Visa to Brazil

We heard that it is sometimes difficult to get a visa for being a missionary in Brazil. What we didn't know is the ordeal it takes just to apply for a visa and the kind assistance we would need from others to accomplish the task.

1. Passports: We had passports that didn't expire until we would be home from our mission. Since we needed passports valid for at least 6 months after we returned, we needed to get new passports. Our call letter included form DS-11, an application for new passports. What we needed was form DS-82, an application for passport renewal. We soon learned that the information we got in the call letter was aimed at the young missionaries. After trying to find pictures in our photo albums that we could modify as passport pictures, we decided to go to the post office where they can help. We walked in (appointments were expected), got our pictures taken, finished our passport applications, and got everything mailed off. We were told to use the express service so we would get our new passports in two weeks. We got them in one week. We appreciate the kind lady at the post office for helping us get our new passports.

2. Color Photographs: We got an extra copy of our passport pictures that we expected to be able to use for our visas. It's not that simple. The instructions said, "These photos must be noticeably different from the photo in you passport". We went back to the post office to get visa photos. Paul wore a different tie and Diane a different dress. The man who took the photos had a son who served in the São Paulo Interlagos Mission.

3. Curriculum Vitae: We had to write a curriculum vitae that showed our formal and religious education, including what schools we attended, seminary and institute graduation, teaching experience, and church meeting attendance from primary to present. The sample was aimed at a 18 or 19-year-old to demonstrate they have the academic training to be missionaries. It may be hard for others to accept that young people are able to be ministers so documentation is needed to prove it.

4. Notarized FUNAI letter: We had to agree that we wouldn't visit native-American villages while in Brazil without the permission of the national organization for Indian affairs and have the agreement notarized.

5. Notarized Seminary Transcript: OK, how many of you have a transcript of classes you took in seminary or institute, especially those who went to church schools and have religion classes mixed in with other classes? Yes, those who have recently graduated from seminary or institute may have a transcript, but it can't be a copy. It must be an official transcript signed by a seminary or institute representative in the presence of a notary. We looked all over our mass of files looking for something that might work, but finally gave up in futility. We finally called the missionary coordinator in the church technical office to see if we really needed one.  Sure enough we did, but she gave us a number to call in the church education department who could generate the transcript (given information about our seminary experience - when and where) and have it notarized. She said she would mail it on Monday and we should receive it on Tuesday or Wednesday in the mail. We didn't receive it so we called back. The person generating the papers had been sick so they were not ready. Rather than wait on the mail, we decided to go to Salt Lake on Friday (day after Pioneer Day) and pick up the papers personally.

6. Notarized Seminary Graduation Certificate: This was for Diane. It had to be original (No photocopies accepted). Fortunately the office who generated the seminary transcript also generated the graduation certificate.

7. Notarized Priesthood Ordination Certificate: This was for Paul. Again it had to be original (No photocopies accepted). It said the ward clerk could generate the certificate, but it had to be signed by a priesthood representative in the presence of a notary public. We tried to find a notary public in the ward (and even in the other ward who met in our building) so the priesthood representative could sign it at the church and we could process the notary stamp later. No such luck. We had a member of the stake presidency sign on one line then made arrangements for the ward clerk to meet with us at the Credit Union and sign it in front of a notary public along with our FUNAI letters.

8. Marriage License: This had to be a certified license (no photo copies accepted). At least it didn't need to be notarized. We were able to call the County Clerk's office in Provo where we filled out the original and they were able to mail us certified copies of our license.

9. Obtain Notary Authentications: We each had three items that had been notarized: Paul - FUNAI letter, seminary transcript, and priesthood ordination certificate; Diane - FUNAI letter, seminary transcript, and seminary graduation certificate. We needed to send these items to the Lieutenant Governor's office for authentication to verify that the documents were correctly notarized by a certified notary public. We decided to travel to Salt Lake City the day after Pioneer Day to pick up the seminary transcripts and graduation certificate and drop off all the notarized documents at the Lieutenant Governor's office in the capital building. As the receptionist looked over the papers she noticed that the priesthood certificate was notarized on the certificate itself, but should have had a separate sheet with notary information. She could authenticate the notarization, but we would need the extra sheet before we sent it in with the visa application. We had a nice day in Salt Lake then returned to Logan in time to get the extra sheet from the notary at the Credit Union. He happened to be working that day and we arrived before the Credit Union closed. He wasn't certain what was needed and had to get approval from the manager to make up a separate letter. He got the approval, he made and notarized the  letter, and we finally had what we needed. We now had to wait for the 3-5 working days to get the authentication back from the Lieutenant Governor's office.

