I spent most of the morning cleaning the pool, which I had found to be extremely relaxing. The brilliant scholars of the weather system in Natal had once again blown the forecast after calling for mostly sunny skies. It didn't rain, but the sky was only mostly sunny for about 5 minutes of the morning. I cleaned the pool and got it to a water level that was my liking and then settled in for a delicious lunch of fish, beans and rice. I really love the food down here!
After lunch Mark and Lori headed off to the Planalto to make an appearance at the 12 Hour Prayer Vigil at the hall. This blessed 12 hours of prayer was an open house of sorts, where people would stop in and pray for gospel works in the Planalto, Natal, Brazil, South America and the World. Caroline went with them and went to the co-op to work on a new project, while William stayed home with me. I \attempted to take a nap, which was of no use! I gave up and went outside again for the second skimming of the pool.
Uncle Mark went to work passing out tracts in the Planalto, until they left later that afternoon to run some errands. They purchased a refrigerator for Inacia, the woman who is helping around the house. When they had dropped her off at her house the night before she had invited them in, and they had seen first hand the conditions she was living in. She had been using a small cooler to keep a few items cold for the day. After mentally noting that a fridge would be purchased the next day they then learned of the horrible conditions of her neighbor across the street. Her children owned no clothing and were naked constantly. They went over to talk to these people, and this was the first time that Uncle Mark had seen a family so poverty stricken. He gave the mother whatever she needed in order to clothe her children.
They purchased the fridge for Inacia, who had no idea it was going to be delivered, and then went to the farmers market that is held in the Planalto every Thursday. The place was jam packed full of people. Hundreds of people were just milling around fruit stands purchasing whatever fresh products they could afford. Tomatoes, which I have mentioned are the best I have ever tasted, that would probably sell for two dollars a pound in the US were selling for 25 cents US a kilogram. You could purchase five pineapples for a dollar and many other delicious produce varieties at a bargain price. In the United States, you would pay 10 times as much for a far inferior product. Caroline and Uncle Mark spent the time that Aunt Lori was shopping for produce handing out tracts to everybody there. Just as I had experienced in days before, everyone accepted them willingly and thankfully.
Their next stop was the pool store to purchase some new steps for our ladder. Our other steps had snapped in half when I was climbing out of the pool, yet another problem with our house of horrors. They employed the service of a pool boy named Junior to clean the pool twice a week for $35 a month. He came by that night to check out the filter system, which he immediately found fault with and set up an appointment with a filter specialist for the next morning. My mood had not improved much and I made it a point to get to bed early. I fell asleep almost immediately which was surprising considering it was the first day of the two day long Saint Peter Festival. Another festival means more roadside bonfires and fireworks. Remind me never to visit Natal when they celebrate a festival for Saint Paul...
William Picking Our Finally Ripe Banana's Off the Tree in Our Yard First Thing in the Morning 
Pool Problems at the House of Horrors
Loads of People at the Farmer's Produce Market in the Planalto
Aunt Lori and Caroline Shop for Some Fresh Produce
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