"your families are well...in me there is all power." (D & C 100:1)‏

On the evening of October 11, 1833, Joseph Smith, the prophet recorded a personal concern: “Very well in my mind. The Lord is with us, but have much anxiety about my family” (1:419). The next day Joseph and Sidney Rigdon together with Freeman Nickerson, a recent convert, arrived at the Nickerson home in Perrysburg, New York. It was on this day that the Prophet received the revelation recorded in section 100.

"Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my friends Sidney and Joseph, your families are well; they are in mine hands, and I will do with them as seemeth me good; for in me there is all power." (D & C 100:1) 

This verse has been a comfort to Mom and I from the time we decided to serve our mission. How blessed we are to have the blessings of time, health and resources to serve a mission. 

While many are praying for us here, we pray daily for those at home, including our great neighbors and business associates. 

Now for some pictures of the week:

Mom and I eating pizza at the brand new Luna Mar hotel.

Last Saturday, we had our monthly training meeting for the seminary and institute teachers. 
There are never any leftovers... 

Just outside the room where our training was taking place there was a wedding party coming down the hall.

The bride and her two children

This is our good District President Alfredo Camalizene.

In the front lawn of the Manga chapel.

This week on P-Day, the elders had a going away party for two (2) elders that start their return home tomorrow.

The two elders returning home are in the front.

On the left is Elder Bigelow from Phoenix and on the right is Elder Lake from Burley.

These women are collecting small clams to eat.

The missionaries were able to catch a ride in this very new chapa as we left the beach. 

Our apartment is directly behind these apartments.

The Van pulling away with 20 + riders!

Sure love you!

Goodbyes and Good News!‏

Oi (Hi!) 
   This week starts off with good news from across the ocean - the China travelers returned in 

one piece! Yippee! That was a "Whew" relief! Here's a few pics from their trip: 

 What an adventure!!  Glad they are all back safe and sound!!! 

 We found out last week that our cute neighbors are 

moving, so Monday Vita found out that I didn't know about a couple of grocery stores and said that she 

had to take me that day so she could show them to me. So off we went! The one store was so, so tiny 

but they had sliced turkey and whipping cream, something I haven't been able to find. And pretzels! 

 Oh, the simple joys...Last week, Vita - the mom - sent me a text saying that Christina, the younger 

daughter wanted me to help her with some homework. She said, "I can help her but she wants you."

 So I said "Sure, send her over." Turns out it wasn't help with her English class or a report, like I've 

done in the past.  It was a colored and labeled map of Africa - with all the terrains and had to be 

on cardboard and have a legend, yada, yada. 

 Yeah, it was one of those dreaded 'parent projects' that I thought I'd left behind years ago. 

Two hours later, we were done!

  ( she did get a 94% on it and said she was the only one that turned it in on time....score!) 

 The next day, we had them over for dinner. The dad, Enrico, had already gone to Maputo 

so it was just the women folk.  Isn't Vita pretty?

So, we found out that her sister was just baptized in Maputo and her mom is investigating the church. That was a surprise and reminded me yet again that you never know who's watching you, so be mindful of what you do - or don't do, like not being as kind as you should be. It reminded me of that time that we were on a trip somewhere and we ate in one of the airport restaurants before we boarded the plane. I had noticed that some people were watching us and thought we were being too loud. It turned out that they were the flight crew on our flight and one of the stewardesses said to me, "We were watching your family in the restaurant and we were saying that you all seemed so happy and seemed to get along so well." I thanked her and told her that we do have a good time together but I remember thinking at the time that it was a good thing that nobody did something rude or ornery. I've never forgotten that. Anyway.....dinner. I made BBQ chicken, but wasn't sure if they liked it - I've never seen anyone eat it here - so put it on the side but after coaxing the girls to try just a little, they did, and LOVED it! And ended up putting it all over their chicken.

