-"let us repent" (Alma 12:37)-Conversion‏

During our recent training, Sister Clayton quoted this poem:

"Earths crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries." 

Elizabeth Barrett Browning 

Elder Ellis shared his secret for being humble: "I'm just as good as anyone else,  but no better." 

We often discuss the topic of conversion.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained the difference between a testimony and conversion. "Testimony is to know and to feel, Conversion is to do and to become.”

 ― Dallin H. Oaks. (Quoted in Kenneth Johnson, "Coming to Know for Ourselves," Ensign, July, 2008, 29)

The first record of Lamanite converts is found in Alma 23:4-18.

"And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren.....I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away. For they became a righteous people;" (Alma 23:6-7) 

They believed [testimony] {"the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their Redeemer." Mosiah 27:36} and were converted which resulted in them never falling away. Conversion is to become and they became a righteous people. 

"Therefore, we have named all the cities of the Lamanites in which they did repent and come to the knowledge of the truth, and were converted." (Alma 23:15)    

Photos of the week.....

These were taken on October 20th, during the visit of Elder Clayton and Elder Ellis with their wives.

 

 Birthday party after the baptism of 8 year old Stacy Dickie-the rare treat of popcorn!

 

Long line of people waiting to buy electricity credit. Most of these people come weekly and  buy less than $5 worth at a time. The government owned electric company (EDM) gives a 30% discount for anyone that purchases at least $66 per time, sadly, these poor people are never able to save this large amount....

 

Mom and I were asked to speak to this group of YM/YW on dating and marriage.

 

Bucket full of bananas on her head...

 

 

I love you,

Dad

Goodbye Mariana, Hello Elders!

 I started this letter a week and a half ago but it's been kinda
 nuts lately so.......guess "better late than never...."
 
 Hey Young'uns,
 Monday was transfers so we made 3 trips to and from the airport,
 picking up and dropping off.  One of the elders that had been here
 before said, "I'm home," when he came out of baggage claim and when I
 asked another elder if he was happy to be back, he said, "I was so
 excited when I saw the transfers. I thought, "I'm going home to the
 Snelsons." Our surrogate sons - we Iove 'em.

This was late drop-off so they were all in their PJ's

 One of the elders that left Beira was Elder Tuegamala, from Laie, Hawaii. He's got a tender heart and was kind of emotional about leaving. His mom had sent him a package with some lava lavas for him to give to each of his companions. He was giving one to his comp when we went in their house and then he gave me one. He said, "You're leaving right? So, I won't see you again." I told him that we were, but his mom had sent them for his comps. He told me to go ahead and take it and that none of the guys would wear it anyway because it was pink. It was so sweet of his mom to think to do that and sweet of him to give me one! So, here's me and Elder Tuegamala with my pink lava lava on.

Mariana flew to Provo, Utah today!

 

 

 I can't wait to hear what she has to say about it. I sent a package to her via the APs last week with clothes from the women in Brooke's ward.
Here's a story: when Mariana went to the Provo temple the person who instructed her was Marsha! I was so excited when Marsha wrote to tell me that! It was definitely a kindness and tender mercy that Heavenly Father had one of my good friends meet and help my African daughter with her first time through the temple. Here they are after the session:

 Tuesday, I woke and Jessica was here with Isabel. It wasn't a good time for her to come because staff meeting was all about planning for the visit from Elder Clayton in a couple of weeks. Here she is "helping" us cook dinner. Isabel told her to peel the garlic. She did - and dropped the peels on the ground. Because that's how it's done here...

 At my English class, I taught about the different types of
 transportation. They wanted to know the parts of a car so I did that too. I asked how many of them had driven a car. Out of 25 people, only one had driven a car and one had driven a motorcycle. I smiled. I don't know why they were so interested to learn the names of parts of a car when they're not driving one....We made more trips to the airport with missionaries - guess they could've come along for practice....;)

On one of our trips, we stopped at Manuel's so Dad could be measured for a shirt. He works in a garage and you try your clothes on in the corner behind a shower curtain.

 Wednesday, dad and I went to the bus station to buy tickets for the woman who had been beaten up by her common-law husband. She's going to go to another city, with her two girls, and live with an uncle to get away from the guy. Here's Dad buying the tickets from Abdul:

 

Here's the bus station. The people sleep here overnight to catch the 4 am bus that leaves the next morning. And they walk in with all their things on their heads.

 

Thursday, I we went to Manga so I could practice the song that the missionaries are singing for Elder Clayton. We just found out a couple of days ago that he wants a choir for the missionary meeting, so we're scrambling to get ready. They helped me do a birthday pic for Aubrey and then they did one for Elder Houston because it was his b-day. Silly guys!

