The Last Post

Missionary service is a decision that will truly affect eternity. I am so grateful for the opportunity we have had to serve in the Curitiba Temple.

Part of our hearts are not coming home with us!!

Gratefully, we get to keep everything we learned and experienced while we were were here in Brazil. All these people, places and experiences that we were a part of have changed us. We are not the same people we were when we left Utah. The memories are ours to keep, and they'll go with us wherever we go from now on. 

The Curitiba Temple was the fifth temple built in Brazil.

In 1953, at the dedication of the Ipomeia meetinghouse, President Spencer W. Kimball declared: "One day, in this region, there will be a temple of the Lord."

Over 50 years later, fulfillment of that prophecy began when President Gordon B. Hinckley personally selected the site for the Curitiba Brazil Temple.

Elder Russell M. Nelson presided at the groundbreaking ceremony for the temple on March 10, 2005.

President James E. Faust had served as a young missionary in Curitiba and later presided over South America as a general authority. He was a beloved leader of the Brazilian saints. President Hinckley planned to take Pres. Faust with him to dedicate the Curitiba Brazil Temple, but both passed away in the months preceding the dedication.

President Thomas S. Monson's trip to dedicate the Curitiba Brazil Temple was his first trip outside North America as president of the Church. That was on June 1, 2008.

The following are some of my favorite pictures of the beautiful Templo de Curitiba.

Forever in my 💗!

Happy Birthday, Little Temple.

To all our dear friends that have become a part our lives these past eighteen months -  

Obrigada, my dear friends.

Back Where He Belongs

Moroni returned to the top of the temple on Friday. It was no quick and easy task. But he looks fantastic. I'm glad we were able to be here and cheer him on!

 ↓These are the leaves of gold that they used.

 Up, up and away.

The Last Hurrah

I know that there are some people out there who think we are serving on a 'mission-cation', but, hey, when the temple closes for its two week's of maintenance, what are Don and Linda to do?!
Take a trip!

First Stop - Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre, which means “happy port” in Portuguese, has the distinction of being ranked 43rd among the world's 50 most violent cities. 
That wasn't the reason we chose to go there! 😟
Sitting on a hill overlooking Porto Alegre from the east is the Porto Alegre Brazil Temple, the third temple built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil.

 And for us, it completed our tour of the six operating temples in Brazil.

 It's a beautiful little temple.

Not wanting to spend a lot of time in such a scary place, we scheduled a mere 24 hours for this visit. Our Uber driver was LDS and took us on a quick tour of the city on the way back to the airport. 

 The best place for a panoramic view of the city was at the top of 'cemetery hill' - and through a favela. The police at the lookout told us to take a quick look and then hippity-hop out of there. We looked. We left. (You don't have to tell us twice!!)


Next, it was on to Fortaleza. 

 Located in northeastern Brazil, Fortaleza is Portuguese for fortress. It is a city of 3,000,000 people and lots and lots of beaches. 

 

They had a great breakfast.

 We enjoyed our ★★★★★ hotel.

(I enjoyed my Mother's Day gift from my Donald!)


So much to see and do!!!

 

We took in a day at the dunes.

One of the regional dishes is Baião de Dois (rice, black eyed peas, cheese and herbs).

                                  We liked it ↓                                 

Our grandsons Seth and Alex have a friend serving in Fortaleza. We just  couldn't pass the opportunity to look up Elder Connor Eliason and bring 'grandma' goodie bags to these two cute Elders!

Hope they know how much we love them!

Bishop Cleto arranged for us to spend Sunday (Mother's Day) with the Nogeiras - his daughter-in-law's parents. They were so very gracious! And what a meal!!

Plans for the Fortaleza Brazil Temple were announced October 3, 2009, by President Monson. The original design of the temple had two spires but the city denied it and a new design was finally approved. They have been waiting for this temple to be completed for a loooong time. It's getting close! 

Next, on to
Rio de Janeiro
Rio, located between the mountain and sea, was worthy of a second visit.
This time we stayed at the beach and visited the temple site.

This hotel wasn't a 5-star (we couldn't afford that!) But we did enjoy the Copacabana Beach right out our front door.

 The Rio de Janeiro Temple was announce on April 6, 2013, during the Saturday morning session of General Conference. It's located in the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood on the Atlantic Ocean. (About an hour from downtown Rio.)
Work began in March 2017.

Meanwhile, back in Curitiba, the big news is the Angel Moroni's 'makeover'. 

After 10 years atop the temple, he was getting a bit hairy-scary. So down he came to be cleaned and 're-golded'. 

Now you see him. Now you don't.

And what a difference a week makes.

 He returns to his perch tomorrow - all shiny and bright.

Now, not that anyone's counting, but we only have 13 more days left in Brazil.
We return home May 30th.
My heart is full.