Week 47 - Just pictures.

I struggle to write what I've got on my mind.  Some neat things have happened, but I can't put them in words.  I give up...  Here are some pictures:

A break in the rain.

Storm clouds.

Storm clouds over Mogi das Cruzes.

Dog chewing on shoe.

Elder Farias blowing out the candles on his birthday cake.

Elder Farias's birthday celebration.

Week 46 - Shopping, Rain, and a Movie!

I’m at the mission president’s house today.   For p-day we went shopping.  I went to a clothing store for the first time and I so want money to buy clothes. The clothes are way cool here!!!  I want to get some everyday clothes for when I get back.  The church pants are super cheap but I don’t need to buy any pants. I still have a ton I never use.  I can get dress shoes in my size.  My shoes look terrible but I still use them.

I had to buy a new backpack today because mine broke and has been leaving marks on my shirt.  I blew almost all my money on the backpack today. They are so expensive!  I bought a new book bag too because mine was broken.  But that’s about it.

We went to this fishing and knife store. The store is way cool. I did buy a couple cool knives.  One is a sweet switchblade and the other is a butterfly knife.  An Elder took about 40 knives home and a couple of machetes. You just have to declare that you have them when you check your baggage.

It’s raining pretty hard.  Some Brazilians believe you will get sick if you walk in the rain (even if you use an umbrella) so they think we are nuts. We've had crazy rainstorms so we didn't get as much done this week.

One cool thing that happened this week was that we got to watch the movie Meet The Mormons at our conference.

Check out the trailer above.

Week 45 - Spock Burgers

Last p-day Dallen emailed the following:

This burger place, Spock Burgers, is just a giant Star Trek and Star Wars grill. I’m going to do their burger challenge today. If you eat it in less then 30 minutes it's free, you get a shirt, and go on the wall of fame!

Elder Hammond, The Elder's Quorum President, and Elder Zimmerman

This week he informed us:  

I didn’t win. The problem was I ate with my hands to be faster and I ate from the top of the burger down. In the end I was left with bread, cheddar cheese and eggs.  The cheddar cheese was the canned squeeze cheese.  Space was not the problem.  I had a ton of space left but the taste of the cheese was killing me.  That’s why I couldn’t finish.  I left the bread and cheese for last not knowing it needed something to go with it.  So I didn’t get the shirt and ended up paying 72 reis (about $26.00) for my meal. But, it was way fun and I’m actually going to go back again at the end of the transfer to try again. I know I can win if I just eat it a different way.

The burger challenge beginning.

The other missionary is my District Leader, Elder Zimmerman.  He wasn't able to finish either.  The branch Elder's Quorum President, his wife, and daughter took us.  The Relief Society President also came.

Near the end.

When I was at the temple last week I found some American soda.  It wasn’t what I remembered. My companion, Elder Farias, hated all but the Ginger Ale.  To him, Dr Pepper had the same taste as a medicine.  He said our drinks are too sweet. It was the first time I had soda in a long time.

American sodas.

Week 44 - The São Paulo Temple

A children's song by Janice Kapp Perry begins with

I love to see the temple.

I'm going there someday

To feel the Holy Spirit,

To listen and to pray.

Elder Hammond and Elder Farias

Saturday Elder Farias and I went to the temple.  The São Paulo temple is gorgeous! It is more beautiful in person then in pictures. The photos don’t do it justice. There are palm trees going down both sides of the temple that are just full of parrots!

The São Paulo temple

I love to see the temple and feel the Spirit inside.  It truly is the house of the Lord.  In it is found joy and beauty.