ON A MISSION AGAIN
January 7-17 we were here at the MTC in Provo. This is our district. Elder Joseph Harper from Blackfoot Idaho was our instructor. From left to right: Sheldon and Zelma Ewell from California going to serve as an office couple in the Dominican Republic. Vernon and Jerry, Elder Harper served in a Arizona Messa mission, Ricki and Keith Kringler from Riverton Utah going to South Africa to serve in the Family History Center.

Ilha BelaOne of the days spent on

While visiting in  Ubatuba, we spent one entire day visiting the "Ilha Bela" (the Island Beautiful).  We took a bus from Ubatuba to São Sabastião. From there we boarded the ferry,  for there are no bridges to the Island. Here we are under way and the island is in the background. 

Even though there are clouds in the background, the sun was unusually warm.

We had a our lunch in a little park along the seawall, with our feet dangling  a few  feet above the waves that were spashing at the foot of the wall.  We had purchased some sandwiches at a snack shop along this road.

There were lots of shops along this road that led inland from the ocean.

Looking towards the mainland from the ferry on the trip back. Walk-on passengers were not required to to pay for the trip to or from the island.  The ferrys only charge passage or the vehicles, and they run 24/7.

Several large ships were anchored in this port, waiting to take on or unload  cargo.

We are almost ready to disembarque and go back to the inn.

This was taken at the Tieté bus terminal in São Paulo. We are about to board the bus for Ubatuba,  a small resort town on the coast about three hours northeast from here. The sister next to Jerry is Lynette Clark.  She and her husband Larry are serving as temple missionaries.

This is the little inn (pousada) where we stayed for a few days. The bus dropped us off on the  highway about 4 blocks from here.  It was raining very hard.  Each of us had two peices if luggage to pull and an umbrella to hold. By the time we arrived here we were all soaked to the skin. This picture of Jerry at the door to the  reception desk, was taken the next morning after it had rained all night.

This little two story house was the first  structure built on the site and served as the residence for the owners while the other buildings were under construction. The french doors on the porch open to a dining room where we played games in the evening.

The pool was small.  I don't know what Brother  Clark was photographing.

Behind the bamboo privacy fence on the left side was the room that Jerry and I occupied.

A view of the entrance to the courtyard of the inn

This sign was about a hundred yards down the road from our inn. The bottom sign has the name of our bed and breakfast, "Vivendas do Morro Verde".

Every morning Jerry and Lynette got up early to go for a stroll along the beach. In order to get to the beach, we had to walk about two block to the highway, then about three more blocks to the ocean.

This is George who is a very talkative almost hippie-type. His wfe is at his right side and her sister on his left side.  The two sisters started this inn about 20 years ago.  George,  who was born in Belguim, lived for 40 years in Califonia, then came to Brazil about 10 years ago where he met and married his 2nd  wife .  He spends his time painting and showed hundreds of his paintings.

Some early morning tourists playing a kind of paddleball on the beach.

This is looking down the beach in the other direction from the picture above.

The vendors start early.  This picture was taken early on a Thursday morning and the beach was almost deserted.

Not all of the coastline was sandy beaches. At some spots the waves were crashing on the rocks.

Time to go home. We had made arrangements with the bus driver to stop on the highway and pick us up at the same place he dropped us off.  We had to keep an eye out for the right bus. When it came along, we waved him down and he stopped along the side of the road and loaded our bags.  It was a wonderful respite from our duties at the MTC and the Clarks were great travelling companions.

This was taken at a restaurant in Embu. The picture is of the entire medical staff for all the missionaries in Brazil. From left to right;  Dr. Rick Call and his wife, Sue Ann from Pleasant Grove, Sister Kerma and Dr. Richard Hill from Idaho Falls and Elder Larry Dille and his wife Sandy from Tremonton. Elder Dille supervises medical needs of the missionaries at the São Paulo MTC. The two medical doctors field health questions from the 27 missions in Brazil. Notice that Dr. Call has an ear phone.  Both physicians field calls From all over Brazil, wherever they are and whenever the call come.  Great people! 

Every group of missionaries that arrive at the MTC has a photo like this taken.  It is emailed along with a letter from the President to parents of each new arrival to the São Paulo MTC.

Our egg lady.  Every Satuday morning we go the open air market to shop for food for the week.  We have become friends with this lady and her husband.  The dozen eggs we buy each Saturday lasts us for the week.

Dr. Hill looks over the mangos.  We have developed quite a taste for them.  At the current exchange rate, they come to about six dollars for four mangos.

The nut vendors are a familiar sight and are quite common at these open air markets.  But nuts are more expensive here than in the states.  It is ironic that Brazil nuts are cheaper at the Orem Costo than here in Brazil.

You can find some pretty strange things here.  Dr Hill did not buy the mask.

Colorful clothing is quite prevelent.  Brazilians tend to be a bit more daring in their choice of colors than Americans.

Brother Dille tries on a new hat. I don't think his wife approves.

Wash day in a humble neighborhood.  The Brazilians call these favelas. We stopped along one of the main streets in this area to snap this picture.  The news portrays the favelas as a breeding ground for crime. However we have not had a lot of experience visiting these area, but feel like the media has over dramatized the cases of crime that do occur here.

So long for now. We will be home soon.

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.