'Tis the Season to Be Jolly, Cuz We're Comin' Home Soon, By Golly! (12/16/18)

We’ve submitted “Closing Reports” for our last four projects. Mom submitted her financial reports for the last three months.  I submitted the December Wheelchair Program Report.  Just one more financial report and wheelchair report to do before we come home on January 11th!!

In addition to finishing reports, this last week included “Gringo Geezer Bottle Band” performances at the Area Office Christmas Party and Neighborhood Christmas Sing-In.  (The Bottle Band was not quite as good as last year’s “Gringo Geezer Samba Band,” but it was still a hit.)

The final major event this last week was writing a Christmas message for the employee Christmas party at APRAESPI.  We also translated the words from Star Bright to Portuguese in order to sing it at the APRAESPI party.  

The music instructor at APRAESPI and practiced the song before the party so we could sing it together for the employees.  

One of the APRAESPI Directors (Marcos) read a “simplified” translated introduction to the song and all 250+ attendees at the party joined in singing the “only carol” about the “First Christmas in the Americas.”  Katia (the music teacher) accompanied Star Bright (“Estrela de Luz” in Portuguese) on her guitar.  It was pretty good given the circumstances.

It was a simple way to share our testimony regarding the Book of Mormon.  Now I just have to find a Tupi Guarani legend as a “second witness” to comments we made.  Perhaps we can leave that part up to the Holy Ghost.  

The one thing for sure is that Brazilians, in general, are anticipating the Savior’s “second coming,” just as we are.  Brazilians may not all be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but the vast majority are “latter-day saints” of the “Church of the Lamb” as defined by Nephi (see I Nephi 14: 10-14). 

Our final role in the APRAESPI Christmas party was to stage a surprise visit as “Santa’s Helpers.”  (Repeat of previous week’s role in Morumbi ward Christmas party.).  

Since the Santa Helper suit ripped-out in the crotch, Santa’s helper quickly learned to sit with his legs discreetly positioned for photos.  (I had blue basketball shorts underneath.  Everyone knows Santa’s Helpers wear red basketball shorts, so I didn’t want anyone to stop believing.)

For next Sunday, our bishop asked Senior Missionaries in our ward to introduce “Star Bright” (in Portuguese) to the ward as part of the Christmas sacrament meeting.   

“Star Bright” is in the Spanish Primary Songbook, but it is not in the Portuguese Songbook and is not known to Church members in Brazil. 

The Portuguese translation will be distributed as the song is introduced from the pulpit before the rest hymn. We will then sing it in English and then have the congregation join in Portuguese.  

With President Nelson’s counsel to accelerate our preparation for the second-coming, “Star Bright” has special significance.  We hope to see it become more popular in Brazil and in the rest of the Americas. 

“A True Millennial is a man or woman who lives now to help prepare the people of this world for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and His millennial reign. Make no mistake about it—you were born to be a True Millennial.”  —President Russell M. Nelson

"Paella" Christmas party with Liar's family (APRAESPI)   

Papa loved the seafood

"Bottle band" music - with Sister Call

Friends at the ward Christmas party

Senior "bottle band" and singing with the Area President's (Marcos A. Aidukaitis) help on the bells!

APRAESPI Christmas party with lots of "Ho, Ho, Ho" from special Santa helpers.

 Dinner at a yummy Mexican restaurant at the end of the day.

Sight seeing trip with the Ketchesons. We explored the new subway line, went to the top of the Italia Building (in background) and walked a lot!

Trip to Sweetie Ice for ice cream with these 3 guys!  Who is who!? We also took a special tour of the unopened Visitor Center, Elder Faust's home and had dinner at the Blue Awning!  

Santa's helper is ready!

Visiting with the good little boys and girls of the ward primary.  Each one received a wrapped toy, with their name on it from Santa!

Reading his list and checking it twice!

President Faust's home where we would visit with him and his wife over 40 years ago.  There was a ceremony that day for the uncovering of the plaque. 

Close up of the plaque

Star Bright performance at APRAESPI... they loved it!

Bottle band practice

There are no pictures of the Visitor Center tour.  They asked us not to share them until after the building was opened. 

"Ministering" & The Cowboy Code (12/12/18)

We forgot to include one other “Visitor” in our recent blog entry!

