Brazil Night

We hung the Brazilian Flag in the living room, decorated in green and yellow and celebrated Brazilian Independence Day in honor of Brandt's mission call to Brazil. We invited the Porters, the Stapleys and Grandma & Grandpa Porter for a Sunday evening of good food and fun.


Michelle made a pot of feijoada (bean and meat stew) that is a staple in the Brazilian diet. We were a little nervous when it started out a purplish color the night before in the crockpot. By dinner time the next day it was a rich yummy stew full of beef, pork, and even some Portuguese sausage Michelle found at A.J.'s. We had been on a quest to find guarana (a Brazilian soda) and found two different brands that met with Dan's approval. (Dan served his mission in Brazil many moons ago.)


The missionary, Brandt, and the future missionary, Collin.


After dinner we had a family home evening. It was noted that all the returned missionaries present had served south of the equator - Grandpa in Austrailia; Max, Don and Dan in South America. Each of the returned missionaries shared a story from their mission. It brought a nice spirit to the evening.

While Michelle prepared the dessert, Dan taught everyone a game he learned in Brazil called Caxanga. Everyone has a small item (we used stuffed animals from Bryce & Adam's extensive collection), and passes to the person next to them in a pattern that Dan taught us. If you mess up, you are out.

The words go:

Escravos de Jo jogavam caxanga
Tira, bota, deixa ficar
Guerreiros com guerreiros faxem zigue zigue za
Guerreiros com guerreiros fazem zigue zigue za

The translation is:

Slaves of Job played Caxanga
Take it, put it, leave it there
Warriors with warriors do zig zig zag
Warriors with warriors do zig zig zag.


It came down to Dan and Brandt. Brandt held his own, but Dan came out the winner. Good luck on your mission, Brandt! You can teach us a new game when you come home.