Six on a cycle--lots of motorcycles in the Dominican Republic

La Reunion de Distrito--District Meeting and our choir

Pictures: Our choir, Elder & Sister Zivic, on the guagua

   Today we rode on a bus or guagua to Bani for District Meeting which is like stake conference I guess, we got a new district presidency.  Our mission president, President Rodriguez conducted.  Visiting was Elder Zivic and his wife from the First Quorum of the Seventy.  Our choir practiced for 2 hours yesterday, we drove an hour to get to Nizao and an hour back and I think they went through the 2 songs three times at the most.  The rest of the practice was standing and sitting.  Then we had to be there this morning at 8 am to catch the bus.  We loaded the bus at 9:40, the meeting began at 10 and was a half hour away and we were singing the prelude!  Oh from 8 to 9:40, we sat, waited, and went through the songs twice at the most.  The bus driver drove crazy to get there.  These buses are all beat up, dirty, have the door tied open and rattle the whole way.

     We wore white shirts or blouses, dark pants or faldas (skirts).  The boys or men blue ties, and the sister missionaries made blue flowers for the girls or sisters to wear.  We arrived at 2 minutes to 10, headed for the stand, somebody was already at the piano/organ.  The Mission President got up and told the missionary to move because I was to play the prelude.  This elder from Los Angeles learned the piano when he was young and he and I traded places, he the opening and closing song, and I the prelude and musical number.  The prelude was Abide with me Tis Even Tide (I got this song Thursday night and it's not in the simplified hymn booklet.  Tengo Gozo in Mi Alma (There is sunshine in My soul today I got Sunday.  For someone with my abilities I need a lot of time to practice.  We didn't get a miracle, but I didn't mess up too badly.  I play the best when they are singing and the worst when it's the prelude or interlude when it's just me.  Oh well, all these things will give you experience and will be for our good! right.  Elder and Sister Zivic shook our hands.  He was Brian Jensen's mission president in Spain.  Nancy and Ray met him when they went to pick Brian up.  I have a few pictures: (I may have to send them separate)

Love,

Mom

Hi, how are you all doing?

Hi kids and grandkids!  They had Mothers Day for the Spanish World this past week.  I, with the Mission President's wife had our pictures in the mission newsletter, honoring the only 2 mothers in the mission!:).  I'm grateful to be the mother of each of you!  You are so awesome!  And grateful to Dad that I could be a mom.

Did I tell you this: 

The last few weeks I can read the bulletin boards in Relief Society and Sunday School!.  Up until then I guessed what the lesson was on.  I finally got wise and would look up the lessons in English before I went, so I wouldn't be totally in the dark.  In Relief Society a couple of weeks ago it was on the organizacion de la Sociedad de Socorro.  Then the president asked, cuando?  Everyone sat there.  Then people were surprised when I raised my hand and said, diesisiete de marzo.  Then she asked the year and she handed me the chalk and I wrote on the blackboard next to her 17 March, 1842.  I didn't know how to say that in Espanol.  (mil, ochociento, cuarenta y dos.?)  I wanted to tell them that Martha McBride Knight and daughter Adeline were part of the 20 (veinte), but that wasn't to be. 

     Anyway, for weeks or months I just listened, lucky to pick up a word or two.  Not being able to understand or say anything, I have mostly just smiled, thanked them for their leccion (lesson) or message (mensaje).  I guess I can just cheer them on.  After all they learn by participating, and I obviously wasn't sent here to expound or impart much of anything.  A few times they would say something and look at me, and I would bare my testimony on the subject. I have a testimony of families.  They are central to God's plan.  Or when it was on temples.  I would simply say I have a testimony of the temple, my family many years ago helped build the temple in Lago Salago (Salt Lake)(I should have said Kirtland and Nauvoo too, oh well.)  Then I added that my husband and I were married there and each of our kids.  The ladies (only maybe 5 or 6 would smile and then the teacher would go on with the lesson.  At home later, I read the lesson in English and it mentioned the building of the SL Temple, etc. which I covered in my brief testimony, not sure what I should say or what few words I knew that I could use. Anyway, I got help.

     They call on me to offer prayers, in Relief Society or Sunday School and I do my best from the seniors manual from the MTC.  They often read and go down the row to each read a verse, and I just read, trying not to slaughter the language.  One day in Relief Society they were reading from Joseph Smith history, going down the row and reading until the president stopped you.  We got to the part of Joseph Smith seeing the Father and the Son (thank goodness I know some scriptures so well that I knew where we were.  I could have quoted it in English, but I had a hard time pronouncing the words but she didn't stop me and expected me to go on and on,  The Spirit was so strong, and I had a hard time with my emotions, but I read it to the end though not very well.  Then I said, "lo siento." (I'm sorry) and they all smiled or laughed.

      Also I'm beginning to pick out peoples names.   For a long time I couldn't hear one person's name, because the sounds were all garbled together as they talked.  When Brent and Judith came, I think they could understand why I couldn't tell peoples names. 

      One thing I notice is that I can understand the sisters when they give comments, because they are just like in English, they are laughing or complaining or crying about their roles, their families, etc.  I can get the gist of that! (smile!)    

