Week 25: I didn't send an email

So this week Mckay didn't email a big email.  But he did send a bunch of pictures.  He kept having troubles with uploading but while he was waiting we had a nice email conversation.  Here are some of his words from him.  I ask the questions, then he replies.

we woke up at 5:00 and played Basketball with our zone at our Church

there is a lot of work to do here so we are always busy. we have big goals this month

DOES YOUR COMPANION SPEAK ENGLISH?
he knows a little english. he actually studies english a little haha. he a good guy

HAVE YOU EATEN LOTS OF FUN FRUITS?  YOU SHOULD!!!!!
yeah, i dont ´´eat´´ lots of the fruits here. we DRINK them! juice is a big think. people use the fruits to make juice out of them. so ive have various types of juices from various fruits. they are all good minus one called Jenipapa that tastes gross.

DO YOU HAVE A MICROWAVE?
so we didnt have one. but we got 1,400 R$ to buy everything we needed for our house. we didnt have anything. we went to a brazilian walmart and bought a microwave, a ironing table, cleaning supplies, pots, pans, etc. EVERYTHING

ARE YOU GOING SIGHT SEEING TODAY ON YOUR PDAY?
yes! we are leaving to go see some signature points of tourism! its the same stuff i saw on the internet when i searched on google images ´´salvador´´ before the mission

its gonna be awesome, but i have to be really careful because everyone i know says there are more robbers there than anywhere and they are smart apparently but i will take a lot with caution!!! hahah
generally the people are chill, if they look sketchy i´ll be careful. i´ll be on the lookout

oh! last week i filmed a short video with two Bahianos. i was right next to the ocean on some rocks and i started talking to them and they were nice so i asked them if i could take a pic with them! they loved it. they were fishing and after they started teaching me how to fish! that was last monday and yesterday one of the same guys passed by on his bike and stopped and said hi again. i got his address for other elders to teach him because his doesn't live in our area

YOU LOOK PRETTY WHITE NEXT TO THE MEN 

im actually really tan, but i look and feel really white compared to everyone!!

oh! yesterday i had 3 snakes after me! (SNAKES IS WHAT THEY CALL THE WOMEN WHO ARE AFTER MISSIONARIES, HAHA) its was funny one of them wanted to shake my hand a lot more than necessary and wouldn't let go of my hand at the final handshake.

HOW'S THE PORTUGUESE COMING ALONG?
my portuguese must be getting better because United States isn't the first guess anymore when people guess where i'm from. yesterday someone thought i was from Argentina. sometimes i lie and say im from Sao Paulo and they sometimes believe me because Sao paulo has lots of white people and blondes too! hahaha

i saw monkeys for the 1st time this week!!! they are small but cool!

IS THAT YOUR MISSION PRESIDENT IN THAT PICTURE?
that pic is with president bangerter! we didnt know he was going to show up!! i snapped some pics with him. he was wearing the pink shirt

i love the ocean! it kills me we  cant go swimming!! haha
The Elevator Lacerda - we are going there today!!!
we are going to see the sunset over the ocean at 5:30!!! wooop woop! I'm pumped!!

ARE THE SISTERS FROM BRAZIL?
there are two american sisters! and they are companions! they teach an english class every wednesday. i love them! they are really cool!

i love you all!!. please tell dad happy b-day for me! i actually really made an effort to do something for him and the computer wouldn't upload the video 😞

i will be safe and sound! if i get robbed i will only let them rob me if they agree to hear a message about jesus christ ...;) haha

  

  

  

THANKS MOM FOR THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS!

Week 24: City and slum all in one

Well i made it to Salvador, and it is really different here. its a huge change! there is lots more people drinking and smoking, etc! it seems like everyone is. this week there has been a lot of celebration. people dancing to loud music, and alcohol because of soccer play-offs.  it really is city and slum all in one! we mainly work in the favelas (the slums of the city, rather dangerous), but for p-days we get to leave our area and go see lots of really cool places in the city. this week i have been getting to know the members of my branch and the youth. i LOVE THE YOUTH here!! here is a quick summary of my week:

We made it to our new apartment in Salvador!!

Here are some of the awesome youth of our branch (congregation)

the youth are awesome!!! i love them! that one kid that i used his glasses is crazy! he talks a lot and really fast and laughs a lot. he was baptized 5 months ago and is really smart. 

I am loving my new area, the hills,stairs,hot climate, All of it. the only difficulty is our group of investigators. Elder Bastos said that Elder Santos practically left us empy-handed. we dont have very many invesigators so our work has been finding people from our area book and trying to enlarge our group and get more investigators to teach. Lots and lots and lots of walking!

I'm becoming one with the stairs here!

the branch pres. sent out a message to our branch about the things we need and a few family donated things for our house! it was really nice of them. things like a broom, rags to clean the floors and house, dustpan, forks, knives, spoons, cups, etc I am enjoying a more obedient companion. we are doing things the right way and it feels a lot better.

 my testimony is growing and being strenghthened by hard experiences and being humbled.
We are EXERCISING!! we wake up at 5:30 and go running in the morning! i love it! My emotional health at times suffers with homesickness, especially in this holiday season. some days have been rough and i am trying to combat it by loving my branch, and talking to lots of people. its going well and i am gratefull to be here!

i love this work, even though it isnt easy. ive learned to love everyone by looking at them as ´´children of God as well as my brothers and sisters. i know families are important to God and He has a plan for us.  this transfer i really want to find a family to  teach and help.  here it is hard to find a family that isn't separated/broken but my goal is to strengthen families like this and hopefully find a family that lives together. Até próximo semana!

With love

   -Elder Hilton

we are in the streets and favellas until we return home at night!

we live really close, like right under that big water thingy thats sticking up in the air

this place i call home.  (for now)

Our little kitchen

such a nice shower!!!  notice there is only one faucet, cold only!!!  haha I can barely lift my arms up in the shower it's so small!  

our apartment from the street view

another view of our apartment

My new companion! He's Great!!!