Week 57

So this week was kinda normal, except for the fact that Cabo Verde celebrated Carnival, you know like Brazil? But way smaller. I didn't get to see much, it was a bit far from our house. We went out to work in the morning, but around 2 or 3ish everyone was just preparing for Carnival so we couldn't teach after that. There were naked people dancing all over the streets so we stayed inside that day and made the most amazing lunch EVER. We made Tacos!! We went all out haha pico de gallo, cheese, beans and everything, it was delicious! I don't know how to make tortillas like mom, but they were still alright.

Week 56

So Valentines sucked, I saw a bunch of couples walking everywhere that night and it made me trunky, lol.
Anyways, I had a pretty good week, another baptism and confirmation! Her name is Leandra, she's only 14 but she's changed in the past month! Funny thing, she was a street contact, and the first time we sat down to talk to her she was being a bit of a snake. She had never heard about the church or anything, and the very first thing she asked was if we were married or in a relationship and stuff like that. Lol I don't know what's worse, getting hit on by ditsy 14 year olds or by 35-year olds. She's completely changed now, anything gospel-related she treats super seriously and she understands everything we teach her. I'm actually super proud of her for how much she has progressed in the past weeks.
And man, it's actually still pretty cold here in the mornings and fresh throughout all the day. Leandra was baptized at 9 a.m. so the water was super cold. My son is doing well, he's been sick for the past few days but that's normal. His stomach is adjusting to the food, it happens. We are doing well together though, the language is hard for him to get, especially when everyone speaks to him in cryole. He will push through.

HILARIOUS reason why my comp was wearing the sweater: Last week we were so busy taking care of his cut foot that we forgot to wash his baptismal pants, so they were still super dirty. We found some other ones that fit him extremely tight haha, we struggled for like 10 minutes getting him in there. 

Week 55, First Son!

My week was great!! It felt super short and way long at the same time. First of all, I took a 2 day vacation to Praia to pick up Elder McMullin! My first son!! Elder Olsen is excited to get a grandson haha. Anyway, McMullin is a boss, we get along great. He's kind of a shy, timid guy, but I'm already working on that haha, I'm getting him to smile and talk a lot more. He is in a culture shock but not too bad, Santa Maria is a comfortable area to serve in, it's nice. Once he gets transferred though it will be a second culture shock for him.
This past Saturday he had his first baptism!!! We baptized Keven, with whom I've been working with for the past month. This kid is a boss, he is 18 years old and during our first lesson with him we actually kicked him out of the room haha. We were teaching a group of teenagers and he kept laughing and just making a bunch of dumb jokes, so we told him to leave. He did a complete 180 and has been changing a lot in the past few weeks.

So interesting thing about my son's baptism, while we were in the water, he accidentally cut his foot open on a sharp rock, it was bleeding like crazy and wouldn't stop. I rushed him to a clinic and they were getting ready to stitch it closed. The medic was off the clock so he didn't have any helpers so he told me "You want to me my helper?". So I got all excited getting all the needles out and the sewing kit thing, but then he looked at the cut and it turns out it didn't need stitches after all (bummer) haha. 

Here are some pictures, I had to take a picture with him haha. He was a good sport about it too. 

#bestdadever

He ended up getting adhesive stitches, so he can't get his foot wet for 5 days. This morning he was like "how do I shower without getting my foot wet???" This is what I came up with, he didn't like it much haha, but it was funny. 

Week 54, Ninth Transfer

Remember our baptism for this week, Erika? We have been teaching her for more than a month now and got her ready for baptism, but somehow her super Catholic dad found out and called her and threatened to take her to Santo Antao away from all her friends if she got baptized. He is coming here in 2 weeks so he would actually do it. She can't do anything about it cuz she's only 17. Ugh, bummer.
But I still had a great week :) It was interesting watching Elder Gooch die... I mean I had already seen Sanchez die but he and I didn't get along so I didn't care, haha. We had a ton of fun on our last week of the transfer. We had interrogation night, family home evenings, and a ton of other things we did with the members. And speaking of transfers, I'm staying, and I'm training! I'm getting a greenie straight from the MTC in a couple of days. I'm super pumped for that.
But on a different note, I don't know if I'll be staying here in Santa Maria cuz... you see this group picture I sent you? 2 of the girls there have crushes on me lol and they are acting really weird, so I'm telling President Matthews about it. He is really strict on rules so I'll believe it if he chooses to transfer me.

