November Blessings

The Story of the “The Dead Tree”

When we first arrived at our apartment in Recife, Brazil and were admiring our beautiful gardens, we noticed right in front of our windows overlooking the gardens, a tree without leaves that appeared to be dead.  “Why would there be a dead tree in a garden so beautiful and meticulously cared for?  Maybe they will cut it down soon,” I said to myself.  Each afternoon upon returning from the temple and sitting on our couch I would look out at the seemingly lifeless branches.  “They surely will cut this tree down,” Grandpa said as he gazed out the window at the gardeners working.  “I think I am beginning to see the nodules on the slender branches beginning to swell,” I replied.

Each day I examined the tree hoping to see new life emerge.  Then little by little from those swelling nodules there appeared tiny green shoots that grew and grew producing butterfly-shaped leaves the size of a saucer that seem to close a little at night. 

Then one by one, small pink orchid-shaped flowers appeared covering the entire top of the tree.  I don’t know the real name of the tree, but when we see this tree in Hawaii we call it an “orchid tree”.  It is also sometimes called a “butterfly tree”.   Each afternoon the humming birds come to suck the sweet nectar of the flowers.  Totally amazing, totally beautiful!!

I am so glad there was a gardener smarter than me that knew the potential of this little unpretentious tree.  I leave the significance of this story for each of you to apply.

In November the Primary children in the other ward presented their annual Primary Sacrament Meeting program.  Of course Grandpa and I had to attend.  Our ward has very few Primary children so I am not sure if they ever had a program, at least not since we have been here.  These are pictures taken as the children were getting ready. I could just imagine each one of our Primary Grandchildren giving their parts in their respective wards.  We were well taught by the children that day.   Anyone see a little Brazilian “Ella” in these pictures?

On the 19^th of November the new presentation began at the temple, also involving a new schedule, including an extra session in the Baptistery.  November also brought opportunities of reuniting with some of our former missionaries and our beloved housekeeper from our Belem mission as they came to the temple.  So many special blessings to be thankful for in this Month of Thanksgiving. Yes, we did have a Thanksgiving dinner with Turkey and all of the trimmings with the American Couples serving here, 8 in all, thanks to the Christophersons for putting it all together. We contributed sweet potatoes and our Thanksgiving napkins and cranberries that we brought from the States, anticipating such an occasion. 

We are so thankful for each of you, your love, support for us and for each other.

We are changing our e-mail address to amazondon@gmail.com and would love to hear from each of you in the coming month.

Always Learning

Just returned from doing our laundry.  With 3 washing machines and 4 dryers I can have it done and folded in about 2 hours.  Sweet!  So I thought I had better get going on an, albeit short, blog today.
The past week went well.  Everyday there is something different to be entrusted with and to learn about.  The baptistry is a work in progress as there are so many variables to deal with.  But we are getting more comfortable with the routine and enjoying it more and more each day.  I will say this, it is a challenge physically with all of the clothes and towels to fold and hang each day.  I was helping Sister Chrisopherson this morning get things in order and she hung 100 baptism jumpsuits while I folded towels, floor rugs, mens shorts etc.  Tuesday morning being the first of the week is always the hardest.
A wonderful surprise this week was a gift of a piano from our Temple Presidents wife.  This beautiful piano has been sitting in the original apartment downstairs from us that has housed the previous Temple Presidents and their wives.  Our temple president decided that they wanted to move to the third floor where a new apartment was prepared for them.  They are renovating the old apartment and will turn it in to a computer center for the young people who come on the caravans so that they can do extraction and other work on the computers when they are not in the baptistry.  Neither the temple president nor his wife play the piano so Sister Pizzerani asked if I would like to have it in our apartment.  I substituted 2 Sundays in Sacrament Meeting when Sister Christopherson was taking a trip during the temple closure and she probably figured I would inherit that job when the Christophersons leave next June and need to have a piano to practice on.  Anyway I am thrilled to have it.  It is a beautiful addition to our home and even though I am not as good as my girls who do play I so enjoy practicing each day.

Any of you who have seen the movie RIO will remember the little monkeys in that show.  Yesterday as we were walking to the store I looked up and there were 3 of those pesky little creatures running along the telephone or power lines.  Only in Brazil!  Tchau for now. Te amo.

Our Place of Refuge and Beauty

Celestial room Stained glass windows

We thought you would like to see some pictures of the temple and our beautiful garden of Eden.

Walkway to the temple

Walkway to the World

Antirrhinum garden outside our window

Mangos beginning to grow

Our Apartment building.  Bottom row 2nd and 3rd
windows from the right is ours, #204

Inner Courtyard, Apts. on left.

