Protection by the Holy Spirit

December 28, 2014

About 2 weeks ago we met with security representatives from church headquarters.  They are continually monitoring missions and working with the missionaries to ensure as much safety as possible.  We do not live in a “safe” mission and have several incidents a week.  Fortunately these incidents are usually thieves just wanting a few pesos.  They have never resulted in any bodily harm.  We teach the missionaries to hand over anything they have when asked.  They have been instructed to offer no resistance.

Keith receives letters from the missionaries each week.  We were touched by the following letter – these two Elders experienced both of these incidents in one day!  We are so thankful for the blessings of the Holy Spirit!

From Elder Cam.

It was a day of interesting events. In the morning, my companion and I were walking through one of the streets that were a shortcut to a sister's house.  On the way three men surrounded us and began to ask for our money. The tranquility that I felt let me know that they weren’t trying to assault us or do us harm. I told them that my companion and I were representatives of Jesus Christ and we had nothing of value other than the Gospel. I felt like starting a contact (joke). The men moved away and relaxed and one of them said: "My respects for the messengers of Jesus Christ” and let us go.

After that, we were walking back along a street in our area and suddenly two men grabbed Elder Lar. and myself and wanted our money and said other things.  At that moment, I felt uneasy and thought that they would hurt us. Just then, a sister of the Ward walked by and we were given a chance to flee.

Things were never easy for the Savior, why would it be for us? The Lord was rejected and crucified by his own people.  Maybe we will not be crucified but rejection is something we have to live with. He felt discouraged but never stopped working until he had completed His work.  Yes, we are not asked to die for this work but it is something that we can never deny. That day I saw miracles and protection like I have never in my life experienced. I could not be in a better place now.

A sweet letter from Elder Ord.

This week we were able to baptize a sister who has been receiving lessons for 5 years. We always kept teaching but she never wanted to be baptized.

We continued visiting her hoping that someday she would be baptized. Then on Tuesday we ate with her and we were able to teach a lesson to her. We teach with the video "He is the Gift" and it touched her heart. We extended the baptismal invitation and we had not finished when she said "Yes".  Her husband is the 2nd counselor in the bishopric and was baptized 5 years ago. On Saturday she was baptized with her two daughters... Miracles of Christmas!

The safety and well-being of our missionaries is always in our prayers and in the prayers of their parents.  They are so often protected and guided!

Music

December 21, 2014

Music is so very powerful!  We attended one of the Neza Wards today.  Along with us came our youngest son Jeff, his wife Stephanie, and their 2 year old daughter Colette.  Stephanie had played a rendition of “Silent Night” the previous week in their ward in California.  Keith “offered” her abilities to the ward for the Sacrament service today.

She played so beautifully and I truly felt the love of my Heavenly Father pour over me.  It was a wonderful moment and I felt such peace.  Music can do that – it can open the spirit to feelings from above.

We struggle sometimes with music in the mission.  Do we let our missionaries listen to it – and what are the guidelines of what they can listen to?  Can they only listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir or can they include gospel singers?  What about classical music – and then the wonderful music from Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera?  Sometimes we wonder if we should draw the line or put faith in our missionaries to draw their own lines!

With everything that can be used for good, the adversary has found a way that it can be used for bad.  Music can turn you away from spirituality as quickly as it can turn you towards it.  It becomes one’s choice.

I personally find good music to be one of the quickest ways of turning my spirit towards my Heavenly Father.  It calms my soul and transports me to a better place.  At this time of the year, it is hard to express how much I love Christmas music.  It becomes a touch with my past and makes me smile.  It brings tears to my eyes as my mind fills with memories.  I am thankful for it.  Feliz Navidad!

Christmas distractions know no international boundaries

December 14, 2014

Christmas is always so busy.  I had hoped it would be a little different down here – that was just a dream.  I guess I thought I was always so busy because I lived in Oroville.  Wrong! Although the distractions are different, they exist none the less!

Distractions this week: broken garbage disposal, broken dryer, broken freezer, and van in body shop (another story), 7 hour long Christmas Party for 206, Elder at hospital, 2 Elders staying with us for 2 days, training meetings,  and one tired body.

Every Christmas day, I look back at the month of December and wish I had spent more time contemplating the birth of Christ and less time being pulled in many “Christmas” directions.  After all, Christ is the reason that we even have this holiday.  Once again, as in years past, I will try and have a stronger focus on Jesus Christ in the coming days.  What a blessing that our Heavenly Father loved us enough to send His son, Jesus Christ, to redeem this world.  What a difference that one baby made.

Focus Susan, Focus!

I'll be Home for Christmas

December 7, 2014

This song had little meaning until I had moved away from home.  Before then it was just pretty words – afterwards it would pull at my heart strings.

We put Elder Somppi on a plane yesterday headed for home in California.  We were supposed to have him until the first part of April.  However a trip in his apartment, during a dark night, bought him a ticket home sooner.  Crunches don’t do well with uneven roads, lots of stairs, and miles of walking.

