Exploring Brasilia

 

This week was great. We went to Brasilia and were there from Sunday to Wednesday, so we were very busy with lots of fun stuff throughout the week. We almost met the first lady of Brazil. Also last week my email was disabled for some reason so that's why my emails went out on Tuesday so if you sent me anything from the 17th to the 20th, I didn't get it.

 

EXPLORING BRASÍLIA

So on pday Elder Harris had his exit interview with our mission president and we were in the mission office waiting from 2-about 6 so our p-day was cut short so Tuesday we didn't have anything and had to wait until 5:30 for the last dinner with all the missionaries going home(which I unfortunately didn't end up getting into) But while we waited we explored all the cool things in Brasilia. We went to the giant cathedral, an art museum, the T.V tower which is a big tower you can go half way up and see the city, The national library(I found a really cool book about architecture and gastronomy), The mall and got pizza hut and the planetarium where we almost met the first lady of Brazil. So we were getting a tour and half way through the guy giving us the tour said that they were expecting the first lady of Brazil so we tried waiting but we think she was coming at 6 because by the time we got out and were leaving we saw a bunch of security guys checking on everything, it made us a little nervous but was actually really cool.

 

BACK TO SCHOOL AGAIN

We got back Wednesday afternoon and went to a school where they had an English class and they all spoke so well it was students from the age of 16-20. They were all super cool too. They asked us about what missionary work is like and what the United States is like too. Then Friday and Saturday a different school had a nation's fair where groups of students presented about different countries and all in English and these kids were a lot younger probably from 12-15. They were all super excited that we were actually from North America and very surprised we spoke Portuguese. One of the kids asked his friend if we could understand them and I responded to her, and she was shocked.

 

THE LANGUAGE

I don't remember the last time I gave a language update, but it is going great. There is a lot I still need to learn but I can pretty much understand everything that is going on like the general idea of things and just have to ask about the details. I can also sort of hold conversations we were talking to three kids we met who didn't think we could speak Portuguese, so we stopped and talked to them, and they said that mine was really good for only being in Brazil for 2 months. I was very proud of myself. It was the first compliment I got from someone who wasn't a member.

                                                    

Learning from the Best.

 

Bom dia todos!

This week I received a lot of advice and also many recipes. We had zone conference and there were lots of missionaries ending their missions along with our mission president.

 

ZONE CONFERANCE 

This zone conference I feel was a little more special than most (Although I have only had 2 so who knows) In the zones that were there we had I think 7 or 8 missionaries finishing their missions and they all spoke about what they learned, the experiences they had and advice they had for others. It was very in sight

full and then the mission president and his wife did the same exact thing and it was amazing. Our mission president talked about staying strong with our works even if we feel discouraged and what we can do to be the best missionaries.

 

RECIPES

This week was amazing in the recipe world. I was able to learn to make pão de queijo homemade from a grandma and it was amazing, it took a long time and you could tell which ones I made and which ones she made but it was still great. Then yesterday we were having lunch with a member and she is also a grandma who likes to paint cook, and has some very cool plants. And she gave me 3 cookbooks to study and copy the recipes. 2 of them are family recipes that she handwrote and the other one is a foods of Minas Gerais cookbook so I am very excited to copy them all down in my cookbook and have them for when I get home and miss the food here. 

 

BACK IN BRASÍLIA 

So also, this week we're back in Brasília from Sunday to Wednesday. One of Elder Harris’s friends wanted him to baptize him so we made a trip 4 hours away and are now staying with the elders in the area. Then Tuesday he has his last dinner with President so I'm going to try and sneak in to that with him and after that we'll go home Wednesday morning so it should be an interesting few days. 

 

PHOTOS

Birthday party

Zone Conference 

Family night cup pong

Sunrise and sunset

We tried preaching to a Cow but it was already cowtholic 

Yummy food 

Cooking and Sign Language

 Hello everybody this week was great. We cooked a lot and we had lots of great food so if you have any recipes I would love them.

