April 23, 2011

Dear Family and Friends, April 23,2011

District Conference went well last weekend in Encarnacion. On Sunday there were 420 people in attendance which was great. The reality though is that there are 4500 members on the records there so there is a real challenge with holding on to members. There is so much work to do here in helping the members remain faithful and also work with the missionaries. We see progress but it is slow. There is always a need for more leaders who have an understanding of the important things needed to help people grow in their testimonies and desires to be committed to their covenants. A new councilor in the district presidency was called. Brother Horvath is from Argentina and he and Mark struck up a friendship early in our mission. He has been the executive secretary in the district and he will be a great asset in the presidency as he is willing to go the extra mile to reach out and serve.

Mark finished up interviews with missionaries in Encarnacion Sunday and Monday and then we were off to Ciudad del Este for more interviews. We finished there with the last 30 interviews and hurried home to Asuncion so Mark could set apart a missionary leaving from Ca’aguazu for Peru. We had to drive about three hours after dark which we try to never do. It was a long trip partly because many people were on the road getting ready for Holy week celebrations. There were many police out who love to randomly stop people and ask for documents or whatever adding to the traffic problems ,anyway we made it home in time to go to the office so the missionary could be set apart.

Friday we went to speak at a Young Single Adult conference in Ita’. It was a great group of young people. Two of the young men were missionaries in Argentina with Daniel Lord ,Sara’s fiancé. They came up to speak to us after the meeting to tell us what a wonderful missionary he was. It’s always nice to hear good things about our future son in law! We enjoy being with the youth of the church and encouraging those who have not yet served missions to prepare for it.

Saturday Mark spoke to another Youth group and then we had District conference the rest of the day and Sunday in Paraguari’. This season is so busy with all the conferences that Mark presides over. I don’t know how he does it! It is always good though to have an extra chance to see the missionaries in the conferences and to encourage the members to be more involved in the missionary work in their wards and branches.

Thursday we were thinking of Christian Callan our grandson who turned three. We spoke to him on the phone and he is growing up fast. Friday was also a special day for Sara and Daniel as they both graduated from BYU. Daniel’s family was in town so our children in Utah were able to meet them and celebrate their graduations together at a party the Lord’s held for Sara and Daniel. It sounds like they all had a great time getting to know one another! Can’t wait for our turn to meet them all! It’s hard to miss these fun times but we get reports on everything that we are missing so that helps us a bit.

We are grateful for this Easter season and the wonderful blessings we have in our lives because of our Savior , Jesus Christ. We know he lived and suffered and died for us so that we can change each day through repentance and become more like Him. We are grateful for the restoration of the gospel and the priesthood and the sealing powers that are on the earth today. We have great hope that if we are obedient and serve in the ways the Lord asks us to , we can be with our family now and forever! Happy Easter!!! Love, Mark and Sandy