Christmas...Lollipops...Gratitude...

For me, this is one of the moments that I will remember when I think of Christmas 2012...
 

We were busy loading the empty pans from all of the pies and real mashed potatoes and gravy etc. into the car. We had just enjoyed a grand Christmas luncheon that Pres. and Sister Oliveira give for the missionaries! (It is always special when they visit Fogo). We had sent all of the missionaries home with enough yummy food for another dinner... and we were about to take a deep breath from the decorating, baking, and preparing. We were bent over the trunk of the car ready to go home and start the clean-up and dishes...when a few children gathered to see what was going on. I remembered some suckers that I had used for decor. The little group started with three then four then these six and in the end, they had run to gather their neighbors and I was glad to have just enough for the children that came out of no where! 

The smiles and gratitude on their faces made my Heart Celebrate! Truly these little people gave me the best gift of all. I will be more grateful. 

We are grateful for each of you...our parents, children, grandchildren, and friends, for the Gospel plan of Happiness forever...and for the Eternal blessing of the life and love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, whom we are celebrating!  He offers us a fulness of Life ...and more than we can even imagine... and the best part: Noone needs to be left out of that Joy, if we choose to keep our covenants and to love each other.  Every one can decide! I really love that!

We love you and wish you a Very Very Merry Christmas!!!

Our little Christmas tree has scriptures about Light (Truth) and Love...Seems to me, that those are the most important gifts we can receive and share... and for those I am grateful...And for Elder-Potato-Peeler-Man of course!!!

Christmas and Decorations...

It't beginning to look alot like Christmas...

This week we are seeing Christmas decorations going up in the different zones of the city!  From used water bottle trees to tinsel strewn on wires, the neighborhoods are thinking Christmas Time!  I have been reading Talmage's: Jesus The Christ little by little and that has made this humble place and Christmas time extra special for me.  

Edy just came to invite us to come see what they have done in their zone!  He also came to wash the car.  Saturday, he needed 200 escudos for a haircut and clean shave as he was going to be sustained as the 2nd counselor in the Sao Filipe 2nd branch and wanted to look just right.  This is him just a couple of months ago, learning to tie a tie.  Several months ago, he used to come visit Grandpa each Tues. at 10 am.  He wanted to give up some traditions, and habits in his life.  He is now preparing to serve a mission.  He will do a great work. 

I watch these young people smile when they receive a white shirt.  They shave and trim their hair to look the best they can, and then add a tie for decoration.  As we see the few Christmas lights and the many handmade decorations, I see how Decorations really do represent Celebrations of things we value.

Oh, and I will not make fun ever again of having a tablecloth (rough cut or beautifully embroidered) in Relief Society... after this singular sight yesterday...because... I know... what it means...

It's beginning to feel alot like Christmas!

Family Night for Lucindo

Wednesday after Wednesday,  Lucindo Aderito Rodrigues Teixeira showed up at the young adult center to do family search with his 30 minutes on the computer. The center fills with young adults waiting for their turn on the computers, playing ping-pong, Uno, visiting, studying, applying for the Perpetual Education Fund, and emailing.  But for Lucindo, the need to search his genealogy and record his family names is paramount.

Lucindo had a free evening 7 months ago...(most evenings are free in Fogo and the people sit in front of their cement houses and visit into the night.)  Some of his friends were walking in front of his casa that evening... and they began visiting.  He wondered what their plans were and they invited him to attend something called: Family Home Evening (Noite Familiar).  That was last January.  Tomorrow night, Lucindo will begin teaching his Institute class.  He is excited to learn more about our Savior in studying the New Testament this semester.  As the Elder's Quorum President, he understands the importance of helping others learn as well.

He carefully takes the folded paper from his pocket, information that he has borrowed from his uncle.  Lucindo is second to the youngest of eleven children.  His Mother passed away when he was 5 years old and his father too, when he was 16 years old.  Lucindo is the only member of his family who attends church. He was baptized on Feb 25th, 2012 and has 5 months before he will be able to go on his mission and to the Temple to give his parents the opportunity of being sealed together forever.  His eyes light up when asked about his interest in Family Search...he says it is  because he has the power to bless his family forever.

