Views, encounters and reflections

I'm amazed how quickly the days add up! I thought I posted here just a week ago--it's been 10 days, as you can verify.....
This is going to be a hodge-podge of things from these past few days. We have spent a lot of time in the car. It's interesting--when we get in and I enter a destination in the GPS, it tells me how far away it is and the expected arrival time--normal......except the satellite has no clue about what the traffic is like! Neither do we, really, because it is so different from day to day, even hour to hour. Often I will see something that will give me an opportunity for deeper thoughts.......mostly that we have no idea how blessed we really are....... so here goes..........

Roger thought you needed to see our first Sunday meal. I turned out much better than I thought it might considering our little, tiny stove and oven.....and limited ingredients.......

A "retorno" (pronunciation--hetorno--the e is short, the os long) You can see one going each direction. This is the only way to make a u-turn or get across the street. There are no, well, almost no, left turns......and these retornos are very randomly spaced--kilometers apart--or not......

The little convenience store where we often eat. The white dishes contain different vegetables--usually. Sometimes quail eggs and other things I don't know. The chaffing trays have assorted meats--nearly always there is some kind of beans and rice in two of them--sometimes noodles of some kind, chicken, fish........and then you put your plate on a scale at the far end. Sometimes they give you a small cup of something sweet and you buy your drink and pay at the counter behind me--the convenience store....... I've liked everything I've chosen here. And the wife of the Salvador mission president says it is her favorite place to eat.

Look who I found on the wall at the mission office! We are following in the footsteps of wonderful people! It's an honor to be here. I pray we will be true to the legacy they created.

The full moon just three days ago as it rose over the city--from our balcony......It probably wasn't quite that light......but almost. The world can be lovely even in a city of three million people!

Wow! This is contrast I had not planned........this is reality for way too many people, and it tugs at my heart. This little "street" is one the GPS recognizes, but no way would I ever try to get a car on it! And yesterday I saw one even narrower that was all stairs!

We got onto one of those teeny, tiny very steep streets and came to a dead end. Thankfully, Roger is very good at maneuvering in tight places whether it's a school bus or a small car. This is a "back yard" where several people park their cars in whatever direction or place......the red car clear at the bottom obviously comes in and out. I don't know how they do it........

People actually live in these "houses", that are built practically on top of one another right up the hill, and get to their homes through these little streets and allies, up and down stairs.....behind gates and fences or walls.  It's a sad thing to me that every house or business or apartment building has a six to eight foot tall fence--more often a wall with spikes or broken glass on top--around it with a guarded or locked gate. I saw one the other day with electric wires above the wall.

One day last week we and one other elder had to go register our visas or something and get fingerprinted--I didn't understand all the ramifications.....but we had to do it to be legal.....Elder Green, one of the office Elders who everyone relies on, went with us to help us through the hoops. I don't think the mission could function without him. He's so patient and kind. So......we left for the airport mid-morning, and waited and waited, got finger-printed, paid a fee of some kind, had lunch (yes, we waited that long)....then stopped at a post office to pay a different fee. Finally, we stopped at the federal building to do the final registration (I think) and waited some more along with several other people. We each took a number. Roger's number came up first. Then the other elder. We waited and waited. Finally Elder Green took my slip of paper and went back to the desk where we got our numbers. They quite crossly asked him why he had that number! They gave him--me--a new number and then it wasn't long before it was my turn. The process took all. day. long. And obviously, we totally wore out our wonderful guide and helper.

Sister Triumpho took us to a market and walked around with us to tell us what we were looking at. It's an inside market, but full of small "booths" with usually one kind of product to sell........

These are caju (causeju)......we would say cashew! Yep. That's the nut right there on the bottom.......but they are selling these for the fruit. We've had some of the juice......not my favorite........I like the nut lots better.

These next two are for Cody..........hot peppers..........really hot peppers. No. I'm not going to try them.

There were several shops with cases of fresh meat.........cuts of beef hanging on hooks.......

 We were at another missionary apartment the other day......and startled into thinking how spoiled I have been my whole life! I think you will agree.............. Some other Elders had their free weights really free......on a stick--not even a broom handle--it wasn't straight--and nothing to hold them on--they were free to slide wherever--whenever..........

