Sealing in Santiago

            This week was full of interviews (Tuesday through Friday) and other meetings, plus as always lots of travel time.  We know our section of Ruta 5 very well.  But we also enjoyed being part of a memorable experience on Thursday night.

            As I listed a couple of weeks ago, we have missionaries from various parts of Chile.  One elder from Santiago is a great missionary who has been serving as a commissary elder, which means he and his companion help to maintain apartments, and deliver supplies ranging from ironing boards and irons to pamphlets and Liahonas.  When we find a new apartment, they do the work of closing out the old one and returning it to the owner.

            While he has been serving, his family progressed to the point where they could be sealed in the temple.  It was a unique situation where the elder was close enough to return for this very special occasion.  We drove with him and a companion to the temple as the family had very kindly invited us also to be there.

            It was a wonderful experience to see the parents sealed in marriage and then the children sealed to the parents for eternity.  Sister ____ could not stop smiling; our elder told me she had been waiting for this day for 20 years.   Of course the other family members were also beaming.  This occasion has been a real example of hope for many of our missionaries who come from similar situations—hope that this could happen in their families also. 

            Among the routine and challenges of everyday life, it was a good opportunity for me to appreciate how the Lord has blessed this family and stands ready to bless me, my family and everyone who is willing to keep the commandments and commit to follow Him.  Other missionaries have experienced similar miracles:  a father was baptized, another father attended church again after many years, and siblings become interested in serving missions; missionary service is marvelous!  See you next week.

Very happy occasion!

Missionaries are wonderful

            This week has been full of activities: transfers, missionaries returning home and interviews.  Two sets of parents arrived to collect daughters and we enjoyed visiting with them.

            While missionaries are waiting for interviews, either at the mission home or in various chapels, I often have a chance to visit one on one or with a small group.  This opportunity is a privilege for me because at first I didn’t understand or speak enough Spanish to carry on a conversation.  Also, at meetings with 50 or more, or during the organized chaos of new arrivals it is virtually impossible to have a meaningful conversation.

            However, when I can get to know the missionaries individually, (they are very understanding when I ask the same question multiple times), I am continually impressed by their character, dedication and testimony.  They often say, “I want to do only what the Lord would have me do.”   They speak with love about their families and I realize again the sacrifices being made by each missionary and their families.  For example, one elder was working full time to help support his family.  He told me that at first, after he left, his mother really struggled, but now is doing well.  A sister missionary sacrificed three years of school to serve even though now she will have to start over.  Of course, many have postponed school or other activities to serve.

            None of us are perfect, but as President and I watch our missionaries work hard, sacrifice much, encounter miracles and grow stronger in both faith and testimony, our testimonies are also strengthened and we realize again what an amazing blessing we have to be able to serve with and know these amazing young people.  We are working hard every day to hasten the work of salvation here in Chile.  Thanks for reading.

Enjoying lunch after special training for zone leaders, coordinadoras and district leaders--90 missionaries!

Our latest group of new missionaries--26 this time

            

zone leaders enjoying being together for leadership council

Mission stats and dats

            As I was thinking what to write about today, I went back and reviewed many of the older posts.  It seems to me I have definitely covered every aspect of missionary life at least once and several twice.  This week we have cambios or transfers and since that comes up every six weeks, I’m sure I don’t need to describe it again.   Also we are about to start interviews again, which I have also explained.  In short, mission life involves lots of changes but they occur in a regular and predictable schedule.

            However, since missionaries are still people, a wide variety of personalities, traditions and countries is represented.  It is an ongoing testimony strengthener to me that such a disparate group can bond together for the purpose of preaching the gospel.  Of course, it is due to the blessings of the Savior that missionaries can come, learn, grow, preach and baptize and return home to strengthen the church in their own wards and branches.

