(Well, when it rains, it pours!  We got three (yes, three) letters from Carissa in ONE day!  Two were handwritten so I have to transcribe them.  Enjoy!)


Hey Family!

So I'm going to try and catch you up on the happenings of the CTM.  Sorry if I am repeating myself but I keep forgetting what I've already told you about.  As far as the Missionties its great.  I can just give here a letter and they scan and e-mail so you receive it faster! (I'll try that with this letter and we'll see how it goes). As far as pictures, we're only allowed to take them on P-days or the night before missionaries leave.

 As far as your questions I will try and answer them the best I can. My threesome is wonderful.  I am learning lots of patience but they are wonderful and we have tons of fun.  (Ask our district, we are stuck in a classroom all day with them, they think we're crazy!)  As far as the last leg of the trip.  Met a bunch of Elders (they are all in a different district) and one of my companions, Sister Bullen from Alaska.  Customs was uneventful.  There were people to meet us at the airport, we exchanged money and took a bus through Sao Paulo to the CTM.  Drivers/Motorcyclists here are CRAZY! You LA drivers are scary, multiply that by 10 and add more motorcycles!  Our mission President Deg is wonderful, luckly (sic) we don't know him too well.

 A typical day? Honestly, a lot of waiting.  Waiting on companions, waiting for class, teachers and then at other times there are not enough hours in the day.  For me my ability in Portugues fluctuates.  Our first day, Irma Korth drew a picture   (picture of  3 stick figures labeled English   Mess    Portuges)    I am most definitely in the "mess" category!  During dinner I was talking to some Elders and Ingles (English) just wasn't coming out right.  But most definitely can't speak Portuges but we speak only in Portuges during lunch..... sometimes lunch is very quiet.  A typical day?  We are always in our classroom, we practice teaching investigators.  Usually just our teachers.  So we have two investigators we're always preparing lessons for.  Then we also have the TRC (Teaching Resource Center?)  We teach a different investigator with various scenarios  Our first one was a missionary the other two times its been members from here in Sao Paulo.  I'm starting to actually like the TRC... which is crazy cuz for a long time I really dreaded it.  But our last lesson went well.  But we had an awesome member to teach and he helped me a lot with my pronunciations.  I still speak spanish every now and then  (one lesson Irma Korth told me I used 3 languages in one sentence!)  I'm impressed she understood anything I said!

One thing I keep wanting to tell y'all about is the Brazilian National Anthem.  We sing it every Sunday.  It's so COOL!  Look it up!

As far as food goes it's interesting.  But we've been told it's not really authentic.  There are tons of beans and rice.  It seems like all we do is sit in class and then eat.  Gym time is about 45 min 4-5 times a week.  The track is so tiny (the church bought an alleyway next to the CTM and put a little track in there.) We play knockout with the Elders (and tell Dad all his shooting lessons finally kicked in.  I have perfect form!  haha)  Oh and when we play volleyball with Brazilians its insane!  Anything goes:  Imagine off the wall soccer meets volleyball.  It's a miracle no one's gotten "kicked in the head"!  We don't really get to play as much because Sister Matiaco has back, knee problems so she can't play so we usually stay by the track.  It's really hard for me because I love playing and it really helps me relax.  But I'm learning to make do under the circumstances.  And the Elders are so wonderful because I'm not allowed to play an actual game with them. When we come into the gym they stop their game and shoot with me. Speaking of basketball, my district wanted me to ask the little boys what happened during playoffs.  They (well, all of us) never know anything. The only news we getis what's happening in the world of soccer.  It's religion down here.  There was a big game a while back; it was such a loud night we hardly slept.

I've also learned quite a bit about what my mission is like.  Rio Grande de Sul (the Southern State) is very different than the rest of Brasil.  Someone told us its kind of like Texas.  Lots of pride and different from the rest of the country.  It also is supposed to be harder.  People aren't as bubbly or open as the rest of Brasil.  So during class (all our Elders are going North to Forteleza) our instructors tell us how it will be in the field .... except for the sisters.  Our Elders are going to bake (it will be very hot),  lots of investigators, etc, ..... except the sisters...... the total opposite apparently.  But I guess we'll see what happens when we get there.  So far everyone I have met from Porto Alegre I've absolutely loved.  and the way they speak is so beautiful!  Well, I miss you guys!  Love y'all!

Sister Bradley