Our Only Hope

Monday Morning.  Tomorrow we’ll leave Sorocaba, a place that just two weeks ago was only a remote dot on a map.  Now it’s become a place planted in our hearts and minds full of people we cannot ever thank enough, homes that have cared for us, institutions with missions we understand, and street corners where we actually know where to turn to get somewhere.

“Pay it Forward” resonates.  It’s our only hope!

 

The energetic and beautiful Andrea, GSE Chair, with Mark having Sao Paulo’s famous (giant) sandwiches.

 

 

 

Delma (GSE Co-chair) with her two sons, Pedro (left) and Bruno at their beautiful home serving us a delicious lunch. Bruno will be in Indiana this August to start a Rotary exchange year.  The guys helped us as interpreters this day. 

 

To the right is Daniel, our excellent host, who has been with us so many moments along the way. You’ll see him from the front in other photos but I couldn’t resist this one because it tells so much of the story. He’s strong and caring and Erica, his pretty, intelligent, wife makes a wonderful match for him. 

Top: Angela, Mike's host (on the right), poolside where we had our first Brazilian cook-out,  Middle: Eloiza, my host (Karen),in our kitchen, Bottom: Eugenio, Melissa and Christina with a painting made for Melissa by Chris showing the family with Melissa and the Brazilian and American flags.