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| Our arrival picture with President & Sister Gunça |
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| In Rio ready to disembark. |
We left Salt Lake City at 2:15 p.m. -- bound for Rio de Janeiro. We only had 1 layover in Atlanta and were scheduled to leave for Rio at 11:30 p.m. (Atlanta time) However, our plane had a part that needed to be changed and it was around 1:30 a.m. when we actually took off. It was strange to eat dinner at 2:30 in the morning. But then we had the rest of the night to 'sleep'. We actually did pretty good, considering all things.
After arriving in Rio at 1:00 p.m. (Rio time), going through passport control, getting our bags and leaving the secure arrival area, we were very happy and relieved to see our mission president, his wife and 2 missionaries waving and smiling!! They welcomed us warmly with handshakes and hugs (depending on being a sister or elder). We all got in the Uber van/bus and drove to the mission home about 45 minutes away.
BLESSING: We could understand and contribute to the conversation!!!
BLESSING: We didn't look too bad after nearly 24 hours of travel!
So, the first thing is to introduce our mission president. His name is President Heltmar Gunça and his wife is Sister Marilucy Gunça. Their oldest child and daughter just left for a mission on Temple Square. They have 3 sons who came with them on the mission: Mateus age 17, Elias age 15 and Nathan age 5.
Nathan is a bundle of energy and it is fun to see his parents play swords and gentle soccer in the apartment. It is obvious that President Gunça considers his role as husband and father greater than his call as mission president. That is a great role model for all the missionaries here!
Also, all the office elders and the 1st (and only) counselor in the mission presidency joined us.
From left to right:
front: Elder Magalhaes, AP;
Elder Santos: Dennis trainer for housing; Elder Ávila my trainer for medical issues; Elder Altamirano, AP; Elder Neilson, training for Financial secretary after 2 months in mission; Elder Costellanos, my trainer for baptism records.
Back: Elder Cardim, outgoing Financial Secretary and going home (in Brazil) at the end of the month; Dennis, Janet, Sister Gunça, President Gunça, President André Pimentel and his wife Giselle
After lunch we left to see the office and then we walked to our apartment with them explaining the various stores etc. It takes about 10 minutes to walk briskly to and from the apartment and mission office and is good exercise at least twice daily! And we walk past 2 large grocery stores, the post office, restaurants, houseware stores etc. etc. We haven't yet needed to go outside our neighborhood to get what we need.
Our Apartment
Our complex has 2 large apartment buildings with a locked gate to enter. The gate house is attended 24/7 and they open the gate for us.
The front building is right on a busy street and noisy. On the left, this is picture is of our building and the walkway between them. We live on the 1st floor -- which is really the 3rd floor. We walk into the 0 floor, the next floor up is parking and then we are the first floor of apartments.
We have also enjoyed the different Spring flowers that are blooming!
This picture is next to the exit gate that you can see on the left.
The mission did a lot to spruce it up -- new bathrooms, new stove/oven, new microwave. And the elders furnished it with just about everything we needed - and some things I still am not sure how to use. They also stocked the shelves with enough to get through the night and morning. Thank you, office elders!!!
We don't have hot water at the kitchen sink. But the elders had bought us an electric tea pot that we use to heat water to do dishes.
Below, our little kitchen table where we eat meals. There is a larger table in the living room area, but this is more convenient and sufficient.
Above right is our living room. The mission purchased the television and cabinet. It was nice to have when we had 2 investigators and the missionaries over for FHE. We watched a church video!
Notice the appliance under the window? It is our air conditioner, an essential for night time rest. We have ceilings fans in the bedrooms (2), the living room and a study/storage room which help. It hasn't gotten very hot yet, but we always cool the bedroom off before turning it off for the night. We shall see as the summer unfolds.
Last, but not least are the bathrooms. We have 3 with showers and 2 with toilets. The water is heated with an instant gas water heater and is a little touchy, but works.
