Dear Family and Friends, August 1, 2010
We have had a nice week showing Laura and Sara more of the mission. On Monday we drove 2 hours to Coronel Oviedo where Mark interviewed 22 missionaries there. The girls enjoyed getting out of Asuncion and seeing more of the country with the wonderful things there are to see here. Many trees are in bloom and the weather has been great this week. It rained a couple times but it´s been warm and great for driving and seeing things. On the way back to Asuncion we took a side trip 20 minutes off the normal route to see a town called San Bernadino. It´s a resort place for the weathier people here. There is a large lake with boats and paddle boats for hire. We walked around a bit and enjoyed seeing something new. We had never been there before. Our helper Lidu is from that town and she had told us about it. Tuesday we spent preparing to head out of town to finish all the rest of the interviews for this cycle.
We were on the road the Wednesday at 4 am so we could be in Encarnacion to start interviews at 9 am. One of the benefits of the early morning drives is the beautiful Paraguayan sunrises. We were not disappointed. We also saw a beautiful sunset later in the week on the way to Ciudad del Este. After the interviews in Encarnacion, Mark met with the District President, President Perez. Thursday we were back at the church to finish the interviews there at 11 am. We then went to a nearby pizza restaurant owned by an investigator named Juan that Mark has been meeting with when we are in Encarnacion. He´s trying to get his life in order so he can join the church. He lived in the states for many years and owned some Round Table Pizza restaurants. He brought out a variety of calzones,quesadillas with salsa,tacos and pizza. Everything was wonderful! We had a nice visit with him and he shared his progress on making the changes he needed to in his life. It was a nice experience to share with the girls.
After our visit and lunch we were on our way to Santa Rita to interview the four missionaries who are serving there. Elders Fernandez, Bills, Olson and Urmston are the first missionaries to be in that city. They are excited about the work there and are hopeful it will be a place of great growth for the church. We have driven through that city since we began our mission and wondered why there were no missionaries there. After some research and prayer, Mark felt that it was time to open the city for missionary work. The four elders there are some of the best in the mission and they are so excited to be there. While we were there Mark offered a dedicatory prayer for the opening of Santa Rita for missionary work. It was a sweet experience for us all.
We drove on and arrived in Ciudad del Este. We turned on the computer to get our email and received the wonderful message that our son Matt and his wife Jessica had a new little baby boy born to them that day. Preston Matthew Callan joined his two brothers James and Christian. We are so grateful for our family and the good things that happening. It is hard to miss these special times but we are grateful we have skype and internet to receive photos.
Friday Mark interviewed the rest of the missionaries in Ciudad del Este. The girls and I chatted with all the missionaries while they were waiting their turn for interviews. The missionaries all seem excited at the things they are learning since the training of the leaders in the mission. There just seems to be an excitement to work harder and do more and do everything more efficiently. That will definitely bless many people´s lives. Friday night we went to the Itaipu Dam which is close to Ciudad del Este. We watched a film talking about the building process and then got on a bus that took us out to have an overlook view of the dam. They showed another film and then did a little light show as they illuminated the dam. This dam produces more electricity than any dam in the world. It provides 25% of the electricity for Brazil.
Saturday we went to a waterfall called Salta de Monday that is in Presidente Franco close to Ciudad del Este. It was quite nice and the girls said it was almost exactly like Mesa Falls near Yellowstone. Sunday we attended church in Hernandarias which is a part of the Ciudad del Este stake. We are enjoying the time with Laura and Sara and anticipating the arrival of Jenny this week. We are grateful for the blessings of the gospel and for the powers that bind us as families. We love the opportunity we have to help in the work of sharing the great gospel message here in Paraguay. We love you all. Mark and Sandy
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Pictures July 25. 2010
Zone Leaders council
Lunch during the Leadership Training Meeting
First Leadership Training group. Zone Leaders, District Leaders and Trainers
Window in Panteon de los Heroes
Monument to the war heroes
Statue for Our Lady of Asuncion.
Enjoying the sunshine in the backyard
Laura and Sara outside our church
One of two parrots that were seen our way to church Sunday morning. July 25, 2010
Dear Family and Friends, July 25, 2010
We have had a good week showing Laura and Sara what happens in the mission. Monday morning we had a zone leaders council meeting here at the mission home. It was the beginning of the training of all the leaders in the mission as directed by the missionary department. Mark spent the morning explaining the new interview and zone conference schedules and also the focus of the eight lessons everyone in the mission needs to be learning. These lessons will help all the missionaries focus on improving their teaching skills. It’s not really anything new, it’s all straight from Preach My Gospel but it helps in a more simple way to focus on key things the missionaries need to know and do. We had a lunch afterwords here at the house. We had apricot chicken, scallop potatoes, corn and raspberry kuchen. The missionaries were afraid of the kuchen at first, but as soon as they tasted it, they LOVED the raspberry custardy dessert.
