January 16, 2011

Dear Family and Friends, January 16,2011

As I write this Mark is on his third week of priesthood training meetings out in one of the districts in Coronel Oviedo, about 3 hours away. By the time he drives out holds the meetings and interviews and drives home it makes for a very long day. He has been happy each week though as he knows he is working hard to help the local leaders understand their callings and responsibilities better. I’ve been to our home ward three weeks in a row now and that is the first time that has happened since we have been here. Usually we try to visit as many wards and branches as we can but when Mark is gone I have to rely on the missionaries in the office to give me a ride to church so I attend church here where they also attend.

This week was spent in interviews for all the missionaries in zones one through five. They are all close enough to Asuncion that they all come into the office for their interviews. There were 106 interviews this week and the rest will be done next week as we drive out to them, interviewing in five different towns. The interviews take place every three months so it is really good to see everyone when we come together. Mark was focusing on encouraging everyone to push themselves a bit harder to accomplish what the Lord needs them to here in the mission. We had a poster made for all of their apartments of the inside back cover of Preach My Gospel to go along with the one we gave them at Christmas of the front cover. It is entitled “Remember This”. It has a list of 22 points to remember as missionaries, basically a quick list of everything missionaries should always be doing. We spend time teaching constantly about everything but there is so much and everyone comes with different preparation levels that it is never ending. And then just when we feel like they are getting their missionary skills up to their very best levels…it’s time for them to go home!! Every six weeks we get a new group to begin teaching and helping. We have many wonderful missionaries who are working very hard and seeing great successes. We also have a few who are working very hard at not working very hard!! I never will understand why some people fight the very things that will bring peace and joy into their lives. I read the other day that if you want the time to go quickly then just work real hard and it will fly by. I don’t want our time here to go quickly but I know as we work hard it is flying by!

I usually chat with the missionaries as they are waiting for their interviews and this time I had prepared some copies of some easy cooking ideas and also a recipe for a Gatorade type drink to help with hydration now that it is so hot. I also heard a few nice experiences that some missionaries shared with me. We had a companionship of sisters that needed to find a new apartment to rent. They had been searching and couldn’t find one. They went about their work and went to visit one of their investigators. When they went to the investigator’s apartment the investigator had moved. They were sad they had moved but the happy ending to the story is that the apartment was available and it was exactly what the sisters needed. A lesson for missionaries…as you go about the work , the Lord will help you with everything related to the work. The key word is WORK! The Lord is always looking out for his missionaries! Hopefully the investigators will be found again wherever they moved!

An elder told me of a woman who came up to him in church and said she had a son who had not been baptized yet. His father would not give permission for the ordinance for a long time. The father had changed his mind and granted permission. They went to teach the young man a few days later and while they were there the phone rang and the sister began to cry. The father of the family had been killed in an accident. The missionaries excused themselves and left the family and said they would call them later. They fully expected the baptism would be put off for a while as the family dealt with this hard situation. The mother of the family said, ”We want the baptism to go forward as planned. That is what my husband wanted.” The baptism was held after church the very next Sunday and 70 of the ward members stayed to support this young man and his family by attending the baptism. The gospel and its ordinances are real and they bring peace and comfort to us in our times of need. How grateful we are to be here watching people learn about these wonderful truths!

We are so grateful for the wonderful missionaries that have been called to serve in this mission. We learn much from each one of them. We are happy with them when they are happy and we are sad with them when they are sad. We want each of them to learn the lessons they need to learn while they are serving the people here. We know that through this mission experience each one has the opportunity to be better prepared for their future role of spouse and parent. We are so grateful for our own children and their spouses and our grandchildren and also all of these missionaries who will be a part of our lives forever! Have a wonderful week! Love, Mark and Sandy