Americans arriving at the São Paulo MTC

Group picture with President and Sister Clark that we email to the parents of  each group of arriving  missionaries. This is the March 23, 2011 picture of the Americans.  Only the second such group we have received in the last 5 or 6 months.

Elder Abraham M. Rawlings from Moroni Utah was the only missionary to ride in the van that carried all of the luggage for the 17 Americans that arrived at the São Paulo MTC on March 23rd. He helped the driver unload the bags before the van carrying the other missionaries arrived. 

Waiting for the other van to arrive.

We didn't have to wait long.  The Elder in the front seat is taking a picture of us as I am taking his picture. Depending on the traffic, it is about a 30 minute drive from the airport to the MTC (on a good day). The MTC has a contract with a transit company to provide the vans and buses that we use for all our transportation needs.

Missionaries almost always take an overnight flight to Brazil,  usually from Dallas or Atlanta.  So when they finally get to the MTC they are exhausted.  These missionaries are no exception.  We try to keep them awake until after dinner when they are free to go to bed early if they wish.  But by then, many have found their second wind don't retire until the normal time of 10:30 pm.

This group is one of the first to use our new secure unloading area.  Food and material deliveries as well as garbage pick ups are made from this area. We also load and unload missionaries here who are going to or coming from the temple.

Brother José Peçanha, mission secretary, takes an individual picture of each missionary for administrative purposes as well as a group picture which we email to their parents. Elder Adam W. Schwartz from Kennewick, Wasinhgton is shown here having his photo taken.  He will serve in the Porto Alrgre South mission.

Elder Schwartz again finding his name so he can write in the email address of his parents.

We are so thrilled to again have groups of Americans finally getting their visas so that they are able to come to the MTC.  Here several are waiting for the final Elder to have his picture taken. From left to right in front; Sister Chanel K. Grant from Yakima Washington, Sister Ruth Lindsey Turner from Vancouver Washington, Sister Kamryn Elyse Bailey from North Bend Washington, Elder Noah R. Krulish from Sammamish Washington; Back Row,  Elder Kurtis R. Brodhead from Everett Washington, Elder Trevor R. Pearcy from Slippery Rock Pennsylvania, Elder Abraham M Rawlings from Moroni Utah and Elder David L. Potts from Issaquah Washington. Notice how many are from the Northwest.  They submit their request for a Brazilian visa through the San Francisco consulate.  For some reason those who submit their requests through Los Angeles consulate (Utah, Arizona, So. California, Nevada and Idaho) are not yet receiving their visas.

This is the Campinas Temple and is located about an hour and  a quarter north of the city of São Paulo. Today, March 24th 2011,  Jerry and  I accompanied  a group of Brazilians missionaries who came to this temple  because the São Paulo temple is closed for cleaning and repairs.

This building, which is adjacent to the temple, houses some offices and a distribution center on the bottom floor and apartments for patrons and temple workers on the two floors above.

The wife of this couple was kind enough to take a family name for Jerry through an endowment session.. When they met each other outside the temple the two greeted each other with a Brazilian hug and a kiss.  This is a very common tradition here in Brazil.  (One lady touches her cheek on the cheek of the other person and they both make a kissing sound with their lips).  The brazilians are a very kind, loving people. The husband served as a teacher at the MTC, but this happened before we arrived.

Some of the beautiful trees and schrubs on the temple grounds.

Jerry makes her way back to the parking lot behind the temple where the buses are waiting for us.

The two white buses brought us to this temple and waited while we were inside.  The smaller bus brought those missionaries who have never been to the temple.  The larger of the two is the one we came on and which we are about to board for the return trip.  It takes about half a day to make this trip and we left the MTC in São Paulo at 6:30 am.

A view from the back of the temple.  

The temple sits on a hill and offers a 360° view of the surrounding countryside.

A major freeway provides accessibility to the temple.

Security is partially provided by a guard booth and controlled entrance and egress.

This is the Campinas Temple and is located about an hour and  a quarter north of the city of São Paulo. Today, March 24th 2011,  Jerry and  I accompanied  a group of Brazilians missionaries who came to this temple  because the São Paulo temple is closed for cleaning and repairs.

This building, which is adjacent to the temple, houses some offices and a distribution center on the bottom floor and apartments for patrons and temple workers on the two floors above.

The wife of this couple was kind enough to take a family name for Jerry through an endowment session.. When they met them outside the temple the two greeted each other with a Brazilian hug and a kiss.  This is a very common tradition here in Brazil.  (One lady touches her cheek on the cheek of the other person and they both make a kissing sound with their lips).  The brazilians are a very king, loving people. The husband served as a teacher at the MTC, but this happened before we arrived.