Tuesday began the three day training for all the zone leaders, district leaders and trainers. There were 60 people at lunch each day. The full day was spent in meetings and then they went out to practice the things that they had been learning during the day, in the various zones around Asuncion. The missionaries are very excited to be refocused on improving their teaching skills and are anxious to go back to their zones and districts and teach everyone else. It was nice to be with all of the leaders for three days in a row and watch their enjoyment in being together in friendship but also in a spiritual setting. Mark has felt so good about the leadership qualities in the mission and he is confident these leaders will take this new focus and help everyone embrace it. He received many wonderful comments at the end of the week about the good things the missionaries were feeling and their excitement at the things that are happening in the mission. Mark had his presidency meeting on Thursday. Laura, Sara and I have had fun watching movies and catching up when we are not involved in his meetings. Every day during the training Laura, Sara and I would come over and help set up the meal (catered by Quatro D) and then stay for the afternoon session of the training. Laura and Sara both said that they are starting to pick up a few things and understand them, but most they didn’t.
Friday, Naomi Grau, the wife of Mark’s counselor, picked Laura, Sara and me up and took us around the city of Asuncion and to the city of Luque for some shopping and site seeing. She showed us some historical monuments, homes of political leaders, the government buildings, the most important Catholic church in Asuncion and many other things. She also helped us buy some typical Paraguayan items to remember our time here. Luque is famous for it’s silver, so we got some jewelry items. Fabrics and crafts are also typical items here and she showed us a few good places to shop for those. She was very nice to spend the day with us and help us. She and her husband are wonderful people.
Saturday we enjoyed the morning sun. The weather has been pretty cold since the girls have been here, so it was nice to have it finally warm up. We went to a stake missionary activity for the Fernando De La Mora Stake where young men came to the mission office to learn a little bit about the responsibilities of the Office Elders, and how the mission works. The Stake President spoke to them about mission preparation and we had a nice lunch. Later that night, we went to a baptism where a sweet mother and her three children were baptized. Laura and Sara sang Teach me to Walk in the Light in Spanish. Their accents are getting quite good, except then people think they speak Spanish, and start speaking to them in Spanish. Many people keep telling us how pretty our daughters are, and seem to be surprised, knowing we are their parents. But they also say that we have a lot of family resemblance. One cute little 5 year old came up to the girls and told them that they looked like North Americans. The girls are noticing how all the cute little children here are very friendly and wave and smile. We are definitely in the minority here, and people are always looking at us, but they are always so friendly and kind.
Sunday we attended the Barrio Herrera which is our home ward. It was fun to introduce Laura and Sara to the people of the ward. We tried to keep the girls informed on what was being said without being too distracting. We are preparing to head out to interviews tomorrow and the rest of the week. The girls are excited to see some things outside of Asuncion. Last week I failed to mention that our assistants changed. Elder Urmston who has done a wonderful job has a new assignment in a brand new city that just opened up called Santa Rita. We will miss him here around the office, but he is taking his goodness to the people there. Elder Centurion is the new assistant. He is a wonderful missionary from Argentina. He has a great sense of humor and a strong testimony and is an excellent leader. Again, one of the great blessings of the mission is getting to know all of these wonderful young missionaries. Laura and Sara are preparing to share the rest of their lives with hundreds of adopted brothers and sisters in the future, although they keep reminding us that they come first.
We hope you all have a wonderful week! We love you and miss you! Love, Mark and Sandy
We have had a good week showing Laura and Sara what happens in the mission. Monday morning we had a zone leaders council meeting here at the mission home. It was the beginning of the training of all the leaders in the mission as directed by the missionary department. Mark spent the morning explaining the new interview and zone conference schedules and also the focus of the eight lessons everyone in the mission needs to be learning. These lessons will help all the missionaries focus on improving their teaching skills. It’s not really anything new, it’s all straight from Preach My Gospel but it helps in a more simple way to focus on key things the missionaries need to know and do. We had a lunch afterwords here at the house. We had apricot chicken, scallop potatoes, corn and raspberry kuchen. The missionaries were afraid of the kuchen at first, but as soon as they tasted it, they LOVED the raspberry custardy dessert.
