Rio de Janeiro is like no other place with the majestic Christ figure extending high above the city to the magically shaped mountains that encircle the harbors or coves of Copacabana, Ipanema and others. Add the Mystical Traveler and we have an exotically perfect mix! And wouldn’t you know but hot tropical Rio was having quite an unusual experience for this time of year–a week of cold and rain. You just never know what happens when a Traveler visits. In this case the clouds brought a mysterious looking mist to the mountains that came and went with occasional hints of sun. Well there was so much to do with services, initiations, ordinations and events that we’d grab a few moments in between services out in the ocean air, thankful that we could hear the amazing sound of ocean crashing outside our balconies.

Our Brazilian MSIA family gathered from near and far to participate in this year’s MSIA events in Rio.. Lana Barreira, the Brazil MSIA Rep, and Roberta Vasconcellas, the Brazilian do-everything ombuds”woman” and some of their amazing volunteers, Ana, Christina, Dalva, Diego, Eliete and many others had been preparing for us to come for many months. Ana Yamaguchi directed the flow of balancees and balancers at the services meeting room. Nearby Diego Aieta helped Vincent set up a complicated audio/visual bank of equipment to be ready for the online broadcast of the Peacemakers’ meeting and the following night’s Q&A for Discourse Subscribers.

Lana was a gracious Mistress of Ceremonies welcoming and introducing IIWP and MSIA to all the participants in the room and online. Roberta ably translated for John as the meeting of Peacemakers continued. It was a beautiful evening of exploring how to find and experience our own peace within no matter what is taking place around us. Paulo Fortes who has been accompanying staff as he continues to learn services stood as camera man for the evening.

For the next evening the menu was full with ordinations and a baby blessing to do before the event started. Then Paulo Fortes took his turn as translator while Marcelo Lacroix stepped behind the camera for the Q&A for Discourse Subscribers. The heights and depths of our humanness and Spirit were explored ending with a tender blessing for all.

The next day, Friday, brought our capping event, the BlessingsFest that started at 12noon and continued ’til after 7:00pm even as we finished up the last services of the trip. Marcello took his turn as translator for this festival of delicious foods and wondrous blessings. Again John completed the event and the trip with a final sublime blessing of all present and the land and country. Afterwards we coiled cable and packed up equipment in and amongst goodbye hugs and kisses. At last it was time for a little soup made by our own Lesley Dupont and then to retire for a long restful sleep and much gratitude for the abundance of love, loving enthusiasm, caring, sharing and hugging that we received during our Rio stay.