Utah Capital Building

10. Sending in documents: We received the authentication and met our first deadline - send our completed documents to the travel department of the church by 05 Aug 2014. It was a relief to get this part completed.

No! it's not over yet! The next items could not be completed earlier than 04 Aug 2015.

11. Police Department Clearance: We needed to go to the police department for a police clearance letter on police letterhead certifying that we have no criminal record. This must have been a tight one because it took them several days to complete. That was interesting because a policeman pulling over a car can get the information in about a minute. I guess it takes time to create a letter, however.

12. Electronic Visa Applications: We next went on line and officially filled out our visa applications. The instruction letter we received showed the fields to fill out in English. We must have gone to the wrong site because it was all in Portuguese. No problem, we got the applications submitted on line and printed out the last page (3 copies) for signing.

13. We sent the police reports and signed visa pages to the church travel department on 12 Aug 2014. We haven't heard anything so we guess they got everything OK. We are told not to contact the travel office to check on the status of the visas. They will inform us two weeks before we are to report to let us know if the visas are here or if we need to wait. Everything is in so I guess the waiting game has begun.

So this is what it takes to apply for a visa to Brazil. One of the things not mentioned is the $$$ each step of the way. This is an expensive process.

July 2014 Highlights

You already know the big news for July - our mission call - so everything else is just whizzing by. We have been volunteering again at the American West Heritage Center and spent several days as pioneers (even on Pioneer Day). It has been a hot month, but we are glad we can serve the community.

Flag ceremony for Pioneer Day

We also had a grand celebration for the 4th of July on July 3rd (as is the custom in Logan. We staked out an area right outside the stadium where we could hear the music form the stadium and have a good view of the fireworks.

Brynlie dancing to the music 

Hanna creating cross-stitch patterns

Our flags: Utah and the USA 

Andrea and Kamary playing cards on Alyssa's back

Diane and her puzzle book

The fireworks are always exceptional - provided by Fireworks West, owned by our stake president (former bishop).

Fireworks on the 3rd of July

This has been a month for music. Andrea and Alyssa finished up summer orchestra where they play cello. Andrea has been playing clarinet in the Cache Community Band (which played in parades and concerts for Independence Day) as well as the Alumni Band which gives a nice concert on Sunday evenings.

Listening to the band - Andrea joined the band following this concert

The Alumni Band

Kamary turned 14 this month. She was treated to tickets for the musical "Wicked" in Salt Lake. Since she spent her birthday away from Logan we decided we would go to Salt Lake a week earlier to see "Wicked" ourselves. We tried to find a room at the Shilo Inn close to the theater, but they were all booked up. We went outside the hotel and booked a room through the Internet and were able to stay there. 

Who is the Wicked one?

 The next day we walked around Salt Lake. We were able to practice our Portuguese on Temple Square with a young man from Brazil (now living in Barcelona) and a lady missionary from Brazil.

Window washers in Salt Lake

 We stopped in Ogden and checked on our old family home. It is still there and the family living there is taking good care of it.

Family home in Ogden

We took another trip to Salt Lake later in the month to make arrangements for our visas. It is good to get away now and then. 

A walk in the park

Say hello to the pond jumpers!

We also got a call from Steve & Melissa who were visiting from California, but didn't have time to go all the way to Logan. We decided to meet them half way - Layton. We had lunch at the Olive Garden (yes, they were able to provide some gluten-free pasta) the went to Layton Commons Park where the kids could play while the parent's talked.

Talking in the park

Hanna and Kamary went to girl's camp this month. Andrea went with them. Paul decided to take the other 4 grandchildren to the park for playground time and a wade in the canal. They didn't play much  at the playground and the water was too cold for wading, but they liked running up and sliding down the sandhill on the other side of the canal. 

Brynlie on the playground mountain

Hey, this water is cold!

Rolling down the hill

Sliding down the sandhill

We also went to the Aquatic Center for a family swimming party. For some reason the grandchildren like the water (if it isn't too cold).

Alyssa and Kamary

Andrea with Lauren, Brynlie and Kohler

We had a little excitement when our neighbors, the Murphy's, reported an electrical transformer leaking oil in their yard. The city was afraid it might "blow up" at any time so they decided to replace it.

The power truck 

That's no 120V

We see a lot of "dressing up" around the house. Notice how fast Alyssa is changing.

