We've had a whirlwind few months here in Piracicaba. Since April we've had three children with their spouses and children (11 grandchildren in all, two of whom we'd never met before), and several members of Howard's family come visit. It has filled our house with love and laughter and we have loved everyone of our visitors and every second we've spent with them.
We've also had to say goodbye to the first groups of missionaries we received here two years ago. We become so attached to these wonderful young men and women and really miss them when they leave. The other side is we get a whole new group of valiant missionaries ready to devote themselves to the Lord's work and we get to add them to our every growing mission family!
Spring in Piracicaba is beautiful. We went quite a while with no rain, but a week ago we finally got a couple of rainy days and everything has turned green again. First about six weeks ago, these enormous trees blossomed with beautiful purple blossoms. Next there were the orange blossoms on trees and now the pink that look a lot like the fruit trees in bloom at home. We're starting to see the yellow Ipes and soon we'll have the orange Flamboyant. The jasmin are starting to bloom as well and I'm catching whiffs of their sweet smell as I walk down the streets here. Some burrowing owls have made a home in the park where I run and life is good!
We continue to love working with these wonderful youth along with our senior couples, the Wagers and the Pierces. I don't know what we'd do without them. The Wagers with their vast knowledge of Brazil and the US have been invaluable and they have done so much in getting the office organized. The Pierces have been taking care of missionary housing, a huge job we were unable to do accurately before they came. They make sure the houses are in good working order and stop by occasionally to check if they're being kept clean, something I'm hoping is improving.
We love you all and would love more visits here in our little corner of the world!
Love,
Mom/Vovo/Lissa
Our oldest daughter Ashley and her kids
Howard's niece Desiree, her mom Duella (Howard's sister), his niece Gerilyn (Julie's daughter), and his sister Peggy.
Saying goodbye to Ashley and fam
Howard's sister Glenda, her husband Steve, their daughter Audrey, and her husband Gordon
Making Sunday biscuits with Mae
Beautiful blossoms
Nick and Gina with Jonas, Derek, and Elsie
Farm fun with the Kings
beautiful blossoms
Saying goodbye to missionaries at the Piracicaba River
Fun with the Kings
The Kings
The Kings
Missionaries and the Kings
Spring blossoms
Howard, Peggy, Doug, Gerilyn, Des, and Duella
Striking flowers
Desiree
Cute King kids
With Nick's family
Jonas and our resident owl
Jonas and Mae
🇧🇷 🇧🇷
Fresh oranges
Fun panoramic
Derek, Jonas, and a teensy lizard!
Derek
Amy's girls: Gigi and Coco
3 Handsome princes
Coco, Jetty, and Gigi; Amy's kids