Lucindo (on the right), with his friends...one already serving a mission in Mosambique, one on his way to Brasil, and the others waiting until they have had enough time in the church to put in their mission papers.  

Lucindo credits a Family Home Evening in January for the beginning of his conversion.  He has never had one with his own parents or brothers or sisters...

but if he has anything to do with it...He will...   He will! 

Dead Dog-Tired Question...

"Do you ever want to just sit down for a moment and like stop teaching the gospel because you are so tired? "

We laughed when we read your question my artist, piano player, singer, swimmer Hailey K!

and the answer is: YES!!!  Sometimes when we come home and I see the neighborhood dog sleeping, I think:  That's just how I feel!  (He always sleeps like this and always in the very middle of the road and I always think he's dead, but when we get closer, he just looks up, one eye at a time, and saunters slowly to the side.)  Being dead-dog-tired is one thing that missionaries really like and remember.  It feels so good to kneel down at night and after prayers just fall into bed. It takes about 3 seconds to fall asleep after those extra busy days! 

There must be a great reason why important things take time and require hard work.  I know all of your piano practicing makes you tired, but it is so much fun to learn a new piece and to become excellent!  (Your smile at your piano concert winked that to me!)  I know sometimes your Momma gets tired from getting up at night with little Lincoln man, but like most moms, she can't wait to go see that smile again in the morning! Your dad works so hard and he has to be tired too, but he loves to bless your family with food and clothes and a beautiful home from all of his work.  I can only imagine how tired you must be after a swim meet...when I was your age, I loved to dive over and over and do flips off the diving boards...and I loved to lay on the warm cement afterward near the pool and just close my eyes for a while...but then I was ready to climb back up and dive again!   Missions are like that. Every day is spanking brand new and I can't wait to see it unfold.  Staying  busy is great for me so I don't have time to think about missing you so much!!!  But there is time to rest and to eat and to exercise and study too.  I haven't put up photos of us sleeping...but we do...just not in the middle of the road...because that spot is already taken!!  ha!

I have to show you something that I never get tired of.  

A couple of months ago, we went to a branch on the other side of the island.  Grandpa had some interviews to do and I visited a Seminary class.  The teacher is a new member and thought she would fill the chairs by inviting all the children on the road in front of the church as well.  There was a five year old in Seminary, 2 eleven year olds, a 7  year old and some regular Seminary kids too.  The teacher was prepared and everyone of the kids just sat there listening quietly for the whole hour.  Two weeks later when we pulled up in front of the church, I saw these, 12 and 11 year old, boys just sitting on a wall studying from the New Testament Manuels that the teacher had given them. She didn't know that they had to wait until they are 14 to be in Seminary.  We invited them into the church to be more comfortable and asked how their day was coming and they were excited to quote some of the scriptures that they had memorized, then they forgot I was even there and continued studying.  Derlei was helping Meni fill out answers in the manuel.  I listened to them as they taught each other the scriptures.  I really love that.

A week later, we returned and Derlei brought me an orange.  It was his Baptism Day!  He loves the scriptures and can't hardly wait to be in Seminary when he is old enough.

I love to watch the Institute students teach each other as they study the scriptures too.  It is really interesting and inspiring for me to see these young men and a few young women...come twice a week to learn about the New Testament and some come back twice more a week to take Missionary Preparation classes.  They push half of the ping pong table up to another table, sit around it, and they just study the scriptures.  

The gospel is fairly new on this Island.  Many of these young people are the first members in their families.  They love to find out what it is all about.  I have a notebook full of their stories...many of them talk about how thankful they are to know about The Plan of Happiness because it has changed their lives so much.  They like to read a scripture and then talk about what it means.  So some days, I do get tired, but every morning it is fun to see if I can read my scriptures with new eyes, just like these pioneers.  I love to learn!  I love to see people smile when they understand a new truth... (and I love to sleep!)   Life is good!

