Weekly Letter: November 27-December 3 (12/3/17)

The friends have departed, dishes are done, Christmas music is playing (Mary Chapin Carpenter), and the aroma of orange cookies baking in our tiny oven fills the apartment.  It’s a happy sabbath day evening in São Paulo.

Highlights of this last week included:

1) Mom’s finger is healing well. Just a slight misalignment, but not enough to warrant surgery.  The burning & throbbing pain is subsiding.  Going in for another X-ray and check-up tomorrow.  Doctor may place a brace on her hand to permit gradual increase in movement.

2) The Codornas are starting to lay eggs, the gardens are growing, the wheelchair initiatives are rolling forward, and the APRAESPI special needs students are tickled to be Pickle-balled.

3) We are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel after digging out of our Boa Vista Refugee Project accounting backlog.  The funds are once again flowing.  The two housing projects and school are taking shape. Construction should be completed by early January.

4) Our 5-couple “Gringo Idoso Samba Band” is preparing to perform at four Christmas gigs:
a) Dec. 12 (am) - São Paulo West Mission Christmas Celebration;
b) Dec. 13 (pm) - Area Office Christmas Party;
c) Dec. 13 (evening) - Apartment Community Courtyard Christmas Social.
d) Dec. 16 (evening) - Ward Christmas Party

We practice Friday evenings from 7:30 to 9, after a quick dinner.  Last Friday, we tried a small Yakisoba dinner place by our apartment.

Stay tuned for gig photos & reviews!

5) Friday night we stayed up very late (2 a.m.) to attend Dallin’s Men’s Chorus Christmas Concert.  Wow!  What a talented group of college student musicians!  So grateful that we live in a “flat world” and brought a Bose mini speaker with us!  PC buffering wasn’t perfect, but the performance was outstanding. So proud of our grandson and the rest of the Handerdum Cousins!!  Such a blessing to be their grandparents. 

6) Saturday we went exploring in the historic Pinheiros neighborhood.  (Took UBER and came home via bus.)
“Tracted-out”:  a) dive shop (to get snorkeling tips for our upcoming senior missionary trip to Caraguatatuba); b) Christmas decoration & housewares shop; c) Chilean empanada shop; and d) 3 quaint restaurants to try out on future outings (Mexican, Bahian, and Italian).

7) Saturday evening we attended the movie “Wonder” with three other couples. (We read several chapters of the book with Addi before our mission, and promised her we would see the movie when it came to Brazil.)  Please take all of our grandchildren (6 and older) to see it!

Our neighbor, Justin Rindlesbach had a less severe version of the same condition as Auggie. We know how difficult it was for him.  Like Auggie, Justin learned: “You can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.” (Quote by Auggie’s sister Via.)

We pray that all of our Handerdum Clan members will smile as they reflect on their divine heritage, and how much they are loved by their grandparents in Brazil.

Com Muito Amor e Carinho,
Papa & Gma

“When given the choice between being right or kind, choose kind.” (Precept taught in Mr. Brown’s Middle School Home Room Class.)

“Be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle.  Be kind.”
(Auggie)

Malls go all out in their decorations. We hope our younger grandchildren enjoy these  Santa Elf pictures (from the Eldorado Mall a short bus ride from our apartment).

Gma with Elf friend

Budding artist

Santa, Mrs. Claus and young photographer (granddaughter?)

Elf decorating tall tree

Story time

Papa & Gma selfie with Elf photo bomber

Yes, Brazilians know that Santa skis

Rudolph is loved in Brazil!

Our Nativity Corner. The colorful set was a gift from our friends at APRAESPI.  (Their students made and painted the plaster figures.) 

Ready for Christmas!