1 1/2 Week Letter from Grandma (1/24/18)

Time flies when you are having fun!!!  So we must be having a blast!  We have been very busy! .... A lot of driving, so I haven't had time to write, but I have done a lot of thinking!
I've been thinking a lot about where we are and what we are doing!!  I learned on our last mission that what I was asked to do required me to climb a very steep learning curve... locals could do many of these things faster themselves, rather than them having to teach me so I could then do it!  BUT what I learned was, we are where we are and learning what we need to learn for a reason... it's okay not to be able to figure out all the "whys!"  We are all part of God's plan for this earth and rolling his work out!  He knows and will put us where we are needed.  At home, at school, at church, everywhere!

In the D.R., Papa happened to be waiting in the right place to able to save a young man that was drowning and after had the opportunity to share his powerful testimony with him!  That young man will never forget his words!  Who knows what will happen next for him!

Recently Papa got approval for a way to fund humanitarian projects through out Brazil.  He was the right guy in the right place for this to happen!  Before, we would need to travel to the area in need and use our credit card to buy things, like 10 bags of dirt!  Makes dirt very pricey when you add travel costs!

It is easy to see the difference Elder A. is making... My contributions are very small, but that's okay as long as I am doing what I am supposed to be doing!!  That's my prayer everyday!

Our Wheelchair Closing Ceremony in Batatais was perfect! 355 chairs were delivered.  We had the local church leaders representing the Church, but the TV station wanted to interview Papa!  His interview was broadcast the next day! His message was well received!  What was also cool about this closing ceremony was APRAESPI had about 7 of the physical therapists that were in our W.H.O. (World Health Organization) training a few months ago there to make sure the chairs fit properly and to instruct everyone on their new chairs!  (All part of our training program they graduated from!). It was so good to see these friends again!  Both of our wheelchair providers sent representatives to the closing... I was a little worried about that because they are competing for our business, but they got along well!  That evening we were invited to a family's home for dinner!  Great evening....great food!  Papa had a blast playing soccer with the 11 year old Down Syndrome son!  They are best buds now!  We also received a large bag of a speciality coffee as a gift from another woman!  (Our guard loves us now!)

One cute lady that was there told us her story.  She developed a debilitating illness not too long ago and now needs a chair.  She has to wear a neck brace because of the pain.  A year and a half ago she started painting to help with her physical therapy.  She learned how to paint on the internet!  She had her work displayed at the Closing - She's pretty good!  One of our wheelchair reps surprised her with an electric chair.... so sweet!!

We next headed to Franca for meetings with FEAPAES, another partner organization we work with.  We had great meetings and met some sharp people!  Things are happening!!

That evening we headed home.... We got tired, so ended up stopping in Ribeirao Preto for the night....great stop as there was a Sam's club a couple blocks from the hotel!  I sweet talked Ray into stopping the next morning!

We were able to go into the office the following day... and it was so quiet!  Almost all the senior couples were on trips and our good friends, the Moore's had return home to the USA to help care for their daughter and a premature granddaughter - we'll miss them!

Saturday Ray spent preparing a talk for Sunday.... he did a great job.  After church we had a new senior couple over for dinner!  5 more couples will arrive in the next 2 months!

This week we traveled to Ribeirao Pires to get a garden project up and running.  Did a lot of shopping and wrapped up a few loose ends in São Paulo today....we head back there on Friday.

We are happy we are home for Papa's birthday!  Yes, he got his breakfast in bed... papaya, banana, raspberry smoothie!  We had a feijoada lunch with 10 senior missionaries... I made a Texas Sheet Cake for dessert! It's been a good day!

Love and hugs to all,
Papa and Gma

"Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes!" - Jim Carrey

Ana Lucia (in orange) organized the
entire Closing Ceremony!

2 of our favorite W.H.O. Graduates

Papa telling the Relief Society President she was on the Closing Ceremony program to speak!

Our artist friend and some of her work

Our artist friend with her new electric chair - with Rodrigo, the wheelchair rep.

Our physical therapist doing a demonstration at the Closing Ceremony.

