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Curtis' Mission

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Sao Paulo Temple

"Today we had some things to do and had to do them down near the Sao Paulo Temple. That place is the coolest. I took these two pictures and I didn't want to leave when we had to. They should of called me on the Brasil Sao Paulo Temple Mission. It was way cloudy, but since I'm an optimist, I think it puts a cool effect on the pictures."

On August 20, 2003, a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni was added to the temple during an extensive renovation and enlargement project 25 years after its dedication. Recognized as an international symbol of the Church, the angel was excitedly received by the Brazilian saints.


Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Poverty and Favelas


"I remember when we went to Ensenada, Mexico there was one way poor lady on the street and Mike McDonald, being the kind hearted fella that he is, decided to buy like 10 bucks worth of chiclets off of her. Well, Brasil is really poor as well. Like it was a suprise to me when I first got here to see what's called "favelas". They are pretty much homemade homes, built from scrap metal, old wood, tarps, mud and cement. There is a movie made about them called Cidade de Deus, which means City of God, that you could rent. I think it's all about favelas, but it's way way violent, or so I've heard. Check it out. One of the biggest favelas in Brasil is about 1 or 2 miles from the mission office in Sao Paulo."


Favela is a term commonly used in Brazil to describe areas such as shanty towns or slums. The term favela comes from the Morro de Favela hillside in Rio de Janeiro, where freed slaves first established a community of squatters in the 1890s.

A favela is fundamentally different from a slum or tenement, primarily in terms of its origin and location. While slum quarters in other Latin American countries are generally started as poorer residents from the countryside come to larger cities in search of work, favelas are unique in that they were created as a large population becomes displaced.

Favelas are units of irregular self-constructed housing that are occupied illegally. They are usually on lands belonging to third parties, and most often located on the urban periphery. Residences are built without a license and with little or no sanitation. Favelas are often characterized by an almost total absence of numbered streets, sanitation networks, electricity, telephone service, or plumbing.

These areas of irregular and poor quality housing are often crowded onto hillsides. Accidents in such areas, caused primarily by heavy rainfall, are frequent. Favelas are often troubled by drug-related crime and gang warfare. There are rumors that common social codes in favelas forbid residents from engaging in criminal activity while inside their own favela. Favelas are often considered a disgrace within Brazil.

People that live in favelas, known as favelados, are often very poor. Many live below the poverty line on less than 100 US$ per month. Brazil's favelas can be seen as a consequence of the unequal distribution of wealth in the country.

The most famous favelas are those in and around Rio de Janeiro, where they provide a dramatic illustration of the gap between poverty and wealth, positioned side-by-side with the luxurious apartment buildings and mansions of Rio's elite. Several hills in Rio are plastered with favelas. In 2004, it was estimated that 30% of Rio's population lives within favelas. São Paulo also has a large number of favelas.

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Goodbye Elder Pieper


"I was sad to see my trainer, Elder Pieper go home to the great state of Kentucky, finishing his mission here in Sao Paulo. The mission is a little less without him. He was a cool dude and we had some good fun out in Cruzeiro, and you heard all about it. Well, not ALL about it, it would take volumes and volumes to contain our adventures. But they were all fun. I'm gonna miss his clever wit but when he is rocking down at BYU we are gonna hang out. I told him we will have a huge wrestling match before each BYU-Utah football game. It will be fun. He was such a cool companion and although I have told Elder Pieper about the millions of heroes I have, he is definately in the top 5 ever. I love that man dearly, I can't wait to see him again"

  • Click here to see some pictures of Elder Pieper
  • Wednesday, September 21, 2005

    Nutella Man


    "About 3 months ago, Elder Pieper and I were walking in our grocery store in Cruzeiro and they had a 6 foot stand up of a dude holding a jar of Nutella. I said "Hey, Elder P, that would be sweet in the Cruzeiro house!" He, of course, agreed and we asked the manager about having it. He said we could when they were done with the promotion. Well, about 3 weeks later, I got transferred to Bom Clima, completely forgetting about Nutella Man. Yesterday, the 13 of September, Elder Pieper officially left Cruzeiro to come to the office and eventually go back to the United States - Kentucky to be exact. Well, Elder Pieper, being the worlds coolest dude/rememberer of Nutella Man did the coolest thing ever. He ended up bringing Nutella Man to Sao Paulo all the way from Cruzeiro (a 6 hour bus trip) to give to me as a present. Nutella Man, with Pass Along Card and Joseph Smith pamphlet in hand, now stands in the living room of the Guarulhos house, eager to greet the missionaries after a long day of preaching the Gospel."


