END OF YEAR ACTIVITIES

Near the end of December we visited a "Soja" [Soy] farm.  Soy is a huge export product here in Mato Grosso.  Pictured below is a large emu standing in a field of soy.  The emus like to eat caterpillars they find among the soy plants.  

Pictured here is a wonderful family that invited us to visit the Soy/Milho farm they manage.  Evan, seated in front of Lou Ellen, also manages some real estate, of which our "kitchenette" is a part.  They are so good to us.

Pictured here is our kitchen table with a bottle of fresh whole cow's milk, small hot pink flowers and squash we received at the farm.  The orchids are a gift Lou Ellen and I gave each other.  Orchids are abundant in Mato Grosso.  They don't grow wild, but they grow well.

Telespires River (not sure of the spelling) near the farm.

Road to the farm

Fresh coconut water

RLR seated in the driver's seat of a very sofisticated computerized Case brand soy harvester.

Randy gave his famous cow call and got their attention.  In a few minutes the whole herd got in a line and started a fast-walk-run for home.  Pictures here are only a few.

Christmas at our house with the elders and sisters.  

Lou Ellen choosing yams for our traditional Christmas dish of yams, sweet potatoes, pineapple, marshmallow dish.

Lunch with the Lucas branch president and his family.

Serving table at the Sorriso branch Christmas party where the missionaries presented a musical with narration about man's search for happiness.  There were 73 in attendance.

Brazilian Santa at local shopping center

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S

Three month old daughter of our neighbor.  

We joined with two young sister missionaries (one from Buenos Aires and the other from Lima) to talk about the Thanksgiving Day traditions of our country or culture, to about 900 college students (spread over three sessions [morning, afternoon, and evening]).  We kicked off each session with an assembly of all the students and then visited each of their respective classes.  We began with prayer in the assembly, same a hymn or two, talked about family and country traditions of giving thanks to God, and then ended by visiting each of 10 or more classes.  Each classroom was decorated in the tradition of American Thanksgiving and had a large table full of wonderful foods.  There was even a roasted turkey in one of the classes.  We were treated like celebrities.  We are guessing we are the only Americans many of these students have ever seen or talked to.  Most wanted to have their photos taken with us.  

 

Sorriso district missionaries in our house.  

Lunch on the Mezzanine of the Mercado Municipal in Sao Paulo with the Swensens.  Some say this is the largest such mercado in South America.  

Sister and Elder Romrell and their family wish you all a wonderful Christmas!  Thank you for your emails and other communications with us.  We feel your support and feel to express our love and appreciation to you.