Weeks 3-4: February 9 - February 23

We’ve had 2 more very busy weeks! We have met all the missionaries in the mission now by accompanying Pres. and Sister Acosta to the Leadership Council and all of the Zone Conferences held in the mission the past week and a half. In all, the 12 zones came to 3 Zone Conferences. They were great and the Acosta’s asked both Val and I to share some training with the missionaries. It felt a lot like being back in the mission in Porto Alegre Sul, but I didn’t have to prepare all of it or be in charge. I liked it! 😊

We were able to go back out to the UBA Group on both Friday and Sunday. We already LOVE those wonderful Saints. They are humble, loving, and pioneers in every sense of the word. There are some strong families and individuals who faithfully come to everything. We are going to start working more with the Elders assigned there, Elder Christensen and Elder Florentino, to go visit both members who need a little move “carinho” (love and affection), as well as those to whom they are teaching the lessons. The picture below is our friend Claudinho. He has been a member for about a year and we are going to visit he and his wife and children (mostly grown) one of the upcoming Sundays to get to know their family better. We hope to make a difference in the Group and help to make it grow stronger and larger!  

We went to visit Bishop Sã of the Saúde Ward on Sunday afternoon and he provided us with a list of those members that he’d like us to go visit to help strengthen and, in some cases, reactivate them. We hope to get started on these visits in the next few days. The Sã's also invited us over for lunch on Saturday with the 2 Sisters in the ward, Sisters Risende and Az. It was fun to get to spend more time with them. 

Another fun thing happened while we were at church on Sunday in the Saúde Ward. We have been anticipating running into some of our returned missionaries from the Brasil Porto Alegre Sul Mission where we served 11 years ago. I was talking to a member at church before the meeting started, and heard, “Presidente, o que está fazendo aqui?!” (President, what are you doing here?!). I looked up and Elder David Godoy was standing in front of me! He was part of the first group of missionaries that completed their mission when we first arrived in 2009. It was fun to catch up with him. He will be in our ward staying with extended family for 6 months. We hope to run into others in the weeks/months to come!  

We returned to meet with the Riberão Pires Zone this week and enjoyed their District Council (formerly known as District Meeting) with them. The Zone Leaders, Elder Hunter and Elder Borge, are doing a great job and working hard to lead the zone. We had one of “those” days in the São Paulo traffic – it took us nearly 3 hours to get to the meeting, and normally should take 45-60 minutes. I’ve got to trade in this manual shift car and get an automatic – the shifting is wearing out my left foot! But we are finding better ways to get around the traffic on better roads, so we're learning! 😊

We did return to Riberão Pires on Sunday evening for the baptism of Rosilane and her daughter Gabriela. It was wonderful to see 2 more of Heavenly Father’s children come into the Church. They were from the Valentina Group that is part of the Riberão Pires Stake and the bishop, group leader, and Primary president did a terrific job of welcoming them to the group/ward. Elders M. Silva and John are doing a great work there! 

We’ve just about got our cute little apartment furnished now. So far we’ve purchased a kitchen table and 4 chairs, a 2-person recliner (for those days where a 15 minute nap would be good at lunchtime!), an oven/range, a microwave, a bed and linens, bedside stands, curtains, storage cabinets for the kitchen, bathroom, and storage room, and a bazillion other smaller items. We finally got the internet hooked up, and hopefully our fogão (oven) will be hooked up to gas on Thursday so that we can actually have a hot meal that’s not made in our only appliance that heats food at this point – a “sanduicheira” (small sandwich grill). Wish us luck!!

The weather in São Paulo is pretty consistent – clear skies in the morning and then by early afternoon, it clouds up and pours buckets! Since arriving in Brazil 3 weeks ago, we’ve only had 1 day that didn’t have rain. There doesn’t seem to be a lack of “moisture” in this part of the world!  But when the sun is shining, we have a beautiful view from our apartment. 😊

We went to Outback Steakhouse on Saturday (there are several in the São Paulo area) and had a nice meal with Élder and Sister Mencl, who serve in the office as financial secretaries, and with Pres. Fabian Gonçalvez (2nd Counselor in the mission presidency) and his wife Patrícia. It was fun to get to know them better - they're all terrific people and friends already! 

We’re loving serving together and hope to make a difference this week in the work the Lord has given to us to do. We wish for each of you an ótima semana!! (a great week!)

Our love and a grande abraço,

Élder and Síster Swenson