Help Wanted

Why are we Here?

The Monday before we flew to Brazil, we, along with a few other couples going to different parts of the world,  attended a training meeting at the Church office building in the Office of General Council (OGC)  - church legal office.  These are the people who called us here to Brazil.  Bill Atkin who is our main contact there is an extremely likable, personable guy.  I didn't mind spending the morning with them.  After lunch it became pretty technical so the wives were free to leave.  During that brief time, I gained a new perspective and scope on the fact that this is indeed, a "world wide church".

I listened to a clear, concise description of the purpose of the OGC:

D&C  44:4-5

     "And many shall be converted, insomuch that ye shall obtain power to organize yourselves according to the laws of man;  That your enemies may not have power over you; that you may be preserved in all things; that you may be enabled to keep my laws; that every bond may be broken wherewith the enemy seeketh to destroy my people."

So the main objectives are to:

• Advise senior Church officers on legal matters
• Provide general oversight of the delivery of legal services to the Church

Craig also says in Brazil that there are real-estate, condemnation and zoning issues, church employment matters, and etc.   Many things that he has experience in.

Craig currently shares an office.  The "Administracion" is undergoing major re-model.  It is extremely noisy and messy.  One elevator is shut down, so we take the stairs and don't try conversation when the drilling and pounding is at it's worst.

He always wished he was a "doctor"  ;)

This is Walter (pronounced with a V) from the law office -

    we brought (or intended to) the iPad for his son who has autism  :/

Greg Clark is  "Area Legal Counsel" for Brazil.
He is a church employee and is the lead attorney in the office.

This is some of our group of seniors at the Family History Center  ;)

This is the real Family Search office.  Randy and I sit at 2 separate desks.

My first assignment is to help get Randy started here.  Luiz is his supervisor and Daniel works in the same room.  Thankfully, they both speak very good English.
They are patient and work well with Randy.

I stay here 3 hours in the morning.  I do various data entry stuff.   A lot of companies have "reports" they are supposed to complete but they don't like paying people to do that.
So the church uses volunteers, like me.

I submit  monthly reports of all of Brazil stakes (289 of them) in about 35 missions
and their family history submissions.
Then I translate them into Portuguese.  (control Y  :)

 Pretty easy but interesting.   Then I do indexing after the reports are done.
 I've not done that before and Randy helps me.



He is a serious "indexing" machine.

He is here 3-6 hours each day, depending on what else we have planned.

He also helps with other family search projects.

The rest of my time is spent planning, shopping, preparing and cleaning up after 3 meals a day.  All this takes much more time than I'm used to.
I truly miss my Cutco and Blendtec and Bosch mixer and slicer!  Sometimes we eat out.

I also do most of the cleaning and laundry, but the guys each have their "chores".  



We are still settling in.
Picture changing sheets when you have a stack of sheets to choose from for 2 different sized beds.  Plus there are sheets here that don't fit either bed.  
You can't read the labels and there are no dimensions listed.  So - figure it out. 
 Simple task-  taking waayyy too long!  
We're also out and about much of the time, trying to orient ourselves.

When the Temple opens in September, I was told I will be assigned to be an ordinance worker.  Hopefully there will be enough need for "English" workers.  After I learn my way around, I plan to be learning the ordinances in Portuguese.  

So I asked the guys if they would pose for "the blog"
 Luiz (R) just kept working, acted like he didn't hear me.

 Daniel was urging him into position.
Then abruptly, Luiz stands, turning his monitor around, revealing the Sao Paulo logo,
just in time for the snap.

Then, like lightning, Daniel jumps to his keyboard and puts in the "Corinthians" logo. 

Luiz refused to be in this photo.

These 2 soccer teams and 2 "boys" are intense rivals.  

They are each doing their best to convert Randy to be a fan of their respective teams.  

He attempts to remain neutral to maintain peace in the office.  

And he hasn't seen either of the teams play.

One day Daniel, printed a Nebraska logo and pinned it to his wall.  (literal, not virtual)

Then he printed a Corinthians logo for Randy to hang up.  

Randy said he would take it to the apartment.  

The next day, Daniel tells Randy that he likes Boys II Men.  

Played one of their songs at his wedding~

Good effort, Daniel!

(if you know Randy at all, then you know these are his favorites!)

Luiz in turn, is planning to take Randy to a Sao Paulo game.

Tough competition.