Just Talk To Everyone

Hi Everyone,

Another year, another sketchy carnival here in Brazil. Nothing drastic, just people running around a little more drunk and nude than usual! The real party only happens in the big cities, like Rio de Janeiro. I don’t know if I ever mentioned this, but all Brazilians seem to discriminate against the northeast of Brazil. It is known for being very poor, extremely hot, and the only good thing they have to say about the northeast is that the beaches are nice; which as missionaries doesn’t do us any good, haha. Even the “Paulistas” (sister missionaries from Sao Paolo) try to convince all of us Americans that where they live isn’t like this. Brazil is so enormous that every state is basically like another country with their own customs, so they go through somewhat of a culture shock because people here do whatever they want, haha.

This week our electricity went out, so for many days and nights nobody slept very well, not having a fan to keep cool and keep away the mosquitoes. I may or may not have taken a shower twice in the middle of the night! After a few days, an irmão from church got a desperate call from the sisters pleading dramatically to check it out. Long story short, someone had opened our electrical box outside and had cut the lines! It was done on purpose too!

But this week has been really fun and interesting. We had a leadership council in Teresina, and it is always such a spiritual experience. I always leave just feeling so pumped and excited to work even more! One of my favorite things to do is make contacts. I love just walking up to people and trying to find ways to get to know them or talk to them about the gospel, and have them feel the Spirit in those split seconds. Our taxi driver in Teresina now wants his daughter to also serve a mission like us. The woman at the bus station who was worried if they would let her take her dog with her, now knows about temples and realized that she lives within 5 minutes of one in Recife! One man started talking to us about Donald Trump, but we turned it into a conversation about religious freedom in the 1800s in America. We even recited the First Vision to him and taught him about The Book of Mormon. It is so cool! Truly I have learned how to turn any topic into a gospel principle. I love just being real and authentic with these people, but also just talking to anyone and everyone, and I love having an excuse as a missionary! We are allowed to be annoying and talk to people in whatever moment! I never want to take off this missionary badge (even though I know the power is not in the badge). I am just putting my parents’ nickname (#ChattyKathy) to good use here, and we are just really opening our mouths, and the Spirit helps us make each contact unique … unique to the specific needs of each person. I love missionary work!

Love you all!

Sister Vance