"Home Sweet Home" again‏

     I wrote this last week but y'all didn't get it, so it's a week behind...sigh....
 
 Hi kiddos,
    I'm back home again - well, sort of... Guess home is where your heart is yada, yada, cliche, cliche - well, 

I guess it's where your dad is at least... So, I'm back in Mozambique. I was kinda curious before leaving 

what adjustments I'd have going back to the U.S. and/or coming back here again. There were a few. And

 maybe not 'adjustments' per se, but some definite differences. It started in Johannesburg when I 

landed and the people around me spoke English. 

#1 Then I ate at the airport restaurant and asked the

 waitress if the water was safe. She laughed and said, "Of course! it's crystal clear!" So, I had ice-water

 with my meal.

 #2 Then while I was waiting for it, a lady that I had seen in the line for Customs stopped 

by my table and asked if she could sit with me. She was from England and nervous about her flight so

 she wanted a quick drink but the restaurant didn't serve alcohol. I offered to watch her things while she 

went to buy some. She thanked me and left all of her belongings.

 #3 Later at my gate, I was charging my

 phone and ipad when I realized that I needed to buy water for my LONGGGG flight to Atlanta so I asked

 the woman sitting next to me to watch my things while I was gone. (Keep in mind that I was assaulted here

 when I took my phone out in public, and have been extremely cautious with my phone since that happened.)

 #4. I boarded the plane and the woman next to me was from the U.S. and spoke English.

 #5  All the media  and materials were in English, including a plethora of movies that I'd never heard of. 

I watched Frozen and a bunch of other movies! It was a movie feastival!!! (Yeah, I made that word up.)

 #6  When I landed in Atlanta, the Customs people said, "Welcome back to the USA!" I wanted to kiss them! 

 #7 When Josh picked me up, I started to get in on the left side of the car. It took a few times to get used to that one. 

#8 I saw Brooke and the kids.Grant is in pre-school and can name all the books in the Book of Mormon

 (I can't even do that), Ellory has gone from a newborn to a funny, clever 18 month old, and I met Rockwell 

for the first time! #9   And that was all just in the first day! - well, it's a 30 hour trip, so technically the first day 

and a half. It was kinda surreal and everything was enhanced. Like the smell in Brooke's house and outside. 

It smelled wonderful! Clean!!  And the food was so good I couldn't quit eating. I pretty much grazed all day, not 

because I was hungry, but because there was so much variety and it all tasted so good! They had a new Costco 

bag of 'veggie straws', which I think I tried once pre-mission and didn't like all that much. Well, I ate the whole,

 giant bag! (Sorry Grant and Ellory!)  When I cooked, I looked for the water purifier the first couple of times before I got

 the hang of just turning on the faucet. The roads were smooth and I didn't see any garbage. There were beautiful

 buildings, houses, and stores. And don't get me started on the grocery stores. I just kept thinking, "Boy, we 

wouldlove that in Mozambique." I got chocolate chips and Triscuits for your dad and Mexican seasoning for cooking.

 We ate out one night. Yum!!  I'm thinking that dad and I will be eating out every night for the first few months 

after we get home. The public restrooms had toilet paper. The internet was fast and never went out. When the

 kids and I went for morning walks, I could relax and not watch over my shoulder. And I didn't have to worry about 

tripping on the broken sidewalk, or dodging bikes, cars, dogs, garbage, and dangling electrical wires. It was quiet. 

No dogs barking ormusic blaring all night. I heard birds chirping.  It was quite wonderful. But for all that, when 

I went to church the first Sunday, I announced in Relief Society that if anyone had clothes to donate, 

I'd take them back for our local missionaries, especially women's. When someone asked me about sizes, 

I thought of Carlotta going to Portugal, a size 8, Dalica, a size 5, Fatima, a size 12+, and Mariana, a size 7. 

