Happy Mothers' Day

Happy Mothers' Day to everyone.  We had a speaking assignment in the Jardim Florenca Ward in Ponta Grossa.  Dallin bore his testimony afterwhich Bonnie and I each spoke.  It was a beautiful day filled with great people and the Spirit.  After meetings we were treated to a banquet at Bishop Camargo's home.  It was great to see their son again who has returned after serving two years in the Campinas Mission in Sao Paulo.  The Sister missionaries were also invited and were able to talk to their families after lunch on Skype.

Bispo e Irma Camargo and Sister Presidente Cordon

Sister Hammon, Irma Camargo, Sister Cordon, and Sister Lima

Baptisms of Rafaela and Giovanna Botega

Today the twin daughters of our dear friends, Araldo and Edna Botega were baptized in the Campo Magro Branch.  President Cordon had the privilege of performing the baptisms for them.  We are so excited for them and the decision that they made.  Dallin spoke at the baptism which was attended by many of the members of the Campo Magro Branch and Pres. and Sister Hepworth of the Curitiba Temple Presidency.  President Hepworth will confirm the twins on Sunday.

Sisters Cavalcante(manaus) and Sposito (BH), Rafaela and Giovanna Botega, Sister Cordon, Araldo and Edna Botega.

Dallin with the Twins!

Our dear friends, the Botega Family.

Date Night for Mothers' Day

We finally escaped and were able to have a quiet dinner together at the "2nd Largest Restaurant in the World".  Dallin had a birthday party at the same location so we dropped him off and went upstairs to eat.  The Madalossa is enormous and sits several thousand people at a time.  You don't choose your food, it just comes out family style.  It was great to have a little time with the greatest treasure in my life.

Mowing Parque Barigui

A beautiful morning for a jog in the park.  The workers spend endless hours keeping the park looking fantastic.  It is impressive to see how much time and effort they put into the city treasure.

Temple visit with the Botega Family

We met the Botega Family at the Curitiba Temple tonight for a quick visit.  It was absolutely stunning and although just a tad bit cold, it was a lovely evening.

Happy 16th Birthday Dallin!!!

Dallin turned 16 so we invited several family friends over to celebrate and help us ordain him a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood.  It was a fantastic evening with great friends.  I am not sure if Dallin wants to return to the US.  He is loved by everyone down here.

Bonnie Conquers Pico Marumbi

Not OSHA approved!  

Several friends invited us to climb the second highest peak in Southern Brazil, Pico Marumbi.  Dallin and I found ourselves grounded with the flu but Bonnie was ready for the challenge.  She got up early and caught a ride with the Samways family.  The hike was a lot more than she had bargained for.  After a 90 minute car ride they started their hike just outside of the city of Morretes which sits basically at sea level.  The hike begins quite traquilo following a dirt road for several miles. The road begins to climb up to the Marumbi train station which is the trailhead to the summit.  Marumbi is a massive granite mountain with several summits.  This party headed to the Olimpo Summit at 1,549 meters which is approximately 5,082 feet.  Normally that would be quite a climb in and of itself.  This proved to be much more.  Departing from the train station Bonnie found that the hike was filled with climbing up sheer granite cliffs using steel rebar inserted into the rock as stairs and ladders.  In some places ropes or chains were permanently strung to pull yourself up.  It took 2 hours and 45 minutes to reach the train station and 3 1/2 hours to more to reach the summit.  She did it!!  Elderson and Robertson Samways helped a lot.  After an arduos descent they arrived safely back in Curitiba this evening.  Nice job Bonnie!  We are glad you are back safe.

At the Trailhead: Jefferson, Cristofer, Jhonaton, Silvana and Dhafne Rasera, Adriane, Leonardo and Elderson Samways, Bonnie, and Robertson Samways.

The road up to the Marumbi Train Station, passing through the Atlantic rainforest.

Marumbi Train Station

One of several mountain creeks Bonnie passed.

Samways family and Jonathon Rasera resting at a cool little river.

Pico Marumbi Conquered!!

On the Summit with Robertson and Elderson Samways.  Silvana and Dhafne Rasera can be seen on the right.

