December 15, 2015

Today, Irmao Ivan came and asked if we would like to go to the churrasco with he and his wife, Irmao Gilberto and irmao Gaspar whose last day was today.  We gave him a BYU tee shirt and he got really emotional.  Going to miss him.  We went to the churrasco close to our offices.  Mom and I went there with the Sergio and Glaucia in 1993.  It was really good.  We had some fried polenta that I love and mom had some bread she really liked.  We had some grilled mozzarella balls that were awesome.  The meat was divine.  We had picanha which is a step up from filet mignon, pork ribs, turkey, a huge piece of meat they said was done Uruguay style, salmon, chicken that melted in your mouth and we even had cupim which is a cut from the hump of a brahma bull and it was wonderfully tender.  It was for mom's birthday too as that is exactly where we were going to go.  Tonight we had a fresh fruit salad as we were still full.  I called Fernando Souza, our dept. head as he had surgery last week and got infection.  He said he was doing better but still miserable.  Please keep him in your prayers.  He is such a good man and a hard worker in everything he does.  We are going to a recreation area owned by the Church out by Sorocaba with all the missionaries from the SP West Mission.  We won't get back til nightfall.  I also found five small towns in Piaui state that can only get water by truck.  Maybe we will be going there.  Fernando was happy we were finding potential places.  Just thought I would update you.

Love, Dad