A quick emergency answer for Alexa for tonight....

Dear Alexa, This photo of some of your cousins will make you smile everytime you think about it!  They would never want you to be afraid!!!  

Alexa asked:  one thing im always scared aboute is my friends ceep telling me that ther is a monster under my bed. what shood I do? do you no what to do? 

First of all, friends should not try to make you feel afraid, they should try to help you feel happy. Tell them that you hope they really will be good friends and not try to make you afraid.  Second, You shouldn't worry at all about monsters in the closet or under the bed or in your ear.  There are no such things as monsters except in Monster Inc.  But, if you find one, I hope it is green with purple dots and I hope it brings you presents like 3" by 5" cards or carob peanut clusters or something great!  And if it does...please share with me.

But really, I know this is serious, because I used to stay awake on guard about questions like this one.  When I was five...I used to be afraid to kneel down at night because... what if something really was under my bed?  One Sunday, my Primary teacher told us a story about President David O. McKay when he was little.  And do you know what?  He was afraid in the dark too...but he learned about faith and he decided to test it out.  So, he knelt down and said his prayers and then he climbed into bed and he slept so good.

When your Uncle Jason, was about 4 years old, he used to be "skeared" at night.  One night he had tears in his eyes and told me he was "skeared".  He was up on the top bunk...so he didn't have too worry about things under his bed, that would be his brother!  But, he really was scared and I know that's a real thing.  We said a prayer with him and he felt calm.  We told him that all he had to do if he woke up during the night was say a little prayer and he wouldn't be afraid anymore.  He said he would try. The next morning, he had a big smile on his face.  He had tested the promise.  He said, "I woke up and was skeared, but then I said a prayer and went right back to sleep." He has great faith now and he knows he can trust Heavenly Father's promises if we do our part. Faith means you try something out and then you know it is true.

So what is the promise and what is our part?  I found the best scripture ever and you will love it!  Get your favorite color of scripture marker and get your Book of Mormon and find Alma 37:37 (easy to remember for me...I like 3s and 7s ...and you just put those together two times.   ALMA 37:37  (page 303).  This scripture verse helps me alot. When you read it you will be able to sleep so good. Maybe you could write it down and put it right by your bed on the wall or dresser or something.   The scriptures tell the truth and so you can trust them.  Tell me what you think.  Love you Honey...  Sweet Dreams!

whistler boy...

This photo was taken from the car in passing...and it came with a nice surprise. 

Because:

At first, in the tiny camera lens, the lava rock landscape, donkey, jacket, everything... was gray.  Later however, as I down-loaded the photo, I discovered... a young boy whistling.

Really.  Whistling on a hot dusty day while on his way to get water.

I remember my father whistling.  My sister, just younger than me, whistles. My sweet husband whistles, and this young water boy whistles.  A whistler is a special person...one who carries a tune at all times.  Regardless of circumstance, weather or reason, a whistler has music going on in the background of his life.  He uplifts... and is uplifted by little happy strains.  Do sad or cynical people whistle?  I think not. This special music must come from smiles drawn into an accoustic circle.

I had to find out about this young  boy.  Which I did...a few weeks later.  I asked some of the kids (in a branch in the small town by where this photo was taken), if they might know the boy beneath the cerelean sky in my photo. Yup!  He is 11 and he whistles.  He is optimistic. He likes school.  He is nice to everybody.  They volunteered all of that and they told me his name.

There are so many wonderful, positive, happy, grateful people in this world, even on the hot days, even while hauling water.

I cannot whistle...but close to 9 years ago, my next-field-neighbor in Kooskia (she was very old and feeble now, but as a young medicene woman years before, was often called upon to give names to the children from her tribe).  On our last visit...she said she had been thinking about a name for me.   This beautiful weather lined Nez Pierce woman held my hand; her slow words reflecting her old age and her thoughtfulness.  "White Swan" was the name she had chosen. "Tundra swan only more beautiful" she spoke softly as I sat on her bedside.

 I looked up 'Tundra Swan'...they used to be called:  The Whistler Swan.

I like that.