Visitors in Fortaleza

This past weekend Elder and Sister Holland, Bishop and Sister Edgley, and Pres. and Sister Godoy from our area presidency came to Fortaleza for a couple of days. They are traveling to a few places in northeastern Brazil checking on things, giving trainings, going to stake conferences, etc.  We didn't plan to ask for a picture with Elder and Sister Holland.  (We were trying to not be buggy.)  But when we were at the temple site with the group, Sister Edgley got out her camera and it seemed to be okay, so we were able to get this one.  I feel bad that we didn't get one with Bishop and Sister Edgley and the Godoys.  They were all so gracious and tried to make us feel comfortable.  They almost succeeded. 

    

It is hard to see everyone, but this is a picture of ALL of the missionaries serving here right now.  The missionaries were all in place, so when we arrived at the chapel with the general authorities, we just walked in and sat down. Pictures were snapped, the missionaries filed by to shake hands with Elder Holland and the others, they went to their seats, and a 3 hour meeting began.  It was a great experience.  I think the missionaries will always remember it.  I know I will. 

Contacting 101

When we were at the airport last week waiting for the new arrivals, we noticed this Catholic bishop waiting for someone too.  ( It is hard  not to notice someone in long black robes with bright pink trim and cumberbund.) 
Alan decided to strike up a conversation with him.  He is always telling the missionaries that you can talk to anyone about the church, so I guess he was just putting his mouth where his mouth is, so to speak.
I wanted to snap a picture just for the pink cumberbund, if nothing else, but didn't dare.  But one of the elders did and he sent me this photo.  I just thought I'd share it.     

Happy Easter

I thought I would post a few pictures for Easter, not that it really feels like Easter, but just to prove that at least I know what time of year it is. 

I didn't bring hardly any seasonal decorations with me, but this little bunny did make it in the pile of stuff we brought and I have been glad to have him here.  Lucy sent me the pastel eggs last year after Easter and I was lucky enough to remember where I put them so I could use them this year.  It is my one little spot of Easter and pastel colors.

This is a display of the Easter candy eggs they sell here.  Every store has a TON of them.  It was hard to show in the picture, but they hang them from wire frames and it creates sort of a Easter egg tunnel.  I think they display them this way because just like real eggs, they are a little fragile.  Inside the packaging is a large hollow chocolate egg with wrapped candies inside.

Another shot that doesn't really show what it is like very well.

This place even had columns of them. You can see that Easter is not about pastels here.  I don't even know if pastel colors would look good in this country.

 

This was as "Eastery" as it got for us; a few deviled eggs.  Before I die, I want to make deviled eggs and use a pastry tube to pipe the filling in so they look really nice, but that wasn't to be this year.  I didn't even have any paprika to sprinkle on the top like Mom always did, but I did have real dill pickles to put in them. (Thanks, Becca) 

Alan ate 7. I ate 3.  I didn't know we would still count who ate how many of things when we were empty nesters.  I thought it was just the kids doing that all those years, but I guess not.  Nobody ate the parsley, but Alan did notice and mention it.  I didn't know he knew the word, garnish. 

Here's Alan burnin it off.  That's what he gets for eating 7.