The next day, Isabel had asked if Sandi and I could take her shopping for the food for the lunch for a Relief Society activity that was on Saturday. I told her 'sure' and to bring her two girls if they wanted to come. Riding in a car is a novelty for them so I thought they would have fun and then she wouldn't have to leave her girls. Mariana ended up coming along too so it was a party. ;) Here we are dropping everything off at the church:

Later, Vita asked if I could follow her to the airport to help her take her things there to ship to Maputo so she wouldn't have to make two trips. I was so nervous! I hate driving here with the crazy roads/reverse steering wheel/reverse sides of the road, dodging goats/bikes/pedestrians that are more afraid of the rain than cars. It really is nuts!!! But I did it just to help and prove to myself that I'm not a scaredy-cat. But I prayed fervently going and coming. I'm happy to report that I didn't hit anybody - or anything - and found my way back home by myself. (She had to stay to oversee the shipping.). Here's a picture I took yesterday to give you an idea of the traffic. 

The chapas are like N.Y. taxi drivers and come within inches of your car. We've been scraped and once we had a truck come at 40 mph and he clipped our car and knocked the mirror clean off. I thought we were goners that time. I shut my eyes a lot when we drive......really. Bikes, people, motorcycles, chapas, and the little chapelas (the tiny red 3-wheeled car) cut in front of you with no warning. It's very scary!
That night, the Boriellos came by to say their final goodbyes. I'm gonna miss them...:( Vita wanted a picture of us with the girls.

Friday, the Kretlys came in for Zone Conference. We took them to the new apartment for some elders - the ones that have been without water so much. Their new apt is so nice! They sent us a text the night they moved in and said it was the best shower since the MTC. Haha! We laughed, but knew what they meant because when you have been without water, you are really grateful to get it back!
Saturday was the District Relief Society activity. After we arrived, Isabel asked me and Sandi to go to the local paderia (in the rain) to buy rolls for the lunch.

  Here's me and another girl loading up the bags of rolls. They were huge bags!

The paderia on a Saturday morning...

Loading the rolls in the truck:

That's a 50 kg flour bag full of rolls!
Isabel had asked Sister Kretly and I to speak. I spoke on charity and gave examples of what people have done for us since we have been here, like the bracelet that one girl, Rudy, made me and the family that had us to dinner. I was going to read the sand-dollar story while I held up a sand-dollar, so I had a little panic moment when I realized that I'd forgotten to bring the story. There are a lot of weird words in the story that I don't have the vocabulary to translate off the top of my head, and I hadn't memorized it in Portuguese, so I just told it in English and Sister Kretly translated it for me. "Adapt"and "go with the flow" are part of our mantra here.
Sandi did a crochet demonstration. She's figured out how to cut plastic grocery sacks into strips and crochet them to make stuff. It's pretty cool and the ladies loved it because they are not creative here. Here's some one the things that she's made. It all made from plastic grocery bags!

After we spoke, each Branch did a performance. Here's Beira 1 doing a dramatization of the organization of Relief Society. 

 Mariana played Joseph Smith. They did a good job but it made me chuckle a bit...;) 

Here are the pioneer women:

Here's Joseph Smith and Emma (as played by Mariana and Emilia):

It was Chad's birthday so I made the signs and took them with me to the activity, looking for photo ops. Everybody was happy to help...
Here's the whole gang helping me wish Chad a Happy Birthday!
Everybody wanted to hold the signs. The gal in front looks happy, doesn't she?? Ha!

This group did a modeling show. That's kind of a big thing here: to just walk in a line and model your capalana. 

  Dad and I were at the church for a baptism the day before and these gals were practicing their walk so I asked them if they wanted me to show them how we model in the U.S. They said "Yes!" So I showed them and they all applauded. It was hilarious! But I noticed that they did do the 'stop, pause, turn, pause' technique so I guess they took it to heart. ;)
I held the gal on the end's baby while she modeled. He was a healthy little guy!

This group danced and they got into it. They were fun!

Then Ana Maria (my cute little widowed mother of 8) cut loose! I love this woman!!

That night, Brooke and Josh face-timed us with more good news and told us they are expecting #3!!! Wowie, Wowie!! That was a big surprise!!

