Wednesday, October 29, 1969

After a visit again to the hospital this morning, we dropped by the mission home to see President Johnson. Elder Gessel has a very bad cold also, both of us having spent Tuesday in bed. President Johnson was quite concerned about our health and threatened hospitalization if we did not get ourselves better. He instructed us to start taking vitamin pills, to start buying extra fruits and vegetables, to drink more water, to get in bed on time. He told me to report again tomorrow on how we are feeling and to spend the rest of today in bed. Elders Ferrin and Taylor are to be told to move into a place with at least a good meal daily and to start getting in bed by 10:30, which they rarely do these days. We visited them this evening and delivered the message and checked on their health as soon as they came home at 11:00. Elder Ferrin had strep throat last week.

This evening the three of us visited a family who has received all the lessons but are not yet ready for baptism. The husband's major hang up, or excuse, is the lineage doctrine. Elder Gessel has not yet baptized on his mission, this family being about the closest he has come.

Monday, October 27, 1969

Today turned into one of those days when all sorts of things happen to make life look different and exciting. Making a visit to Hospital Silvestre, I learned from Dr. Kovach that my cold was really bronchitis. An infection that started in my right big toe again last week, ten months after the operation on it, required the toenail to be removed again. I was told that the problem was not really ingrown toenail problems but a fungus of some type on the toenail. For all this I have been given medicines of all shapes, colors, and forms: one taken every four hours, another every 12 hours, another three times daily, another every day at lunch for 40 days. The worst part of the whole experience was calling President Johnson to give him the good news and writing my family to give them something to worry about.

Elder Edward Staker, my companion for the last month and a half, left this evening for Vitória. We took him to the rodoviária to put him on the bus. Elders Gessel and Richsteig are my companions for the next few days. I was feeling half dead and was glad to fall into bed finally.

A letter to my family:

Actually I should probably not tell you, because it will just make you worry, but I need to let you know how things are going. For the past two weeks I have had a rather heavy cold hanging on. Today the doctor diagnosed it as a bronchial infection, commonly called bronchitis. He prescribed all the necessary medicine, which should have me well within four or five days (by the time you receive this letter).

Also I had another toe operation this morning. The toenail that was removed last December started causing infection again and so the doctor thought it best to remove it again. The reason was not because it was ingrown, as everybody thought, but because of some sort of fungus in the toenail. For the next 30 to 40 days I have a medicine to take that is supposed to eliminate that.

Other than all that, I am feeling great. It is great being a missionary. Saturday my companion and I had the opportunity to baptize and confirm a man we had taught during the preceding three weeks. His baptism was a wonderful occasion and topped off the marvelous experiences had working with him.

One special blessing from being district leader is the responsibility to interview every candidate for baptism within the district. Every time is a new and different experience.

On Wednesday or Thursday of this week I will receive a new companion fresh from the States. My present companion, Elder Edward Staker, from Mount Pleasant, Utah, leaves this evening for Vitória, a city eight or nine hours by bus from Rio. He has been my companion since mid-September, having arrived in Brazil two weeks before then. He will be a good missionary, I am confident, because he is a hard worker and dedicated.

Every month each district in the mission is rated in relationship to all the others according to a scale determined by number of baptisms, number of hours worked, number of people contacted, and number of lessons taught. The Ramos District was rated in September, after I had presided over it as district leader for two weeks, as 13th out of 25. For October we lead the mission as number one on the list. Our baptismal goal was nine people for the month, and the district baptized 14. The big challenge now is to remain faithful, spiritual, hard working, and continue seeking for the Lord's blessings for these good people.

Thanks for all you are and mean to me. Your support and love are very real forces. I want to express my gratitude and love to you, especially Dad and Mom, for the "good life" to which I was introduced. A lady we taught yesterday asked me to send her congratulations and an abraço to my mother for the fine job she did in raising such a good son. I don't deserve it, but my mother does, so I promised that I would.

May heaven bless you richly.

Sunday, October 26, 1969

In the last zone conference it was announced that, except for branches with only four missionaries or less, the elders would no longer attend priesthood meetings. The weekly district meeting would serve as our priesthood meeting. Sunday School attendance, as always, would depend on whether investigators were present or expected. Today was the first time that we did not have reason to attend meetings in the morning, making the first part of the day seem like any regular day of missionary work.

During sacrament meeting this afternoon the concluding speaker was President João Dias, the district president, who gave an outstanding discourse on the second coming of the Savior and events related thereto. President Dias is a great leader of the Church here in Rio, a man with vision and with a very strong testimony and with a deep understanding of the ways of the Lord.

