Porto Alegre Missionary Zone Conference

David:  Missionary Zones Conference in Porto Alegre 4 Mar 2015

The six missionary Elders [two from São Francisco de Paula, who came last night and stayed overnight with the four Elders from Canela] arrived shortly after 515 AM at our gate.  Ann and I quickly went down to join them and try to make sure they didn’t wake up the neighbors with their enthusiasm.  The chartered 20+ passenger bus arrived on time at 530AM.

 Merl and Kathlyn decided to stay home and go to their scheduled piano lessons in São Francisco de Paula instead. 

We stopped in Gramado and picked up the 4 Elders from there and then four more in Taquara—40 or so minutes away.  Because of the early hour most slept the next two hours. 

We went to the 4^th& Lindoia Ward building on the corner of Benno Mentz and Guine just south of Ave Assis Brasil.  It is a very large, green buiding sitting below many very tall apartment buildings.  We asked an elder assigned to that area how they get in all those tall buildings—they don’t unless invited by a member and obtain referrals.  From ten or twenty floors up they could just point down to the church and invite them to “drop” in.

We met the few American Elders amongst the many from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Equado and Paraquay.  Elder Stevens from Lehi, Ut and Elder Larsen from Emmett, Idaho—He actually knew the children—could have been grandchildren—of David and Paula Hansen we grew up with in Twin Falls.  David Hansen’s father, Revere, was Dad’s counselor in the first 7^th ward bishopric.  Paula’s father was our family doctor for many years.  Elder Larsen is serving in Erechim.  I think it the city most distant from Porto Alegre.  The caught the bus a 330AM or maybe  they had to get up then.  Erechim is 4-5 hours north of Canela.

We also met an Elder Barrus, his father is Randall and his grandfather is D  I can’t tell from my notes if he is from Iowa or Virginia.   He must be a relative of some kind.

eloy. Elder Barrus said his family is originally from Wyoming.

 Elder & Sister Swenson are the medical advisors for the Brazil Area and work out of São Paulo, I think.  They discussed with the missionaries things to do and not do with respect to health, exercise, hygiene, clothing, etc.  Sister Swenson told of her upbringing in a very strict Catholic environment.  Her father was the choir director and they were not allowed to attend other churches.  However when she  went to college to become a nurse she began to question her own ideas on religion and attended many different churches.  She obtained employment in San Francisco as a nurse.  A new young intern arrived and all found him different and always happy. She was determined to know what he believed.  They discussed religion on several occasions and she had many questions.  After a while he gave her a Book of Mormon to read.  She began reading the next day and was fascinated and wanted to know more.  When she had finished it she knew it was the truth and sought out the missionaries and a week later was baptized.  She expressed appreciation to that young doctor who took the time to talk and invite her to read the Book of Mormon. 

Elder, Dr, Swenson then bore his testimony and then told the rest of the story.  He was in medical school in George Washington Hospital in DC.  A friend suggested he apply to intern in San Francisco Hospital. It was the best place for him to go.  He applied, and to his surprise he was accepted.  He is-was- the young doctor.  He asked was that by chance?  No, He met a beautiful, good nurse.    The Book of Mormon made it possible to meet his wife. 

 He stated that we are molded and shaped by the decisions we make.  We are changed—become different.  Before his mission he went to BYU.  His family has German origins and thought he might serve there.  He was called to Brazil.  He was changed by that opportunity—because he came here –Brazil.   Changes are not easy.  Our attitude is important to be able to change—how we deal with difficulty can enable hard things to become blessings. [Mark 2:16,17]  He liked that doctors are mentioned in the Bible.  As missionaries we preach repentance—which means to change—move to a different standard a different paradigm.  If we don’t improve we stay the same or get worse.

 He then asked the missionaries what were some of the principles or standards of health in the mission.

They mentioned: 1- 10 minutes of exercise each day.  He noted that Ferraris can’t be exercised by driving slowly around the streets –they must be pushed to high velocity to keep the engine working well.  So also our heart and lungs must be exercised up to about double our normal pulse rate.  Exercise is not the same as normal walking the streets.  Getting to bed or arising late doesn’t help.

            2- Drinking water—pure and clean—a lot of it will keep our kidneys free of stones.

            3- Eat a balanced diet in both quality and quantity.    It is not good to gain 20 kg on your mission or lose it. He encouraged eating fruits 3 times a day.  They are so abundant here is Brazil.  Eat vegetables.  Eat meat in moderation.  When the saints—as irmãs, the sisters say, “Eat More Elders/Sisters”  You need to remember to say, “Thanks, I am already satisfied”

            4- Baths and personal hygiene- Our homes and bodies are like temples to be properly cared for in cleanliness and diet.  He mentioned he has seen rats and even bats leaving the apartments of some missionaries.  He emphasized the need to wash their hands when they come home and before they eat.  This will avoid catching the flu, colds.  Don’t let pools of stagnant water remain to avoid Denghi Fever—not so much here as in the north.

