After Continual Reflection . . .

June 16-17 there was lots of rain in Asuncion

Life is hard at any stage and we make it even harder when we don't look at the hard with the view of the perfect (scriptural meaning of perfect = whole or complete) picture. Sometimes the whole picture is not available to our view, so what do we do? We live by faith in Heavenly Father and His Son, that their promises are sure, that "joy cometh in the morning," and it will dawns, and all things will work together for our good.

This week was filled with lots of meetings, planned and unplanned with many things out of our control, some of which made us feel uncertain, uneasy and frustrated. Heavenly Father heard all the meetings and He is working a greater plan than we can possible know. Christ says, "my yoke is easy, my burden is light." Just like Peter began to sink in the water when his focus was toward the waves and storm instead  the Savior, so it is if our focus in what we set out to do changes from the complete view of the Savior. How many times in the scriptures does the Savior say something about knowing He is God or denying not his power? Do we do everything in His name with faith in Him, his power to move any mountain? Do we really put our trust in Him as a God of power at all times and in all places that His will be done or just when things happen on our time line and desire?

Our mission has strengthened our faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We are coming to know them better and more able to see their hand in our work. They truly are making more of our lives and those we help than we could and we don't want to separate ourselves from any member of the Godhead but work to become one with them.

Some of our work that happened in between meetings was to prepare 5 more projects in Chas to move on to approval. We are pleased that although a majority of our projects are in Asuncion and Central departments (states) we have been able to reach out to other parts of the country as well. Hopefully next year the percentage outside of the capital will continue to increase. There will also be more service projects connected to humanitarian projects which is an exciting way for members to be involved, serve and donate in sweat equity to the total project. Humanitarian projects are all about building Zion in many different ways. It has been exciting, joyful and a little painful to see the continual changes that move the work forward. Sometimes if we didn't know the joy of the gospel or the need for us to  change, the discomfort of change would make it easy to give up.

Friday and Saturday we were busy helping with mammography cape service projects. The one on Friday night with the blue capes were the sisters from a totally different ward and stake willing to make the capes because they have sewing talent and "love to serve their fellow human beings." The district who received the updated digitilization of the mammography machine, had too few sisters who sew.  Double service from the sisters of the Pai-Ñu Ward, helping other sisters in the La Paloma District and helping all women who receive mammographies at Hospital Regional Saltos del Guairá. Saturday we went to take pictures at the Limpio Stake(gray capes) where the sisters there were also doing a great work.

Friday at Pai-Ñu

Saturday at Limpio

Saturday night we got together with three other senior couples and watched "Escape from Germany." The movie tells the story of how missionaries escaped Germany before WW2. One of Chris's mission companions is an extra in the movie because her Aunt Erma Rosenhan was one of the missionaries that had to escape. First senior couples conference in Paraguay and we forgot to take pictures. We had met everyone before but this was the first time the others had met in person. It was wonderful to laugh and strengthen one another. 

New favorite drink is to add a few whole cloves to water. Yum and it is supposed to have anti bacteria properties too.

Celebrating the first day of winter with the Sisters at Mr Lomitos! Very Paraguayan to eat dinner at 8:45pm or later. We ended up getting to go boxes because the sisters had to be in by 9. Good thing it is right around the corner from our apartments(for many reasons). It is always a pleasure to be strengthened by the sisters testimonies and faith.

Wisdom from Juan (the guard): tereré(the drink of Paraguay) is a combination of the quarani words for té and jere (tea and round) as it was a communal drink and as they visited or counseled together in a circle they passed the tereré around and everyone drank from the same bomba(straw) and cup. COVID change that so it is now more individual.

Another theory says that the word tereré comes from the Guarani people, who used to drink yerba mate until they hear the sound of the last three sips: “te-re-re”. 

Spirtual Thought: Never stop seeking to know Christ.

Happy First Days of Summer for our Northern Hemisphere Friends

It's winter here and we still have the AC on.

All Things Bright and Beautiful the Lord God Made Them All

 

Hermanas opening their mac n cheese

On Monday we spent the morning getting Chris's computer all reinstalled and working well.  A huge blessing! It was a holiday in Paraguay, celebrating the end of the Chaco War. We thought we would go in to the office to get the computer finished and catch up. Does it seem we are always playing catch up? Yes, our heads are spinning. Well and to be honest. at the end of the week Monday is just a blur and most of Tuesday too except for the Pizza Metro miracle.

