Monday, April 28, 2014

14 - 20 Apr 2014 5fromBrazil,JambaneDocs,Manuel,5Weddings

This was an eventful week with the coming and going of missionaries.  During our regular shopping excursion, we purchased food for 5 missionaries arriving from the United States.  While Richard pushed around the already full cart and he put more things inside, a fellow customer remarked “Bom Apetite!”  The girl at the cash register who rang up the food and the packers were all very nice to help us with our many purchases.  We had brought boxes to help pack the food so we didn’t have as many plastic bags to carry up to our apartment! 


I was able to use part of my P-day to do some family history research on my French-Canadian lines.  It was very productive. 
Be very thankful that you have access to books – whether it is from your local library or your personal Kindle or other reading device.  All of a sudden, my Kindle didn’t have access to the Kindle Store and I needed a new book to read.  Well, after  upgrading my Kindle as Kindle said to do to "fix" it, my Kindle had nothing on it! Now what?


During this week before Easter we have taken time every day to view Church videos about the final days of Jesus’ life leading up to his suffering in Gethsemane and on the cross, and his resurrection.  We especially enjoyed the new Church video “Because of Him.”  We also found it in Portuguese!


Tuesday morning we learned that 9, instead of 5, missionaries were arriving!  The 5 from the United States arrived, and in addition there were 4 arriving from Brazil (the 5th from Brazil should arrive next week).   These 5 Brazilian missionaries were finally granted visas to enter Mozambique after serving the first year of their mission in Brazil.  What enthusiastic ready young men!  They brought such a spirit with them!  Also, another 2 missionaries from other cities in Mozambique arrived in Maputo.  They are going to begin their missions here because of visa delays to their mission countries.   Well, missionaries arrive, and missionaries leave.  One of the AP’s left this week and 6 other missionaries were to leave the next week!  All in time for transfers which will be announced next Monday!


On Tuesday Angelo Jamine, Matilde’s husband, came to visit with us at the mission office.  He wanted to thank us for our help in getting his family’s records together before they went to the temple.  Maputo 1 branch, the branch their family attends, began meeting in their new building in the Sommerschield area of town, so we had not seen him since he and his family went to the temple.  He was called as a counselor in the new branch presidency, too.   On Wednesday, Matilde sat down with us and we looked through their temple pictures which Angelo had sent on a flash drive.  Going through the pictures was like being there with them!


At our Family History class on Wednesday, Brother Jambane brought very beautiful handwritten documents of birth and marriage events for his ancestors.   Previously we heard stories that when family members die, the family destroys documents and photos about that person, but we have since learned that this is not true for most families.  On the contrary, they celebrate the ancestor’s life on the anniversaries of their birth.  Seeing these beautiful documents was a wonderful example of what families may be able to find in their houses or the houses of their families. 


We hear some very interesting stories from our students, too.  Living in Tete, before the bridge was built over the Zambezi River, Brother Panganane related how he crossed the river safely, even though the river was full of crocodiles!  He’d take a big tree branch and tie it around his waist.  He’d also try to make lots of noise.  Crocodile’s don’t like noise and the tree branch trailing after the person mixes up the crocodile.  The crocodile thinks there is something bigger in back of the person, so he goes after the branch.


Every door in our apartment and the mission office has a key in it.  We don’t often lock inside doors, but at the office, we usually do lock the bathroom door.  Well, that key started having troubles. A missionary got locked in for a while.  On another occasion, I got locked in for a while.  The lock finally would turn open after jiggling the key multiple times.  However, this week, no jiggling or praying worked and I was locked inside. Finally, we decided that I needed to get the key out of the room so someone could use it from the outside to unlock it.  We first tried to put it under the door, but there was no room under the door.  So, the next idea was for me to throw the key out of the window and have Richard catch it!  So that’s what we did!  Until the lock gets replaced, this is one door in the office that does not have a key and does not lock!


This week found us one more step closer to having a “real” Family History Center here in Maputo.  The room vacated by the Maputo 1 branch president is now the Family History Center.  We have spent time cleaning the office.   We have a nice desk and a computer and printer has been provided and an operating system and software installed.


We attended a group wedding on Saturday morning.  5 couples were married.  The chapel had been decorated and there were many members there to support them.  


President Castanheira conducted the meeting and performed the marriages.  President Kretly gave the wedding message before the couples took their marriage vows.   His wonderful advice has import for newly married couples and for those who have been married for years.  