I watched him as we gave him the unexpected news – the news that he would “be Home for Christmas.”  He started to go through the five stages of grief with denial and anger (at least for a few seconds), but quickly passed on to the acceptance stage.  His parents flew right by all stages to land at pure excitement.  

As the news spread I would see the look on some of the other missionary’s faces.  It’s hard being away from those you cherish. Momentary jealousy, sometimes just longing, would be reflected.  And then, just as quickly, their dedication to continue serving the Lord in Mexico would return.  We all know that the Lord has His hand in all of our lives.  He knows where we are to be, and what we should be doing, if we just trust in His will.

“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” plays again in my mind….”if only in my dreams.”

The Lessons of Thanksgiving

November 27, 2014

Our first Thanksgiving in Mexico – notes for next year:

          Make twice the mashed potatoes and half the gravy – Latino’s love their “papas” but don’t know what to do with gravy.

          Don’t put butter on the table.  Rolls are eaten plain.

          Sweet potatoes are white – no amount of cinnamon or brown sugar will turn them to the beautiful orange color.

          Chorizo is not a good replacement for Jimmy Dean’s sausage in dressing.

          Buy a metal potato masher.  Plastic will not hold up.

          Have a working garbage disposal instead of just Elders.

          Latino’s prefer their beloved Jell-O plain.  Addition of fruit, cottage cheese, marshmallows and whipped cream means it won’t be eaten.

          No amount of homemade chocolate chip cookies will be enough.

          Don’t give everyone flu shots following dinner – it’s a downer.

Americanized Mexico

November 23, 2014

Keith keeps saying that this is not the Mexico he served in 44 years ago.  So many things have changed here.

Americanized Mexico:

·         We sat with some friends eating waffles and pancakes the other morning.  The only Mexican thing on the table was the fruit milk.  Pancakes have become a great love down here – I even see them served at Church functions.  And of course you can buy Krusteazs.

·         100% of my Christmas decorations were purchased at Home Depot, Walmart, or Miguel’s (Michaels in the states)

·         IPhones are a common site

·         Churches have wireless abilities and projectors are hidden in the ceilings.

·         Carl’s Jr., Domino’s, Burger King, Papa John’s, and McDonald’s are not hard to find.

Still just Mexico

·         Vendors greet you at corners, even on the freeways, selling their goods

·         Jell-O can be purchased on any street – they do this whole layered thing even with nuts.  They hand you a glob on a napkin and you eat away.

·         Guards protect each church

·         Old VW buses as used as “combis”  to transport citizens everywhere

·         Agua Frescas – drinks made with everything from wheat, rice, and fruit are sold on the street.

What I am still longing to still find: siestas.

Me an answer to a prayer?

November 12, 2014

Today was airport day.  We had six Elders to deliver and they left in batches of 2.  The first batch of 2 – Americans - flew out at 9AM.  We picked them up at 6:30 AM and headed to the airport.  All went well.

We returned to the mission office to pick up the next set.  They were both leaving around 11AM.  Along with that we needed to take Elder Baldeon (Peru bound) to the Immigration Office to correct a VISA problem so he could fly home at 2PM.  We have 2 terminals in the huge Mexico City airport.  Our two 11AM flyers (both Mexican residents) were going out of Terminal 2.  The Immigration Office resides in Terminal 1.  We arrived at Terminal 2 to find a line of about 30 cars waiting to park.  When the lot fills up, you get in line and wait for someone to leave (I know there could be many comments here which I will just skip saying..)  Since there is always a time factor, Keith decided to drop me and the 2 Mexican Elders at Terminal 2, and he would go and work with Immigration Office in Terminal 1 with Elder Baldeon.  Through broken Spanish and English, I got both Mexican Elders in the right place.  I still had 15 minutes before Keith would return to pick me up and I was hungry.  I stopped at the OXXO (like 7-11) and grabbed a mango milk (wish the US had this!).  I looked down the long concourse of the terminal and saw 4 vacant seats so walked over and sat in one.  Just a few moments later I heard the word “miembro” and “no dinero.”  I looked over to see that a “suited” young man had sat in the 4^th chair and he was talking with 3 others.  I wondered if he was a missionary since I wasn’t at the right angle to see a name tag. I stood up and walked over.

Elder Marrquillo was trying to return home to Guatemala from the Cuernavaca mission in Mexico.  When he tried to enter the plane he was stopped because he didn’t have the proper immigration form.  He ran to correct his problem but the plane left him.  He was in the act of praying when 3 other members of the church noticed his name tag and stopped to talk with him.  He was explaining to them that he was stranded in Mexico City with no money and then he saw me walking over.

In his prayer he had told his Heavenly Father that he had just completed a mission and was headed home.  He had no help and no money.  Could His Heavenly Father help him?  And there I stood within seconds of closing his prayer.  What a blessing to me!

His new ticket has been arranged, paid for, and is ready for use tomorrow morning.  He is staying in our mission office tonight.  Heavenly Father loves His missionaries.