. Every corner here there is either a bar, or a church. Its kind of ironic. We run with the chickens in the morning, and walk with angels at night.
I will send real Brazilian pictures next week but here yah go- some from the MTC!
Keep the faith my loves. Don't forget to turn to God and remember Him always.
We found um homem (a man)
