New Missionaries with their trainers. Elder Hunt is on the far left
New Missionaries at the mission home! Elder Hunt is in the Center
New Missionaries at the Temple. Elder Hunt middle back.
New Missionaries coming from the airport.
New Missionaries coming from the airport.Dear Family and Friends, August 28, 2010
What a wonderful couple of weeks we have had! I’ve really thought a lot this week about the amazing blessings that can come through missionary service. In the last couple weeks we have watched eighteen wonderful mature young men finish their missions and return home. We have also welcomed eighteen new young men who are just beginning their service here in Paraguay. It’s interesting each change to watch the contrast in the two groups of missionaries. The returning group is confident, full of wonderful experiences that have helped them grow in their testimonies and understanding of the gospel. They are excited and ready for the next steps in their lives. This group was especially focused and certain of the role the Savior plays in each of their lives and it was evident in the testimonies they shared with us the night before they flew home. They recognized that they are who they are now, because of the challenging and difficult things they have done over the last two years here in the mission. They know that they are prepared for whatever comes next in their lives. There was a quiet peace and joy in their faces (along with some tears) as we said good bye to each of them.
The arriving missionaries come with excitement along with a little nervousness and fear of what they are about to experience here in the mission, in a new and foreign country. We also see in most of them a determination to take this new situation the Lord has given them and do the best they can here. They have made covenants and accepted this calling and are ready to fulfill it. It’s nice to imagine how they will all be in two years when they have gone through the experience of the next two years. The mission is such a wonderful way for these young people to prepare for their marriages and lives in the future. It is so evident as we compare the arriving and leaving groups of missionaries during change week, that there is so much needed growth that can happen in their lives during this time.
I also have been thinking about the role that families play in the lives of the missionaries during their missions. Even though we are all separated by many miles from our families, the things we do and say can have far reaching effects as we support our missionaries. Our families are also effected by the things we as missionaries do and say. I know for me a scripture I read often that gives me comfort is D&C 31 that speaks of the blessings that come to missionaries and their families. I also know that the promises given to missionaries are real because I have seen them in my life. As we leave our homes, families, girlfriends, and all things in our lives at home behind and focus on the work, we will be blessed and so will they. I have seen some missionaries come who try to be too tightly connected to girl friends, events at home etc. and really struggle. When they finally decide to be more focused on the work here, they become happy and wonderful missionaries instead of miserable, struggling missionaries. The happiest missionaries are those who are 100% obedient to all the mission rules. Families can also help by helping their missionaries to keep all the rules. The Brethren have told us that missionaries can only email their immediate families, (parents, siblings, grandparents) and that is all. All letters to girlfriends and other friends and relatives are to be sent and received by regular mail. When we help our missionaries be exactly obedient with this they can feel confident and then they are able to feel the spirit and receive the help they need to be successful missionaries. We love these missionaries and want all of them to have wonderful and successful experiences as they share this glorious gospel with the people of Paraguay! We have seen some true miracles as young men who recommit to being obedient have had total changes in their hearts and then have gone on to be excellent missionaries. What a privilege to see these experiences in the lives of these young missionaries.
Tuesday the airport was exciting as we welcomed Elders Barboza, Beckett, Brown, Butcher,Davis,Griffin,Guizada,Hunt,Larsen,Madsen,McGee, Nelson,Obray,Richards,Tyler,Van Mondfrans,Villalba, and Yaringano . It is always a miracle when those big groups all get here with every piece of luggage. We immediately went to the temple and then to lunch. Afterwards we went to the office for orientation and interviews with President. After dinner we came to the mission home for dessert and then testimony meeting. The new elders bore sweet testimonies in their new language of Spanish. It’s a long couple days for the new missionaries with a lot to take in but they do pretty well, considering all they go through to get here. After a night’s rest at a local hotel they headed downtown to sign their legal papers and then they came back to the office to meet their trainers. By 10am or so they were all off to their new areas to begin working!
As soon as the new elders were off, President started interviews with the leaving missionaries. We went to lunch with the leaving missionaries and then to the temple for a session and then to the mission home for dessert and testimony meeting. Our leaving missionaries, Elders Bill, Carrasco, Dobbins, Draves, Fifer,Hoyle,Lytle ,Najac ,Santacruz ,and Sosa all left Thursday. It was an interesting day with three separate trips to the airport. What great missionaries! We will miss them! We love the energy that we receive from the missionaries as we interact with them. We truly feel a great love for them and are grateful for the experiences we are having as we help with the work of helping the people here learn about our Savior and this wonderful gospel and church!