The Thursday that Chuck & Tami arrived (November 29th), I had an enjoyable dinner visit with an old friend and business associate - Bill Atkin.

Bill is the Chief International Legal Council for the Corporation of the President (“COP”) and Corporation of the President Bishop (“CPB”).

He had never been to São Paulo before, so I fit a few “big city” highlights into our 5-hour visit together (i.e. Batman Alley - via UBER; Edifício Italia for dinner -via metro; back to hotel Marriott - via taxi past Ibirapuera Park).

We enjoyed catching up on “religious freedom” issues (Bill was on his way to Uruguay for a religious freedom summit) as well as our mutual appreciation for cowboy art, music and poetry.

Bill confirmed my assumption that Latin American countries have a high “religiosity” rating as opposed to a much lower rating for the U.S. & Canada. The good news is that, as long as the Lord grades on a curve, we may still have a passing grade as it pertains to promises of “liberty & prosperity” in the Americas.

Thanks to our Latino brothers and sisters, we (collectively) have not forgotten that Christ is the God of this land.

Bill recently purchased a painting entitled “Ministering” at the Utah State Fair. The hobby-artist is a young Utah professional named Rick Kennington. Bill purchased the painting for “use by the Church.”

The painting resonated with me because one of the three ranchers in the painting looked a lot like Uncle Sig. (All three had the lean cowboy frames and “Sporleder” rumpus petunias). Besides, “ministering” is an unwritten part of the “Cowboy Code.”

I just received permission from the artist to make two prints of the painting for our personal use. One print could find a place beside the “Workhorse” print I received as a gift when I retired from the CPB way back in June 2007.

For the record, the “Cowboy Code” is as follows:

1. Live each day with honesty and courage.
2. Take pride in your work. Always do your best.
3. Stay curious. Study hard and learn all you can.
4. Do what has to be done and finish what you start.
5. Be tough, but fair.
6. When you make a promise, keep it.
7. Be clean in thought, word, deed, and dress.
8. Practice tolerance and understanding of others.
9. Be willing to stand up for what’s right.
10. Be an excellent steward of the land and its animals.
11. Always minister to those in need, no matter how inconvenient or uncomfortable it may be.

The latter point is the unspoken part of the code (as per my translation). It doesn’t need to be written as it should inherent in our cowboy character.

Yep! I’m definitely a cowboy (and surfer) wannabe!

Luv,
Papa

Bill Atkin with Peacock graffiti Batman Alley (“Beco de Batman”) 

Edifico Itália (Excellent Italian restaurant on top floor!)

Ministering painting

Tri-Weekly Letter from Papa (12/9/18)

Papa’s laptop motherboard is fried so we now have only our office PC’s and Papa’s iPhone 6-S for letter writing during the last 4 weeks of our mission. According to our grandchildren, Papa’s iPhone 6-S is as big as a laptop, so we’ll be just fine.

It is a little late in the game to be learning from our missionary grandson, but we are swallowing our pride and following his example for this letter: First, an update, followed by explanation of photos, then photos. (Thanks for teaching by example Seth! See, we “Idosos” can learn new tricks!)

This last week passed in the “twinkling of the eye.” Papa’s explanation of why time passes faster is that each day/week/month/year is a smaller portion of our life. Smaller is quicker. Just imagine how quickly time will pass when we realize how small our lifetime is compared to eternity!

Most of last week was spent writing closing reports for three garden projects and the Codorna project. Mom worked on catching up on three months of financial reports. Isn’t that exciting?

On Thursday we had “splits.” Papa drove to APRAESPI (in Ribeirão Pires - 90 minutes east of SP) with Elder Ketcheson (Family Services Missionary). APRAESPI had a high school Christmas party and closing ceremony for their special needs garden project. Mom stayed in the Area Office with Sister Ketcheson.

No major miracles to share, but our testimonies keep growing just the same. Mom is finishing up Ether. We have fun researching different questions together in companion scripture study. For example, how did Jared fit into the Old Testament chronology with Abraham and the House of Israel? How did Abraham fit into the chronology of the Tower of Babel? What promises were made to the Jaredites regarding their heritage in the “promised land?” We always know more after our companion study than before. Lots of good answers yet to be discovered through “searching” the scriptures, rather than just reading them.

