Mission Tour 2013

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Our mission had the privilege of receiving a visit from three of our General Authorities of the Church and their wives.  Elder Craig C. Christensen, Presidency of the Seventy, President Claudio R. M. Costa, President of the Brazil Area, and the Presiding Bishop of the Church, Gary E. Stevenson arrived late Friday afternoon.  We took them directly to the Curitiba Temple from the airport where they received a quick tour from Presidente Arias, president of the temple.  The whole mission came in Saturday morning for our special session with these brethren.  The meeting went from 8 until 10:30am after which we took them to their plane and they were off to Porto Alegre. (Left to Right: Presidente Augusto, 1rst Counselor Mission Presidency, Sister Augusto and their son Lucas, Miled and Marli Mechaileh and their son, Bonnie, Dallin and I, Elder Craig C. Christensen and Sister Christensen, Presidente Claudio Costa and Sister Costa, Bishop Gary Stevenson and Sister Stevenson, Bishop Roberto and Mel Triumfo)

Irati Missionaries Start Out 2013 with New Paint

Elder Ham demonstrates how to paint ceilings.

 Elders Ham and Een decided to start out 2013 with a clean new look in their apartment.  They spent p-day today painting and cleaning their apartment. Parabens!!!  Having the Spirit begins with a clean mind and a clean house!!

Elder Een is focused on a making sure the wall looks great!!

Bairro Alto Ward Pianist

Today we had the privilege of speaking in the Bairro Alto Ward sacrament meeting.  We were super impressed to meet their ward pianist, this beautiful, young 9 year old.  She was awesome. We liked the two chairs stacked in order to reach the keys!

Zone Conference #1, Guarapuava

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We started this transfer's zone conferences with our elders and couples in the District of Guarapuava.  Dallin is on holiday break and was able to attend with us.  (Back Row L to R: Dallin Cordon, Elders Alves, Een, Bedford, Hokanson, Ham, Schmidt, Grig, Nunes, Lopez, Kakuschke, Brooksby, and Gabriel; Front row: Elder and Sister Davis, President and Sister Cordon)

Happy New Year to our Newest Arrivals in 2013!

We received the largest group of new missionaries that have arrived in quite awhile.  The increase as a result of the announcements in General Conference of October, 2012 is starting to be realized.  We are so grateful for these 16 new missionaries who hail from Brasil, Uruguay and the United States + 1 Sister from Fazenda Rio Grande here in Parana.  She will be serving with us for the next few transfers.  We will now be able to open some new areas and bless these wonderful people who have gone so long without missionaries.

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January 2013 Departures

The first missionaries to depart for home in this New Year of 2013.  (L to R: Elders Costa da Silva, S. Andrade, Windous, Devincenzi, A. Smith, and Roberts)