Patsy Barrus Hayes

     We received word that our dear sister Patsy passed away Saturday morning, July 29, 2017 at the age of 85.  We've never known a kinder, sweeter person who will be missed by all.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to her children and their families. Her siblings, Brent, Bev, Carolyn, Marilyn, Alfred and LeAnn were always told that the reason the folks had seven children was because they kept trying to get another Patsy!

And To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street

     It's not every day you see a hostein steer saddled, bridled and a means of transportation!  This cowboy must be a very good trainer.

Happy Birthday, my little Mulan!

     Today is Addy's 5th Birthday!  Our only little granddaughter and she will be starting kindergarten in the fall.  Her Mommy and Daddy are Kylie and Michael.  Have a fun and happy day, Addy.  Her Aunt Kelsey is taking her out for a special birthday treat!

Bem Vindo, Elder Langford!

     Elder Langford is joining Elder Campos in serving with us in Tatui.  Elder Langford is from Colorado.  We are excited to be working with these great missionaries.  Elder Langford entered the Mission the same time we did.  We were in the same district for awhile and have chatted with him at Zone Meetings, so it is such a blessing to now serve with him.

Happy Birthday to You, Nathan!

     Our handsome grandson, Nathan Taylor, is 11 years old today.  Grandpa and I wish you a very happy birthday and a day full of fun and surprises!  We are so proud of you.

New Tatui Branch Presidency

     Left to right: Paulo, 1st Counselor; Presidente Edivaldo; Elder Barrus, 2nd Counselor and District President, Presidente Everton.

Ate Mais, Elder Sagae!

     Today is the last time we have the blessing of being with Elder Sagae.  He leaves this afternoon for Sao Paulo to fly home Monday night.  Although we are sad to see him go, I know his parents are excited to have him home.  I told Elder Sagae since I was a Grandma, I could give him a hug good-bye!

The Perfect Sign

     We found the perfect sign to install in our neighborhood in Burley.   This is dedicated to you, Brother Bruce Beck!

Grandies!

     Just wanted to stick in some pictures of some of my favorite people, my grandkids!  Addy, Jacob and Eli.

Friends!

     This is Daniel and Simone Bertolaccuri and their wonderful family.  Daniel owns a store where we get our paper for our computer and where we have our English booklets printed.  He has been so kind to us, often he won't let us pay for the things we get.  His family belongs to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.  It has been a blessing to make friends with people of other faiths.

P-Day in Campinas

Last Monday, July 17, we spent the day in Campinas with our dear friends, Mark and Ivelisse Grover.  They will be completing their mission in August and returning home to Utah.  We will certainly miss them!  We went to the huge marketplace which in the center of Campinas.  Booth after booth of fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, cheeses.  This booth had every kind of bean you could think of!

Original Mayflower Moving Van

     We had to move the Elders from their old apartment to a new one.  There were two old applicances that needed to be relocated to another place.  The closest and quickest moving vehicle we could find was this wonderful horse and cart!

Feira do Dolce

 This past weekend was the Feira do Dolce, festival of sweets.  There must have been 40 booths set up at the Praca Matriz,  all filled with all kinds of  desserts and homemade candy.  Top two pictures are of the people enjoying the festival and the band that played.  There were four musicians, they all played different types of saxaphones. The music was amazing.  Bottom two pictures, Al and I chose the crepe booth, delicious!

Itapetininga Churassco

     We had interviews with Presidente Ribeiro Thursday morning in Itapetininga.  What a powerful spirit he has about him!  Following the interviews, Elder Sagae took us out to almoco at this great Churassco in Itapetininga.  Left side of table, Elder Sagae, Elder and Sister Barrus. Right side of table, Elder Campos, Elder Bartlett (he's from Saratoga Springs, Utah) and Elder Santos.

Sewing Class

     The girls completed their packets to hold their Strength for Youth booklets.  It was fun and no one sewed over their fingers, thank heaven!  Nicole, Ketilyn, Thaynna, Sheila, Rafaely and me.

Our Favorite Treat

     A couple of days a week this van parks across the street from our apartment on the praca.  He makes the most fabulous, delicious churros from his van.  After he fries them, he fills them with either dolce de leite or chocolate and then rolls the hot churros in sugar!  Not a diet treat but they are to die for!

District Meeting in Cerquilho

     Each Tuesday we have a District Meeting which includes missionaries from Tatui, Cerquilho and Boituva.  Transfers will be soon so we wanted to get a pictures of our missionaries before they are assigned to other cities.  Back row, Elder Araujo, Sister and Elder Barrus, Elder Campos and Elder Sagae.  Front, Elder Santana, Elder Paz and Elder Lima.  A great and fun group of elders.

Welcoming a New Family to the Tatui Branch

     Elder Sagae baptized Christian last Sunday, July 9.  He turned 10 years old the day before he was baptized.  Pictured below are Elder Sagae, Christian, his mother Camille, his father Renato, Elder Campos and Elder Barrus.  Standing in front of Renato is Christian's little brother.  We are hoping Christian's parents will soon be baptized.

Our New Mission President

     This morning we met our new Mission President and his family.  Top:  President Ribeiro and Sister Ribeiro.  They are from further north in Brazil.  They presented a beautiful, spiritual program.  We are looking forward to working with them.  Middle: some of the beautiful sister missionaries.
Bottom:  Our sweet Sister Souza, we love seeing her at our meetings!  Her companion is from Raleigh, North Carolina, same place my niece Kelly and her husband Jerry live.

Teaching a Sewing Class

     Thaynna saw on Pinterest a little fold up tote that would hold the Young Women's Strength for Youth pamphlets.  So we began making them last night.  None of them had ever used a sewing machine before.  They had fun but it was a good thing that I had brought my seam ripper! Clockwise: Sister Barrus, Rafaely, Ketilyn, Thaynna, Nicole, Sheila and Debora.

Para Bens Elder Sagae and Elder Campos!

     Since Elder Sagae will be completing his mission in just a couple of weeks and returning home to Utah and Elder Campos will probably be assigned to another city in the mission in the next couple of months, we decided to celebrate their birthdays since they won't be here on their birthdays.  We took them to a Churrasco and had a birthday cake.  These Elders are a great team and have worked hard and been successful missionaries.  We tried to talk Elder Sagae into staying in Tatui until we complete our mission, but he just laughed!  We send you home with our gratitude, love and well wishes, Elder Sagae.

Campinas Temple with the Elders

     Last Wednesday, June 28, we attended the Temple with President and Sister Farnes and the Elders and Sisters in our Zone.   Elder Campos, Al and I, and Elder Sagae.  President and Sister Farnes are home in Utah now.  We will miss them, they were a wonderful example and inspiration to the  Sao Paulo North Mission.

Chacara

     Edivaldo and Gilmara invited us to Edivaldo's sister's weekend home for almoco after Church on Sunday.  It is a beautiful chacara a few miles out of Tatui down a windy, dirt road.  It was a lovely day and a delicious dinner and great company.

Celebrating July 4th in Brazil!

   

July 4th - Proud to an American

     We just wanted to take this special day in our nation's history to express our gratitude to be citizens of  the United States of America.  We are loving it here in Brazil and the Brazilian people are amazing but we love our native country.  Even with all the problems and challenges it is facing we feel very fortunate to be Americans.  And we are very lucky that the Brazilians treat us, as Americans, with such grace and kindness.  We are grateful for our family and want them to know that we think fondly each day of the US and Old Glory and hope they are flying the red, white and blue today!