December 23, 2024

Yo, what up crackers?

How's it?

How are we doing?

I've been getting headaches every single day, I'm being eaten alive by bugs, its hotter than fetch, my brain is not okay, and I don't want to be here. So thats awesome!

All the days are fading together, it's hard to belive we are already at almost 3 weeks in Brazil, and now 2 months into the mission. The days are flying by, I'll be back in no time. It's also hard to remember what goes on in these weeks so I'll try and remember the highlights or "highlights..."

Elder Vitti and I are still doing pretty good. Sometimes it gets a little frustrating not being able to say what I want, or how I'm feeling because he doesn't understand English, and it's also frustrating for him because I am slow mentally and slow at learning so it's kinda rough. We don't get mad at each other, just frustrated at the language barrier. The langauge learning is still not very good, I feel so stupid all the time, and it hurts my brain so much. Sometimes I don't think I'll ever get it down. I'm tired 24/7 and it sucks, and makes it hard to learn because I can't focus. Sometimes I just want to call it a day and come home. No body at the MTC told me the Brazilians would combine words, speak insanely fast and use slang/ different words for the words I already know. For example "de onde voce e" is "where are you from" but the people will say it like this "deondevoce" (GEE-ON-GEE-VOE-SAY) In one word but also AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT and it's so hard to tell what they are saying. But they do this type of thing with everything they say, so it's worse than you can even imagine. My brain = FRIED

Yesterday at church some random old man sat next to me (not a member of the church) and said this big long phrase to me. I had no idea what he said, so I said "eu não falo muito português" - and he turned away disgusted with me. I then said "eu tenho tres semanas em brasil" - the guy wouldn't even acknowledge the fact that I said something. Didn't even look at me or anything. After the speaker finished their talk, he went and sat next to someone else. The people here don't like me because I'm a white American, and I don't speak Portuguese. "The people of Brazil will love you" no they freaking don't haha. They all act like I'm freaking retarded and I can't stand it. Tired of this.

Even members of the church, when Elder Vitti asks them to slow down what they are saying, laugh and like make a big joke out of it. I don't know anymore... stupid white boy sheesh

Me and Elder Vitti have been teaching a mom and her son, and it's been really good. Matteus is 11 and wants to be baptized so thats super sick. He just had his 3rd sacrament meeting yesterday, and will be lining up a baptism shortly. His mom Vera, doesn't want to be baptized yet because she is still waiting to get married, so there's no telling when we will be able to baptize her. All good though we are happy that we get to help Matteus, and he's super excited about all of it. He's been coming to every church activity. He's a little shy but it's starting to open up and make friends. It's awesome. I will keep you updated in next week's email.

We also recently had the opportunity to teach a lesson to Matteus and 5 other young men ages 11-16, at a soccer activity, and I shared my testimony with them, at the end Elder Vitti asked them if they would be interested in being baptized. They all raised their hands. CRAZY, in one lesson we had 5 new possible baptisms. Super cool and 2 days later they were all at another activity, playing volleyball, so theres a good chance they stick around (hopefully haha) but yeah super excited about that. (I'll throw a Pic from the soccer activity down below)

I AM MASTER CHEF. The other night we didn't know what to eat. We were starving. Well, Elder Chapman is there to save the day as per usual when it comes to cooking. I decided we would have pasta, chicken, and rolls. Elder Vitti said he wanted to make the chicken. Well, I don't trust him. Respectfully. I would rather be sure that the chicken is going to turn out, by having me (the professional) cook it rather than him. So I told him I had it and I would do it in the air fryer. Yeah that sounds crazy but trust me it's so good. I mixed some seasoning with butter, and mayo and lathered the chicken in it then threw them suckers in the air fryer for a little. Elder Vitti was disgusted that I would cook it that way. Well guess how it turned out? FREAKING AMAZING JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE I DO (that was a lie I suck at everything) but yeah the pasta and chicken was bomb and Elder Vitti took back what he said about my methods. (picture down below)

Also I can NOT believe that it's already almost Christmas. It does not feel like it at all. As far as I'm concerned it's the middle of like July or something LOL. It's not the same without the cold, and my family </3 (love you Dad, Mom, Olivia, Zane and Adley)

RANDOM STUFF:

1. I saw a guy banging on someone's door with a 1ft long knife in his hand. He looked angry. I just looked away and walked away... Scary stuff in Manaus.

2. Had lunch with a cat (photo below)

3. Bought a new Manchester City jersey (I plan on buying more jerseys soon)(photo below)

4. Elder Vittis birthday is the 22nd (we get pizza for birthdays)

5. We randomly stopped by a salon, and gave a mini lesson to the owner and his customer, as he was doing her hair. Kinda cool haha. (Speaking of cutting hair I need a cut so bad)(getting one today)

6. We had a super sábado and there were some twerps there with an orbie gun "sneakily" shooting people while they did activities. It pissed me off so much but l wasn't going to say anything. As I was leaving I got shot in the back... I didn't react, I just left. Wild.

7. We've been pretty blessed with clouds, Elder Vitti says "you are lucky" tho it's still hotter than Satan's bum cheeks.

8. There's like a million dogs and cats that roam the streets. It's nasty.

9. There's a place next door to us that sells giant hot dogs, with homemade buns (grilled), ketchup, mayo, and mini French fries on top for 1$ a dog. It's crazy. Very dangerous...

10. A woman walked in on me taking a piss at a store because the door didn't lock...

11. We had lunch with a family and they had fish. Well for some reason this freaking fish has like bone thorn things all in it's body. Super tiny ones. Not just the skeleton. All over. Super difficult to eat and I almost got one sideways in my throat. I had to reach in and grab it out. They afterward made sure i stopped with the fish and gave me some chicken haha. Thank goodness

12. We got Fresh acai, and it's so good (sugar, tapioca, powdered milk, sweet and condensed milk added)(photo down below)

13. We helped a member put up a Christmas tree, and after we had eggs and cheese sandwiches, as we were eating on the back porch, I looked inside and saw a giant rat climbing up the wall. I wanted to pass away...

QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

“I need to pee” - Elder Chapman

“Kill yourself” - Elder Vitti

“What?” - Elder Chapman

“If you kill yourself you no need pee” - Elder Vitti

“You left your fridge open, somebody just took a sandwich” - Kanye West

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: Alma 37:37

"Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day."

Say your prayers, counsel with God, and He will guide you to do good in everything. PRAY BRUH

I hope yall are doing just excellent. I am praying for you. Keep me in your prayers also. Keep being awesome. Keep doing the best that you can do. You've got this. I love you all so, so much. I also miss ya. Hit me with an email, I love getting them. Also photos are below. Until next week... PEACE <3

- Elder Chapman

PHOTOS:

1. Art is Life