Day 63
All 4 of us have gotten sick at some point within the last 4 weeks. Sister Louza suggested a deep clean of the apartment, which we did last week. I'm basically recovered.
Turns out, missionaries here used to have permission to use bikes, but enough were stolen (including while riding them) that the costs outweighed benefits. Still, it'd be nice! We were talking while walking to one of our lunches, which alone take a 30-40 minute walk to arrive. The other missionaries call lunches our daily trip to "O Fim Do Mundo".
Also prohibited are sports, include soccer, volleyball, basketball, etc. It was rather recently (but before I arrived in-field) when the injuries continued to pile up consistently (who knows how), and now they're out of bounds in general. Not sure if this is for all of Brazil or if Santa Maria missionaries are especially prone to broken bones... Thankfully, there's always more walking (and occasionally frantic sprinting).
Otherwise, everything is fantastic. We had full days of cold rain and wind, and within a month the temperature (according to street talk) should be below zero celsius. That alone supersedes any disappointment possible, and there are plenty. The others refer to our area, zone even, as a "black hole, *literalmente*!" for baptisms.
Went on a division with an American, Elder Childs, in São Boria about 1.5 hrs away. He described a certain area within the city as "burnt". We have the same situation, I think, in some places here. With a smaller population and extensive time, the missionaries just become background scenery.
Thankfully there's a strong ward here, and we don't show up to a near-empty chapel every Sunday. We have a member who showed up to the morning service basically immediately after having her home invaded robbed. She had her outer gate kicked down and was assaulted with a knife. Seemed perfectly happy at the service itself, I didn't even hear about the event until after church.
Last week we encountered a returned missionary with his parents visiting Itaqui (he was here for several transfers). As far as I know they sent you a picture they took of us on the sidewalk, but I didn't get it myself. Please send it when you get the chance.
My companion and trainer asked me last night to teach English lessons at the chapel on Thursday and Friday nights. It'll be interesting... There's no holding back, that much I know.
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E. Hopkinson
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