Josivania's Birthday

In March we had a surprise birthday for Josivania after school when the came for my discipleship classes. Josi was very surprised. She is a very special 12 year old girl. We had cake and icecream before our study, our american tradition. However, icecream served with cake was odd to this Brazilian group, but they loved it anyway.

One day Zoe, Amanda (her daughter), grand daughter, father, and I went to a town called Primavera do Lesto to look around. Near the entrance of the city was a park with workout machines for adults. There was a beauthiful traveler's palm palm tree like a fan. We had a lot of fun. Then after touring the town we stopped at a place called Rei do Açai (king of açai) for a refreshing dring or icrecream of açai. Açai is a dark purple fruit that grows on palm trees and is very nutricious.

Shopping in Chapada

Two weeks ago, Don and Zoe Peffer, Zoe's dad, and I went to the Chapada, a tourist town and hour from Campo Verde. Since it was a Saturday, there was their open market that sells food items, plants, and handmade crafts. This man is from Peru and played a song on his wooden flute while looked at the CD of Christian music which I bought. Zoe's father was shopping for things to take home to the US and bought some beautiful hand embroidered table linens.

Rainbows

A few months ago I was returning to Campo Verde from Cuiabá. It had been raining and there in the western sky was this beautiful rainbow.

Love, Dating, and Marriage

Eight very special adolescents come to my house after school for a 12 week course on dating. They are a real joy and have been very receptive to the lessons. We have completed five lessons and none of them have missed a lesson. After the lesson on 10 reasons to stay pure until marriage, I gave all the girls a handcut crystal heart to remind them to guard their heart and not give it away too soon and the transparency to represent purity. Needless to say they loved it. I had a hard time finding something for the boys, but gave them a key chain with a Bible verse. Last week they had to write out the qualities they wanted in their future mate. Although I said it was private and I would not read them, they all wanted to share and impressed me with the good qualities they listed. Oh, for these kids to remember these lessons and fulfill their commitment!

Snail Invasion

Three different times I had an invasion of poisonous snails called caramujo. The first time I found them hiding in my plants, I found over 50 a year ago after I moved here. Then my neighbor boy was helping with the yard work and we found a huge invasion easting my plants a few months ago. Once again I filled a bucket of salt water to kill the 100+ snails we found. Then just two weeks ago we found another bunch of them outside my wall among the tall grass. These pictures are the ones we found so after killing them in salt water. Most of these are very small, but a few were about 3 inches long. I bought some poisonous pellets and spread them around the yard. Now I find only a few empty shells.