Sister Nickel Returns!

Sister Shae Nickel arrived today after recuperating at home in Utah for 6 months with a broken foot. We are so excited to have her back. Bem Vindo de Novo!!

Merry Christmas!

Four missionaries headed home today to give their parents the greatest Christmas gifts ever - themselves. They all served honorably. Elder Goncalves finished up in Paranagua, Elder Monteiro was in Timbu as zone leader, Elder Silva was training a new missionary and Elder Paiva served 3 months with us while awaiting his call to serve. He received his mission call and will be leaving in February for the Nordeste of Brazil.

New Missionaries for Christmas!

A new group of excited, wonderful missionaries arrived today. It was a pleasure to greet them and have lunch with them in the mission home. They come from all parts of Brazil and will do an excellent work. (l to r in white shirts: Elderes de Oliveira, Costa, Pereira, L. Santos, Pinheiro, Lima Santos, Lima, Martins)

Brasil Curitiba Christmas Mission Conference

Today we had a fantastic Christmas Mission Conference. When we first arrived we had everyone in the Chapel. It was the first time we had the opportunity to see all of the missionaries in one place at the same time. It was overwhelming. Tears filled our eyes to see this wonderful group of dedicated young men and women singing Christmas hymns and worshiping together. Wow! I will include a few more pictures from the conference. We had mini lessons in the morning and then a Christmas dinner fit for a king. After dinner we had a small gift exchange. Each missionary brought a $R5.00 gift and we formed a huge circle in the cultural hall. Pres. Cordon told a story about a family and each time he said right or left, the gifts were passed. It was very fun. We then reenacted the Nativity with lots of music, carols, and acting. This is a family tradition which was fun to share with the missionaries.

And it came to Pass...

Christmas Dinner

Christmas Mission Conference

Mini Lessons before Christmas dinner.

OS MELHORES!!

Hoje sairam os missionarios para casa. Ja temos muitos saudades deles!! (izquerda a direita: Elderes B. Fernandes, Sales, Brandao, Tenorio, Oliveiro, Gomes, Texeira, F. Santos, Souza, Duarte, Pettecrew, Pavani)

Departing Missionaries' Testimony Meeting at the Temple

Group picture after a wonderful temple session and testimony meeting. We will miss these wonderful, faithful missionaries.

Por Fim, Novos Missionarios!!

We received a wonderful group of new missionaries from the CTM in Sao Paulo. We have awaited them for a long time. What a wonderful sight to see them come through the doors from baggage claim. Our hearts nearly burst with happiness. (l to r: Elder Barton (assistente), Elder Patriota, President Cordon, Elder Medeiros, Sister de Jesus, Elders Justino, Dos Santos, Evans, Tenorio (assistente), Sardinha, Young (assistente), Constante

The Great Saida!

Sister Dutra, Elder Griffiths, Elder Hewett, Sister & Pres. Cordon, Elder Costa, Elder Dos Santos, Elder Pierce, and Elder Carroll.

New Missionaries at Barigui!!

L to r: Pres. Cordon, Burright, Dohrman, Croskrey, Robinson, Andrade, Stevenson, Tavares, Hugo, Jacinto, L. Pereira, Prado, Sister Cordon

Elder Halgren Arrives in Curitiba!!!

Elder Halgren finally received his visa and is in Curitiba, Brazil. It is great to have him here with us.

NA ZONA IGUAÇU

Zona Iguaçu at the temple on P-Day. Front row (l to r): Sisteres Souza, Aragão, Dos Santos, Raimundo, Irwin, Correa; Second row (l to r): Elderes , Floyd, Cortez, Moretti, Treasure, Lyons; Back row (l to r): Elderes Cannon, Coltrin, Karren, Flynn, Tryon, Almeida, Denis

ELDER THORPE ARRIVES ON INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Elder Thorpe arrived today. It is great to have him. The whole city was on vacation due to it being Brazilian Independence Day. Para Bens!

Brasil Independence Day Parade with the Governor!

We had a wonderful Brazilian Independence Day. The missionaries marched in the parade and several of us sat in the stands with the Governor of Parana. L to R: President Cordon, Pres. & Sister Sousa (Curitiba Temple), Governor Orlando Pessuti & his wife, Bro. Allan Kardec, Sister Bonnie Cordon, Pres. & Sister Furusho (Boa Vista Stake President)

ELDER ROGERS

Elder Rogers marches at the front of our contingency during the Independence Day parade.

ELDER ROGERS JOINS THE BEST MISSION IN THE WORLD!

Today we welcomed Elder Rogers to the Curitiba Mission. We are so excited to have him. He will be working in the city of Curitiba with Elder Pavani.

ELDER & SISTER MAZZAGARDI EM CURITIBA

Elder and Sister Mazzagardi blessed the lives of our missionaries and our children as they toured the entire mission for three days. What a blessing for all of us and this part of the Lord's vineyard.

Saida dos Missionarios

Back row l to r: Elders Goncalves, Lima, McKenna, Awerkamp, Amato, Zollinger, Vaclaw, Lopes, Sisters Ribeiro & Couto

Novos Missionarios Chegaram!!