The theme of our district meeting tonight was a discussion of the principle of obedience and its importance in the work of the Lord. As a matter of business we divided up the area for the two new elders. To honor Elder Staker's departure, we sang "God Be with You till We Meet Again" in Portuguese. By next week the district could be divided, thus it was honoring us all.

Saturday, October 25, 1969

During the time I have been a missionary, I have run across many different types of people. It is refreshing to know that not everybody was cast in the same mold. Late Wednesday afternoon as Elder Staker and I were tracting, we encountered a drunken piano salesman who thought we were Baptist ministers. He dragged us into his home, or little shop, and had me play one of the pianos there. All I could play without music was "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet," and so I did exactly that. As we were trying to leave, in came a very dark Negro who was Baptist, in every sense the epitome of a crente. We finally made the point that we were Mormons, to which the Baptist replied, "That's alright. As long as you profess Jesus, you're saved." That sort of philosophy irks me, and we graciously made every effort to excuse ourselves and be on our way, which we were allowed to do after I had played the same hymn once again.

This afternoon at the baptismal service at the Tijuca chapel, two men from the Ramos District were baptized. Elder Staker baptized Antonio Fernandes Costa, a man we had taught during the last four weeks, and I confirmed him a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. His testimony has grown much, and his faith is waxing strong. Unfortunately, his wife did not care to hear the gospel message. The other baptism, Seu Annibel, had been taught by Elders Ferrin and Taylor. I interviewed both Antonio and Annibel yesterday afternoon.

Early this morning Elder Staker and I were called to the mission home to learn of Elder Staker's transfer to Vitória. He leaves Monday evening. He will travel to Vitória with Elder Gabriel Kemeny, who will be the new district leader in that city. Elder George McGrath is Elder Staker's new companion. My new companion will be an elder fresh from the States. It seems as though the entire mission is in transfer, although Elder Staker is the only one leaving Ramos District. But in Tijuca, for example, only two of six are remaining. A new zone and probably new districts are to be created when the 14 new missionaries arrive and are assigned next week.

Tonight we taught a young man named Celso a first lesson, which went particularly well. He has studied nearly every religion imaginable, both Christian and non-Christian. He was quite impressed with our message, recognizing that it rang with a conviction others lacked. He is a thinking man, but a humble man.

Monday, October 20, 1969

In an inspired and what may prove to be prophetic speech yesterday in quarterly district conference, President Johnson challenged the members of the district to prepare for a stake by next October. He issued specific goals and guidelines, calling them challenges and opportunities: (1) at least 40 percent sacrament meeting attendance, double the present rate; (2) increased fast offerings; (3) at least 75 per-cent home teaching completed monthly; (4) better support of leaders; (5) increased reverence in meetings; (6) 1,000 people attending the next conference in January, an increase of 400; and (7) 1,000 baptisms by the missionary force by next October, members helping with at least one member referral per month.

This was the fourth district conference I have attended and was by far the best. Seeing members again from Petrópolis and Jardim Botânico was particularly neat. I met with all three of the families we baptized in Jardim Botânico, all of them still strong and active. Over 600 were at the conference, the Meier Branch having the most with over 150 members.

Following the general session of conference, a baptismal service was held in which I baptized Victor Ferreira’s wife and daughter, both of whom were not ready to baptism when Victor was baptized in August. I also baptized some lady from Petrópolis. It did my heart good to see Maria Helena and Maria das Graças finally join.

Elder Philip Richins, my old district leader and now district leader in Petrópolis, was staying the night in Rio. After the baptism, he and his companion came with us to eat and spend the afternoon until sacrament meeting time. Both Tijuca and Meier met together at 6:00 for the meeting. I was drafted to play the organ. A short district meeting followed.

Today I was still feeling down with my bad cold (as far as I know it could be pneumonia) and we stayed home all day catching up odd details and answering letters and resting. I wrote to my family, Jerry, Jackie, Sister Halliday, Elder Jeff Boswell, and Elder Monte Stewart.

Richard Lynn Cleverly is my newest nephew, born during September to my brother Ray and his wife Sheryl. All are doing fine.

During the past weeks the weather has been unstable, alternating with heat and cold, rain and shine. This evening it was raining again. If for no other reason, it becomes difficult to kick a cold.
I wrote a letter to my family today and pretty much reported on the quarterly district conference and the goals President Johnson outlined. I continued:

"At the conference I saw again many wonderful friends from other branches I have worked in. Especially good to see is that every family I have helped baptize is active and progressing in the Church. Following the conference I had the wonderful opportunity to baptize a lady and her daughter we taught while working in the mission office. The father and son of this family we baptized in August. It was simply thrilling to see this lady finally enter the waters of baptism. Next Saturday we will baptize one more man we have just finished teaching.

