Leadership Training in Ponta Grossa

We drove to Ponta Grossa in heavy rain today to meet with our mission leaders from the interior.  Sister Cordon presented a wonderful training on Teaching People, Not Lessons and gave specific instruction on teaching families in their homes.  (Front row, l to r: Elder Burright, Pres. & Sister Cordon, Elder Holliday; Second row: Elders Alexandre, Rodrigues, Joas, Dow, Thorpe, Medeiros, W. Pereira, Dos Santos; Back row: Elders Hugo, Palmer, Clift, Miranda, Christensen, Halgren, Cannon)

Leadership Training #2 in Curitiba

Day two of Leadership Training in Curitiba included our mission leaders from the Sao Lourenco, Paranagua, Sao Boqueirao, and Taruma zones.  I wish we could take them all home with us!  Great missionaries who are doing great things. (Front row, l to r: Pres. & Sister Cordon, Sisters Fullmer and Barbosa da Silva; Second Row: Elders Veiga, Bons, Hugo, Cannon, S. Almeida, Smith, Lima; Third Row: Dohrman, Bezerra, Smith, Windous, Diamond, Hansen, Lopez, Broomfield, Ribeiro, Reynoso; Back Row: Elders Hobbs, Fernandes, Brino, Harper, Valdez, Hope, Constante, and Arriola).

Leadership Training #1 in Curitiba

Day 1 of Leadership Training in Curitiba included our mission leaders from the Curitiba Iguacu, Novo Portao, Jardim do Sol, and Luz zones.  It was a wonderful and spiritual training.  It is always uplifting to be with these great young representatives of Christ.

Zone Conference #7 in Curitiba

Batismo de Valdir em Ponta Grossa

We attended the baptism of Valdir, a wonderful man we met in Ponta Grossa.  Sisters Morais and Leandro have been teaching him for quite some time.  There was a wonderful spirit in the meeting.

New Missionary Bunk Beds

Presidente Cordon and Dallin help Sisters Aguiar and Hass assemble their new bunk beds.

Zone Conference #6 in Paranagua

Today is Thursday so it must be Parana que?  Paranagua!!  (Back row, l to r: Elders Gomes, Lacerda, Reynoso, Bezerra, Welch, Cannon, Lima, Dohrman, Morris, Hugo; Front row l to r: Sisters Santos, Cardosa, Presidente and Sister Cordon.)

Zone Conference #5 in Ponta Grossa

We had a wonderful conference with our dear elders and sisters in Ponta Grossa today.  The Spirit was strong and a lot was discussed including how we can work more with the members and help the bishops with their responsibilities.

Zone Conference #4 in Guarapuava

We were in Guarapuava for zone conference today.  Elder and Sister Davis made pulled pork sandwiches which were to die for!!

Zone Conference in Curitiba

Elder Eurico at the Hospital

Our dear Elder Eurico had his appendix taken out.  We visited him tonight to see how he was doing.  He was in high spirits, although still a little groggy from the surgery.  We wish him a speedy recovery.

Zone Conference #1 in Portao

It's Zone Conference Time again!  We love conferences when we get to be with all our missionaries.  We began this set of conferences in Portao.

Humanitarian Project

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints donated 304 brand new wheelchairs to the needy citizens of Curitiba, Parana.  Our missionaries participated helping set the tone for the meeting by singing "I am a Child of God" and then helping deliver the wheelchairs.  I am going to post several photos of our missionaries in action.

Elders Hugo and de Magaelaes helping a young woman with her new chair.  She was so happy.

Elders Windous, Machado and Valdez helping to load wheelchairs.

Elders Hope and Souza serving their fellowmen.

"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God."

Sisters Hass and Aguiar find an opportunity to share the good message of the Gospel of Christ with one of the attendees.

Elder Bruce talks with one of the young people to receive a wheelchair.

Zone Leader Council Meeting, May 2012

It is so good to have Sister Cordon back with me in Brazil.  We had a wonderful meeting with the zone leaders today.  We are very excited to begin working closer with the ward and stake leaders in order to bring more of our Lord's children back into the fold.

Os Valentes!!

Today we bid farewell to another group of excellent missionaries who served wonderful missions.  This was a special group for many reasons.  Elders Gagon and Marx were the first two of our missionaries that we met in the mission.  They were in the MTC in Provo when we arrived for the Mission Presidents' Seminar in June of 2010.  Elders Melo and Nascimento were in my first training meeting for new missionaries when we arrived in Curitiba.  Elder Gomes came to our mission to finish and Sister Riveira had to wait a long time in the US to get her Visa.  We are very happy for the opportunity to serve with them.

UM GRUPO ENORME!!

Today we received 19 new missionaries which enabled us to open 7 new areas.  What a blessing.  They all arrived super excited to begin working in the Lord's vineyard.