(1) Financial Management – there is no more “my” money and “your” money – it is “our” money.  Make a budget and decide together how to spend and save your money.  
(2) Speak only Good About Your Spouse.  When things are bothering you, don’t go tattle to your parents or your friend, talk to your spouse and figure it out together.  It will work out if you talk together.  
(3) Celebrate your differences.  You think you’d like to have married someone who is just like you, but you really wouldn’t like that.  Respect each other and realize how each of your talents and abilities complement each other and make you stronger.  
(4) Always use the 2 magic words/phrases:  “Por Favor” (please) and “Obrigada” (thank you).   Men, don’t expect your wife to be your servant.  The formation of Eve from Adam’s rib symbolizes that the man and the woman go side by side through life.  You are equal partners in your marriage, one is not above the other.  Be kind to each other and say “Por Favor” sweetly and “Obrigada” sincerely! 
(5) Serve together in the home.  There is no such thing as “women’s work”; each should share in the home to do what needs to be done.  This includes helping to care for the children.  
(6) Prepare for temple marriage sealing in one year from now so you can become a forever family.  

After the vows were taken, a group of members formed in the aisle and sang special wedding songs and danced as the couples signed the marriage book. 

The wedding was followed by 9 baptisms – one of the husbands was already a member of the Church.  It was truly a day of celebration, not only for the couples but for the missionaries!


After the baptisms, the brides and grooms changed back into their fancy wedding clothes.  We assembled outside by the side of the chapel for the closing prayer to the baptismal services.  Inside the Relief Society prepared the room for the wedding celebration.  There were round tables with white tablecloths.  In the middle of each table was a round cake with the name of the bride and groom, made by Sister Olander.   A huge white cake, representing the temple, had been made by Elder Porter – his final baking feat, since he would be released Monday. 


The singing/dancing group reconvened and sang to the wedding companies.  During their last song, 5 people from the group each took a capulana and draped it around the shoulders of the couples.   



We ended the day by listening to the special performance of “The Messiah” the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.


On Easter Sunday, we attended Church at the Maputo 1 building.

We watched the Sunday 2 p.m. session of general conference.   After a short break, the members reconvened and President Kretly trained the members about the Minha Familia booklets.  It’s a good thing I brought 100 of them - only a few were left over. 
Sunday afternoon we taught our first Sunday Family History class.  Our one student was an important one, as he and his wife will be married and baptized in May!


Shortly after we came home from teaching, the Smith family came to visit and little Mark gave us an Easter basket with marshmallow eggs and chocolate bunnies.

In addition to beautiful sunsets, we also see some interesting clouds.  The clouds in this first picture looked like roasted marshmallows! 



Monday, April 14, 2014

7 - 13 Apr 2014 Women'sDay,Flamingo,Shew,Yara&Lumiana,FHCPU


This week started with a regular day at the office rather than P-Day, “Dia de Muhler” (Day of the Woman or Women’s Day). P-day was moved to Tuesday!

We continue to hear of the good things our children and grandchildren are doing at home. Although this blog is mostly about what we have been doing here In Africa on our mission, I don’t want to forget the wonderful things that are happening in our families at home. In Tad’s family, Paisley turned 11 on 5 March, and Ava loves it when Paisley comes home from school so they can play together. In Emily’s family, Daesen, their youngest, turned 3 years old in March, Kaedric was baptized in March, and Klaesara is learning to drive. Thanks, Emily, for keeping us updated and sending us pictures of the baptism! In Washington State, Lyn’s family have expanded their already huge garden and they are beginning to plant the early vegetables. Henry and Fern love to go to the library and are learning a lot via home school. Zoe’s family is busy with the Mesa Eater Pageant. She posted lots of pictures on Facebook. Sarah turned 4 year old and Sedona lost her first baby tooth! In Paul’s family, Tanner turned 7 in March. Paul reported that Saratoga Springs is the 4th fastest growing city in Utah – great job security for his employment as building inspector. Peter took a work trip to Ghana in March; their girls, Amelia and Georgia are enjoying various classes and activities with the family. As you can see, our families are doing well. We miss them – especially the hugs only grandchildren can give. Family, we are so proud of all of you and we really enjoy your telephone calls, video Skype calls, and the links to pictures you send us! Keep them coming! We feel so blessed to have each of you in our forever family!

We received a few back issues of the Church magazines in English. Richard found a great article “Citrus Warriors” in the September 2013 issue of the New Era that has a great Family Home Evening idea. It is an object lesson with uses two oranges and water. Check it out: https://www.lds.org/new-era/2013/09/citrus-warriors?lang=eng

If you need a web site that has lots of good music, try the “Seminary Music” portion of the music area of lds.org! I was excited to find the intriguing arrangement of “Hope of Israel” there.

