World Cup and missionary work

It is World Cup Time!  I’m sure you are wondering how that can tie in with a missionary blog, but it is easy: I’d like to share with you how we are dealing with this issue.

First, it is amazing to see the effect the games have on life as we know it.  Businesses shut down, school is let out, and traffic is non-existent.  President Warne and I were in Santiago running some errands at the time of one of the games.  Many people had their faces painted, and many had noise makers.  Even the people in the booths that line the sidewalk had TVs.  When the first goal was scored, the cheering could be heard everywhere. 

However, back to relating this post to missionaries.  It is pointless to try and proselyte during a game.  We don’t want to offend people by trying to teach them when they are so focused on their TV.  We needed a productive activity for them as they stayed in their apartments.  Since this is a World Cup, you can be sure that mission presidents in many countries have had this same dilemma.  During the first game, they updated their area books, a record of past, present, and future investigators and their addresses.  During the second game, they were supposed to go out and work earlier in the day during study time and then use game hours to study.  The third game is during preparation day so they will be able to have a normal P-Day. 

After the second game, when Chile won over Spain, we were driving to and around San Fernando.  It was remarkable to see people waving flags, even along the highway.  In the plaza, people were driving around the square, honking and again waving flags.  Chile will have at least one more game, so we will have another assignment.  I am going for time to deep clean apartments—always a worthwhile goal! 

the plaza in San Fernando

 

Utah and Chile

     This week we attended two baptisms.  This subject may seem like an oft-recurring theme, but it is our primary raison d’ etre for being here in Chile.  I hope you might be interested in the contrasts and similarities between the two events.

The first baptism was Thursday night.  Our granddaughter was baptized in Utah, and thanks to modern technology we were able to attend via Facetime.  We were blessed with a clear signal which doesn’t always happen here and blessed to be part of a very special event even though we are six thousand miles away.

     The second baptism was Saturday night in San Vicente, a little pueblo about 45 minutes from Rancagua.  A woman whose life has been changed by her testimony of the truth and her two sons were baptized.  She has already used Facebook to share verses from the Book of Mormon with her friends!

     Even though the baptisms were geographically very far apart, the spirit we felt during each event was the same.  The joy experienced by becoming a part of the true church here on the earth was the same, also.  I bear testimony of the truth of our Church and of the importance of the baptismal ordinance as a beginning step along the road to return home to our Heavenly Father.  I am so grateful to be here in Chile with President Warne helping to support the work of the Savior in these last days.  We are grateful for the missionaries who give two years or 18 months to share the gospel, so that all may have a chance to experience the joy that comes from being baptized and from living true to the faith.  Until next week, thanks for reading.

breakfast with the elders.  It's World Cup time!

Lunch with the sisters.  They love our kitchen!

Elder Robbins in Talca

We had another stake conference this weekend, this time in Talca.  Elder Robbins of the Presidency of the Seventy was there along with Elder Chappe, an area seventy from Uruguay and their wives.  President Warne and I went down in time for the priesthood leadership meeting.  I waited at the hotel which was a nice change from staying in a cold classroom.

We both talked at the Saturday night meeting, and then got to listen to Elder Chappe and Elder Robbins and enjoy their messages.  I’d just like to share a bit of the talk given by Elder Robbins in the priesthood session.  (Obviously as reported to me by President Warne) 

He talked about obedience which is always a crucial issue in the mission field.  We need our missionaries to be 100 percent obedient, for their protection and for their success as representatives of the Savior.  Elder Robbins listed three levels of obedience: 1) obeying the rules because we are obligated to do so.  2) learning correct principles and obeying them because we want to have the Spirit with us—we desire an outcome.  3) following the doctrine because we want to be like the Savior.  For example, missionaries don’t have to be told to be obedient.  They follow the rules because they want to become like Him.  The Savior’s greatest sermon was his life.  What will our greatest sermon be?  It is something for us to think about this week—see you next time.

 

A faithful senior couple finishing their mission-we'll miss them.

Companions and also friends forever

Mission tour

As always here in Rancagua, Chile, we had an interesting week, although sometimes we go even further and call them crazy.  The facet of mission life we experienced this time was a mission tour by Elder Salas and his wife.  He is an Area Seventy from Buenos Aires, beginning last July.  Before that he was the mission president in Cordoba, Argentina.  It was a great combination for us because they gave us great advice about how to improve our mission.  Since they still vividly remember mission life, they were able to identify with our situation.

When we have a mission tour we always have zone conferences so the missionaries also learn from and benefit from our visitor.  Salas' came on Wednesday and left on Friday; during that time we had three zone conferences and a mission leadership council.   Each conference and the council had either a snack, a meal, or both. The sister who works in the mission home worked really hard as did the senior couples who also helped with setup, meals and cleanup.

Here are a few of the notes I took during the time the Salas’ were speaking in the various meetings: We don’t want to see the Savior and be ashamed of what we didn't do.  If we don’t have faith we won’t see miracles, but we can see miracles every day.  Practice leads to mastery.  We have to forget ourselves so we can be in unity with the purposes of the Lord.  There was much more but I don’t have space to include everything.  As we have faith to change ourselves and put into practice these teachings, our mission will also change for the better.  See you  next week.

