On December 29th we drove to Canela (cinnamon) to see their famous waterfall. to get to the falls you had to hike down 767 steel stairs. By the time we got to the bottom this old grandma's legs had turned to spaghetti.

Curt just glided up the steps.

This is a Parana pine tree, they grow all over the state of Rio Grande do Sul. It has upturned branches that have tufted ends. It is sometimes called the candelabra tree. They harvest pine nuts from it in the winter June/July that are delicious, and look a little like a Brazil nut.

In Gramado and Canela there were wild hydrangeas growing everywhere.

It was breathtaking!

It was wonderful to get out in nature.

We felt like we recharged our batteries for sure.

We are so happy to have Danielle with us is in Brazil to celebrate Christmas. We drove up to Gramado, a German town famous for it's Christmas celebrations. We enjoyed very much having a mini vacation, strolling around the town, and seeing all of the festive decorations.

We went to a fireworks show that night called Nativetaten. The show had 4 tenors and 3 sopranos in little floating gazebos on a lake. There was a choir of 100 voices and lots of Christmas Carols and art projected on a huge screen, all celebrating Jesus' birth. Surprisingly the majority of the songs were sung in English. We enjoyed it very much!

All is merry and bright!

In Brazil, nothing says Christmas more than fireworks.

This is one of our amazing Brazilian rainstorms. We were in a chapel doing interviews when this one started. I was glad to realize that most of our missionaries were still home doing their morning studies. When the time came for them to go out to work the storm had cleared out.

As we travel around the state we see rice paddies everywhere. Our assistant told us that the state of Rio Grande do Sul is one of the only regions in Brazil where they grow rice.

On Thanksgiving we had a Zone Leader Council meeting. I thought we should have some type of celebration, so I made a bunch of pies - pumpkin, banana cream, peach, strawberry, and apple. The pumpkin and banana cream were the favorites. Pictured are Elders Duncan, Watts and Pourre.
Elder Meneses, the smile says it all!

President just treated these missionaries to lunch. We had pastels, which are like a fried pocket sandwich with lots of different fillings. Think of a hot-pocket but 3 times the size. I like this photo because in the background mirror you can see Curt paying and me taking the photo. The missionaries are E. Carvalho, E. Bangerter, E. Hickman, E. Fredrickson, E. Xavier and E. Maruji.

Our financial secretary Elder Watts was running around so fast preparing for transfer day that he ran into the door and cut his head - but Sis. Swenson's brownies make everything feel better.

Our staff photo before transfer day. We three of our missionaries went back to the "campo." Here are E. Duncan (new financial secretary) E. Rush (former assistant) E. Grabner (executive secretary) E. Maruji (assistant) E. Santana (secretary for housing) Sis. & Pres. E. Watts (former financial secretary) E. Xavier (new assistant) E. Andson.

Here is another look at that amazing tree shown above, it is right in front of the church building by our office. These are in bloom all around the city right now. I need to learn the name of this gorgeous tree.

Some of our beautiful sisters on transfer day at the bus station. Aren't they terrific?

President saying good bye to these missionaries who headed home on November 26th. I bet the American families had quite a Thanksgiving celebration. Pictured are E. Jones, E. Rocha, President, E. Milton, E. Ritter (kneeling), E. Braga, E. Elias, S. Pereira. E. Nasella.

This a photo of all of our missionaries together at a very special mission conference with Elder Richard G. Scott. We might not ever have them all together at one time again. It was a very special day for us, October 31, 2009. We love these missionaries!

We flew to Campinas for the annual mission president and wife training for all mission presidents from Brazil. The instructors for the training from Sunday to Wednesday evening were Elder Richard G. Scott, Elder Jay E. Jensen and our Area Presidency, Elders Soares, Ellis and Godoy. It was terrific and we were greatly fed (word and food!). It was fun to reunite with all the mission presidents and wives that started with us in July, all of whom are from Brazil except us and a couple from Portugal.
It was great to spend time with 2 good friends from my 1st mission in Brazil, Chris and Rebecca Jackson from the São Paulo Interlagos Mission and Marianna and Steve Richardson from the São Paulo South Mission. Chris and I were companions in Porto Alegre as zone leaders and Steve and I were in the same district in the LTM in Provo for 5 months waiting for our visas!

I'm standing next to the prettiest flower in the gardens!!!

We stayed at The Palms Resort in Campinas and it was very comfy and nice. This is as close to the water as we got as we didn't have the time to go swimming (or the right kind of "suits"!)

While I'm working hard interviewing all the missionaries at the different chapels during the week, Val is also working hard training and teaching the missionaries important principles (when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em! :-) In her defence, this was on a P-day :-)

Elders Andson and Sena took me on my first Ferry ride in Brasil it cost 4.10 reis (about $2.05.) We had to cross a river to go pick up Renata and Jerreson to take them to get married.

Me, Renata, Jerreson and a lady from their branch who was a witness at their wedding. Today was Renatas birthday, Oct. 8. She is expecting triplets in November, and she wanted to get married and baptized before the babies were born. Doesn't she look happy?

On Sunday Oct 11, 2009 Renata, and Adriene were baptized. (Jerreson will be baptized next week) I love to see Elder Andson's smile (on right.) That is true joy! Elder Andson had to be careful to make sure Renata's belly was all the way immersed. She and Jerreson are going to be awesome members of their branch. Andriene is also a terrific young man. Curt already talked to him about going on a mission in a year from now.

Elder Soares and Elder Piassalonga with their special family

Families, families, families.

Our missionaries are baptizing families.

Hooray!

Elder Silva and Elder Diniz with another wonderful family at their baptism.