Monday, 23, 22:23 hours

It started off being one of the few days in the past week that wasn’t raining. That soon changed.

With the beep of my 6:30 alarm I was up and in the shower. Dave and I were dressed and ready for church by about 7:10 and we walked a few blocks to the bus stop in the middle of downtown.

Even though the Sunday sunrise is the beginning of a new week, the streets of Brazil give more of a sensation that the past is still present. As we walked the few blocks to the bus stop the smell of alcohol reached the air. Half empty beer bottles and shot glasses still lay on plastic tables outside of mini-bars and gas stations. There are often only 2 people on the streets on a Sunday morning, the drunk and stumbling or the well-dressed churchgoers.

We took the 7:20 bus for about 25 minutes to where I had arranged w/ my friend, Jefferson Genro, to meet for church – in front of the Itaú Bank. We got there a little earlier than expected and waited on a bench.

The church Jefferson goes to is, like I said in a previous entry, one of the largest and nicest church buildings I’ve seen in brazil. What I didn’t mention last time, and what I didn’t see, was it’s mint green exterior. It’s… interesting.

Church was fun. It was neat being in a brazilian ward and not being a missionary. Jefferson is the Elder’s Quorum president, so he knew everyone and was eager to introduce us. Another amazing part: their sacrament meeting had air conditioning! That was unheard of in Rio. Maybe in the past year things have changed.

After church we went back to Jefferson’s humble home. He was eager to make us some authentic Gaúchan barbeque. Unfortunately it was raining, so the barbeque was a little tricky to do, but we did it. In his front patio area he had a square of bricks on the concrete about 3 bricks high. He made an interesting stack of newspapers and charcoal and then started the fire. As the rain picked up, we grabbed two tarps and tied them to parts of his front fence and his house in order to protect the fire. It worked. About 45 minutes later we had some fine meet and sausages. After and during lunch w/ chatted with his mother and little brother. Cool family. To thank them for lunch we gave them a 5 X 7 picture of Christ when he’s calling his disciples from their fishing. She liked it a lot.

Soon after we left, even though it was pouring rain, and got home about 4:30. Just in time to get in my PJs and take a nice nap.

I got to talk to some friends on skype – Lyndsey, and then Mom and Scott. Got to chat w/ some friends. Took another nap. I watched my General Conference CD in Spanish to practice those skills. It was a pretty early night.