Thanks February 28, 2016

I find myself deep in thought lately.  One thing I have loved here is that so many of the young people are respectful.  They say "Yes, ma'am" and "no, sir".  When they say it, it is clear that it is part of their value system.  They have learned to respect other people.  I wish I had taught that to my children.

I am also impressed by those who stop and say "thank you".  We received two sweet notes from Sisters in the mission.  They were notes to thank us for small things.  Those notes made my day.  It made me want to do better.

So, I want to start now.  I started to write a list thanking people.  That just is not the same.  I want to take time to let you know personally how you have impacted my life.  So, for now, if you are reading this blog, I can tell you that you have impacted my life.  Because of you, my life is better.

I wonder what the world will be like for my wonderful little grandchildren.  As long as there are good people in the world, I have hope for them.  Thank you.

A great week February 21, 2016

This week was great.  My brother, Ed and his wife Nancy, stopped to see us on the way to some visits with other friends and family.  We hadn't seen them in about three years.  It was so marvelous to have them here.  Although they do not hold my religious beliefs, they were wonderful being here in our missionary world.  They were able to see the office where Elder Dixon and I spend our week, meet Elder and Sister Underwood, and eat Brazilian food.  We talked about important things, laughed and played games.

One of the great things that we did was share ideas.  Although I did not have much respect for Jimmy Carter, Ed holds him in high esteem.  We agreed to go to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum.  I saw a different side of Jimmy Carter.  While there are things about him I still do not like, I found myself being taught information that helped me understand better.  I came away with respect for the many good things he has done, and for the desire he has to make the world a better place for others.  I also had not realized the great work that Rosalynn had done to bring issues regarding mental health to the world.


The next day, we went to the Martin Luther King Jr. museum and the church where he preached.  It is a very moving site.  The thing that hit me the hardest was the glass wall on which they had etched the laws that existed for the purpose of keeping the "Negroes" in a lesser status in society.  The laws were ridiculous.  I was surprised by the laws and the stupidity of the thought behind them.  I was moved once more by the powerful thing that Rosa Parks did.  I was sick to my stomach at the lynchings and the information that people watched them like entertainment.  I was moved that Martin Luther King Jr. chose to rise above all of that and call for a peaceful movement to change.

Both sites were good reminders of the terrible injustices that can take place when people forget that all of us are children of God.  We are equal in His eyes.  When we forget that, we forget our humanity.

Young women of talent February 16, 2016

Last week we held a fundraiser for the girls to earn money for Girls' Camp.  Our Young Women President suggested that we sell cakes for Valentines Day.  I was really impressed at the quality of the decorating from our Young Women!

Wonderful converts! February 7, 2016

Yesterday, one of our Brazilian sisters married her long-time sweetheart, who is a man born and raised in the South.  She is a talented artist and, I find out, also a talented wedding planner!  She chose to use burlap with silver and black.  The result was beautiful.  We were quire busy and forgot to take pictures.  Usually I can steal pictures from someone else, but this is the only one we have.


Today was one of the best fast and testimony meetings I have attended in a long time.  One of our recent converts had a pastor coming to her home for dinner.  She hasn't been a member very long and the pressure put on our new converts by those of other faiths is tremendous.  She prayed because she was really scared about having him come.  The Elders (our missionaries) then dropped over (an answer to her prayer).  As a courtesy, she asked the pastor to see if he would object to having them come for dinner.  He agreed as long as they did not discuss religion.  She said that they would not unless he did.  All of them were there for dinner and religion was not discussed.

After our Elders left, the pastor indicated that he was surprised that Eleuza would let "them" in.  She explained that, although she was not learned in the scriptures like he was and she was not able to respond to his points, she had felt the spirit about the Book of Mormon and it made her happy.  She talked about how our gospel teaches us to love others and so she would always welcome him for dinner, because that is what the Savior would do.  When he left she sought reassurance in the scriptures and found verses that gave her exactly what she needed.  What a powerful testimony!  I can't begin to explain the joy I felt in seeing a recent convert have that strength to overcome opposition.  She is a joy!

Then Elder Cruz bore testimony of how the Lord answers prayers.  He had been very concerned about a new assignment and really felt the need for a blessing in his own language.  President Tedjamulia had no idea about Elder Cruz's concerns or his prayer, but called him.  Of course the blessing was given

And our beautiful new sister from Temple Square bore testimony of having faith.  She had set a very specific goal.  True to the accounts I always hear it was the end of the day when that goal was a reality.  I love to hear these powerful stories of the answers to prayers and the ability of faith to change the world.

