Sunday, September 29, 1968

Time is fleeting even when no direct obligations or responsibilities are pressing. From Friday evening until this evening has been as a flash. The welcome we received when we arrived at Allen Hall was overwhelming. All the missionaries in the Portuguese zone were on the front lawn waiting for us new ones from Salt Lake. No sooner did we step off the bus than we were grabbed by an elder or two, who carried our luggage and quickly escorted us to our quarters.

Within seconds we were checked in and assembled in the chapel to begin our first meeting. Singing hymns in Portuguese, though I cannot understand the words yet, is really great. We were temporarily assigned districts and companions. I have an unusual distinction of having two other companions—Elders Kent Gale and Dave Babbel—because of an odd number of elders. All Friday night was free for getting settled, writing letters or in journals, resting, and like activities.

Yesterday started with an orientation meeting for all new missionaries in all the zones. The Language Training Mission presidency spoke to us. Our first class in Portuguese followed. We worked on a short dialogue with an Elder Alder as our instructor. A zone orientation meeting, led by zone leader Elder Gibson, ended Saturday’s meetings. The afternoon was free. After lunch I did laundry and wrote letters while my companions played football. Finishing about the same time, we walked up to the bookstore on campus to buy our Portuguese texts. To Sir with Love was playing in the Varsity Theater, which was next on our list. I had seen this movie once before, but now as one preparing to go out and change people’s lives, its effect on me was significantly more profound than I remembered from the first viewing nearly a year earlier. Seeing the show made us miss dinner. We stopped at the A&W to eat on our way to the Iowa State–BYU football game. Coincidentally, Kay and Claudia were there and I saw them for a brief moment. They were down for the game. Rain fell before the game and during halftime. BYU lost to Iowa State 28-20.

Meetings today began with scripture class at 6:45. Sunday School followed at 8:00, priesthood meeting at 9:30. All classes were in English, but opening exercises were in Portuguese. This evening at 5:30 we had culture capsule which included slides on the ethnic groups and the arts in Brazil. Sacrament meeting came at 7:00 and was all in Portuguese. Home evening, taught by Elder Babbel, ended the day’s meetings. During the afternoon the three of us had a nice long nap, and I wrote Karen a letter.

A box of cookies, baked by Karen, was delivered in the afternoon. A wonderfully super letter accompanied the cookies.