We hope you all have a great week! Love, Mark and Sandy
What a wonderful couple of weeks we have had! I’ve really thought a lot this week about the amazing blessings that can come through missionary service. In the last couple weeks we have watched eighteen wonderful mature young men finish their missions and return home. We have also welcomed eighteen new young men who are just beginning their service here in Paraguay. It’s interesting each change to watch the contrast in the two groups of missionaries. The returning group is confident, full of wonderful experiences that have helped them grow in their testimonies and understanding of the gospel. They are excited and ready for the next steps in their lives. This group was especially focused and certain of the role the Savior plays in each of their lives and it was evident in the testimonies they shared with us the night before they flew home. They recognized that they are who they are now, because of the challenging and difficult things they have done over the last two years here in the mission. They know that they are prepared for whatever comes next in their lives. There was a quiet peace and joy in their faces (along with some tears) as we said good bye to each of them.
The arriving missionaries come with excitement along with a little nervousness and fear of what they are about to experience here in the mission, in a new and foreign country. We also see in most of them a determination to take this new situation the Lord has given them and do the best they can here. They have made covenants and accepted this calling and are ready to fulfill it. It’s nice to imagine how they will all be in two years when they have gone through the experience of the next two years. The mission is such a wonderful way for these young people to prepare for their marriages and lives in the future. It is so evident as we compare the arriving and leaving groups of missionaries during change week, that there is so much needed growth that can happen in their lives during this time.
I also have been thinking about the role that families play in the lives of the missionaries during their missions. Even though we are all separated by many miles from our families, the things we do and say can have far reaching effects as we support our missionaries. Our families are also effected by the things we as missionaries do and say. I know for me a scripture I read often that gives me comfort is D&C 31 that speaks of the blessings that come to missionaries and their families. I also know that the promises given to missionaries are real because I have seen them in my life. As we leave our homes, families, girlfriends, and all things in our lives at home behind and focus on the work, we will be blessed and so will they. I have seen some missionaries come who try to be too tightly connected to girl friends, events at home etc. and really struggle. When they finally decide to be more focused on the work here, they become happy and wonderful missionaries instead of miserable, struggling missionaries. The happiest missionaries are those who are 100% obedient to all the mission rules. Families can also help by helping their missionaries to keep all the rules. The Brethren have told us that missionaries can only email their immediate families, (parents, siblings, grandparents) and that is all. All letters to girlfriends and other friends and relatives are to be sent and received by regular mail. When we help our missionaries be exactly obedient with this they can feel confident and then they are able to feel the spirit and receive the help they need to be successful missionaries. We love these missionaries and want all of them to have wonderful and successful experiences as they share this glorious gospel with the people of Paraguay! We have seen some true miracles as young men who recommit to being obedient have had total changes in their hearts and then have gone on to be excellent missionaries. What a privilege to see these experiences in the lives of these young missionaries.
Tuesday the airport was exciting as we welcomed Elders Barboza, Beckett, Brown, Butcher,Davis,Griffin,Guizada,Hunt,Larsen,Madsen,McGee, Nelson,Obray,Richards,Tyler,Van Mondfrans,Villalba, and Yaringano . It is always a miracle when those big groups all get here with every piece of luggage. We immediately went to the temple and then to lunch. Afterwards we went to the office for orientation and interviews with President. After dinner we came to the mission home for dessert and then testimony meeting. The new elders bore sweet testimonies in their new language of Spanish. It’s a long couple days for the new missionaries with a lot to take in but they do pretty well, considering all they go through to get here. After a night’s rest at a local hotel they headed downtown to sign their legal papers and then they came back to the office to meet their trainers. By 10am or so they were all off to their new areas to begin working!
As soon as the new elders were off, President started interviews with the leaving missionaries. We went to lunch with the leaving missionaries and then to the temple for a session and then to the mission home for dessert and testimony meeting. Our leaving missionaries, Elders Bill, Carrasco, Dobbins, Draves, Fifer,Hoyle,Lytle ,Najac ,Santacruz ,and Sosa all left Thursday. It was an interesting day with three separate trips to the airport. What great missionaries! We will miss them! We love the energy that we receive from the missionaries as we interact with them. We truly feel a great love for them and are grateful for the experiences we are having as we help with the work of helping the people here learn about our Savior and this wonderful gospel and church!
We hope you all have a great week! Love, Mark and Sandy
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