We had to buy some apartment stuff from a store that is a Home Depot and Bed, Bath, and Beyond merged. A huge store.....at least half again as big as a Home Depot. I thought this employee--who appeared to have the job of returning unwanted and/or misplaced items to the proper place--was creative and smart! He was pretty good on them too........I thought of you, Brielle.

 

 Out near the airport there is a "tunnel of bamboo"--big bamboo. It's beautiful. One of the missionaries told us it was planted there for the U.S. to hide planes during World War II. I wish I could verify that........ True or not though, it's a beautiful place.

While we were out there Roger replaced a plug--one of the elders asked "how did you know how to do that???" And when I picked up the broom he took it from me and swept up the mess.

One of the sisters had been taking cold showers for a few days, so he took care of that too. There are times when I feel like a scrub nurse as I hand him tools and parts as he needs them. The missionaries are so appreciative. It is so fun to serve them.

Sometimes the traffic is so slow and backed up the people walk right down the middle of the road between all the cars and buses trying to sell all kinds of things. This man happens to be selling bottles of cold water. Some sell all kinds of fruits--oranges or strawberries or mangoes--some have candy or sunshades and phone charging cords, or something like rolled up tacos........we aren't sure what they are. Some of them are quite persistent. Also, when we get stopped at a light sometimes--especially in the morning--people will come out in the crosswalk to juggle, sometimes on ladders or on a unicycle and then they come through the parked cars for money.........all new stuff..........

...and this one is playing a saxophone...

 

Oh! The Places I Never Thought I'd Go!

I hardly know where to start! If I try to chronicle the entire week we will both spend too much time on this. When President and Sister Triumpho met us at the airport they took us to Elder and Sister Thompson's apartment. The Thompsons were moving out and we were moving in........the Thompsons spent a few nights at the mission home before leaving Wednesday morning--but I'm getting ahead.

Thompsons picked us up Sunday morning for church. It's a beautiful building, not far from our apartment if we walk, but it is all up or down hill. And yes. They still really do put broken glass around the top of walls. It gives me chills just to look at it! We ate dinner with President and Sister Triumpho at the mission home--it was delicious.

Monday: Elder and Sister Thompson took us around the city, showing us places they liked to shop, introducing Roger to helpful sales clerks Elder Thompson has had help him. Treated us to lunch at a service station where there is a small--restaurant is too fancy a word. I should take a picture of it. In the convenience store they have some tables against a wall with dishes of food--a buffet, I suppose. You go through the line, dish up your food, place your plate on a scale, and you pay by weight. I thoroughly enjoyed the food! Day before yesterday we met the President of the Salvador North mission and his wife there! It is her favorite place to eat in Brazil!!

with Sister and Elder Thompson

 The Thompsons have worked so hard and have done and excellent job here. Many of the routine tasks have been completed and the housing is good. Of course, there are a couple of things they were unable to complete because everything didn't depend on them--and you know how it is when you have to rely on others........ But that's a good thing too. Because we need something to do!

Tuesday: Elder Thompson wanted to return the car he has rented making it possible to serve as he felt he should. I don't know how you could serve as housing coordinator without a car, but the mission does not have a car for that position. We have also felt the need to rent a car......he turned it in, and we rented it immediately. Elder Thompson gave Roger the keys and told him it would be good for him to drive.......... The Thompsons have blessed us in many ways. I hope I can do the same for someone who comes to take over in two years.

We did a lot of office work that afternoon. While Elder Thompson was doing computer stuff with Roger, Sister Thompson was helping me get missionary houses on our maps app. I was wondering how we would ever find these places! I now know we can do it.

Wednesday: We took Elder and Sister Thompson to the airport at 8:00. I was so excited for them! We stopped to see some elders and then some sisters on the way back. Roger made some minor repairs and we learned our way around a little--a very little! The afternoon was very long and boring. That's why I say I'm glad the Thompsons didn't get everything done.

Thursday: The morning was again, long and boring. The office elders were in and out--mostly out--then the Elders in the Amaralina area called to say they had come home to a flooded apartment. The wash sink had fallen off the wall, pulling the washer drain hose out and the washer had pumped the water out. By this time it was late afternoon and it was raining. We took the office elders with us. We followed our GPS (we were supposed to be able to get there in less than ten minutes) An hour later we found ourselves on narrower streets than I imagined existed with parked cars, moving buses, hundreds of people walking home or to the market and a DONKEY!!!

