Summer or Winter? (6/19/18)

It´s a cold Monday in Sao Paulo! Low 60s, but the humidity makes it feel much colder. I have trouble remembering what month we are in… I immediately think, cold… so it is December or January! Kind of hard to wrap my mind around the fact that it's almost July!

After spending 2 ½ weeks in Oregon, I´m back in Brazil! Papa was glad to see me… our apartment was nice, clean and he had a bouquet of beautiful red roses waiting for me! It was good to be home.

I had a great “Delta One” flight back to Saõ Paulo, so I was in pretty good shape when I arrived. Good thing, because the legal team here was throwing a big luncheon for the Senior Sisters. I really wanted to go because it was held in the Portal do Morumbi apartment building we lived in 40 years ago. We lived on the 19th floor (Now one of the members of the Area Presidency lives there). The luncheon was on the 25th floor and it was fun to see it again. It brought back a lot of memories!! It was a nice afternoon.

This past week has been a whirlwind of activities. We had dinners every night with friends. Tuesday was Valentines Day here… we celebrated by eating pizza with 3 other couples. Wednesday we had the closing ceremony for our last Wheelchair project for 2017 in Riberão Pires. Over 300 chairs were delivered. We spent one day buying the last of the supplies for a Garden Project in Praia Grande.

Saturday brought back memories. The ward had a Fiesta Junina party. Loud music, dancing, games and lots of food, like hot dogs with cream corn and shoe string potato chips on top! Not bad! It was held inside, unlike 40 years ago when we were able to dance around the fire outside. Papa and I won a prize for the best costumes!!

Sunday, Father´s Day, Papa taught his lesson at church and after 2 baptisms, we came home. I made breakfast… a little late, but it was too cold to get up early to make him breakfast!! We enjoyed hearing from all our kids! Thanks for the calls.

We have rescheduled our two weeks of wheelchair trainings (canceled because of the truck strike) for the last week in August and the first week in September. Things are shaping up!

Interesting thing (rumor?) we heard this week was that Elder Ballard said, “We hadn’t seen anything yet”…. Guess more changes are coming! We are anxious for the next General Conference!

Hugs to all,

Papa and Gma

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelo

Fiesta Junina

APRAESPI Wheelchair closing 

More wheelchair closing

Great dinner with the other Senior Missionaries

Hospital visit with Shannon and Ellie

Father's Day breakfast in bed!

Papa's Commuter Companionship Update (6/3/18)

It is wonderful to live in the “flat world!”  My Senior Companion (Sister Anderson) remains on assignment in Sherwood, OR while I hold down our Humanitarian Services assignment in São Paulo.  We stay connected via “What’sApp” so we really are together.

The “good news” of this last week was:

1. Ellie is making excellent progress.  She will still need to re-learn how to walk, talk, play Mine Craft, etc., but with the faith and support of friends and family, no biggie.  It was so good to see the “spark” in her eyes once again!
2. We wrapped-up the logistical arrangements for the two June WHO wheelchair training courses (one in Ribeirão Pires; the other in Macapá.)

The “bad news” for the week was that we learned that, because of the Brazilian truck strike, the wheelchairs we had ordered for the training events would not arrive in time.   Consequently, HQ Humanitarian Services Wheelchair Coordinators postponed the courses until August.

That’s okay, we have other projects to catch-up on and a make-up trip to visit potential partners in Manaus and Boa Vista.  Besides, we are all ready for the courses in August!

We had a couple of other “tender mercies” last week.  Elder and Sister Ketcheson are working with the Venezuelan Refugee project in Roraima.  They noticed a young Venezuelan couple at church with a darling 2-year old son. The boy (Alejandro, or Alexandro, in Portuguese) was born with Microcephaly.  That is the Zika-related condition that has plagued Latin America in the past several years. Because of his condition, Alexandro’s spine in unable to support his upper body.  He rides in a stroller with his arms and chest draped over the front bar to support his weight.

Although the parents have not requested any help, the Ketchesons gave us a call to exchange ideas on how to obtain medical care and a wheelchair for Alexandro in Boa Vista.   We jointly came up with a strategy, cleared it with Area Welfare Management and arrangements have been made for an assessment and wheelchair prescription.