    Nutella®, in its original form, was first created in the 1940s by Mr. Pietro Ferrero, a pastry maker and founder of the Ferrero company. At the time, cocoa was in short supply because of rationing due to World War II, so chocolate was very limited. So Mr. Ferrero used hazelnuts, which are plentiful in the Piedmont region of Italy (northwest), to extend the chocolate supply.

    Nutella is marketed in over 75 countries across the globe, and outsells all brands of peanut butter combined worldwide! Ferrero sells enough jars of Nutella® worldwide that the total number of jars sold annually stacked up would be over 500,000 times taller than the Statue of Liberty.

    Tuesday, September 20, 2005

    A Dirt Road In Cabuçu

    (click image to enlarge)

    "This is a picture of me walking on a dirt road in Cabuçu, an area clear up in the mountains above Guarulhos. It's sweet up there. So green, but really poor. I would work there in an instant. That day I was on a split with Elder Hudson."

    Tuesday, September 13, 2005

    Brigadeiro Milk Shakes


    "I'm eating lots of Brigadeiro Milk Shakes, my new favorite food."


    Brigadeiro History
    (chocolate fudge candy)

    This candy is named after a renowned Brazilian politician of the 1920's, Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes. He was an Air Force brigadier general who first gained notoriety for playing a part in quashing a communist coup in Rio de Janeiro. He later ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1946 and 1950, during a brief breeze of democracy which blew after WWII in Brazil.

    The name of the candy is that of his rank, Brigadeiro. Now, why would anyone name candy after an army general? Well, back in 1922, he was tall, dark-haired with blue eyes. And single! This candy was created by some ladies from Rio de Janeiro. And they named the candy after the Brigadeiro.

    This was a time of shortage of traditional imports such as nuts and European fruits because of the WWII. But in the same time, chocolate powder was introduced in the country. Therefore, one might say that the creation and success of this candy was a combination of opportunities. The multinational who introduced chocolate powder, had the help of cookers who named it after a famous politician and the need of the time to find replacement to traditional imported sweets.

    Today, brigadeiro candy is a must have in any birthday party and kids love them.

    Wednesday, September 07, 2005

    Elder Hudson


    "Elder Hudson is standing next to me, and he wants all the good looking gals out there to write him. We have the same address."

    Curtis included this in his email to me today. I'm sure he and Elder Hudson were joking but I'll post it anyway to see what happens. Girls, start writing...

    Elder Hudson
    Brazil Sao Paulo East Mission
    Rua Caa-Acu 229
    Belenzinho, Sao Paulo SP
    03171-020 Brazil

    Sunday, September 04, 2005

    Sao Paulo - "Quite The Sweet Town"

    (click image for larger view)

    "I was in Sao Paulo downtown again this week. It's quite the sweet town. I wish you all could come down and check it out with me at the end of January 2007. I never thought I would fall in love with millions of skyscrapers like I have, but I have."


    Sao Paulo is located below the equator along Brazil's southeast edge. The Atlantic Ocean lies 59 miles east and Rio de Janeiro 266 miles north. Paraguay is directly west.

    Sao Paulo rates as the third largest city in the world.

    Population: 18 million
    Elevation: 2,500 feet
    Average Annual Rainfall: 53 inches
    Average January Temperature: 70 degrees F
    Average July Temperature: 58 degrees F
    Major Industries: Coffee, Finance, Manufacturing
    Electricity: 110-220 volts, 60 Hz; standard two-pin plug
    Time Zone: GMT - 3
    Country Code: 55
    Area Code: 011
    Language: Portuguese
    Religion: majority Roman Catholic

    Thursday, September 01, 2005

    Blanca, the Green Brazillian Monster



    "I have on my sweet track jacket that says "Blanca" on the back. You know Blanca, the green Brazillian monster from the video game Street Fighter II. I told my little buddy Carson Junk that I would baptize Blanca when I found him. Don't worry Carson, I'm looking for him..."


     
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