We finally got to a point when Elder Sousa said, "No! No!" and took over the navigation. The roads got narrower and steeper--truly, they did--and finally! we were at the house! I have never been more thankful for Roger's ability to maneuver in tight places and parallel park! His knuckles were getting a little white........... The elders were happy to see us and greeted us warmly. They all trooped after Roger to the back to show him their problem and I was left to sit in the "living room" alone. Soon, one of the elders came back and spoke to me in English! I was so surprised! Turns out he is from Sandy, Utah, his father is Tongan, his mother Samoan. The other elders are from Ecuador, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic!!! I love how the Lord has provided a way to help us become one. He brings us together from all over the world, puts us in places where we serve with and one another and the love is then automatic! Such a great blessing! It took us another hour to return home, though without the steep, narrow, scary streets. When we pulled into our parking spot at our apartment we said an immediate prayer of thanks for our safety.

Friday: We did some shopping for the missionaries who were moving. We did a lot of driving because the roads are crazy and I'm just beginning to learn how this GPS app works. Again we were glad to arrive home safely.

Saturday: Thoroughly enjoyed staying home and watching conference! Totally wonderful! And did a little grocery shopping between sessions. Not so wonderful.......quite exhausting really.

Just want to share some other pictures from around the city.........

If you look closely you can see the ships coming into the bay. Not a very good picture--I have to take it through the window.

The Atlantic Ocean about ten minutes from our apartment.

Notice the stairs going nearly straight up that hill. There are a couple of other ones similar....makes me tired just looking at it.

....when seven days feels like a year....

From this vantage point this week feels like a few decades! It seems almost impossible that it was just a week ago we hugged Scott and Meg goodbye and waved them off in their new car. Impossible! But every time I check, it has been just one week!

We returned to the MTC for our "office training". Had dinner with Daniel and a short visit with Fred and Michelle on Tuesday. I think we finished watching the safety videos on Wednesday. Following testimony meeting with our group on Thursday afternoon, we returned home.

They asked us to hang this outside our door when we left

We had our packing to finish up. Hugging and kissing tired grandchildren goodbye was particularly difficult. Many of us shed copious tears.......I believe some people would have called us "watering pots", and would be fairly accurate!



Brian and Michael took us to the airport where Richard also met us. I was grateful to have their help wrestling with our large bags! They all came in under 50 pounds!! Yay!! The "boys" waved and waved..... even while I waited for Dad on the other side of security, they were still there, waving and waving. It did my heart good. Thank you guys! Dad enjoyed the reversal of roles here--us telling each of you goodbye and waving--now you are doing the same thing for us.

Our flights were good. I had the middle seat from SLC to JFK.........which was okay. We were so tired, I slept and read most of the way. We flew way north to avoid storms in the Midwest. (I love those flight trackers on the screens!) I was surprised how far north we went. The first projected route was right across the middle of Lake Michigan. I guess the storms were worse than expected.

I was extremely blessed with a window seat from NYC to Sao Paulo. We left NY just after 9:00 p.m. I wished we could have flown in the daytime--with a window seat, of course. But nighttime is pretty as well. And the sunrise spectacular!

The bright light just off the wing is really the light on the wing. I find that light particularly comforting when I fly at night...... And I had to have a picture of my "first site" of Brazil!

I guess this wasn't really my first sight of it..........this is Sao Paulo.......but it was either too dark or cloudy over the rain forest, which tried my patience some. President and Sister Triumpho met us at the airport in Salvador. We were close to an hour late as they were struggling with a door on the plane in Sao Paulo. We were so tired! Weary, is maybe a better word. But here we are!!!! Sister Triumpho took some pictures.......I'll try to get them. Though I shudder to think what we looked like!

MTC Memories

Our time here at the MTC is coming to an end. We have had a wonderful experience here. I just wanted to share some things here before they get lost in the rush of the final preparations, the travel, and all the newness to come.............