Some of the beautiful trees and schrubs on the temple grounds.

Jerry makes her way back to the parking lot behind the temple where the buses are waiting for us.

The two white buses brought us to this temple and waited while we were inside.  The smaller bus brought those missionaries who have never been to the temple.  The larger of the two is the one we came on and which we are about to board for the return trip.  It takes about half a day to make this trip and we try to left the MTC in São Paulo at 6:30 am.

A view from the back of the temple.  

The temple sits on a hill and offers a 360° view of the surrounding countryside.

A major freeway provides accessibility to the temple.

Security is partially provided by a guard booth and controlled entrance and egress.

The building in which the Brazilian MTC resides is seven stories high. The first five of these photos were taken from the top floor of this building. This one is looking down on a palm tree that stands outside of our front room window. The lovely garden below provides us with a beautiful scene from all three rooms of our apartment.



This patio lies just to the east of the front portion of the main building. An older home used to stand on this spot in which the former executive secretary of the MTC and his wife lived. The overhanging roof to the left of the picture houses the weight room of the MTC. This is a pleasant place for the missionaries to hold their companion study sessions.




This garden of geometrical shapes is situated between the weight room and the front entrance to the MTC. A simular garden is located on the other side of the entrance to the MTC lobby.  It is always well maintained and carefully manicured.  However this garden is not visible to those who pass by on the street in the front of the MTC. One must look down from above, to really appreciate the design.




The largest tree in the center of the picture is a mango tree and is quite a prolific prodcuer of the fruit.  Jerry and I have acquired a taste for mangos and have them a few times a week. To the left of the tree,  part of the entrance to the weight room is visable. In the foreground is the roof of a large parking garage.




This large white apartment building has been under contruction ever since we arrived in Brazil. Out of curiosity we stopped by the sales office and inquired how much the penthouse apartment cost.  About R$ 450.000,00 (reais or Brazilian currency) or $300,000.00.  It is almost completed now. Note the huge net that shrouds parts of the building. These nets prevent falling object from injuring people on the ground.



We are in the Villa-Lobos Shopping Mall which the Brazilians call a "Shopping" dropping the word "mall" from the phrase we would use. Jerry and Sister Dille are using two of the dozen wash basin conveniently located in a large food court area.  We didn't eat there but did have clean hands on the way home.

Whew!  Home at last!  Sister Dille successfully drove through the São Paulo traffic and made it safely back to the MTC. We went along for the ride and helped navigate. It is quite a satisfying feeling to maneuver the streets of this big city  and get back home safe and sound.

Fred and Carol Williams. Elder Williams served as my trainer when I was a brand new senior companion in Araraquara.  I will always be indebted to him for his great example and excellent training. They are currently serving as president and matron of the Recife temple. They had come to São Paulo so that Sister Williams could receive physical therapy for her wrists, both of which were broken in a fall in the temple parking lot in Recife. 

The previous post showed the flower stands outside of this huge cemetery near the center of São Paulo.  Now let´s take a look inside of it.  Here I am approaching the entrance.

The grounds are well maintained and it is here that many of the flowers purchased at those stands also find their final resting place. (I couldn't resist that)

It was very serene and peaceful in the cemetery.

In the very center of these graves is a Catholic chapel.

The site slopes downward from the entrance,  occasionally offering views like this.

On the edge of one of the overlooks stand this impressive memorial to those who have served in the military.

There are hundreds of rows of graves marked with tombstones. Some are modest while others are very ornate and quite large.  It feels like you are wakling through a miniature city.

There are many flowers placed on the  monuments, but the are also thousands of trees, many of which themselves are covered with beautiful blossoms.

Elder Larry Dille and Sister Sandra Dille,  medical advisers for the Brazil MTC.

We are sure that many of these elaborate monuments were quite costly to purchase and set up.  We have wondered where the poor and humble people are laid to rest.

An obvious representation of a familiar scripture.

 Most of the names we saw were either of Portuguese or Italian origin. Of course the were names other nationalities represented, but I was surprised by the number of Italians names.

Sometimes Jerry shows a mild flair towards the dramatic. She still is as pretty as ever.

I liked the pose and expression of this old priest.

We spent several hours wandering up and down little streets like this one, by we only covered a vert small part of this huge cemetery.

This last photo is of the inside portion of the wall that encircles the cemetery. It is lined with crypts the are numbered.  The columns are 5 deep and there are thousands ( we did not walk all the way  around the inside of the perimeter) of these stacked tombs.

It is an impressive place to visit. It is also a very graphic reminder of the size of the work that the living must do for those who have ended their mortal probation without having received the ordinances of the Gospel.