Conference Weekend



March 7  Saturday

We were up early this morning to finish putting together our salads to take to for a meal after the leadership session of District Conference today.  Ann made a broccoli grape salad, and I made a Mediterranean chicken/veggie/noodle salad.

The Pres. Copa picked us up at 10:15 a.m. and took us to the church in Gramado to put our salads (and his wife's deviled eggs) in the refrigerator.  We then went to his apartment where we were to meet with Pres. and Sister Wright. 

Our plan was to take the nice country drive down into the valley for lunch at the place we discovered on New Year's Day, Berga Motta.  They are open for lunch on weekends and holidays - except this weekend.  There was a sign on the gate entering the park and restaurant area saying they were closed until March 9.

Businesses here seem to be open or closed on a whim.  Doors are sometimes closed for weeks at a time for a variety of reasons. . . carnival, all employees wanting vacation at the same time, etc.

The trip wasn't a waste of time as the Wrights were able to see the beautiful valley settled by Germans - their homes, gardens, farms, flowers.  It was a beautiful drive with so many trees and flowers in bloom.


Pres.  Copa suggested another place in Gramado where they had taken the Sister Missionaries one time.  It was 11:45 a.m. when we pulled up in front of Restaurante Nossa Casa that had a great salad, hot dishes, and dessert buffet.  Sister Copa and I even went back and got a second little bowl of the chocolate mousse.


David, Pres. Wright, and Merl

After lunch, we went our different directions - Copas home to prepare talks and rest, Wrights to prepare talks, David and Ann home to start preparations for lunch tomorrow, and Merl and I to the church to practice prelude music for the meetings and to help set up tables and chairs for the late lunch.  We all joined back together for the leadership meeting, lunch, and then the adult session of conference.  Then home to prepare for Sunday (Domingo).

March 8  Sunday

We were up and on the bus by 7:45 a.m.  I think Ann was up part or most of the night; the table was all set for lunch later in the day.  Choir practice was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. and Conference at 10:00 a.m.  We had a good practice and had a little time to relax before going to the chapel.  Typically, meetings start late so I was in no hurry to start playing the prelude.  At 9:50 I thought it was time.  I played prelude to 10:20.  Once the meeting got started, it went well.  The choir performed well, and we could understand a little of what the speakers said (the Americans who were speaking Portuguese).  As their trademark, Pres. and Sis. Wright played 'I Know that My Redeemer Lives' (violin/piano duet).  Always very moving - especially when performed between their talks. 

After the meeting we were fortunate to catch a ride home with Paulo Benito - it was crazy watching him maneuver out of the parking lot under the church.  Ann was a nervous wreck before he accomplished the task.  We hurried to prepare everything by 1:00 p.m. and got a phone call saying that they wouldn't be there until after 2:00 p.m.  When they did arrive - along with Pres. and Sis. Copa, we had a nice lunch of honey/mustard chicken, mashed potatoes/gravy, fruit salad, grilled Parmesan tomatoes, and left over salads from the day before...plenty of food.  And. ..homemade ice cream with chocolate birthday cake.  Thank you, Ann!

As the Wrights left, Pres. Wright gave David a copy of 'Meet the Mormons' in Portuguese.  It is a
preview copy sent to mission presidents.  He suggested we could use it for Integration night in the three branches.  Copas will use at their meeting this week, then we will show it at the other two next week - at least that's the plan for now.

Beautiful sunset with the clouds rolling in. . . rain is
in the forecast for the next few days.