Happy Mothers' Day

The Cordon family was invited to speak today in the Jardim Florenca Ward in Ponta Grossa.  Dallin bore his testimony afterwhich Sister and Presidente Cordon spoke.  After the meetings the Sister missionaries and our family had the honor of having Sunday lunch with Bishop Camargo's family.  It is always a blessing to be with them.

Sister Hammon, Margareth Camargo, Sister Bonnie Cordon, and Sister Lima Celebrate Mothers' Day.

Baptisms of Giovanna and Rafaela Botega

On this beautiful, sunny May afternoon two beautiful young women were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by President Cordon.  Giovanna and Rafaela Botega, 13 year old twins, are the first in their family to join the Church.  Several members of the Campo Magro branch were in attendance as well as President and Sister Hepworth from the Temple Presidency.

Sisters Cavalcante and Sposito, Rafaela and Giovanna Botega, Sister Cordon, Araldo and Edna Botega.  Presidente Cordon is in the back.

Boqueirao Zone Meeting

Today the mission is having zone meetings.  I attended the Boqueirao zone meeting which was attended by missionaries serving in the Boqueirao and San Jose dos Pinhais Stakes.  It was held in the Boqueirao Stake Center.  Great missionaries with lots of faith!

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Our First Mission Leadership Council

The Church has implemented a new leadership meeting, the Mission Leadership Council Meeting, which will be held once a month and replaces the Zone Leader Council Meeting.  This will be just great to now have our new Sister Trainers involved in this monthly leadership meeting and we look forward to their input and involvement.  This council will include all of our zone leaders, the mission assistants, the Sister Trainers, and the President of the mission and his wife.

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Our New April Missionaries Have Arrived!

We happily welcomed our new missionaries from 4 different countries to the Curitiba Mission today.  4 of them arrived after a very long flight from the United States and 9 came direct from the CTM in Sao Paulo.  We are very excited to have them here and know that they will work miracles amongst the great people of Parana. They are Elders Bestenlehner (Vernal, Utah, USA), Olmos Rios (Antofagasta, Chile), Batista (Maceio, Brasil), Jeppson (Sandy, Utah, USA), Rico (Chillan, Chile), Blanco (La Rioja, Argentina), K. Silva (Guarulhos, Sao Paulo, Brasil), Merrill (Grass Valley, California, USA), Ramos (Maceio, Brasil), V. Silva (Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brasil), Nilsen (Eugene, Oregon, USA), Young (Vernal, Utah, USA),  and Christensen (Parker, Colorado, USA).

April Departures, Part II

Today we said goodbye to 15 missionaries from 4 countries.  Two left this morning for Argentina and Uruguay. The rest left this afternoon after a lunch with us in the mission home.  We have grown to love each of them so much.  We will miss them terribly and look forward to hearing of their life adventures in the future. Pictured front row, left to right: Sister Miranda da Silva, Presidente & Sister Cordon, Sister Barbosa da Silva; Back row, left to right: Elders Reynoso, R. Smith, Cruz, Oliveira, Borges, Serrano, Bruce Fernandes, Joas Oliveira, Diamond, Brooksby, and Miranda.

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Sister Cordon is sad to see these two dear Sisters, Miranda da Silva and Barbosa da Silva, leave.  They have fulfilled their calling and their families are anxious for their arrival.

Assistants, from front to back Elders Schmidt, Arriola, Gabriel, and Barkdull, rearrange the mission board in the mission home following the transfer meeting.  We have four assistants now in order to prepare for the mission division in July.

April 2013 Transfer Day, Part I

Today's departures started early as we had two Elders returning to other Latin American countries that had to catch flights before their counterparts.  Elders Palacio Ancheta (Uruguay) and Barrios Luna (Argentina) served well and will be missed.  It was great to have had them with us and learn from them. Hasta luego mis amigos y companeros!

Brazil Curitiba Mission Presidency

It is hard to express the great appreciation and admiration that I have for these two great men.  They have served very well as my counselors for the past year.  I will be forever grateful for their support and love.  Presidente Amaury Augusto, Presidente Cordon, Presidente Lustosa Araujo

The Final Interview - Elder Serrano

I had final interviews today with our Elders going home.  Elder Serrano asked to have his picture taken with the shovel used to break ground for the Curitiba Temple.  He is returning to New York City.

