Emma poses with two of the neighbour girls and Kevin in the Photo Tent.

Edilton reads the Special Mail. For 50 centavos (25 cents) you can write a special note to someone and Edilton will announce it over the loudspeakers, and then a runner will take the note to whoever it was meant for. This was hugely popular. Everyone wanted to publicly announce nice things about other people. Hugs. Emotions. Kids with parents. Friends with friends. Who would have guessed?

Sammy and Miriam, or should I say David and Esther, sold Brazilian hotdogs, which is ground beef in a hotdog bun.

Our church party was a neighbourhood event.

Deanna.

Paula was in charge of the Special Mail booth, where for a fee helpers would run notes to people after announcing your message over the loudspeaker.

The jail was another popular event. For 25 centavos the “police” would go and get anyone you requested and put them in jail. Then someone else would have to pay 25 centavos to bail that person out. The kids loved having someone care enough about them to send them to jail.

Igreja da Vinha, Festa das Barracas

The food booths.

Aline is a great help in Sunday School.

A cup of cold pop is one real, about 50 cents.

Bella and Emma made a lot of food, and helped a lot of people get dressed up in costumes.

Paulo Roberto is a jailer. This was also a costume party with the theme “Someone from the Bible”.

Vera and Maria made and sold vatapa.

Marques and Izak sold cachorro quentes, Brazilian hotdogs.

Fransisco sold cake. His booth sold out quickly. Brazilians love cake.

Neighbour kids.

Karen

Natalha

Eliel

Aline’s personality matches her costume.

Daisy and Julianna sit with some of the local boys.

Bella is the Princess of the Day! Our youngest daughter turns 15 today. Here in Brazil 15 is a Big Birthday. Often those who can celebrate with extravagant celebrations that appear very similar to a wedding party as far as decorating, gifts, and guests. Bella wanted a small party, with a few friends. And the girls had a very nice evening last night. Tomato soup and home made bread sticks. Tea and sandwiches. A movie called The Croods. Topped off with a chocolate fountain! It was a first for everyone, I think, and everything went very well. Thank you Heavenly Father, for Bella, and for the nice evening.

Emma, Luana, Aline, Carol, Karin, Bruna, and Bella

Celebrating Bella!

Thaís, Barbara, and Anna came just a little later.

Eliel came to pick up Aline just as the chocolate fountain got started.

Fruit shishkabobs. Deanna found some strawberries, kiwi fruit, and grapes. The pineapples were small, but they were 7 for R$10, about $5 Canadian.

A chocolate fountain!

The tester.

A very small birthday cake.

Fancy sandwiches with fancy toothpicks.

Delicious sandwiches, to go with the tomato soup and breadsticks.

Bella’s First 15th Birthday Party

Fancy tea, fancy juice, fancy cups, fancy cupcakes…

We learned about tea parties at Grandma’s house, in Canada.

Set the right atmosphere and everything tastes better.

Our girls are all two years apart. The Bergquists picked up where we stopped. Our children are ages 21, 19, 17 and 15. The Bergquist children are approximately 13, 11, 9, and 7.

Cheers!

Monica and Bruna.

Marcos and Nate were born on the same day, 8 years ago.

Fransisco has been part of our church and group here at the chacará since we moved here 5 years ago.

Emma talks to Luana, who was Deanna’s helper for a year, and is still a good friend of our family.

Potatoe chowder and clay-oven baked rolls.

Fransisco and Paulo Roberto’s mom came for the meal. This was a first. Her husband left her a couple of years ago. Her sons often work for us on construction projects, and help put food on their table.

The kids discovered Kinnex, which is kind of like Lego.

The Bergquists continue on their journey home. About 2 days of driving left, though they will be visiting more people like the teams in Pacajá, Altamira, and Uruará.

The family of six is looking for a bigger, stronger, newer truck. They need a good truck where they live.

Ivanildo coaches soccer. Saturday afternoon, October 19, 2013.

Aline and Bella sit on an old table with some other youth, watching the soccer game.

Iran is one of the men who looks after our neighborhood. He is there to help in times of crisis, and I have seen him digging more than one burial plot. He is very pastoral. He also was one of the main bricklayers for the house we built. He also has over 50 brothers and sisters.

Jobel is one of Iran’s sons.

Everyone loves it when Ivanildo coaches soccer. He is a very respected, nice person.

The helpers who did not get a hotdog at the Children’s Event came over for soup and bread after church last Sunday. Thais, right beside Emma, is five months pregnant.

Emma, Bella, and Bruna.

Deanna and Izak.

Ivanildo digs into the chicken that was barbequed with Deanna’s Special Sauce.

Eliel scoops out a big portion of delicious black beans.

Church leadership couples have lunch together, including Ivanildo and Monica, Eliel and Aline, Paula and Izak.

A girl, after having 4 boys.

Family pic, except for Weberson, the dad and husband.

Weberson and baby Stefani.

Quita is 23 years old, and thrilled to have a daughter.

2 days old

Grandma is doing needlework in the background.

Kita and Stefani.

Musical Chairs

The Puppeteers.

Adriana seemed exceptionally happy at this event. She has gone through a lot in the last couple of years.

Games, Bible Story, Food, Lot’s of Love

The puppets tell their stories.

About 120 children to feed a sandwich and a drink.

About 120 children and about 20 moms each got a sandwich and a drink. The 20 helpers did not. We estimated we would need 80 sandwiches. Then we bought bread for another 40. We were still about 20 short. So…good turnout.

Emma watched over the slackline challenge.

The soccer ball skills game.

The Race Through the Tires game.

Some of the Moms and Young Girls.

Everyone loves the puppets!

Mark 4:30-34 Our words have great power in them.

Mark 4:35-41 Jesus talks to the wind and to the waves.