Zone conference pics

Elder and Sister Salas and us on the last day of their tour.

Zone conference pics

Baptisms and the future

Last night we attended a baptism.  I know that isn’t a surprise since I have mentioned it before as something we do every Saturday night.  However, this one is worth talking about for several reasons.  First, a young priesthood holder was baptizing his friend.  Baptisms are never routine events but this one was special because a friend was bringing his friend into the fold of Christ.  Second, the dad of the young man being baptized is a less active member and his mom has not joined.  This is the focus of the work of Salvation—to find less active and nonmembers and unite families in the gospel.  President Warne talked to the father, who is interested in coming back to church and in helping his wife learn about the commitments her son has just made.

Third, the branch president was late, so his young counselor conducted the meeting.  He also gave a great talk, without prior notice, about staying active in the church and being as diligent about learning the doctrines and commandments after baptism as before entering the waters.  Fourth, I was impressed by the missionaries who taught the young man, and planned and carried out the baptism, including a special musical number and refreshments.  Also another young man served as the pianist for the meeting, complete with prelude and accompanying the songs.

These young men and women are the future of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Saints.  They are strong, prepared, and spiritual representatives of the Savior.  We are blessed to be able to associate with them and help support them as they labor in the vineyard.  They are an example to me every day as I admire their fortitude, caring and attitude.  Just to sum up with another example, we were giving two sisters a ride to their appointment.  It was raining hard and we had to let them out on the street corner because the little lane was too small for our car.  We apologized for not taking them right to the house but one said, “We are missionaries!  This is what we do.”  And they happily ran off  in the rain to teach their lesson.  Experiences like these strengthen my testimony and my desire to do my best to serve here in Chile.  Hopefully, you have been touched also--thanks for reading.

Just a few of those great missionaries during interviews.

Keeping each other company during interviews

It's interview time again

            Yes, it is interview time again.  Between the six-week transfer cycle and the three month training cycle we are always counting down to one event or another.  During the January interviews, I sat with the missionaries who were waiting while President interviewed.  I will admit it was hard because my Spanish was not very good, also sometimes I was trying to entertain 10 or more missionaries at a time.  

            This time we decided to change around a little, and it is working out very well.  I meet with each Latin missionary about their progress in learning English.  I have been pleasantly surprised at how well the missionaries are doing with this challenge.  Preach My Gospel contains a challenge for Latin missionaries to learn English and we feel it will help them through the rest of their lives.  Plus, they learn empathy with the English speakers who are also trying to learn a new language.  It is a great opportunity for everyone to cooperate.  This time around, I can understand so much better what they are saying.  In addition, the assistants meet with each companionship to learn about their investigators and to do a teaching practice.  It is a great opportunity for them to get acquainted with each missionary and help them learn to teach better.  We have enjoyed spending more time with the assistants—what great young men they are.

We love our wonderful coordinadoras.

            We are taking three weeks to do interviews in contrast to our usual hectic schedule of trying to finish before transfers.  A typical day includes picking up the assistants at their apartment at 8:00 a.m., driving to the chapel to start by 9.  We take a break for lunch, start again and usually get home around 7 or 7:30.  We are all exhausted by the end of the day, but we drop off the assistants at the office so they can keep working.  We did two days the week before last, six days last week and have four days this week.  After we finish, we will definitely be ready for a P-day!

This going home group includes two assistants, three zone leaders and a comisario.
We have really missed them; they were all great missionaries.

Weekly Letters to the President

     In addition to writing emails to family and friends each week, the missionaries also write a short letter to President Warne during their internet time.  These letters include a report of the work in their sector, investigators progress, challenges they are facing and a general report on how they are doing.  The letters are wonderful and inspiring.  Since nearly 250 arrive each week it obviously takes President time to read through them all.  But he reads every letter every week no matter how busy things are.  We thought it might be inspiring to share some of the things missionaries have said in their letters lately. 

"I love my Heavenly Father so much!  I am so grateful for the time I have to serve in the Chile Rancagua Mission.  I feel full of light and want others to feel this way too."  

"What is the greatest thing I have learned on my mission?  I have come to know the Savior."

"I have never been this happy in all my life.  I am not saying that there aren´t challenges in my life right now but I am learning, growing and I am seeing so many miracles."

"What have I learned on my mission?  I have learned that I can do hard things and when I get home after my mission and find myself going through hard times I will only have to think of my mission and I will know that I can get through anything."

"At any rate I am so happy.  The mission isn´t something you can explain to someone who has never lived it.  I have never worked so hard in all my life.  I have never loved people so much...  I have never been this close to God in all my life.  I have never changed so much inside than while I have served here.  I am not the same person that I was and I will never be that person again."

"I do not know how to put it into words.  I work hard.  I love what I am doing.  Before I only could think of going home and resting for two years after my mission but now I cannot even imagine that.  I want to serve the Lord from this day forward and forever."

Aren't they great?  It is our privilege to serve with these amazing young people and watch them grow as they serve the Lord here in Chile.

Sisters who are training new missionaries