Sister Freitas, Get Better Soon!!

Sister Freitas left today due to a stress fracture in her foot.  We hope she is able to

recuperate quickly and return to the Lord's service.  She has been progressing so well

and we will miss her.  

New Missionary Training

Training for our new missionaries that arrived in March was held today in Portao.  It was great to get everyone back together again and review the things that they have been practicing so far in the field.  I usually try to pick just one picture to represent the event but I guess our missionaries ought to be able to download the ones they want.  

Assistants Training

Dear Sister Ecker from Fazenda Rio Grande, Estaca Jardim do Sol, stopped by to say hi to us and her trainer, Sister Milani.  She has submitted her papers and is awaiting her call to serve as a full time missionary of the Lord.  We can't wait to hear where she will serve.

Boqueirao Zone Conference

The President hits the big 50!  Today we spent the day at the Boqueirao stake center in a zone conference.  The zone leaders baked a cake for me.  It was a Betty Crocker cake mix that one of them had received from his mother.  AWESOME!!  (Elder Trevisanut, President Cordon, Elder Barkdull)

Ponta Grossa Zone Conference

Why is it that everytime we have a zone conference in Ponta Grossa it is a feast, spiritually and physically?  Irma Bernadette Virginia always make the best food for the missionaries.

Sunday Morning Breakfast before General Conference

We made waffles for the Hepworths and one of our former missionaries, Elder Eric Costa, who works at the MTC in Sao Paulo.  He returned for the weekend to visit former areas and see friends.  It has been great to see so many of our former missionaries recently.  The Hepworths are getting ready to head home to Idaho during the temple closure for cleaning.

Elder Costa with Presidente and Sister Cordon.  He is doing a great job of teaching our future missionaries at the CTM.

Our First Mission Reunion in Curitiba

This Friday night before General Conference we had our first mission reunion held here in Brasil.  It was great to be with Sisters Silva and De Jesus and Elders Andrade, de Jesus, and Fernandes.  They are all living again here in Curitiba.  Sisters Silva and de Jesus are the most recent to arrive back here in Curitiba.  We had a wonderful evening remembering the great times we had together.  OK, we really will miss our great young men and women.

March Madness and the Final Four!

Today we wrapped up the longest transfer we have had on the mission, three days, four trips to the airport, 18 missionaries leaving and 22 missionaries arriving!  Our "Final Four" missionaries arrived here in Curitiba this afternoon after more than 48 hours of travel.  They left Spokane, Washington on Monday and flew to Seattle.  The pilot for the next flight from Seattle to Detroit never showed up which delayed their flight by more than two hours.  They arrived in Detroit one hour after their Sao Paulo flight departure therefore winning an overnight stay in Detroit at the Airport Holiday Inn. They continued their journey the next day catching their new flights late on Tuesday afternoon.  They were delayed in Sao Paulo and finally touched down in Curitiba around 3:30pm today.  Wow!  We were super relieved to finally have them here and happy to get them fed and off for some sleep.  Despite being a little sleep deprived, they arrived excited to share the message of the restoration with the people of Parana.

(Left to Right: Presidente Cordon, Elders Nixon (Washington, D.C.), Stout (Oakdale, CA), Gunnerson (Hayden Lake, ID), Bennion(Stark City, MO), and Sister Cordon)

With their Trainers!  Elders Gunn and Nixon, Elders Stout and Gray, Assistants: Elders Gabriel and Schmidt, Elders Gunnerson and Hogge, Elders Bennion and Mullins.

Ready to Take on Their New Apartment!

We received a call from Sisters Johnson and Da Rosa last night after they had arrived in their new apartment which had been inhabited by Elders for the past 6 years.  The Elders claimed the apartment was clean.  I guess that depends on whose standards are being enforced.  There was terror in the sisters' voices.  Sister Cordon and I drove over to their apartment, reviewed the situation, and then gathered them up and took them to the mission home where we promptly put Sister Johnson to bed to get some much needed sleep.  In the morning we took several new items including new pans, tables, a new mattress, and a blender to their apartment and then cleaned for two hours.  It will be a great little apartment for them once we get it painted.  Oh what elders will do to an apartment over several years.  The highlight was removing an old picture and finding that some elder had drawn a "hidden safe" on the wall.

