Many thanks to AJ and Doug for getting this up and going.  I hopw it will help get to more people.  Haven' really contacted any of you for a week or more.  Today Rick and I gave our first talks. You know how he is always teasing me about taking all the time. They asked us to speak for 10-12 minutes and so I spoke for 9 min. on the topic of Patience.  Left Rick a little surprised.  Then we found out we were the only speakers.   He had to carry the rest.

Since we finally got the internet a week ago, we have been able to do the work we have come here to do.  We can now do both our area office and at home.  Most of the calls seem to come in the afternoons and evenings.  He takes the calls and then gives a diagnosis (recommendation or suggestion) then dictates it on his recorder and give it to me.  I transcribe all the information into three places and then send copies of it by e-mail to Salt Lake and to the Mission Pres. wives. and to the other Dr.Elder Hill.

Our day starts at about 6:30.  I read my scriptures and exercise my knee while Rick is in checking for any e-mails from the Missions or the MTC.  Shower and we have breakfast about 8:00 and he goes to the office.  I get laundry done, Ice my knee (trying to get it better so I can spend a full day at the office.)  (It has tendenitis in it and a calf strain, that got worse since November.)   Rick walks home for lunch.  Then my plan is to go back with him until 6:00 pm and it is FHE with some of the other couples that work at the Area offices in different capacities.  They are amazing people and some their 2nd mission in Brazil. Then we eat there in the lunchroom.  We divide up by threes and take turns doing dinner.  Very simple, Pizza (Homemade), sloppy Joes, Salads and rolls, etc.  Then walk home and shower.  Yes two showers a day, though it has been a bit cooler in the afternoon when it rains and rains hard.  Still the walk down and the walk back is pretty sweaty. It is a half a mile round trip. and so two of those a day gives us not a lot of excercise.  (The walk back up to the apartment is a good gradual uphill.  On Sundays we get a car from Area office so we can drive out to the MTC which is 20 minutes away.  We then turn it into the office again on Monday.  We take two other couples with us.      

Our food consists of Breakfast:  Oatmeal and grape or orange juice. and a half of a banana or omelets  or Saturday I made pancakes.  Not quite as light as home.
Lunch is usually a quick sandwich with Coke Zero for Rick,yup he found it, or Guarana zero.  I found some lime tang and something like crystal lite lime.  The milk is off the shelf and tastes like canned milk.We also have the giant cooler bottles of water like in Haiti., but not cold.
I like to have some fruit besides bananas, like oranges(which are green) and apples, and we love raw cabbage all of a sudden and cucumbers.  Any fruit we eat raw and don't peel or cook has to be rinsed for 30 seconds in clorox water.  1/2 teaspoon in 3 cups water.  Then rinse in good clear bottled water and then you can eat it raw.
Dinners have been yellow potatoes, sooooo good, rice, spaghetti, sauces, hamburger (interesting) and the only canned veggies I can get are peas and corn.  No beans or other veggies.  The fun part is figuring out the correct measurments in ml, liters and grams.  Also I get my little dictionary out to translate all the cooking instructions.  I have begun memorize a lot of terms and words now. The Portuguese is coming too.

Some exciting news,  our oldest grandson got his mission call to Oakland California yesterday.  He has been so patient waiting and we are so excited for him.  Also we are going to the MTC on Thursday to see Elder Rusell M. Nelson. He will be visiting all day.  They asked me to play my flute to accompany the missionary Choir in the morning meetings.  Wow I am so nervous and so excited at the same time.  Will let you know how it went.  We feel very blessed to be able to be here and  this is the first time I have ever blogged.
Have a a great week and wish you all Boa Noite, Eu sei que o evanghelo e verdederia.
Love,
Sister Sue in Brazil.

I try to read the newspaper and watch some kids cartoons (Vila Sesamo-Sesame Street) and Dora the Adventuros.  It is slowly coming.  I am grateful for the MTC before we left.  But I do wish I had studied harder.  Too much distraction.