September 18, 2011
Dear Family and Friends,
Last
Sunday I went to our ward so I could see the Primary program. I had
been misinformed and the program was not going to be for another week. I
spoke to the Stewart children who are Americans living in here while
their dad works at the Embassy. They were both giving talks the next
week and since I knew we would not be there I asked them to practice on
me so I could hear their talks and hear the Spanish they are learning.
After sacrament meeting we stayed in the chapel and they both gave me
their talks. Emma and Isaac both did such a great job. Their accents
were excellent and they were so cute speaking Spanish. If they keep
learning at this speed for the next year a half they will be in Paraguay
they will go home totally fluent. I was really impressed!
Tuesday
we went to a district meeting in Ytororo. Elder Clement is the district
leader and he did such a great job leading the meeting. They focused on
the things taught in zone conference and had some good discussions on
how to help their investigators. Elders Clement,
A.Baldwin, Rios, Soria, Arriola, Wiilson, VanMondfrans, and Bullock all
seemed happy and participated in the discussions. It is always nice to
see a district being led by good leaders! I enjoy going to district
meetings just so we can be with the missionaries in smaller groups and
it is always good to see the good things happening in the districts.
Mark
spent time with two zone leaders Elders Snow and Love during their
planning session for the week on Thursday. Spending time in planning
sessions helps President know if the messages being taught at zone
conferences and training meetings is being put into the practice by the
missionaries. It is especially important to know if the zone leaders are
planning well so they can help the people in their zones when they go
on divisions. Mark tries to get out to planning sessions as often as he
can. He always enjoys time with the missionaries in smaller settings
like those.
This
weekend we were in Paraguari for district conference. We were there
Saturday for auxiliary, Priesthood and the adult meetings and again
Sunday for the general session. The Saturday attendance is always
difficult for many people here. There were about 13 of us in the
auxiliary meeting and probably the same in Priesthood leadership. The combined number made up the adult meeting. Sunday
many more were able to come (around 300) and we also enjoyed a nice
meeting with new members and investigators before the regular session.
Elders Gutierrez, Clyde, Kragenbrink, B.Madsen, Ramos, Schone, Avendano,
Neves, Jackson and Bybee brought about thirty people for our missionsry
meeting. This district has many more families than some of the other
districts. When families come into the church all together there is a
built in support system that helps them adjust better to their new lives
in the church. We met some wonderful people who are learning about the
church and are fairly new members. We enjoyed the weekend there.
Saturday
the eleven year old daughter of the district president had practiced
and played the piano for the adult meeting. She had worked hard and did
well. She can only practice at the church because
they don’t have a piano at home. I spent a little time helping her with
some things to work on as she practices after our meeting on
Sunday.President Gill asked if I would play on Sunday so I did. It’s
always an adventure when the special musical number of a men’s choir
gets up to sing and then asks me to accompany them. The Lord helped me
and we made it through! The mission had a few electric keyboards that
weren’t being used so we took one to Ruth Gill to use so she could
practice at home. I told her how our children practiced piano before
school and she promised me she would do the same so she could continue
progressing so she can accompany in meetings. She was so happy to get
the keyboard.
Well the church is true and we are happy to be here helping spread the good news!
Love, Mark and Sandy
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