To Go or Not to Go?

There are Coordinating Councils scheduled for Rio de Janeiro and Manaus later this month, but there doesn't seem to be a travel budget for training. We are waiting to find out if we will be in São Paulo or somewhere else this month. Meanwhile, let me go through a typical week - did I already do this?

Our work day is typically from 8:30 am to 5 pm in the office (except on Monday, when we have an 8 am devotional).  We teach a "Leadership Pattern" session in English every day at 9 am. Everyone in the office hustles to provide technical support for the church while we work on keeping track and training stake technology specialists. If Diane runs out of things to do she keeps busy indexing for Family History. We usually eat lunch at the temple (except on Monday, when it is closed).

On Monday evenings we have Family Home Evening with the other missionary couples. It includes a lesson and a light dinner (we each take our turns to give the lesson and dinner). On Tuesdays we go grocery shopping and wash a load of whites. On Wednesdays it's a load of darks. (Yes, it takes a couple of hours to wash and dry a load of clothes). On Fridays, the couples often get together for dinner in a restaurant and a movie (date night). Saturdays are our preparation days, which means cleaning the apartment then going to see something in the city. Sunday we go to church (São Paulo 5th Ward) and try to rest in the afternoon. (Is doing a Blog resting?). This is very different from our mission in Canada.

Thursday was a holiday - Constitution Day. The state police of São Paulo rose up against a dictatorship in 1932. The rebellion didn't last very long, but each year they get a holiday to commemorate the action. We decided to go to Ibirapuera Park where the rebellion took place. There were a lot of people having fun on their holiday.

Raise your arms against dictatorship!

If Logan can have fireworks on the 3rd of July, São Paulo can have parades on the 9th of July. We missed most of the parade, but were able to see the horses.

The best part of the parade

A thorny situation

The largest park in São Paulo

 There were two museums open in the park. We really enjoyed the African museum. The contemporary art museum had very little of interest.

African museum of Brazil

The bull for Bumba-meu,boi celebration in NE Brazil

 There are two large lakes, and, of course, lake-liking critters.

Goose

 Here is the monument for the skirmish. No, it's not tipping; I am.

Monument

 The contemporary art museum did have a couple of rare bird species.

How do you like my new perm?

Nuts are easier to crack open this way

 We were tired after walking through the park and found a new bus home. We can tell it is close to Christmas by the poinsettia trees. (Oh, that's right, Christmas is in the summer here!)

Poinsettia tree

Through the means of technology, we were able to attend the funeral for President Packer. We have many fond memories of him and his classic talks.

In the evening the missionary couples decided to go to an Italian restaurant down town. At first we weren't going to go (gluten-free food?), but decided to go at the last minute. It was very good food, but expensive. Each serving was enough for two people with some left over to take home.

Classic Italian dining

Antipasta layout

Saturday was a rainy day so we picked up a few needed things in the stores across the street and stayed in the apartment in the afternoon.