41 Years ago.

It is 41 years ago since we came to work in Brazil. We arrived in Rio de Janeiro after a long trip on a bus with 2 small children. It wasn´t our first visit. That took place 3 years earlier when we sailed from England with a group of other SAMS missionaries bound for various parts of South America. We called at Rio after sailing accross the Atlantic (it was no luxury cruise, 3rd class in a very cramped cabin). We were met by the then chaplain of Rio, Canon Eric Wilcockson who took all nine of us adults plus 4 children for a whirlwind trip around the Rio sites ending up at the statue of Christ, the famous Corcovado. We were all invited to afternoon tea at the chaplaincy house, little knowing that Stuart and Kathryn would call this house "home" on at least 3 subsequent occasions. However, we first spent nearly 3 years in Paraguay working in the River Zone and then in the Chaco. In Paraguay we spoke Guarani.

This is us going up the Sugar loaf mountain with Lois aged five and Paul, just two years old.
After language study, we went to Salvador, Bahia in the North East of Brazil and worked there for 8 years. Canon Harry Sutton, a former General Secretary of SAMS always said the property where the Blankleys, our colleagues, and our family lived was the best real estate of any missionaries he had met in all his many travels in South America.

This is the beautiful view of Todos os Santos which we had from our windows in the upstairs flat we built in the shell of the old cemetery chapel. Yes, we lived in the British Cemetery.

This is a general view of the cemetery. After we left Bahia, the consul allowed a group of orphans with their carers to live there.Unfortnately, it was left in a rather neglected state. Some time afterwards a group of interested people decided to restore the cemetery and this included returning the chapel to its original state. The area is now known as an open air museum and is open to the public who can admire the beautiful views and the excellent restoration.

As we write, we only have 7  more weeks left in Rio. The search committee have 4 candidates to interview for this unique position of chaplain to the English speaking people in Rio de Janeiro.

We thank God for the opportunity we have had over the last 40 odd years to know this wonderful country and the people who live here.