Bus Ride to the Campinas Temple

February 8, 2005. Curtis and his fellow missionaries are enjoying their first p-day by taking a 90km bus ride to visit the LDS Temple at Campinas, Brazil. A bumpy bus and even bumpier roads made for an interesting letter. The Brazillian countryside is so green. Curtis says I would like it here so much I should retire here! We'll see. The weather is hot - 95 degrees with humidity and the air conditioning on the bus barely works. Not the best weather for wearing a suit.

The City of Campinas is located 62 miles west of Sao Paulo and has a population of 1.2 million. Not only does Campinas have a large agricultural base, but it is also very advanced in high technology and scholastic achievements. Campinas has two leading universities and a large technical school located in what is known as Brazil's Silicon Valley.

Choir Practice

Many elders in District 5B have been attending choir faithfully, and finally they got the whole district here on February 15! That's the spirit!

Two Weeks

Curtis has been in Brazil for two weeks now. I wonder how he likes it. Does he enjoy being away from home? I hope to receive another letter from him this week.

Popular Guy

Curtis is quite the popular guy. I took Alyssa to the optometrist for some new glasses. The doctor said he knows a Curtis Tonks that is friends with his daughters Tawny and Trenna. I received an email from someone in California who's son, Elder Oswell, is on a mission in Brazil. A woman called me tonight to tell me that her son, Elder Savage, is in Brazil and that I might be able to see Curtis' picture on the internet. All this and he's been gone less than two weeks.

First Letter From Brazil

Kirstin called me on the cell phone as I was driving home from work yesterday. A letter had come from Curtis. She wanted to open it. I told her to wait until I got home. I thought it was odd that she was excited because her and Curtis didn't seem very close. Maybe it was her curiosity. Or maybe she missed him too.

Curtis' companion is Elder Hirschi from Twin Falls, Idaho. He's older but cool. The other two missionaries in Curtis' room are Elder Shaw and Elder Ferguson, the kid we met at the airport. Curtis likes him. Their room is on the sixth (top) floor of the CTM (Center for Training Missionaries). There must be no elevator because Curtis' feet are killin' him by the end of the day. The food is not what was expected; rice and beans and fruit. I'm sure it will get better. Curtis and his companion walked up the street and got a "paste'l" - a cinnamon sugar scone filled with chocolate sauce, bananas, and strawberries. Sounds tasty.

Curtis is about five miles from Sao Paulo in Casa Verde. He says it's run down and full of crazy drivers and street vendors. But lots of shoe stores. He's already plannning on buying some new gym shoes. The humidity is high and it rains a lot. I'm not sure how Curtis feels but I'd rather be here in the cold and snow.

It's nice to know that he is at the CTM safe and sound. I wonder what he does during the day and what his thoughts are of the new place he's in. So big and different from where he came from. I sometimes wish that I could share with him what he is experiencing. But this is his mission, his adventure. I know this is the right thing for him to be doing. It will help him grow and prepare him for the rest of his life. I'm proud of him.

I'm waiting for the next letter...

First Day at the MTC

Curtis and his fellow missionaries in district 5B
pose for a photo with their teacher, Irmã Boscolo.

Waiting

It's been a week since Curtis went to Brazil. A message was waiting for me on the answering machine last Wednesday. "Your missionary has arrived at the Brazil MTC." He didn't get stranded in Atlanta. I received an email of a handwritten note from Curtis on Friday. The MTC people took them to a place across the street to send an email. He doesn't like the humidity. He'll write again soon. I've written to him several times and sent a Valentine's Day package. His sisters have written. I'm sure he hasn't received anything yet. I saw his picture posted on the internet on the Brazil MTC website. He looks happy. I hope he makes lots of friends. I check back looking for more pictures and email but nothing yet. Soon I hope.

At the airport

We showed up at the Salt Lake airport two hours before the flight. As it turns out that was not early enough. Curtis had no seat assignment from SLC to Atlanta but there were plenty of empty seats. Worse though was the situation in Atlanta. He had no seat assignment to Sao Paulo and the flight was over sold. If he doesn't get on his scheduled flight he will have to wait two and a half hours for the last flight of the day. I'm more concerned than he is.

Brianna is upset. She's crying. It's times like this that make you realize how close families are. I give her a hug a let her know it will be alright. Curtis told her he'd see her on Broadway when he gets home. She'll miss her brother.

One more picture, one more hug, and he's walking away. He turns and waves. We watch him go through the X-ray machine. The red lights flash. Take off your shoes. Now he's gone for two years. I miss him already.