On Thursday afternoon, I noticed a young woman using a white cane walking to the bus stop across from the Area Office.  I crossed the parking lot to chat with her and her caregiver. It turns out that they both work in the Area Office call-center that helps locate lost member records.   The young woman (Anna) speaks English and Portuguese fluently. She is 24 years old, an accomplished ballerina, and recent convert to the church. She joined the church in 2017 after attending a performance of the BYU Young Ambassadors.  She has been legally blind since birth (80% vision loss) but is a college graduate and very independent.

We talked briefly about the Victor-Reader Stream (“VRS”) pilot project.  She enthusiastically agreed to participate in the project as a trainer. The VRS is a hand-held device (similar to a TV remote control).  The device allows vision-impaired individuals to listen and “search” the scriptures, conference talks, books and other materials, just as a sighted person would.  The device also inserts bookmarks and recorded notes in the materials for personal study, preparing talks. In effect, the VRS allows vison-impaired members to read and study the scriptures with their ears.    

On Friday morning, Anna was waiting in my cubicle at 8:30 am for our first training session.  Within an hour, she knew the VRS better than me. This next Wednesday, she is having a teleconference with Norm Gardner (blind church member that programmed the VRS).  Anna is ideally suited to launch the VRS project. (Our chance encounter was purely coincidental, I’m sure.)

In closing, I have been thinking a lot about faith, miracles and angels these last couple of weeks. You know how much I like good folk and country music, so here is a verse from one of my favorite Alabama songs, “Angels Among Us:” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7TpMejadLo)

“Oh, I believe there are Angels Among Us,
Sent down to us from somewhere up above.
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live
To teach us how to give
To guide us with a light of love.”

As much as I like good folk and country music, I love the scriptures.  Here is one of my favorite passages from the Book of Mormon (Moroni 7:35-37) regarding angels.  It was written by Moroni, who was himself to become an angel in this latter-day dispensation.

“Has the day of miracles ceased?

“Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men?  Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?

“Behold I say unto you, Nay; for … it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men. …

“For behold, they are subject unto [Christ], to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness.”

I have a testimony of faith, miracles and angels.  I’m grateful for the angels that surround our dear Ellie, as well as for those that have comforted and ministered to all of us in the past weeks, and throughout our lifetime.    

Love,

Papa

Anna - Victor Reader Stream Pilot

Elders Quorum Pickleball Clinic Held on Saturday Morning - Winners Eat Pickles

Alexandro and Parents - Venezuelan Refugees, loving parents, fellow citizens in the household of faith. 

Polo Shirts Ready to Go When “WHO” Train-the-Trainer course is rescheduled. 

Freedom Wheelchair Partners

Proverbs 3:5 (5/18/18)

Dear family and friends,

I haven´t felt much like writing, first because there wasn´t much to report on and then with Ellie, my mind has been somewhere else.  (Ellie suffered cardiac arrest during open heart surgery, May 8th)  We have suffered some heart wrenching low times, but also some incredible highs through all of this.  We have a firm testimony that all will be okay, even though we don´t know what "okay" looks like... I continue to be reminded of my favorite scripture, Proverbs 3:5, where we are told to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding" and you know what, I do...  Even though my heart aches as I wait.

We continue to be super busy getting things ready for our 2 upcoming seminars.  Shopping a ton for supplies, printing of manuals, arranging air and ground transportation, finding polo shirts and getting them embroidered, etc.  Papa will continue to cover our responsibilities here, as I will be flying to Oregon on Saturday to help out Shannon and Kevin.  My plan is to stay 2 weeks, unless needed longer.

We love you family!  Time is flying...kind of!  We will be home in 8 months now.  Thank you for bonding together in prayer and fasting for our Ellie.  You are all amazing... We love you so much!

Love,

Papa and Gma

Papa´s comments:

Even though your mom (and friend) added "Papa" (my favorite title) to her heart-felt letter, the words were all hers.  The love, emotions and testimony, however, are deeply shared.

I imagine we´ve all contemplated at some point in time how difficult it was for our Father-in-Heaven to witness His Son´s suffering during the atonement.  Marilyn and I experience a glimse of that anguish being so far away from our eldest daughter and son-in-law during this difficult time.