 

 I came home and went to English class. After class, I met  Vasco the woodcarver there with his son. He set up the things so I could look them over.

 Friday, I met the Beira elders at their chapel at 9 am to practice with them. After practice, Sandi and I went to Natalia's house to pick up and drop off some items. She and her husband, who's one of the branch presidents, live in a 5-story walk-up apartment complex. It was a hike - Sandi was gasping by the time we got up there!

Here's Natalia:
 

 When we were leaving, somebody was starting to cook lunch at the bottom of the stairwell,
 

 After Natalia's, we headed over to Johnny's to pick up our full-blown African dresses. They weren't ready (ofcourse), but we got to try them on to see if they fit!

Here's the room at the back where he keeps his supplies. It's also where we try on our clothes. Crazy huh?? It makes the third floor look organized! Haha!!

Here's a third little room where his wife was cooking lunch. Where the counter is, is where the opening is. It was about 3x5 feet. The wooden thing on the ground is a coconut scrapper. It's what I used to scrape coconuts when I made couve. Hard work!!

 Saturday was our monthly Seminary and Institute teacher training. There wasn't any electricity so we had to wing it a little but your dad had downloaded one of Pres. Monsen's Conference talks so we showed that and they were glued to it. They won't get the DVDs to watch it for a few weeks. We told them this was our last training, because next month is graduation and the next month, we're gone. (Hard to believe!) I told them this was also their last 'bolo' (cake). They said, "No Sister, just one more...!" So, I made a deal because half of them always come super late. I told them that I'd make one more for a quick training before the graduation but only the people that were on time would get a piece. We'll see if I have the heart to stick to it. I'll probably modify it and just make the late-comer's pieces smaller. ;)

Dad finishing up the class
Our little band of teachers. They're all Young Adults except for one married couple.
 

 Sunday, I decided to visit the YW. I walked in and their were only 3 girls with the President. But she wasn't teaching, she was preparing her talk for Sacrament Meeting so the girls were just sitting there. Eye roll /Sigh.... So, I made up a lesson on the spot. I taught them what I'd taught to the teachers the day before - making your choices now, before you're in the middle of the situation and the pressure's on. ('Decide to Decide') I pulled out my "For Strength of Youth", went through the different topics with them, and told them to write down what their personal standard was for that topic. It went pretty well. They got it.

 

*Side-story* I asked them how old they were. The girls were 15,16, and 14. I wrote that on the board. Then I asked them how old they  thought I was. The President said 40. The girls talked together and said 39. I laughed and told them that they had made me very happy. Then I wrote 55 on the board and they kind of gasped. I guess by the time you're 55 here - if you've made it that far - you're worn to the bone. Kind of like I'm feeling (and looking) these days. Ha! I added their ages up and told them that I was older than all three of them combined so I had a lot of experience. Then I told them a couple of my teenage experiences. We had gotten there late and I ran out of time so I asked the Sunday School teacher if I could come in the last 10 minutes and show a video. He said sure. I headed to Primary and helped teach in there. I taught every Sunday for 9 months in the Dondo branch so now that we're in different branches, I can do the same lesson for each branch. I love it! It saves me hours of preparation, translating, etc. This week, the teacher was there and she did a good job. She had them singing their little hearts out! I video-taped them, so I'll send it to y'all.

 I had the teacher finish the rest of my lesson and ducked out to go back to the Sunday School class. They don't divide them so they were all together.
 (Primary isn't divided either - there aren't enough people to teach or classrooms to meet in.) the teacher was still teaching so I sat down and waited, he was teaching from the For Strength of Youth - the same thing I'd taught on-the-spot and was tying into the video I was going to show the Young Women. It was about temples and I wanted to emphasize the importance of making good choices - not giving into the moment and giving up better things in the future - to get there. I didn't know what the Sunday School lesson was going to be when I chose that topic but when you follow the Spirit, things work out. Here they are holding up their For the Strength of Youth books.

 After church, we gave the bus tickets to Luisa. Her older girl, the 9 year old, kept stroking my hair. Then she asked if I liked mangos and her mom gave us a sack of mangos to share with the elders that are teaching her. It was a "thank you" for helping them.

  Well. count your blessings because we are indeed the 'lucky ones'.
 I love you, mom

Our Internet has been really awful for the last few weeks so I couldn't send

 this last one without deleting a few pictures. Here they are along with the Primary video.