While eating dinner tonight, a man from across the table noticed our name tags and said something about having Stevensons in his line but spelled with a 'v'. Roger nodded and said I did too. He said Edward, and that caught my attention! When I looked at his name tag, I blurted out, "Uncle Charlie!?" Turns out Uncle Charlie and Aunt Louise are his grandparents--making us second cousins! It is their daughter who is friends with Janeen in Chandler! He remembers his father talking about the good times they had in Marion with the Andrus part of the family there. They are going to Billings to do records preservation, taking their daughter with Downs Syndrome with them. She has taken the Sisters by storm. They take her to sit with them while they eat, then she comes to find her parents. It has been a sweet, tender experience. Andy and Jana Fox. Andy is my second cousin!

We were able to find and meet in person our sweet Portuguese tutor--Erin. We love her!

This is our District. Elder and Sister McEwen going to Texas. Elder and Sister Anderson from Grantsville. Sister Keepman, our teacher. Some of the best people you could know!

The Allreds who worked with us at the temple. It's been so fun to have them here. They left last week for California.........they are MLS.

In one of the new buildings here they have some beautiful murals. Some of them make you catch your breath. These pictures don't begin to do them justice. But it will give you a little taste of their message.

The sons of Mosiah entering the land of Nephi

Moses and the children of Israel walking through the Red Sea

The Brother of Jared making his clear stones

And my favorite.........Martha

 I have gained a deep appreciation for this valiant, faithful woman. She loved the Savior and prepared her best for Him and the others who were with Him. I love her declaration: "I believe that thou are the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world."

And another one from our room. I never cease to marvel at the loveliness of this world..........

 Tonight, after dinner a few of us went to see the "Roots of Knowledge"........stained glass art at the library at UVU. Again.........this picture is woefully lacking and not even a tenth of the whole thing. This is really something you should make the effort to see if you are in the area!

 

Preach My Gospel~~Ministering

What a wonderful week we have had! And amazing too! It really shouldn't amaze me--after all, this is the Lord's work. I guess part of the amazing thing is that He allows us to be a part of it. Reminds me of Elder Holland's talk about working with imperfect mortals. Thank goodness the Lord is patient!

Our "Preach my Gospel" training was so good! I think every member of the church would be blessed by having this training. We were paired with another senior couple and we took turns teaching each other. You would think there wouldn't be much to teach about in a situation like this. We get to know one another and the concerns we have then plan a lesson, teach doctrine and follow up. It's ministering!!! And the principles are the same whether you are teaching someone who has never heard about Jesus Christ or strengthening one another. That's how I approached it anyway. How does one teach an ex-stake president!?!?!! I'm certain we were not paired by accident. They have been wonderful! We have decided we are going to have to have a fireside together when we get home to hear all about the other mission. They are going to Australia for 18 months--to Sydney, I think.

The young people who teach us are amazing!!! They are such good role models to follow in our teaching. And just so positive and enthusiastic and encouraging. I suppose they know we need that!

We went home for the weekend--now we are back for our "office training". Four days of that.......

Here is the view from our window........

Day 1--Hurrah for Israel!

Well, it has begun! In a way, it is so hard to believe we are really here and really doing this. It has been so long in coming it almost felt that it would never come. Our Stake President gave us wonderful blessings yesterday when he set us apart. I'm so thankful for the power of and in the priesthood! However, I'm still a little "heart sore" and a little teary. I vividly recall the feeling I had one day, standing in the temple, greeting people, when this thought blazed through my mind: "I love my life! What in the world am I doing?! Ripping it out by the roots!" And I had the clear image of a beautiful flower, rich dirt still clinging to the roots, ruthlessly jerked from the ground! But I know this is what the Lord would have us do at this time. Having that name tag clipped to my shoulder was such a good feeling......... I so want to be an asset to the kingdom!

We have met so many wonderful people. It has been rather amazing..........so many faithful members of the church, gladly going out to serve the Lord. There are 80-86 senior missionaries who came today. Four are single sisters. Some from this small group will be going to 14 states in the US; some will be going to 14 different countries; and to five of the six inhabited continents in the world!! One of the counselors in the MTC presidency had that information, and then told us he could not think of a gathering of people like that anywhere else in all the world. I would have to agree. But then, where else would you have a group of people with the same knowledge and purpose?