Happy 4th of July!!

I hope that everyone at home is having a great 4th of July. We actually had our team celebration on July 2 because that was a holiday here in our state of Bahia. It was Bahian Independence Day. Apparently, it took the natives in our state ten more months to kick the Portuguese out, so they have their own Independence Day, which was Wednesday. We celebrated by cooking out burgers and enjoying all the traditional side dishes: potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, pasta salad, deviled eggs, etc. Not to mention the fantastic desserts: brownies, homemade ice cream, and Val's red, white and blue poke cake. We all had a lot of fun!

This picture was taken at the party that day. Here are all the missionary kids. I'm holding Samuel Porter, Jackson Quirey is hiding behind his book in the swing. Beside him is Kelton Porter. Tiffany (an LST campaigner) is holding Aubry Mabery, my across the hall roommate, and in the front is Ceara Sass. I hope to eventually take a better picture, but for now, these are my nieces and nephews. (And baby Sass #2 is on the way soon!)
I promise to post some more about my Brazilian adventures, but for now, a little taste of home was sure welcome! Thanks, everyone, for all your prayers. Please keep them up!