This week started with our normal meetings with the office elders and assistants. Tuesday we went to the temple with two elders who will be leaving in July and early August. Because the temple will be closed right when they go home, we had them come in for a day for our temple session and lunch and testimony meeting with them. We began at the temple for a session and some sealings. We had our testimony meeting on the temple grounds after the session. As we were leaving the temple Paraguay was in the middle of its soccer game with Japan. The streets were absolutely deserted except for a few people gathered around televisions at taxi stations. We went to lunch at Paulistas where all the big screens were tuned in of course to the game. It was quite fun to be there watching the end of the game as Paraguay won along with everyone else in the restaurant. It was quite a fun memory for the missionaries going home and for us also. As we left the restaurant the streets were full of people honking horns and screaming and waving flags. It was fun to see all of Paraguay be so excited about their team getting to play and win some of their games in the world cup. The two elders who are leaving, Elder Lorsch and Elder Strickland ,are two great elders that are finishing their missions strong. Elder Strickland was the finance secretary when we came to the mission so we got to know and love him quickly as he helped us in our early days of the mission. He also has led out in being more effective in his teaching and encouraging his zone to do the same. We miss our missionaries when they go home but we know they have great things ahead of them.
Wednesday was a sad day as we took President and Sister Wade from the Paraguay Asuncion North Mission to the airport as they have finished their mission. They have helped us so much in our first year here. It is a pretty unique situation to have two mission presidents in the same city and we were greatly blessed to have them here for our first year. We learned a lot from them and they answered our questions and were just great friends to us. We will miss them.
We went over to welcome the new north mission president and his wife, President and Sister Madariaga. He and Mark were surprised to realize that they had the same mission president just at a little different times in Argentina years ago. They are really nice people too and hopefully we can help them like we were helped. They are from Argentina.
As we said good bye to the Wades we drowned our sadness at saying goodbye to our friends by going to our favorite ice cream store to follow our family tradition of eating ice cream when we feel a bit sad. The tradition began when we took our oldest son Matt to the MTC in Provo. As we left all in tears our daughter Laura said ,”We need ice cream!” We went to the BYU creamery and we use the ice cream method probably too much but it does work!
Friday and Saturday we spent in meetings with the assistants and at home putting together the calendar for the next year. We received information about changes in the timetable for interviews and zone conferences and also new meetings we need to hold so we are excited about the new schedule as we go into our second year. We have felt like certain things needed to happen and these changes were an answer to the concerns Mark had about them. Revelation is wonderful in the way it keeps the work moving forward and fresh. We are grateful for the past year here and the things we have learned. We know there is much to accomplish and we are grateful for the love and support of our family and the wonderful missionaries we are blessed to be able to serve here with. The Lord needs every one of us to be missionaries wherever we are. We love you all. Mark and Sandy
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