We were invited to go to the beach and play volleyball with the missionaries on Tuesday’s P-Day. The road to the beach was like an up and down rollercoaster ride at Disneyland! Although it was misty-rain for part of the time, it was great to be on the beach, play and have fun with the missionaries. It was the same beach we had gone to the first time with the Smith’s and, sure enough, there were flamingos! We tried a few unique shots through a binocular lens and some of them turned out really good! I counted 36 flamingos!







After the beach trip, we got a ride with the Sister Missionaries to go shopping (Hobsons weren’t back from their trip to Beira until later in the day). I love seeing my friends Guilhermina and Dionisia there.

Family History class this Wednesday evening was particularly fine. The lesson was on interviewing family to obtain more information. We had a great discussion and Richard did great in translating their remarks. We had 7 people there, including one new student who I believe was “led” to come to class. He usually attends classes in the evening, but on that night he didn’t have class. He was thinking that he hadn’t been by the Church lately – he has been investigating the Church. He noticed lights on in the Church and asked the guard what was going on. The guard didn’t know, but he knew there were people inside, so the brother came in. He saw a couple of people in the class he recognized, so he came in a sat down. He was glad he did and he learned a lot! Because he travels so much, especially on weekends, it has been difficult for him to attend Church, but he reads the Church magazines and hopes to be able to attend Church soon. It turns out that one of the class members he recognized, who is now a member of the Church, was being taught the gospel by the missionaries at the same time as he was. It was nice for them to meet again and talk together.

On Wednesday evening I made my first really successful pie crust since we arrived last year. I used the Crisco that Smith’s brought us from the U.S. after Christmas. I also used the bottle of sour cherries they purchased for us in South Africa to make the cherry pie.


Thursday morning was a special District Leader Training with President Kretly. President started by emphasizing that the skills the missionaries were learning were life skills that would help them throughout their lives, not just here on their mission. President Kretly is the CEO of Franklin Covey in Brazil. He shared the 7 Habits Training with the missionaries: (1) Leadership is a choice; be proactive in exercising your Faith in Jesus Christ; (2) Begin with the end in mind; determine your short and long term goals – your vision; (3) Plan how you attain your goal; what will you do today, this week, this month, etc.; (4) Think Win/Win; effective and lasting relationships are built on mutual respect and benefits; there is enough and to spare; (5) Seek first to understand and then to be understood; listen with love and with the intent to understand; (6) Create synergy – the whole is greater than the sum of its parts; celebrate the differences – together with others you can create a better way – a wider road to success; (7) Nurture all aspects of your life: physical, social, mental, and spiritual.


Thursday evening we met with the Secretaries, Elders Santos and Poyfair, and one of our family history students, David Jambane, in our apartment. This student has been particularly faithful about attending class and filling out his Minha Familia booklet. We wanted him to see the process of entering his information on FamilySearch. The Internet was up and all went very well! David enjoyed seeing his Family Tree form online. We got a good start on entering all of the information he had gathered about his family. We’ll be meeting again soon to enter more information. We all enjoyed the treat – warm cherry pie and ice cream!



The weather this week has been cooler. We’ve had lots of rain, too, but not enough for the street to be flooded. There are plenty of puddles everywhere, though. The Hobsons had invited us to have dinner at Café Sol, so were glad that the rain cleared up by late afternoon. It threatened another downpour.  Instead, we saw a beautiful rainbow.

Friday evening I felt impressed to contact the members who the District President told us were planning to go to the Temple for the first time this month. He had given the families our contact information, but we had not heard from anyone. I texted the two families and we immediately got a return text from one of them, Sister Shew. We found out they were planning on going to the Temple this next week – they were leaving Monday! And, yes, they needed help to enter their Minha Familia information on FamilySearch! I guess I was practicing being “proactive”, but it was a little scary, since I still don’t understand very well when others speak Portuguese. When the person texted that I should call them, I texted back and asked that when I called they would speak slowly so I could understand. I called and talked with the sister, the mother of the family. We set up a 10 a.m. Saturday time to meet, speaking Portuguese back and forth. Then, she started to talk in English! Wow, what an answer to my prayer! Turns out, the mom was born in Zimbabwe!

