My Brazilian Friends

Hello everyone!

A big part of any mission is the people that you come in contact with. Good relationships can make the difference between a happy mission and a lonely one. Here in Brazil, I have been so blessed to have wonderful people in my life and I don't want to forget a single one. 

This is Aline Paiva. She is one of our translators. She translates for women who speak in Sacrament meeting (English to Portuguese for Americans who speak and Portuguese to English for Americans who are listening to Brazilian speakers) and she also translates Relief Society for us. Her father created Mr. Cheney's Cookies (like Mrs. Fields Cookies in the US). He has a shop across from the CTM (Centro do Treinamento Missionario) and the missionaries love to go across the street and get his cookies. Sometimes, her children sell the cookies at our regular Wednesday-night Feira (open air market). I always try to buy one, even though I can't eat gluten. I want to support them. The children are so happy when they make a sale!

This is Vitor, who is my trainer at the acadamia (gym). He is of Italian descent and is a very patient trainer. He knows when to stop having me exercise and just rest. He has three girls and is divorced. He really loves his girls and wishes he could see them more often. My favorite things is to hear him say "Isso!" ("Right!")

These are Ramatis and Fatima Almeida. They are a wonderful couple. He is an agent of the federal police, who has some difficult assignments, protecting the Brazilian people. Despite this, he is always patient and optimistic. He served a mission in Utah and afterwards, went to school at Penn State!

Sister Almeida is a fabulous cook! She makes amazing cakes and delicious food.

Every time I see Bro. Ed Torres, he has headsets in his hands! When I first arrived here, there was no translation for the Americans. Most of the male senior missionaries had served missions before and spoke Portuguese, but their wives were completely at a loss. They couldn't understand anything. The bishop started having translation in the ward and gave the assignment to Bro. Torres. We are so indebted to him! His daughter served a mission in Miami and is a student at BYU. He hopes that he and his wife can live with her in the US. He has already lived there for 10 years and he speaks wonderful English!

This is Bro Fabio Oliveira. He is also Dr. Fabio Oliveira, a psychiatrist. He is the most humble, serving person. He is incredibly busy, taking care of his own practice and his family. He is also a counselor in the bishopric of our ward, Ala Cinco. On top of all this, he takes care of missionaries from many Brazilian missions, because he is fluent in English. I once asked him how he ever found the time to take care of all his responsibilities. He said that when he gets up in the middle of the night to take care of his children, he will answer emails at 2 or 3 in the morning. You would never know of the pressure he lives with because of the loving way he treats everyone.

I first met Brother and Sister Aquilini when they were serving as Pathway missionaries. It was during the Covid pandemic and I was blown away by how Sister Priscilla Aquilini served her family when everyone but her had Covid. She was a student, a caregiver, a wife, mother, and a Pathway missionary all at the same time! Now, they both are working full-time, going to college, and he is Bishop Aquilini. I admire them both so much!

How can I talk about Pathway without talking about two special people- my dear friend Daniel, who was my very first Pathway student, and Sister Ingrid Jost, who has been such a wonderful friend for nearly five years! One of the joys of serving as a missionary in Brazil is that I could meet these dear people in person. 

I first met Daniel when he was the only student in my Pathway group who showed up for a "Meet Your Missionary" meeting. I could tell that he was unique in his dedication and his sincere desire to learn and become all that he could be. Now, he has his own business, his own house, and he is making a great life for his wife and daughter. It was a real joy to me to be able to visit with them in Salvador.

If I were to describe Sister Jost with one word, it would be KIND - and EFFICIENT -  and SPIRITUAL - and LOVING. I can't describe her in one word. She loves to laugh and finds joy in every situation. She works incredibly hard and makes things in Pathway run like clockwork. But she always has time to talk to anyone who needs to talk with her. She is so dear to me! My travels to Grammado and Porto Alegre with her were just magical. We have plans to travel someday to Buenas Aires just for the fun of it! (Can you tell from looking at me that that day was REALLY hot??)

Jo Ribes is my adventure buddy in São Paulo. We go on Saturday adventures together. She is caring and loving to every sister in the ward- literally! She is our ward Relief Society President and does everything while running her own business doing social media publicity for book publishers. It is just her nature to give to others and I feel blessed to be her friend! And she loves doing new things, just like I do. She always has a new place to explore!

I feel like I am leaving people out! Two more that I want to mention because I don't want to forget them!

Gabriel Oliveira is my "Fist-bump" buddy. He is a contractor and was a member of the bishopric. He was one of the first to greet me with a big smile and a fist bump when I came here and could hardly speak a word of Portuguese. He continues to greet me that way. His friendliness goes beyond the bounds of language.

I met Sister Cleyde Moura when she rescued me in the grocery store- I was there for the first time and couldn't find coconut cream anywhere. She could tell I was lost and has "taken care of me" ever since. Although she is in her 80s, she has lots of energy and loves to speak English with the missionaries. She always asks us to "pray for mental health throughout the world."

Whenever I ask a return missionary who served in Brazil what they miss the most about their mission, they don't mention the food, or the beaches (although both the food and the beaches are wonderful!). They say they miss the people, the members who treat you like family, and even the people they meet on the street, who, if they are not interested in the church, still are happy to talk with you. I am glad that I can share some of the special people of my mission!

P.S. I knew I had forgotten someone! My Fabulous English Group!

Each week, we meet and talk in English. They improve their skills in English and Sister Lamoreaux and I learn more about what it is like to live in Brazil. It is just talking and sharing and having fun. I love these people!

Seated on the left is Fabio Lacerda. Standing on the left is Gustavo Campos and on the right is Danilo Nascimento. Danilo is a bishop and the other two are counselors in the bishoprics of their wards. They are amazing, faithful men. We also have Jessé and Carlos, who come when they can. A great group!