Update on the bananas: It turns out that bananas fresh from the bananeira (banana tree) get ripe very slowly. We left one bunch on the counter. After many days they finally turned yellow and we ate them all very quickly before the next bunches that we took out of the fridge had a chance!
This week three people went to church for the first time! We have been having a lot of difficulty with getting people to church. One of them was Renata, Davi’s daughter. Unfortunately we stopped by Davi’s house to make sure he was going to church (he doesn’t live with his daughter) and he wasn’t there. Then we heard that a member had seen him in the street drunk the other day . . . So that was pretty sad. Hopefully we manage to find him at home this week.
We also went on splits with the sisters from Escada. We called them when we got there because they hadn’t shown up yet. We explained where we were so they could meet us, but they said they didn’t know which place we were describing. That seemed weird because we were right in front of their house, but we told them we would meet them at the bridge instead. We waited and they still didn’t show up, and their phone had no signal so we couldn’t talk to them. Finally they called us — and we found out they were on the bus in a different city an hour away. ??? Apparently they thought they were supposed to go to our city! I was very grateful this happened with the sisters from Escada and not with the ones from Palmares (twice the distance!)
Sister Anaya taught me how to make refried beans. We took refried beans, ruffles, and guacamole to the District meeting (now renamed district council with the new handbook!) It turns out that making refried beans is super simple and tasty. I started missing Mexican food so much! I think something like refried beans seemed very everyday normal, tasty, but not exciting in the land of ubiquitous Mexican food. Now, after a year and a few months without eating Mexican food, eating refried beans gave me huge Mexican food cravings!
This week we are going to zone conference on Wednesday. The talk topics are joy and discipleship. Here is a great talk about joy. It is Sister Anaya’s last week in the mission!!! I can’t believe how fast this transfer flew by. I don’t know where I will be next Monday — I will drop Sister Anaya off and then probably stay two days with another missionary. Maybe Sister Pereira. Not sure if I will stay in my area or a different area. It will be an adventure. We are also going to go on splits with the sisters from Tamandare this week; I will stay here in Candeias so pray for my directional abilities!
Headed to Recife 