Brazilian Truffles

Carlos (in the green polo shirt) had a class on making Brazilian Truffles, it was fun and delicious! Eight year old Hatme (Huhch-me) especially was in seventh heaven as he bit into one!

Time to Celebrate!

We had just been to District Meeting in Cerquilho and pulled into Tatui on this very hot day and saw the cane juice man at the side of the street. So we stopped to enjoy the shade and have an ice cold drink of cane juice. It really is good, they flavor it with lime or abacaxi (pineapple). We needed to kill some time before heading up for an appointment with Grace. Grace has two wonderful sons, Haury and Ronie, who are faithful, diligent members of the Church. Grace has had many missionaries talk to her over the years about being baptized. The sister missionaries asked us if we would come with them to Grace's to talk to her. Elder Barrus and I have been her home teacher/visiting teacher since we have been here and we dearly love her. Sister Kapp and Sister Gamarano had been praying that she would make the decision to be baptized. So Elder Barrus visited with her and I bore my testimony to her. She was ready, Al asked her if she would be baptized and she said, yes! Al asked her when she wanted to be baptized and she said she was thinking Christmas Eve, which was the date Sister Kapp and Sister Gamarano had been praying for. After we left Grace's we stopped at the corner ice cream store to celebrate!

The Many Faces of Tang

Here in Brazil, Tang isn't just an orange drink, oh no, it comes in all these wonderful flavors. Strawberry, marajuca, mango ...... We will have to fill a suitcase with them when we come home.

Family Home Evening at Tammy and Leandro's

We had such fun at Family Home Evening with Tammy and Leando's family. Presidente Edivaldo and his family came, Edsen and Debora, Roberto and Angelica. I am pictured with Angelica, her name aptly describes her, she is an angel in every way. They played a game that you had to pass an orange by balancing it between your ankles and passing it on to the next person's ankles. Elder Barrus and I were not that great at it!

Faces of Brazil

We were invited to the home of Leandro and Tammy for Home Evening. These two cuties had a wonderful time playing together. Left is Mel (mel means honey in Portuguese), daughter of Leandro and Tammy, and Renata, niece of Gilmara. Renata's mother Sheila used to live in Tatui but they moved several months ago further north. Renata's big sister has been called to serve a mission on Temple Square. We are looking forward to visiting her when we arrive back in the States.

Just Arrived from Heaven!

Just as we were pulling into Tatui from Sao Paulo, we received a call from Paulo that Thaynna's water had broke and they wondered if we could give them a ride to Church so Thaynna wouldn't have to walk. I told Al, "There's no way that girl is going to Church today if her water has broken!" We took Gloria and Antonio home and right after we dropped them off, Thaynna called and said she thought she had better go to the hospital. We told her, 'we're on our way!' Two minutes later Paulo called and said, 'can you hurry?' We did and got them to the hospital safe and sound. That afternoon Thaynna had this beautiful baby boy. His name is Murilo. Al told Thaynna that Murilo sounded like the name of a bug, not cool Elder Barrus. Anyway, we call him Cricket, even Thaynna calls him Cricket. He is a doll!

Christmas Dinner in Sao Paulo

Jo and Ricardo, Jo is the daughter of Gloria and Antonio from our Tatui Branch, invited us to their family Christmas Dinner December 2. It was a beautiful, elegant feast! Ricardo took us earlier that day to Embu. It is an artist town just outside of Sao Paulo. Everything there has to be handmade from Brazil. It is one street after another of store fronts and booths. We had such a good time. Pictured at the end of the beautifully decorated table are: Jo, Jo's son Mateus' mother-in-law, Gloria and me. See how much taller I am? I am loving this while it lasts!