HAPPY HAPPY UN-BIRTHDAY!

My Amazing Missionary Companion will turn 15 and 1/4 Birthdays old this
Thursday night on the third chime of the Grandfather clock at mid-night.
(exact time brought to us by Travis!)

Grandpa loves to sing in Primary!

He is organized and sets up many visits and appointments.

He shares his testimony,

meets in many meetings with many friends,

Always on the phone answering questions and setting up more appointments.

sharing principles and scriptures,

encouraging, laughing, interviewing, 

planning, figuring, auditing, even on P-day while the sheets are on the line.

correcting, finding, recording,

sharing joy with Temple goers, assisting, praying, loving, training, teaching, caring, 

likes driving crazy roads with a giant smile,

and visiting in homes about the Gospel of Jesus Christ 
(which is His very favorite part of the work!)

I love, like, adore, appreciate, look up to, admire, am thankful for, am happy to be with (or be around), respect, think amazing is, found heaven in, can't laugh without, am impressed by, dream about, cherish, have sparkly eyes because of, won't trade anything for, smiling because of, will do anything for, don't want one day without, smile when I see, want to be just like, wish I was more like, really truly madly deeply like, can think of a million other reasons to like my COMPANION!!!  (words I love and couldn't resist for my husband so I borrowed them!  originally written by Brooke for her husband! We can only hope they aren't copyrighted...if so I will pay in handmade soap which is already in her basement!!)

Love you Elder Benedict!!!  Happy Happy Un-Birthday! ;)

Another Great Week...

We had the opportunity to represent the church this week at a Thank you ceremony because of a freezer that was purchased through the Humanitarian fund.  Grandpa shared with them that Jesus wants us to share our blessings with others, because that is what Our Savior did His whole life.  He also talked about the importance of family and how important children are.  

Many people in Mosteiros live off the land.  Now they can bring some of their vegetables, chickens, fruits, etc. to share with the school children when they have extra. We were kindly received and the parents, so appreciative, wanted Grandpa to put the first vegetables in the freezer! 

Probably the highlight of the week was attending two conferences in our district.  One for the Young Men/Young Women on Tuesday (about 90 youth) and another for the young single adults (about 80 youth) on Wednesday.   They were kind to have us speak. Grandpa talked about how Truth is not relative. It doesn't change because of our ideas.  It stays the same because God knows the truth. He shared how the church is the same in every congregation in the world. We cannot change God's laws to accommodate our desires, but we can change our desires to obey God's laws (Eternal Truth).  I spoke about choice, and how every blessing is predicated on a law established before the world was, using the scripture in Doctrine & Covenants 130: 20-21

 These photos show some of the activities they had during the conference.  It was held in the Public School.

I was just thinking about other things this past week and will quickly type just a few so some day, I will remember the day-to-day. It all goes so fast. This past week, we enjoyed the conferences and the humanitarian presentation, a few families have visited with us needing food, we've had counsels with people who want to do better in their lives, some long meeting/trainings about audits of church funds, missionary visits, interviews, meeting with the Branch Presidents and secretaries in the district, and I helped with a fun Relief Society activity for the Congresso Branch. We spoke with a hospital representative to set up visits for next week, when our mission doctor from Germany will come to tour the hospitals on the islands. Grandpa set up 2 computer systems, did three trainings in MLS, oil change for the car, contract for apt., we visited Institute and Seminary teachers and attended 3 of their classes, got to tell a family about their missionary leaving for Portugal tomorrow, and told a young lady that she just got her call to Brasil! Somewhere in there we clorox the vegetables and mop the floor. Had company from another island for lunch and dinner as they missed their boat. Attended a wonderful Temple preparation class and a Family Home Evening. Grandpa spoke during a ring ceremony to a newly married couple. Attended a baptism for a family that glowed. Grandpa had his normal 6 am District Pres. mtg. on Sunday morning and we attended meetings in two branches and had visits with the zone leaders and others who came after they left.  We are starting to plan for the District Conference in March. Hard to believe it is already time to do that. Talked to a branch about the Perpetual Education Fund and will be setting up a class for them.  We met with three Relief Society Presidents about assisting families. Each visit requires training as the church is so new here.  These faithful people are helping each other without cars or means really and the Church is blessing many to understand the basic principles of love and of self reliance.

The days are busy and we are thankful. The phone rings alot.  The emails are full with things to do...and as we travel these crazy roads, we are loving our mission and trying to keep up with our blessings. One thing I have learned beyond any doubt.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is alive and well because of the Many Miracles needed to make it all work.  And it does!  There is no question who is in charge.

Inspiration...

Our whole island smiles when President and Sister Oliveira come for a visit.

Their leadership is outstanding! 

They are Prepared.  Interesting.  Fun.  Inspired.

And when Sister Oliveira was demonstrating how to make a salad...so the missionaries will stay alive and well...we glanced over and noticed the look of appreciation and love on President Oliveira's face.  

Many things could be said about living the kind of life that makes great leaders great.  But the way they treat each other is what makes us believe all the other words.  We love this great couple and are so thankful to be working under their thoughtful leadership, inspiration, example, and love.

The three years that they are serving here will impact countless blessings in the lives of theses missionaries and their future families forever.