Our meeting on Saturday morning was delayed, but it was okay, because at 10 a.m. the Internet at the chapel wasn’t working! We went up to the 4th floor (in the Distribution Center) and it was working up there! The downstairs connection, Richard found, wasn’t connected. It needed a special plug! When the sister arrived, we continued using the Internet upstairs. The process took a couple of hours, since we had a couple of glitches with the Internet and with FamilySearch, but in the end, we entered two generations on the mom’s side and two on the father’s side of the family. The sister left with her family’s Family Group Record and Family Ordinance Requests to take on their trip to Johannesburg which was to begin early Monday morning. The Shew Famiily will be in the Johannesburg Temple Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Doing this Family Search work online will save the family having to go to the Family History Center in Johannesburg and they will be able to spend their time in the temple rather than having to input their information in the Family History Center in Johannesburg.

Sister Shew sent me pictures of their memorable days at the Temple.




On Sunday, President Kretly did the Minha Familia training in our Maputo 2 branch for the first hour of Church - the Relief Society, Priesthood, Young Men and Young Women met together in the chapel. President Kretly is a dynamic speaker. He knows the doctrine and explains it in a personal way and intersperses relevant scriptures, too. He urged all of those present to begin to fill out their booklets and prepare to go to the Temple to become forever families and to make, by proxy, covenants for their deceased ancestors. I am excited that so many people now have a booklet and know what to do with it!

Sunday was Yara’s birthday and she brought a cake and a large group gathered to wish her well. Her mother came to Church with her, and Yara said that was her very best birthday gift! And, we today discovered that Yara and Lumiana are sisters! We admire these young women so much!



The Smith’s had invited us over to Sunday dinner, so when we got home we called them and they came to pick us up. We had a delicious chicken dinner. I brought homemade rolls, applesauce and banana bread.

On Sunday evening we heard that a computer and printer for Family History has been installed at the Maputo 2 building in the former office of the Maputo 1 branch president. I am anxious to get a key to the room. I hope to be very busy, in the future weeks, entering information on FamilySearch!

Here are a few pictures to share with you of common sights here in Maputo. 
The bananas are ripening at Mission Office. Sandy calls this palm tree in the Mission Office garden, a “peacock” Palm tree!





Saturday, April 12, 2014

31 Mar - 6 Apr 2014 YaraJewelry,OceanView,ZoneConf


On Monday Yara showed us some of the jewelry she likes to make.


On Tuesday morning we went with Office Elders, Elder Douglas and Elder Poyfair, on an early errand to the bank, and on the way from there to the office they took a side trip to show us a beautiful ocean view they had found recently.


Last week and still on Tuesday morning, when we arrived, there was no water at the mission office.  For most of the morning there was also no power, and thus, no air conditioning.  On a hot day, that makes things very uncomfortable!  We needed to have the water so we could make our sandwich preparations in the afternoon.  The workers accomplished their task and by 11:45 we had water!  We were so glad!  Without water, we would have had to move our sandwich-making project to the Mission President’s home.


The elders took us to Premier to purchase the rolls we had ordered last week.  When we got back to the office, we put the assembly line for sandwich making together and showed Isabel and Matilde what to do.  We made 120 sandwiches for the Zone Conference lunch the next day. Other purchases of food and drink were made and transported to the Zone Conference at the Matola Chapel.




April 2 was our 45th wedding anniversary, and we like to do something special on that day each year. This year our schedule was already set - attend Zone Conference as well as serve the snack and lunch for the day. We arrived early enough to prepare the table for lunch and the snack table. Sisters Thornton, Merkley, Naehu, and Woodman helped out.




The Zone Conference was full of the spirit and great messages.  The President, along with the current goal of baptizing one complete family per month per companionship, added the goal of preparing one family per month to go to the Temple for the first time.  He reminded the missionaries that baptism is only the beginning of a person’s road to the Celestial Kingdom.  We should continue teaching them so they will be prepared for the Temple ordinances. He reviewed the mission vision and purpose and the progress of the mission.
President Kretly also challenged missionaries to use the new Minha Familia (My Family) booklet in their preparing member families to go to the Temple and approaching contacts and teaching investigators. They were challenged to fill out their own personalized booklets, to show others what a completed booklet looks like, and to teach members how to complete the booklet so that temple ordinances can be completed for their deceased ancestors. The missionaries were also taught how members could receive funds from the Church’s Temple Patron Fund to pay for passports and travel to go to the Temple for the first time.
Sister Kretly reviewed missionary health, cleanliness, and kindness rules in an interesting way.   All of the missionaries lined up at the back of the chapel.  Then she asked different things such as “If you did something nice for your companion today, move up to the next row,”   “If you washed your bed-clothes (sheets, pillowcases, pajamas) this week, move up to the next row,”  “If you didn’t spit on the road this week, move up to the next row,”  “If you made your bed this morning, move up a row.”  At the end, she had gave the missionary who “won” (they had moved all the way up to the front row of the chapel by the end of the questions) a bag of candy. 
The snack began at about 11:30am. In less than 10 minutes all the food was gone and the meeting resumed!