They remind me of the importance of remaining strong, sharing what is important and loving everyone.  Love these people!

Transfers! February 7, 2016

I know that many of y'all love to see the pictures at transfer.  I stole some from Sister Garver (thanks).  Enjoy!

So much to do, so little time! January 31, 2016

We are running to the finish of this amazing mission assignment.  This week we will busy with transfers and we are grateful that there are 18 missionaries coming, including another from Temple Square.  Transfers are especially hard when we lose great missionaries.  We have some great ones leaving.  They are been good and faithful servants.

The logistics of transfers are more complicated than it may sound.  We have to get all of the missionaries in the right places at the right times.  It takes a van to carry missionaries, a truck and trailer to bring their luggage and a bunch of us from the office to make it happen.  Elder Dixon has the responsibility of getting it all figured out.  I am glad we have him.  If it was up to me, I would make mistakes and we would have three in Florida and two on their way to the Bahamas!

The need for Senior missionaries has weighed heavily on my mind.  We had the opportunity to attend a baptism yesterday and the Relief Society President came up to me with gleaming eyes.  She had heard that we are going to have a Senior couple in their ward (and that rumor was actually correct).  The ward is wonderful, is growing with new converts who are terrific, and needs someone to give extra support to all the new people.  We are fortunate to have someone to do that.

We have loved working with the Branch.  I love the people there so much.  They are good people who give freely.  They sacrifice to attend the Branch, but their attendance percentage is really high.  They do genealogy, they attend the Temple monthly.  They celebrate every event in style and do so together.

I have really loved being with these Young Women.  They are a treasure.  Each of them brings something special to our class.  They are deep thinkers who are also a lot of fun.  I will miss them terribly when our mission is over.

It seems to me that many of our senior church members hesitate to serve a mission because they don't feel qualified.  That is where they would be wrong.  There are so many ways to serve, so many needs, and so many people who can use a lift.  You don't have to be a gospel scholar to provide encouragement to these young missionaries.  They need the support, they need the counsel, they need help with investigators and new members.  We can help with those things.

Weather here is so weird.  The white in this picture is frost.  I wish the pictures had come out better.  It was frost on grass, but looked like pieces of white plastic.

"O be wise; what can I say more?" January 24, 2016

I have been reading the Book of Mormon again.  I just reread the account of Sherem.  Sherem rose as a leader among the Nephites.  I envision him as a powerful speaker, commanding in his presence.  I imagine that he told the people what they wanted to hear, and they accepted him in large numbers.  The account is found in Jacob 7.

"And he preached many things which were flattering unto the people; and this he did that he might overthrow the doctrine of Christ.

 And he labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people, insomuch that he did lead away many hearts;

And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil."

Sherem then asks for a sign, is struck down, and before he dies, he acknowledges that the things he had been saying were not true.

Just before the account of Sherem, Jacob says this "O be wise; what can I say more?"  Jacob was calling upon the people to be wise in who they would follow.  

How important is it that we be wise in choosing those we would follow?  We have many accounts in history in which the people were not wise.  

Many years ago, Elder Dixon had a friend who had come to the United States from Iran.  He told Elder Dixon about the experience he had when the takeover of the government took place.  There was unrest among the people about the reign of the Shah.  Demonstrations began to form in the streets on the weekends.  Many of those demonstrating were college students seeking change.  Each weekend the crowds grew until hundreds of thousands were assembling and chanting and calling for change.  Then, one day, some demonstrators joined them who carried signs supporting the Ayatollah.  Not long after, those demonstrators began to attend with guns and would shoot the guns into the air.  Elder Dixon's friend and many, many others, once the display of force took place, were too afraid to attend. The mood of the demonstrations changed and Elder Dixon's friend said that the reason the Ayatollah and his group took over is because the good people did nothing to prevent it.

I wonder if it was not similar when Hitler came into power.  The people were disenchanted, downtrodden perhaps.  He made promises that sounded great to them.  He played into their desire to be a great people.  He convinced them of their superiority to others.  He used tremendous displays of power.  Then, he systematically destroyed anyone who would oppose him.  Worse still, he targeted those he considered inferior and had them murdered.

One thing I find truly alarming is the position that compromise is a sign of weakness.  If that was so, we would not have a country today.  Our Union was established based on compromise and the sincere desire of good men to unite into something great.  The States' rights voices and the Federalists had to find common ground.  They did so, and created a tremendous land with promise and freedom.  People who are unwilling to compromise are listening to those voices who they believe will put them into, and allow them to stay in office.  They are not looking for the best for us and our country.

"O be wise; what can I say more?"