 It took me a minute to figure out what song they were singing because the motions and sound

 effects were so different - and funny!!!

 
 At Johnny's trying on our bono fide African dresses

Vasco the wood carver

Climbing five flights

 

Random pictures:

"Bread on the head"

Johnny's cute little boy following me out the door. His wife thought it was hilarious that he wanted to come with me. I had one woman ask me to take her baby back to the U.S. Kinda kidding, kinda not...

The road we walk along sometimes- we call it "Death Row" cuz the cars whiz by within inches of you.

A bus stop. Look at all the smashed water bottles on the ground. The Mozambique govt. would make a fortune if they ticketed for littering. ;$

I LOVE seeing the crazy things people carry on their heads!!

Master race-car driver!

It usually feels like a combination of "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" and "Tower of Terror".
We always take a deep breath when we arrive at our destination!
I told the older woman that I wanted a picture of her dress, but I really wanted the one of her daughter putting the baby in her back. 

The mom was flattered though and gave me a toothless laugh and a squeeze.
The shoe salesmen. One of my favorite displays on the street.

 

What is our duty to God?

On Monday, October 20th, we were privileged to attend several meetings with Elder L. Whitney Clayton, of the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Stanley R. Ellis, First Counselor in the Africa Southeast Area Presidency and member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, together with their good wives.

It was a great experience to be with two general authorities and their wives. The Ellis have nine (9) children and they have all served missions!  Four of their children served in France and four served in Brazil. Their youngest is currently serving in South Korea.

What is our Duty to God ? 

Alma describes a time in which great afflictions and believing in the judgements of God, caused people in Zarahemla  to be awakened to a remembrance of their duty. "..so great were their afflictions that every soul had cause to mourn; and they believed that it was the judgements of God sent upon them because of their wickedness...therefore they were awakened to a remembrance of their duty. And they began to establish the church more fully;" (Alma 4: 3-4).

Two years later, because of pride "the church began to fail in its progress" (Alma 4:10). Alma appoints Nephihah as the chief judge. "And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people,...that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride.." (Alma 4:19) (see also Mosiah 1:17; Hel. 11:34)

Alma also speaks to the people in Gideon: 

"And now my beloved brethren, I have said these things unto you that I might awaken you to a sense of your duty to God, that ye may walk blameless before him, that ye may walk after the holy order of God, after which ye have been received. And now I would that ye should 

1.) be humble, and 

2.) be submissive and 

3.) gentle; 

4.) easy to be entreated; 

5.) full of patience and 

6.) long-suffering;

7.) being temperate in all things; 

8.) being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; 

9.) asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; 

10.) always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive. And see that ye 

11.) have faith, 

12.) hope, and 

13.) charity, and then ye will always abound in good works." (Alma 7:22-24).

 Photos from this week:

Mom making your list in preparation for the General Authorities visit.

Popcorn treat at the Birthday party after Stacy Dickie's baptism on her 8th birthday. 

Long line of people waiting to pay for electricity. They do this each week.....

I love you,

Dad

Happy 21st Birthday-Charity -vs- Pride

Happy Birthday to Aubrey! 

How wonderful it is to be serving a mission on your birthday. Here, Mom and I, call each of the forty (40) missionaries serving in the Beira District, and sign Happy Birthday to them on their special day. 

Not that you have any issue with this, but Charity, is the solution to avoid Pride as well as preoccupation with self. 

"Preoccupation with self. One who is preoccupied with self is unable to feel the pure love of Christ and to extend that love to others. "The final and crowning virtue of the divine character," President Ezra Taft Benson explained, "is charity, or the pure love of Christ (see Moro. 7:47). If we would truly seek to be more like our Savior and Master, learning to love as He loves should be our highest goal. . . . The world today speaks a great deal about love, and it is sought for by many. But the pure love of Christ differs greatly from what the world thinks of love. Charity never seeks selfish gratification. The pure love of Christ seeks only the eternal growth and joy of others." The Savior's commission to "love thy neighbor as thyself" has less to do with loving oneself and more to do with loving others as one would desire to be loved, thereby fulfilling the Golden Rule as given by the Master in the sermon at Galilee and at Bountiful (Matt. 7:12; 3 Ne. 14:12). There is no divine directive to spend time developing self-love or becoming obsessed with self-esteem. Rather, the irony of the ages is to be found in the principle that only as one loses his life does he find it (Matt. 16:25) (Book of Mormon 1991 Sperry Symposium).

