our journey to Brazil - Fifty Years in the making . . .
Most missionaries dream of returning to their mission field some day. Dennis was no different--but his dream gained momentum over the 50 years since his mission (1962-1965). His dreams of being in Brazil came more frequent and specific. He began actively studying Portuguese again. Through our 44+ years of marriage, we've talked of going on a mission together (always to Brazil, in Dennis's mind). Although I was willing to do this "mission thing" for Dennis's sake, my interest in Brazil was limited to the treasures he brought from his 2 1/2 yr. LDS mission.
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Finally, with retirement, came the search for the perfect cruise or travel opportunity. In November, 2012, Dennis (yelling and dancing) announced, "I found it! A tour for returned missionaries, to southern Brazil!" 'Nuff said -- Reservations were made for April. Meanwhile, we made preparations for our mission, wherever in the world it may be. Leaving our call in the Lord's hands; our papers were submitted 2 days before the tour began--without a request for Brazil! The tour changed our lives. Dennis was even more resolute. I was no longer afraid of going to a foreign country for 18 months. I could now imagine being in Brazil and was willing to learn Portuguese or another language, if needed. On May 25th, with our family connected on Google Chat and several telephone lines, we opened our mission call. Trying not to sneak a peek while reading the first sentences, Dennis paused, swallowed hard, then shouted "to . . . BRAZIL, CURITIBA MISSION!!"
Our report date was December 2, six months away. OK. We made a plan and began working our plan. We scurried to gather and submit our visa application and documents. We began 10-months of twice-weekly Portuguese lessons via Skype with a "super, awesome, single" young Brazilian tutor. We traveled to see all our kids, many family members and friends before leaving. But, to our surprise, December 2 came and went because our visas had not yet come. We struggled to understand, and to keep positive and faithful, while the next four dates passed by also -- January 6, January 27, March 24, and April 14. We knew that the Lord was in control; He had His reasons. We knew that there were lessons to learn from our experiences. We had been called to serve...and wait...and wait. We found comfort and support in our prayers, in holding hands, in hugging each other tightly, and in reminding ourselves that the Lord's counsel to King David (Psalms 46:10) and later to Joseph Smith (D&C 101:16) applied to us also: "Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion, for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God." Patience was hard.
After we were given our sixth date, and were counseled not to expect any visa approvals until after the World Soccer Cup, which would be held in Brazil this summer (2014), we felt we had reached our limit and could not wait any longer. We would ask for another assignment, at least until our visas came. That week, the notice came: "VISAS RECEIVED," along with our flight itinerary! It took a call to the Church Office Building before we could believe it. Sooo, we will enter the Provo MTC (Missionary Training Center) on May 12. We will fly from Salt Lake City on May 16. We will be in Curitiba on May 17. For 18 months, we will serve the Brazilian people in any way, in any place we are asked to serve. We will help strengthen them however we can, and we will try to share the joy of living the Gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone we meet. We may never learn why we had to wait for almost a full year. We might not have learned all the lessons we should have learned. But we do recognize and are amazed that the Lord's hand has been busy in our behalf. He has prepared the way for this wonderful miracle. Dennis will be living his 50-year-old dream! And I will be living it with him!
**Each of the pictures below has special significance to us, from our 2013 tour of Southern Brazil. Hold the cursor above each picture to read its caption; then click on the picture to enlarge it to see more of its details. The Falls of Iguaçu, whose photo is at the bottom of this Home Page, was our crowning experience in Brazil.
Our report date was December 2, six months away. OK. We made a plan and began working our plan. We scurried to gather and submit our visa application and documents. We began 10-months of twice-weekly Portuguese lessons via Skype with a "super, awesome, single" young Brazilian tutor. We traveled to see all our kids, many family members and friends before leaving. But, to our surprise, December 2 came and went because our visas had not yet come. We struggled to understand, and to keep positive and faithful, while the next four dates passed by also -- January 6, January 27, March 24, and April 14. We knew that the Lord was in control; He had His reasons. We knew that there were lessons to learn from our experiences. We had been called to serve...and wait...and wait. We found comfort and support in our prayers, in holding hands, in hugging each other tightly, and in reminding ourselves that the Lord's counsel to King David (Psalms 46:10) and later to Joseph Smith (D&C 101:16) applied to us also: "Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion, for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God." Patience was hard.
After we were given our sixth date, and were counseled not to expect any visa approvals until after the World Soccer Cup, which would be held in Brazil this summer (2014), we felt we had reached our limit and could not wait any longer. We would ask for another assignment, at least until our visas came. That week, the notice came: "VISAS RECEIVED," along with our flight itinerary! It took a call to the Church Office Building before we could believe it. Sooo, we will enter the Provo MTC (Missionary Training Center) on May 12. We will fly from Salt Lake City on May 16. We will be in Curitiba on May 17. For 18 months, we will serve the Brazilian people in any way, in any place we are asked to serve. We will help strengthen them however we can, and we will try to share the joy of living the Gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone we meet. We may never learn why we had to wait for almost a full year. We might not have learned all the lessons we should have learned. But we do recognize and are amazed that the Lord's hand has been busy in our behalf. He has prepared the way for this wonderful miracle. Dennis will be living his 50-year-old dream! And I will be living it with him!
**Each of the pictures below has special significance to us, from our 2013 tour of Southern Brazil. Hold the cursor above each picture to read its caption; then click on the picture to enlarge it to see more of its details. The Falls of Iguaçu, whose photo is at the bottom of this Home Page, was our crowning experience in Brazil.