Mission Summary: "Cadornas, Comida, Cadeiras" With a Pickleball Bonus! (1/7/19)

*Update (1/8/19): FYI.  The Area Presidency just approved the Maiãpi donation.  We are doing a “happy dance!”*

Senior Missionaries cannot change the world in 18-months, but they can make a difference in a few focused projects.  Our efforts were concentrated in three main areas:

1. Codornas:  “European Pheasants” to supplement diet and income for 26 member families in the impoverished Northeastern Region (“Nordeste”) of Brazil.
2. Comida:  Equipment and supplies to help 25 member families in the coastal lowlands of São Paulo become more self-reliant by raising food in home gardens.
3. Cadeiras de Rodas:  Coordinated launch of LDS Charities wheelchair initiative in Brazil by partnering with local rehabilitation centers.  Once trained (by LDS Charities trainers) in the World Health Organization wheelchair standards, partners assessed, prescribed and delivered wheelchairs to needy individuals with mobility challenges.  The goal was not just to donate wheelchairs, but to reduce misery, improve the quality of life and increase self-reliance of beneficiaries.  Our vision was to “bring the physically impaired out of the shadows, into the light.”  

As a “bonus,” we introduced Pickleball to our local Brazilian ward (Morumbi) and staff/students of our “pioneer” wheelchair partner (APRAESPI). 

Our two most unique projects were:

1. Vision-impaired “pilot” initiative (in partnership with our blind friend, Norm Gardner of Orem, Utah). 
   • We brought down three hand-held Victor Reader Stream (“VRS”) devices. 
   • These devices, combined with programming done by Brother Gardner, allows vision-impaired members to “search the scriptures,” sing hymns, bless the sacrament and study Church curriculum materials. 
2. Unexpected visit to a remote Amerindian tribe (Maiãpi) in the northern state of Amapá in conjunction with the LDS Charities wheelchair initiative. 
   • The tribe of 1,250 members has 8 children and one elderly member that cannot walk. 
   • What started as a visit to the small town of Pedra Branca resulted in a visit to the nearest Amerindian village (which was 6 hours north of Macapá).
   • The visit spawned a related project to donate a 23’ aluminum, flat-bottomed river boat (with 15 hp Yamaha outboard motor) to provide emergency transportation from remote villages to the nearest government Medical Outpost. 
   • At present, it takes 3-5 days for members of the most remote villages to receive emergency medical care. 
   • Both the wheelchair and emergency transportation donations are being reviewed by the Brazil Area Presidency. 

Looking through the rear view mirror, our mission to Brazil as Area Welfare Specialists was the “right call, to right place, at the right time.”

We look forward to continuing our “eternal mission” in the U.S.A. as husband and wife, parents and grandparents.

See you soon!

Luv,

Papa & Gma