Monday, May 19, 1969

Tonight Elder Stewart and I returned to a building, Senador Vegueiro 35, that we had tracted during the week before. Saturday evening while Elder Stewart and Elder Richins were working together, they encountered the síndico, who asked them to stop doing the tracting pesquisa. They left the building. This evening, returning to check back with those families where tracts had been left and who had indicated we might return, we were met by the porteiro. He asked that we leave the building. We mentioned that we had spoken with the síndico, had discontinued tracting, and were back now only to speak with those who said we might return. We offered him the names and addresses of those we cared to visit. He insisted that we leave or speak with the síndico. We spoke with him. The síndico was a hostile man who ranted and raved about our presence in his building and the disturbances we were causing. He assigned the porteiro to accompany us to the doors of our visits to see indeed whether or not we had been invited to return. At the first home the man of the house was not home. Having spoken with him initially the wife did not know the situation and was of no help really. We were not allowed to visit any other apartments. We began to see that the porteiro was not just following instructions issued by the síndico but was in like manner of a hostile and unsociable manner and planning to stand together with his master against the work of the Lord. He copied down the numbers of the apartments we desired to visit, saying he would check each one personally to see if we were wanted back. I have little trust in the manner of fairness in which he may ask and report to us. The síndico had returned and asked for identification. Elder Stewart offered his, which he need not have done since these men had no right to such information. The interview terminated.

Naturally we were feeling bad about the incident. It had brought Elder Stewart to tears, and I was feeling righteously indignant at these men willfully and maliciously standing in our way.

We played football with the Jardim Botânico elders and visited Corcovado today.

One year ago today Karen and I mark as the beginning of our friendship and love. Several weeks have passed without a word from her. I faithfully wrote once more, asking for some explanation of our relationship, thanking her for her influence in my life during the past year.