28th, 29th, 30th, & 31st Weeks—March 19-April 15, 2012

Jaime Olazava's Baptism

Dale, Jaime, Nancy Victoria, Elder Kuo, Elder Moore,
Michael, Kevin Vasquez

Dale, Jaime, Nancy, Victoria, Michael, Kevin Vasquez

Dale, Jaime, Victoria

 

Ana Tejada, Reyna Portillo, Sylvia Campos, Connie, Victoria

Two elders going to Mexico, Elder Moore, Elder Kuo (who was baptized two years ago)

Victoria and Jaime Olozava at home

The Olazvas, Jose Campos, Jose Tejada, and Dale

Watts Towers

Dale by a musical instrument display in the museum at Watts Towers.

Many of you will remember the Watts Riots that took place in the late 60's.
  This is where these Towers are located.
They are steel that is covered with mortar and various materials such as
tiles, glass, sea shells, etc.

They were built by one man, Simon Rodia, an immigrant from Italy.
He built this structure with simple, rudimentary tools.

He had not scaffolding--just a window washer's belt and buckle.
It took him 34 years to build this structure single handedly.

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

Happy Birthday Dear Jacob—April 14—14 years old!

Happy Birthday Dear Trevan—April 17—10 years old!

Happy Birthday Dear Mary—April 25—37 years old!

Happy Birthday Dear Lane—April 26—13 years old!

Happy Birthday Dear Lori—April 27—40+ years old!

Happy Birthday Dear Shanelle—April 27—9 years old!

Missionary Work

                    Where does time go?  It has been four weeks since we posted our missionary journal blog.  About 2 months ago our mission received many elders from the MTC who were waiting for their visas to go to Mexico.  They added a great spirit to our missionary activities.   Finally their visas came through.  President Baker asked us to take them to the Mexican Consulate to get their visas.  We drove the mission van and the Shumans drove their car to take them to the consulate and then back to the temple apts. so the elders could get ready to leave early the next morning. 

          This past week we also inspected elders’ apts.  This takes 3 mornings which cuts into our exercise and study time.  That made last week extremely busy but it was a good week.

          Jaime Olazava had his last lesson.  He will have his baptism interview Tuesday night and will be baptized next Sunday. That will be especially nice because it will be Easter.  He is looking forward to serving in the church.  We have admired how he has been sure of each concept as he progressed.  He has humility and integrity.  He doesn’t do anything unless he is sure that’s what he should do.  We have a great love and admiration for him.  This is a blessing to his family.

          We met Celia Lopez, a single mother, and her three sweet children, Suzy, Javier, and Samantha.  When we met her the second time we went over the pamphlet on how to have a happy family.  She is doing all those things and wanted a Family Home Evening Manuel.  She has to work Sundays so they don’t come to church but she is doing great things in her home.  We really admire her.  We thought of her when Elder Cornish spoke about single parents in conference yesterday.

          Our hearts still go out to the Arzu familia and we pray daily for them.  The dad has aged rapidly since all the trouble with his son has surfaced.  They tell us how heart breaking it is to see their son in Juvenile Detention and see him cry.  It just tears at their heartstrings to leave him after their visit with him each weekend.  He goes back before the judge this Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.  We hope and pray that Jorge (the son) will be released to go home this week.  Jorge (the father) has been studying the Bible, the Book of Mormon, any copy of the Liahona he can find.  He is even studying Preach My Gospel.  (His wife, Roxana, is a ward missionary so he has it in the home.)  He has asked the Lord ‘s forgiveness for any wrongs he has done in his life.  He is a very devoted husband and father and a very humble man.  He even talks now about “when” he is baptized and not “if” he is baptized.

          Andres Cabreras is still meeting with us and he is trying to study the Book of Mormon like a college text without the spirit or faith in the Lord. So we decided to prepare a lesson on recognizing the Spirit.  We decided to do it in English since he speaks English very well. That way we can add Connie’s spirit more in the lesson.  We spent a lot of time reviewing the appropriate scriptures and putting a lesson together, then the day the lesson was scheduled Hermana Cabrera called and said that she has an appointment for an MRI and he was going to take her. DARN! Oh well, guess that we will have to give it to him next week.

