Thursday, January 30, 2014
We had an overnighter!
Hi family!
President Rodriguez said months back that he wanted us to see his country. The Clawsons go to the south to inspect houses and take mail and Dad asked if we could follow them. Then we'd work part of Saturday if we get behind. Azua is the farthest south and west that we've been (went for zone conference, missionary open house and a Christmas party. Enriquillo is 3 hours from Azua close to the Haitian border. We saw lots of people, scenery, and stayed overnight and returned to the office today. Here's some pictures. Wow, the Lord has made a beautiful earth, and beautiful people, and he wants each one to hear His gospel and return to Him.
We love you. Wish we could have had you all with us!!
Love,
Mom & Dad
Looking Out the Window
That tire you see advertised tire repair. People sell fruit everywhere. Motorcycles are everywhere. A simple clothing store.
Bananas
A banana plant grows one huge bunch of bananas. Then it is cut down and little banana plants grow up. See the field where small ones are growing. In the background are larger plants. This area grows tons of bananas.
More Bananas--the fancy stuff ahead!
One picture shows the cut stems of the banana bunches as they are cut from the tree. Bananas in the street stand, banana plants along the road, and the last is the leaves of the banana plant taken from the balcony of the missionaries' apartment.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Way over my head!
Hola! How are you all? Today I was in Relief Society first as usual. I set up metal folding chairs and turn on the fans. I sit and open scripture or something until the others arrive. Into the meeting the RS president arrives and writes on the blackboard "Le que te gustaba la Iglesia? (Dad said it should have been, "Que le gustaba de la Iglesia?. She gives me a hug, the two sets of sister missionaries arrive and 3 others. She calls one to lead, one to pray. The music director (whoever is called on ) says, "Uno, dos y tres then we begin singing." Then the prayer. Then the RS President asks each in the class to respond to her question. Some go on and on. Then it's my turn. I prayed for help.
I said, "Me gusta la Iglesia por la conocimiento de Dios y su hijo Jesucristo. Agradicida por la Expiación y el Plan de Salvacion. Agradicida por el profeta y las escrituras; el libro de Mormon es mi favorita. Agradicida por el templo and las ordenances y por familias, son eternas. Agradicida por el Espiritu Santo en nuestros reuniones.
I think I said. I like the Church for the knowledge of God and his Son Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for the Atonement and Plan of Salvation. I'm grateful for the prophet and the scriptures, my favorite is the Book of Mormon. I'm grateful for the temple and ordinances. Families are eternal. I'm grateful for the Holy Ghost in our meetings.
Wow! I've been a member of this wonderful church for 64 years and that's all I can get out! Someone said our example is more than words. I certainly hope so, I'm there every week, but I can't say much. The branch President called Dad and I in and asked us to teach the youth in February. We'll study and pray.
Oh, today the organ part of the console worked so as I played the notes it was an organ sound instead of just piano. Hooray! The last few weeks they posted different hymns than they announced, Then they went and posted new hymns, I turn to them and play, and they expected a different hymn, as I didn't understand what they said. And one week, they decided on an intermediate hymn and I went up to play and the console wouldn't turn on. Oh the joy! Seems like the power went off too, then the computer had to reboot while everyone waited. There's some reason I'm here? (Maybe they need a good laugh) I practice everyday, piano and Spanish, and maybe it will come in the millennium:)
Hey, I can do my job in the office very well, and I can understand people enough to do it!
The Lord lives! May he bless each of you!!
Love, Mom & Dad
***
On Tuesday, January 28, 2014 11:01 AM, Darren E Schmidt <SchmidtDE@ldschurch.org> wrote:
Love the news! We continue to pray for you. Those years with Torma Henderson have paid off!
Darren Schmidt
Seminary and Institutes of Religion
schmidtde@ldschurch.org
Home Phone: 801-282-4161
Work Phone: 801-254-8195
Darren Schmidt
Seminary and Institutes of Religion
schmidtde@ldschurch.org
Home Phone: 801-282-4161
Work Phone: 801-254-8195
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Apple pie!
Hey, what do you think of this?
A little lady who lives south of Mexico city about 45 minutes, sells fruit in the market place. She goes to a different little town each day to sell her fruit. One day she shows up at the mission office there with a bag of money. She wants to go to the Salt Lake Temple to get her endowment. The mission president has the elders put her on a bus, they call ahead to El Paso Texas for someone to meet her there and put her on a bus for Salt Lake City. The Spanish branch in Salt Lake is notified. They pick her up from the bus station and have a place for her to stay. She goes to the temple and is sent back the way she came. When she arrived back at the mission office in Mexico City, the elders were wondering how she got along when she spoke only Spanish. She said someone taught her the words for apple pie. So wherever she went, when the bus stopped, etc. She said "apple pie." She was gone several days. She was overjoyed with receiving her endowment! And she seemed to get along just fine eating lots of apple pie!! :)
Love, Mom
Apple pie is my favorite!!! It was in the Liahona, not sure about the Ensign. We have two elders in the office right now both from Mexico City. Elder Rincón the head AP and the other over 67 houses Elder Suaste. They both went to the high school Beniemerito that was just made into a hugh MTC for all the Latin families that have matured in the gospel that have all these young people ready to serve missions! Lots of Americans went on missions to Peru, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Guatemala, etc. and now those members are sending their grown children and grandchildren on missions in huge numbers!
