Yesterday we were able to watch the dedication of the
Manaus Brasil Temple. Elder Quentin L. Cook conducted and Presidente Dieter F.
Uchtdorf dedicated the structure. It was a really neat experience. There were
a few speakers including President Cláudio R. M. Costa, Area President of Brasil
(he visited our mission in August or September last year). We arrived in the
chapel around 8:20 and the dedication started at 10:00. There was a prelude
being broadcast. It was music from the Tabernacle Choir and video shots of the
exterior and interior of various temples. Mexico City, Panama City, Curitiba,
Apia Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, Helsinki Finland, Twin Falls, Oquirrh Mountain,
Draper etc. Really neat. It showed a lot of the baptistries, ordinance rooms,
celestial rooms, the grounds, etc. The video repeated three times in 90
minutes, but I watched it the whole time.
On Friday we had a visit from an MTC instructor from São Paulo. Remember
the story from general conference a few years ago about the leader who always
went to pick up the young man for church, but the young man always tried to get
away? Then the leader went after him even to the beach and entered into the
water to grab him, even though he was wearing his suit? The man who came to
visit us was that boy. He has been a stake president, a bishop two times, a
seventy two times, and now works in the MTC. His talk was to all the
misisonaries serving in Greater Vitória. I have never seen someone who
captivated a group so completely for so long (he spoke for over two hours).
Teaching is truly a gift and a skill that is so valuable. He talked about
various subjects, from less-active member visits, integrating new members,
diligence, Preach My Gospel, finding new investigators, referrals, etc. My head
is still spinning from all the learning. I was taking notes practically the
entire time.
Our family of four seems to be doing good and if all goes as according to
our plans, they will be baptized on Sunday. We marked a baptismal date with a
young man (18 years old) who wants to serve a mission. Hopefully he is willing
to make the sacrifices to be able to.
We had a division with the assistants to the president. This time Elder
Buttars came to my area. If you have really sharp memories, you will remember
that I wrote this about Elder Buttars in the MTC:
Get this. I finally ran into someone
from Boise. He is in the district that stole
our teacher. So. He is from "Boise" or
rather, Meridian. He lives near Linder and Cherry. He attended both Meridian
and Capital High Schools. He took Spanish all through high school and speaks
almost fluently. He studied Portuguese over the summer, and had several
Portuguese friends so we is picking things up quickly. He is going to MY
MISSION- Vitoria, Brasil. [PS I would add that I only know of 5 or 6 other
missionaries out of the 2200 here at the MTC headed to my
mission].
Then things get weirder. The suit he brought for his mission? The same
exact suit as mine, bought at the same JC
Penney during the same sale- this is a pinstripe suit, not some generic black suit. And! The first time we saw each other
wearing the same suit, he was wearing a tie
that I have! They are different brands, but they are literally identical.
Candy cane looking ties. We basically have a lot in common. Strange. He sings
tenor in choir. On top of everything else. And his last name starts with a B.
You get the idea.
It was an
interesting week. We have lots of work to do.
Have a joyful
week,
Elder Bodily
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