With Jonathan (wheelchair rep) in Batatais

Birthday breakfast in bed! 

Birthday lunch with senior friends

Our new friends at FAEPAES. Working with our partner organizations in Brazil is a highlight of our mission assignment. They do the "hard work" of identifying the poor and needy that have mobility needs. They also provide integrated rehabilitation services to prescribe, fit, educate, and follow-up with wheelchair recipients to help them become more self-reliant, happy and productive.

From Papa: Your mother’s orchid is fully bloomed and beautiful. Fourteen blossoms in all. They will bless our mission apartment for 90 day then gradually make their way to compost and orchid heaven. I “feel” the orchid plant would make 14 wonderful corsages and has definitely made us happy. It was our first orchid plant ever!

Letter from Grandma (1/15/18)

Hello everyone!

We are in Batatais for a wheelchair closing and delivery of over 300 chairs tomorrow!  We are excited! We will report on this next week!

This past week's highlights were:

Buying and delivering garden supplies to a very cute widow, Nilza. She is so sweet!  We had a great visit with her.  She loves her garden!

Papa's HUBAS (HUmanitarian  Budget  AllocationS) proposal was approved by Salt Lake!  Humanitarian financial needs can now be handled by local leaders and we won't have to drive 3 hours to use our credit card to pay for dirt!  Love it!  Way to go Elder A.!

We attended a meeting with the Area President and ended up with an assignment to propose a plan to help increase the desire of the Brazilians to fast!  This has been a great assignment, because we are learning so much!

My latest challenge is to put together a cookbook!  I am collecting recipes and my VERY biggest challenge is to make it into an electronic copy! Where are my kids when I need them???!

We send our love to all!
Papa and Gma

Dinner at a Japanese restaurant at the soccer stadium after physical therapy 

Wheelchair Initiative Update (1/11/18)

From Papa:

Our wheelchair initiative is starting to soar!

With the strategy being implemented, the “sky is the limit!”

Photos compliments of one of our potential partners (Zé Mario Voo in Caranguatatuba) that specializes in adventurous “handicable” wheelchair users. 

We are “feeling good” about mission assignment!

This Week's Letter (1/9/18)

Hello all!

It seems just like yesterday I wrote last. Hard to remember what we did this week, it went so fast. We did celebrate yesterday….hit our 5 month mark! It seems like it was just yesterday that we arrived, but at the same time, it feels like we have been here forever! We are feeling at home, know (kind of) where we are going and what we are doing, and have most of our documents in order to legally do things in Brazil. What we are missing is a driver´s license for Papa! He got his USA one renewed right before we left and because of that, it doesn´t show that he has been driving for a year… and you need to have driven for a year to be licensed in Brazil! Still working on that one! 

We are still moving forward with all our projects. Next week will be a big one, as we head back to Batatais and Franca for wheelchair projects, wheelchair recipient, 6 month interviews, and a closing ceremony (375 chairs going to 17 communities). More in 2 weeks on that one. 

My BIG frustration this week came on Thursday! I was so excited to see my doctor and get “released” from my brace. It was a crazy day. We also had 5 people coming for dinner, Papa had a lunch with an old banking friend and our boss called a last-minute meeting that we needed to be at. (He announced that he will be leaving… called as a Mission President) I covered for us, at the meeting, until Ray got back and then he stayed and I headed to my doctor´s appointment! I got in an Uber and headed there, arriving just 5 minutes late. At check in, I was told that the doctor wasn`t at that office today ☹ …guess we had made the

appointment for his other office! Bummer! I go again this afternoon!

Our dinner was great! We had returned to our meat store and showed them pictures of the ham we had received instead of the “Prime rib” we had ordered! They agreed to give us the

meat we wanted, for a discount… the ham was, apparently, more expensive! We agreed to it and had a repeat of our Christmas dinner! We choose Thursday because it was Sister Barrett's birthday! Didn´t get Prime rib this time either, but a really good roast beef! Oh well! 

Looks like everyone had fun with Emi and Shannon in Utah! Keep having fun together!!

