Manaus temple announced!
It's time to start saving for future trip(s) back to Brazil! (Really it was past time anyway, since it's been eleven years already since my last trip. My current passport doesn't even have any entrada/saida stamps from Brazil.)
This morning I received an email from Francily Francesconi (wife of my second mission president) asking if I'd heard anything about a temple announcement. She'd received a phone call from some Church members living in Itacoatiara who told her that they'd been told that a temple was to be built in Manaus. Sister Francesconi had looked on the churches website but hadn't seen a press release posted (yet).
This afternoon my father called with the exciting news: the First Presidency had released a letter announcing construction of a temple on May 23rd. It reads, in pertinent part:
We are pleased to announce that a temple will be constructed in Manaus, Brazil. We are confident that this will be a blessing to the many faithful Saints in this and surrounding areas who have had to travel long distances to enjoy the blessings of the temple. Specific stakes to be included in the temple district will be announced at a later date.
...
We commend the Saints for their devotion and faithfulness, and are thankful for the blessings that will come to them through the construction of this new temple.
It is hard for me to imagine a more beautiful setting in all the world than the banks of the Amazon river. I can't wait to go back.
—Michael A. Cleverly
Saturday, May 26, 2007 at 19:32
Yeah, I couldnt believe it either. I having served there from 04-06 was aching to hear the good news. When a member told me that they had heard last Friday, I had to ask another, upon receiving verification from another, I stopped in tears. It was the greatest news I had received in a long time. And truly it will be such a beuatiful Temple, right on the Amazon!!!
Mon, 28 May 2007, 09:12