We know because of President and Sister George Oakes (Elder Benedict's first Mission President in the Brasil North Mission, and because of President and Sister Craig Earnshaw (our Mission President in the Brasil, Porto Alegre do Sul Mission).  We have been blessed by so many wonderful leaders and their influence in our lives is immeasurable.  The missions of our parents and our children inspire us each day that we serve.  We are so grateful.

school and life...

Oh that every child could afford to go to school, to have paper, pencils, crayons, scissors, tape, and dreams.

A clean piece of paper, for me, is like jewelry or chocolate. And behind every pencil that actually sharpens without disappearing is a giant smile with ideas!

And 3" by 5" cards...well...life is good and just gets better!

 (All Photos taken after school, so missing lots of students!)

  Our church has helped many children attend school with their needed supplies, and also with the water lines to some of the schools that did not have water before.

Children everywhere have the gift of wonder.  That creativity blooms in the soil of encouragement and in the light of love once basic needs are met.

Water, light, paper, tape or glue (when I was young, my mother made our paste from flour and water...I tried it again last week for a young woman project...still works!), pencils, crayons, and dreams...such blessings...because today unfolds the future.

For all of us.

Tender-Mercy-Missing-Moments

"How can you leave your family to go on a mission for two years?"

Our answer: "How can we Not?"

(Our entire lives we have been blessed by knowing that we have a purpose in life, that we can learn and grow and forgive and repent and know that our Family can be together forever because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  How can we not share such blessings?)

Is it difficult to leave grandchildren and children to be on a mission?

Our answer is: "Oh My...YES!"

Maybe it's the one-year-half-way-through-the-mission-mark?  I find myself yearning to touch the dimpled hands of the grandchildren we haven't held. There are moments when I look at the clock, figure the time differences, and have to catch my breath when a grandchild is born, baptized, playing in a concert, kicking a goal on a Saturday drenched lawn, having a Birthday!  I can hear their laughter...each one has their own.  I can see the tilt of their heads, their smiles, and remember their colors and their treasures...but I can't hug them...and they are changing and growing...and that is hard.  I already knew it would be.  We had 5 grandchildren born while we were on our mission in Brasil.  And I look at the calendar and count the days between Chemo treatments for my Mother...and I want to give her a hug...and she tells me everything is fine...and that they are praying for us!   There are not words for some stretchings...

But, on Sunday... Leandra sat by me.  (The children are sweet to do that in every branch!) And...I received a sweet email from one of our children...and I read an important scripture (written just for me it seems) and I know what to do next.  Tender Mercies just when we need them most.

And...I remembered promises I have made. And I am thankful for this time we have to serve. We are loving our time together.  We are learning so much. I know our children and grandchildren are being blessed.  And I know that Heavenly Father has asked us to share His love with all of His children.  It is easy to do that with our family...and it is easy to do that with His family when a little-sister-girl named Leandra winds her way to sit by me.  It's the sweet tender mercies, the moment-miracles that help me to know...

not only where I am at...

but why...

and that is enough.

Thank You My Daniel light-switch-everything-electrical-circuits boy!  
We are having a Happy Mission!
I wouldn't trade it for anything!
(except the thing we are hoping to trade it for...the gift of being with you forever!)

Jogos (games)

In America, families oftimes have a closet shelf devoted to storing games and videos. Here in Fogo, one deck of Uno cards has been used for two years by the almost 55 young single adults that use the center.   We have a ping pong table, a checkers set, (missing one checker), and we all make up games which they really enjoy as well. McKenzie-reader-writer-thinker, asked a great question: What do the families do together for fun?  I asked some of the youth what their families do together...and they responded:  We eat together.  We sing together.  We pray together.  (A closet full of games and movies is not a part of life here, let alone a closet.)  

Usually the entertainment centers around people, food, and music.  The members LOVE family home evenings, they love being together once a week in a planned time together.   It is a reason to celebrate.  They love to sing the hymns, have a lesson and then some refreshment! We have been in tiny homes where twenty people (parts of families and neighbors) come for Family Home Evening. Often we go on the roof or out into the night sky to have room for everyone. I ask myself: If people are not preoccupied with 'things' do they enjoy 'people' more? 

It seems everyone finds their own enjoyment.  Other than family home evening, families are usually busy with ways to get and prepare their daily food, sweeping in and outside the house, doing laundry by hand, and visiting in the streets.

Games are played to pass the time during the day.  It is very common to see men sitting in the streets playing games or cards.

The children here are like children everywhere and will always find fun things to do!

                     I wondered if the Primary children would like a fish pond for a branch activity...but soon after their turn...found the young men and women were also intriqued!  

Such a hit!...the Relief Society had to try as well!

Everyone enjoys activities and games!

 Even pulling at a string to see if it pulls through or if there is a surprise at the end of it--- holds the interest of the whole branch!  Small pieces of wrapped taffy (about half the size of a candy kiss) are the prizes!  They are called: 'drops'

Soccer in the streets is second nature, homemade kites (see earlier post about kites), and spending time with friends.

Two things I know for sure.   #1:  To have a great time together...

 all you need is a tablecloth, a stick, a string, and drops!  AND... #2:

  Grandmas all over the world...LOVE THEIR GRANDS!!!  (especially me!)