H A P P Y N E W Y E A R 2 0 1 5

2015 JANUARY

Beautiful orchids are abundant in Mato Grosso, Brazil.  

Park in Sorriso

Brazilians love their pets!

Couple of returned Brazilian missionaries returning home from a mission reunion in Campinas--at Sao Paulo airport

Senior missionary couples in Sao Paulo at Applebees

Dra. Erika Yasaki, Elder & Sister Romrell, Dr. Laird Swensen, Fernanda (assistant to Dra. Erika).  Dra. Erika is the retina specialist treating my left eye for the results of a blood clot I had in October last year that blocked a main vein that feeds the retina.  The update is this:  I have now received two injections of Lucentes and one injection of a steroid in the eye.  These injections are to block the body's natural response when a blood clot occurs.  The body wants to send help immediately to construct new veins to replace the lost vein.  This results in inflammation and pressure, making the vision worse.  The sight in my eye is still blurry and don't have clear, distinct vision in that eye.  Fortunately, with glasses and a good right eye, I am still able to read, see to drive, and do everything I need to.  Of course, my vision is not 100%.  Right now as I sit at the computer to type I can read with my left eye (with the right eye covered) all the words I type.  This is something I could not do when the blood clot occurred, and before the second injection of Lucenetes.  I am praying and exercising faith that things will stabilize in my eye (without pressure and inflammation) so that I will not need any more Lucenetes injections, and that my sight will be restored to normal.  Medical science does not support this faith, but such miracles occur all the time.  I appreciate your faith, prayers, and interest in my behalf.  RR

New Sister Missionaries attending Sao Paulo temple from CTM (Mission Training Center)

Our good friends in Sao Paulo at the baptism of their grandson.  

Beautiful part of Sao Paulo with upscale condominiums

Missionaries of Sorriso, Mato Grosso, Cuiaba mission

One of many branch "family nights"

Saying goodbye to Sister Martinez and Elder Vecchio as they return to Buenos Aires.  

Rocha family

Hardest worker I have ever seen in my life.  This guy dug this hole in one morning!  It is for a new septic tank for our neighbor's house.

Our friend, Matheus, in the hole.  

Sister Romrell and a group of children in the San Jose neighborhood.  

Jabuticaba tree trunk loaded with fruit.  

Despised snail.  Carries diseases and destroys gardens.

Rose of the desert.  

A group of sisters of the Sorriso branch.  

More orchids

A replica of the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of the Havan chain of stores.  This one is in Sinop.

Mother cat and kittens

The soja (soy) turns yellow and then brown before it is ready to harvest.  

Wonderful dinner in the home of Fre and Mauro in Feliz Natal

Jaca fruit (Jack fruit in US).  A gift from Fre and Mauro.  

We enjoyed coconut water from the coconuts below, a gift from Andre and Juliana.

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.