Out of the Frying Pan.......

President Houseman saying goodbye and thank you to the Elder and Sister Bell,
right before chocolate cake.....

Two yummy treat days this week, a birthday and a good-bye. Sister Houseman knows a really good bakery. We are left to sink or swim in the office, I think the Bells will be really happy to see their family and to drink water from the tap and to go outside without getting sweaty and sticky. I'm interested to hear what hits them the most on their return. They have to survive four different flights first! We went over with Sister Chambers the other night to gather some things not going with Bells, it was like Christmas. We have a loaf pan, pie pan, bread knife, and more, including plastic colander and measuring cups - our metal ones already have rusty spots.

Here's Sister Bell at the counter where we do some of the work, my desk is behind her.

Our big excitement last week was a very incomplete materials order. After a couple of calls they said the rest was coming but no such luck. We did get three more boxes -- with one item correct and more than we wanted of another, that's all. Then the March order showed up a couple of days later to confuse us. I have at least a dozen papers in the pile to work on straightening it out with Distribution.

Whenever there is training or zone conference, lunch is provided for the missionaries. This time it was the economy lunch from Habib's. They are called esfilhas and the special of the day would be only R$1 (about 26 cents) each. You see samples of the most typical meaty one the missionaries got and a couple of plain cheese a few office people tried. The elders wanted to show that some like to add hot sauce and drink guarana with them of course. There is not tomato sauce on them and the crust in the flat part is very thin, but you fold them over and eat. Missionaries can at 6,8, or 10 for lunch. Elder Bell said they were too intense to eat many, very full of onions and garlic, but Durk thought the onions were great and he ate three.They use a lot of cornmeal is preparing and baking them so its always falling off.
And Habib's delivers!

Monday included a hike to Atacado, we wanted to go early but had an English test to give to a departing missionary. They get a chance to take a test that gives them a rating and certificate that can get them into the Pathway program.
We decided to take a taxi (its been extra hot and muggy lately) but didn't find one. We needed a few office supplies and I picked up a few more household things and we did taxi back. Even though the taxi bill was R$17.82, the driver insisted he did not have change for a 20. He even pulled out his wallet to prove it. No one ever wants to give change, we keep hearing of places that will give up a sale rather than make change, its not just taxi drivers wanting tips.

Speaking of business practices, Sister Houseman went to get paint for apartments and Sherwin-Williams was all out of base paint. No one seemed worried or offered when they might get some or to bring some from another store. The idea of giving her the same deal on the total amount of paint in smaller cans was a completely foreign and impossible suggestion. Its like the printing place having no paper, seems it happens all the time and everyone just knows that is part of life, they've never had it otherwise. One day McDonalds was out of hamburgers! and no one batted an eye.

I have mentioned the complications of having all sorts of one-way streets, here is an example. These are routes to a store that is not far, and home again. You could walk it in the time it would take to drive there from here, but coming home is very quick. Its pretty obvious why I am waiting for a chance to go there on the way home from somewhere else!

Wednesday evening was Christmas, Sister Chambers and I picked things Sister Bell had to pass along, so now I have a bread knife, a loaf pan, and other very useful things. Even some brown sugar (cookies may be in our future). One of these days I will also get a couple of paintings to be on our walls until everything goes back to the mission home before Housemans leave.

Thursday evening was our first real English Connect class. We went against all things Brazilian and started on time. We had a really good group, they paid attention, worked hard, and I think it will be fun. They are learning the alphabet song :) They have trouble with the hard "T" and the "th" sounds as well as some vowel sounds. Someone said eight and "H" were the same .... and what if you told them about "age".....  We also have to get used to using first names, they just think its silly and don't know how to answer otherwise. But when you realize they all have several names and different members of the family consider different ones their "last" name, it does make some sense.
I was glad the whiteboard cleaner I bought at Atacado worked, as did the markers, but the eraser was absolutely useless. Good thing I had a rag. I think I will check the thrift store box downstairs for another rag shirt. We collect useful clothing but missionaries leaving sometimes dump whatever they don't want, good or not.

The Bishop said we will start doing Level 2 on Saturday evenings with people from around the stake.

Friday morning I started catching up on sanitizing some produce we got Wednesday night but were too tired to deal with and when I picked up a bag with a melon, it dripped. Seems it was actually making a nice lake for the miniature ants who were having a big party, and I'd only made a few wet sticky footprints with my chinelos (flip flops).  I should be glad it was on the floor and didn't leak through anything else on the way.

Next big project is helping the missionaries carry chairs and mattresses down (up?) the street as we move some things from Bell's. Sister Houseman says we should video it. It won't be the strangest sight on the street. Maybe you'll get a glimpse next time....

OOOPS. I thought I had finished and posted this. Apologies!
The moving happened but no video. I'm sure there have been stranger things carried down the street and even crowded into a very small elevator than a queen-sized mattress. Our Saturday adventure will be in the next installment......