     

     So anyway, life is hard and sad and fun and happy, right.  I guess we just keep going.  All this will give us experience, and will be for our good, right. 

     Hey, we had some amazing French dip sandwiches in the office this week.  It was Elder Pitti's birthday.  He is from Panana, a senior couple will soon replace him, but I used Aunt Nancy's recipe and we just ladeled out the juice into Styrofoam bowls, took out the meat from the crockpot, Dad sliced/shredded it, and the elders went down on it with pickles, olives, tons of chips, cantaloupe and fresh pineapple and potato salad that Annette was making.  I'm making those sandwiches for all of you when I come home!!

Love you all so very much!

Susan

Hey, how are you all doing?

Wow, I hear Brent and Judith are going to have this amazing 6 bedroom house within walking distance of the temple in Rexburg and the school will move them....Downside, they have to leave their friends, but Brent's teaching is going so well, also he has his picture and profile on the contributors for the new testament commentary web site!!!  Judith and Derek are finishing a great job at their school, cuts, piano and karate!.

 

Wow, Darren just got released from the high council--1st chair to be in the new Stake Young Men's Presidency. Jolynn's finishing preschool with Christian and Mike,. and Patrick made it into Madrigals and he and Darren are on the General YM May15th in the choir.  Cameron's been kicking soccer goals, Josh and Mike are awesome players as are Sydney and Celeste who just made apple pies in Activity Days.  Maylin had her first piano recital--hard piece.

 

Wow, Amy is going to tons of YW activities as the Laurel advisor, cooks amazing meals, and has her little gal so well taken care of! Grace sure smiles big and cute all the time!  They are coming here possibly in September!!  Jake began a new wonderful job that has changed a lot of logistics for their family.  He left a very wonderful job with his Dad and brother, and now travels in a carpool to 33rd and Redwood road.  It has tons of benefits, lagoon catering, paid vacations, amazing employees.  He just finished his training and works with some wonderful guys.

 

Wow, Andrea and Ross just finished a marathon weekend!  Allen was baptized!  Hooray Allen, he was baptized and confirmed and has been enjoying cub scouts and basketball.  Abby has been doing a great softball and enjoyed playing with the cousins this weekend.  Annette & Caleb and Hyrum were there, and Kevin and Jenn Gee and 3 kids came!  What a wonderful time with the baptism and little Jill's blessing.  That baby is darling and looks like Andrea did.  She sure wore a gorgeous dress!  Grandpa Tucker made it complete.  Now back to a calm work week--Ha!

 

Wow, Annette and Caleb and Hyrum, took a long drive and were there to support Andrea and Ross.  Caleb keeps getting promoted.  We served the Elders little bags of Bugles chips the other day.   Did you know that the marketing for that product was one of the first things Caleb's Dad when he worked as a young employee for General Mills.  They are a favorite, and so is Grandpa Shiley who is doing great things now for Walmart in Bentonville!  Annette's art of the Savior scenes are unsurpassed, as well as her cakes.  And get out of the way when she comes fencing!

 

Wow, Ashley and Kelland are getting a brand new yard.  New sod, and a retaining wall in the back, and a poured patio and fire pit!  That is so awesome!!!  And Kelland is doing big things for the school district and his school!  And Ashley is always successful with her kindergarten, her cute Claire, her home and her Young Women!  They are going to Disney World.  Lucky You!!! Oh, and how is Daisy--their darling dog? Ashley has callbacks on her voice, so keep praying.  Claire and her parents are almost out of school, like all of you!

 

Each of you are so awesome!  We cry to be with you and cry again when we miss your things.  We'll have to try to make it up to you some how.  I wonder if we are doing anything good here to justify all the effort to put us here, but we'll keep working at it.

 

The last few weeks I can read the bulletin boards in Relief Society and Sunday School.  Up until then I guessed what the lesson was on.  I got so I'd look it up in English before, so I wouldn't be totally in the dark.  In Relief Society a couple of weeks ago it was on the organizacion de la Sociedad de Socorro.  Then the president asked, cuando?  Everyone sat there.  Then people were surprised when I raised my hand and said, diesisiete de marzo.  Then she asked the year and she handed me the chalk and I wrote on the blackboard next to her 17 March, 1842.  I didn't know how to say that in Espanol.  (mil, ocho cein, cuarenta y dos.?) Anyway, for weeks I just listened, lucky to pick up a word or two.  I couldn't hear one person's name, because the sounds were all garbled together as they talked.  One thing I noticed is that I could understand the sisters comments, because they are just like in English, they are laughing or complaining about their roles, their families, etc.  I could get the jist of that! (smile!)

     The elders were so cute when they said they wanted to cook a mothers day dinner for me!  They reminded me all week!  I was so excited.  Then we crashed just at the time we were to be there.  Each of them had assignments, one to clean, one the drink, one the salad, one the jello (they notice I always have jello when they come here, one the main dish. I guess they all put in money to buy the ingredients, and they don't get much money on their debit cards.

