This weeks fun ol´word to start us off (I started this little joke, might as well continue it) is "cansativo" meaning "tiring" because this week was especially full of stuff going on, and tiring (in a good way).
This week was pretty cool, one a bit different from the rest, but I guess we´ll dive right in. As always, time is short, so be warned that chronological organization, grammar, and spelling are often sacrificed to get you guys the content haha.
Last Pday, after emails, Elder Marques and I didnt have any specific plans, we just wanted to head to a mall in Lisbon because he wanted some clothes. Funny enough, we exited the train there, found 4 missionaries from our district, and then in another 20 minutes in the mall we found 10 more. So, we all went bowling!
To sum it up, Im really bad at bowling, but it was still a good time. Felt really weird. In our mission we dont have to wear shirts and ties on pday, so sitting there, bowling, in shorts and a tshirt was a bit strange. It was especially weird because normal music was playing... but it was a good time. In our lane, Elder Marques won, but no matter. My first week in Portugal I beat him 3 times in ping pong (I forgot to mention this a while back, but every chapel has a ping pong table, and we played one pday).
The day after we had a division with one of the Presidents Assistents, Elder Thompson, another Utah missionary. He came to our area to spend the day with us working, to help us out, etc, making us a trio of missionaries, which was a bit different for sure. It was fun, I really enjoy seeing how other missionaries work. He was very bold and confident, I learned a lot from him. He would walk up to people having a conversation in the street, hold up a pamplet with a picture of Christ´s baptism and just straight-up ask "do you want to be baptized as Christ was?" just like that. It was funny, but cool too. Something to be learned from boldness and confidence.
The next day, we did another division. I stayed in our area, and Elder Marques went to a neighbouring one. I spent the day with Elder Tapia, a nice Elder from Indiana. We had a really good day working together. When Elder Marques isnt around, I feel the need to step up my game so to speak, and do more. We worked in Via Longa the whole day, and we did tons of contacts in the street and door knocking. The coolest part was that Elder Tapia would just hold back and let me have at it myself, so I did tons of conversations by myself without help. It was really cool. I dont want to jinx myselft, but the language is really coming along darn well. I cant give a solid rating or something like that, but I turn to Elder Marques in confusion much much less now than the beginning.
There in Via Longa, we taught Lucilia, the older lady who we found the week before. I led most of the lesson, and it turned out really well. I think she got a little tired by the end, because she didnt grasp some of our invitations at the end perfectly, but we cleared things up. The spirit was very strong, and we asked her how she was feeling during the lesson, and she said that she was feeling the spirit. We didnt have to "show" her to the answer, per se, but she really felt something special and recognized it.
However, later this week, we received a call from her saying it would be best if we didnt stop by anymore... or at least not nearly as frequently. Someone from her church came by and apparently told her about "them dangerous filthay marmins". But she was very sincere, and said she did really enjoy our visits, but she felt like she was turning her back rudely on her church... I guess its a little complicated. But later, we will surely try to make contact again.
After weeks of trying to get in contact with a specific person, Edna, we finally managed to teach her. This week, we taught her 3 times, and she came to sacrament meeting yesterday too. It was really cool. To be brief, she is going through a lot with work and other troubles in modern day life, and the gospel is what we are bringing to help her. She seems to be progressing pretty well. I wouldnt say shes running into the font right now, but she definitely is progressing, its up to us I think to help her in the best way we can.
While knocking doors, we ran into an Indian. He said he didnt know Português well, so, knowing Elder Karthigeyan, I just began talking in english, and whaddyaknow, he knew english. It was really strange though, because my mind was having a bit of a struggle thinking of what I would say in English. I cant really explain it, but my missionary mind has been trained completely in Portuguese. I havent spoken english since arriving in Portugal, basically. I kinda stuttered a bit with him, but it was still pretty cool.
Last night ended this transfer, my first one. For this next one, Im staying here in Póvoa with Elder Marques, and he´ll be the new district leader. This will be his last transfer. Our district got all jumbled up, and is now just us and 6 sisters. Should be interesting haha.
Anyways, time for some bullets I wrote down during the week-
—Elder Marques has dropped a book of mormon twice on the ground, and each time he did he said "mais dez quilos" meaning "another 10kgs". I asked him what he meant, and he said that everytime you drop a BoM on your mission your future wife gains 10 kgs, which I thought was really funny.
—Elder Marques really likes soccer, so whenever theres a soda can or bottle cap, something like that on the ground he tries to do a trick-type kick to shoot it between my legs as we walk side by side, and whenevery he succeeds he goes "goal!" and starts to imitate a crowd cheering.
—Flip-flops are great tools for killing flies and skeeters, glad I brought mine.
—E. Marques fell asleep while praying the other day... I tried to get a picture but was too late.
—I completely finished/destroyed the pair of shoes I originally arrived with (in MTC), and just finished destroying another pair, have to buy more today... I think I need to try a different brand haha.
—I had an argument (a friendly one, chill) with the patriarch (whos in our ward) about the word "cutted". He still thinks its a real word. .........But seriously, its not a real word, right guys?
—We get honked at a lot.
Anyways I think that wraps it up. Were heading to a Brazilian Buffet today for lunch, should be good.
Until next time,
Elder Ward
I didnt really take any good photos this week, my apologies... but I hope you guys enjoy anyways!
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