Finally, after waiting 17 months for their visas to Brazil, Larry and Kay Brown, of Ogden, Utah, received their visas. They were called to serve in the Curitiba South Mission, which is adjacent to our Curitiba Mission. We met them through our Provo MTC tutor David Godoy, who has helped several couples get through the emotional visa-wait period, and have become good friends in our small support group. After serving 4 months in a branch in the Colorado Denver Mission while waiting until their visas arrived, they flew to Curitiba Friday, September 5, and checked into mid-city Hotel Alvear. We took a taxi from our Mission Super P-Day to the hotel to meet them. Coincidentally, we would be celebrating our 45th anniversary on Sept. 6, and they would be celebrating their 44th anniversary on Sept. 8. We ate at a very nice churrascuría restaurant, enjoyed a temple session, bought some teaching resources at the distribution store, and found good salads at a burger joint. We took a taxi to the Guaraitúba ward chapel for the ring ceremony and wedding reception for Eryvelt and Marilda (see next post, above). Ozair and Rosicler drove us "home" to Bocaiúva, to the Hotel Vargus, where we had reserved a room for the Brown's. We met at church the next morning, where Elder and Sister Brown were received well, then we walked to our apartment in the rain, so they could see our living situation. We had a quick lunch, and more talk, then | walked to the bus stop--but we missed it by 5 minutes. We took a taxi back to Guaraitúba, for the baptisms of Francinelli and her 14 yr. old daughter Ingridi. Dennis was a witness and Elder Brown gave the closing prayer. It was hard to say goodbye to them, as they were whisked away by another taxi back to their hotel until they reported to their Mission Office on Tuesday morning. Elder Brown will be serving as Branch President in Canoinhas, a city of 50,000, southeast of Curitiba. Sister Brown will be taking care of mission referrals, etc. They begin their new life . . . |