Happy Birthday to Merl - 66 today.
The missionaries were coming for lunch today (traded days with the Kellers as they went to the temple). I made dough last night for pizzas, so I just needed to prepare the toppings and bake them today. We had pepperoni/pineapple, veggie, chicken alfredo, and a combination tossing everything that was left onto it. A big salad accompanied the pizzas with an aipim cake with vanilla pudding sauce. I think everything was tasty - and was cleaned up to the last bite (but what else would you expect of four hungry young men). No birthday candles and no pictures - my camera is in SF de Paula. Ann was still in bed all day - we took pizza into her so she didn't go hungry.
At 3:00, David, Merl, and I walked to the bus station to catch the bus to SF de Paula. David came with us to do financial audits, and Merl and I had piano lessons and Integration meeting. We arrived in time to empty the trash and clean up the church. David worked on taping the broken glass in the back door. Jessica (new student) came into the church panting and concerned that she was too late for her lesson. She gets out of school at 5:00 p.m. and left a little early so she could run all the way to the church - about 20 minutes. She was so excited to get her packet of songs and information, and she was able to do several pages in the book.
A few more student came - Merl gave three lessons, and I gave five. Then everyone started to arrive for the Integration meeting. The missionaries started the meeting and gave a spiritual thought followed by a new game Two sides - all holding hands. At the end of the lines, a set of keys was placed on a table. Everyone would close their eyes; then Elder Rebeiro would squeeze the hand of the first person on both teams at the same time. When you feel someone squeeze your hand, you must squeeze the person next to you. The last person in the row grabs the keys off the table when his hand is squeezed. This simple game became quite competitive and noisy. 
Instead of the usual cookies and juice for refreshments Danubia brought a huge pot of rice and carne along with a cabbage salad - Guarana for drink. Plates were dished up, and everyone was called in to get their plate. I think that this was the evening meal for a lot of the kids who walked to the church right after school. 
After Merl ate his plate of food, he went into the Clerk's office to help with some reports. Everyone else signed a birthday card(anerversario) for him and hid in the chapel with the lights off. An Elder went to the office to ask him to help with something, and Merl was surprised when the lights came on and everyone started singing their birthday wishes. Lots of hugs and handshakes followed.
A large, yummy cake was cut into small pieces and served for dessert. I think everyone got at least a few bites - there was even a small piece left. Siaonara gave us a ride home, and for the first time we arrived before 10:00 p.m.
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