Matthew’s new area is in Ibura Brazil. It is a suburb of Recife. Known for drugs and gangs. He is in an apartment with his companion and there are two other Elders in their own apartment on the other side of the city. His companions name is Elder Saturnino, from Sao Paulo Brazil. He hit his 7 month mark about the same time he arrived.
He has only been her a week or two so they are getting used to the area and meeting people. There is certain areas of the city they do not go for safety, and Matt has seen a few drug deals happen in broad day light. The people know they are there to teach about Jesus so they are pretty good about leaving them alone, if they aren’t out after dark. There is a few teenage boys that have been baptized and are bringing their friends, brothers to church and it sounds like Matthew is trying to reign in 12 ferral boys who have never heard the word reverent, let alone be reverent in their life. He said a few of them that have been coming for a while are better but some of the newer kids will start wrestling and fighting at the drop of a hat and it is pretty exasperating.
About the same time he transferred to Ibura there was a special fireside and one of the apostles, Elder Rasband came and spoke to them for a while. Matt said it was pretty cool. He was further south is Brazil in Sao Paulo, and his mission president knows him so he asked him to stop and speak to his missionaries before he headed home.
This area is closer to a lot more missionaries so they will probably be able to get together on p-day more often. He said they do the temple, or BBQ’s or soccer a lot.