Then dad surprised all of us, while Bee and I were chatting, by saying, "Here's some good flights for Virginia." I told him that he better not say that in front of Brooke unless he was serious and he said, "Of course, you've got to go back." So, Wahoo! I'm going to the U.S. of A. to see my little grand babies and meet the newest one!! Oh, and to help Brooker...;) I know I'm in for some reverse culture-shock so it should be exciting. But I'm way excited to see the babes!! So September it's 'goodbye Africa' - temporarily...
Sunday I had the sweetest thing happen: two boys were standing by the car and when I got out, one came up and handed me an orange. I asked him if it was for me and he nodded yes. He was so shy that as soon as I said thank you, he turned and darted off. Gosh, I appreciate it when the people give me things, but I also feel bad because I know it's usually a big sacrifice for them.
The people here aren't very demonstrative and especially with their kids. It's interesting. They do love babies here but after about age two they don't really hold them or touch them so it was weird for the kids when I hugged them or patted them. They didn't know what to do. But now they all come up and they'll lean against me or sit by me and lean on my lap. Today, a boy, about 8 or 9, came up while I was talking to someone after church and sat down and held my hand, so I squeezed his hand and he squeezed me back. Some other kids had gathered around, so he passed my hand to his friend and I squeezed his too and pretty soon everybody wanted to hold my hand and squeeze it. Funny kids. :)
Well, that's our week! We love you guys and pray mightily for you every day -

 often multiple times a day! ;)

"Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ?" (Acts 9: 6)‏

Only 30 days to Mother's Day!! I felt that I should include this experience......In January this year, 

we had a zone conference, presided over by a general authority. He invited the 44 elders to ask questions. 

All the sister missionaries (currently 9) are assigned to Maputo for safety concerns. One of the very obedient

 elders asked a question that is often times felt by the good women in the Church.  His question was:

 "How can I know if I'm doing all that I should be doing ?" 

As I recall, there was some type of interruption (perhaps this was one of the many times the power went off) 

and his question was not fully answered. I sensed that I should speak to him at the earliest opportunity, to try 

and answer his question. As we broke for lunch, I was alone in the hallway with this good elder. I said to him: 

 "The answer to your question is that when you feel the Spirit present, this is Heavenly Father's way of telling 

you that you are doing everything He wants and there is not anything more you should be doing."

 He had tears in his eyes as he realized that he was already doing all that he should be doing. Two days after 

the meeting I received this text: "I have forgotten to fully thank you personally for the words you said to me at

 zone conference. They brought a much needed comfort and peace of mind. I cannot say how much that truly

 helped. Thank you" PMG, page 11 says:  "You can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when you feel the

 Spirit working through you." This is a great pattern for life. While we can always bake another dozen rolls 

or go more often to the temple or study the scriptures more or.....When we simply ensure that we have the 

Spirit working through us, we don't need to worry or feel guilty that we didn't do more. A common pitfall is 

when we compare the amount of our service to that of others. We either feel guilt or pride, neither of which 

pleases God. Our main concern should be, if we feel the Spirit working through us. Then we know that

 Heavenly Father is pleased and nothing else really matters. Therefore, we should ask: 

"Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ?" (Acts 9: 6) 
 

 Here is a photo of the truck that we use

Mom and Sister Kretly

Mom and a chameleon, aren't they beautiful ?

Trying to defend against the attack!

The Beira 2 elders

Mom teaching her English class

 

 

I Love You!

April Fools and the WORST flu ever!! No fooling...:(

For P-day, we went with Kretlys and Dilles to a new Chuhascarrea - well, it was new to us. It was pretty good. On the way home, we came to a truck that had gotten stuck in a pot-hole. Pres. Kretly was driving and he stopped and said something to Dad and Larry. They got out of our truck and I thought that they were going to push the truck but they ended up jumping into the bed of the truck. A guy walking past jumped into too, and the weight was enough to give the truck traction and it popped out of the hole. Just another day in Africa..... Dad and I took Kretlys to the airport right after we got home and they flew back to Maputo.
The next day, we saw these guys on our walk to the beach. We stopped to watch them because the little guy was walking on his hands on the wall. He was so funny! When he saw us watching, he stopped and wiggled his feet in the air - all while balancing on the wall. It was impressive!!

 Then I noticed what looked like a bird in his friends sack and asked him if that's what it was. Yes, it was a bird that he'd caught at the beach......still alive in the sack. I asked him if it was good to eat and he gave an enthusiastic 'yes!' Yup, that white thing is a bird wing sticking out...

When Isabel came to clean, we made couve and I asked her how to tie the big head-wraps that the ladies wear. She told me to get her a capalana, so I did, and then she showed me how. I videotaped it, so I'd remember.