Bedroom

Dining/Living room

Even have a dishwasher!

As the sun has settled down in the southern hemisphere, and daylight savings time has once again affected life in the United States, I was thinking about “light” today in our fast and testimony meeting.  We heard wonderful, stirring testimonies from members who accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ from two to twenty-six years ago.  Many commented about the light that warmed their souls as they came into the meeting houses for the first time and felt the love of the Savior and the members, which light continued to be present as the missionaries taught the Gospel to them.

I bear testimony that the Light of Christ is felt daily in our lives as we accept and live the principles that the Savior taught.  It is that Light that gives brightness to the heavens and earth.  Good is light; evil is dark.  Those who do evil things have no glow and most of their evil acts are performed in the nighttime. Our grandson Chase, asked about Halloween in Brazil and I explained that for the younger children, it usually is a party in their or their friend’s homes.  They do dress up as is done in the U.S., but trick or treating is not done much unless they live in high rise condominiums or apartment complexes.  The streets are much too dangerous at night!

This week was wonderful, and we enjoyed many spiritual experiences.  Our assignments included coordinating the work in the baptistery on two days.  Many young people came from faraway places to be able to perform the ordinances of baptism and confirmation, and much work was accomplished. Because of time restraints and space limitations, the groups are limited to 30 young men and 30 young women in separate sessions.  Obviously, the smaller the group, the more ordinances each individual can perform, but that doesn’t keep the larger groups from coming. 

We also coordinated the adult endowment and initiatory sessions for our shift on the other three days.  The temple was filled with delightful members from as far away as Fortaleza (12 hours), Maceio (6 hours), as well as members within a few miles from the temple. We had the opportunity to meet one of our dear missionaries who served with us in Belem – always a highlight.

Now, what does that have to do with light?  A bus, chartered by members from Maceio which was traveling through the night to get to the temple, was stopped by “highway robbers” who forced the bus from the highway onto a dirt side road, and robbed all of the members, taking money and jewelry.  No one was injured and it did not keep the members from enjoying their day at the temple – where there is LIGHT.  The thieves, who work under the cover of darkness, cannot dim the light in the eyes of those who are following the Savior and doing His work!

We love Brazil, but we also understand that there are many who, because of poverty and vices, steal and rob from others who have the appearance of having more luxuries in life.  We are grateful to live in the gated security of the temple complex, and never venture out at night.  We love the Savior and are thankful to be able to serve Him and his wonderful, committed people in northern Brazil.

Our love to each and every one of you.

The Temple Reopens

   What a wonderful week it has been.  The temple is open again, clean and beautiful and to our surprise, there were 3 buses from Belem that arrived Monday night with Saints from the Belem, Castanhal and Icoaraci Stakes.  For 4 days, there was great rejoicing as we encountered old friends.  One Sister reminded us that her son who has now served a mission, returned and now married, was 8 years old when we served in Belem.  Made us feel old but happy for the progress of this family.  These faithful people were up every morning and standing in line by 6:00 AM waiting to get into the cafeteria, which doesn't open until 7,  for a breakfast of milk, fruit, and bread, anxious to put in a day of service.  They brought pages and pages of family names with them, supplying enough to provide for every ordinance for the week.
   We have a new responsibility coordinating the baptistry 2 days a week.  A new experience and lots to learn but we have already been blessed with insight of how to accomplish this in a good way.  Most of the responsibilities we have been given have come with only a little direction so we must rely on the Spirit so that things will be done in the right way.   I believe the Brazilians think that just because you are from the "American church" you know all of the answers.  At any rate, we had 2 and sometimes 3 boys and 7-10 girls who attended the baptistry sessions morning and afternoon to begin the process so the other ordinances could be completed.  It was a beautiful example of how this work is to be done, on a family name basis.
   On the two mornings we coordinate the baptistry we also, with the Counselor and his wife in the temple presidency, open the temple and serve as receptionists.  It is one of our favorite positions in the temple, to greet the people as they come.  It was especially a great joy this week to welcome our beloved Belem brothers and sisters.  One of the impressions that came to me this week was how the Gospel blesses us in every aspect of our lives.  As I saw these people come dressed in suits and their Sunday best, modest clothing, I remembered the stories that perhaps you might remember reading in the Ensign or hearing, of a humble, almost destitute people arriving and not only being filled spiritually, but literally being fed and clothed before returning home, a 33 hour bus ride without air conditioning, and some continuing up the Amazon for 4 more days. As you can see they now come on the executive, air conditioned buses.   As they entered the temple it was evident that, not only had their lives been made sweet by being faithful to their covenants, but they had prospered financially.  It still takes them a year to save enough to come but they go home resolved to return next year.  One sister said to me, "I always cry when I have to leave the temple."  My reply was, "You will take it with you in your heart." "Yes," she said, "we will take it with us in our hearts."