      After the crash, neither dad or I could see by the light inside the truck the tiny numbers on a card of the elder's phones.  (Our hands or eyes were in shock and we couldn't dial them.) Then we got out of the truck, on the passenger side as Dad's side was all caved it.  The people on the street with cell phones and a street lamp tried to help us call.  After about 15 minutes or so we finally got one of them and 2 English elders Elder Reeder and Elder Klein, both are drivers (only 3 elders in the whole mission drive.) came.  Then the other driver who we collided with, followed us to the mission office around the corner while we got the other elder who can drive, Elder Scharman and his companion to go with us to the police station.  After a few hours we were back eating dinner at their table--they had a table cloth and chicken pasta in the biggest pot I have ever seen.  It was yummy and the company was awesome!  What a mothers day --especially after I got to talk to my real kids!!!

Love you all so very much!

Mom & Dad

A Mother in the Mission

This photo was to honor the President's wife and I as the mothers in the mission.

Open House Azua--Elders Reeder & Aguiniga set this up

Each organization taught you what they did when you went to their room.  The RS, YW in earlier photos and Primary, the Melchizedek third picture here, the Aaronic Priesthood 4th, and the mom and little boy are in front of the baptismal font.  This is one of the bigger wards in the Sur or south, they might make that area into a stake. This is an open house about 2 1/2 hours away where the missionaries planned an open house and passed out 500 fliers.  They got about half that in the people who attended, but there was a great spirit there and they got tons of referrals. 

    We love you all so much!!

Love,

Mom & Dad

How's your week going? Como le va?

Hi family!  How are things!  We've had a wonderful few days.  On Saturday we drove to Azua--founded in 1500's.  Elder Reeder and Elder Aguiniga invited us to come.  It ended up that the AP's needed some mattresses taken out there, so they tied them on and Dad and I drove to Azua.  Few streets are marked so with the cell phone, they directed us to their chapel.  The church has the classrooms on the bottom and you go upstairs for the chapel and multipurpose room.  We went to zone conference a few months ago.  Their branch had displays in all the rooms, the YM told of their activities as they stood by the baptismal font filled with water, so did the YW in their room.  The girls wanted to know how to say Beehive, MiaMaid, and Laurel in English.  (Avejitas, Damitas, Laureles.)  All the many years I worked with YW, it was so fun to see these girls all prepared, with homemade decorations, signs and tablecloths proud to be young women.  The Relief Society was awesome, Charity never Faileth (Claridad nunca falla) with a hand made poster of the emblem. After people toured the rooms and heard the presentations they all went to the upstairs in the chapel to hear the CES area director speak.  It ends up they are the Rappelyes from Layton.

     Then we drove back toward Santo Domingo and stopped at our branch for 2 young women to be baptized.  We arrived just in time as the branch president and a former missionary did the baptizing.  The Sister Missionaries (both from the DR) in our branch can't baptize, but did the music and prayers.  The elders from a nearby branch came to witness it.  Elder Kylan Larsen from Annette & Caleb's stake in Bentonville, and Elder Connell from Georgia.  It was awesome!

     Next morning was Sunday and we traveled back out to Nizao for church.  In Relief Society I could read the board, "Que fecha --de la organizacion de Sociodad de Soccoro .  Anyway, I could read that the lesson was on the organization of the Relief Society.  And when the president began her lesson I could understand her.  No one knew the date so I raised my hand, they were surprised and told her 17 de marzo.  She wanted the year and I couldn't say it, but I motioned for the chalk and I wrote it on the board next to the beginning of the date that she had already written 1842.  It was surprising how much of what she said I could understand.

      In Sunday School I could likewise read the blackboard, " offering up the sacraments upon the holy day.  So I get a little more each day.

I played in Sac Mtg.  On "Praise to the Man" the people kind of have their own speed or tempo, but I tried.  Dad said the 2nd song I did really good--"Jesus Once of Humble birth." 

     At home the elders came to dinner--40 minutes late!, but we still fed them.  We did a little activity after and they really got into it.  You put up your 10 fingers and say something you haven't done and everybody that has done it has to put a finger down.  I did "never taught a missionary discussion and everybody put one down"  They said never been swimming on their mission and Dad and I had to put one down.  The winning comment was "I've never been a Lamanite and the 3 missionaries from Mexico, Panama and Guatemala where the last with Elder Klein from Arizona and they were out.  Say, I thought they were children of Lehi, are they really considered Lamanites? Send us your ideas, it helps with the bonding.  They then shook our hands to leave, stood in a semi circle with arms around each others shoulders--take our picture"--and I did and then they said they wanted to cook for me next week for Mothers Day.  It was so cute!  I miss you all so much but the Lord gave me some temporary kids.

     Today we had Pico de Gallo for Cinco de Mayo--poco tarde and chips and salsa after our meeting.  They called on my for the Closing Prayer.  I've been practicing the last few days as the Spirit said to get ready.  When I finished they all smiled and congratulated me.  I guess when you kids were little and you gave your first prayers we were so excited and cheered you on.  Same thing I guess.

     Lots of love.  Tell us what you are doing.  We have been so blessed by being part of your lives!! 

Love,

Mom & Dad   I'll try to send some pictures.