Handerdum Missionary Grandparents : Three Week Letter (9/17/18)

Dear family,

This letter is again, way overdue. There is so much to report on after traveling so much, the last 3 weeks. We are home again and getting back in the swing of things. I think I just sat and stared at the TV the first day we were home…. So nice to be back.

We met John and Marcia Dow at the airport in Sao Paulo on August 21st (they had just flown in from California) and flew with them to Manaus (in the Amazon). That evening we had a little free time, so the 4 of us went to the Manaus Temple. It was beautiful inside and out. We really enjoyed our time there. On the 22nd, we met with the Abrigo Amocyr Alves, an organization that really cares about children with disabilities. They offer all kinds of services, including ballet for the little ones in the city! We are excited to partner with them.

That afternoon we flew to Natal and met with ADEFERN, (advocates for the disabled). Alvaro Martin (Welfare Assistant in the Coordinating Council) will be following up to learn more about possible projects there.

The next day, the 23rd, we flew to Vitoria da Conquista to visit CEMERF. This organization is very well organized and we think they will make a great partner for the WHO Training and wheelchairs. We also met with the Stake President and the Stake Public Affairs and Welfare people. They are wonderful and very supportive of the program and the part they will play in it.

We flew back to Sao Paulo on the 24th. We were back at our apartment long enough to wash a few clothes and get all of our supplies together for our training that started the next day in Ribeirao Pires. We were able to pick up a car from the office to use to transport all of our stuff and the Dows to the hotel the next afternoon. Papa had arranged all the airport transportation and logistics for all the participants, so we didn`t have to worry about that. This training in Ribeirao Pires was a special one. It was training for LDS PTs and OTs. They had already had the WHO training and now were going to be trained to be trainers. Everyone started arriving on Saturday. The 12 participants came from all over Brazil and the 2 trainers for the course came from Utah. Everything and all the preparations were perfect. We started on Sunday with church. Lots of our friends from APRAESPI came too and stayed for the 3 hour block. They seemed to really enjoy it and even participated in the meetings. AND one of their friends spoke in Sacrament meeting! Pretty cool.

Our local Humanitarian Representative, Allesandra did a wonderful job arranging a delicious lunch served after the block. There were about 50 of us for lunch. The Stake Presidency and their families joined us. It couldn`t have been better. We had a 4 hour block for classes and then we enjoyed a soup and sandwich dinner that had been prepared for us as well. AND she had made huge bags of snacks for everyone to take back to the hotel. She was amazing.

The training was perfect in every way. It was an amazing experience. APRAESPI hosted the 4 days of classes and provided transportation, lunch each day, and snacks. We were well taken care of. Tuesday evening after class everyone stayed for a Pickleball tournament…. Guess who`s idea that was? They had so much fun learning to play and everyone got to play on the 2 courts. After, APRAESPI provided a soup dinner! We were freezing, so it was perfect. The whole thing was a huge success and now we have 12 in country trainers to help move this program forward.

We headed for home Thursday afternoon to return the car and pick up supplies for our training the next day in Macapa. (Oh and wash a load of clothes!) Dows, Brian, Juliana and Ana met us at the airport the next morning for the flight. I think we all slept the whole flight.

Things didn`t go as smoothly in Macapa. Our partner decided the day before that they couldn`t house the training or provide food… so we were scrambling like crazy. We moved it to the church, got things arranged for lunch that day and located a shop to keep us supplied with drinks and snacks. This has been the largest class we have worked with (18) and I see why we stay around 12! It was hard to keep everyone on the same page… and off their phones! Saturday afternoon Papa was able to take Brian, Juliana (who lives next to the Amazon River in Manaus and had NEVER been down it) and Ana on a boat ride on the Amazon River over to an island to visit with the people there. They loved themselves. They swam, ate a meal, harvested some acai berries and had quite an adventure.

Monday, lunch arrived 2 hours late which blew our schedule. One of the class members volunteered to take care of it for the rest of the week and we had no other problems. Sister Dow and I spent a lot of time going to the store across the street to buy water and soda….and food for 2 snacks a day! Twice we walked about a mile to a mall because we needed things like tablecloths for the tables etc. There, we were able to pick up some more exciting snacks… we were way hot after these trips!! One afternoon Papa and a couple others from the group were able to visit another Indian Village that Papa will tell you all about later!!

The only unfortunate thing that happened was that someone came into the kitchen at the church and Sister Dow had left her purse there, just for a few minutes and someone stole it. They found the purse and the wallet with only the cell phone and money gone. That was a blessing!! They had a tracker on the phone, so they took off, got the police and went to where it was. (20 miles away) By then they must have removed the battery because the alarm wouldn`t go off and the police could do nothing. That afternoon we went to the fridge and all the soda was gone!! The next day it was the yogurt! BUT the training was a success.

We flew home on the Friday the 31st. Sunday our Marriage and Family Relations class was to start again so Papa worked on that and I cleaned up and shopped. Felt so good. Our class ended up being canceled…we are now teaching it and the new Church History class. Don`t know how that will work, but it should be fun.

This is all for now. Sorry it is so long, but I made up for not writing sooner!! We leave again next Thursday for Petrolina. We will be visiting with all 27 families that received cordonas (quail).

Love to all,

Papa and Gma

~I`m always doing things I can`t do~ - Someone!!