Patriarch Queiroz and Family-Castanhal

  The rejoicing on the other side of the veil must have been equally as great as it was for us this week as thousands of ordinances were recorded in their behalf.  What a joy to be such an integral part of this great latter-day gathering.  Thanks to all of you for your love and support which make it possible.

Always an ADVENTURE!

Bus Routes

   The past 2 weeks since General Conference the temple has been closed for it's semi-annual cleaning.  The other two American couples invited us to go with them, traveling in a car, to several coastal cities and as far as Fortaleza up north.  Although they are very beautiful places, and since we had already been there before, we opted to stay home and get re-acquainted with Recife.  Our goal was to become acquainted with the routes of the buses that run by the streets surrounding the temple and see if some of our favorite restaurants still existed. It seems like the traffic within the city has doubled since we were here, 2005-2007.  It is said that there are over 300 cars sold here each day.  Anyway we are glad that we do not have to drive here.

Casa da Cultura

  The bus system is good once you figure out where they all go. So we got on and rode sometimes to the end of the line and back.  To say the least, every trip was an "experience" but we did get acquainted with some of the routes and did find our favorite Chinese restaurant and had lunch there one day. I also found my favorite pastry shop and bought a piece of cake, chocolate mousse called "Seduction". On another day, we found the biggest shopping mall we have ever been to.  It's only a year old and so beautiful.  So anxious to see it decorated for Christmas.  We visited an old prison that is now a cultural center.  In the cells, artisans display their wares, including the beautiful lace made in the fishing villages of northern Brazil .
   While shopping at a large grocery store about 6 blocks from the apartment, we found, miracle of miracles, some small cans of sliced jalapeno peppers.  I would have liked to have bought the whole display but controlled myself and only bought 2 cans.  Hope they are still available next time we go there.  The best rule of thumb here is, if you see it, you had better buy it because you probably will not see it again.

Grandma's Cabinet

A Thing of Beauty

   One of our great accomplishments during our break was to buy and put together, with the help of my trusty little screw driver kit, a pair of pliers and a borrowed hammer, a cabinet for the bedroom, pictures included. Dad did a super job as you can see.  Another adventure we had was to get a haircut.  You just never know what to expect the first time, except that it will be short and we surely weren't disappointed.  Don's looked pretty good.  Mine on the other hand was "SHORT"!!  Denise said I could just let it grow out for the next 17 months and not have to worry about it again.
   I guess these are just some of the reasons we keep coming back.  Got to love the ADVENTURE in every day!!    At the end of the day we are glad to come home to our garden paradise of peace and serenity out of the world and will be happy to return to our service in the temple this week.
       Love you all and miss you.

Countdown to World Cup

Welcome to Brazil

 After a long flight from Salt Lake through Atlanta and São Paulo, we finally arrived as scheduled on September 20th.  We actually felt like we were returning home, everything was so familiar.  The only glitch in the trip was in São Paulo.  As our plane  to Recife was pushed out from the terminal and the engines started, all seemed to be well, except when we taxied out for take off.  We sat there for about 15 minutes when the pilot came on the p.a. and said that there was an indication that perhaps a door was ajar.  So back to the ramp we went so it could be checked out.  It turned out to be a false indicator light, so no problem, it would be replaced.  But, when the plane taxied in, the ground crew thought that it was an incoming flight so they began to pull the luggage off.  Some passengers on the right side of the plane noticed it and informed the flight attendant.   After a few minutes, the pilot came back on the p.a. and said that the ground crew was informed of the error, and not to worry, the bags would be reloaded.  We had to laugh, and say, "we're back in Brazil".

  We are impressed with the beauty of the exterior grounds of the temple as well as the interior of the temple it's self.  We were put right to work after one day of looking on to see how things are run here.  Our shift during that week was 2 pm to 10:00 pm, and we learned a lot.  Then we switched to the early shift from 6:30 am to 2:30 pm.  We certainly found out how much we were needed, as we already serve as supervisors of some of the various ordinances.  There are two other couples from the U.S. serving as temple missionaries, and one other was serving as a counselor in the temple presidency until completing their mission last Thursday.  I believe that there are two Brazilian couple missionaries also serving, one of which went home last week, so obviously, we are really running to get everything covered.  Certainly, there are other ordinance workers, as well as when outlying stakes have excursions, they also have excursion officiators who help.  Nothing like the 400 ordinance workers in the Salt Lake Temple.  Thus far we have had excursions from Bahia, Recife, and Fortaleza fill the temple as well as the temple grounds.  Hardly a day goes by that we don't run into one of our missionaries or someone we have previously known.  We love serving as receptionists and welcoming everyone to the temple.  When we leave the air conditioned temple, where I almost always wear a sweater, it is like someone wrapped a warm blanket around me as we walk to our apartment in the warm humidity of the day or night. 

