Week #21, Sao Paulo, December 10-17, 2017

This week was full of Christmas parties and band and choir performances.  Our first party was the Sao Paulo West Mission on Tuesday.  The missionaries all gathered at a nearby church and had fun activities throughout the entire day.  The senior missionaries were asked to come and help out with these activities and for our little Geezer Band to kick things off by performing right at the beginning.  They were so appreciative of our efforts.  They cheered so loud and so long after each of our three songs.  We sang Boas Festas in Portuguese, a song about Santa Claus, then Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

Sister Nascimento from Joao Pessoa, Hannah’s mission!

One of the activities was a tug of war rope which broke after a few rounds and it became a jump rope.  I couldn’t resist and I got in there and jumped with the young missionaries! I did really well believe it or not but I could barely walk the next day! Not as young as I wish I was!

Each of the senior couples brought four dozen sugar cookies and the missionaries had a blast decorating them!

There was music, volleyball, ping pong, a room with props for Christmas pictures, a wonderful catered churrascho lunch and much more. Most of us seniors had to leave after lunch to get back to sing at the Area Office Christmas Devotional, but the party went on most of the afternoon. It was so good to see the missionaries enjoying some real down time. They all had so much fun!

 The Devotional was very nice.  President Aidukaitus and President Bassett of the Area Presidency spoke and the senior choir sang, led by Mike and accompanied by Elder Brett Barrett. We sang Sally Deford’s, Guard Him, Joseph in English and The First Noel in Portuguese.  Then our Geezer band played our three fun songs at the reception afterwards! It was a big day!

Wednesday, December 13, we were asked to perform at our apartment complex’s gathering.  That was a lot of fun as well.  There was also a group of members from another ward there singing and a children’s choir from that same ward.  All the singing is really getting us in the Christmas spirit!

Our final performance was last night at our ward Christmas party.  We sang our three songs with our rhythm instruments and everyone loved it.  There were a couple of other songs by a group of the youth and a primary group.  We had another wonderful catered dinner with chicken,turkey rice and salads and delicious chocolate cakes provided by the Relief Society sisters.

When you are on a mission and far away from home and loved ones, you really have to make it special by getting out of your comfort zone a bit and doing things that make the season meaningful.  We really felt like we did that this week with all the music.  

Our gift to our senior friends was potpourri to help make their apartments smell like Christmas and home.  

My sweet neighbors from home had our annual book club Christmas gathering this week and they sent me pictures to remind me that they still think of me! I love these ladies!

Addie got to get all dressed up and go caroling with Hannah and Chase and their friends to a local Provo nursing home. She was a hit to say the least!

Been trying to “Light the World” everyday and yesterday was “Clothe the naked...” so I made some more hats to donate to a hospital nursery.  Little acts of service every day really do make a difference in the world.

It’s been a busy Christmasy week! Enjoy this final week of Christmas preparations and find joy in the little things and in the people around you.  xo