Who's that stylish girl?

It's Super Alyssa

With a family like ours we celebrate a lot of birthdays, but why do we celebrate Harry Potter's birthday. Kamary says "But, he's not even real". I hate to tell Kamary, "Neither is Sherlock Holmes". 

The shepherd's pie, butter beer (butterscotch in cream soda), black caldron cupcakes, ton-tongue toffee, pretzel wands, and any-flavor beans (Jelly Belly Beans) were delicious, even if he doesn't really exist. 

Say that one more time and I'll zap you with my wand

You may not know, but at times it is hard to find good gluten-free bread for the sacrament. Sometimes we just luck out, however.

Holey bread for the sacrament?

It has been a busy month. We wonder what August will bring.

Return to Brazil

One evening during the first part of April we were bored so we read through the "Senior Missionary Opportunities Bulletin" just to see if there were anything of interest. We weren't even considering going on another mission so soon. Among other things we saw an opening for an Area Technology Specialist (ATS) for Brazil (we didn't even know it existed). It said that they provide training and technical support for Stake Technology Specialists (STS). We put it aside and didn't think about it any more.

A few days later we got an email with the following notice:

Ad attached to a generic email

We thought, "It won't hurt to give a call and find out what it is all about". The next thing we knew we had an interview scheduled on April 16th in Riverton, Utah (headquarters of the church ICS department). After chatting a bit they introduced us to a young lady from Brazil. We recognized right off that it was a Portuguese test to see if we could communicate in Portuguese. Apparently we passed the interview because they told us the next step was an interview with the director of technology in Brazil.

On April 25th we had an interview (personal video conference) with Emerson and Paulo from Brazil. Apparently we passed that interview too (all in Portuguese) because a during the next week we were told to submit our papers for a mission. 

Completing the mission application wasn't easy because of our travel schedule. We had a conference in Rhode Island (and a visit to Canada) from May 5-16. We then had medical procedures and exams every day from May 19-23. We then went to California and Washington from May 27th to April 5th. We got everything done, however before leaving for California.

After completing our physical on May 22nd we pushed the button to submit our papers and called the ICS department so they could flag our application. We had an interview with the bishop on May 23rd and an interview with the stake president on May 26th (Memorial Day). We were committed. 

Then came the long wait for the call. We were told there was a 90% chance we would get the call we interviewed for, but that could always be changed when the apostles met to determine the calls. After waiting 6 weeks (it normally takes 4-6 weeks) we still hadn't received the call so we decided they probably didn't want us. Then the next day we got the call.

Diane opening the call

We got called to serve in the Brazil São Paulo East Mission (the administrative mission for the ICS department) with a primary assignment in the Brazil Area Information and Computer Services Office as area technology specialists. Even though we will live in São Paul (in a condo across the street from the temple and area offices) we will likely need to travel throughout Brazil in our assignment. 

Brazil has about 250 stakes and 50 districts that should each have a stake (or district) technology specialist. Only about a third of them do, most of whom are newly called. Our job will be to encourage the other stakes to call technology specialists and to train the specialists throughout Brazil. It should be a lot of fun increasing technology capability in Brazil to hasten the work.

We are scheduled to report directly to mission headquarters on Monday, October 6, 2014 and serve for 18 months. Visas for Brazil have been quicker lately so we will see when we actually start this new phase of our lives. Meanwhile, we have training in Riverton. Since we have recently been to the MTC, we will not have to return for this mission.

June 2014 Highlights

Even though it is nice to visit family, it is good to be home again. As soon as we got home from California and Washington, Diane had a Relief Society dinner in the back yard of  our Relief Society president's home. It is the final activity until next fall for which she has responsibility. It was an enjoyable evening with 27 sisters in attendance.

Summer is in full swing. We are volunteering at AWHC again this summer. We are both working at the pioneer site, since they have made other arrangements for train drivers. Alyssa dressed up as a pioneer girl and had a lot of fun showing guests how to play pioneer games.

Our pioneer ladies

Every year, Logan holds Summer Fest on the grounds of the Logan Tabernacle. Many artists of all sorts come to display their wares. This year we split up (2 kids per adult) and Paul had a lot of fun walking around with Kamary and Alyssa, listening to their comments about the art work.

Sisters at the Summer Fest

Why can't we take this hammock home with us?