Our second group of Missionaries arrived on Tuesday. We are all so excited to have them here with us in Curitiba. There is a wonderful work to be done and these missionaries are ready to dive in. Left to Right: Elder Young (Assistente), Elder Hope, Elder Hewett (Assistente), Elder Cannon, Elder Lima, Sister Cordon, Presidente Cordon, Elder Mota, Elder Bons

Saida dos Missionarios

Elders Wright, Lee and Miller leave our wonderful mission. Each left a week early to start college. We know they will do great. They have truly blessed our lives and those here in Curitiba.

Curitiba Mission Presidency

We met with our entire presidency for the first time together Friday Night. It was wonderful and it will be great to work with such great people!

Sister Pond will be missed!

Sister Pond left today for home and will be missed immensely. She really captured the hearts of the people and shared her beautiful voice with everyone.

Na Missão Brasil Curitiba Nós...

Na Missao Brasil Curitiba Nos...

Every mission in the world has its own unique culture, influenced somewhat by the mission president, but mostly by the missionary leaders themselves. In our first Zone Leader Council we set out to understand our mission's culture. We wrote on the white board, "In the Brazil Curitiba Mission We..." And then the zone leaders started filling in the sentence. We have the best missionaries in the world! Their answers brought tears to my eyes. The following are the first 23 answers they gave. The rest of the list is just as amazing. I love these missionaries.

Na Missão Brasil Curitiba Nós...

(Conselho dos Líderes de Zona, Sexta-feira dia 30 de Julho de 2010)

1. * Batizamos (We baptize)
2. * Somos Obedientes (We are obedient)
3. * Trabalhamos com fogo nos ossos (We work with fire in the bones)
4. * Seguimos o Espírito (We follow the spirit)
5. * Somos Dedicados (We are dedicated)
6. * Colocamos tudo em prática (We put everything in practice)
7. * Somos os melhores (We are the best)
8. * Fazemos contatos (We make contacts with new people)
9. * Somos Ousados (We are fearless)
10. * Somos missionários de Fé (We are missionaries of faith)
11. * Somos o exemplo (We are examples)
12. * Amamos os que servimos (We love those we serve)
13. * Sabemos que milagres são reais (We know that miracles are real)
14. * Operamos milagres (We perform miracles)
15. * Fazemos nosso melhor (We do our best)
16. * Magnificamos os nossos chamados (We magnify our callings)
17. * Trabalhamos com os Membros (We work with the members)
18. * Somos Bonitos (We are good looking)
19. * Sabemos brincar e ser sério (We know when to play and when to be serious)
20. * Ensinamos com Poder (We teach with power)
21. * Não temos medo de convidar (We don't have fear of inviting)
22. * Selamos famílias (We seal families)
23. * Conhecemos as escrituras (We know the scriptures)

Sister Concha is headed home

Elder Dallin Marx Arrives at the Curitiba Airport

Our First Missionary Departure

Our First Missionary Departure. Elder Williams, Elder Cordeiro, Elder Welch, Elder Rabelo, Elder Moss, Sister Cordon, President Cordon, Sister Moreira, Elder Boyack, Elder Gamez, Elder Rossi, Elder Moaes, Elder Snowden, Elder Aquino, Elder Olson

New Missionaries at the Curitiba Temple

First Group of New Missionaries Arrive!!

Our First New Group of Missionaries arrived on July 13, 2010! From L to R, Elder Stevan Hewett (Assistant), Elder Elias, Elder Soares, Elder Almeida, Elder Marques, Elder Do Carmo, Sister Cordon, President Cordon, Elder Cardoso, Sister Farias, Elder Jesus, Sister Aragao, Elder Rodrigues, Elder Young (New Assistant), Elder Homero Amato (Assistant)

Ponta Grossa Zone Conference

Zones Guarapuava, Ponta Grossa, Campos Gerais

Friday, July 2, 2010

Today was a very busy day for the Curitiba Mission. Aside from the whole city stopping for the Brazil vs. Netherlands World Cup game, we were very busy. The mission was very happy to welcome Elder and Sister Carter to Curitiba after an exhausting trip here from the United States. They look great and are ready to dive into the work. After getting them settled in it was off to the New Missionary Training at the Mission Office. What a pleasure to meet all of the new missionaries who arrived 30 days ago and their trainers. It was especially great to participate with them as they practiced baptismal invitations. The American elders and sisters are really moving forward with their Portuguese and they are all making huge strides in improving their use of the Spirit.

Mission President Seminar

Sister Cordon and I arrived at the Missionary Training Center this morning just after receiving our last set of vaccinations. The MTC is such a wonderful place. We are so pleased to officially wear missionary name badges again. Elder L. Tom Perry and Elder Costas set us apart yesterday in a lovely meeting in Elder Perry's office. We met President And Sister Hall from AZ. I informed him that Wayne and Jill Hall are our neighbors and our bishop. He was very pleased to hear that. We had a nice visit with Pres. Kris Mecham and his wife who are heading to Mongolia for two years. We met them at a Salt Lake City South Mission Zone Conference a few months back. Now we are back at the hotel relaxing. Thanks for all of your support.

June 20, 2010

Wonderful day with family and friends before we embark on a great adventure.