One insight that I had not understood until now, is how difficult the atonement must have also been for Christ´s grandfather.

D&C 90:24 is my "go-to" scripture for dealing with bumps along the highway-to-heaven.  The five action steps in this verse (search; pray; believe; obey; serve) provide a time-proven process to transform sorrow to increased testimony, peace, love, light and joy.

I´m grateful to know that we are spiritual beings having a temporary mortal experience, rather than just mortal beings having an occasional spiritual experience.

Thank heaven (literally) that we are organized into families in this life and throughout the eternities.

Love,

Dad, Papa & FIL

Thoughts From Papa: The Book of Mormon and Brazil (4/30/18 and 5/2/18)

BRAZIL: BOOK OF MORMON HERITAGE? 

April 30, 2018

As Humanitarian Services Missionaries in Brazil, my wife and I are amazed at the high percentage of Brazilians having indigenous DNA. We marvel at how many cities throughout the country have indigenous names. What intrigues us most are Phoenician hieroglyphs and archeological findings in Rio de Janeiro and throughout the Northeastern region of Brazil. 

From our perspective, there are many "remnants of the House of Israel" in Brazil. Based on Book of Mormon promises made to these "remnants," the future is bright for this enormous country and its marvelous people! 

The Book of Mormon documents Lehi’s departure from Jerusalem in 600 BC and journey to the "Promised Land." The oceanic portion of the adventure originated somewhere on along the northern coast of the Red Sea. There is no mention in the Book of Mormon of the route taken by the Jaredites (in 2,200 BC), or Mulekites (587 BC) in their respective voyages to the American continent. 

According to historical records, Pedro Alvarez Cabral accidently discovered the Northeastern coast of Brazil in 1500 AD (close to what is currently Porto Seguro, Bahia). According to Cabral’s account, a rogue wind blew him off course as he followed the common Portuguese trade route down the west coast of Africa. If unexpected trade winds brought Cabral to Bahia, it seems plausible that the Mulekites and Jaredites could have arrived on the east coast of South America in a similar manner.

Another known fact is that Phoenicia was an ancient civilization composed of independent city-states, which lay along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea stretching through what is now Syria, Lebanon, and northern Israel. 

If I lived in Babylonia at the time of the tower of Babel (which, according to the Book of Mormon, was the home and era of the Jaredites), or if I was Mulek looking to flee Jerusalem at the time of King Zedekiah (Mulek ́s father), the Mediterranean Sea would have been a logical choice. Besides, my wife would have vetoed both the Arabian Desert and Red Sea. 

Forgetting the massive logistics for a moment, I would have purchased boats from the local Phoenician shipyard (or built them, as did their Jaredite predecessors). Once aboard, I would lather up with sunscreen, put on my shades and sail due west until the Rock of Gibraltar. Then, it is just a matter of tacking southwest along the coast of Africa. If an errant trade wind kicked in, the rest would be history.... just as it was for Pedro Alvarez Cabral in 1500 BC, and perhaps for the Jaredites, Mulekites, and perhaps others, that preceded Admiral Cabral. 

The Atlantic route sure seems a lot more appealing than hiking all the way to the Red Sea, as Lehi did, and then using local resources to build a ship! Lehi’s options may have been limited due to the circumstances under which he departed Jerusalem. This was especially the case after his boys’ run- in with Laban to bring home the Brass Plates. No matter the origin of the navigators, dates of their journeys, routes travelled and logistical challenges, the discovery and population of the Americas was definitely an amazing adventure!

REFLECTIONS ON THE PEDRA DA GÁVEA

May 2, 2018

As a young missionary in the Brazil North Mission in 1969, I read an article in the Liahona about the Pedra da Gávea. (See March 1964 issue of the Liahona magazine) I was fascinated that such a prominent archeological site, with possible Book of Mormon significance, was so close to Rio de Janeiro (where I was serving at the time).

I was able to visit the Pedra da Gávea twice during my mission. As I gazed upward at the stoic rock face peering into the distance, I remember wondering: “Who” were the Phoenician people that carved the hieroglyphs into the massive granite stone? “Why” did they do it? “How” did they do it? Was it perhaps an ancient monument to some great warrior, political leader or prophet? Were the two eye-socket caves perhaps burial sites? What secrets were hidden in the dense rain forest surrounding the towering monolith?

