Sunday, April 24, 2016

Area Seventy

When I turned 70 Elder Zaugg said we had another area seventy and if I stayed in Brazil they would have an area 71 next year. I'm over the hill now, I just don't know which hill.

We got back from Belo Horizonte on Monday and went into the office in the afternoon. Cintia brought her family by to get free flu shots. As we went to Family Home Evening on what to do when you get sick (since Elder dePaula suffered a heart attack). Several of the couples convinced us to get free flu shots and sure enough I got sick.

Cintiq and her family
Diane had another physical therapy session on Tuesday morning. One more week and she should be finished. We really like some of the Modernist art in Brazil. It has a more homey style than what you find in Europe.

Painting in the physical therapist's office
As we returned to the office they were tearing up the sidewalk in front to the temple. It is one of the best sidewalks in the city. Maybe it wasn't meeting the São Paulo standard of hazardous sidewalks.

Sidewalk reconstruction
Since my birthday falls on Tiradentes Day it is a national holiday so no one works. Diane asked if people would be in Friday so she could take something in to the office and found out many would be gone on Wednesday and others on Friday. When we got back Tuesday afternoon they had some cake, drinks and snacks to celebrate my birthday. They had three kinds of gluten-free cake: cheese, corn, and manjoca with goiaba. Fire regulation wouldn't let them put 70 candles on the cake.
Party time in the office 
How about some corn cake
We got a call on Wednesday that they are replacing the carpet in the bedrooms with wood flooring. By the time we got back from the office it was all done.
Wednesday food stands in Vertentes courtyard
I had some pains in the chest on Wednesday and also a reaction to the flu shot. By 3:30 am on Thursday (my birthday) it was so bad I couldn't sleep. Playing it safe I woke Diane up and we walked over to the hospital to have it checked out. They gave me a EKG, chest x-rays, and medication in an IV. No, I didn't have a heart attack, but they had no clue what the problem was. The medication helped it feel better.
My early morning birthday IV
After we got back from the hospital we got a call from Elder Zaugg asking if we wanted to see the Botanical Garden. Since it was a holiday and we had no other plans we went along with the Hales and Zauggs. 
The Hales, Zauggs, and Wheelers
Stream in the park
One of many small ponds 
Fish pond in a greenhouse
One of many lily pad lakes
Water lily
Bamboo tunnel
Don't drink the water!
Old man in an old house 
Monkeys in the trees 
Along a muddy trail
There is a fad in Brazil for all of the pregnant ladies to hire a photographer and come to the garden to take pictures of their bare bellies. We spared you the photos.

We invited everyone over to the apartment for cake and ice cream in the evening. I haven't had such a celebration for my birthday for many years, of course, I haven't turned 70 before. Elder de Paula felt well enough to join us. He has to take it easy and doesn't know if they will send him home after he improves from his heart attack.
Birthday party
Opening presents with Elder de Paula
 Later at night we were able to talk to the family on FaceTime. It was a delight. We miss each of them.
FaceTime with family

We were really tired on Friday. We are still recovering from our travels and we didn't get much sleep on Thursday morning. We went to the office and worked in slow gear and then went home a little early.

Diane has been wanting to return to Liberdade, the Japanese Town of São Paulo, to find some souvenirs. There is a crafts market on Saturdays in the paça and a couple of nice stores. Many of the stores are crowded, however. We stopped by a Chinese restaurant that was off the beaten track so it wasn't so crowded. There was a Choro band in the praça. It is an older type of Brazilian instrumental music that led to the samba. We didn't have time to linger, but it was fun to hear.
Choro ensemble
Buddhist temple in Liberdade
 Diane bought a lace shirt from an older lady at the feira. She really took a liking to Diane.
Diane's friend at the feira
We were really tired for our meetings today, but were able to rest in the afternoon. 

This evening we were invited for dinner with the Franco family. We have watched this family since we arrived with parents who were raised in the church and are raising their children in the church. It shows how Brazil has changed since I was here 50 years ago as a missionary.
Marcelo and Paula with Ricardo and Beatriz










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