          More and more there is proof about the validity of the Book of Mormon coming forth intellectually but you also need the spirit to testify.  I quote Tad Callister from the last conference:  He said his great-great-grandfather declared, “That book was either written by God or the devil, and I am going to find out who wrote it.”  He read it through twice in the next 10 days and then declared, “The devil could not have written it—it must be from God.”  Elder Callister continues, “That is the genius of the Book of Mormon—there is no middle ground.  It is either the word of God as professed, or it is a total fraud.  This book does not merely claim to be a moral treatise or theological commentary or collection of insightful writings.  It claims to be the word of god—every sentence, every verse, every page.”  I could quote his entire talk but not here.  He ends his talk with his solemn testimony that is it true. As we have read The Book of Mormon looking for the doctrine as our mission president requested and as we have studied Christ’s teachings with Jaime Olazava we testify that the Book of Mormon is true. 

          We have enjoyed listening to all the conference proceedings the last two days.  Last night following the General Priesthood Meeting we and the Shumans drove to the Staples Center and watched the Jazz play the Clippers.  The Jazz lost.  They were behind except for the first few minutes of the game.  Kind of what we expected but we were hoping for a better on the part of the JAZZ. Dale and Elder Shuman were still in their suits and when we were going in everyone thought we were VIPS.  It has quite humorous! We were hoping someone would escort us to our suite but it didn’t happen.

          Sunday after conference we had an appointment with a young woman, Alejandra, who was baptized a few years ago.   We asked to meet with her mom and they made two appointments with us and then weren’t available.  We would much rather they say no than make the appointment and then not be there.  I guess that is part of missionary work.   Since we were already out we went to a few families we have been trying to locate.  We found two families home and made appointments for next week.  We’ll see what happens.

          This past week President Baker asked us to pick up Elder and Sister Raymond from Ammon, Idaho at the airport, escort them to the Argentine Consulate to pick up their visas and then take them back to the airport.  It ended up that they couldn’t get their visas till the next day.  We took them back to the airport to get their luggage and it had gone on to Dallas.  President Baker made arrangements for them to stay at the temple apartments and we ended up taking them back to the airport the day after they picked up their visas. 

(Letter written by Connie this past week)

                                                                                                    April 17, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

          Today is our grandson Trevan’s birthday and Dale’s brother, Walt’s, birthday.  Happy Birthday!  Since I haven’t posted in the blog for a month now, I decided to write a letter.  Dale will read it and add what he would like. I hope to post the blog today with pictures so you may want to see the pictures.  I will be putting this letter in the blog also. 

          I am going to concentrate on the positive experiences of the past few weeks. The district leader asked us to meet with Andres Cabrerras.  His member wife feeds the elders once a week so he has been through several sets of missionairies.  We asked him if we could read with him in the Book of Mormon about Jesus.  Dale found a list of all the scriptures in the Book of Mormon that mention Jesus or Jesus Christ.  We read and study the scriptures around that scripture.  When we are through the Book of Mormon they have the “meat” of the Book of Mormon and the gospel, they are familiar with the books and how to find a particular scripture, and they have the learned the Doctrine of Christ quite well.  He has been doing quite well.  Last week we taught him about personal revelation and how to recognize it.  Since he speaks English quite well, we taught it in English and taught together.  The lesson went very well and he is accepting the doctrine very well.  It was especially great to have Connie participating in the lesson and sharing her testimony.

          We are still meeting with Jorge Arzu.  His wife and two children were recently baptized but he wasn’t ready.  Two months ago his son got involved in a gang fight at school and he ended up in Juvenile Detention.  He will be sentenced this Wednesday so we are hoping for whatever will be best for his son.

                    Now, for the highlight of our mission thus far.  We have been meeting with Jaime Olazava for the past 4 ½ months.  Sunday he was baptized and he asked Dale to baptize him.  It was such a joyful day for Jaime, his family, and Dale and me.  When we started meeting with Jaime, he and his wife were separated.  As we progressed through the Book of Mormon-Jesus scriptures, Jaime gained a testimony precept upon precept.  Finally he was saying when I am baptized instead of if I am baptized.  He wants so much to be a missionary.  Yesterday there was such a good feeling between Jaime and Victoria, it was wonderful.  Their children were so happy.  It was just a great day. There is no better feeling than to help someone accept the gospel in his life and make the decision to be baptized. How thankful we are for having the privilege to teach and know this great man and his family.

          We testify that the Book of Mormon and the Bible are true and they contain the fullness of the Gospel.  Christ died and was resurrected for all of us.  If the Book of Mormon is true, then Joseph Smith was a prophet and we are led by a prophet today.

                                                            We love each one of you!

                                                            Mom/Dad, Connie/Dale,

                                                            Grandma/Grandpa,

                                                            Aunt Connie/Uncle Dale