The mystery of the hieroglyphs took on took new significance after we met a large, humble construction worker (Antonio de Andrade) in the town of Sao Gonçalo, across Guanabarra Bay from Rio. Antonio had recently moved from Campinas Grande, in the Northeastern State of Paraiba with his family of seven to find employment.

In our second discussion, Antonio was drawn to the Book of Mormon. He explained that, as a child in Paraiba, he played in caves with hieroglyphs on the walls. Since he had indigenous ancestry on both sides of his family tree, he read the Book of Mormon with keen interest.

Antonio refused to accept a baptismal date or allow his family to sit in on the missionary discussions until he was sure the Church was true. One Sunday, while seated in Sacrament meeting at the Niteroi Branch, the Branch President (Brother Brito) announced that there would be a baptism the following Sunday after Church.

While President Brito continued the meeting, Antonio leaned over to my left ear and asked, “how much advance notice do I need to give you to be baptized?” I whispered back that it usually took at least a week to complete the necessary interviews and paper work. To my joy and surprise, he responded, “I would like to be baptized next week after Church.” And so, he was.

The Book of Mormon answered Brother Andrade´s childhood questions about the source of the hieroglyphs in Paraiba and the Holy Ghost answered his prayers regarding the truthfulness of the restored gospel.

Brother Andrade, his wife (Teresina) and their five children joined the Church and were sealed together in the São Paulo Temple. At the time of his death, Brother Andrade was serving as Patriarch of the Paraiba Campinas Grande Stake.

If the Holy Ghost bore witness to Brother Andrade that the hieroglyphs of his youth were explained by the Book of Mormon, perhaps my fascination with the Pedra da Gávea and the Phoenician heritage of Brazil originates from the same source.

Bday Letter from Grandma (4/28/18)

It´s been birthday week here! And yes, I am the newest “Area 70”!! I can´t believe I turned 70.. that is so old! I´m sharing what my sweet grandkids sent me on my big day!! Made my day and caused me to cry, too!! I love you, family!

Papa did a great job taking care of me. I had a delicious breakfast in bed. Omelet, chocolate croissant, and pão de queijo, yum!! At the office, he had decorated my desk area and planned a time to celebrate (with cake!) with all the senior missionaries. After work, we went to the temple. Decided to do initiatories, so we would have time to go to a restaurant for dinner. I got right in and was done quickly and then waited for close to 2 hours for Papa. Took him that long to get done with 5 names because the Temple workers had other assignments that they got called away to do. So, we went home and Papa went out and picked up Japanese takeout! It was a long, full, wonderful day!

I guess my birthday was too much for me - I ended up with a bad cold/flu, so I took it easy for a few days. It was good to stay home too, to recover from turning 70!!

Great things continue to happen in Brazil.... especially with the delivery of our first blankets and crocheted hats given to refugees coming into Pacaraima, Brazil from Venezuela. Beautiful people with struggles we can´t even imagine. Bell Canyon Ward sent many crocheted hats and blankets. Senior Sister Missionaries here crocheted many more and then crocheted borders on all the blankets that were sent. Feels good to have found the perfect people to give them to.

We are preparing now for two WHO (World Health Organization) trainings in June. PT´s and OT´s will be trained on how to properly fit wheelchairs. One of these trainings will be to train 12 people from different parts of Brazil to be trainers themselves. This has never happened before and we are so excited! (2 Trainers are coming from the States for this.)

I finally got all the Boa Vista receipts accounted for and submitted! Julio and I have decided if we get audited, we will blame it on me, since Julio can be fired and I can´t!

The fun continues!!!

Love Papa and Grandma

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving!” – Albert Einstein

Birthday decorations!

My wonderful grandkids and their message!

Venezuelan refugees. This little one received the first hat and blanket!

First joint Elder's quorum in Morumbi Ward (following Pres. Nelson's announcement in Conference)

8.3 and Counting... (4/16/18)

Well, we are officially done with 8 months and 9 days of our mission... but who is counting!! I like to think of it as 9 months and it feels better!

