Pictures July 31st

Elder Roberts and Elder Fernandez

Elder Fernandez and Elder Durrant, current assistants

Elder Guzman at the airport

New North American missionaries.

New missionaries arriving on bus from airport

All the new missionaries

New missionaries with their trainers

Brother Suarez, a wonderful brother who helps us with luggage on change days.

Taxis lined up ready for new missionaries to take them to their new areas.

Taking the departing Elders out to lunch.

Enjoying the food.

Departing missionaries outside of the temple on their last day.

Testimony meeting with the departing Elders.

July 31, 2011

July 31,2011

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was full as we welcomed 20 new missionaries on Tuesday. We had a fun day welcoming them ,orienting them and Mark interviewed them all.Wednesday we held the training meeting for the new missionaries and then they were off to their areas to begin working. This group seemed well prepared again by the MTC. We are so happy with the changes we have seen in the newest groups of missionaries. This group was happy and so ready to go to work. After the new missionaries were off to their areas we spent the day at lunch and the temple and a testimony meeting with the 18 missionaries who were finishing their missions. Thursday we went to the airport three different times to say goodbye to our missionaries who were heading home. On the last trip I stayed an took a flight home also. It was strange to leave the mission and especially to leave my companion there. I was greeted by two daughters and 6 grandchildren at the airport...What a happy sight! Our days will be full as we finish plans for the weddings and all the other activities that go along with this happy time for our family.

This week we said goodbye to Elder Rockwood who was serving as financial secretary. He served well and did such a good job ! Elder Fowers our record keeper is now training Elder Gleason who will replace him once he is trained.

The children are beginning to gather and by the weekend everyone will be here. We are missing Mark but know he is where he needs to be. It's nice to be here and spend a little time before the marriages of Laura and Sara before the big days. I met Laura's fiance Anson and spent a nice evening with him and the rest of the family Sunday evening. I'm anxious to meet Daniel when he arrives this week also. It was so nice to go to church and see everyone in the ward. We are grateful for the good things happening for our children . The messages in sacrament meeting today were focused on the importance of the temple and covenants.Perfect for two soon to be endowed daughters! Mark spent the day in Coronel Oviedo interviewing and having priesthood meetings there. Tomorrow he will have a zone leaders council so he will spend the day teaching and counseling with the leaders of the mission. Hope everyone has a great week! Love, Mark and Sandy

Picture July 23, 2011

Office Elders: Elder Stewart (new financial secretary) , Elder Curtis

(secretary), Elder Rockwood (soon to be ex financial secretary), Elder

Fowers (fichero-record keeper and reports), Elder Wray (administrador-

distributor of supplies and mail ,physical facilities). These are

great young men who work all day in the office and are out the door by

4:30 pm to go teach and preach the gospel!

July 23, 2011

Dear Family and Friends, July 23, 2011

We have had a busy week getting ready for our next group of missionaries who will arrive on Tuesday and also getting ready to say good bye to those leaving the mission on Thursday. Twenty new missionaries will arrive and eighteen missionaries will leave. The week before changes is always full of energy and excitement! Mark has been having the final interview with missionaries who are leaving during the change. It is a nice time for him as he spends time with each missionary and they talk about the mission experience they have had. We love to see who these young people have become during their missions. This group and the last group were the first groups we have had for their whole missions so we have spent a lot of time with them. We expect good things from them in their lives. We have been happy that we hear often from our returned missionaries. When each missionary leaves we give them our email so they can keep in touch with us. We hear from a few every week and we answer all their letters. They tell us of callings they are receiving and school, work and social plans. It is wonderful to see that our connections made here during the mission can continue on even for those who life far away.

Our newest group of missionaries continues to do well. They are participating in lessons and sharing the gospel with many people even with their limited language skills. President works hard to put trainers with the right missionaries and when we hear good reports of how they are doing we are reminded that the Lord is in control and he knows where each missionary needs to serve and with whom he needs to serve.

We received a new office elder during the last change and Elder Stewart is doing well as he learns the very detailed responsibilities he has as financial secretary. Elder Rockwood will go back out this change. Elder Rockwood has done a fantastic job with keeping rents paid, apartments supplied with whatever they need, making sure missionaries receive their funds for the month and teaching some how to budget better. He’s done a good job of keeping the mission in good financial shape and he always has a smile on his face!

I will be going home for the weddings of Laura and Sara the same day our missionaries leave during change week. I promised Mark that I would return! I am excited to be with the family and share in the special family events that will happen while I am there. Two endowments, two weddings, one baby blessing, and five birthdays along with a couple showers will all be part of the schedule while I am there. Mark will keep things running well here as always but we will be missing him there! We are so grateful for the good things that are happening in our family and know the Lord is blessing us greatly at this time. This gospel is all about the power and strength available to us through keeping the covenants we make in the temple. We are given the power to grow and develop into better people than we were before through the atonement of the Savior! We are given the power to be happy! We learn new things each day that help us see the importance of keeping our covenants and doing all that we can to share this wonderful gospel with everyone we can. We are grateful for the choices our family and missionaries are making that help us know that they are learning these important gospel truths. It’s a beautiful day today in Paraguay and it is Saturday. We always love sunny Saturdays because that is our usual baptism day and more people seem to be baptized on sunny days! We hope you all have a wonderful week!