Don, always the servant to the end, got locked in the temple one night.  Here is his story.  The temple has an assigned "general coordinator" who oversees and coordinates the work of the veil, initiatory and baptistery supervisors.  On this day, he was helping me understand my duties and how to get the correct number of ordinance workers to man the initiatory booths.  Because of the limited number of available workers, that is sometimes a challenge.  For example, when there is a session about ready for the veil, the initiatory work stops so that the workers can get to the veil, and begins again after that session is through.  As the shift was ending, he showed me about preparing the booths for the next day, as well as making sure that the rental clothing is emptied from the bins and deposited down a chute in bags to the laundry room.  He left as I was completing that work.  When completed, I went to the locker room to change clothes and prepare to leave, however, upon attempting to leave the temple, I found that the main door was locked, and as near as I could tell, no one was in the temple.  Having served at the recommend desk earlier in the day, I remembered a list of telephone numbers that I had seen and found a number for "security", which I called.  Within a few minutes, a security guard came and opened the door from the outside.  The next day I learned that the member of the temple presidency on duty during the last shift is responsible for locking the temple at 10:00 pm.  I didn't know that and he didn't know that I was still there.  I guess I could have gone to the first aid room and slept on the couch, but it all worked out.

Following the wonderful general conference our temple has been closed for its semiannual cleaning.  We have been spending our days getting reacquainted with the area and the city in general.  Because we are old and white headed be can ride the buses for free so we have been riding each day on the busses that run in front of the temple just to see where they go.  The first of the week we bought a small chest for our bedroom and put it together successfully with my trusty little packet of screw drivers and a borrowed hammer.  Its beautiful and Dad did such a great job.  Our first Sunday brunch consisted of a fruit compote, juice, bacon, and waffles made in my handy dandy stove top waffle maker brought from home. We have been able to locate a health food store in the Mall next to us for protein powder and have all the comforts of home in such beautiful surroundings.  We are so blessed!  We will do our best to keep you posted on our experiences. 
Love you all and thank you for your prayers and support. 

 

   

 

 

What A Way To Begin!

Our training actually started early in September after receiving our call.  We were able to go twice a week to the Mount Timpanogos Temple and spend time, sometimes together, beginning to memorizing the ordinances in Portuguese.  It seems no matter how well you know the language each mission provides opportunity to increase your vocabulary.  In this case it is the sacred vocabulary of the temple ordinances.

On Saturday Sept. 14 we checked into the Radisson Hotel in Salt Lake in preparation for our MTC training in the Salt Lake Temple.  On Sunday we attended the Tabernacle Choir broadcast and later a Stake conference in the Tabernacle.  Monday was the start of our training and dressed in our white clothing we met in the large chapel in the Temple under the direction of Brother Robbins of the Temple Department and brother Carlos Santos, assistant temple recorder.  I found it hard to keep my mind focus as the Temple itself was so all consuming of my attention.  Each day we were instructed in one of the ordinances and then participated in that ordinance.  Our training ran from about 8 to 4 each day and included lunch in the temple cafeteria.  One day they were serving turkey and all the trimmings.  I decided that that day would be my Thanksgiving Dinner that we would not have in Brazil.  It was delicious! We loved hearing all of the stories of the good and not so good things that happen in the temples and Brother Robbins' constant reminder that "that doesn't invalidate the ordinance".  I wondered why he was emphasizing that so much until we began our service and came to appreciate the fact that mistakes do happen.

There were 19 couples and 3 single sisters in our company who will be serving in England, Korea, Bolivia, Russia, South Africa, Washington DC, Samoa, Philippines, Colombia and of course, Brazil. I think only 2 of the couples had not served previous missions.  We were probably the oldest couple in the group!  As a finally to the week we were taken on a guided tour to some of the special rooms in the temple.  I would some day consider it an honor to meet some of the faithful servants who built this holy place. 

Our day ended with a short visit with Elder Ulisses Soares and Elder Carlos Godoy at the church office building where they are currently serving.  Two men that we dearly love.

Donna, Ken and family came up Wednesday night and we went to the Red Iguana for dinner.  Had to get our fill of Mexican food before we left.  Generally it doesn't exist in Brazil unless we make it.  Thursday afternoon Sept. 19th we were on our way to Recife, Brazil by way of Atlanta and São Paulo, a 24 hour trip including layovers.

The Mission Call Opening

 

We're going again!