Music continues in the summer with Diane giving piano lessons to each of her six grandchildren, Andrea and Alyssa playing in the summer youth orchestra, attending free Sunday evening concerts with the Cache Valley Symphony Orchestra, attending musicals at the Lyric Theater, and attending the premiere of a new rock group in town - The Toxic Fumes.

For Jason's birthday, Kamary, Alyssa, and Kohler got together to create a performance he should never forget. Kamary made up a song, Alyssa played drums (boxes and pan lids), and Kohler played lead guitar (a toy electric guitar). They spent weeks practicing outside our bedroom window while Jason was away. We all looked forward to the performance of Toxic Fumes. It was very creative and a lot of fun. (Don't give up your day job kids).

Toxic Fumes' premere performance

The Stars!

One of the fun activities during the summer is to go up the canyon for Family Home Evening and have a campfire. We went to 2nd dam and had tinfoil dinners and roasted marshmallows. It was a lot of fun to wander around nature for an evening.

Alyssa is out on a limb again

Brynlie helps Dad with the fire

At least we have good water!

Kohler returning from "the Island"

We decided to make a couple of additions to the yard. the first was to hang a swing from a branch of our tree in the back yard. Alyssa went with us to Lowes to select the swing and helped Paul put it up. It makes a nice addition to the yard.

Alyssa in the swing

After being without a van to hold their whole family, Andrea and Jason finally got a 12-passenger van. they got a real good price for it because it had a wild "wrap" advertising a nightclub. Jason was able to remove the ads and found a white van underneath.

Even Grandpa & Grandma fit with all the family

Andrea and Jason have been renting a storage unit for everything they brought from Arizona. They finally got rid of enough things that we decided to get a shed for the back yard where they can store their things without paying rent. We got the idea from Diane's parents in Washington where they were storing many things before moving to Spokane. We finally found a small shed that would fit in the yard, but had to get it home and assemble it. We took the van down and it barely fit. After getting it loaded we noticed a nail in a rear tire. Fortunately the tire shop was just across the street and we got a new replacement tire for the van under warrantee. The gas was low so we filled up the tank (the first time it has had a full tank since they got the van). Yes, it was expensive!

As we started to put the shed together we found out that there were missing parts (of course). We were able to get it mostly together and call for part replacement. It has been a lot of effort, but the shed is finally in and full of "stuff". It actually looks nice in the southwest corner of our yard.

Our new shed

All Faces West

We didn't stay home long after our trip to the east before we headed west. Diane has always wanted to see the Shady Ladies of Tent Town in Columbia, California so off we went.

May 27
We left on Tuesday and drove as far as Carson City, Nevada. We took a brief stretch on Highway 30 which passes through northern Utah. It is beautiful countryside and cuts off about an hour versus going through Salt Lake.

View along Highway 30

We decided to stop in Virginia City. Last time we went through there it was early one morning when everything was closed. It was nice to walk around the shops in the town.

Diane picked up a new fella in Virginia City

How can I pass up a waterwheel?

And another one

We went on and found a place to stay in Carson City.

May 28

We left Wednesday morning to drive over Sonora Pass to Rich & Ginny's cabin near Long Barn (the GPS had no idea where Long Barn was). We passed a marine training camp and a group of marines hiking along the road. Sonora Pass is very beautiful, with granite peaks and streams. It takes longer to get there, but is worth it.

Sonora Pass road

We arrived at the cabin about noon. Sure enough, Richard had jobs for us to do - change the filters for the furnace vents (after 75 years it's about time, ha, ha, it was more like 28).

This vent has never been so clean!

May 29

We fondly remember the time we took Dad to Calaveras Big Trees State Park so we wanted to see it again. 

New visitor's center

We got there in time for a picnic lunch.

Lunch time

We're almost as big as the trees

 We stopped by the visitor's center and Diane started feeling sick. We let her lie down in the back of the car and in a few minutes she was feeling better and ready to go on our hike.

Portable bed

 Meanwhile, in the visitor's center we saw some of the wild animals in the park. Richard said he had seen a bobcat near the visitors center so we took off trying to find it. Sure enough, there was a bobcat.

The Bobcat

 We finally were ready to take the trail through the big trees. It is a very nice trail (about 1 1/2-miles long) with a lot of good views of the trees.

Start of the trail 

Rest time

That's a tall tree

Samson

 As we were going along the trail we encountered a family from Sweden from the same town Hulda Amelia Johnson (Dad's grandmother) was born. We had a nice visit with them.

True Swedes

A good time in the Big Trees

We were tired and hungry by the time we got back to the cabin, but sure enough, Ginny had a good supper ready for us.

