Handerdum Missionary Grandparents : Soccer Letter (7/4/18)

Happy 4th of July!

Lots to report since I last wrote. Two missionary couples have headed home this past week, with only one replacement couple. AND we are only 2 couples away from being the “long timers” here! I didn’t want to say “oldest” because we might be that too! July 7th marked our 11th month serving.

Sunday was the last of 8 classes for our Marriage and Family Relations class that we teach. It´s been a great class and fun to get to know these cute couples and they really seemed to loved it! We have a new class starting soon.

All the Senior Missionaries got together to celebrate the 4th at the office. We had a late lunch, after the Brazilians were done with the lunch room. Lots of red, white and blue. We had hot dogs, pulled pork and all the traditional foods. I even made baked beans from scratch… Bush Beans are sooo much easier!

Since our last letter, we have had couples over for dinner, gone out to dinner to welcome the “newbies,” visited APRAESPI in Riberão Pires to train local leaders to perform the post wheelchair deliveries and spent many hours at the computer working on upcoming projects and doing finances. Papa is working on “importing wheelchairs,” the Victor Reader Stream project for the blind and working with a young man who has been here with the Huntsman games. He will have to write about those three things! It is very exciting!

We have some big trips planned. I take care of flight arrangements and hotels - Elder Papa does the rest! I have the easy job! Before the end of our winter (your summer) we will be traveling to Manaus, Petrolina, Boa Vista, Macapa, Riberão Pires .…and probably more! We are working on spreading the Church's wheelchair program to the North and interior areas of Brazil.

For the last week or so, Brazil is full of excitement with the World Cup! Soccer is their passion. In fact, everything (our office and all the shops!) shut down at 1:00 for the 3:00 games. I walked home at about 4:00 the other day and it was so quiet outside.… until Brazil scored a goal and then the roar of excitement, I´m sure, could be heard in Mexico! I had no trouble knowing when they scored, so I didn´t even have to watch the game! The previous game was at 9:00 am. Everyone came to the office at 8:00 and then at 9 they brought out the TVs, food, hats, shirts, balls and noisemakers! What a party! It was cute to watch their excitement! We hope they continue to win!

Hugs to all! We send our love to all!

Elder Papa and Sister Gma

“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway” – John Wayne