             Right now we have 242 missionaries, or we will again after Tuesday when 27 arrive.  181 are elders and we have 62 sisters, which is way down from our peak when we had 104 sisters.  Missionaries come from Argentina-8, Bolivia-1, Brazil-10, Chile-11, Colombia-7, Ecuador-4, El Salvador-1, Guatemala-3, Korea-1, Mexico-9, Nicaragua-1, Panama-2, Paraguay-2, Peru-30, Spain-3 and Uruguay-4.  Utah, of course is well represented as is Idaho.  We have 11 from Arizona-the same as from Chile plus three more who will arrive on Tuesday, plus various other states.

            As missionaries arrive from different countries, cultures and traditions, it is a real adjustment to learn to live 24/7 with a companion who is completely different.  However, the miracle is that for the most part they do it very well.  The common denominator, of course, is the purpose for which they came and the blessings they receive day to day.  We are grateful each day to be here with them and watch them grow even stronger in their faith and testimony.  Thanks for the comments about the blog you send with your missionaries and for sending them to serve the Lord here in Chile.

           

 

This board in President's office has all the missionaries' pictures

Seems like I show a lot of the go home groups at the temple, but here is the latest.

New Year's Reflections

            This past week in the Chile Rancagua Mission was very peaceful, in contrast to the weeks leading up to Christmas.  I’m guessing it was the same situation for almost everyone.  Now after the holiday week, we have enjoyed the chance to slow down a little, catch our breath and prepare for the New Year.

            As I have said before missions run on distinct time schedules: 18 months and 2 years of service for missionaries, a six week transfer cycle and so on.  We have been here in Chile for 18 months, which is the halfway point for us.   I refer to this because we have been reflecting on how fast the time has gone and how much we have left to learn in order to leave here satisfied with our level of service as mission president and wife.   

            I have also been thinking about my goals for 2015.  It is sometimes considered cliché to have goals but I am determined to better myself and be a better disciple of Jesus Christ.  We often challenge the missionaries to become more like the Savior, although we recognize that it is a lifelong challenge.  Still, the mission is a unique opportunity to focus on service, recognize and rely on the Spirit and I could go on and on. 

            Even with the many distractions of family, work and other pursuits, anyone can set a goal to progress toward more spirituality, more dedication to scripture reading or whatever is needed.  As the missionaries work hard this year to become better, will you accept the challenge also?  Let’s work together to become better people; and when we achieve our goals we will be closer to becoming true disciples of our Savior.  Thanks for reading and Feliz Año Nuevo!

Can you stand a few more Christmas pictures?  It has been so peaceful we don't have new ones.

A group of smiling elders--they love completos (hot dogs)!

This  group  left on December 18, a few weeks early, in order to start school or work

Christmas Deliveries

Today I would like to tell you about our activity last week.  Of course I am speaking of Christmas.  We decided to repeat last year and make several kinds of treats to distribute on Christmas Day.  President Warne is such a good sport to support my sometimes crazy ideas—it usually involves washing tons of dishes. Sister D____ helped out by making over 250 oatmeal raisin cookies.  Still, Christmas Eve day was hectic and stressful as we finished baking, counted, ran errands, counted again and started assembling the trays.  As we did last year, we began in Buin, drove back to Tupahue, then to Rancagua, on to San Feranando and finished in Santa Cruz.  There were enough treats for each missionary to have 5 or 6, which meant we made up around 27 trays! President Warne offered a prayer for each group and we had a great time shaking hands and hugging each missionary (respectively) and wishing them a very happy day.  Each missionary is able to call his or her family sometime during these few days.  Sometimes it is a challenge to set up calls where families do not have computers, or phones, but the local leaders are always willing to help out.  We also passed out Christmas cards from the first Presidency, and then the zone leaders of each zone took over for their planned programs.  We really appreciated the senior couple who drove two hours to Talca to deliver treats to those zones, drove another hour back to Curicó for Curicó I and II.  Then they went one more hour to the small village of Chepica to bring and share Christmas dinner with the missionaries there.  That is selfless service and they were glad to do it.

