Elsa’s Story…
L-R: Laura Whitford, President, St. Elizabeth Mission Society; Sr. Pat Tyre; Elsa, Brazilian woman; Sr. Odette Haddad, Councilor, Congregational Leadership; and Elsa’s grandson.
Elsa was left to care for her four grandchildren when her daughter abandoned them. A regular participant in the monthly meetings at the Sisters’ main convent in Anápolis, Brazil, she said, “They treat us very well. I can’t wait for the day to come to go.” The day of the meeting, she gets to the bus stop at 5 a.m. to wait an hour for a bus that will take her on a 10-minute ride to the convent. Once there, she spends over two hours making crafts, eating, socializing and praying. She leaves with clothes and some food to take home.
Ecology and plants are important to Brazilian people. They use them for food and medicial purposes.
Mission Society funds provided her with a new door (pictured), as well as ongoing support for the monthly meetings.
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- Elsa
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- Elsa showing off her garden
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- Garden outside of Elsa’s home with the water cistern in the background
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- Picking fruit from the Mango tree on Elsa’s property
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- Elsa and Mission Society President, Laura Whitford
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- View from the front of Elsa’s home
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- Elsa, Wanessa from AFIA, Sr. Pat Tyre, Elsa’s grandson and Sr. Odette Haddad
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- Elsa’s front door – acquired through a Mission Society grant
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- A cashew growing in Brazil. After the nut is harvested, the fruit is crushed to make juice.