Our Office
The mission office is at the far end of the building from this view.
One for Dennis to work on housing and phonesOne for Janet to work on baptism forms, mail and medical issues.
Here is a view of most of the room. The corner of Janet's desk in on the far left. Dennis' is hidden behind the counter on the right. The door in the back is to a small kitchen with an eating counter for 2, a microwave and frig. Behind us on the left is the mission president's office.
Dennis is talking to Elder Nielson, the financial secretary.
1st P-day (Preparation day -- a day off missionary work!)
President Gunça organized an outing to the Cristo Redentor Statue -- the icon of Rio de Janeiro. Here we are, with the Gunça family, the AP (Assistants to the President) elders, the office elders and us.
It was a very nice, cool day. Unfortunately, that niceness also came with rain and fog. President Gunça wanted Elder Cardim who is going home at the end of the month, to see the statue. And this is what we saw:
Even with being shrouded by the fog, the statue still was a dynamic presence. Sometimes in our lives, we feel hidden from the Savior. But he is always there! His power to save, to comfort and to help is never diminished by the clouds in our lives.
Normally, this picture would have a view of Rio de Janeiro spread out below.
I like the look of happy missionaries!!
Below, our proof that we were there. Everyone's badges at the top.
We arrived in a big Uber van. Uber is REALLY big here and the office missionaries use it all the time to get to the mission home and other destinations.
We all fit in the van and there were lots of games and fun as we traveled the 45 minute one way trip.
Exploring Rio de Janeiro
We always do some exercise in the morning. And in a new city, it is an opportunity to discover where different stores are and hopefully some of the interesting parks etc.
Near to the church is a large city park with lots of trails running through it.
Although it is pretty flat, we got some good exercise and enjoyed the different types of trees and plants. The tree on the left has what appeared to us fruits growing out of the trunk of the tree.
One goal was to find a hilly area -- which is quite challenging. But Dennis had his eye on the very steep hill nearby with a small Catholic church sitting on top. Surely there was a way there.
So, ask Google Maps, and sure enough you will find!
Our first trip, even aided by Google Maps was not quite direct as we had to figure out how to get across the different streets as traffic was building. How to cross a street here is nearly a blog on its own!!!
But we did find the road leading up, up, up to the church. There was a sidewalk, but with the recent rain, it was a little slippery with moss. The road was cobblestone. Janet kept switching sides as needed.
Here is the church! We found out talking to a resident later that they don't hold mass there. It is usually used for special events etc.
It opens at 8:00 a.m. for people to come inside, but we have always been there earlier -- or they weren't open.
And why do we like hills (besides the exercise)? For the VIEW!
This is looking down on our area of Rio de Janeiro.
Another important part of being a senior missionary is getting to know and love other senior missionaries. We are the only senior couple in our mission, but Elder and Sister Cates work in the Rio de Janeiro North mission, also as the office couple. They arrived last January and helped with the division of the mission into 2 missions and stayed in the North mission as their assigned area.
We had exchanged emails and such before the mission. In one email, I asked if there were any spices she would like me to bring. YES! Chili powder, dill, taco seasoning, sage, and thyme!! So, soon after we arrived, we called them and arranged a time to come and visit them, see their office and deliver the spices.
Here we are in their apartment. It is quite small, but they are enjoying their time. Life never gets dull in the office!!
For lunch, we enjoyed a churrasco -- a traditional food or the Brazilian barbecue. It was very good and we enjoyed the company equally!
We have seen them another time when they came to our part of town! This time we had some maple syrup (I had brought the maple flavoring with me) to give to them.
We look forward to many more times to share!
So, that is the first week (or so). A lot of discovery, learning and figuring things out.
The one thing we don't have to figure out is our purpose: Invite all to come unto Christ through the restored gospel! It is a simple message, but had made all the difference in our lives and in the lives of millions throughout the world. And we hope many in Rio de Janeiro was also find that joy as well!!
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