First and Last Time Our Names Will Ever Appear on a Choir Program!

Christmas 2016 we had been in Tatui about a month. Christmas Day was on Sunday. There was no special program, a speaker that didn't talk about Christmas and no Christmas hymns. I told Elder Barrus, next year we need to have a Christmas program. So in October he brought up our desire to have a Christmas program in Branch Council Meeting. He told them I would write the program. So, I did (wishing Colleen Wood was here with me to help). Between the narrations I wrote in some Christmas hymns to be sung by the Young Men and Women, Primary and a Branch Choir They didn't have a Branch Choir at this time so I asked Gilmara if she thought she could put together one. She did and Elder Barrus and I thought we had better be supportive and be a part of the choir. Neither one of us could sing our way out of a paper bag, but fortunately the people around us could sing beautifully. We had 20 people in the choir and met twice a week to practice. The Christmas Program went beautifully They enjoyed having a choir so much, they continued to practice so they would be prepared to sing in Sacrament Meeting once in a while. So we thought we had better continue to be supportive and attend practices. In January we were told we would be having a District Conference with Itapetininga and Itapeva and Elder Campos would be the visiting General Authority. They asked that we have a District Choir to sing at conference. All the Branches were asked to have members be in the choir. There are 7 Branches, there were 42 choir members from those Branches and 21 of them came from Tatui! Including Elder Barrus and I. The District Music Director was nervous when she found out Al and I were in the choir, which I could perfectly understand, but it was for the wrong reason. She told our choir director that all Americans have beautiful singing voices and she was afraid she wouldn't meet our standards! Boy, was she ever wrong! This was our last hurrah!

P-Day

On P-day, February 12, Sister Gerber and Sister Gamarano came over to our apartment and we made banana nut bread, Bonnie Richin's recipe. While the bread was baking we walked over to the corner sorvete store (ice cream) and had a nice, cold treat on a very hot day.

Miguel's Baptism

Sister Gerber and Sister Gamarano have been teaching Miguel and he was baptized February 11. Left to right, Sister Gerber, Sister Gamarano, Roniery ( Gracie's son), Gracie (she was baptized Christmas Eve), Miguel ( he and Gracie have been dating this past year), Miguel's son and Edsen, who baptized Miguel.

Professoras de Visitante Cha

We had a visiting teacher tea at our apartment February 10. In Brazil when there is a wedding shower or baby shower, they don't call it a shower. It is a Cha (tea) and an iced herbal tea is served. Left to right back row: Maria, Jananina, Sister Barrus, Camilla, Divina. Front: Christina, Debora, Gil and Mayra, Gloria, Angelica.

Para Bens, Jean!

It was Jean's 12th birthday so Elder Barrus took a cake over to his family's home to celebrate! The children were so excited. Left to right Nayara, who was baptized recently, Jean and Isabelle. Elder Barrus didn't realize until Jean tried to blow out his candles, that they were the kind that couldn't be blown out!!!!

The Dynamic Duo!

Edsen and Debora were married in the Campinas Temple last November. They are such a wonderful, awesome couple. Debora is the Young Women's President, she has no counselors or secretary so she does it all herself. Edsen is first counselor in the Branch Presidency, Young Men's President, Executive Secretary of the Branch Presidency AND the Seminary Teacher! He does it all with such a great and loving attitude and sweet wife that is so supportive.

Novo Inicio (New Beginnings)

The mocas had their New Beginnings Program February 6. Debora is the Young Women's President and had the chapel beautifully decorated for the occasion. I was asked to be the guest speaker. The girls were wonderful. I found tubes of M and M's at our new favorite store and bought one for each of the girls and put a tag on it that said, "Voce e Maravilhoso e Voce e Muito forca". You are wonderful and you are very strong, M and M.

District Meeting

At our last District Meeting the Elders and Sisters practiced introducing the gospel to people they might meet. One side was the missionaries and the other side played the part of the investigators. Things got pretty animated!

Carnaval

Today is Carnaval (car-nah-vahl) here in Brasil. In Tatui it is pretty mild compared to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Elder Barrus and I walked over to the Praca Matriz in the afternoon where all the action was taking place. Lots of people were dressed up in costumes including children and children had their faces painted. We were hoping there would be a nice band playing. There was music, but it was just loud and crazy. When we saw people walking into the praca with cases of beer, we decided that was our cue to leave! In Sao Paulo and Rio the missionaries are told to stay in their apartments on Carnaval Day. Very good counsel!

Tatui Branch Family Home Evening

The Sister Missionaries and Elder Barrus and I organized a branch Family Home Evening. We had a wonderful attendance and a lot of fun. The children loved the game "shockey" that we played. I think the children in Pella 2nd would love it, too!

New Favorite Store!

Al happened upon this Doce (sweet) Shop in his travels. It is boxes and boxes of candy. They sell to all the little grocery stores that blanket Tatui but also sell to individuals. Elder Barrus keeps a supply of suckers in his briefcase to give to the children after Sacrament Meeting. But, we have found the adults like a treat, too, after Sacrament!

Nayara's Baptism

Left to right: Sister Gerber Sister Gamarano, Gisele (Nayara's Mom), little sister Isabelle, brother Jean, father Marivaldo and Elder Barrus. Elder Barrus had the blessing of baptizing Nayara just a few days after she had her ninth birthday.

Branch Temple Trip to Campinas

Gloria, Debora and Dalva rode with us to attend the temple. It was a beautiful day and these three beautiful sisters are a joy to be with.

Vinicius

Vinicius has been attending our English class for over a year now. He is one of our favorites. He is a school teacher and active in his Presbyterian Church. He has a great sense of humor and loves to correct Elder Barrus' portuguese. He told us we can't leave in May!

Sweet Friends

Pictured left to right, Barbara (Miriam's sister) me and Miriam. About a year ago Miriam and Rebecca started coming to our apartment on Monday nights to help me with Portuguese and I to help them with their English. Mostly we just did a lot visiting. Miriam moved to Rio de Janeiro and after my fall I had to cancel our meetings until I healed and it turned out to take a lot longer than I expected so we just got out of the habit of meeting. So it had been since last August I had seen Miriam. Al and I decided one afternoon to try out the Subway they have here in Tatui. As we walked up to the doors, Miriam came bursting out and threw her arms around me. She and her sister were in Tatui for a couple of days for a visit. Miriam and Barbara came to our apartment the next afternoon and spent a few hours visiting. It was so fun to see them. Miriam owns a little ranch outside Tatui where she cares for rescued animals. She has at this time 75! A neighbor cares for them since she has moved but her mother and brother will be moving to Tatui soon from Sao Paulo and they will take over caring for all the animals.

Elder Barrows and Elder Barrus - Cousins?

In our district now is Elder Barrows from Maryland. The name Barrus originally came from the name Barrows. Elder Barrows has asked his Grandpa to look up their genealogy to see if there is a relationship here!

Para Bens, Sisters and Elders!

At our January Multi Zone meeting we celebrated January birthdays. Left to right: Elder Squires, Sister de Cruz, Sister Gamarano, Elder ? and Elder James.