Wizard Lessons, Music Books, and Meetings

February 10  Tuesday

With all the activities going on, we get behind in our language studies.  We were up early again and devoted the morning to studying Lesson 5.  I was tempted to call Camila to cancel the class so we didn't waste her time (which she is donating to the cause).  David said that it is more important to go and practice and get help with what we have questions on.  So we went.

Blooming tree on the way
to the Copier

Shortly before it was time to head to class, Elder Oliveira called from the bus station saying that he and his new companion, Elder Cooper from Tooele, UT, had no lunch plans.  They were just arriving back from Porto Alegre and were hungry.  Ann and I hurried to prepare something (sandwiches and cabbage/fruit salad - all we had in the apartment.  Merl and I grabbed a sandwich, said hi to the Elders, and headed off to school.  As Elder Cooper was being introduced, it was interesting to me that he sounded like a Brazilian trying to speak English.  He really struggled getting the English words out.  It will be good to have Elder Oliveira and Elder Cooper together as Elder Oliveira is working on lessons to prepare for an English proficiency exam.

We had a good lesson, but were advised to work together asking questions and responding - all in Portuguese.  The lessons are starting to focus more on phrases and sentences, questions and answers - more than words only.  We need to read, listen, and try speaking more.  We discussed plans for the youth camp which begins this Saturday.  We have a lot to prepare.

We stopped by the copier shop on our way home to pick up our music books - they asked for our CPF card - which we don't have.  It is a government issued card that residents have - David thinks it is used to track expenditures to get a better idea if people are paying appropriate taxes.  They wouldn't let us pick them up, so we walked back to the apartment to get David's CPF number with a note from him.  This time we came home with our books.  The road in front of our apartment goes up hill to town where we do most of our shopping or up hill the other way to another area of businesses (like the copier business).  Up the second way we pass an empty lot that is "jungle" right next to a high-rise apartment building under construction.  Today we saw some activity - a man cementing a brick veneer under a window.  We saw new red hot pokers blooming in the jungle and found an interesting beetle to show David (he loves the bugs - the bigger the better). 

After picking up the books, we had only a few minutes before we went to the church for piano lessons and Branch Presidency meetings.  Afterwards, Ann gathered up all the baptismal clothes and brought them home to wash.  We walked home in the rain - and it was refreshing. 

Note:

Open

Closed

In our shopping excursions, we need to watch the time (and we forget to do that sometimes).  Most businesses close for 2+ hours ever day - usually from noon to 2:00 p.m.  They post big signs on the doors - Aberto for open, and Fechado for closed. 

One of my favorite stores. . .