I started to cry (yeesh!) and said that they needed all sizes and are so poor that we would appreciate anything 

and make it work. I started laughing, as tears are running down my face, and said how ironic that I've waited

 over a year to be in the U.S.  and here I was getting homesick for Mozambique. So nutty!!   Well, the truth is

 that I love the people here. They're my friends and I care about them - not just as a people, but as individuals. 

I'll wonder how they're doing  after we come home - whether Mario got that teaching job, how Joao Chuva is 

doing in his new calling, if those new couples stayed active, did Emila graduate from her engineering program, if

 they got their mission calls, did Lordelos, Simoes, and Margarida get into BYU-Hi, did Rodrig and his wife

 get baptized, and did my 'fix-up' work and are Vicky and Mario dating now? Well, enough yammering....

here are a few pictures from VA. and the 4 days since I've been back:
 The reason I went - baby Rockwell:

  
On the beautiful quilt Grandma Snelson made for him 

 (Thanks Charlene!)

 Feeding Ellory lunch

   
Tired girl after church, Grant didn't wanna pose...:(

 Love Grant's birthday present!! I've missed my tramp...
 

 Kinda tricky to jump while holding an 18 month-old. And no, she's not giving me a piggy-back ride...

  Grant's teacher asked me to talk about Africa to his preschool class. Keeping the attention of four-year olds was a challenge but Grant and I gave it our best shot!

 Trying on Halloween costumes. It's Wizard of Oz this year!

  At the baby shower that Brooke's friends did for her - it was so nice!!

 

 The sister missionaries in Brooke's ward. The one on the left went to THS and was in acapella with Aub - small world...:)

 I had made an announcement the first Sunday I was here, asking for clothing for the local missionaries. The ward responded and I got a bunch of stuff. I had a suitcase and a half but still couldn't take everything so I had to prioritize. So hard because I wanted to bring everything!

 And Marsha sent me some personal hygiene kits that she and some of the Riverside sisters had made for me to being back to Mozambique. Such a great thing and so nice of them to do this!! (Thanks Riverside!) My suitcases were stuffed to the gills!
 Here's one of them:
 

That night, I called the parents of one of our elders, Elder Oryang. It took a few 'tender mercies' to connect with them - including a text to Charisse who got us their phone number. The next Tuesday, they took off of work and drove over an hour each way to meet me and give me a package for their son. I had to put the things in my carry-on because I was over my weight (and space) limit. The Oryang's are originally from Uganda and were (are) the warmest, most delightful people. We had a good - 3 hours! - visit. A lot of laughing!

  The a night before I left, we went to a REAL RESTAURANT! I'd forgotten how good the food is in the U.S. - it was a treat!

 We zipped home because the Bishopric came over for Rockwell's baby blessing:

 The day I flew out, there was a 'Sisters Conference' at the church for all the sister missionaries in the Richmond Mission. The ward's sisters had invited me and I was curious to see what it was like, so I went over for a hour, thanks to Brooke's friend who stayed with Ellory while Brooke went to pickup Grant for school.

 Here's the group - 130 sisters! We only have a total of 120 missionaries in the whole country of Mozambique and Swaziland!! And just 12 sister missionaries, which have only been I. The country since we arrived.

  Here's the clothes swap:
 

 Then it was off to the airport! I had used up all my American money so I couldn't use a skycap and had to finagle 3 pieces of luggage to the ticket counter. I guess necessity IS the mother of invention! Brooke snapped this after I hoisted my carry-on on my back:

 On the airplane, I sat next to an 18 year-old, Justin, who was headed off to the Marines. Turns out he's an inactive Mormon. Hmm, what are the odds...? We talked about the church and I gave him a For Strength of Youth pamphlet - in Portuguese...;)

  I knew I was back in Africa when I saw this in the Johannesburg airport:

  And this bathroom stall:

 
And this li'l feller:

  Two days after I got back, we had our monthly teacher training for our seminary and institute teachers. So I was up Til 1:30 making a cake and getting a lesson. Your mama was one tired, jet-lagged mama!