Papa and G-ma miss you all!

“Whatever you are, be a good one.” – Abraham Lincoln

Sister Barrett’s B-day dinner! (With her husband and daughter, Carlson)

Shopping.... well, Sister Moore and I were shopping!  The men found a cart to sit in!

Mortadela sandwich sharing

These “little piggies” went to market...they never came home!! Sorry, Shannon!

Papa's "Feeling Fotos" or Is It Fetal Fotos? (1/3/18)

*Note--A certain individual (who shall remain nameless) has been giving Papa a hard time for sharing historical or outing-based letters & photos. He was asked to pass along more of his feelings and spiritual experiences. This post is the result.

 Papa’s Thought for the Week:

“A senior mission is kind of like having baby.  You forget how hard it is while you are doing it, but then get pregnant again despite the pain, cost, sleepless nights, frustration and hard work.

There are highlights and low lights, but it is all worth it in the end as you see the Church come out of obscurity and the Lord hasten His work.”

Papa's Foto Feelings: 

I “felt” this photo was an excellent summary (albeit a bit graphic) of the mortal life cycle.

I “felt” this photo was a little too far a way to really see Gma and our friend (Ana Lucia), but I “felt” it was important to include the bust of the benefactor of this small town hospital. That way, if we are asked to speak at the Cerimônia for the wheelchair donation, we can pay tribute to him. The benefactor is Antonio Candido Alves Perreira.

I also “felt” this was a beautiful photo of the old colonial city of Paraty.

Happy New Year Letter (1/1/18)

Happy New Year!!!

What a week to report on today! Christmas Eve 3 senior couples, got together for a well planned Christmas Eve dinner… Prime Rib and all the trimmings! We were all excited and ready to eat when we discovered that the meat store had given us a HAM instead!!! Part of the adventure! After dinner we watched “The Nativity Story”…which we really enjoyed! The best part of the day, for sure, was having our family together on “Go to Meeting” for our homemade gift exchange. Always a treat!! Good job everyone! Christmas morning 5 senior couples got together for a delicious breakfast… then everyone went home to talk to kids!

Tuesday morning we got up early to drive 4 - 5 hours to Batatais, to solve some wheelchair issues. Batatais is a small, clean city surrounded by beautiful country side. I wasn't very happy about taking off again for 3 days, but it turned out to be very productive and enjoyable. One of my favorite people, Ana, from APARESPI, was there and we made some new friends. Ana even arranged for the local bishop and 2 elders to visit with and help us assemble wheelchairs! The bishop will represent the Church at our closing ceremony on January 16 th. Perfect!! The elders explained to us that no one will even talk to them in Batatais… but by coming and helping, they were invited into 2 homes! People at the hospital wanted to know more about
the Church! The Lord works in mysterious ways!! We were also able to meet with the Stake President and he has agreed to be our pilot stake to implement the interviews of wheelchair recipients, 6 months after they receive their chairs.

Friday was the best day ever… Emi returned home from her mission!!! 

New Year´s Eve, after Church, we had Rachel and Fabio over for dinner… Papa wanted to share his “supper on a bun”! We even taught them how to play “No Peeky”… Rachel is 86 and didn’t quite catch on, but she had fun! She refused to “pick up” her sandwich and insisted on using a fork and knife… she really reminds me of Grandma Gege! She and her grandson walked all the way to our apartment in the rain…3 or 4 miles! Papa called for an Uber to take them home…they got her in the car “kicking” - she was determined to walk! She also told Papa he had to work on his health! More veggies and fruits… she encouraged lots of bananas, said you can´t eat too many of them! Hum??? Her secret to healthy living is to drink a glass of water, with the juice of one lime every morning! Anna will like that advice! But she would probably reverse the quantities!

New Years Day… We all got together to watch 2 movies and eat more junk! Since we were at the office, Papa chose to get some work done, instead of watching movies…he is so good!
I heard the best advice on setting goals for the coming year. We always set goals like “lose 10 pounds” then beat ourselves up when we eat a second slice of chocolate cake. So, instead, set one-word goals, like HEALTH, so if you do blow the cake part, you can focus on what you DID do, like pat yourself on the back for drinking 8 glasses of water!! It works for me!

