Monday, May 23, 2011

day one in brazil

My name, Ricchio they pronounce Rico which means ``Rich`` in Portugues, and since i am american they all think im rich....LOL but i am serving in one of the most poor areas in the mission.....go figure....but i LOVE it! i am serving in a city called Cocaia = Coke-eye-uh

The language is so different here.....i love how i am learning it all over again because they pronounce things differently and with inntonation like italians.... Its funny because we have encountered people that are super offended that i cant speak the language well. but then there are others that just stare at me waiting for me to speak....and then they laugh at me! hahaha but it doesnt hurt my feelings, i laugh right with them! The criancas = children love me because they teach me slang....and laugh when i repeat it back to them! i love the kids here...they are so cute and love the missionaries!

Things take about a week to dry....no drying machines so we have to hang EVERYTHING up outside....and its still not dry! haha so things are a little wet when we go out

the craziest thing i think is the fact that the toilet paper DOES NOT go down the TOILET.....i repeat...DOES NOT.....becaause the plumbing is terrible here....you wipe your butt and then put it into the trash can next to the toilet.....its strange and gross all at the same time!!! hahahahahhahah

there are tons of mini bugs...like they crawl all over....your food, your desk....but suprisingly im not grossed out....i just kill the suckers and carry on...hahahah who knew right

the native brazilian missionaries LOVE to play jokes on me and know that i have no idea what they are saying because theuy speak soooooooooooooooooooo fast..............hahah my distrito lider speaks so fast and laughs everytime because i have to say, ``mais devegar por favor`` meaning more slower please! haha

the food is awesome! Patty we eat beans, rice and carne...... cada dia!... meaning everyday!!! its really good! The milk though.....oi! it tastes like liquified cream cheese.......and did i mention that we eat cake for breakfast...LOL i think i might have a worm already! hahahahhahahahhaha more on that later!

Hills, Hills, Hills, Sao Paulo has so many hills.......and did i mention that its still stinking hot even though its winter here.....i was walking down the street...took off my backpack and my entire back was sweaty

the BUS SYSTEM....how could i forget....hahahhahaah we took the bus the other day because we walk everywhere but the appointment we had was super far away and would have taken years to get to it....so the bus pulls up and its jam packed full of people....i mean jam packed....to the point where you have to manuver your way onto the bus.......like you hug other people jsut to hold on because the drivers here are LOCO! youre seriously in peoples grills the whole time....ive neer felt so unholy on my mission until yesterday...HAHAHAHAHAHAH it is hilarious.

Did i mention that NOBODY speaks a lick of english here.......You can get away with not speakng the language in europe,.....but NOT here! haha my companion, Sister Sampaio is a native and we will seriously spend like 20 minutes dictionary to dictionary just looking up words to say to each other so we can communicate! its pretty hard but were getting it....she loves english and i try to help her as she helps me and my portugues.

It is not uncommon to see a 5 yr old girl or boy roaming the streets at night...that shocked me! but normally the kids have n shoes barley any clothes and play Futebol in the streets.

People BLAST music here....where you can hear it a couple streets down....and they PLAY AMERICAN MUSIC! hahah that was a trip! theres a song they ALWAYS play....i think by pitbull....``para americana`` is what its called i think.....hahaha i laugh and start thinking about everyone and what youre all doing!

ALL IN ALL i love it here....we got to appointments al the time and some of these people have nothing.....their house smells, you can see the mold growing everywhere, their homes would be considered shacks (favelas) in the States but one house i seriously started crying....because they were so poor but they wanted to give us everything they had! ugh im gettting teared up now..

We dont have to really worry about crime....even the thiefs fear ``church people` because they think we are Gods....but the elders have been robbed a few times.....no worrying though, we know what to do if we have any encounters!

Lets just say that heavenly Father definitely knew what he was doing.....hahahah the people here are gorgeous! and they are loving and good people!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

letter from the mission president

To the Family of Sister Vanessa Elizabeth Ricchio,

Sister Jackson and I were delighted to welcome Sister Ricchio to the Brasil São Paulo Interlagos Mission on Tuesday, 01 Feb 2011 . Please be assured that she received an enthusiastic welcome from her leaders and fellow missionaries. Pictures should arrive shortly by e-mail or conventional mail of Sister Ricchio with Sister Jackson and me, her companion and her CTM group.

Sister Ricchio has been assigned to labor with Sister Kaliandra Alves Sampaio in the Cocaia Ward of the Grajaú Stake. As you can imagine, those who receive the assignment to train new missionaries are among the most faithful and dedicated missionaries in the mission.

Sister Ricchio has been asked to write you each week on Preparation Day (Monday). We would ask you to write her weekly as well. The importance of a letter each week from those she loves cannot be overstated. Please remember to share family news and personal experiences that will help her focus on the work of the Lord and increase her desire to serve with all of his heart, might, mind, and strength. Given the time difference with the United States, e-mail correspondence should probably be sent by Sunday evening. Packages and correspondence sent by conventional mail should be addressed to the Mission Office as follows:

Sister Vanessa Elizabeth Ricchio

Missão Brasil São Paulo Interlagos

Rua Euzébio de Souza, 121

Jardim Londrina, São Paulo, SP

CEP: 05638-100

Brasil

We look forward to our association with Sister Ricchio as we work together to build the Kingdom of God in Brazil. We are so impressed with her desire to serve and feel sure that she will be a blessing to her companion and to our entire mission. If you have any questions or concerns, please don´t hesitate to contact us.

Love,

President Christopher G. Jackson

Brazil São Paulo Interlagos Mission

she made it to brazil!

here is sister ricchio with her mission president, president jackson and his wife

sister ricchio and sister k. sampaio

Sunday, May 8, 2011

a mother's day video chat!

thank you to whomever developed video chatting. my (future)mother's day was the best yet.

sister ricchio

look at her long red hair

the name tag

duck face duck face!

the news on sister ricchio:

-she is assigned to the Hilliard Singles Ward
-it is soooo hot and humid in NC!
-she is baptizing people left and right
-she gets to practice portuguese 1 hour/day
-her visa is on it's way and she will be going to brazil!

Monday, May 2, 2011

the visa is on it's way!

sister ricchio said that her visa is on it's way and she will now be going to brazil soon!