 It was a very different way to spend the day but we enjoyed it very much.  As President told each group of missionaries, they will never forget their Christmases in the mission field.  After all, what could be better than celebrating the birth of Him whom we represent as missionaries?  We are so grateful to be with these amazing missionaries who work hard every day to find and invite people to Christ, and we are also grateful to have shared Christmas Day with them.

 

One of the many trays--our table was covered!

We filled the car twice with treats, packages and mail

Greeting missionaries in his festive tie

Happy on Christmas!

Navidad

            We have a great tradition in our part of Chile, which is the devotionals held by the districts and stakes.  Tonight we attended our fourth one, including one in a small branch, 2 ½ hours away.

            It is a great opportunity for the Primary children, adult choir and often the missionaries, to sing.  And President Warne always gets the opportunity to say a few words, usually without advance notice:)  Tonight all 27 missionaries serving in the San Fernando district sang several songs.  They were an inspiring group and did a great job.

            By means of the Christmas zone conferences, participating in devotionals, and trying to make sure everyone receives either a package from home or a small gift from us, we try to ensure the missionaries will enjoy Christmas in the mission field.  Also we are moving the district meeting for this week to Thursday and we will visit as many zones as we can.   The custom in Chile is for families to spend Christmas Eve together, have a late dinner and open presents at midnight.  Many members and even some investigators are kind enough to have dinner much earlier than normal so missionaries can join them.  Everyone has to be home no later than 11, but they really enjoy being part of a family celebration.

            We miss our families, but celebrating Jesus’ birth reminds us of our purpose—to help people know Christ and feel the joy that we feel as part of the restored church.  These thoughts bring peace and make Christmas time even more special.  It also helps that they can talk to families on Christmas Day! 

            Please accept our best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and thanks for sharing our experiences through this blog.

A picture of the zone after the serious part.  Next comes the fun!

Elders patiently waiting for the sisters to get their food first.

The Talca and Curico zones are ready to watch the mission video for this y ear.

Enjoying lunch after the games.

It´s time again for Christmas zone conferences

     Lately it has seemed that each week is busier than the one before if that is possible.  On Tuesday and Friday we held two of the three Christmas zone conferences.  Even though it is too hard to have the whole mission together, except for a visit from a general authority, we divide the mission into three groups so as many as possible can be together and also so we can fit the conferences into a small window of time.  We have a group going home this week--most of them in order to start school on time, and we wanted them to be able to participate.
     This year we have the day divided into three parts: spiritual, games, lunch and mission Christmas video.  We start with the testimonies of the missionaries who are leaving.  One of the coordinadoras speaks, followed by one of the assistants, musical number, one of the church's Christmas videos, me, then President Warne.  I think this part has been inspirational; hopefully the missionaries agree.
      Then everyone changes into P-day clothes and heads to a field for games.  The assistants have done a good job of coming up with games that include the sisters but allow everyone to have a good time.  One is a form of baseball using only hands and a medium size ball.  Another is a soccer variation using a huge ball.  We have some very competitive missionaries!  We have six full water jugs and need all of them even though the days have been a little cooler than last year.
      We really appreciate the senior couples who prepare the lunch and then serve it.  At Friday's conference 122 people came--that is a lot of hot dogs or completos as they are called here, when they each have two.  After lunch we show the video in which each zone was asked silly questions, such as how do the reindeer get ready for the big day and how they answered them.  Also we hand out the mission book with everyone's picture, a copy of the DVD and our gift for this year which is a personalized cover for their Preach My Gospel book.  Those books take a beating through daily usage and we hope it is something they will be able to enjoy and yet it will serve a purpose.
      We have one more conference on Tuesday and then eighteen missionaries will have their final lunch and testimony meeting Thursday before leaving that night or Friday morning.  This week promises to be as full as the last few, so never a dull moment.  I hope you are enjoying your own Christmas preparations and hopefully have been able to take a few moments to watch the "He is the Gift" video.  It is amazing and has really helped missionary work for our missionaries during this month.  Until next week--love from the Chile Rancagua Mission.

Christmas zone conference games

another view of the games

All of these wonderful sisters are going home this week.  We wish them the best but we will miss them!