New Chapel

This is the new chapel that was recently dedicated in Juazeiro.  

  The Church really uses quality construction methods and material.

 It is so nice. 

The inside is really nice too.  (There is another bank of pews on the left side too, but it wouldn't all fit in the picture.)  This room has air conditioning built right in so it is quiet and effective.  I almost got cold.  Almost.  The bishop's office has air conditioning too, but the classroom's don't.  More about that in a minute.

The choir practicing on Saturday.

Missionaries just chillin' while waiting their turn for an interview with President Batt.  They are a great bunch of young men and you can see they are enjoying the break from the afternoon heat.

Sunday at church, we talked to this young couple with their new baby.  He was so tiny;  about 5 pounds, I think.  I don't figure kilos/grams to pounds and ounces that well without a calculator.

Not the greatest photo, but I wanted you to see the nice basketball/soccer area they have.  The young people gather almost every night and play there.

I don't know about Elvis still being alive, but I do know about John Lennon.  That's him coming around the corner in the aqua blue shirt.  I know it's him because I asked him his name when I sat by him in Sunday School.  I wasn't sure I got it right, but then I saw it written on the roll when they passed it around and "Now I'm a Believer"  (Oh yeah, that was the Monkees. Sorry.)  

Remember I said there was no air conditioning in the classrooms?  Lots of the babies were in diapers only by the end of the meetings.  The little guy in front had had it too. The shirt came off the minute he was out the door.  I wonder if they will be able to talk him into wearing a suit and tie next week.

The location of the new building is convenient.  It's on the bus route and the bus stops right out in front.

Or, you can just all jump on the family motorcycle and "moto" on home.  I hope he doesn't take the corners too fast.

This new building will really be a blessing to the people in this district.  It's good to see progress. 

Too Close for Comfort

My next space neighbor in the parking garage just got a new toy. 

I'm happy for him and all, but every time I pull in, I can't help but think about Pee Wee Herman and his Big Adventure.  

Parking is pretty tight anyway, and squeezing a Harley in between my car and his, which is usually parked behind his motorcycle, has upped my parking anxiety level considerably. 

If the unthinkable were to happen and I accidentally nudged it, I don't think he would have to scratch his head very long before he figured out who to blame.  

Pee Wee had some pretty cool dance moves and those unforgettable shoes that smoothed things over, but all I've got is the "Pony" and flip-flops.  

That probably wouldn't cut it.

Suppertime!

Remember how excited Snoopy gets for his supper?  That's how excited Alan and I were for supper tonight.  What did we have?

Both of us:  Chips and salsa.....delicious.  We ate right out of the bag and the container of salsa.  It just tastes      better that way and why dirty dishes when it isn't necessary?

Millie:   1/3 bag of Peanut Butter M&M's (egg shaped...so much better for some reason and no, it wasn't a small size bag.)

Millie:   1/2 cup, at least, of Hot Tamale jelly beans (Really, why mess around with other flavors when there is

cinnamon.)

Millie:    3/4 bottle of lime flavored Gatorade  (Frozen into a delightful slushy state)

Millie:     1 bite size  Snickers (the ratio of chocolate to nougat is perfect)

Millie:     3 squares of a  raspberry/dark chocolate candy bar ( Yum! Thanks, Geri)

Millie:     1 tuna fish sandwich (in an attempt to get my Omega-3's or is it 6's? and my minimum daily    mayonnaise requirement)

Alan:      1 qt. Fruit punch Crystal Light

Alan:      Sunflower Seeds

Alan:      1 tuna fish sandwich (in an attempt to be nice and let me pretend that I made supper)

Alan:      I know there is more, but he says he is taking the 5th.  He's not admitting to anything.  But I'm quite    sure I smelled Whoppers on his breath and there are various miniature candy bar wrappers in his garbage can.

So thanks, family, for the suitcases full of treats and other things we really needed.  We'll eat better tomorrow.  We promise.   

    

We could all use more of this, don't ya think?

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.