Templo de São Paulo Brasil

                                          This is a list of phrases that helps describes what it's like to serve in a Temple

• I feel a sense of being closer to my Father and the Savior.
• I feel complete peace and happiness.
• I have a feeling of being home.
• I receive sacredness, power, and strength.
• I feel the importance of my sacred covenants.
• The temple has become a part of me.
• Those whom we serve are close during the ordinances.
• It gives me the strength to overcome temptations.
• The temple has changed my life forever.

Who would want anymore than that???

Feliz Natal and Goodbye Brazil!

Final Days in São Paulo

 Office party at McAllisters

CTM

Thank you, beautiful friends and country of Brazil!

We miss you already~

We love you for your goodness and kindness.  

For all that we have experienced and learned.

We are grateful for our Savior who made this -

and everything- possible.

Thank you, beautiful family, friends and country of USA!

We love you for your goodness and kindness.

Your everlasting friendship and support.

I'm so grateful to be able to express myself without

my husband's help!

FELIZ NATAL E FELIZ ANO NOVO!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Things We've Missed :(

All this happened without us :( 

Thankful for the kids sending us all the photos.  :)

Birthday Boy and Final Moments

Here we are at Sodie Doce -

cake shop across from apartment

Randy enjoyed his birthday and the 

attention he received from people 

he had grown to love.

Thoughts on the Temple

Temple attendance is not a guarantee that we will become better, but it provides a powerful and pointed invitation to become better. The ways of the world receive constant reinforcement—should not the ways of heaven?

“Temple work is not an escape from the world but a reinforcing of our need to better the world while preparing ourselves for another and far better world. Thus, being in the Lord’s house can help us to be different from the world in order to make more difference in the world. …  Neal Maxwell

“Inside the temple … the world is left behind with its clamor and rush. In the house of the Lord there is tranquillity. Those who serve here know that they are dealing with matters of eternity. All are dressed in white. Speech is subdued. Thoughts are elevated...  Gordon Hinkley

President Thomas S. Monson has given us this inspired challenge and promise: “Until you have entered the house of the Lord and have received all the blessings which await you there, you have not obtained everything the Church has to offer. The all-important and crowning blessings of membership in the Church are those blessings which we receive in the temples of God. … The world can be a challenging and difficult place in which to live. We are often surrounded by that which would drag us down. As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation. In this sacred sanctuary we will find peace; we will be renewed and fortified” 

Sometimes at the CTM I learn about missionaries who have served as temple workers while waiting for their call.  What a wonderful way to prepare for missionary service!

Some missionaries come to the CTM and have not been to the temple before.

So while in Sao Paulo they are blessed and grateful to be in a temple for the first time.

They are then "endowed" with power to go forth and serve.

One time last Feb. we attended as a threesome a session.

Craig and I had been asked to be the witness couple.

Our good friend Sister Avila happened to be there and took Randy to the prayer circle with her.

Most meaningful to be there together.

I feel safe in the temple.  So peaceful, so quiet, no traffic/moto boys.  No shouting.

Difficulties with languages.  We get a big group of missionaries from CTM.  In one group we will have English, Portuguese and Spanish.  Many challenges to officiate for them all!

Can be a lot of quickly switching back and forth.

I was so mortified one day when I realized I had agreed to do something that I clearly could not do.

Work at the veil with no language cards!  Maybe someday I could do that - not that day!

It's strange how things work out.  Ten years ago, we decided to move.  Before that I had no interest in relocating.  Then suddenly it became clear to me that we had an older home that needed alot of remodel and too much yard.  More than we needed.

Craig left town for 3 weeks and left me with the maintenance.  When he returned, we spoke and I told him I would not do that again.  There is too much conflict in other things you like to do.  You cannot do this yard alone.  So hire someone or let's live somewhere else.

Labor Day weekend we went to Daybreak to look at model homes.  Found one we liked and built and moved in about 15 months later.

