I arrived in Sau Paulo on Friday after we slept for 6 hours on an 8 hour flight. We had an hour to get to our next flight. We ran as fast as we could and the flight wasn´t comfirmed!!!!!! We were so mad we had to wait in SP for a good 7 hours, I think. I didn't call cuz we were told to only call once (exact obedience). Then... we got on our flight... FIRST CLASS BABY... hahaha!!. ( Except for three elders.. they got stuck in the back with the cold fish heads!) We got some cheesy chicken (not as good as moms) but it was great. I talked to this Paraguayn man for the whole time ( he speaks English.)
OK... so we landed and we were waiting in line to get checked through. It was so hot. I spotted President Madariaga and his wife. I smiled big and waved. They waved back extremely excited. After getting through, I hugged him and shook her hand. He welcomed us. He speaks broken English but has a pretty good vocabulary. Next we drove back with the AP's to the mission office. There pretty much are NO rules on the road. In a two lane road... there were about four cars across haha. The buses drive around corners like Brooke does and they also weave in and out of cars! Half the people drive motorcycles. It is crazy!!! It's like ants running rampant... but organized. I still don't get it!
The first night, we had our orientation and interviews. It was sweet. Pres Madariaga asked if he could count on me to be obedient and do my best. I told him he doesn't have to worry about me. I will be exactly obedient, and that he will be able to trust me to do the Lords work.
We slept at the AP's home that first night... fun stuff. I was tired as heck. The next day we stopped by the temple. It is tiny. We went inside but didn't do anything... just looked around. It was very cool though. It was raining...yet it was super hot. We had a testimony meeting in the church. The churches are so dirty here. Seriously, it is kinda gross. No carpets, all tile. Anyways I'll get to that later.
I met my companion that night. ELDER HAKES. He is cool. He´s from Mesa, Arizona. He has a southern accent. He speaks Spanish like a boss though. He has been out for a little over a year. I'm his first kid. In the mish, they call the trainers dads and the trainees kids. haha...or hijos. Then there are uncles, grandpas and cousins and what not.... you can figure it out. Elder Haderly is my cousin... haha. We are in the same zone. I played soccer with him today.
Elder Hakes and I went home to our apartment. It is pretty nice ... NOT!!!! haha...The toilet is plastic the shower head is plastic with an electric switch on the top to make the water hot or cold. If you touch underneath that where the water comes out you will get shocked and your hand will get thrown against the wall!! haha SKETCH!!
Elder Hakes and I went home to our apartment. It is pretty nice ... NOT!!!! haha...The toilet is plastic the shower head is plastic with an electric switch on the top to make the water hot or cold. If you touch underneath that where the water comes out you will get shocked and your hand will get thrown against the wall!! haha SKETCH!!
We went to the streets to do work. We have to find alot of new people. We also have to reactivate the less actives.
So.... the streets are dirt with mud, trash, rocks, you name it... poop haha. My foot slipped in the mud. Fun stuff. And no.....I have not pooped my pants ... yet.... but I'm sure its just around the corner. I won't get into details!! hahaha.
So.. my first day I was fed food by a stranger... had some other good food and just walked everywhere trying to find people. It was a long day. There is some crazy stuff here in Paraguay. We talked to a few drunks. haha when I say talked.. I mean I tried to listen. The people here don't say there S´s it is hard to understand example ( my firt language ii engleh) haha it is crazy hard. The people are nice though. I can't wait to get to know them.
We went to church. It was fun. It was fast and testimony meeting. There are very few men that come to church... so priesthood was small. They introduced me and I think the bishop told them I dont understand anything cuz everyone started laughing and I just smiled back! haha I laughed a little too! Fun stuff right! It's a ward, by the way should be a stake but there are a lot of members they just aren't active. This kid was climbing all over me all during sacrament haha! Oh, we share the ward with the zone leaders we get the bigger half of the area though. So they were there too. They are way cool.
I am in the area called Limpio. That means clean. Elder Hakes said they call it that cuz its a cleaner city in Paraguay...... let me tell you they have no idea what clean means here if they think Limpio is clean... keep dreamin hahahaha.
I wish I had a spiritual story for you all. Oh... actually we gave a pass along card to a man in Brazil. He spoke English and we talked to him about the Book of Mormon. We bore testimony about it and that our church is true. He acted pretty sincere while he asked us questions... so, it was pretty cool. The pass along card was to get a free BOM. I have no idea if he will ever go to the site or if he even cares... but Elder Brasher. Elder Hanks and I talked to him and who knows that could have been the reason why our fligh didn't go through in the first place. All i know is the Lord works in mysterious ways my friends.
I'll give you more updates next week and in my letters. You know my testimony. MOM, I gotta follow up with you... did you talk to Candy?
I love you all. I loved talking to you and hearing you voices in the airport! So awesome! YOU are all amazing. Stay classy.
LOVE, Elder Carpenter
The Fab Five in Paraguay!
This was the Fab Five in the MTC! They made it!!!
