Another Christmas!

The area around Marko Zero is kept up for the tourists.

Fellow Columbia stake members Steve and MaryBeth Bohn came to town with a suitcase of miscellany for us all. Durk has a jar of extra cunchy JIF, I have some wonderful spices, new un-rusted calligraphy nibs, and my phone! We put in a mission phone chip --and when on wifi I might even be able to order an Uber. Big thank-you to Karen Ponder for helping to collect things and get them to Bohn's.

Columbia Missouri Stake well-represented in President Houseman's office in Recife

Saturday we went to the airport with Housemans and Sister Chambers to meet the Bohn's plane, then to Marko Zero which was the first time any had been there on a Saturday evening. It was full of people and food vendors and the sun was low enough for nice weather. We went to an indoor food vendor for acai - prepared like a slushee, with many choices for toppings or layers. One of the popular toppings for all sorts of desserts here is powdered milk - the powder. They squirt a syrup or condensed milk along the inside of the cup and then fill it. It was good, probably because its mostly sugar so I was glad I only got a little one. The low sun made everything gorgeous and I hope the pictures show it. It reminded me of paintings by Bryan Mark Taylor from his travels to China and other places.

The Bohns in front of the RECIFE sign at Marko Zero

 There is a newer bronze plaque set in the ground but this is the older "Mark" from which things were measured

Durk and I left with Pres. Houseman for the evening mtg of our stake conference. Durk had been to the two choir practices - he thought he could help the tenor section but quickly realized there was no such thing. Or any section. And we found that three of the four songs had a place where they all sang something a bit different than the music as written, but quite consistently. It all sounded great, of course. The choir was mostly young people but not all, including some very good singers.

The first speaker was very interesting. I could understand quite a bit since she spoke very clearly and not too fast. The sister joined the church some years ago and her branch was all young people so she had four callings when she was only about 16-17, including YW president (not class president, Young Women president). She had some good things to say about serving. Sometimes I understand a fair bit and then suddenly I have absolutely no clue.

Bohn's on the far left by Elder Merrell, Sister Chambers and I in front with Allison and Matt Houseman

After the Sunday session the Housemans always meet with all the missionaries in the stake, give them any mail or materials and a Snickers Bar, quite a treat. We got to eat dinner with Housemans, Bohns and Sister Chambers and then did a sightseeing drive through Olinda. I was glad we weren't hiking those hills in the sun. Lori is amazingly brave driving the narrow steep roads. We got to go into the monastary and were there to hear the vespers bells ring just above us. They are known for concerts and Gregorian chants, but that night it was a very few who sounded like they were sightreading.

the bells were visible in the top righthand tower

inside the monastery, (it doesn't all look like this)

Monday was getting ready for missionaries leaving and coming. I came really close to sending some off without their passports, good thing the Uber couldn't fit their luggage and they were waiting for another! Don't tell Housemans, we might get a pay cut.

Even though we haven't been here long it was a bit hard to see these loving, enthusiastic young people depart. 

Tuesday is quite a whirlwind for the Housemans as they see some off and others arrive, hopefully at the right times. They have become very familiar with the airport and can tell you all the best places to eat. At the office we get ready to give the new arrivals a round of training (which is repeated in a couple of weeks after they rest and the shell-shock wears off)

incoming missionaries at the airport

I decided to take a crack at doing my part in Portuguese. I wrote up the basics and did google translate for some notes to work from. I was glad to have Elder Price helping but I did get some of it across OK. They always compliment my Portuguese but I'm pretty sure its mostly good manners, although I can say Durk has taught me enough about pronunciation to help my mangled efforts sound better than they might.

So this was "Transfer Week" and not only do missionaries come and go, but many change companionships and areas. They are sent a letter by email with very detailed instructions on travel, as they leave the phone with the area and travel alone while their companion waits for their new partner. SO guess what day the metro completely closed down? It was said that thieves stole copper wiring so they had to close, but then there were protests and even a fire on a main thoroughfare, so it might have been planned to help shut down main transportation hubs. The buses around  were diverted and then many just stopped and told everyone they had to get off. So there were plenty of missionaries who had no idea where they even were. There was a lot of borrowing of phones to call the mission office, lots of "anyone know the name of the street?" and many Ubers were called to help in the rescue efforts. It was a hairy day for the office elders and assistants to the president as well as Sister Houseman. I don't know how late it was before they got news that everyone was in their correct place, might have been the next day!

Thursday English Connect class was interesting as always. Some like singing the alphabet song but others roll their eyes. We have a different group each week except for some stalwarts, and several younger ones come in after seminary (which is every evening). This week was dates, birthdays, answering about name address, phone, birthday like at a doctors office -- and trying to make the "th" sound. It is really hard for Portuguese speakers and we worked on how tree and three are different, fort and fourth, think and sink. Think about saying third fourth fifth sixth, etc. We end up sticking our tongues out a lot to show you need to use your tongue. And sorry but there is no "E" sound at the end of fourth.... We had to explain that @ is called "at" and "." in an email address is "dot" and that when giving your address you might say twenty-three-twelve or two-seventeen, instead of hundreds and thousands. The address numbers they totally got, because here our bldg is 367 and you say what amounts to three-half(dozen)-seven.

Most of the class is pretty enthusiastic and willing to try and to let us listen to them trying to ask each other questions and answer. They are all very kind, and of course the women always want hugs and air kisses. 

This Saturday we were to start the level two class. We enjoy the chance to actually be with the members, as we spend all week in the office and other than rather random occasional visits from missionaries (they may come in to pick something up or on their way to a doctor appointment, etc) we don't work with anybody but the office people. We had two men show up, the women were all at a big stake RS activity (which probably started very late but was going three hours later) and there were fathers home watching their kids for it as well. We still got a start, and another who speaks English pretty well came in later. They were return missionaries, two are in stake callings and temple workers but sometimes we do have non-members. They were happy to be offered old conference Liahonas in English to use for study so I will check to see if we have more in the office closet. Its a good way to study because the can listen along online, look up the Portuguese version, etc.

And of course this coming Saturday we can't have class because of General Conference and the next week we hope more in the stake will have gotten word, but there is an employment fair scheduled at the same time. So we will just be Brazilian and take whoever comes whenever they come.