WELCOME TO THE MISSION!!
Well the first thing I want to say is congratulations. You are going to
one of the best places I know.
The mission office address is,
Missão Brasil Belo Horizonte Leste
Rua Paraiba, 1174 4° Andar
Bairro Funcionários
Belo Horizonte - MG - 30130-141
55-31-3261-6775
The picture you see is the last sight you will have of Belo Horizonte The airport
Confins. For many it was the first and it was easy to get confused when seeing
a lonely air strip and a bunch of people doing nothing. Confins is a community
that is about 45 minutes from Belo Horizonte. Now that missionaries attend the
MTC in São Paulo a bus ride is in order to arrive to the mission. I guess
that the bus ride is 9 hours from São Paulo to Belo Horizonte. I cannot
remember exactly how long it was.
Belo Horizonte is the capital city of the State Minas Gerais (General Mines).
With a population of 2.5 million Belo Horizonte is one of the fastest growing
cities in Brazil. Already the third largest city of Brazil. Established
in 1897, Belo Horizonte supposedly was designed to take on an image of Washington
D.C. and I dont really believe that, but that is what a book I have says. Belo
Horizonte's climate has two distinct seasons; wet from October to February and
dry from March to September. The rainy season is characterized as having
almost a daily down poor. Do you remember the movie "Romancing the stone?"
When the bus crashed into a jeep and soon after it started to rain? Well
the rain did not have an onset nor did it last long. It just came down
and then after a few minutes it stopped. And that is exactly what happens
in the rainy season. You can be out knocking doors and between the time
of ringing the door bell and someone answering the door you can be all wet.
Don't worry, you will love it. It is usually not too much for a good sturdy
umbrella. The dry season is exactly this too. It can get hot, but
in the city of Belo Horizonte the heat is usually not too bad. Temperatures
in the city rarely get above 100ºF and probably average about 85ºF.
In the interior, temperatures have been known to reach heights of excess 110ºF,
but don't let that scare you; it is a rare occasion. Just drink lots of
water, pray a lot and you will be fine.
History of Minas Gerais:
No one really knows when gold was first discovered in Minas Gerais but, sometime
around 1695 a group of explores from São Paulo called the Bandeirantes
went exploring for Indian slaves. As they were exploring they found deposits
of gold along the banks for the rivers. Well after a very short time,
the Brazilian gold rush of 1695 began. Much like the California Gold
Rush people rushed from all over to stake their claim, and as history repeats
its self, people started fighting over claims. These fights evolved into
a war called "Guerra dos Emboabas." By the latter part of the 18th century
the slaves in Minas Gerais were digging up half the worlds gold. Over
100 years before the gold rushes of Australia and California brazil was involved
heavily in all the worldly assets of a crazy gold rush. Mining towns were
known for their licentiousness, and prostitutes. Diseases, famine, and
fighting ran ramped through the mining towns. Now after centuries we can
see the historical remains of the exploration of Minas Gerais. Famous
cities like Diamantina, Ouro Prêto, and Mariana leave us the stories and
beautiful churches constructed in those days. Just as in all gold rushes,
store merchants made good money and a few miners became rich. The portuguese
explores took all they got and went back to Europe to help finance England's
industrial revolution, the only lasting development left in Brazil is the city
know today as Rio de Janeiro.
The Economy:
As a long term effect of the exploration of Minas Gerais the large
city of Belo Horizonte (beautiful horizon) was named in 1897. A largely
industrialized city, supporting still today gem and gold trade. Belo
Horizonte also is known for a large dairy producer. The cheese from
Belo Horizonte and other cities in Minas Gerais is a treat to all those
that do not live in Minas Gerais, and a common staple for those that do
live there. Belo Horizonte is the home to a large Fiat vehicle manufacturer.
Places that are a must visit:
With in the city of Belo Horizonte there are many exciting and interesting places
to visit. Pampulha is an area that is very pretty. A large man made
lake that covers a large area and provides many scenic pictures. On the
bank of Pampulha Lake are a few great places to visit including: Pampulha art
museum, the famous church, São Francisco, the city zoo, and the cities
futebol (soccer) stadium. Belo Horizonte has many beautiful parks.
There are many parks and plazas, Parque municipal, Praça da Liberdade,
Praça sete, and Parque das Mangabeiras.
Suggestions of items to bring:
Please note, what I suggest here is from experience, what your mission
papers say is from the mission presidency and you should be most diligent
to their suggestions.
Elders: In regards to clothes I found that cotton/poly mix of
everything was the best. Cotton is comfortable but wrinkles, poly does
not wrinkle but is not as comfortable. Docker pants were very popular,
but wear out quickly, so be advised that you might need new pants, but
they are very comfortable. One suit is all you need. I wore
mine to a mission conference, and to all the stake conferences. As
a total I wore it no more than ten times during the mission, excluding
the MTC. Shoes with good thick soles are the best. I had pair
last an entire year and another last only 3 months. Then I had to
have the soles redone. Doc Martins would be perfect. Leather
soles just do not provide much comfort or last very long on the rough streets.
Good american shoe shine is suggested. The stuff in Brazil washes
off. Cotton poly shirts are the best because if you wash them and
dry them and take them in and hang them up, you don't have to iron them,
but don't tell the pres. That is what I found. An iron is heave
and bulky, but is important. I would suggest you just wait and buy
one on the mission unless you can buy a small portable one. At the
MTC you can use what is furnished there. Clearly you will be bringing
a camera but don't bring anything too fancy it will catch the eye of someone
and they might want it more that you. There is large number
of missionaries that rerturn home without a camera.
Sisters: Well I don't have much information for you except that
I though they were lax with your dress. I recall sisters wearing
T-shirts with some type of dress. I would not suggest bring t-shirts
as your mission dress, I would suggest following the standard sent
to you from the first presidency and if you would like to be put in contact
with a sister that has served there please let me know and I will do so..
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