Minister to Ourselves Day in Rio de Janeiro

Today we went to Christ the Redeemer in Rio.It was a beautiful day to be there.The sun was shining and you could see for miles.There was a haze of smog but it was otherwise perfect.I took many good pictures and I also saw the first native animal that I have seen in Brazil.At the top of Christ the Redeemer I saw a family of ring tailed coatimundis.They were very interesting - I think they were hoping I had a handout for them. (I actually did buy some melon for a snack hoping they would be there when Steve, Elizabeth and I went back but they had gone on to other hunting grounds. (Nearby trash cans I heard later)

We went to Copacabana beach and the weather was perfect for being at the beach.I think we need to send some fabric to Brazil because they apparently had a shortage of fabric - at the beach anyways.Emma and Virginia bartered at the beach for some souvenirs while Parker, Elizabeth and I dipped our toes in the bay. We then stopped at the beachside refreshment stand and several of us tried local suco drinks. A suco drink is a sweet fruity drink -Emma and Virginia tried the pineapple and I they have mango and other fruit flavors.

Afterwards we rode the ferry back to Niteroi because it was a 20 minute ferry ride and you saw both cities from the water (it was a one hour plus bus ride on a good day).We then shopped at the mall in Niteroi for several hours (several hours to many according to Harry).The Grays Chapel crew chipped in and brought a new mixer for the mission.Rosalina was using a broken mixer from a cheap imitation kitchen-aid mixer.The one she had was not designed to be a handheld type mixer but it was all she had and she has been using it for a good while.Rosalina is an excellent cook and she also does our laundry if we need our clothes washed. I bought some shoes for Neal because nice shoes in Brazil are very inexpensive.I also bought a present for Matt and Christian.I looked for a twentieth anniversary gift for Lynn.

I gave up on finding a present for Lynn because when I tried to find something that expressed how I felt after twenty years it is not possible.We have had an exceptional marriage - lots of laughter, shared some pain, travelled much, been to countless ballgames, band concerts and teacher conferences, mourned the passing of parents together and we have been blessed with a deep spiritual relationship with each other and Jesus Christ.It is not possible to put a price on the gift of the life that God has given us together.I only hope and pray that in the next twenty years we are so blessed.

We then went to the mission to freshen up for our dinner at the Brazilian Churrascaria.Just like last year the meal was wonderful.Unlike last year though I felt wonderful tonight and I managed to overfill myself on many different types of meat.My favorite was the Brazilian Wild Boar.It was marinated in honey and wine and was simply delicious.We had one cut of meat that Claudio called the diaper cut because he was not sure how it translated, we thought it might be a rump roast but were not sure.After dinner we had some truly decadent desserts and then we returned to the mission to get a good nights rest because tomorrow we start our ministry again.I love you all, Bobby.