Tuesday began the three day training for all the zone leaders, district leaders and trainers. There were 60 people at lunch each day. The full day was spent in meetings and then they went out to practice the things that they had been learning during the day, in the various zones around Asuncion. The missionaries are very excited to be refocused on improving their teaching skills and are anxious to go back to their zones and districts and teach everyone else. It was nice to be with all of the leaders for three days in a row and watch their enjoyment in being together in friendship but also in a spiritual setting. Mark has felt so good about the leadership qualities in the mission and he is confident these leaders will take this new focus and help everyone embrace it. He received many wonderful comments at the end of the week about the good things the missionaries were feeling and their excitement at the things that are happening in the mission. Mark had his presidency meeting on Thursday. Laura, Sara and I have had fun watching movies and catching up when we are not involved in his meetings. Every day during the training Laura, Sara and I would come over and help set up the meal (catered by Quatro D) and then stay for the afternoon session of the training. Laura and Sara both said that they are starting to pick up a few things and understand them, but most they didn’t.
Friday, Naomi Grau, the wife of Mark’s counselor, picked Laura, Sara and me up and took us around the city of Asuncion and to the city of Luque for some shopping and site seeing. She showed us some historical monuments, homes of political leaders, the government buildings, the most important Catholic church in Asuncion and many other things. She also helped us buy some typical Paraguayan items to remember our time here. Luque is famous for it’s silver, so we got some jewelry items. Fabrics and crafts are also typical items here and she showed us a few good places to shop for those. She was very nice to spend the day with us and help us. She and her husband are wonderful people.
Saturday we enjoyed the morning sun. The weather has been pretty cold since the girls have been here, so it was nice to have it finally warm up. We went to a stake missionary activity for the Fernando De La Mora Stake where young men came to the mission office to learn a little bit about the responsibilities of the Office Elders, and how the mission works. The Stake President spoke to them about mission preparation and we had a nice lunch. Later that night, we went to a baptism where a sweet mother and her three children were baptized. Laura and Sara sang Teach me to Walk in the Light in Spanish. Their accents are getting quite good, except then people think they speak Spanish, and start speaking to them in Spanish. Many people keep telling us how pretty our daughters are, and seem to be surprised, knowing we are their parents. But they also say that we have a lot of family resemblance. One cute little 5 year old came up to the girls and told them that they looked like North Americans. The girls are noticing how all the cute little children here are very friendly and wave and smile. We are definitely in the minority here, and people are always looking at us, but they are always so friendly and kind.
Sunday we attended the Barrio Herrera which is our home ward. It was fun to introduce Laura and Sara to the people of the ward. We tried to keep the girls informed on what was being said without being too distracting. We are preparing to head out to interviews tomorrow and the rest of the week. The girls are excited to see some things outside of Asuncion. Last week I failed to mention that our assistants changed. Elder Urmston who has done a wonderful job has a new assignment in a brand new city that just opened up called Santa Rita. We will miss him here around the office, but he is taking his goodness to the people there. Elder Centurion is the new assistant. He is a wonderful missionary from Argentina. He has a great sense of humor and a strong testimony and is an excellent leader. Again, one of the great blessings of the mission is getting to know all of these wonderful young missionaries. Laura and Sara are preparing to share the rest of their lives with hundreds of adopted brothers and sisters in the future, although they keep reminding us that they come first.
We hope you all have a wonderful week! We love you and miss you! Love, Mark and Sandy
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Pictures July 18, 2010
Youth Fireside
Newly arriving missionaries
Parents and daughters together again!
Elder Centurion (first day as assistant), Woodruff, Urmston (last day as an assistant before heading to Santa Rita.)
Family at the Temple
New missionaries at testimony meeting
New missionaries and trainers
Packing up and shipping out to their areas.
Taking Elder Strickland to the airport.
Eating empanadas and naranja mandarina fanta!July 18, 2010
Dear Family and Friends, July 18, 2010
Last Sunday we went to a fireside in Fernando de la Mora Sur. I thought it was for young adults but it was actually for young men and young women. We were pleasantly surprised when there were 95 people there. We both spoke about missionary work and Mark spoke about how to prepare for missionary service. It was great to see so many youth there together. It still surprises me to watch the Young Women’s president ride up on a motorcycle. Many of the youth came in the back of a truck. Transportation methods are definitely different here.
