Dean's Missionary Journal: Sunday, February 16, 1969

Monday, February 16, 2009

Sunday, February 16, 1969

Heat and Carnival are the distinguishing characteristics of today that I choose to remember. The temperature, and I think the humidity, have been climbing up into pretty unbearable heights. The last letters from home spoke of cold and snow—stuff I can hardly remember. Even just sprawled across our beds would not stop the sweat today. Extend that then to riding crowded, stuffy busses and pounding sun-swept streets.

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Petrópolis

Our group of eight missionaries arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the morning of Wednesday, December 18, 1968, after an all-night flight from New York City. President Hal R. Johnson and his wife Virginia were there to greet us. Although I did not record it in my journal, I had a feeling of panic overwhelm me as the plane was about to land and I observed to my companion as we were looking out the window at the approaching city that no one down there spoke English.

My first assignment was to Petrópolis, up in the mountains a little more than an hour out of Rio. I labored in Petrópolis from Thursday evening, December 19, 1968, until Friday morning, February 7, 1969. And a part of that time I actually spent in the mission home in Rio for health reasons. Elder Michael Dean Slade was my companion.

Mission office

I worked in the mission office, where Elder Monte Stewart and I were companions, from Thursday, February 27, until Friday, September 12, 1969. We were a part of the headquarters missionary district and the Jardim Botânico Branch. I served as the mission recorder–historian, Elder Stewart as the mission accountant. It was a great blessing for Elder Stewart and me to have such close contact with President and Sister Johnson and their family during those seven months. We also were privileged, during the months we labored together as missionary companions, to see a couple families accept the restored gospel and be baptized into the Church. Right near the end of our stay we participated in a special meeting at the mission home with Elder Gordon B. Hinckley of the Council of the Twelve and his wife.

Ramos

I served in the Ramos District from Saturday, September 13, 1969, until Monday, April 13, 1970. In the Ramos District we were a part of the Meier Branch until Sunday, March 15, 1970, when it was divided and we became a part of the Cascadura Branch. I had three companions during the seven months I labored in Ramos as district leader: Elder John Edward Staker, Elder Alan Hatch, and Elder Bruce Warner. During my stay in Ramos President David O. McKay died on Sunday, January 18, 1970. He had been the only Prophet I had known during all my growing up years. President Joseph Fielding Smith became the next President of the Church on January 23, 1970.

Maceió

I spent the final eight months of my mission—from Wednesday, April 15, through Monday, December 14, 1970—laboring in Maceió, the capital city of Alagoas. I served as district leader and beginning Sunday, May 17, as branch president. My companions during my stay in Maceió included Elders Randy Prisbrey, Dana Blackham, and John Hendrickson. In July President and Sister Johnson visited our fair city and presided over the annual conference of the Maceió Branch. In September we participated in meetings in Recife with Elder and Sister Gordon B. Hinckley of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Dean's Missionary Journal

Monday, February 16, 2009

Sunday, February 16, 1969

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Places I served

Salt Lake Missionary Home

Language Training Mission

Petrópolis

Tijuca

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Ramos

Maceió

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