COOKING EVERYTHING 

This week I did a lot of cooking and I love it. I now have my own knife, pan, and a bunch of seasonings. We made spaghetti, my special soup that has potato sausage bacon and all the other yummy stuff, cinnamon banana pancakes with reese's peanut butter that Elder Bangerter left, grilled cheese and tomato soup, AND Elder Harris had taco seasoning which I can not find anywhere so I was very happy and we made quesadillas. When we made the soup we had to triple the recipe because we made it for the ward family night and everyone seemed to love it so I was very happy because sometimes I get a tiny bit stressed that people won´t like it but it all worked out:). I also think that some of the people were surprised that it was good. I don't think they believed me when I said I knew how to cook.

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON

So we had a very interesting experience where I was reminded that everything happens for a reason even if we can't see it at the moment. Friday we had a lot of people cancel or not be home when we would go to visit or say they were busy when we got there so we decided that we would go a different route and try visiting someone that we met once a while ago and had not seen since because he lives far away. But we went up over a hill across town to go visit him but on the way we stopped to get water and if you know me I have to look at anything that looks interesting and i found a notebook and some drinks and a little snack and it was great I didn't think anything about it. Then we kept going and got to his house and we saw someone there and we went to talk to her but she was deft and only did sign language to us so we decided to look for him across the street BUT THEN i remembered when i was looking to see if i wanted to buy the notebook it had the alphabet in sign language in the back so we figured out how to spell her sons name and she understood! she then signed that he was at the store getting groceries so we decided that we would write down a lesson and try and communicate that way for when we return but it was just a miracle that the book had sign language and was able to help us, I didn't think anything of it when i saw it at the store but it was a blessing that it had it and it was a perfect reminder that everything happens for a reason.

That's mainly all that happened. We did a lot of exploring and found some cool spots to take pictures:). But yeah I love you all and hope everyone is doing amazing. And again if you have any recipes and could send them to me it would be greatly appreciated.

Com amor

-Elder Amata

PICTURES

The food we made

I found and broke open a coconut

We got a really good pizza half was dinner and half was dessert

Cool spots we found 

We found an I <3 Unai sign 

Pictures I forgot to add from last week

                 

Why is Elder Amata Here?

 

Bom dia, this week was full of exciting things and so much happened this week it was very busy and full of surprises.

 

BAPTISM

This week we had 2 baptisms, Karine and her son Pedro and they have a funny story. So, we had been teaching them for 6-7 weeks, so longer than I've actually been here and they knew the church is true and had been going to church every week and all the activities and were friends with the members, but they didn't think they were ready, and Karine wanted a sign. She decided to have the interview and was ready to go when she wanted but even after the interview and the zone leaders telling her she was good to go she still wanted a sign that she was ready and later that day we got a message from her and it was a picture of a rainbow and she shortly said after that that she was ready and the rainbow was the sign. So later that day we had the baptism, and it was great both her and her son are super smart and are down to earth good people, so we were very happy for them.

 

TRANSFERS

This week we had transfers, and it was just all crazy. Sadly, Elder Paz and Elder Bangerter left me in unai, which was not expected. We thought that one of them would stay but I guess that wasn't in the plan. It all ended up working out though my new companion is awesome. His name is Elder Haris, and he will end his mission this transfer so it is cool that he has a lot of experience. It has only been 2 days of us being in unai, but it has been fun and also very difficult because although he is training me, I have to explain the area and the people to him so it's like we are training each other in different ways. For the actual transfer part, it was very fun to see everyone there were a bunch of missionaries at the bus station and we had time to catch up and see how everyone was doing while we waited. 