Monday we spent the day preparing for the new missionaries and our daughters to arrive. They all arrived Tuesday morning at 10:30 am. It was fun to see them all and welcome Elders Martinez, Elder Sievers,Elder Boydston, Elder Merril, Elder Falepapalangi and Laura and Sara. Laura and Sara had the unique experience of watching missionaries from the time they left Salt Lake until they met their companions here in Paraguay. It‘s been fun having them here as they see everything that happens in the mission. We took the new missionaries to temple grounds for a bit and to lunch and then to the office for orientation. They went out making contacts with the office elders and then came to the house for dessert and testimony meeting. It was nice to hear their testimonies and get to know them a little bit better. Wednesday we went back to the office for a meeting with the trainers and then introduced the new companionships. I always love to watch the faces of the missionaries as they meet their new companions. They then went off to their areas to get to work. We took Laura and Sara to try Lomitos Arabe which is a missionary favorite food here. We made chocolate chip cookies that night, since the girls brought us some chocolate chips.
Thursday Mark we took Elder Strickland to the airport and said goodbye. He was a hard one to say goodbye to. He was so helpful to us when we began our mission as he was the financial secretary and did so much for the mission. Afterwards we went for a drive to show the girls downtown Asuncion and we went to a few shops there. Friday we took the girls to the grocery store so they could see where we shop. Mark has been spending every minute he can preparing for the Zone leaders council that is Monday and for the 3 day leaders training that will be Tuesday through Thursday.
Saturday we went to a baptism for two young women and a man in Fernando de la Mora stake. Laura and Sara sang Come Follow Me in Spanish for a musical number and also the young women of the ward sang a young women’s song. It was great to hear them singing Walk Tall You’re A Daughter Of God . Music of the church has a way of uniting everyone in the church wherever they are.
Sunday we went to the Cento branch. It was freezing cold and raining but the faithful branch members were there. There were a couple of BYU interns who attend there for the summer who were friends of Sara’s from Provo. Mark and I had met them at stake conference a while back so we planned to attend there today so Sara could say hello. Laura and Sara have had an interesting time living in a world of Spanish speaking people. We try to help them know the idea of what is being said without being too distracting in meetings. We are grateful that they are able to be here and see everything that happens here. We are so glad we get to have them here for 5 more weeks! It’s been a fun week! Until next week! Mark and Sandy
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Pictures July 10, 2010
Hardworking Hermanas
Hermanas Potter and Sargent
River road on rainy day
Zone 5 activity futball
Elder Taylor with nosebleed
Zone 5 Futball
July 10, 2010
Dear Family and Friends, July 10, 2010
This week much of the time was spent in interviews for Mark. Monday was our normal staff meeting to plan and prepare for the week and upcoming events. Zone 5 had an activity so they had fun playing a little football (soccer). The only bad part was one bloody nose! The soccer excitement is still in the air even though Paraguay is out of the world cup. They are already talking about the next one in Argentina in 2014.
Tuesday through Friday Mark interviewed 102 missionaries. The time he spends with each missionary never seems to be enough in the eyes of the missionaries but the guideline now is 10 minutes or so for an interview. It would be nice to have unlimited time with the missionaries but that’s not the way it is. Mark was drained at the end of the week but he loves to interview the missionaries. It is always good to see the missionaries. Most seemed happy and they are working hard. I get to hear of a few physical problems as they stop by my office on the way out of Mark’s. We really have seen a great decrease in illness as the missionaries are working harder and feeling happier about the things they are accomplishing here.
We attended two baptisms this week. Both were good young fathers. They both hopped up and bore wonderful testimonies after their baptisms. The missionaries are working hard to improve the baptism services and we see some great things happening. We are seeing a lot of men join the church and that is a good thing. Both of these baptisms were well supported by the ward members. It was so sweet to see the relief society sisters helping the non member wife of one of the men baptized with her baby so she would not be distracted during the service. There were couples at both services ready to support these new members. That is the ideal in missionary work. Members working together with the missionaries to help people continue to learn and grow in the gospel.
Friday we had a huge rain storm filling the streets with water. We were so glad the rained stopped for all the Saturday baptisms. In Paraguay when it rains no one goes anywhere!
Sunday we will go to a young adult missionary fireside. We are excited that more and more of the leaders here are trying to help with the missionary work. There are many young people who help their families financially and so they put off serving missions a bit. We see such a need for good strong returned missionaries here. They come back with a greater knowledge of how to help strengthen the church here.
Our daughters Laura and Sara will arrive Tuesday with 5 new missionaries we will receive. We are excited to greet them all! We continue to be grateful for the good young men and women who are here serving with us. What a blessing for us to be missionaries! Love, Mark and Sandy
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