| Altivir, Juliana and Davild were baptized June 27, 2015. Shown also is their daughter Rhianna. Katia, baptized Aug. 8, her son Kawan Aug. 15; daughter Maria. Katia spent all day preparing Kawan's 8th birthday/baptism party. | Alitivir & Davild posed for photo, but Juliana didn't want her picture taken. |
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In June, the missionaries of the Curitiba Mission baptized AND CONFIRMED more than 345 people! In comparison, Curitiba South Mission baptized 45 people last month--same city--with more missionaries! As Sister Monteiro said, Brazil baptized more than any country in the world in June, 2015. Curitiba missionaries not only baptized AND CONFIRMED more people than any other mission in Brazil, but baptized and CONFIRMED more than any other mission in the world! By the numbers, that makes the Brazil Curitiba Mission the BEST MISSION IN THE WORLD!! So the missionaries were rewarded by a Super P-Day on July 30, which lasted from 8:00 a.m. to about 5:00 p.m. Some of the activities included: outdoor flag football, basketball, soccer, badminton, dodge ball; indoor foosball, table tennis, table hockey, chess, checkers, dominoes, pickup sticks; instruction in yoga and Maori Hakkah war dance for the elders; and two hours fitness training, skin care and make-up instruction for the sisters; and the afternoon movie "Up." Lunch was provided: A Pizza catering company brought everything they needed and made pizza (including chocolate/strawberry pizza) for about 175 people, as we watched. They served individual pieces to us on posterboard wedges. Lots and lots and lots of pizza went down. It was a great day for all! COMMENT: Many people are critical of the missionaries baptizing so many, with low retention. But as we have experienced this and wondered how to feel, we have come to realize that the topic goes a lot deeper, into obedience, spiritual readiness and responsibility of the wards and the members. Here in Brazil, caring about others as a mind-set isn't happening well yet. The missionaries' job is to find and teach and baptize. They are doing that in a marvelous way. Other than the 5-6 post-baptismal lessons, and making attempts to connect new members with other ward members, they cannot be responsible for retention. The stakes, wards and members have the responsibility to welcome, friendship and retain the new members. Leaders are beginning to recognize that they are faltering in these responsibilities. It is a topic of great concern to the Church in South America.
There was another emergency transfer, and after just six short days, Elder Alvarado was transferred again--oooooh! I guess the Mission President thinks he's just as special as we do. He is now somewhere in Curitiba. Joining Elder Bryan, Elder Carvalho and Elder Fontes, our new team member is Elder Nunes from São Paulo--brand new! He came straight from the Language Training Mission in São Paulo. Elder Fantes is his trainer. Sharp!
For whatever reason, there was an emergency transfer somewhere in the mission. We heard that an elder had to go home early. With one day's notice, three of our Elders were transferred, leaving Elder Brayan alone in this huge area with three "new," but seasoned Elders: Elder Carvalho from Rio Grande do Sul, Elder Fantes from Uruguay, and ELDER ALVARADO from Texas! All are really sharp Elders, but to have Elder Alvarado again is special , since we left him in Bocaiúva just 2 months ago.
Dennis enjoys playing Ping-Pong ("Peengÿ-Pongy") with the young men, who are REALLY good. The ping-ping table is usually kept in the back of the extra-long chapel that doubles as a multi-purpose room. It is left out for play during the week, and only folded up for Sacrament Meetings. It was carried outside for one of the the Festa Julina games.
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