"I do not like to be the ungrateful type, and I am the first to recognize that any and all success we are meeting here is due directly to the Lord and the workings of His Holy Spirit on the hearts of men. This is His work, not man’s. It is the Holy Ghost that converts, not us. We are such unworthy servants.

"Thanks for your support, love, and prayers. I love to receive your letters. Don't forget us in your prayers. May heaven's blessings be with you."

Friday, October 17, 1969

Time slips away so swiftly! On Monday we, the Ramos District, took the opportunity to visit the statue of Christ on Corcovado. We worked three hours in the morning street contacting so we could have the evening free to view the panorama of Rio by night. Weather conditions were threatening, but the cloud level remained above the 700-meter high point overlooking the city. The last train descended at six o’clock, and we were able to see the sprawling city below blink on its lights before we had to leave.

On Thursday, the day of the mission fast, I worked with Elder Ferrin all day. That evening I interviewed two different families to be baptized on Saturday. I also helped teach a third lesson to a wonderful family.

This afternoon I stayed in bed because of a heavy cold that has been hanging around for two weeks. Cold weather, fasting yesterday, getting in bed late last night at midnight just wore me down a little too low.

Tonight Antonio received the sixth lesson and a special Blue Book presentation. He is ready for baptism but works Saturday and wants to wait for next Saturday.

A week ago Elder Gessel and I taught a lineage lesson to a girl with the lineage who is interested in the Church. Her father, knowing nothing about the Church, attended also. Both said they understood.

Saturday, October 11, 1969

One note for the record: On the evening of Sunday, September 21, I talked in the sacrament meeting of the Meier Branch. My topic was baptism, the third basic principle and first ordinance of the gospel.

Sunday evening we received by short-wave radio in New York a delayed broadcast of the first session of the semi-annual general conference of the Church meeting in Salt Lake City’s historic Tabernacle. The session was translated into Portuguese. Because of an electrical storm here in Rio, the reception during the first 45 minutes was poor. The remainder came through strong and clear. It was so good to hear again the great choir and organ and to be receiving the messages from the presiding Brethren. Irmão Antonio, whom we are now teaching, attended and enjoyed the proceedings.

This week Antonio received the third and fourth lessons, is well into the Book of Mormon, living the Word of Wisdom, and progressing. This afternoon he attended a baptismal service I conducted. Elder Staker baptized José Delfino Barbosa Filho this afternoon, a man who received the lessons from Elder Anderson. I confirmed him a member of the Church.

Friday, October 3, 1969

The richness and goodness of life is at times nearly overwhelming. A fantastic zone conference yesterday has me a little better equipped for the battle—with an increased faith in myself, in our leaders, in the Brazilian people, in the programs and promises of the Lord. Time slips away ever and ever faster. I feel as though I am running out of time. A year ago last week, on September 25, I was set apart as a missionary.

When I attended my first zone conference back in January, Elder Dean Slade, my companion who was attending his last, said it was the best he had attended in two years in Brazil. President Johnson promised they would be better. Yesterday was my fifth zone conference, and it was the best yet.

During the morning session we held an hour-long critique session on teaching techniques, a new feature in zone conference. New programs were explained and outlined to help us progress even further in the Lord’s work. The afternoon testimony meeting was a special experience. Participating in the conference of the Tijuca Zone were 30 elders and sisters from the districts of Ramos, Meier, Tijuca, Santa Tereza, Headquarters, and Jardim Botânico.

Speaking of conferences, the semi-annual general conference of the Church is in session this weekend.

Of the many events, happenings, and facts of the last few weeks, only a few will be noted in passing. Last night I worked with Elder Ferrin, leaving Elder Staker to work with Elder Taylor. We traveled out to Mesquita to teach a family the fifth, sixth, and lineage lessons and to interview them for baptism. The father arrived late, and we did not teach nor interview. We finally made it home by 1:00.

Wednesday I worked with Elder Gessel in his area, giving Elders Staker and Richtsteig a chance to be out together on their own. They have been down now for a month.

Last Friday Elder Larry Braithwaite, our zone leader, worked with me in our area. Saturday last Elder Staker baptized and I confirmed a lady, Lair Cabral Barbosa, who had been taught by Elder Anderson before he left. Her husband had to work and was not able to be baptized. One daughter has been a member for a month.

Much of our time has been spent tracting. We have taught several first lessons, but none of them to really sharp families. One exception: We were introduced Sunday to a man who has attended church for nearly a month and who wanted lessons. His first lesson Tuesday and second lesson this morning were both really sharp. His name is Antonio Fernandes Costa.

The district is full of good elders and is animated. The work is looking bright.