During the process, we learned that a temple would be built 5 minutes away.

After the Oquirrh Mountain Temple was built and dedicated in 2009, I offered to be an ordinance worker and Craig asked to work in the baptistry.  We did that for about 4 years prior to our mission.

That was the best training and preparation I had to be able to work in the Sao Paulo temple.

I was confident that I could learn sufficient Portuguese to function there and that is exactly what happened.  

I worked 2 days a week officiating English and Portuguese sessions, working name issue and initiatory.  I'll never forget that beautiful experience - rubbing shoulders with beautiful, loving, righteous Brazilian workers and patrons.  Sometimes only communicating with eye contact.

Other days, I would attend as a patron, observing, listening, learning, praying.

Happy Thanksgiving & White Friday

Doug & Janice McAllister, Provo UT; were our gracious hosts 

for our Thanksgiving Fabulous Feast

Doug is the (employed) Area Legal Counsel for all of Brazil

 and Craig works directly with him.

They will be here 3 years.

She created the perfect backdrop

and their apartment has an incredible view of the skyscape from the 25th floor

The Halls are always willing to blend Thanksgiving and Christmas

Glad that McAllisters are as well :)

We started the event with amazing appetizers

sharing our "gratitude thoughts"

Craig gave thanks for his missionary companions and our unique opportunity

to be here as a threesome - to serve.

Also, he expressed thanks to all the other "seniors"

who work, live, learn, laugh, cry, eat, travel and socialize with us. 

Susan and Robert Hale, Midvale, UT

Lin and Sharon DePaula from American Fork

- she has been ill for much of their time here.

She is determined to stay here as long as she can still stand.

She is always optimistic and positive.

Lin is a native Brazilian who lived in the USA for most of his adult life.

He is the best "translator" in our group and is a great resource.

Shirley Cox is our new Mental Health Advisor from Provo.

She is a divorced/widow and travels the world by herself,
helping missionaries and anyone else that she can reach.

This is Paula and Feron Sonderegger from Idaho.

They are a new couple serving in the Welfare Department.

This is a book about her dad who was the founder of the 

Playmill Theatre in West Yellowstone.

Pres. and Sis. Broadbent is one of our São Paulo mission presidents.

They are long-time friends of the McAllisters so they were invited to join us.

Part of our formal place settings~

Lianne and Leland Thomson

Hallzinho 

He expressed gratitude for his grandfather 

(who shares the same birthday)

and showed this photo below (possibly from a birthday) 

of the two of them, about 30 years ago.

This is a fraction of the food that was set out and served.

Besides Janice, Carolyn Zaugg (voted best sr. missionary cook)

planned and prepared the main course.
Everyone else contributed in some way.

Janice also has the luxury of a maid that comes 2 days a week to "help out".
Many São Paulo residents hire an "empregada" to work in their home.

Cida was thrilled to participate in this American traditional holiday.

We all wanted to borrow her for our own events!

My "thankful thoughts" turned to this little tangible object.

I showed this because I am grateful for all that it represents.

First of all, my love for my Father in Heaven and in his Son, 

the Savior Jesus Christ and my faith in Them.

 It also represents my testimony of the gospel

and my membership in His true church.

Also, my worthiness and opportunity to attend and officiate,

in any temple where I live.

And last but definitely not least,  it represents our beautiful, eternal family

(not so recent and minus one)

which started here in 1972.

What more could I possibly ever want or need?

This photo includes another new couple. 

Sitting at the table ends are Mary Sue & Romney Burke from Oregon.

Another Area Medical Advisor/Welfare couple.

Also, here on the right is Paul and Diane Wheeler, Logan, UT - IT specialists

At this table are Ben and Rita Hart from Las Vegas.

Area Medical Advisors

(to my left and across)

The next day was "White Friday" for me.

Lots of "specials" here on this day.

Total monetary cost R$0.00

Best deal in town~