Hola!

Hola!  Spring is on its way. 

  We were able to attend the Area Mission leadership conference in Uruguay the end of August.  Elder Rasband and Elder Godoy along with our Area Presidency spoke to us.  It was wonderful to listen to them and have them answer questions,  give counsel and blessings.

Elder Rasband told us that Pres. Nelson said :

1.  Tell them that I love them.

2.   Tell them all thank you.  Thanks for the service, diligence, for being a consecrated congregation.  All have raised hands in sacred places saying, covenanting that you would sacrifice and would consecrate. 

You and the missionaries are living the law of consecration now, and they are grateful.

  I have really thought a lot about that since he spoke.  Thinking what have we learned here on our mission and what could we share.   First I would like you to know that I know that the Holy Ghost can whisper to you and help in all that you do.  Each of us can receive personal revelation and our prayers are answered in many different ways.  I also know that you should never compare.  You need to just try and do a little better than you did before.  Let others do their own thing and you focus on what you can do to be better, serve a little harder, love a little more and share and care a little more.

“Comparison is the thief of contentment”

 I know that we were called to focus on members and missionaries working together. We have been blessed to help facilitate these interactions.   It has strengthened our testimonies.  It has made us more aware of the dedication and love of a missionary.   How grateful we are for the sacrifice of these young missionaries.  Again I marvel at what they accomplish and overcome.   Thank you!  Always remember you love those you serve.

 Yesterday we spent the day at the Boca Stake Center working with CILSA and our humanitarian missionaries.  We had Mike and Ron in from the States.  Mike is a physical therapist and worked with this program for the past 7 years.   The church sent 970 wheelchairs to the Argentine Area this year. Each year they provide 1/3 of those chairs for the center.  The church has designed and had manufactured 3 different models. Adjusted to size, height and making it easier for each individual to navigate on cobblestone and dirt roads as well as be active so they can be more flexible.   We helped as they measured, fit and helped 67 individuals receive a new wheelchair.  Each team lovingly greeted, fit and adjusted a wheel chair for their individual needs.  We saw them come in on walkers, being carried, in old chairs and leave with the biggest smile and excitement with a chair just for them.  Ron got to greet and check them in and out and I got to visit and help them get breakfast and lunch.   (A visit to me is a hug and a smile and hola, como esta!)  This was one of the highlights of our mission - emotions were very tender.  We are so grateful for the blessings and belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  We love how they are so service orientated. We know that we are each children of God and He loves us.

I could go on and on but it really isn’t necessary.  Just know it is a wonderful experience and that our mission has been a blessing to us and for our family.

It is hard to believe that we will be home the end of October.  Where did that year go? 

Our Love and Prayers. 

Mission Leaders Conference

Montevideo, Uruguay

Happy September!

   I was supposed to do the one in August, but here we are beginning September, hard to believe.
   We think that we are probably most of the way through the winter here.  It hasn’t been too bad – has got down in to the 30’s at night but is generally in the 40’s and low 50’s, but it is a wet cold so you feel it more.  It’s pretty protected by the tall buildings, but when you get a long side street, it makes a wind tunnel which is pretty interesting.
   Helen got up in fast and testimony meeting and bore her testimony in Spanish, no notes, just got up there and spoke from the heart.  You could see the entire congregations sit up on the edge of their seats, just smiling and cheering her on silently, so happy that she was talking in their language.  It was wonderful to see, the spirit speaks to the people no matter what language you are talking in.
   They even had me speak in sacrament meeting.  They were very polite – oddly enough, here you don’t see a lot of people sleeping in church, so hope that it went well.
   We are involved in setting up a pilot program where the missionaries or members can take members on a tour of the chapel without the need to have banners.  They will use the art in the building to teach the major points of the first lesson in Preach My Gospel.  Most of the art work in the buildings is conducive to teaching about the Savior with a picture of Christ, baptism with a picture of John the Baptist, modern prophets with a picture of the first presidency, the original Church with the apostles, the restoration with Joseph Smith, etc.  That way, a church that is centrally located in a busy area with a lot of foot traffic can be staffed to be open more time in a week.  English classes, family history classes, etc. can be held to have people going in and out and give more opportunity.  We have  a mission president in Santiago who has the chapel on the Santiago temple block who is very excited about starting it there, since there are always many people touring the temple block and would be prime candidates for a tour.
    We had a chance to go to Casa Rosada (pink house in Spanish) which houses the executive offices of the government and where the president of the country works.  It is, not surprisingly, pink stone and is known for the balcony where Evita Peron rallied the workers of the country.  Her character is shown in the movie “Evita” singing from that balcony.  We got to go out on the balcony and look out over Plaza de Mayo.  I broke out in a few bars of “Don’t Cry for me Argentina” and the tour guide quickly hustled us on to the next part of the tour.
     We also had a chance to go to the National Cathedral there on the plaza.  An amazing building with a monument to San Martin, the George Washington of South America. 
     We went to a couple of open chapels in August in different parts of the city.  We went to a very small chapel in Canuelos which houses a small branch.  There are only a few active priesthood holders, the chapel just has a couple of long benches in a room that serves both as a chapel and a gathering place, maybe the size of a relief society room in the states.  The branch president said that branch presidents generally serve about 10 years here, due, in part to the difficulty in finding good, involved priesthood brethren.  The event really went well, with good attendance and several tours.
    We continue to have great experiences with things that seem to come together, members who come up with answers to problems other members are having, etc.  One of the mission president’s wives asked me “Tell me one thing that you have learned on your mission”.  Didn’t take but a second to respond that I’ve learned that the spirit really will talk to you and give you impressions if you are trying to do better, fulfill a calling or trying to help your family.  I’ve learned that it is important to write them down when you feel them if it doesn’t call for immediate action, because going back and reading over them reminds you of things that you need to do and reinforces the things that you should be doing.

    We have a powerful testimony of the truth of the gospel, that Christ lives and knows and loves each of us.
     Thank you, all of you, for your love and support.  We couldn’t do it without it.
Love you all,
Abrazos,
Mom and Dad
Grandma and Grandpa
Elder y Hermana Dalby

 National Cathedral and Pink House

 Matt Deacon friend & Mirrors Casa Rosada

 Botanica jardin and more Pink House

Open Chapel