Two Sisters Finally Arrive from LA

This afternoon, after sending our first group of new missionaries off with their respective trainers, we headed to the airport again to pick up our remaining 6 missionaries arriving from the United States.  To our surprise only our two sisters came off the flight from Sao Paulo.  The elders had been held up in Detroit from some reason and missed their flights.  They will arrive in Curitiba tomorrow.  Sister Cordon rode in the van with our sisters from the airport to the mission home.  We had a nice lunch and conducted interviews and then introduced them to their new companions.  They were then off to their areas to unpack and get some much needed rest.  (L to R: Pres. Cordon, Sister Hammon, Sister Johnson, and Sister Cordon)

Sister Johnson with President and Sister Cordon

Sister Hammon with President and Sister Cordon.

Sister Medrado (Cuiaba, Brasil) will be training Sister Hammon and Sister Da Rosa (Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil) will be training Sister Johnson.  We are so excited for these two.  They have great trainers and are eager to learn and teach.

The Sweet 16! New Missionaries Arrive!

Our new missionaries in March seem to be coming in waves.  Our first large wave arrived this morning with 16 missionaries arriving from the Brasil MTC.  It was inspiring to see them all coming out together from baggage claim.  Fantastic to see such a marvelous addition to our mission.  They arrived with two North Americans, two Chilenos, and 12 Brazilians.  I love the diversity of this mission.

God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again!!

This should get easier after so many departures however it seems to get just harder and harder.  We said goodbye to dear friends, fellow missionaries, and forever family this afternoon.  We will miss each and everyone of them.  (Front row, l to r: Sisters Horkley, Hass, Pres. and Sister Cordon, Sister Patton; Back row, l to r: Elders Barreto, Alves, Howard, Fernandes, Ferreira, De Araujo, Brino, Souza, Lacerda, Deivid, Fuchs, and Suan)

Fireside - Piraquara Ward, Pinhais Stake

Tonight we had the privilege of speaking at a fireside out in Piraquara, a city on the outskirts of the Curitiba area.  It was great to see the faithful saints attend with their families for this "serao gostoso" which included ice cream sundaes at the end.  The ward had several recently returned missionaries bear their testimonies which were inspirational.  Elders Welch and Hogge can be seen in the picture as well as Sister Cordon wearing a lime green jacket.

March New Missionary Training

It has already been one transfer since our new group arrived.  It is amazing how much they have learned in this small amount of time.  The 12 week training program is excellent and inspired.  It really helps the new missionaries grasp the principles of missionary work and the doctrine of Christ.

Elders Little and Pereira Join Us for Breakfast

Elder Little (Paragonah, Utah) and Elder Pereira (Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais) joined us for breakfast prior to some medical exams that they needed to do close to the mission home.  Elder Pereira is in his first transfer here in the mission field.  He has a great trainer in Elder Little.  Two great missionaries with great desires to follow the Savior and help others to come unto Him.

Hospital Emergency

It has been a long couple of days for a few of our missionaries.  Elder Brino (Botucatu, Sao Paulo) called last night late with abdominal pain.  A member drove him and his companion to the Santa Cruz hospital where he was diagnosed with appendicitis.  He had surgery early this afternoon.  His good companion Elder Santos Silva (Manacapuru, Amazonas) never left his hospital room, making sure Elder Brino was well cared for.  Our elders from the Barigui ward, Elders Folsom (Salt Lake City) and Haycock (Sandy, Utah) and Dallin came by to offer their support.

Family Night at the Mission Home

Tonight we celebrated Sister Cordon's birthday by holding a special family home evening at the mission home.  He showed a video, "Only a Stonecutter", which related the story of John Moyle, an early pioneer and we played a game which highlighted the importance of reaching out to the individuals and lost sheep.  Sister Cordon is not one to think of herself ever and the evening was really about showing our love for others.  Wonderful friendships that will last an eternity!!

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Sister Cordon with Luiza and Emily!

Presidente Miled and Marli, Sister and Presidente Hepworth.

March Zone Leader Council Meeting

One of the real choice experiences we have on this mission is working with great young men and women leaders who rise to the challenge and help guide this mission.  They fulfill their callings with exactness and with the Spirit.  It makes our responsibilities lighter.  

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Elder Rios

Elder Knowles

Elder Gomes

Elder Martinez

Elder Woodruff

Elder Sudweeks