Preservar Ate O FIn

Let me tell you this is DEFINITELY the hardest thing i have ever done! The second day I was about ready to pack up my bags and head home. I miss you guys SO much and can't stop thinking about you guys every day. But the Lord always answers my prayers and gives me comfort when I pray to him. It is all about ups and downs right now. One moment and ready to go home, and the next im bouncing off the walls with joy over this amazing experience as a missionary. 

 EVERYTHING is different here! One: It is 3 hours later here in Brazil than in Ohio. Two: Every metric measurement they use here is different! Temperature is in celsius, weight is kilograms and they use military time here! That is going to take time to get used to. 

I have had three different occasions so far where Brazilians come up to me asking if I am from Brasil or Estados Unidos (United States). Apparently I look Brazilian to some people but I have no idea how lol. I take it as a compliment though, haha jk. They all wonder because I have brown eyes they say and all americans have blue eyes haha. 

Each day now we have actividade fisica (Physical Activities) helps me get through the day! I love it. We run on this tiny track haha so like 20 laps which is about 2.5 miles and then we usually play volleyball. They only have volleyball and basketball here plus a small weight room because soccer would get way too intense! A little bit bummed but volley is still fun. 

The food on the other hand, nao bom. (not good at all) at least at the CTM (Missionary Training Center). I dread eating! HAH But I'm kinda getting used to it. They say its just how CTM food is and that it's way better in the real world of Brazil. 

We have not really got to explore the city yet! This is our 1st PDay so we will be exploring the city right after I write this email. We have only been outside the grounds once for like 5 mins to pick up some trash (we do service for an hour about 1-2 times a week). A horse just came casually walking down the street as someones ride like a normal dealio! hah! Made us laugh, pretty cool eh! 

 I can't find the question mark button so keep using exclaimation points! oh yeah and we LIVE Portuguese here. That is all we do is learn, study, learn, teach, learn and again and again and again ALL in Portuguese! It is way hard at times but already seeing the gift of tongues in our lives as we've already taught probably 10 lesson about 20 minutes each only in Portuguese. Of course we have to bring a few notes and sentences that are hard in Portuguese. Way crazy. 

 The weather is great! Sort of... haha its really hot! Ill get to know of it better today when we go outside to tour the city (inside boundries of course).

  A typical day is get up at 6:30 a.m., personal study, breakfast, language online program, exercise, time with instructor, lunch, companionship study, teach lessons, more time with instructors, dinner, more meetings learning, snack, and then get ready for bed. We have so many things to do everyday and there is never enough time in the day to do them! It is rigorous, hard, but great! Oh and our district mail box is

Brazil Santa Maria Mission

Brazil Missionary training center

Rue Padre Antônio D´Angelo, 121 Casa verde

02516-040 São Paulo - SP

Brazil

(Elder Sargent will be at this address for the next 4 weeks, If you feel so Inclined to write him letters are great. No packages Keep in mind that your letter will take some time to get there, We will have an updated address available here on this blog)

okay i ran out of time! i love you all so much and thank you! till next friday!

Love

Elder Sargent

Safe in Brazil CTM

Holy cow!! Where do I even begin! First of all, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH for all the letters and advice! I will always treasure them. So many things have happened these past two days I can't even recall everything. Such a blur! haha (and yes using this keyboard is really awkward and different) but hey, I will learn! 

So my flight was quite the experience. First flight all went normal and well to Atlanta. And fortunately there was another Elder and Sister heading to Sao Paulo. But get this! The only seats that must have been left when they rescheduled my flight was flight priority first class!! I didnt even know what to do with myself! They served fancy drinks with nice glass cups, recliner leather chairs that turned into a bed, plus a steak dinner, icecream, and breakfast.  All travel materials and all sorts of perks! They had Guarana on the flight! So of course I drank that! and YES they do have Guarana in the MTC (CTM here in brazil) but back to the flight! 

There was this asian woman who sat next to me and she only barely spoke Portuguese. She couldnt communicate well with any of the flight attendants even. I was reading the Book of Mormon throughout the flight and she suddenly leaned over and asked if i was Mormon! Wait what! She spoke broken portuguese and I replied in broken Spanish! hah! Of course I said si! Then it went off from there. She has a sister in Brazil who is mormon and she is christian. We were able to talk a bit about the church through sign language and a few common words and I eventually gave her a pass along card with my testimony of christ. She accepted it happily! How crazy is that eh! haha 

Well its been fast pace doing things all day and staying way busy! Already learning portuguese because I have to, everyone here speaks it! The food is quite interesting here to say the least. Beans and rice for days. The gurana is great though. I have some pics but no card reader so i will work on that. Sorry but this is just a quick email to let you guys know i am okay and safe, so i have to go! till next week!

Love,

Elder Sargent