Love, Mark and Sandy

Pictures July 16, 2011

With Elder Sellers in San Ignacio in front of the church.

Elders Obray,Reyes,Durrant,Alexander and Nelson in Encarnacion.

Elders Reyes,Nelson,Parker and Ackerman doing practices.

Elder Moore and Elder Salinas doing practices.

Elders Kartchner,Boydston,Buhidar and Obray doing practices.

With Senora DaSilva in Bella Vista.

Elder White and VonMondfrans in front of the chapel in Santa Rita.

The trees are full of oranges and mandarins right now.

I don't think OSHA would approve of the way people move around here

while they are working!

With Pablo at the Museum at the Jardin Botanico.

The museum at the botanical gardens.

July 16, 2011

Dear Family and Friends, July 16, 2011

This was our second week of interviews and by Saturday they were all completed. Monday we drove to San Ignacio to meet with the elders from Pilar, San Ignacio and Ayolas. We started early and got to watch the beautiful sunrise as we drove. We then went on to Bogado and ended in Encarnacion where president interviewed the elders from Obligado and Natalio Diez. Tuesday he finished the rest of Encarnacion and we headed for Ciudad del Este. The energy level was great in Encarnacion and we see a good amount of growth with the zone there.

On the drive between Encarnacion and Ciudad del Este we pass by a “town “ that is interesting but sad. The shopping area is made up of plywood shacks lined up along the route. Beyond that the “houses” are also along the route. The houses are bits of plywood, black plastic tarps and corrugated metal roofs or plywood roofs. There are out houses for restrooms and I have yet to figure out what the water source is for the people. When we first were here I thought maybe they were crop workers but they are always there and the families live there with them. It is heartbreaking to see little children living in shacks with the busy route right beside their houses. There are many people here who live in very hard situations.

We stopped in a town called Bella Vista for a visit with a sweet woman. The mission president of one of the Uruguay missions asked Mark a while back if we could visit his mother who lives in our mission. President DaSilva is the only member in his family so he wanted us to visit his mother for him. She was so sweet and said it was hard for her to have him gone for these three years. He began his mission the same time we did. Anyway we had a nice chat and took a photo so we can send it to President DaSilva.

We stopped in Santa Rita for a few interviews and then on to Ciudad del Este. Wednesday Mark finished the interviews there and then met with President Kara ,the stake president . We feel that one of the great blessings of the mission experience is the great people we get to meet and associated with. Brother Horvath was in Encarnacion also waiting to help Mark with anything he could. Friday and Saturday Mark interviewed the office elders and completed the interview cycle for this round.

We are so grateful for all of the good missionaries that we have here. The interview time is such a great time for us to spend a little more one on one time with them and we are so happy with what we see when we are with them! It was so nice to hear the good things that the missionaries are doing as they teach the gospel to the people here. The group of new elders we received last change are doing well and their trainers said they were all participating well in lessons and working hard to improve in their language and teaching skills.

Today we took a few hours and drove out to find the Botanical Garden here in Asuncion. We went into the natural history museum there and had a nice private tour by a sweet man named Pablo. He had lived in New Jersey at one time and kept throwing in a few English words that he knew. We learned a little more about the culture and history of the wonderful people here from him. We also found a golf course that was nearby. I thought Mark was going to jump out of the car. I am going to make him go play there at least once sometime before the end of our mission. Well, it sounds like the wedding plans are going well at home and baby Eli is growing and doing well. I am getting anxious to go home for the weddings. But first we have change week where we receive 20 more missionaries on July 26th! Life goes so fast here in the mission! Until next week! Love, Mark and Sandy

July 9, 2011

Dear Family and Friends, July 9, 2011

Monday was spent in interviews with two missionaries leaving this week and also going out to lunch with them. They needed to leave a bit before their group so we said our goodbyes to them and they flew out on Friday when we were out of town.

The rest of the week was spent in interviews for 120 missionaries who live close enough to Asuncion to come in for interviews. Friday we drove out 3 hours to Coronel Oviedo and Ca’auazu for the zone there. It was a great week spending time with our wonderful missionaries. We are impressed with the commitment of these young people as they try to do their best. Many have challenges at home and here but work hard to stay focused and tell us they know the Lord is blessing them and their families while they are here serving. It was also nice to see the 24 newest missionaries and see how they were doing. They were an especially great group and all were happy and working hard. The training they received at the MTC has changed a bit and we could see a difference. That combined with the new 12 week training program has everyone excited and quickly moving forward in their understanding of the work but also the confidence level seems really high. That will help so much!

