First off.... Tomorrow is......... ONE YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cant believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How has one year gone by SOOOOOOOOOO quickly?! Its just surreal. I was packing my suitcases this time a year ago and getting set apart. Its been weird because i always think "what was i doing last year at this time?" And now its the mission! Holy cow! I'll be coming home soon!
So I totally didnt remember it was Valentines day until I looked at my planner. I told my district leader Happy Valentines Day! And he was like "... Is that really today?!" Its not a holiday here, and its not like i have a significant other to remind me, haha.
Also, thanks Trent for reminding me about the Olympics--TOTALLY forgot about that. And I had no idea it was in Vancouver.
This week was CARNAVALLLLLLLLLL Wow. You know Christmas is like super big in the US? Here Christmas is whatever, but Carnaval is like Christmas, Halloween and New Years combined. MINHA nossa. The whole town gets decked out and its a party for basically the whole month, but especially the four days leading up to Carnaval. Then last night there was a huge parade and everyone dancing in the street and lots of loud music. We watched a tiny part of the parade from behind our gate to our apartment. Here in Carpina wasnt tooo wild.... The dancers we saw at least had kinda "shirts" on... A lot of time, the samba dancers only have a skimpy thong and paint the rest on....... Eita! Recife and Olinda have the biggest Carnaval in the world. I always thought it was Rio, but apperantly I was wrong. We saw footage of the parties on TV at a members house and HOLY COW. SOOOO many people! Man. O Babylon O Babylon... haha.
So because of Carnaval, we've been going home early every night. And also EVERYTHING was close Monday and Tuesday, hence why I didnt send an email. Its been raining a bit too, which just makes it hotter and muggy, ugh. But we've managed to work! I feel like we're really making some progress. We've found a few people who seem really interested--they just need to go to church!!!!!!!! But I think this is going to be a great transfer of miracles. I hope so at least.
And thats about it... I finished the Book of Mormon for the second time in a year!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I challenge you all to read it with me before I get home (July 22--Happy birthday trent! You get me!) My testimony has grown and been fortified by the Book of Mormon so much this year. I love the book and the principles it contains. If you havent been reading it--start now!
Fotos:Of some of the killer costumes from the Carnaval parade
Love you all!
~Sis Wilkinson