May 30

We decided Friday would be our rest day to lounge around the cabin. We could only lounge so long before we noticed the pine needles on the cabin decks. We decided we would quickly sweep them off, but it isn't that simple. First they need to be swept off the roof, and as long as we are up there we may as well be a chimney sweep. 

Watch out below - here come the pine needles

Chim, chim, cheree

May 31

Today was the day for Tent Town (or the Diggins as they call it), an annual event in Columbia State Park. Just outside of Columbia they set up an old mining town. As you enter the town you have to exchange your money for the local currency - "eagles" that you can use throughout the town. The people around town are in costume and character, which makes it interesting. 

Cook making red-flannel hash

Diane makes candle lighters out of wood strips

Lunch time brought red-flannel hash (potatoes and onions with beets) and tamales (too cold).

Lunch time

Tent Town street

Two old-timers

We went to the theater show to see the Shady Ladies. There were only two of them (compared to many in the past), but the show was amusing.

Shady Lady singing

 They set up a boxing challenge that collected bets then took off (with the money) as soon as the sheriff came.

Put em up!

Overall it was a lot of fun; smaller than envisioned, but worth seeing.

Jun 1

We had a leisurely morning with Diane playing old MIA songs on the piano. We went to Sunday meetings at the Sonora 2nd Ward. 

Jun 2

Today we went to Jamestown to look at all the antique shops (which were many). Richard found several things he was looking for (including an old soldering iron). Diane bought a cute button-flower knickknack. We had lunch at the Willow (which could have been better).

Jun 3

We started the day with a short hike up the mountain to look at the valley below. It had some nice views and some interesting granite boulders. 

Don't take this hike for granite!

Break time

In the afternoon Diane and Ginny went to Twain Harte for some shopping while Paul and Richard stayed at the cabin investigating various USB connections.

Jun 4

Today was another travel day. We packed up and headed north toward Washington. We stopped in Donigan for a lunch at Wendy's then continued on to Lassen Volcano National Park.

Lassen Volcano NP

 This is a beautiful area with steam vents and mud pots along with beautiful streams and meadows and snow-capped mountains.

Overlooking a thermal area

Frozen lake

Mountain lake

Snow-capped mountain

a stream through a meadow

This was a beautiful park. We found a motel in Mount Shasta for the evening. It is a pleasant little town (but touristy).

Jun 5

We headed on north, stopping at Lava Beds National Monument. This is a park of lava flows and lava tube caves. 

Lava Beds NM

 We took a short walk through Mushpot Cave, a small lava tube. The monument is full of many such caves that require flashlights and hard hats to get through.

Mushpot Cave

This one is lit

 We then took a trail to Black Crater to see lava flows.

Black Crater trail

Lava flows

 This is also an area that the Modoc Indians were able to hold off the whites for an extended battle. We saw the battle site along the Captain Jacks trail.

Hideout for Modoc Indians

Modoc Indian monument

 The road took us along some nice water reserves.

Pelicans on the water

there is also an area of old petroglyphs.

Petroglyphs

After we left Lava Beds NM we started the long, slow (55 mph) drive through the middle of Oregon, arriving in Kennewick, Washington about 9 pm. 

Jun 6

The main purpose for this stage of the trip was to help Mom & Dad Mitchell (Diane's parents) to get their house ready to sale so they can move to Spokane to live with Blair and Janae. We took a load to 

Goodwill, went through books and wall hangings in the sewing room, ironed curtains, and took down curtains in the living area to shake off the dust outside. We decided to go to the Old Country Buffet for dinner.

Jun 7

Mom was really worn out from the work yesterday, so today was a bit slower. Paul managed to wash the outside windows, however. A neighbor came over and let him borrow a squeegee which really made the job go faster. We took a load of things to Don & Nadine's where they have a shed for storage until the things are needed. Don and Nadine came over in the evening for a visit.

Jun 8

We stayed most nights at John and Karen's. This morning Karen made some delicious gluten-free waffles with strawberries on top. We went to church with Mom & Dad (meetings starting at 9 am). We went to Don & Nadine's for a very delicious dinner. We don't know how much we accomplished while here, but we really enjoyed the visit. This may be our last time to visit the Tri-Cities.

Jun 9

We decided it was time to get home since we have been away so long (including our trip to the east coast and Canada). We drove all the way, listening to a book on tape as we traveled. We arrived in Logan about 6 pm. We really enjoyed the trip, but are ready to stay home for a while.