Olá Queridos!
So, some have wondered what it is like in Rio right now, so I'll explain. Right now Summer is beginning to end (Which is a funny thought because it is March) and it is normally about 115 degrees during the day with a lot of humidity. Occasionally it cools off in the nights, but sometimes they stay at about 80 or 85. Oddly enough, my body doesn't notice much and I usually fair better in the heat than a majority of the Brazillians here. One of the blesseings of living in a desert for 10 years to be sure. We are well taken care of here, and never go too long without anything we need. I am really enjoying being here. I already feel at home among all the trees and vines and grass. Everything is so green and beautiful! I don't know what I'll do when I no longer live in a tropical climate! I absolutely love it! I wouldn't mind a few degrees cooler, but no complaints.
As for me myself, the sun and heat have had the effect of lightening my hair and eyes (which are now quite green!), my skin has darkened a fair bit (sometimes I am surprised when I see my hands and arms), and I think I grew another half an inch or two. Outside of this, nothing new.
Well, time for the miracles! The part I love! So, the first miracles came in the form of miraculous healings.
Being summer here, there are a lot of mosquitos. Here in Rio there is an especially large number of an odd looking mosquito with black and white stripes like a zebra that causes a sickness called Dengue. Dengue is pretty bad. If you get it, there is treatment, but you have to go to the hospital. If not, you can get pretty sick, and it kills people every year. Dengue has several symptoms that are very unique that make it easy to identify, like pain in the eyes and a dry mouth.
Well, one day Elder Alves and I were at lunch and he started to not feel very good so we went home. By the time we arrived, he had no energy and was in a lot of pain and had a fever. He also had body aches, a dry mouth, pain in the eyes, and all of the other symptoms of Dengue. I called our District leader and informed him, and he contacted our mission president. We got a call a few minutes later and our Mission President told me that if he didn't start to feel better soon to call him and he would tell us what hospital to go to. Needless to say, I was a little worried for Elder Alves. That night our Zone Leaders came to our house and gave Elder Alves a blessing, and by the next day he was back to normal, without even going to the hospital! We all kept a close eye on him to make sure it was gone, and sure enough, he didn't get sick again.
A few days later, one of our neighbors, who is also our bishop, told us he wasn't feeling too well. A few hours later, we ran into him in the street heading home. He said he had gone to the hospital but that it was full and he couldn't get any help there. When we arrived home that night, his wife called us and we went to give him a blessing. He was in bed and didn't look too good. He was still cheerful in his normal way, but we could tell he wasn't doing well. We were almost sure it was Dengue again. Well, we gave him a blessing and left him for the night, telling his wife that if anything happened to call us. The next day was Sunday, and he made it to church. We talked to him afterwards, and he told us that he felt almost completely better. Today, he went about as if nothing even happened.
Well, there have been so many more miracles, but my time to write is almost up! I am writing a lot of letters today, and already have a bunch to send. So be expecting them to arrive here in a few weeks! I love you all so much. I am so glad to be a missionary. Write me and I'll send you more stories!
I love these people. I love this work. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior. I don't know how I deserve so many blessings, but They give me them anyways.
All the best!
Elder Viglione
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