The one common thread throughout recorded history is recurring apostasy from gospel truths and subsequent restorations. It is nice to have a panoramic view of of the purpose of this earth and God’s plan for bringing about “immortality and eternal life” for His family. We are grateful to be living in the “dispensation of the fullness of times” (Ephesians 1:10).

It is very exciting for your mom and me to help the poor and needy at the same time we witness fulfillment of prophecy relating to promises made to the remnants of the House of Israel in this part of the Lord’s vineyard. We are definitely in the right place, doing the right thing at the right time.

We had our ward Primary Program today. It is amazing how simple the gospel is when taught through songs and short talks by young children. The Spirit bore witness of the simple truths presented by the children: 1) We are children of God; 2) Jesus Christ is the savior of mankind; 3) The fullness of the gospel is the plan of happiness for all mankind.

Com Muito Amor e Carinho,
Papa e Gma

Simple manger display on São Paulo Temple grounds

It is fun to watch a children explore and ponder the manger scene as we walk home in the evenings. The young boy in the photo is holding onto Joseph’s thumb gently trying to get a better look at baby Jesus. 

Christmas spirit is alive and well in Brazil! 

Orchid in bloom in front of our apartment building

We love our small Christmas tree decorated with ornaments from our family!

Photo from leather-bound report APRAESPI prepared to celebrate completion of the school garden project. (Notice the bottom photo.)

Visitors! (12/5/18)

Dinner with Ryan at the Blue Awning Restaurant (one of our favorites). We took Chuck and Tami there too.

Subway ride with Ryan. Met a senior couple serving with Elder Finlinson from the Bell Canyon Ward.

View from the top of the Italia Building in Sao Paulo 

Papa, Ryan, and the view

Banking area where Papa use to work 40 years ago

More banking area

Praca da Se and Cathedral

Chuck and Tami's arrival

Straight to APRAESPI from the airport. C & T brought a homemade wheelchair to donate.  It is for little ones to use before they fit into a regular chair. APRAESPI loved it. 30 more are available,if someone can figure out how to get them here.

Trying the chair

Wheee!!!

Weaving class at APRAESPI

Enjoying a fresh coconut

Sightseeing

More sightseeing

Liberdade (Japanese area of Sao Paulo)

Singing in the rain....Downpour actually!

Nelza invited us over to visit after church.

Three old people in front of an apartment (caption courtesy of Shannon since Gma didn't send one)

Street art at Batman Alley

Funny story: We were pulled over by two Brazilian policemen after not knowing where to turn on a downtown street in the town of Indaiatuba.  We were trying to get back on the freeway after visiting the company Tami works with (Ultradent do Brasil) in the interior of São Paulo State.  The officer and his partner pulled us over because we were driving slowly and looked “suspicious.”  The reason we looked suspicious is that they couldn’t see in the back windows of the car we were driving.  Apparently, they were on the lookout for a car like ours for some reason.  The officer had their Gloch .45 caliber pistols  drawn and the whole works!  I even had to get out of the car with my arms up.  They kept shouting at me to “roll-down” the back window!  That was a new phrase for me so I wasn’t very quick in responding.  Once I understood and was able to have Tami roll down the back window, we were on our way.  Having a blond stick her head of the window and say “How are ya’?” with a Utah twang was all that was needed.  

The officers apologized and off we went. 

Just another exciting Senior Missionary adventure!

This Week's Letter (12/5/18)

More busy weeks in Brazil. November 10th Dows arrived from the USA for trainings. That same day we had our country wide Welfare training, followed by two weeks of trainings!  Here are the pictures!

Hugs!! Papa and Gma

“Remember who you are... and walk in the light!” - Papa and Gma

Country wide Welfare all day meeting

Fun with Pedro Jorge and his family. He is the little guy in the front. He is a famous rodeo announcer!  He demonstrated his skills... he’s good!

A member we met doing post wheelchair interviews.  She told us that every week, men come from her ward, to administer the sacrament to her!

Laura was born with no legs. We visited her in her home. She is happy and very independent in her chair. 

End of the first week of training. Sister Anderson, Lair and Sister Dow. 

We were in the second week of training for Thanksgiving. Pork, beans and rice... perfect T-day dinner!

Yum!

Patient assessments during training

Member came for an assessment and ended up going home with a loaner chair until hers arrives. 

End of the weeks training. Customize wheelchair seats done

Synchronized wheeling???

We are ready for Christmas!