Elders Barros and Barrus

Elder Barros and Elder Barrus

We loved meeting Elder Barros at the Zone Meeting in Sorocaba. He is from Cape Verde, an island off Africa and the language of that island is Portuguese. He said he remembers an Elder Barrus serving on his island a few years ago.  He is a great young man and missionary.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016.  We had our first Zone Conference in Sorocaba. There were about 6 zones, it was for just the Interior zones.  These are the missionaries in our zone and Presidente Farnes and Sister Farnes.  Presidente and Sister Farnes presented an incredible and inspiring conference. The two sister missionaries on the left are Sister Robinson from South Carolina and Sister Evans from Eagle, Idaho.  Our two amazing missionaries are right behind Al and I.

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day in Tatui!  The Elders serving in Tatui shared Thanksgiving Dinner with us.  Elder James is from Ogden Utah and Elder Marinho is from Manaus, Brazil.  We couldn't find a turkey so we got a very large chicken, head and feet included!  Elder James' mother had sent him some stove top stuffing so we had a real feast1

Tatui

We are living in an apartment on the eighth floor.  This is the view from the balcony off the living room.  Tatui is a beautiful city with many pracas (pronounced prah-sahs) or parks. Our apartment overlooks one of the pracas.  The church is just two blocks away.  We went to the church Friday night and met some of the members, they were so very welcoming and kind.  Sunday is the Primeria Program, we are looking forward to that special treat.  Elder Barrus has been out with the young elders a few times to visit with members while I've been nursing a bad cold and studying Portuguese. And so, our adventure begins!

Mission Training Center, Provo, Utah.

MTC  was amazing!  We met so many incredible people.  This is our District. From the left, Amy Anderson, one of our trainers, she served a mission in South Africa;  Elder and Sister Banks, they will be serving as MLS Missionaries in their home stake of Cedar City, Utah; Elder and Sister King, he is a convert of two years and they will be serving in Fort Collins, Colorado; Elder and Sister Orlowski, he is a convert and they will be serving in Public Affairs, homebase of Frankfurt, Germany but will be travelling all over Europe; Elder and Sister Barrus, serving as MLS Missionaries in Brazil, Sao Paulo North Mission, our first assignment is in Tatui, about 2 hours west of Sao Paulo; Brother Ashton, another one of our wonderful trainers, he served in Russia. We fly out tomorrow, November 21 and arrive in Brazil Tuesday morning on the 22.  Our next post will be from Brazil!  Boa Noite!