Brazilian Lunchtime

Hiya everyone!

 

 

I want to say that the loss of Wyatt Brown has been terrible to hear about. I have spent nights on my knees on behalf of all those affected. He was a tremendous example of faith in God and in the lives of his peers. He will be missed, but his legacy lives on.

 

 

Last Monday we didn't really know what to do because it is too expensive to take a train to Cardiff every week. So we were sitting on the sofa and Elder Morriss pointed out the window and said "See that hill? We are gonna get to the top of that hill today?" So that is what we did. We hiked along these back country roads and through some woods until we made it to the top of that hill. The view was as great as you could hope in a cloudy country and the time away from the noise was peaceful.

 

 

Our friend in Sri Lanka is ready to get baptized. There is just such a big harvest over there, that the country is overwhelmed with referrals. So as soon as they get more reinforcements of missionaries he will get baptized. 

We also had a lesson with our friend in Pakistan. 

 

 

As far as our friends are actually in Newport, 3 of them are making some progress. They are on the cusp of gaining a witness of the divinity of the Book of Mormon. It is the best feeling to teach and watch the Lord do his work.

 

 

We had 2 great meals this week. The first was with a family. They made the most remarkable roast dinner I have had here. I am not quite sure what it was, but the sweet potato chips and gravy may have been it. I got 4ths, it was so good.

 

 

Then, this is the good part, we were blessed to have a meal with an Italian/Brazilian family yesterday. (Sick right?) 

Alright, this family was an adventure during meal time. To start off, the father of the household was the best at speaking English, while the rest of the family was still learning. He absolutely could speak the vocabulary and in sentences, but he did not give a rip about proper grammar. And he told us that you don't have to. He is kind of right to be honest as we can kind of fix it in our heads as native English speakers. 

The conversations kind of went like "See you good it is Elders! So excited we have you in our home today. We expect you to get food a lot with us. Grammar no matter for me to communicate with you too. Is this a problem?" But he was just so prideful about how great his English was. He spoke it fast and with big wide eyes, because he was just so excited. Meanwhile the family knew that he sounded funny to us haha. I loved it.

 

 

But then they started to feed us. They had 2 big pots of rice and I swear like a cauldron of this sauce and stuff. Let me just say, this meal was amazing. It was brown rice on bottom with this white bean/chicken/Mushroom sauce generously full of toppings. Then you top it with some warmed cabbage and green olives. And even some crumbled prawn cocktail crisps if you like (A very English flavor, I am sure many of you haven't heard of it before haha) It was so good. They also had some orange juice.

 

 

Now the typical American me has forgotten that other places have different eating habits. In Brazil I take it they feed you a lot. As I finish my drink they point out that I finished and soon enough I have another full glass of orange juice. And as soon as you finish your plate, they tell you to get more. They eat very big bites and very fast too haha. I can't keep up. At the end I was the only one left with food and they all waited for me to finish my thirds. But I made sure to leave a little on my plate, until they announced desert and then I finished to show I was still hungry. The Dessert was 3 different kinds of Ice cream, Neapolitan, Cone sundaes, and a fancy brick of ice cream on a tray. It was super good. AND THEN they made traditional "Brigadeiros' ' which is like a chocolate truffle creme made in a pan and then we ate it with spoons off of the same plate. But yeah. Everything was so good, but I was loaded. I will make some brigadeiros later this week for fun since it is so easy.

 

 

Other than that we have been doing plenty of door knocking and doing our best to talk to people in public. You really gotta be bold and just ask people questions like "What question would you ask God?" And you have to make people stop as well. It is an art, but I feel a lot better about it haha.

 

 

Anyway this email goes on and on. I hope that you guys are coming closer to Jesus and if not, that is alright as long as you are finding meaning and Joy. I love you all. 

 

 

Please email me, I would be thrilled to email you back!

 

 

-Onward and Upward

 

 

Elder Berry

 

 

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A touching Scripture this week:

 

 

 "...if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?" 2 Nephi 4: 26 (Book of Mormon)

 

 

It just is beautiful to see how once we start to know Jesus Christ, how logically our sins and depression start to weaken and fall away because we realize it isn't necessary because of Him.

 

 

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Here are some pics!

1. This is a 2 lane road btw. They have little bits every now and then to pull to the side.

2. Sheep and good vibes

3. Up top of the hill

4. I tried to make some Polenta Pronta Lasagna. It didn't quite turn out

5. A wonderful table at our Ward Christmas Party.

6. Gorgeous sunrise over the River Usk

7. That English High Street Vibe 

8. That Brazilian food








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