From Cuiaba Brazil

January 8 - March 6, 2016

We arrived back in Utah on March 15. This is the view of Mount Olympus (Wasatch Mountains) from our front porch on that day. Needless to say, we have had some adjustments to make -- beginning with the weather. We have gone from the truly tropical (always summer) climate to the winters we know and love from our childhood. For the first time in two years, it actually felt like Christmas, especially with rather frequent snow flurries.

These first photos were taken soon after our arrival home. After these first photos we have included photos from 8 days of travel in Brazil with Melissa and Brian. Following those photos are photos from the last couple of months of our mission.

This is the view of the Oquirrh Mountains looking west from our home.

The following photos are from our youngest granddaughter Anna's second year birthday party, shortly after we arrived home.

Evan on FaceTime while he is waiting to open the envelope at George Washington University telling him where he will be going for his Med Peds residency program. He found out it will be in Albany, NY. Wahoo!

Our two youngest grandchildren, Ruby and Anna, play together. They are great friends!

The next photos are from Melissa, Brian, Lou Ellen and Randy's trip in Brazil before returning home to Utah. Below is an old hotel in Sao Paulo.

Guarding an ATM machine in Sao Paulo where his coworker is removing cash. All legitimate, of course.

At the kiddies pool, San Juan hotel near Foz Iguacu, Brazil.

Flowers at the bird refuge near Foz Iguacu National Park.

Arraras, or Macaws

Toucan

How can we take enough photos of Iguacu Falls? We can't seem to be able to.

We took a ride on the river below the falls and went through and under the falls several times. We were thoroughly drenched.

Melissa and Brian relax for a few minutes after a heavy schedule of travel and sight-seeing.

A Young Men and You Women conference from a local ward.

The following photos are from the old city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Founded by the Portuguese in 1549 as the first capital of Brazil, Salvador is one of the oldest colonial cities in the Americas. A sharp escarpment divides its Lower Town (Cidade Baixa) from its Upper Town (Cidade Alta) by some 85 meters (279 ft). The Elevador Lacerda, Brazil's first elevator, has connected the two since 1873. The Pelourinho district of the upper town, still home to many examples of Portuguese colonial architecture and historical monuments, was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. The city's cathedral is the see of the primate of Brazil and its Carnival celebration has been reckoned as the largest party in the world. Salvador was the first slave port in the Americas and the African influence of the slaves' descendants makes it a center of Afro-Brazilian (preto) culture. The city is noted for its cuisine, music, and architecture. Porto da Barra Beach in Barra has been named one of the best beaches in the world. Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova was the site of the city's games during the 2014 Brazilian World Cup.

This blue building is the very charming and historic hotel in the old town district where we stayed for 2 nights.

Note the lady under the polka dot blue parasol. She is in traditional Bahiana dress.

Cathedral of the slaves

The man in the photo below is Mestre Boca Rica who teaches Capoeira Angola at an old fortress guarding the bay at the bottom of the old city. He is a wonderful and much honored instructor who personally entertained us with his singing and drum that traditionally accompany the capoeira dance.

Sometimes referred to as a martial art, sometimes a dance, and sometimes even a game, capoeira is a unique phenomenon which has caught the world’s attention. It is instantly recognizable from its musicality and the movements of the performers, as they seem to move together and then suddenly attack each other, still keeping in time with the rhythm. Yet despite its rising popularity, the exact origins of the art have been lost in history due to a scarcity of historical evidence and the secretive nature of its beginnings.

It has been suggested that capoeira was first created during the 16th century by slaves who were taken from West Africa to Brazil by the Portuguese colonists. Prohibited from celebrating their cultural customs and strictly forbidden from practicing any martial arts, capoeira is thought to have emerged as a way to bypass these two imposing laws. Hidden in the musical and rhythmical elements of the form, violent kicks were disguised as passionate dance movements, and its combination of a mixture of West African cultures saved it from being identified as an attempt to preserve any specific tradition. As such, capoeira came to life as a survival tool, not only of self-defense, but also of cultural identity.

The walk back from the fortress.

Close-up of our hotel.

Shots inside our hotel. These are from and inside our room.

Brian enjoying Farol (lighthouse) beach in Salvador.

The following photos were taken from the famous Pao de Acucar (Sugar Loaf Mountain) in Rio de Janeiro.

