April 22, 2013

In Brasil, nobody really knows how to say my name right. In Portuguese, they don't have the 'R' sound that English has, and so they end up making an "H" sound instead. So on an hourly basis, I'm constantly being brainwashed to respond to "Henneh," instead of Reneer. By the time I get back home, every time someone talks about getting a henna tattoo, or talks about Hannah (Montana), or anything other item of gross teenage fads that sounds like "Henneh," I guarantee I'm gonna whip my head around to see who's talking about me. Nobody ever says anything good about Hannah Montana or henna tattoos, only stuff like, "That's the ugliest henna I've ever seen! Some handicapped person must have made it," or "Did you hear that Hannah's dating a drug trafficker??" or like, "Dude, if that henna ever touched my skin, I would have to shower for hours to get it's silly smell off me." So I can guarantee we're gonna end up with a serious misunderstanding, and I'm gonna have a strongly worded chat with the gossiping hoodlums.

But in GOOD NEWS I and Elder Roper had our first baptism this last week! Her name is Thais Silva, and has already been faithfully going to seminary for two months. I even managed to get some pictures of the baptism, with me in my cute jumpsuit! It was so cool to have my first baptism as senior companion!

I also threw in a picture of  yesterday's lunch in members' house, where I got to make cashew juice. The stuff is soooo good! The name can be misleading, because cashew is actually the name of the fruit that the nut we all hold beloved belongs to. It's SO good!

So in the course of proselyting and meeting new people every day, I've had many opportunities to meet relatives of investigators. I love meeting new people, but the only problem with this is that every time I meet a woman (for some reason this ONLY happens with women) I occasionally estimate their age wrong, like 3 years, or 5 years, or sometimes about 40 years off. It's an awful habit that's developed, that I make the mistake of asking these new and generally female people, questions like, "So Misses, you would be Anna's....what, older sister?" "No, I'm the youngest." "Oh yeah, I'm seeing it now!"

Or another example, "So Misses, you oughta be David's...daughter?" "No, I'm his wife." "Aw...oh...yes, okay well that's great! I like your house!" (cleverly insert strategically distracting comment)

Or another, the other day, "So you oughta be Anna's what... mother?" "No, I'm her sister." "Oh, so you're the older sister?" "No, I'm the youngest" "Aw... well, but... you...(brain now working furiously to find way out, not being able to dig myself out, then strategically distracting her with meaningful well-planned compliment) oh...well neat! That's a great bracelet you have!"

So I'm repenting of this ill-bred habit, so I'll hopefully be able to actually get some good graces with the female race out here. Why does this only happen with females? Bah.

But other than that, things are going good, I'm happy, and helathy, and it's currently pouring outside.

Make sure you throw in some Old Spice in the next shipment! Help me keep me nice and good-smelly :)

LOVE YOU SO SO SO MUCH!

Elder Daniel Reneer