 

HANGING OUT WITH PRESIDENT 

This week I also had the opportunity to have lunch with the mission president and all the new missionaries that came in this transfer, and it was a little strange but also amazing. It was a little strange because I went to the airport to pick up the new missionaries and it was me an elder in an area that no one knows about and all the secretaries and assistants so they were very confused of who I was and most of them were from Brazil and I didn’t know how to explain the situation in Portuguese but after a lot of portu-english I was able to explain the general concept of why I was there. It was funny because the president wanted a picture with all the assistants and secretaries, and he also wanted me in the picture and I'm sure if he posted it everyone would be very confused as to who I am. After that I was the lucky one who got to ride with the mission president in his car while we went to some places around Brasilia and the mission house. It was a very cool and unique experience. It was about 30-40 minutes in total between just me and the mission president, so I was able to learn a lot about him and his experience as a missionary almost 40 years ago and being a mission president, so I learned a lot. Then we had lunch at the mission house, and I was able to get to know the new missionaries with the little Portuguese that i know. 

 

STUCK IN BRASILIA

So yeah, we were supposed to be back in unai Thursday night but that did not happen we ended up getting back Saturday afternoon. Thursday while we were at the bus station the president told me that I would have lunch with him on Friday then go home after, so we thought ok well stay one more day than go home and it was cool we got dinner with the secretaries and some of the other missionaries staying. Then the next day after lunch with the president we got to the mission office, and they told us that all the buses had already left or were full SOOO we had to stay another night. It was fun. We went to the store and had to cross the freeway while running with macarons. So, despite the waiting and being stuck it was really fun. I got to talk with all the assistants and secretaries who all have lots of knowledge and are great missionaries.

 

OTHER STUFF

It also was kind of cool because the night before we left unai for transfers everyone was sad to see the elders’ level and it rained for the first time in a month, and I don't think it will rain for a while longer, so it was like a movie. 

It was also very weird to be with the new missionaries and important people because I was the only one not in a suit because I didn't know it would be happening until I was already in Brasilia. 

PHOTOS :)

Baptism 

Cooking 

New kitchen knife 

We found macarons. 

                                       

Milestone

 

This week was incredible we had lots of exciting thigs happen and lots of progress again. 

 

CONGRATULATIONS ELDER PAZ

First of all, I wanted to say congratulations to Elder Paz he is one of my trainers and he hit his 2 year mark this week and will be going home in the middle of the next transfer. (about 2-3 weeks) He has been the best trainer ever and the reason I can understand any Portuguese at all. Everyone on the mission knows him because of the great missionary he his and we are all sad to see him leave but thankful for his works. 

 

 

BAPTISM 

On Saturday I had my first baptism! His name is Frederico he is an English teacher, and he was definitely a miracle, he actually found us. One day we were walking, and he came up to us and asked if we still meet on Sunday (apparently he had been once in the past) so we told him the time and reminded him of the address and the next day he was there. We had lessons with him, and he understood everything and even gave us insight on some of the things we taught him, then before we knew it we had set a date for his baptism. I was lucky enough to be the one to baptize him and it was amazing definitely an experience I won't forget. 

 

 

Divisions 

This week we also had divisions with the zone leaders, Elder Da Silva and Elder Bouwk. They are amazing I was with Elder Paz and Elder Da Silvia and they both have lots of experience on a mission Elder Da Silva has 23 months so he will go home this next transfer too. I learned a lot from both of them they both are able to meet someone and understand them well enough to know what they need and then be able to help give them advice with what they might be able to do. 

 

PHOTOS

We went on 2 hike this week one at night and one during the sunset and both were just the best. Unaí is amazing and it was so cool to be able to see it from a different perspective. 

We also found a Scorpion and a coconut. 

                                    

 

Lots of Progression

 

This week was great we had lots of progress made and lots of new people with a lot of interest in the church. I also forgot to put a title/subject last week oops. 

NOVO PESSOSAS

This week at church we had 10 non members who are interested in the church! This was amazing and it was the perfect day for them to come because one of the councilors of the mission presidency came and talked in our Branch. I didn't understand all of what he said but from what I did understand he talked about what we believe and keeping our faith strong so for the nonmembers wanting to learn more it helped answer a lot of the questions they had. 