Another Summit of Marumbi, not quite as high.

Walk before General Conference Sessions

Dallin, Bonnie and I took a nice walk before general conference today.  It was a gorgeous day and perfect one to be out seeing the city.

Ucranian Catholic Church close to the Mission Home.  Torre Panoramico is in the background.

At Parque Barigui they were holding a jeep excursion.

Churrasco and Tubing in Morretes

The Gerhardt Pereira family from Paranagua invited us to join them and a few other families from their ward to a cookout and tubing on one of the several rivers that pass through Morretes.  It was a drizzly day and a little cold but we had a grand time!  Imagine tubing through the Atlantic rainforest.  Not too bad!

Sausage and bananas grilling on the barby!

Dallin came back a little wet and cold.

Family Night with the Augusto Family

Tonight we spent an enjoyable evening with my first counselor and his family.  Lucas, the family's youngest child, made a wand for Dallin. He is quite the inventor.  Ollivander's has nothing on him!

Random Grocery Store Picture

This is Dallin at the grocery store.  I am not sure what the significance is of this picture but he is a good looking kid if I do say so myself.

Hospital Visits

Dallin and mom went to the hospital to visit Elder Brino who had his appendix removed today.  Our dear elder goes home in just over two weeks and this isn't the way any of us envisioned him finishing his mission.  He assures me that he will be out working in the next few days.  He is a great missionary.

FELIZ ANNIVERSARIO BONNIE!!!!!

Today we celebrated Bonnie's birthday by inviting several families from here in Curitiba over for family night.  It was very enjoyable.  We played games, laughed, ate cake and salgados and had a great time.  Abracos para todos!

Bonnie with our two favorite Brazilian girls, Luiza and Emily.  Bonnie loves the Brazilian families and their children.

Presidente Miled and Marli and Presidente and Sister Hepworth.

Dallin hanging out with William and Oliver Triumfo.

Bonnie opens presents with some help from Luiza and Emily.

Mini Tornado in Curitiba

Today is a holiday here in Brazil.  In the United States it is known as Mardi Gras but here it is Carnival, the day before Ash Wednesday for the Catholics.  Bonnie and I attended a zone meeting in the morning and then decided to take a walk in the park after lunch.  As we left to drive down the 5 blocks to the park we noticed a very strange, dark cloud rapidly moving in our direction.  2 blocks from the park we were hit with heavy rain, not real uncommon here, so we decided to continue on to the park and turn around.  As we reached the park the wind picked up and rain was falling horizontally. We turned around at the round about and began to see limbs and branches flying past us.  It was very difficult to see.  Cars were pulled over on the side of the road due to the lack of visibility.  We journeyed on picking our way through the downed foliage blocking traffic.  All of the stop lights were out due to trees down on the power lines.  We were only hit once by something falling.  It really gave us a scare.  Carefully but rapidly we made it back to the apartment and had to climb the 13 floors to our abode.  The storm left as rapidly as it came.  The sun came back out after 10 minutes so we decided to go back down to the park to see the results of the storm.  We bounded down the 13 floors again!  Awesome!  

The park was a disaster.  Trees and limbs down everywhere.  Here are a few of the pictures we took.  Curitibanos were out strolling in the park as if nothing had happened.

Click to Open: The sign reads "Attention: Street blocked on Sunday 2pm - 8pm." It should read Sundays and Holidays!

Click to Expand: Those are some serious roots!

Click to Expand: This tree fell on a building housing a car museum.

Bonnie found this one that took out a surveilance camera with it.

Click to Expand: Bonnie did her best to support this poor tree however in the end, it didn't make it.

RISE UP!  Well, maybe not that much.

Treetop...Gone!

A look of concern and pain! Our poor Parque Barigui.  OUCH CHARLIE!!

Bummer!

Looking back towards our apartment.

This little guy was still trying to escape the destruction.  I had to tell him that it was OK to return to his lake.

Blue skies and palm trees.

The homeless dogs in the park.

Willy Wonka's Chocolate River.

Araucarias!

This is the street where Silvana and Jefferson live.  We couldn't get down to their house.