Today I discovered some exciting news... ready??  Papa and I are related (besides being married)!! We are 11th cousins, once removed, through our dads. He, he, he! I love it.  I downloaded the app, Family Tree and if someone near you has the app too, it will tell you how you are related!  Fun!

I also discovered something exciting this week... You all know that I have been intrigued (obsessed really) with my Grandmother´s second husband, Albert Phillip Jenkins.  Well, in doing some research this week, I was reading memories that were entered in Family Search on his line.  From there I got an email address of someone willing to share information about that line, so I wrote her.  I had an email by the next day!  We have had some fun exchanges, but little new information... BUT, I was invited to the Jenkins Family Reunion this summer in Logan.  Lots of people are supposed to be there, so if anyone is interested in attending and looking for information, let me know!

Since I wrote last time, we made another trip back to Riberão Pires to visit their Garden Project this time.  Elder and Sister Barrett went with us.  They are Mental Health Missionaries here.  APRAESPI asked if they would come and talk to their psychologists.  They were interested in knowing how the USA addresses some of the issues they have here.  After shopping for the project, taking a tour to see the progress and eating lunch, we met with the team from the school.  There were 10 of us.  We met for about 2 hours and discussed issues that the 2 countries have in common.  It was very interesting.  I was able to share information from my years of teaching, too.  Brought back a lot of memories!  People seem to be the same everywhere, with the same kinds of problems!

Sister Dow (Wheelchair Specialist, that we work with from the States) and I have been planning to give our friends at APRAESPI a special gift.  Sister Dow went home and made 6 aprons, bought 6 bags of chocolate chips and 6 gift bags.  They brought them to me on their last trip here, a couple of weeks ago.  I added 2 crocheted pot holders, a recipe to make chocolate chip cookies, and a little bag of the finished cookies to each bag.  I was able to deliver 5 out of the 6 bags, and they loved them!  They have done so many nice things for us, that it felt great to do something special for them.

Papa continues to work on the Wheelchair Projects...among other things....., still "pushing the string up the hill"!!  Papa and I have also been asked to teaching the Marriage and Family Relationship class at church.  Sunday was our first week.  Actually, Papa does all the work and preparation, since it is in Portuguese, but I was able to participate just enough!

I´ve spent a lot of time on the finances for our missionaries at the border with the "Venezuelano" refugees.  Trying to reconcile $10,000 dollars worth of cash receipts.... Everyday is a new adventure!!

We are loving life and are grateful to be able to serve with these wonderful peopled!!  

Love to each and every one of you! 

Papa and Gma  

"The direction in which we are moving is more important than where we are at the moment!" - Marvin J. Ashton

5 minute rain storm in São Paulo!  We ducked into a restaurant and the water was gone by the time we were done!

APRAESPI's new garden project... they have two goats at the far end to keep the grass "mowed"!

New shed built by APRAESPI (with their own funds) for the project

Meeting of psychologists... and us!

Papa Made It Into the Paper! (4/13/18)

Pickleball Adopted as Sport in APRAESPI Curriculum

Translation:

Apraespi (Ribeirão Pires Association for the Prevention, Specialized Care and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities) presented another innovation in its service with the implementation of pickleball - a sport similar to tennis - in the list of therapeutic methods and in the School Physical Education classes specialized. The sport was created in the United States and brought to Ribeirão Pires last year by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, partners of the association in social projects.

It all started when missionary Ray Anderson (the church's social project leader in the area) was at Apraespi coordinating a wheelchair donation program and commented on pickleball. The professionals of the Association were curious and were invited to play a game. The multi-disciplinary rehabilitation team noted the potential of this modality to help students and patients.

If used as therapy, pickleball improves balance, motor coordination and patient reflexes. Inserted in the school curriculum, the sport is fun to play and strengthens fellowship among students. Because it is still new in Brazil, Apraespi aims to encourage the emergence of athletes who compete professionally in the sport, including in Paralympic tournaments.

Pickleball combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis. Can be played individually or in pairs. Players use solid rackets made of wood or composite materials to hit perforated polymer ball over a net. The sport shares characteristics of other racket sports, the dimensions and layout of badminton court and rules similar to tennis. It was invented in the 1960s as a children's backyard pastime, but has become one of the most popular sports in the United States and Canada.