There are many aspects of Pride. It appears to me, that Pride toward God, is one of the main reasons people remain less active. President Ezra Taft Benson said: "The central feature of pride is enmity--enmity toward God.." (Beware of Pride) 

Samuel the Lamanite-Prophet, testified against the wicked Nephites and their support of false prophets: "..if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts...do whatsoever your heart desireth" (Hel. 13: 27).

Mormon explains that because of "pride...how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and give ear unto his counsels....Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide" (Hel. 12: 5-6).

We are all accountable to God for the choices we make. The explanation often given for getting a tattoo or even an abortion, is that: 'it's my body'. This prideful and false statement denies any accountability to God. 

The Apostle Paul taught: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1 Cor. 6: 19)

We are not our own. We are the children of God, and when we do something to our body or to the body of someone else, we are accountable to God.

Paul also referred to those consumed with food: "..whose God is their belly," (Phil. 3:19) 

This type of Pride, is also the cause of people not paying tithing. "Will a man rob God? Yet, ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings" (Mal.3:8; 3 Ne. 24:8).

We are accountable to God for everything we do. "..your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds" (Mosiah 4:30).

By applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ, one can put off the natural man and become a saint. This results in having "no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mosiah 3:19; 5:2).

"Virtue originates in your innermost thoughts and desires. It is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. Since the Holy Ghost does not dwell in unclean tabernacles, virtue is prerequisite to receiving the Spirit’s guidance. What you choose to think and do when you are alone and you believe no one is watching is a strong measure of your virtue. Virtuous people are clean and pure spiritually. They focus on righteous, uplifting thoughts and put unworthy thoughts that lead to inappropriate actions out of their minds. They obey God’s commandments and follow the counsel of Church leaders. They pray for the strength to resist temptation and do what is right. They quickly repent of any sins or wrongdoings. They live worthy of a temple recommend" (Preach My Gospel, pages 118-119).

People will often wear masks or create various elaborate schemes to hide their identity, often to commit wickedness. "Nevertheless, they durst not lie, if it were known, for fear of the law" "durst not commit any wickedness if it were known" (Alma 1: 17, 33).

Heavenly Father of course knows everything. "For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it" (2 Ne. 9:20).

The companionship of the Holy Ghost is our witness that we are doing Heavenly Father's will and He is pleased with our efforts. "You can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when you feel the Spirit working through you" (Preach My Gospel, page 11).

Keep up the good work!

A few photos....

1.) People marching in the street as part of a political rally.

 

2.) Humble, President Camalizene (just after an appendectomy) and his wife, Graça.

3.) Twenty one (21) missionaries riding to the bus terminal, after a song practice organized by Mom (the choir director). 

 

I love you,

Dad

ALOT of baptisms!

Hey y'all,
 Things have been hectic so I haven't been writing anything down and I don't remember much. 

I'm just going off of the pictures I've taken....
 

 But first....!!!

 HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY, AUBREY!!!!!!!  Woohoo!!!!!

 Here are some of your well-wishers: 

 

 The Manga Zone missionaries:

Beira Zone missionaries 

    Hope you have a wonderful Honduran birthday, Aub!!!!

Ok, back to the week-
 

 Last Tuesday, I passed the Primary room, on my way to my English class, and saw Tomazia cleaning and fixing up the room. She's the Primary president (she's 18). The room had been sadly neglected. She was hanging gospel art kit pictures on the wall and sharpening pencils that the Branch President had just bought for the Primary. She was stoked to have them!
 

 Two of my students had earned a Book of Mormon. One is a non-member named Marçio. He's 16, quick-thinking and quick-witted! Plus, he's really a nice guy. I really enjoy him. His aunt is a member and told him about the class. He's the one on my right. Mario is on my left. He's 30, been a member for 7-8 years (long time by Mozambiquen standards), and wants to get married so bad. I tried to fix him up with someone but it hasn't taken yet...
 

 The requisite 'crazy' picture:
 

On Wednesday, your dad and I went with Dilles out to Manga to visit President Camalizane at his home and check how he was doing. We first stopped by the church to pick up some carvings that the Tidwells had ordered. Here's the woodcarver, Vasco, with his son, Domingos. We ordered a few things too.

 

  Then off to Pres. C's house. He's the one that had the emergency appendectomy. He seemed to be doing better. Still weak and in pain but not feverish, so that was good. The doctor had told him that he could only have liquids for 15 days so Dad looked it up on the internet and showed him that it was ok to eat. After not eating for 15 days, anybody would be weak! Oh Africa....
 

 Us, Pres. Camalizane, and his wife, Graça in the living room/bedroom. Their mattress was on the floor. The chest refrigerator was in the room too. His house is a humble one...