On Tuesday the sister's invited us to go to their English class they started teaching. Ken has been tired so he stayed home but Chris attended the class. It was fun and there were two non members there that even stayed for a gospel message, one of them was the daughter of the Pizza Metro owner. The sisters wondered if having an English class was missionary focused enough. Chris's thought that she shared was it was dark outside and if they didn't have appointments, they would probably just be visiting members. At this class they taught two new friends during the hour. Not only was it uplifting for all involved, that statistic looks good on paper too.

The miracle came Wednesday after a wonderful time at the temple. Well, at the temple the name on Chris's card was Celine Dion, only this Celine was born in 1910. (not the miracle but a smile maker ) When we reached home, Chris brought the temple bags upstairs while Ken slipped across the street for some Pizza Metro. While waiting for his pizza, Ken was shown a text by the owner from 2021 when he was texting with missionaries and they promised that they would let him know when they had the next English class. The sister's didn't know that but when they had Pizza Metro last week they invited them. This week Augustina came! Woot!

Wednesday was also the handover ceremony for the equipment at USF Isla Valle. This little health center needed basic necessities and it was great because the ward helped with a service project and painted some of the rooms and walls. Although there weren't many people from the Church available for the ceremony, there was a good crowd from the Departmento (state) government of Central. One of the leaders was a dentist and she was really impressed with the quality of the dental chair.

 

Thursday we spent time in the community of Maka Quekuket. They speak Maka. Our friend, Monica, from Defensoria del Pueblo invited us to come to one of their events that they have where they rally the different government agencies to go in to these communities and get the people registered with identification, and health screenings. Once again we learned from the people out in the field. They do a marvelous work. We were impressed with that along with the Defensor wanting to protect the rights of the people, he feels self-reliance is important also. 

Our cameo appearance this week in social media.

Friday was a big day. We squeezed in 3 meetings while watching the skillful and non OSHA handling of two containers for the Centro de Salud 10 across the street. The videos show some of the stunts that make us gringos shutter. The electricity wasn't knocked out, traffic was not totally stopped, only one lane, one door was on the wrong side and needs to be recut, and the airconditioner was also on the wrong side and needed to be moved. Doctor Barrios and Jose the administrator are thrilled! They have really worked hard to improve this Centro de Salud.

Containers waiting

 

Ken doing a little bit of supervising (white shirt)

Check out the guy holding the wires while wrapping it with another wire that was just dangling from the rest.

Ok so these videos are in order. Total it is about 10 mins but it is amazing that they did what they did without accidents. Watch the wires, the people and the driving.

   

     

Friday meeting one was with the couple over service missionaries to better coordinate with some of the organizations we have worked with that may have opportunities for our service missionaries. Meeting two was with our Salt Lake advisor to discuss how to move forward with a UNICEF WASH project in schools in Central and Alto Parana departmento (states) in Paraguay. Meeting three was about getting a Mistolar water project ready for approval. That may not sound like a lot but with each meeting brings more assignments to finish. It is all good but we are tired at the end of the day.

But not tired enough to give up date night with the Allen's and meeting the Whatcotts the new couples in the Asuncion mission. We went out for Mexican food that was quite good. It was fun to visit and be grateful for our assignment and apartment. We have not complained about either but now we are more grateful.

Saturday morning was filled with Chris learning to make vori vori (a traditional Paraguayan soup)and lunch for Dia del Padre. Chris made cinnamon rolls to share for dessert. Ken was able to visit with one of our English Connect students who was here from Resistencia, Argentina visiting the temple.

The process of vori vori started at 8:30 am finished at about 2 pm. It is something that is passed down generation to generation at gatherings like this.

 

 

In these pictures and video they are making paraguayan tortillas

Some musing this week:
Sometimes we may think senior missionaries are called for their experience and wisdom. We have a little of that but if you are feeling like you want to settle in to your comfort zone put in your mission papers and see how Heavenly Father will help you have more experience and grow in ways you couldn't see or experience from your armchair. Although we give and sacrifice as missionaries, we are gaining so much in growth.

Temple thought: do we want to live like mortals or do we want to learn to live like God? If we place mortal limits on God's love, understanding, and power we will not know Him and not want to enjoy all he wants to give us. Everyone comes to the temple to gather in and be with Him and make covenants for eternal life, God's kind of life and be recognized as His people.

Alma 32 is all about an experiment upon the word. In order to experiment upon the word, we need to use diligence, faith, patience and long-suffering. What about experimenting upon having the WORD (John 1:1,14) in us - being like Him and doing as He did, being true to the WORD. 

Monte Libano is now open for lunch across from the office. Yum!

Happy Father's Day