So last friday tose missionaries in my district who were to leave this week had the opportunity to go proselyting in dowtown sao paulo. They were nervous and excited, then the ctm decided we should all go. so without 1 hour prep time we were given 5 book of mormons and 2 hours. my teacher marched us into the city center, gave us a few boundaries and said "see ya!" At 1st I was a bit mad that we didnt have enough time to fully prepare but in retrospect it was just perfect! I didnt ever want to leave the CTM but now I cant wait! Sister BAiley and I said a quick prayer and then started walking. a man stopped us because he wanted to sell us something. I thought "perfect opportunity!" so I began speaking to him and he spoke english (more or less...) He said he already had a portuguese bom and wanted an english one. We got his email and said our goodbyes then he grabbed me in a side embrace and kissed me square on the cheek! a big kiss! I didnt see it coming and thats definitly not sister missionary kosher! Apparently this is how you greet in brasil, lesson learned! Next we ran into some teenage girls and we were able to muster our message. They accepted our book, probably out of pity but oh well! Then I started using my social psychology face reading skills (Brittany- imagine Michaels bird finagling) I found some sweet woman sitting on a bench, approach, speak give! they were so kind and helpful and genuinely interested. Then we found some more woman. Everyone is christian here and so accepting so its that much easier. By that point we had given away all 5 books and decided to take a stroll in a park that might have been the amazon jungle. As we were walking this old man was smiling at us and I just knew I had to speak to him. His name was Ozvaldo and he was from campinas. I introduced us and then he automatically said "ah, you have a big beautiful church in campinas!" and yes, yes we do. that is called the temple! he loved the temple. We had nothing to give him though. I saw some other missionaries and ran to them and asked for a spare book. Ozvaldo was so happy and was willing to pay for it! It warmed my heart. I know we were in the right place at the right time for him! After talking to the rest of our district we realized that our companionship did the best (not saying its a contest) we were not rejected once and we gave out 6 books! We didnt speak well but we spoke what we knew and just smiled. I think people take well to two inoccent girls who can hardly speak a word, who came from america for a year and a half to share this message! And... I realized I DO have a gift! i have a gift for finding, so deemed by my companion and my district. I may not have the gift of tongues but I have a gift for finding people. Ill take what I can get!
Today we went to the Sao Paulo temple and it is beautiful! Driving in the city always makes me nervous but all is well. We lost a bunch of friends this week, brasilians and americans alike but more and more american are coming. I met some senior missionaries who live in the same apartment complex as my mission presidents and the area is supposed to be gorgeous. oh and the reason there are 5 missions in sao paulo, 4 in the city alone, is because this city is huge beyond imagination. And apparently it has the largest independent helicopter fleet in the world because the wealthy wont travel through the traffic. I love this place.
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