            5- Be Happy—He said Pres & Str Wright are the happiest couple among the missions. Follow their example.

            6- Clothing-  It should be clean & well taken care of and in good taste.

            7- Shoes-Many sisters especially have pretty shoes but not what is needed for as much walking as missionaries do.  They bring sore ankles and feet. Shoes should fit and practical even if “ugly,”

            8.- Backpacks- On  your backs—how much to carry—the minimum.

            9- Knees—You walk a lot and for a long time.  Sharp pains from inflamed ligaments occur in the first 2-3 months.  Sr. companions go easy on the new elders until they become accustomed to the work.  After a year if not take care will develop tendonitus from excessive wear and tear not from inflammation.  The tendons thicken and filled with vessels not from inflammation. The best treatment is prevention: exercises, not working to excess.  If your knees hurt pay attention and help them out.  Stretching is good to do before any exercise, including the daily work.

            10- Stress, emotions- A companion is important.  Pray for each other to know how to help daily.  Share and accept sharing with each other. Companions can make a world of a difference.  Help each other.

Don’t forget the things that affect our health.  A sister emailed that she had many problems—and she did. But she asked for a blessing and now she is healthy.  Don’t forget the power available around us.  Open your eyes to the miracles around us.  Don’t wait until the last thing.   Know from whence our succor comes.

Walk through the park to
restaurant for lunch

 At about 1130AM we walked thru a nearby park to the buffet restaurant—well half of us did.  We of the northern most zones went with Pres. and Sister Wright. The other zones to our south went to another nearby restaurant.  At the restaurant,t a lady came behind us and became worried about getting her lunch on time to return to work-so we encouraged her to just to the front of the line.  After a bit of talking she finally did.

We had a good lunch and walked back to the chapel to listen to the announcements and training by the Assistants to the President and then Sister and Pres. Wright. 

Sister Marian Wright spoke about the Atonement.  We sang Hymn #73 [#      in English] -----  She stated she loved that hymn.  She said we can be full of joy and be happy even while in the midst of difficulties.  She spoke about Greg Olson’s painting of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane where he suffered for 3 hours.  Then was betrayed by the kiss of a friend.  How on Golgotha he suffered again returning to experience the pain he suffered in the Garden.  She told of the story of Elder Melvin J. Ballard and testified to its truth.  Afterward meeting the Savior in the temple and feeling his love and personal affection.  He said he would gladly give all that his is or possesses to have experienced that love. 

Sister Wright said she knows He lives, Ele Vive, He lives. She asked, “What can we do to bring joy to Him?”  She said, “Never forget that Sister Wright knew that He lives.  She then played “I know My Redeemer Lives” on the violin with Pres. Wright accompanying on the piano.  Their rendition is always moving and you feel their testimonies and the confirming testimony of the Holy Ghost. It is wonderful, awesome and beautiful.

 Pres Wright expressed his love for his wife and said she is marvelous.  He spoke of their large family-12 living children and grandchildren.  He said his wife is also “faca na boca” [literally knive in the mouth].  She does not force the children to do right but uses everything possible to convince them to do it. She is like an owl watching over her children.

 He said if anyone says that they pray to know truth and don’t receive an answer—then they have problems to resolve.  They will receive an answer for the church is the true church of Jesus Christ.  He said there were 42 baptisms this week and many others that fell through.  He said a mission is a mini life.  We are born and die in a mission [[come new and leave to go home].    We learn to get along and love our companions.  We learn to keep savings for emergencies on our mission and after too.  We learn to spend less than we receive.  We learn to live within a budget.  We learn to distinguish between needs and desires.

He said in the recent seminar for Brazilian Mission Presidents, Elder Godoy we have plan A and plan B.  Plan B is the plan for our desires and Plan A is the plan of the Lords.  Elder Godoy is a good example of following Plan A of consecrating his life to the Lord. That his calling from the Lord is in first place, even before the plans of his family. He often foregoes family events to serve the Lord.

Sister Copa and Elder Lagos

 He said he asked why those that are obedient sometimes don’t baptize and those who are fubecas do?

About 230PM we loaded back on the bus after saying good bye again to the sister and elders we had known before that served in our Zone.  Elder Lagos, Muños & Sister Alves, and Fastino, among others.  We met one, who had worked with Elder Sheridan and wanted to meet us. 
We slept on the way home, it was raining and soon we were home again at 430PM.  I did take some pictures of churches along the highway as we came come for Kathlyn—I found the Snowball Church of Christ interesting.

I met Aristeu at the church about 730PM.  Seminary was over but the guys were hanging around -- Luis, Cleiton, Allyson.  Aristeu helped me figure out how to finish the audit of the Hortensias Branch.  It was not a fun thing for me.