CUÑINÁRIA

If you know me, you know I love cooking and this area is one of the only areas where you get to do so. Because of the small Branch and not a lot of members we only have 2-3 meals a week with members, so I got to Cook a lot. The one thing we didn't remember was how big portions were, so I usually made way to much but we had really good leftovers. 

 EXPLORING UNAÍ 

I was able to realize how big Unaí really is this week. We had a lot of waking to do and went to places I didn't even know we had in our area. We got to cross a big river and walked an hour to what I thought was the middle of no where with storage places and warehouses but then it was like another small town there was so many houses and people that I had no clue existed. Then we walked up and over a hill to an awesome area with horses dirt roads and houses with giant backyards (not sure what to call to but lots of land). 

  BACK TO SCHOOL

We went to school and helped "teach" an English class and all the students were so nice. They were anywhere from 14-17 and they were all so interested about the North Americans (and Argentina). They made us food and desserts, we played kahoots and they had lots of questions about us and the United States. We didn't really teach so to say but we did answer in English and then if they didn't understand we would say it again in Portuguese. 

 THE LITTLE THINGS 

This week I had a lot more appreciation for the little things. One of the nights we got home and were getting ready for bed and the power went out but for ALL of Unaí at first, we were like what is going on but then we looked at the sky, and because were in the middle of hills and plains there was no light and thousands of stars. It was amazing I've never seen so many stars in my life. Then when the power went back on it was interesting to see them slowly le out of sight but still know that they're there. 

 PHOTOS

We have pictures with 3 dogs because it was one a task for each of the areas in our district. 

                                        

The Bus Incident

 

Hello everyone, this week was a lot more work and a lot less crazy. (For the most part)

 

EMERGENCY EXCHA

NGES 

So, exchanges happen once every few weeks where we switch companions for a day. From what I understand when exchanges happen, we usually aren't apart of it, or the zone leader come to us for the day just because were so far away from the rest of the district. BUT this week we received a call Monday night staying we would be going to an area 3 hours away by bus then another hour by uber. We had to go to them because one of the missionaries in that area was having some difficulties and they thought my companions would be the most able to try and help them. Everything went great (other than the buses) and going out with them for the day helped a lot. Being with other missionaries and seeing the different ways they work was a great opportunity. 

 

BUSES

We had a very interesting experience with the bus. The whole way was great we did have to wake up at 4 to get ready and get to the bus at 5 so we pretty much just slept the whole way there. Then the bad happened, we were getting off the bus and I got up and started heading out and my companions were at most 10 seconds behind me because they had to get their bags so I got off and I look behind me and they're at the door and the bus driver would let them off for some reason. So, I start sprinting as fast as I can because I had no clue where I was and could not lose that bus. Meanwhile my companions are asking him to stop, and he didn't stop for 3 more stops. So, at this point I lost the buss and am just running in the area I think it is and luckily after almost 2km we found each other. So now I always get of in-between the two of them. 

 

THE WORKS

 The rest of the week was a lot more non chaotic, but we had lots of work to do. We have been teaching many people, but I've come to realize that a lot of the people here say they want to keep leaning but then they don’t respond so it's been difficult trying to find people who actually want to learn and are consistent. We are supposed to have 2 baptism this a mother and her son, so we are excited for them. They have lots of questions and May move the date back a week, but they have the desire to be baptized so were just trying to help them prepare and answer any questions they have. 

 

LANGUAGE

The language is getting a lot better I'm starting to understand the general idea of what people are saying so it has been a lot more fun to actually be able to talk to people. When teaching people, it's very difficult because they'll say something to me but if I don’t understand my companions have to say it slower and in the correct grammar for me to understand. 

 

PHOTOS

Not a lot of photos this week but we should have more coming soon:)