April 23, 2010

April 23,2010

Dear Family and Friends,

Monday began with an office meeting to plan the coming week of changes. Tuesday we welcomed two missionaries . This was our smallest group we have received since we began our mission. Sister Cozzens came to us from North Carolina and Elder Paladines is from Ecudaor. We greeted them at the airport and went immediately to the temple. We spent a little time getting to know them and then shared our testimonies of the importance of the temple and the wonderful blessing it is to have a temple here so close to the people we teach. Our sweet friend Brother Falcon one of the first missionaries to serve in Paraguay from Paraguay came over to bear his sweet testimony also. We went to lunch and then went to the office for orientation and interviews. Sister Cozzens understood Spanish well and they were both anxious to meet their companions. After a quick bite of dinner in the evening we came to the mission home for dessert and testimonies. They both seem ready to go to work. Elder Paladines went with the office elders for the night and Hermana Cozzens stayed at the mission home with us.

Wednesday morning we headed to the office for instructions for the trainers and the new missionaries. By 10:30 a.m. they were off to their areas to begin to work. At noon we took the four missionaries who are ending their missions out to lunch. After interviews we went to the temple for a session. It is always nice that the missionaries last night in Paraguay is spent at the temple. I am also grateful that we have a temple so close. I always feel rejuvenated after attending the temple. While we were outside of the temple taking a few photos there was a young couple from the Encarnacion district taking photos who had just been sealed. Mark had interviewed them just a week or so ago so it was nice to be there and be able to share a few minutes with them and take a photo with them. They had travelled by bus 5 or 6 hours and were at the temple by themselves with no family to share the experience. That is the way it is here for so many as many are the only members in their families. It was nice to see a new eternal family being created. Afterwards we went back to our house for testimonies and dessert. Again I love the contrast I see as I look at the groups of missionaries beginning and ending their missions. The new ones are a bit nervous and excited to get going. The returning ones are sad to leave but excited and full of joy for the service they given and the growth they’ve received also. I love to see how Christ centered and Book of Mormon centered the testimonies are of the returning missionaries. We always know by their testimonies how deeply the gospel became engrained in their hearts as they served. Hermana Lynes stayed at the mission home with us and the elders went to stay at the office. On Thursday we said goodbye to two of the elders. One elder is leaving in a week and Hermana Lynes will leave on Sunday.

Friday we were going to resume apartment checks but some things came up Mark had to take care of so we will head out Saturday and be traveling through next Thursday or Friday. When we return to Asuncion we will have seen all 95 or so apartments. The ones we will be visiting this week are more spread out. Some we will be driving 5 or 6 hour to see one apartment and interview 2 missionaries. I understand these apartments are a bit more rustic because they are in smaller places and the choice of apartments is quite limited. It will be nice when we have in our minds where all of our missionaries live.

Today Robert graduated from BYU. We are missing some wonderful things that are happening in the lives of our children but we continue to be grateful as we hear the way the family is helping and supporting each other in our absence. Have a good week! Love, Mark and Sandy