Elder Brown in Manaus: CTM Experience and First Week in the Field

Olá toda mundo since this is my first email I'm gonna talk shortly about the ctm then my first somewhat week of the field.

For the ctm it was a great experience meeting A LOT of people, and when I say lot I mean a lot. They are all awesome mainly Brazilians but a lot of Hispanics and some Americans. If you know me I'm out going, so that being said I would walk down the hall and walk into some random dudes rooms and just start saying ayyyyyy or sum cause they spoke either Spanish or Portuguese. My district was awesome. Had some great guys to room with, and there was never a bad time on the room always something going on. For classes yeah I payed attention but I was lost for most the time. I felt bad for my teachers (irmão paixão and irma mariolo) were great I just was lost all the time. I could understand them if they did gestures with what they were saying. The devotionals and workshops were great and would have been better if the translations were better haha. The connection would cut and I wouldn't hear what they were translating. The food was bearable some days but for the most part they didn't have flavor. Leaving the mtc was very hard and saying bye to everyone sucked. Especially saying bye to my district. I mainly said bye to Elder Bogle, sister Smith and sister Kaufusi because they were not going to manaus. For the other 3 Elder Carver, Elder Treese and Sister Ames they are in manaus with me so I'll see them sometime . But still sucked saying bye in the field.

The fist week of the field

The first day was crazy. We had a 5 hour flight to manaus where a bunch of missionaries and the president met us there. They were all awesome. The Americans helped us translate the whole day and answered a lot of questions we had. We got dropped off at the mission president's house(which was very very nice, it took up a whole floor of the building they are in) but they had a lot of food for us. It was soooo good. We went back to the church to figure out our companions and learn the rules. There are a lot of rules like no Facebook and other stuff. But the trainers all lined up and 1 at a time our name would pop up on the screen and we would say who we thought our comp is gonna be. Everyone was wrong except me and someone else. The reason I was right was cause I was the second to last to pick and it was a 50/50 shot . But we had zone conference the next day so we left our bags and went to a missionaries house to stay the night. One of them was American so that was good to ask questions and learn about the mission. CRAZY THING HAPPENED, in the middle of the night I was woken up by a tickle on my head and I was half asleep so I just laid there. I finally woke woke up and flinched my head and it was a cockraoch the length of my middle finger it was huge. I stared at it as it ran away.

Zone conference was good. I was sooooo tired tho haha I almost fell asleep like 4 times. I had a translater the whole time cause I don't understand people the talk fast fast. But we had a banging feast after. We had our interviews then left for itacoatiara(which is my area). But it was a 5 hour unibus ride(bus). But it was good I slept sooooo much. I also learned some more português while on the bus ride. We got in around 8 so we had time to settle in and shower. I live with 3 Brazilians so it's nice to hear them talk in português. My companion Elder moraes is awesome. He is pushing me to be fluent in one transfer( which is insane). But he is awesome.

First day was non stop going. It was fun tho, went to some contacts houses then had lunch at a members house. I got thrown into teaching with the first contact which was embarrassing but good. It was with some little kids so it was nicer and I didn't feel as embarrassed. But I have talked in every contact we have had.

Everyday has been awesome and eventful whether it's playing soccer in the street or helping a guy cut his grass with a hoe. I met some kids while we were talking to his parents or tias and tio idk what they were but they were there. It was fun he had a gel blaster and we were shooting it. But one of the kids got baptized Sunday which I'll talk about in a second. We also met some people that were members and we didn't know. Every time we talk for the most part everyone seems interested which is fun. They all love Jesus and always want to hear a message. As I practice everyday teaching with my companion my português gets better. We also just talk in both inglês and português walking around. I ask a lot of questions tho. The thing I say the most is como se diz and que significa.

THE important thing

I had my first baptism Sunday to one of the kid we taught for 2 days. It was already kinda confirmed from the last people but I GOT TO BAPTIZE. I had to do it in português so I got someone to hold my phone that says it in português so I don't mess it up. But we had to clean it before and I will show pictures of the baptism and us cleaning. But it was awesome he is a great kid with a big smile all the time. They all prayed when we were giving them lessons it was cool.

P-DAY

Today was fun we slept in a Lil so that was very nice, and I'm bout to take a nap . But the DL and his companion came from their areas and we went to the store and bought a bunch of meat to cook and hangout. We cleaned aaaaaa lotttttttt which was very nice after. We have just been chilling in the house which is verrrryyy nice.

For the other missionaries on my list I love reading calls emails and experiences. Can't wait to talk to yall in português kkkkk.

Us cleaning the font