May Memories

"It’s Autumn Time, it's autumn time ..."

Yes, it’s fall here, crazy we know, and at least the few deciduous trees we have are beginning to turn yellow and lose their leaves.  The Mango trees are interesting because they seem to put on new growth at the same time some of the leaves are falling, but the trees stay green the whole year.

The temple reopened on the 29th of April and is beautiful, with new carpet in some of the major rooms and some of the furnishings throughout reupholstered.  There were about 18 men sent from Salt Lake to do the work inside and out.  It is good to be back doing something that REALLY matters.  Our schedule has been changed, at least for this month.  We have the second shift, 2pm to 10pm.  We still will have 2 days a week in the baptistery for which we are glad.  We love working with the young people.  They bring such a sweet but exuberant spirit with them.

Along with the reconditioning of the temple, they also did some major upgrades in the temple apartments.  We now have new air conditioning units, new faucets in the kitchen and bathroom and a new shower head. We haven’t seen the promised ovens yet but we still have hope.  I still run up and down the stairs when we need to make muffins or cookies.  Helps to take away the guilt, as if we feel any!

Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May in Brazil also.  The Temple presidency had a luncheon that day for all of the Temple couples and to honor those with birthdays during the month, as well as the three new couples who have recently joined us.  Each of the husbands was asked to present their wives with a bouquet and messages from all of their children.  Most gave roses or Gerber daisies but I received a beautiful arrangement of tropical flowers in a special handpicked glass vase with special messages of love attached and a single red rose on my plate from Dad.  I surely felt like a “10 Cow Woman”!

This past Wednesday the State Military police went on strike and the state went into chaos.  I’m sure you probably read about it or heard it on the news.  During such times it really is not safe to be out on the streets.  Two of the grocery stores that we normally shop at were held up, the mall and all the other shops nearby closed up, as well as did the temple close early so that people could get home in the daylight hours.  We decided to make lemonade out of the situation of being sequestered in our compound.  Dad made popcorn and we spent the afternoon watching “Frozen”.  By the next day the police had received the raise they were striking for and all returned to the “normal” chaos.  It is rumored that there may be a strike by the city police this next week.  We have our month’s supply of food and popcorn and money in case the banks go on strike, so we are fine.  Such is life in Brazil.  Just can’t wait for the World Cup, if indeed it happens here.

In spite of all of the special events that have occurred so far this month, the highlight of the month and probably of our mission here, will be the special visit last Saturday of Elder and Sister Russell M. Nelson and President and Sister Claudio Costa to the Temple. We have known about and anticipated this visit for about 2 weeks and have been rehearsing in our minds the various responsibilities that we would have.  Both of us were assigned to facilitate Elder and Sister Nelson’s and Pres. and Sister Costa’s experience as they went through a session.  We felt very humbled.  It was something that you would never in your wildest imagination dream of doing. When we come home and can share this experience on a more intimate basis, we will tell you all about it.  As if that wasn't enough, there were many of our dearest friends from Sao Paulo in their entourage, so for us it was a day filled with much love and many “abraços” (hugs).

Our hearts are full of gratitude and love to our Heavenly Father for his goodness and mercy in our behalf, and His many blessings to each of you.  We send our love to you all.