 This is Joachim! He just received a call to Johanessburg. He's an orphan and has worked his guts out to get the money to apply for a mission. So excited for him to finally be going and to learn English! He's a scrappy, hard-working, far-thinking, goal-oriented guy - rare qualities here. He's gonna go places!

 I called Elder Oryang on the way to our class and asked he if he could meet me at the church. Boy, was he super surprised when he got there and I said that I had some things from his parents. He kept saying, "When did you see my parents??!" "How did you know where I lived?" He was totally gob-smacked and it was pretty funny! But, oh was he excited and happy!!

 When I went to church on Sunday, I had a bunch of people come up and hug me and ask how my trip was, including one of our guards Moses, who's trying to become active again. It was fun to show them pictures of the kids. They all said Brooke is "very beautiful"! Two of 'my girls' got their passports while I was gone so they're close to getting their mission papers in. It felt good to be loved. I'll miss them all when we leave for good...

Here's some of my girls. All but the second girl are trying to go on missions and have their passports - very big accomplishment. Here's two sisters headed into church in their pink dresses:

 Last night, we had Larry over for dinner because Sandi is in Victoria Falls with their daughter and her mother. I made lasagna and as African meals go, it's one of our favorites. I experimented with a peach cobbler recipe. It was quasi successful...;)

 That's my American/Mozambique week!  Sure love you guys!! Lots and lots and LOTS!! ~ mom

Our Final Zone Conference-"sincere repentance...in all cases" (Mosiah 29:19-20)‏

Friday, September 26th was our final Zone conference! There were three (3) married couples (us, Dilles & President/Sister Kretly) + fifty two (52) elders.

We will miss the association with so many good and faithful full-time missionaries.

The Missionary Handbook states: "Time is one of the most precious resources Heavenly Father has given to you. The period when you are able to serve the Lord with all your time and all your efforts is extremely short. Use if fully and wisely. Such an opportunity is a privilege." (Page 13)

It truly has been a privilege to be able to serve at the same time as you (Aubrey). Each mission is organized differently, based upon the local conditions, but we each have the same focus of bringing souls to Christ.

We are all just inviting others to repent. In this wonderful process of repentance we ourselves continue to repent of our favorite sins.....

"because of their sincere repentance...he did deliver them because they did humble themselves before him...he did deliver them out of bondage; and thus doth the Lord work with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him." (Mosiah 29: 19-20).

Some of the saddest scriptures are those that describe people that choose not to repent....

In his final discourse before being imprisoned and put to death Abinadi states four (4) times "they would not" (Mosiah 16:2,12) "they were commanded to repent and yet they would not." (Mosiah 29:12).

Photos of the week....

These men buy used clothing and then resell them in the market called: "go to" What they don't sell they bring home to store.

 

 
A typical house with an outside well for their water.

 

 

 Zone conference lunch.

 

 

 

 Elder Sip, Kitchen and Reed return to Quelimane and Tete after Zone Conference.

 

 Elder Keck, Kitchen, Sip & Reed (tallest to shortest)

 

 I love you,

Dad

Mom returns to Africa ! "retain the name" (Mosiah 5:12)‏

Late tonight Mom should return to Africa! Yahoo!! 

Elder F. Burton Howard of the Seventy acquaints us with a strong testimony of the converting power of the Book of Mormon: "Sister Celia Cruz Ayala of the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission decided to give the Book of Mormon to a friend. She wrapped it in attractive paper and set out to deliver her present.

On the way she was attacked by a bandit who stole her purse and with it the wrapped copy of the Book of Mormon. A few days later she received this letter:

Mrs. Cruz:

Forgive me, forgive me. You will never know how sorry I am for attacking you. But because of it, my life has changed and will continue to change. That book [the Book of Mormon] has helped me in my life. The dream of that man of God has shaken me. … I am returning your five pesos for I can’t spend them. I want you to know that you seemed to have a radiance about you. That light seemed to stop me (from harming you,) so I ran away instead.

