June 5, 2011

Dear Friends and Family, June 5, 2011

This week was the once a month council meeting with all the zone leaders. They all came to Asuncion for a five hour council meeting. It is a time to teach and train and help the zone leaders be able to fulfill their responsibilities in lifting and helping their zones. Since we just finished zone conference last week it was also a great time to remind everyone of the focus of zone conference and keep teaching those messages of being totally committed and working hard always. We have some great zone leaders who want to be good leaders. Teaching and training is a constant in the mission. These young men need to learn now the things that will bless them and their families forever. As they see the importance of follow through and knowing how to help others achieve their potential they can grow into the future leaders the church needs. For some the future is not so far away. We had one elder leave the mission in March and within a month he was a councilor in a branch presidency. He was a good zone leader and I’m sure he was ready to serve well!

Saturday we attended a wedding and baptism in Barrio Herrera. It is quite common here for people to not be married so there often needs to be a marriage before a baptism can take place. The missionaries in Barrio Herrera have two more families lined up for baptism in the coming weeks. The ward members were so good to come and help get the couple ready for the wedding. Someone from the ward loaned Daniella a wedding dress and Julio a suit. They had great support from the ward and that is exactly what new members need, ward members reaching out and including them so they can make the adjustments they need to be members. Julio cut his hair for the wedding and baptism and looked great. It is interesting to watch the new members try to change inward and outward to feel more a part of the church. The elders in Barrio Herrera are working hard and it shows in the people they are finding and teaching.

Sunday we went to stake conference in Nemby. It was good to see all the missionaries there. Many brought their investigators up to meet us. President Benitez is a great stake president and there was a great spirit in the meeting and the members came prepared to learn and they brought with them a wonderful spirit. The chapel was full but it was very reverent the whole meeting. The meeting focused on the preparations youth need in their lives to be on the right path and the important part parents play in their progress. Mark spoke about the importance of members in missionary work and what they can do to be involved more. Two returned missionaries bore their testimonies and gave great messages of being prepared before their missions and remaining faithful afterwards. One of the young men introduced us to his fiancé after the meeting. They will be married in September in the Asuncion temple. They will be a great strength here in the church!

We have had a good week. There are always challenges in life and in the mission but the Lord helps each of us as we strive to do our best. We are grateful for the reality of the atonement which allows each of us to change and improve daily.

Tonight we are going to meet one of our daughters’ future in laws through a skype conversation. Hopefully we will meet our other daughter’s future in laws soon also. Interesting world we live in!! But is a wonderful world with many great experiences. We love and miss you all! Love, Mark and Sandy