I also had a nice conversation with Sister Chena. She came here from her home here in Paraguay to wait for her visa to Mexico. She spent three weeks with us and will leave this week for her mission there. She shared the experience she had here with me. She and her companion found a family and have a baptismal date with them. The family only speaks guarani, the other language spoken here. Because she was here the teaching was able to happen quickly and she was so grateful that she could have such a big part in the process. In certain areas of the mission there is a great need for help from members for this very reason. It is hard to teach when the missionaries only speak Spanish and the people only speak guarani. Usually they do the best they can but it was so helpful to have her here with her knowledge of guarani.

During interviews we also had blankets and space heaters for some who needed them. Keeping the apartments supplied with everything the missionaries need is a never ending task. Things either wear out or break or disappear so we are constantly trying to make sure everyone has the essentials. Sometime missionaries hear it is hot here all the time and then when winter comes they are not prepared with enough layers or coats. We try to help so everyone is taken care of so they can focus on the work, not the cold. Today the sun is out and it is quite nice so maybe the cold spell is over!

I had some nice chats with missionaries while they were waiting for their turns with president. I love to get to know a little more about the missionaries and hear of their successes and their backgrounds. One missionary told me his good friend from home is coming to the mission soon. His friend was not a member until high school and is the only member in his family. There are some amazingly strong missionaries being prepared to teach people about the gospel! As Mark and I drove home Friday after the week of interviews we talked about how much we really love these missionaries. We are learning so many things from serving with them. They are good examples to us and we are grateful the Lord is letting us to share some time with them here in the mission. Have a nice week! Love, Mark and Sandy

Pictures July 2, 2011

District leaders.

Zone leaders.

Zone and District leaders and assistants.

Posting of the colors at the US Embassy.

Uncle Sam and Statue of Liberty.

Ambassador Liliana Ayalde speaking at reception at US Embassy.

Fourth of July hamburgers and hot dogs,

At the reception at the Embassy.

US Flags

July 2, 2011

Dear Friends and Family, July 2, 2011

Our week started great with the news that baby Eli was able to go home from the hospital. What a blessing that he only had to stay an extra week. Jenny and Brian and family were happy to get him home and have the family together. The ward and friends and family have been good to bring meals and offer help so things look great for them there. Baby Eli is eating well and getting into a good schedule and is enjoying his new home it seems!

This was a week full of leadership councils and training meetings. Monday all the zone leaders and assistants came to a zone leaders’ council. The day was spent counseling together and learning how the zone leaders can better lead the missionaries in their zones. Part of the fun of the mission is watching these young men begin to catch the vision of what it means to be leaders and then to put into practice the things they are learning. It is so good to see these young men working together in these settings. We have seen great growth in many of our missionaries as they see the importance of working hard to serve their fellow missionaries. Two missionaries who returned home were called within a couple weeks as councilors in branch presidencies so this experience they gain in the mission is so needed for their future lives in the church.

Tuesday all the district leaders joined the zone leaders for more training. We spent the day in instruction, practices, testimony bearing and a little eating. It is always good to be with the missionaries and especially as we feel a good spirit from them as to their desires and efforts to work hard.

Wednesday we had a specialized training with all the newest elders and their trainers. It was good to be able to see how they were all doing and encourage them and make sure they are following the new training program given to them recently from our leaders. We also gave all the trainers a DVD player to be used in the trainings. The church has produced two series of missionary training DVD’s now and part of the program involves watching and studying the DVD’s. It will be so nice now that they won’t have to go to the churches for study time. Each DVD player comes with strict instructions as to their use. They can only use it during companionship study time and the players can be used for nothing else. They also cannot leave their apartments.

Friday we were invited by the US Embassy to a reception and celebration for Independence Day. The Ambassador Liliana Ayalde spoke and explained the custom of gathering with family and friends to celebrate the holiday. Most of the guests were community , government ,military and religious leaders from Paraguay. Among the food at the buffet were American hamburgers and hot dogs and macaroni and cheese. It was good to hear the Star Spangled Banner and see the US Flag. We love living here for now but we love our country and all that it offers more!

Saturday Mark drove a couple hours out to Coronel Oviedo for a priesthood training meeting. He was thrilled when all of the District presidency and the branch presidents attended. He felt good about the things they were able to share and to see them excited about improving and taking notes!!

Sunday we will go to a member /missionary fireside in Yaguaron. We are excited that the branch there is trying to get the members involved more in the missionary work. Elders Jackson and Rios are working hard to have a successful meeting there tomorrow.

As of July first our third year here has begun. In many ways the time is flying by. We miss family and friends but we know before we know it this next year will be gone. We love what we are doing here. It is hard and many times we don’t feel as successful as we would like to be and we know there is so much more to be done. But as my Dad said to me as I was speaking to him the other day we just all need to do the best we can and we can’t worry too much about the rest of it. I like his attitude! He is doing hard things in his life right now too. He is a great example to me of taking what comes in life and doing the very best you can with it and not worrying about the things you can’t do. Life is definitely a time for all of us to learn and grow no matter where we are. That’s the beauty of knowing about the Great Plan of Happiness. It helps us all understand our purpose and focus on the things we need to do in our lives. We all need to share this wonderful gospel message with everyone so they also can have the guidance and strength available to them in their lives also. Have a wonderful week! Happy Fourth of July! Love, Mark and Sandy