46th Week—July 23-29, 2012

We fed 8 elders this week.  After dinner Elder Kuo & Elder Alvarez
stood on empty soda cans without crushing them.

I meant to put this in last week's blog.  This is the flyer that our ward mission leader,
Hermano Martin Pioquinto, made for the openhouse.

This homeless man was taking a siesta on the side of the road.

          Monday we had a potluck dinner at the Family History Center.  Following dinner we were to share a pioneer story from one of our ancestors.  As Dale and I prepared our stories we found out one of his ancestors, Frank Hammon, was one of my Grandpa Baker’s boyhood friends.  Frank Hammon was also my grandfather’s  bishop. He spoke at my grandfather’s funeral— and he even wrote a couplet about grandpa for the funeral. Dale could not find how he was related to Frank Hammon only that he is in the book Levi Hammon and Polly Chapman Hammon Bybee EARLY UTAH PIONEERS and they are Dale’s GG-grandparents.

          We stopped by to visit Jose Guzman this week.  When we stopped by he had a beer sitting on the front porch.  He told Dale it belonged to the next door neighbor.  We had a good visit with him but he just can’t give up the beer.

          Elder Alvarez and Elder DiPaolo taught Jorge Arzu the Restoration lesson.  As we visited with Jorge, he said they would come to church this Sunday.  He, Marisol, Lesly, and her friend, Christina, came together today.  It was so good to see them together as a family.  They looked happy today.  I hope Jorge Jr. will join in with them when he is released.

          We met again with Hermano Felipe Estrada. When we asked if Hermana Estrada was there he went into the bedroom and Dale could see her lying on the bed, but when he came out he said that she was not there.  (I guess this was at least partially true because she had been sleeping.  He appeared like he had been taking a siesta also.) Dale read parts of Ether 12 with him about faith being an anchor.  He said he would be a home teacher and he and his family came to church today.

          This week has been somewhat quiet and slow.  We had some cancellations, no shows, etc.  We do have a better planned week this week.

          We have been thinking about the many things we have learned on our mission.  Below we will name a few:

·       We have learned we can live very comfortably in 750 square feet with a few household items, clothes, a few church books, laptop, cell phone and family pictures.  We have even gotten along with one bathroom and there have been moments when that has been a problem for us old people!

·       We can get along with one vehicle—at least for now.

·       Smiles, hugs, handshakes, and the spirit feel the same in any language.

·       Missions are not for the fainthearted but for those who can go forward in faith.

·       Missions, like everyday life, have very enriching days and some not so good days and lots of ordinary days.

·       Ordinary days are good.

·       Now we know what Eileen meant when she said, “Letters from home are like manna from heaven.”  (Email is every bit as good as snail mail.)

·       The future of the church will go forward boldly with the rising generation.

·       Love is the strongest force for good in the world.

·       The Lord looks after and protects his missionaries.

·       We were so blessed to be born and raised in Idaho where the  fullness of the gospel was taught, saving ordinances were administered, and as the words of an old song says we had “good friends and gentle people who lived and loved in our hometowns.”

·       People are more important than programs.

·       Learning a new language is hard.

·       We were doubly blessed to be born in America—the promised land, where the ancient church was restored.

·       If you don’t think the above statement is true, just ask someone who came here at great peril to their lives and no matter how bad things are here, they don’t want to go back to their native land. They are so grateful to be here and that their children will have a better life than they ever dared to hope.

·       The Book of Mormon, Bible, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great          Price, complement each other.  They are all testaments of Jesus Christ.  As we (really Dale) have/has taught people the teachings of Jesus in the Book of Mormon, we have seen their testimonies bud and grow.  As they have prayed with real intent and pondered its teachings, they have gained testimonies of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith and latter day prophets.

·       This mission has been one of greatest blessings in our lives.

·       For members to stay active there has to be a “Great change of heart,” for they truly do have to make many, many changes in their lives when they join the church. If this great change of heart does not happen in their lives, they    become less active or even completely inactive.

·       There is no greater feeling in the world than to watch someone who is not interested, decide to listen and pray, and watch his/her testimony grow until he/she is baptized.  All this happens because of the great change that occurs in their heart.

·       Home and visiting teaching are one of the most important services we can render in this church.