It Didn't Smell Like That In Brazil

Yesterday morning I woke up and smelled something really, really nasty. It was the worst diaper smell that I've ever experienced. Not that the smell itself was the stinkiest, but because I was still in bed and the aroma reached my olfactories before I even got out of bed.

Ew.

Gross.

The realization grew even more grim when I regained a bit more consciousness. No diaper-wearing child was clambering for attention at my bedside to be changed. That meant the source of smell was far, far away. Time enough for wafting odors to make their way into my room. But I doubted the worst so I kept thinking. And then it dawned on me. We were making beans (Brazilian style) overnight for Sunday dinner with some friends. Cooking beans is the most unpleasant kitchen smell that I've ever witnessed. Oh, except for liver. My mom ate liver and onions and that wins the worst smell award, hands down. But I digress.

Why the topic of Brazil? Why the beans and rice? I went to Brazil to serve a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved almost every minute of it. We invited some families over for a tasty reminder of the time we spent in Brazil.

Serving a mission is a tough thing. Maybe that's why we're sent when we're young, energetic and resilient. We get to serve a mission when we turn 19, but can begin our two years any time before turning 26. Young women can go when they are 21 and have no upper limit to their age, except that they be single. And couples can go once their kids are grown and out of the house. Sounds pretty sweet. Angie and I are planning on going some day and we talk about it once in a while. Wes might go with us. We plan on having him around for quite a while. He's going to be a great missionary. :)

One of our friends that we invited over for beans and rice served in Bahia, Brazil in the mission neighboring mine. She told us a week or two ago that she made cheese bread balls and was trying to perfect the recipe. Her husband served in The Philippines. He's awesome. So are their kids. Our other friend went to Manaus on his mission. That's in the Amazon rain forest. His wife and kids are awesome too. We all had a great time hanging out until the kids' bed times told us it was time for the party to end.

I have to say that I love talking to people about serving or living in Brazil. I love speaking Portuguese. And I love telling people who ask me, why I lived in Brazil for so long and worked so hard down there. From 6:30am to 9:30pm, missionaries find others who want to learn the gospel of Jesus Christ and spend their time teaching and answering questions. I am so glad I went, but I'm glad that the next time I serve I'll not be on such a tight and rigorous schedule.

I already know who my companion will be and I won't have to worry about transfers.