It was April Fools Day. Here they call it "The Day of Lies" and that afternoon, Dad got a call from a guy asking if he had called. Dad didn't have any idea what he was talking about and told him that he hadn't called him. It turned out that one of our seminary teachers was playing a joke on him and Dad. Pretty funny and pretty clever! :)
The next day, we both got sick with the flu. It was so violent that we thought it was food-poisoning but it lasted throughout the next day. Neither of us has been that sick in years. It was bad! We were so glad when it ended.
The Africans are sanguine when it comes to a change of plans and/or disappointments. It happens to them so often, they're used to it. So when Dad sent a text to a guy to tell him that his mission departure date had been delayed two months, this was his response: "That's ok. It will give me more time to prepare." That's an attitude I should have more often.
On Friday, we were still a little shaky, but we ventured out. We went and picked up a missionary call at the airport and then delivered it to the guy, Fernando. He's the best friend of Isabel's son, Jose, who's serving a mission now in Brazil - well, he's been serving in Maputo since December while he waits for his visa. Anyway, here's Fernando with his call letter.

While we were waiting at the church for someone, I went to a belt seller on the street and bought a couple of belts.

 It was a little girl running the stand and I think I brought her some business because nobody was there, but then when I started looking, four ladies stopped to look too. I think the people are curious about what we like. When I was in a store, looking at capalanas, I had a group of women come up and look at the one that I had picked out and start telling me which one I should buy. I explained that I needed a certain color for my shirt and then they all nodded and said "Oh, I see. Yeah, that one works better." In Portuguese of course. So funny!
That night, we went to Isabel's house and watched Fernando open his call. We ran into some elders tracking there, which was good because we were totally lost trying to find which little alley went to Isabel's house. Here's the gang watching him open it:

Isabel's husband read the letter, by the light of a flashlight.

We saw these girls on our walk the next day. I couldn't believe they actually had a toy. They were so cute sitting up on the wall dressing their dolls with scraps of fabric. When I asked to take their picture they were excited and sat right up. But it was only after I showed them the picture, that they smiled big....

After running around, we went to dinner.

Then we watched General Conference, well, the first session, and I put every talk in the context of Africa so when they talked about the little boy in Argentina that invited his friend to the open house, I thought of Fidel that brought his baby sister, two younger brothers, a cousin, and friend to church every Sunday without the parents.
Sunday, the power was out and there wasn't anyone to lead the singing, so I did. I hummed the first note, counted, "Un, Dos, Tres", and we sang. When I taught Primary, the lesson was on being kind to your brothers and sisters and I had to come up with a whole new list of scenarios for them because "What if your little sister wants to play with your toy?" doesn't work when they have no toys. Neither does "Your brother wants to sit by the window in the car when you go to run errands with your mother." No car, no errands, and sometimes no mother. Sigh....

This little guy conked out for the whole meeting and didn't wake up even after it ended.

That night, I had a tea party. Sort of. This group of girls - they range from 18-24 - have been asking to come over for a visit. I told them sure and that I would make a cake, but we had lots going on so I told them they had to wait until after Zone Conference. One of the girls tends kids every day but Saturday and Sunday and we were  booked on all the Saturdays so we set it up for this Sunday.
Not one of them speaks any English, so I wondered what the heck we would talk about. I'm ok 'one on one' but when there's a group and they get going, I'm lost. So, I decided we'd have the cake and paint nails. At 4:00, they all came over. The guard came to get me and we started taking pictures. 

Then the guard asked if HE could take our picture. Pretty sure he doesn't have Facebook - or a computer or electricity - but our picture is getting shown to his buddies somewhere.
The girls were hilarious!! The cake vanished in minutes and then the seconds vanished just as fast. Africans love everything and make you feel like a gourmet cook. ;)

Then Brooke happened to text me so I asked her if they could FaceTime with the girls. They were good sports and said they could. Oh boy!! That was amazing for them! They LOVED IT!!! And when Grant blew them a kiss and said 'Obrigata' (Thank you), they laughed up a storm and Fatima blew kisses back to him like crazy. They were characters!!