 

 These are the showers for the houses in the area. Much nicer than the grass ones we've seen.
 

 This turkey was tied up in the yard in front of the houses. When I pulled out my camera for the turkey, all the kids came running. They LOVE pictures! I know you can't feel from their faces....
 

 Larry checked Pres. C's incision while Sandi and I talked to his wife, Graça. I really like her! She's smart, faithful, and has good common sense and a fun sense of humor. She's great!

  I asked about the house that they are building and she asked if I wanted to see it. I told her absolutely! I asked Sandi and she also wanted to, so we told the guys that we were going and they decided to come. Pres. C. was too weak to walk and there wasn't enough room in the truck for all of us, so your dad and Larry drove with Pres. C., and Sandi and I walked with Graca.
 

 Here's their house. It's a mansion by area standards. It has 4 bedrooms, a sitting room, a kitchen (inside!), and TWO bathrooms (inside!)!! I asked Graça if any other houses in the area had an indoor bathroom. She said "No", like "Of course not."

 Here's a house that we passed on our walk over to their house. Yup, a family is living in it.

 

 On our way back, we saw the missionaries on their bikes and stopped to say 'hi'.

 

 On Friday, Sandi and I headed to the capalana shops to buy a few of them to get some things (presents!!!) made. Here's one of the shops. Hey! He's wearing pink too!!

   We swung past the tailor that's making our matching African dresses - full-on, full-length authentic ones. They weren't done (no surprise there) but we found out that he's married with four kids and they were all there, so I asked if I could take a family picture. His wife and kids sit on a grass mat on the ground while he sews on the machine behind them. Love their baby!

 Here's where the shop is:

 

 Close-up of the roof. Wonder what Provo City Building Dept would think of it?

 

 Later that night, Dad and I went to dinner at our favorite (ie, only) bakery/pizza place. Right outside of the front door, they had a canopy set up for a wedding. It was a fancy wedding and they had the reception on the second floor where it was decorated really nice. I don't know why they didn't hold the wedding up there too - it was three feet away from the door into the restaurant. So, I walked outside and took this picture.

  

 Then I motioned for the cute little girls standing behind the bride to get together for a picture. They obliged - all while the vows were being said. Oh Africa....
 

 Later on, the Zone Leaders called to tell us that they had some baptisms scheduled for Saturday - 24 people, including five families!! So Saturday, we headed over to the church. We were the chief photographers for all the missionaries (juggling 7 or 8 cameras), but after we took their picture, I asked if we could jump in and get a picture with all of them. We've been to a some bigger baptisms, but I think this was a record!

 

 Look at the woman on the right. She had her capalana tied around her baptism jumpsuit - because they were pants. ;) 

 

 These little girls were at the baptisms. I was trying to get a picture of the two sisters on the left and the girl on the right jumped in. ;) Aren't the sisters adorable?

 

 There were too many people to fit them all in the room where the font is, so I suggested that the elders take the people in a branch at a time, and set up the TV and play church videos in another room for the people that were waiting for their turn. It was a good missionary tool too because there were a lot of non-members there from the two weddings that were held just before the baptisms. The people loved it. Most don't have TVs and it kept their attention. Except for this little guy...

 After the baptism, we gave some of the elders a ride home - crammed in the backseat of the truck.

 

 That night, we watched the first session of Gen. Conference online. It was so good! I loved Elder Hamula's and Elder Wong's talks. What an amazing thing that we can simultaneously watch the session taking place in SLC while we're sitting in our apartment in Africa!

 Sunday, we visited a new branch in Munhava. The earlier branch was just starting, so we went into their Sacrament Meeting, then went to the second branch's Sunday School (Dad) and Primary (me), followed by their Sacrament Meeting. Both had great testimony meetings! A family with five kids that was part of the group that were baptized yesterday, so there were quite a few confirmations at the beginning of the meeting. This little girl was confirmed and she was all dressed up for it!

   That's the week! Here's some random pictures:

   The butcher at our grocery store. Yeah....exactly....:( The Health Dept. would have a field day!

  Things out of the car window:
 

 Boys getting ready to play soccer behind our apartment bldg. We were surprised that one team had actual uniforms!

   These boys were playing jump rope 

 

 Lots of bananas! Doesn't look like a comfy ride though...

 The guy is drilling spikes onto the top of the fence around our apartment building. One of the apartments was robbed and the burglars climbed the fence. This should discourage future robberies - hopefully.

 

  I sure do love you guys!! So, so much!!! 
 "Be good and you'll be happy." ~ Mom