A Little Shopping and Dinner Far, Far Away

January 10  Saturday 

Merl and David were up early and walked over to Wilson's house; they met Clovis and Aristeu to make some construction assessments and material needs.  Ann and I walked to town to buy groceries as we were out of almost everything.  A few children were outside the grocery store selling trinkets, and I caved and bought a little dream catcher with the blue evil eye stone prevalent in Greece.  A new store across the street was having their grand opening with juggling stilt walkers hoping to draw attention.  We bought what we needed most and had all we could carry home.  Where were the men?


Late afternoon, Merl and I walked to our favorite paper store and bought some folders to consolidate our homework and other loose papers.  Whenever we walk in, the young girl who speaks no English dramatically acts out "oh no, it's them again" (in Portuguese of course and in jest).  We have been served well by very nice people there.  We also needed a hole punch and scotch tape on this trip, both of which we found quite easily. 

The Young Women in the branch are preparing to go to camp in February with the Stake youth - boys and girls - for two days and, three nights.  For one of their fund raisers, they made loaves of bread to sell.  David bought four beautiful loaves of bread .

Another trip to the paper store plus David gave us his cell phone to take to the recargar loja (recharge store).  We didn't know the phone number, so they couldn't help us.  Pharmacies here can also add more time to the phones, and we found the staff at a pharmacy that were very friendly - great customer service.  They made every effort to find the number in the phone, but had no luck.  So we walked home, got the information from David, and returned to the pharmacy where we were successful.  Then home again. . . dia quente! (hot day).  Our legs were worn out from all the walking, but we had our longest trek yet coming up.



House on top of one of the hills,
next to the forest

We were invited to dinner by Elisabete, a single mother with two daughters (Greice and Victoria).  She lives in a 'bairro' called Chacrão.  The walk was expected to take about 45 minutes - but it was an hour before we arrived a little after 7:00 pm.  I took a few videos along the walk which slowed us down.  These 'bairros' are tucked in lush forested areas higher in the hills around us connected by dirt roads. We passed our local lake filled with green plants and actually saw some water today.  The park around the lake is home for several Quero Quero birds with habits like our Killdeer.  They nest on the grass in the park - as I approached one of the nests, a few dived at me to scare me off.  It worked!  Three eggs were in the nest, and the family is very protective.

 Eliabete's  sister and brother-in-law (Janete and Vilmar Desengrini) live in the little house in front of hers.   Vilmar built the house for Elisabete.- a small, compact home but nicely built to include all she needed.  We sat and visited while Elisabete and Janete prepared our dinner (lasagna, rice, and a potato salad called maionese salada).  Meal preparation here is slow and deliberate. General Observation: As everyone is on their own time schedule (both guests and invitees), when the guests arrive, the meal preparation starts.  Gisele sat on the couch next to us stirring the maionese, adding oil to egg yokes and stirring some more - took about an hour.  Ann beat the egg whites using a fork until soft peaks formed.  These two things were added to the potatoes along with scallion tops to make the salad.  It was quite tasty.  Sobremesa (dessert) was maracujá mousse and morango (strawberry) jello/pudding with cream de leite topping.  Both were very rich and very good.  These special people have so very little but are willing to share everything they have. 

L to R:  Merl, Janete, Elisabete, Greici, Gisele, Ann
& David, with Clovis & Vilmar in back.

Clovis (husband to Elizabete's Aunt Marli) came by the house to use Vilmar's car to take us home.  Vilmar really wanted to learn to drive, so he bought a used red Volkswagon bug and started to study for the test.  Having only a fifth grade education, the stress was too much for him.  He has kept the car for others to use.  He takes care of his family including all of his wife's sisters.  He is a humble but great man. 

(David):  As we visited over dessert, Clovis told of his experiences after joining the church. He said before whenever there were heavy thunderstorms with lightning, strong winds, and thunder—he would pace about the house worried about the effects of the storm on his house and family.  He had had tiles from off the roof blown off before.  But after his baptism, he said he would just say a prayer asking for protection and then he would be very calm.  He would not be worried any more.  When asked why he was not pacing and worrying as usual, he would reply he had prayed and knew things would be okay now. 

   He further stated that he always starts the day greeting Our Father in Heaven and Jesus first thing in the morning.  He asks for a blessing in his days’ work.  He works for a company that does blasting for utility poles and excavation in the rocky ground everywhere in this area.  He said when he gets ready to come home from the work site, he thanks the Lord for his safety and asks for a safe drive home.  Then he prays with his wife, Marli, when he gets home.  He confides in and trusts God. 

 He talked about the difficulty of quitting smoking and the temptations to smoke after quitting.  He delayed his baptism a year or so after his wife because of the smoking.  He said after he quit, one time a fellow worker left a pack of cigarette in the car, and oh how he had to control his urge to take a cigarette—he had formerly smoked 40 cigarettes a day.  But since then he seldom has the desire anymore.