Welcome to English Class

     Presidente Vagner's son made two great banners to put up on the gates going into the Church to advertise the English classes Al and I are teaching.  They are learning English much faster than I am learning Portuguese.

Is it a rock or an old tree stump or ..................?

     Since we've been here we've passed by these 'monuments' several times.  In large open fields there will be 15 of them.  This one is behind our church.  We thought they were rocks and were feeling sorry for the farmers that had to move these rocks to open up farm ground.  Well, they are not rocks - they are ant hills.  Al was much braver then I would ever be,  he got up close enough to touch it and said they are as solid as they can be.  That is one ant hill I wouldn't want to stomp on or try to knock over!

Tender Mercy

     Last Friday Al and I visited this young man at his home.  His name is Diego and it was so fun to spend some time with him. He and his Mom, Jocilene, (pictured above) are converts to the Church.  He hasn't been to Church for quite awhile so we invited Diego to come to Church this past Sunday.  He said he might but knew his Mom wouldn't.  To our joy they both were in Church Sunday.  We told them we would come visit again when Jocilene would be able to be home.  It made our day to see them!

Happy Birthday, Elder James!

Elder James' birthday was on Sunday, January 15.  We celebrated with him on Monday, P-Day.  We made an American breakfast for him, pancakes, eggs, bacon, juice, and...we found some real milk!
We couldn't find candles so I made a 19 out of the pancake batter.  He is a great missionary and the members of the Tatui Branch love him.  There is a man that sells shaved ice from a cart (like snow cones) at our praca.  We went there the other day to get one and he mentioned how tall the young elders are, and he said, "That makes them that much closer to heaven!"  Later, when the elders stopped by his cart, he said, "I just saw your parents."  We'll claim them!)

Inspiring Children

Haury, 15; Roniery, 12; Lohana, 5; Hatmey, 7.  These children never miss church on Sunday or their Young Men's Meetings during the week.  Their parents are not members.  Haury and Roniery get their little brother and sister up each week and get them ready for Church.  They live a few miles away from the Church.  They are always cheerful and go out of their way to greet Elder Barrus and I. They are such an inspiration.  I'd like to put up a poster of them in every ward building in our stake, They make no excuses, it's too far, it's too hot, it's too cold, they just DO IT.

Friendship

New Year's Eve Day we had a wonderful visit from Mark Grover and his beautiful wife Ivelisse.  Mark and Al were in the MTC together way back when. Mark and Ivelisse are now serving a mission as temple ordinance workers in the Campinas Temple.  Campinas is about 2 hours and 40 minutes from Tatui.  Mark and Al had a great time travelling down Memory Lane.  What a great treasure friendships are.

Darling little Sister Sousa and the Christmas card she made us and gave to us at the Christmas Party in Sorocaba.  She surprised me by talking to me in English.  Her companion who is from Indiana has been teaching her and she is a fast learner!