Then they painted their nails

and asked me how old I was when I got married. Oh and how old I am now... They didn't believe me when I told them and made me write it down - which I guess is a good thing. ;)
Two and a half hours later, they got ready to go. It was raining so they asked for some plastic bags to put on their hair. I told them that I wanted a picture but they immediately snatched the bags off of their heads. When I told them that I wanted it WITH the bags on, they said no, but I told them that I'd taken a picture with a bag on my head when I needed a shower cap.
 When I showed them the picture of me, they said I could.

Long day. Fun, but long.
Well, that's the skinny. We love you more than yesterday. I guess absence really DOES make the heart grow fonder. ;)
 xoxoxo

"What think ye of Christ ?" (Matt. 22:42)

President David O. McKay taught in a general conference address: “What you sincerely in your heart think of Christ will determine what you are, will largely determine what your acts will be” (CR, Apr. 1951, 93).

Our level or degree of faith in Jesus Christ effects how we react to our circumstances. 

Laman and Lemuel's description of the wilderness experience:

"And thou art like unto our father, led away by the foolish imaginations of his heart; yea, he hath led us out of the land of Jerusalem, and we have wandered in the wilderness for these many years; and our women have toiled, being big with child; and they have borne children in the wilderness and suffered all things, save it were death; and it would have been better that they had died before they came out of Jerusalem than to have suffered these afflictions. 

Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions and the land of our inheritance; yea, and we might have been happy. 

(1 Ne. 17: 20-21)

Nephi's description of these same events:

"And it came to pass that we did again take our journey in the wilderness; and we did travel nearly eastward from that time forth. And we did travel and wade through much affliction in the wilderness; and our women did bear children in the wilderness. 

And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings. 

And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness. 

And we did sojourn for the space of many years, yea, even eight years in the wilderness."

(1 Ne. 17: 1-4) 

After experiencing the exact same external conditions, (Nephi was not in a first class cabin) they describe the events very differently.

Perhaps, the main reason  why they viewed things so differently is that "Laman and Lemuel,...knew not the dealings of that God who had created them." (1 Ne. 2: 12)

Our level or degree of faith in Jesus Christ effects how we react to our circumstances. 

The same pot of boiling water can harden an egg, while at the same time soften a carrot. 

People react differently to afflictions. For instance, we read, “Behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war (14 years) between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened . . . and many were softened because of their afflictions” (Alma 62:41) (see also Alma 47:36). The war was the same length for all people; yet out of the same experience, many were hardened and many were softened. 

Alma states: “I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day” (Alma 36:3).

Of course being supported, is different than having a trial eliminated or removed......

Thank you for always expressing a cheerful positive attitude in all your emails. You remind me of this verse:  "let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power" (D & C 123: 17).

On March 28, 2014, we had zone conference with fifty (50) missionaries. The man sitting next to me is president João Bueno, who serves as the first counselor in the mission presidency.

 

You may recall my email from February 14, 2014, about Fernando Dominges Cambarame. He is easy to love. He is 23 years old, and wants badly to serve a mission. Fernando joined the Church in 2009, after his older brother introduced him to the Church, but the brother (who was only 28) died in 2008, prior to Fernando's baptism. Fernando never really met his father, as he died when he was a baby. His mother also died in 2011, while she was investigating the Church. This sad story is not that uncommon here.

A requirement to serve a mission is for the member to pay for their own passport. Although the cost is only $84, this amount requires a substantial sacrifice which restricts many from serving. Fernando, obtained his first passport in 2012, but it was stolen, so he was required to pay for a second passport, which he did in June 2013, but by then, his medical exams were outdated, so today (Friday, February 14th) we scanned and emailed a new set of medical exams. Hopefully, this will complete his mission application and he can begin the three (3) month wait to receive his missionary call.....Doesn't this make you want to contribute to the General Missionary Fund ?

On March 5th we scanned the final medical document he needed and on Friday, April 4th, It was our privilege to hand Fernando his mission call... 

 

 

 Later that night, thanks to Mom's sense of adventure, we went to Isabel Da Silva's home to witness the opening of his call. It is 7:30 PM but very dark, as there is only a single 40 watt light bulb on the outside of this home. Isabell's husband reads the call letter. He is to report to the MTC in Brazil on June 25th, assigned to Angola, Luanda mission.

 

 

This is Fernando and his friends that  came to support him.

 

 

Sure love you!