Brazilian odyssey

A long-anticipated day has finally arrived.  Tonight I board a plane heading for Recife Brazil, where my middle son is finishing up his mission.

The trip will be a long one.  I leave tonight (Friday) at 10:30 P.M. and won't arrive in Recife until Sunday afternoon, more than 33 hrs. of travel.   

In 1983 and 1984 I served my own mission to Paraguay, which has a border with Brazil.  At that time I was able to visit Brazil on P-days, while serving in one of my areas.  We were allowed to go visit the Iguazu falls and the close-by areas, and were exposed to Portuguese, which intrigued me, because it is in many ways similar to Spanish.  I've always wanted to go back to Brazil, and so now that the chance has come, I'm taking it.

The Mission President was excited for me and was very welcoming.  A member family has generously offered to let my son and I stay with them for the week that we'll be there together.  I will be his missionary companion during that time. 

I expect the whole week to be taken up visiting families and investigators that he has come to know while serving there.  I have been studying Portuguese for the past year so that I will be somewhat able to communicate and share my testimony.  I will finish reading the Book of Mormon in Portuguese today. 

I expect it to be a week of rejoicing and blessing.  I am not interested in touristy stuff.  I care about people, and I want to get to know as many of them as possible. 

At some point in the next couple of weeks, I expect that we will have some good serious discussions about the hard things.  The things I've learned.  Where I'm at.  The dangers, and the traps, and the hope that I have for myself and for him.  I hope that by doing so I can help to spare him from some of the misery and suffering that I've been through, and that I've put others through.

So, dear friends, you will probably not be hearing much, if anything, from me for the next two weeks or so.  I expect to keep my bottom planted firmly to the seat of the wagon during that time, and I'll fill you in when I get back!

Love, Dan