Happy New Year to all!
Love you to the moon and back!

Papa and Gma

“There are 2 great days in everyone´s life… the day we are born and the day we discover why!”
- William Barclay

If anyone ever wants to send us a note our address is:
Elder Ray and Sister Marilyn Anderson
São Paulo, Brazil Area Office - Bem Estar
50 East North Temple St.
SLC, Ut 84150

Christmas Eve dinner group. The Moores and the Barretts.

Christmas Eve “prime rib”? !

Batatais - center of town.  

Notice the bushes shaped like Christ on the Cross (behind the girls on the bench). Lots of "bush art" in the park.

Rachel and Fabio after church one Sunday

Weekly Update: 12/17 to 12/23 (12/23/17)

Hi again family!  After hearing about several of Emilee’s & Seth’s Zone Meetings, we thought we should share some insights into our first “multi-day” Zone Meeting.

After fulfilling our “Gisamba” and work assignments the week of 12/10, seven “SMC’s” (Senior Missionary Couples) departed last Monday morning at 6:30 am in rented cars for a Zone Meeting.

The meeting was held in a lovely home in the small coastal town of Caranguatatuba  (“Carangua” for short).

Carangua is situated on the northern coast of São Paulo, on the Brazilian equivalent of the “PCH” (U.S. 1) in California.  Of course, here it would be the “BACH” (Brazilian Atlantic Coast Highway), instead of PCH.

Like all Zone Meetings, ours consisted of training workshops (e.g. Canasta; Banana Grams); team-building activities (e.g. crocheting); spiritual discussions  (e.g. Church is a bus to get us to the temple); companion splits (e.g. the two doctors and I drove to Picinguaba/Paraty); service projects (e.g. cleaning the pool; giving food to a homeless camp); and even trying out new ways to expand the teaching pool (e.g. hired a small boat from a local surfboard shop owner to visit some remote historical islands). There were also shared meals (e.g. fresh-caught squid, octopus, shrimp, and fish cooked in “alho e oleo.”), plus a variety of fresh-made smoothies from tropical fruits.   Lastly, there was plenty of physical exercise (e.g. snorkeling; swimming; scratching sand-flee bites).

Since the group included the two Brazil Area Medical Specialist couples, the two Area Mental Health Specialist couples, the Area Self-Reliance Services couple and Area Humanitarian Services couple, we got plenty of Social Media practice time to stay up with work assignments around Brazil.

In this latter-day dispensation, with internet access, a cell phone and WhatsApp, missionary work can be done from anywhere in the world - even Carangua.... just as Isaiah prophesied.  (See Isaiah 40:4.)

On the road to Carangua, you should see all the mountains that are made low (by tunnels), the valleys that are raised up (by bridges), the crooked places and  rough places made straight & flat by modern highways.

We made it home Thursday afternoon in time for me to hunt down a missing load of wheelchairs and arrange for delivery to Batatais instead of Ribeirão Preto.

Friday we handed our Christmas gifts to office friends, turned in our monthly financial reports, sent Christmas greetings (and Christmas videos) to partners, and communicated good news to APRAESPI that their Garden Project had been approved.

Today included a trip to the Feira, two grocery stores, letter writing and making arrangements to drive to Batatais Tuesday (4 hour trip) to inventory the missing wheelchairs so we can pay the bill by next Friday.

It was a nice ending to an exhausting week as Senior Missionaries.

Now on to our first Christmas (of two) in Brazil, as SMC!

Luv,
Papa & Gma

Entrance to Zone Meeting location (Secure gated-community)

Zone meeting site (taken from beach)

Backyard futbol field

Group discussion and service project (in background)

More group discussions

Service Project #1

View from back meeting room

Group dinner

Senior missionary couple

Evening Photo

Dark clouds on horizon, but the moon always comes out after the storm

Notice the improvised stars shining down over manger scene in our apartment. Orchid plant was combined anniversary and Christmas gift to my senior comp.