I want you to know that you will see me again, but when you do, you won’t recognize me, for I will be your brother. … Here, where I live, I have to find the Lord and go to the church you belong to.

The message you wrote in that book brought tears to my eyes. Since Wednesday night I have not been able to stop reading it. I have prayed and asked God to forgive me, (and) I ask you to forgive me. …I thought your wrapped gift was something I could sell. Instead, it has made me want to make my life over. Forgive me, forgive me, I beg you.

Your absent friend."  (F. Burton Howard, “My Life Has Changed,” Church News, 6 Jan. 1996, 16.)

This week I have studied King Benjamin's discourse in Mosiah 2-6. It appears to me, that this is a type of solemn assembly and temple experience, in which a group of obedient baptized members enter into additional covenants and take upon themselves the name of Christ.

"I shall give this people a name...because they have been a diligent people in keeping the commandments of the Lord". (Mosiah 1:11) "I would that ye should do as ye have hitherto done. As ye have kept...the commandments of God." (Mosiah 2:31) 

"they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: [similar to a solemn assembly or temple setting] O have mercy and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins" (Mosiah 4:2) 

"they all cried with one voice, saying:...we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days.." (Mosiah 5:5) "I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives." (Mosiah 5:8) "And it came to pass that there was not one soul, except it were little children, but who had entered into the covenant and had taken upon them the name of Christ." (Mosiah 6:2)

At baptism and when we partake of the sacrament we state that we are "willing" to take upon us the name of Christ (D & C 20:37,77)  but it is the temple where this actually occurs.

Elder David A. Bednar said: " Elder Dallin H. Oaks has explained that in renewing our baptismal covenants by partaking of the emblems of the sacrament, “we do not witness that we take upon us the name of Jesus Christ. [Rather], we witness that we are willing to do so. (See D&C 20:77.) The fact that we only witness to our willingness suggests that something else must happen before we actually take that sacred name upon us in the [ultimate and] most important sense” (“Taking upon Us the Name of Jesus Christ,” Ensign, May 1985, 81). The baptismal covenant clearly contemplates a future event or events and looks forward to the temple.

In modern revelations the Lord refers to temples as houses “built unto my name” (D&C 105:33; see also D&C 109:2–5; 124:39). In the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple, the Prophet Joseph Smith petitioned the Father “that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them” (D&C 109:22). He also asked for a blessing “over thy people upon whom thy name shall be put in this house” (v. 26). And as the Lord appeared in and accepted the Kirtland Temple as His house, He declared, “For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house” (D&C 110:7).

These scriptures help us understand that the process of taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ that is commenced in the waters of baptism is continued and enlarged in the house of the Lord. As we stand in the waters of baptism, we look to the temple. As we partake of the sacrament, we look to the temple. We pledge to always remember the Savior and to keep His commandments as preparation to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple and receive the highest blessings available through the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, in the ordinances of the holy temple we more completely and fully take upon us the name of Jesus Christ." (Ensign, May, 2009, "Honorably Hold A Name And Standing")

I love you,

Dad

Photos of the week....

Bread on the head...

  

Vasco calmly playing the piano prior to Church. Earlier this week I delivered his mission call to his Branch President who decided to wait until the end of Sacrament meeting to present it to him. It turned out well. He accepted the call to serve in Brazil!

 Moses one of our guards. We learned a few months ago that he was a less active member. He told Elder Abel & Mason (Zone Leaders) that a month ago, one day while he was smoking, I happened to see him, as our eyes met, I turned away so as to not embarrass him. He felt so bad that he decided to change his life, keep the commandments and return to Church. He has been actively helping the missionaries and a family that he introduced them to should be baptized this month.

 A young girl wants to buy a stalk of sugar cane so she first helps the women take the basket of sugar cane off her head.

 She selects her stalk.

The woman places the sugar can on her head and walks on.

 Seminary class in Munhava

Students that work in the local Hospital