After Sugar Loaf Mountain we had a delicious giant prawn meal at Shirely's restaurant just off the
famous Copacabana beach.

The Hotel Copacabana Palace, the priciest hotel in Rio (they say) where the rich and the famous stay.

These next shots were taken from the famous Cristo Redentor statue on top of Corcovado Mountain. This was our first attempt on Monday, march 7, to see the city from Corcovado. Soon after we arrived, however, a cloud moved in and obstructed our view.

These photos were taken at the botanical garden in Rio.

This photo was taken from the top of the Everest Rio Hotel where we stayed. Is is a half block off the famous Ipanema beach.

Taken in front of the famous Maracana soccer stadium where the final World Cup game was played in 2014. Unfortunately it was closed to tours, due to renovation for the Summer Olympics, 2016.

Grandstands where the principal Carnival parade occurs in Rio.

One of hundreds of old streets in Rio, beside an early aqueduct.

These next photos were taken at the famous Convent Stairway in Rio.

Nearby wall art.

Lobby (and guard) of Copacabana Palace Hotel.

The concierge at the Copacabana Palace hotel told us about a bike rental shop two blocks away from the hotel. We enjoyed an hour riding the full length of the beach bike path.

Sand Art welcoming the Summer Olympics crowds.

Our second trip to Corcovado was worth the extra time and expense because of the improved atmosphere. Our driver told us it would be the same as the prior day and be engulfed by clouds. We prayed and our prayers were answered with a beautiful and quite clear view from the top.

The following photos were taken at our Saturday night farewell event and the following Sunday morning after Sacrament Meeting.

With Tayson.

This includes Carlos Domingues.

Pamela Severina Silva's granddaughter

With Severina Silva added

With Emerson and Clione

With Maqias

With President and Sister Macedo and Enos

With Washington and his sister, Gabriela, Rodriques

With Vitor

With Elders Pavan (Peacock) and Manteigas (Butters)

With Wellington and his mother, Lucinete

With Edilso, Kaline and sons, Alam and Antoni.

With Ronald and Tatiana

With Francivaldo and Carlos

With Francivaldo and Gabriela

With Gabriela, Laisa and Pamela

With Paulo Rodriques, Juliana, Pamela, Melissa and Brian

With Juliana Silva

Jantar in Isabelle and Marcos' home

At the Odara Hotel in Sorriso

Almoco in Sandra and Idilio's house with Thais, Thaynara, Thaison and cousin

With Rosana and Nelson at farewell party

With Matteus, Sandra, Lucas and Ivan Locatelli

With the Rodrigues family

With Arnelio, Maria, and Grasiele, Shirley and Pamela

With Claire and Ralf

Sisters Hudleston and Jordan

Jessica and friend

With Tayson, Jessica, friend of Jessica, Yuri, Juliana and Paulo Assis

With Gilberto

Juliana Silva, Jessica, Juliana Assis, Thomas, Ronald, Gabriela, Liza and Pamela singing at farewell event.

Idilio (holding sleeping Thaison), Sandra, and Thaynara.

With Iraci and Raimundo

With Shirley, Gilson, Thomas, and Joe Pedro Faria

Almoco in Idilio and Sandra's home.

Brian with Sandra's sister

Our trip to the Sinop airport

Our motorista

With Vicente

Manoel's baptism, with Brother Mattos and daughters

Members of Lucas Branch

Highway outside of Lucas

Sister Missionaries who participated in the Mission Tour with Elder and Sister Arnold.

Lunch with Sandra and children

Baptism of Michael. Josey, Elder Fernandez, Vitor, Michael, Rayisa, Elder Oliveira

Future missionary, Gabriela with trainer Sister Vitor

Sandra's nephews

With Sandra's brother

With Sandra's sister and Lou Ellen's Ukelele

With Sandra's neice

With friends of Paulo and Juliana

A wonderful evening on a chakara with Ralf and Claire

Chapel in Campinas where I served as a young missionary. We helped clear the ground for commencement of construction.

Members who participated in the January caravan to the Campinas temple

Sister Romrell teaches young women in our home how to lead congregational singing

More members in the Lucas Branch

Non-coincidental meeting with Kaline's brother in the Sinop airport.

Dr. Ferretti, head of orthopedics at Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo. He studied some in the US and used to play soccer with some LDS missionaries and young LDS members while in the US