Also, I got your package!!!!!!!!!! THAN YOUUUUUUUUUUU SOOOOO much for this shirt!!!!! It's like my favorite gift of all time!!!!! But... it fits me small -.-' I got way fat haha, it doesn't fit me like other shirts back home. I'll keep it so it motivates me to work out and get skinny enough to fit in it lol. 

Oh and the Whataburger condiments got here nice and safely, my egg sandwiches are gonna taste like heaven now!

Also, the Twinkies got here super squished, haha. 

So today is the start of Transfer 9, almost double digits!! And I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but we live in a 4-elder house haha. Elder Gooch and Elder Manga both go home today, so I'll be sticking with Elder Sampson (the one that stayed) and Elder Chevalier, my long lost Mindelo friend, until my greenie gets here. I'm actually going to Praia to pick him up and everything. 

Also, I think this is my favorite picture of Gooch and I, we were doing ghetto Cabo Verdean poses haha and we were teaching with a member this past week and he took a picture of us teaching and I think it looks pretty cool. 

Week 53

We had two baptisms for this week but they fell :(
It happens. It happens more than I've baptized, but we are getting one this Saturday. It's this girl named Erica and she's 17 but she's like 3 inches taller than me haha. People here are tall.
And I'm having a good time, but there's seriously NOTHING to take a picture of in Sal.
I hit my hear mark!!!!!! It's crazy it's already been a year. I feel like I got here a month ago, I'll be headed him in no time from now! (By the way, I'm getting home before January 22nd 2016, but I'm not telling you the date, muahaha)
So I miss Ribeira Grande, best area in the mission! If not the world! And today we played soccer, Gooch went shopping for souvenirs for his family and now we are hanging out with the members, I'm using one of their laptops right now. It's Josete's, the same person we used to Skype on Christmas.
Anyway I have to go because we forgot something to email Pres. Matthews, take care! Miss you tons!

Week 52

This week was pretty awesome, sorry no pics again, but interesting things did happen. First of all, on Tuesday I went on a division with the Zone Leaders. I went to another city called Esparagos and Gooch stayed here in Santa Maria. It was way fun getting to know another area. I also tried shawarma for the first time!!! You know like at the end of the Avengers. It was alright, nothing way special, but it was still good. Also, we had interviews with President Matthews, and I found out that I'll be staying here next transfer and I might be training a greenie straight from the MTC. I hope not cuz I feel like he wont learn anything from me haha.
Sorry I don't send pictures... there's nothing to take pictures of, just the same old streets every day that aren't really anything special.

Week 51; Short Email

Today I'm emailing wayyy earlier so I can actually write stuff. We haven't been emailing cuz Elder Gooch doesn't care about it anymore, since he's going home in 3 weeks, so he plans a TON of things to do on P-Day, but today I told him I wanted to email cuz I still got a year in this country haha. He's a super cool guy, it's awesome serving with him.
This week was pretty cool, taught a lot of new people, 12 new investigators to be exact but 4 or 5 of them didn't look too interested to keep talking to us again haha.
Oh and I haven't touched my camera in about a week, so no pics. Sorry, I'll try harder this week.
Anyway, I'll be online if you want to talk :)

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Hey I'm back! Haha Gooch had some problems earlier and couldn't email Pres. Matthews so he's doing it right now, which is good! Cuz I forgot to say a few things:
First of all, the start of last week SUCKED because we didn't have water in our house for 2 days, so I didn't shower for 3 days and I felt disgusting haha but it was an experience. Also, I got mom's package! Tell her I said thank you for my little boat, she sent me a pencil sharpener boat of the U.S.S Lexington.