Shoes, Rugs, and Bread

December 18 Thursday
Usual routine in the morning.  Mid-morning we again hit the streets of Canela to go “shopping.”  Merl seems to think we do way too much of this!  We needed to find two travesseiros (pillows) for our bed.  We have been using our travel pillows that Brad and Alicia gave us and one of Ann’s.  We also were looking for small gifts for the four Elders serving here.  We are doing the Seven days of Christmas with gifts referenced by scriptures. 

In our excursion, we stopped by a shoemaker establishment.  The “shoemaker” Joao (John) dos Santos had received several missionary discussions from David  and Ann,and enjoyed them, but did not join the church.  He was fun to visit with, and I will return soon to have him custom make a pair of leather, slip-on house shoes.  That is my Christmas present to myself.

We returned home, had lunch, and went to the Natal Festa – another large enclosed market selling “everything to prepare for Christmas” (that’s what they advertise). 



We bought a pieced leather sheep skin rug for our prayer rug.  All of our floors are either tile or hardwood – very hard on the knees.  Found a couple of Canela related ornaments for our travel tree. 

Outside the building is the Colonial Bread Market.  Under a roof with no walls are many brick/metal ovens where women make, bake, and sell wonderful breads.  We purchased loaves of Doce de leche (sweetened milk/caramel), larange (orange), and savodo )(dense, chewy white) bread.  Really tests my willpower to not eat too much. 

Back to church for piano lessons and the Hortensia Branch (Canela area) activity/integration meeting for all members, new and old.  The purpose again is to learn more of the gospel and to get to know each other.  The lesson was on the history of the organization of the Relief Society and testimony of its importance in families (Elder Pacini helped translate for me).  The missionaries facilitated a couple of games, and we had little cookies and popcorn for refreshments.  We gave the first gift to the missionaries (bars of dove soap).  Down the hill to home and to bed.