This was a very memorable day to be together with my missionary companion Norma Mills Shiner and her husband, Craig, at the setting apart of Mauricio and Claudia Gonzaga prior to their returning to Brazil to preside over the mission in Maceio. The video posted in June is the result of their request to document the conversion of his parents 50 years ago in Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Elder Costa is from Santos and joined the church a few years after the Gonzagas. Elder Andersen learned to speak Portuguese when he was assigned to supervise the Brazilian missions. He speaks well and comfortably. His mission as a youth was in France where he later presided before his call to the Quorum of the Twelve.
President Andersen was very welcoming in chatting of things Brazilian and then gave President and Sister Gonzaga the authority and blessings they will need in the coming three years to serve well and make a difference in one of the 27 missions of Brazil, one of the rising nations of the world. They will become very close to about 700 elders and sisters who will serve under his leadership. So much has happened in these 50 years.
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| Back row: Craig and Norma Shiner, ME, the elder that baptized Claudia's parents with his wife; Marcia Jumot, Mauricio's sister. Front Row: Elder Costa of the Seventy, Claudia and Mauricio, Elder Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve and Suellen Jumot. |
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| March 12, 1961. Sister Watson, Suelena and Justino Gonzaga, Saul Messias de Oliveira, branch president; Sister Mills. |
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| The small personal card they gave to me. |
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| This is the clue that led Mauricio to begin his search for Norma and me. |
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