A little P-Day fun!

We went to the Farroupilha (Ragamuffin) Celebration.  Everyone dressing similiar to this man.  Like a gaucho (cowboy).  That´s what they call people from Rio Grande do Sul, ´gaucho´ and they speak ´gauché´.

A little different look, interesting hats........still gauchos!

Farroupilha is a celebration in memory of when the state Rio Grade do Sul, caused a civil up rising as they tried to become independent from the rest of Brasil in 1835.  Despite the support of Italian revolutionary Garibaldi (wonder if that´s where Garibaldi chocolate comes from?), the gaucho led revolt ended in 1845.  Even though they were defeated, it still is celebrated with regional pride.  A cowboy type celebration where they meet together with friends and family in cabin like houses like these in a huge park and have a churrasco (huge bar-be-que with tons of different meats, like Tucanos).  They ride horses, wear clothes like these shown, the women in long dresses, cowgirl style.  It´s pretty cool.  We´ve discovered that Rio Grande do Sul is a state like Texas.  Everything thing is bigger and better, they think!  

A section of the park had a big market place where they sold handmade items and all sorts of other stuff.  Very gaucho type things.

The food section of the park reminded us of the State Fair.  They even had `Lays` type potatoe chips.  They made them fresh right there.  They don´t even sell chips like these in the store!!  It was a special treat!

A Typical Day!

This is what happens when the President leaves his phone laying around at the chapel during interviews.  The Sisters (and
 it´s generally only Sisters) take selfies! From front to back:  Sister Schimdt Brasil, Sister Medeiros Brasil, Sister Mariño Ecuador and Sister Heiner Logan UT  

I took the office secretaries with me to get 21 pillows at Zaffarri (store like a Super Wal-Mart).  It took 3 full carts to get them to the car and then it filled the car completely up!  We give our new missionaries a fresh new pillow to take with them on every transfer during the mission!
Elder Gonçalves Brasil, Elder Bangerter South Jordan, UT

President and I went with the Elders to teach a lesson and invite this young adult to be baptised.  The lesson took place in his bedroom.......the only quiet place in the house and no one else wanted to participate.  He was baptised the next Sunday!
left-Elder Pacheco, ctr-Elder Marins

We happened to be at the place at the right time.  We attended Sacrement Meeting in one of the wards in our mission and after the Elders held this baptism so we got to attend!
Elder Favoretti and Elder Nascimento both brazilians

Cátia Biehl da Silva, she and her husband Sérgio) clean the mission home.  They are wonderful!  They lived in the US for a time and both speak great English, she always speaks portugues with me to try to help me learn (I wish she wouldn´t......but I know it helps!)  She is so encouraging because she suffered when they lived in the US.  She knows how hard it is!!  She always sends inpirational texts and is so sweet and supportive of the work!  They are excellent in caring for the mission home!  They are members of the ward were the mission home is but it´s not in our mission so we have only attended there one time.  

Our Second Tranfer!

What a great group of Missionaries!  We only had 12 weeks with them but came to love them so much in that short time!!
S. Meireles BR, S. Aguayo Chile, E. Dieckman Florida, E. Tridade BR, E. Milton BR, E Hernandez Texas, E. Beraldo BR, E. Tullis Modesto CA, E. Aguilar Honduras and E. Nascimento BR

Only 2 Sisters leaving in this group.

The next day, Elder Glasgow, Arkansa arrived from the Provo MTC.  He had problems with his Visa so he did his mission training there.  Great Elder, he´s going to play football at USU.

And another beautiful group arrives!!  A big group of American Elders (5). Five Brazilian Elders, two Brazilian Sisters and a Sister from Mexico!