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Mí discurso en ingles (English)---LUV U all!
Music is very important in our lives! En the hymn book, the First Presidency says:
"Three months after the Church was organized, the Lord, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, instructed Joseph's wife, Emma, to make a selection of sacred hymns for the Church: "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads."
And Inspirational music is an essential part of our church meetings. The hymns 1) invite the Spirit of the Lord, 2) create a feeling of reverence, 3) unify us as members, and 4) provide a way for us to offer praises to the Lord."
I love the hymns about the family, "Love one another", "Families can be together Forever, "When the family gets together," "When there's love at Home."
Hymns that encourage me to serve: "All is well or Come, come ye Saints", "Called to Serve", and " Because I have been given much".
Hymns that help me feel Christ like: "The Spirit of God", Joseph Smith's First prayer", I Stand all Amazed", "I know my Father Lives", "The Lord is My Light".
Two men went to the office of President John Taylor to help them solve their problem. They both claimed to be right, and wanted the prophet to decide. He had them sing a hymn, then another, then more and more. They then left his office. They didn't have a problem.
I have enjoyed music so much in the home I grew up in, no scolding but "When we're helping we're happy" or "When my mother calls me, quickly I'll obey.
I enjoyed all the music when my children were growing up, their programs, recitals and performances. Now with my children in their homes with my grandkids, they enjoy a lot of music. I am so proud of them!!
My favorite hymn is "I am a Child of God." My great aunt, Naomi W. Randall wrote the words. She told me how it happened. She was a writer for the Children's friend and was given the assignment to write a new hymn for an upcoming conference of Primary Leaders. She went home, knelt by her bed and prayed. She went to bed and during the night she awoke with the words, "I am a child of God." She took a pencil and paper by her bed and wrote them down--(she said to herself, "this is good!) More words came: "And He has sent me here, Has given me an earthly home, with parents kind and dear. Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way. Teach me all that I must do, to live with him someday!"
The next day she mailed the words to Mildred Pettit who was given the assignment to write the music. The melody came to her in a similar manner. The words and music fit together perfectly. A true miracle! The Lord wants us to know we are his children. This message has gone all over the world through the song!
I desire us all to use the hymns as we work (the missionaries do!), at FHE, at meetings and when we want to get close to the Lord.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
A talk on Sunday!--Dad said it was the best I've done
Here's my talk in Spanish (español), the English (Inglés) follows:
Música es muy importante en nuestra vidas! En el libro de himnos, La Primera Presidencia escribió un mensaje: A los tres meses de organizada la Iglesia, el Señor, por intermedio del profeta José Smith, le pidió a Emma, la esposa del Profeta, que hiciera una selección de himnos religiosos para la Iglesia: "Porqque mi alma se deleita en el canto del corazón; se la canción de los justos en una oración para mí, y sera contestaada con una bendición sobre su cabeza."
Y La música es una parte esencial de nuestras reunions de la Iglesia. Los himnos 1) invitan la presencia del Espíritu del Señor, 2) inducen a la reverencia, 3) nos ayudan a sentirnos más unidos y nos dan la oportunidad de alabar al Señor.
Me encantan los himnos que tartan de la familia: Amad a otros, Las familias pueden ser eternas, Cuando hay amor.
Himnos que me dan el deseo de server: Oh, está bien! y Llamados a server.
Himnos que me hacen sentir feliz de ser Cristiana: Con valor marchemos, Cuenta tus bendiciones, Tengo gozo en mi alma hoy.
Himnos que me ayudan a alabar y adorer al Señor: El Espíritu de Dios, La oración del Profeta, Asombro me da, Dios vive, Jesús es mi luz.
Dos hombres fueron a la oficina del Presidente de la iglesia John Taylor para resolver sus dificultades. Ellos quisieron que el profeta los indicara que hacer para resolver sus problemasl el profeta los hizo cantar un himno y luego otro y más y más. Después de esto solamente se levantáron y se despidíeron porque no hubo problema.
Mi himno favorito es Soy un hijo de Dios. Mi tía escribió por la Liahona lo que le sucedió. Había una conferencia de provenir y los líderes necesitaban un Nuevo himno.
La Presidencia General de la Primaria le pidió a ella para que lo escribiera. Ella se fue a su casa y se arrodilló al lado de su cama. Rogó al Señ que le ayudara a cumplir la taréa. Después se acostó. Ella despertó durante la noche y las palabras la viníeron, "Soy un Hijo de Dios." Ella tomó un lapis y escribió ls palabras. Mas palabras la vinieron y aun mas "El me envoi aquí. Me ha dado un hagar y padres Buenos para mí. Guí-en me; en-sénen me la senda a seguir, para que algun dia y con El pueda vivir.
Ella escribió todas las palabras que el Señor le dio. Ella entregó las palabras a otra Hermana encaargada de componer la música. El Señor había dado a ella la melodía que quedába perfectamente con las palabras. Un milagro verdadero! El Señ quiere que nosotros sepamos que somos sus hijos. Este himno se canta por todo el mundo.
Deseo que podamos cantar los himnos del Señ en nuestrascasas mientras que trabajamos, hacemos noches de hogar, durante las reunions y cuando queremos acercarnos al Señor.
En el nombre de Jesucristo, amen.
Monday, January 20, 2014
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Thursday, January 16, 2014
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