Oh! The Places I Never Thought I'd Go!

I hardly know where to start! If I try to chronicle the entire week we will both spend too much time on this. When President and Sister Triumpho met us at the airport they took us to Elder and Sister Thompson's apartment. The Thompsons were moving out and we were moving in........the Thompsons spent a few nights at the mission home before leaving Wednesday morning--but I'm getting ahead.

Thompsons picked us up Sunday morning for church. It's a beautiful building, not far from our apartment if we walk, but it is all up or down hill. And yes. They still really do put broken glass around the top of walls. It gives me chills just to look at it! We ate dinner with President and Sister Triumpho at the mission home--it was delicious.

Monday: Elder and Sister Thompson took us around the city, showing us places they liked to shop, introducing Roger to helpful sales clerks Elder Thompson has had help him. Treated us to lunch at a service station where there is a small--restaurant is too fancy a word. I should take a picture of it. In the convenience store they have some tables against a wall with dishes of food--a buffet, I suppose. You go through the line, dish up your food, place your plate on a scale, and you pay by weight. I thoroughly enjoyed the food! Day before yesterday we met the President of the Salvador North mission and his wife there! It is her favorite place to eat in Brazil!!

with Sister and Elder Thompson

 The Thompsons have worked so hard and have done and excellent job here. Many of the routine tasks have been completed and the housing is good. Of course, there are a couple of things they were unable to complete because everything didn't depend on them--and you know how it is when you have to rely on others........ But that's a good thing too. Because we need something to do!

Tuesday: Elder Thompson wanted to return the car he has rented making it possible to serve as he felt he should. I don't know how you could serve as housing coordinator without a car, but the mission does not have a car for that position. We have also felt the need to rent a car......he turned it in, and we rented it immediately. Elder Thompson gave Roger the keys and told him it would be good for him to drive.......... The Thompsons have blessed us in many ways. I hope I can do the same for someone who comes to take over in two years.

We did a lot of office work that afternoon. While Elder Thompson was doing computer stuff with Roger, Sister Thompson was helping me get missionary houses on our maps app. I was wondering how we would ever find these places! I now know we can do it.

Wednesday: We took Elder and Sister Thompson to the airport at 8:00. I was so excited for them! We stopped to see some elders and then some sisters on the way back. Roger made some minor repairs and we learned our way around a little--a very little! The afternoon was very long and boring. That's why I say I'm glad the Thompsons didn't get everything done.

Thursday: The morning was again, long and boring. The office elders were in and out--mostly out--then the Elders in the Amaralina area called to say they had come home to a flooded apartment. The wash sink had fallen off the wall, pulling the washer drain hose out and the washer had pumped the water out. By this time it was late afternoon and it was raining. We took the office elders with us. We followed our GPS (we were supposed to be able to get there in less than ten minutes) An hour later we found ourselves on narrower streets than I imagined existed with parked cars, moving buses, hundreds of people walking home or to the market and a DONKEY!!!

We finally got to a point when Elder Sousa said, "No! No!" and took over the navigation. The roads got narrower and steeper--truly, they did--and finally! we were at the house! I have never been more thankful for Roger's ability to maneuver in tight places and parallel park! His knuckles were getting a little white........... The elders were happy to see us and greeted us warmly. They all trooped after Roger to the back to show him their problem and I was left to sit in the "living room" alone. Soon, one of the elders came back and spoke to me in English! I was so surprised! Turns out he is from Sandy, Utah, his father is Tongan, his mother Samoan. The other elders are from Ecuador, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic!!! I love how the Lord has provided a way to help us become one. He brings us together from all over the world, puts us in places where we serve with and one another and the love is then automatic! Such a great blessing! It took us another hour to return home, though without the steep, narrow, scary streets. When we pulled into our parking spot at our apartment we said an immediate prayer of thanks for our safety.

Friday: We did some shopping for the missionaries who were moving. We did a lot of driving because the roads are crazy and I'm just beginning to learn how this GPS app works. Again we were glad to arrive home safely.

Saturday: Thoroughly enjoyed staying home and watching conference! Totally wonderful! And did a little grocery shopping between sessions. Not so wonderful.......quite exhausting really.

Just want to share some other pictures from around the city.........

If you look closely you can see the ships coming into the bay. Not a very good picture--I have to take it through the window.

The Atlantic Ocean about ten minutes from our apartment.

Notice the stairs going nearly straight up that hill. There are a couple of other ones similar....makes me tired just looking at it.