Other topics President Kretly talked about was using funds wisely.  He told of a missionary who, when it was time to go home from his mission, gave the mission back a large sum of money.  He hadn’t needed all of the money that he was given every month.  President said he didn’t want the missionaries to go without, but he didn’t want missionaries to think that they had to spend every Metical they received every month either. If missionaries want to spend money on souvenirs, they need to do that with their own money, not the monthly allowance. He also talked to us about the Pride cycle:  Righteousness & Prosperity – Pride & Sin – Chastening & Punishment – Humility & Repentance.  We are not competing with other missions or other companionships.  We need to recognize the hand of the Lord and not boast in our own strength.  If we boast, we will be left to own strength and the Lord will not help us.
To have “true conversion” we need to use the Book of Mormon in our teaching and to let the Spirit of Elijah, which is a manifestation of the Holy Ghost, witness to the people the truth of the eternal covenants they should make to be able to return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  Missionary Work and Family History and Temple Work is the same redemptive work.  New members who participate in Family History and Temple Work have stronger testimonies of the gospel and are more than twice as likely to remain active in the Church.


Elder Milne, from the Southeast Africa Area Office, talked to the missionaries about security.  He emphasized 3 points:  (1) Live Righteously.  The breastplate of righteousness will protect you.  (2) Listen to the Spirit and follow its promptings.  You will be warned of danger.  (3)  Listen to your leaders and follow the rules. Most crimes are opportunistic, he explained.  So, if we minimize the times opportunities are presented then we can prevent crimes from happening. Learn to comply.  If someone approaches you and tries to take your money, cell phone, or camera from you, don't resist as this may cause you further problems.  
Elders enjoyed eating together and sharing time talking about their experiences and renewing friendships.




Sandy started a new tradition of celebrating missionary birthdays since the last Zone Conference.  There were 15 in our zone; Elder Jarvis's birthday was that very day. They all were invited to come up so we could sing Happy Birthday in Portuguese and English. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. The cake Sandy made is also shown below.

Until the power went out the Elders and Sisters visited after Zone Conference meetings had concluded.  [Elder Francisco is second from the left; Elders Jarvis and Greenman; Secretaries & APs: Elders Greenman, Z. Williams, Douglas, Santos, and Poyfair; Sister missionaries; Elders Christianson, P. Williams, Ipsen.]






We purchased more items for the Sisters new apartment and had beds and desks delivered.

We also prepared a number of boxes at the Distribution Center for sending to the independent branches (those not a part of a District) of the mission. The delivery of such important church supplies in Mozambique in the past have often been accomplished through delivery by missionaries being transferred, members traveling to those areas, or Mission President trips. The mission is asking that such materials be sent on a more timely basis by consistently using delivery services of DHL or other delivery services instead. Supplies coming from USA take at least 6 weeks to arrive, and then waiting only until someone is traveling to independent branches is problematic.
A couple of trucks in the mission have this sticker on the back window.  This one is on the Mission President’s truck. They will evaluate if it results in calls from interested investigators.

It is 75º F today, and after 90º plus about every day it seems cool. We see some people wearing coats. This young boy was enjoying a game of “leap frog” over the car barriers on the side walk.

Saturday at 6pm we were able to listen to the 10 a.m. opening session of General Conference. The 2 p.m. session will be starting here at 10 p.m. Priesthood will be at 2 a.m. Dad will listen to Priesthood when available on-line. Sunday sessions were at 5:30 p.m and 10 p.m. Thankfully we receive conference on the internet through BYURadio live.  It was also on BYU-TV live but continual buffering made it impossible to view that way.

Sandy especially enjoyed the music of the choirs.  She wanted to find the words to the song "Take Time to Be Holy" so she did a Google search.  She found this youtube video with pictures and scriptures that go with the words.  It is very calming and has a beautiful message:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zut3rCzk6bw
Sunday we had our regular Fast and Testimony meeting (instead of Conference) since most homes do not have access to the internet to watch Conference and the time difference makes it a challenge to listen to it live.  The church sends DVD’s of conference to the mission; we will be watching the sessions, in Portuguese, on Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27, instead of having our regular meetings.


With this sunset in the West we say good night from Maputo!