“...When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” Mosiah 2:17
Dec. 12, 2011
Hello, hello again!
We had some cool service projects this week. The first one was the annual mission Christmas celebration. We met up with two different zones and I got to see my old MTC companion, Hermana Peel who was there also! So fun! We ate a nice lunch at the office and then watched a movie about the birth of Jesus Christ. After that we went to a home for abandoned boys. I wasn’t sure what to expect. When we arrived there were about a dozen boys sitting on the couches, and about 50 missionaries. Pictures of Saints and the Virgin Mary were on the walls. We started singing Christmas carols and the boys looked either asleep or not sure what to think. We sounded great- like a celestial choir- the acoustics in the room were amazing and the elders with us really knew how to sing and of course, we had Hermana Peel too. But it wasn’t until we sang “Jingle Bells” (in English) that the boys started to lighten up and enjoy listening to us. Then we sang “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” and they were laughing and it was so cool to think that we could bring a little bit of Christmas cheer into their lives. Their parents had abandoned them and that’s why they were there. As we were singing the Christmas hymns about our Savior’s birth, I felt the Spirit so strongly and it reminded me of how much God loves all of His children, no matter who they are or where they are. It reminded me that when we are serving others, that is when we are truly loving them and feeling the love that God has for all of his children. It was a very special Christmas event and I will never forget it.
On Saturday, we went to a Hermana’s house in the ward and painted her fence and gates. I am becoming such a pro painter! Apparently that’s a favorite service project in this area. Another couple from the ward painted with us and it was so fun (and hot)!
We had a cool lesson with a family of investigators when we went on splits. I was with Gabi, who is 17 and we taught Adriana and Andrea and their mom, who was visiting from Brazil. We taught the Joseph Smith story and got to clarify all of the doubts that they had like, “I heard that you pray to Joseph Smith” (which we do not, but it makes me wonder why they would have a problem with that because so many people pray to saints, virgins and angels here). “I also heard that Joseph Smith wrote another Bible...why do we need another Bible” and the most common comment we hear, “I was already baptized...” What I’ve realized is that it’s so much more important to teach people and help them understand, rather than feeling like we have to teach specific lessons no matter what, and you leave and they have no idea what you were talking about. It’s so important that the Spirit is the key part when you teach people because the Spirit brings understanding and is responsible for the conversion process.
Gissell went to the temple! Her family is doing well. We had an interesting lesson with her mom and older sister. It started out as a lesson about the Sabbath Day and turned into a lesson on the Word of Wisdom. We explained about the Sacrament and wine and how we don’t drink it. Her sister Gladys said, “Well, doctors say a little wine is healthy.” My response was “Well, God says we shouldn’t consume it. Which one are you going to trust in?”
Well, this is another week of changes/transfers. Since I have already been in this area for 6 months, chances are very likely I will be leaving. One-third of my mission has been spent in Loma and how I have loved it! We will see where the Lord wants me to go next!
Con cariño y amor,
Hermana Brittner
PS Mom and Dad- Happy Anniversary! I love you!
Week 43- "Head, Shoulder, Knees & Toes"
Week 42- Pan Dulce and Mice Adventures!
“...As the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under the heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.” (2 Nephi 25: 20)
Dec. 5, 2011
Hello, hello, hello!
As Christmas approaches, we are entering a season of great joy, happiness and...pan dulce. What is pan dulce, you might ask? Well, the English translation is “sweet bread,” but it’s what we Americans would call, “fruitcake.” I can think of many-a-holiday joke centered on this festive dessert but in Paraguay, it is not like that. People take their pan dulce seriously and take great pride in making it, selling it and giving it to their neighbors and favorite missionaries with love. I can think of many, many holiday desserts that I would prefer over this so called sweet bread but being as South America is not big on sweets and that’s where I will be spending Christmas, I plan on putting on my best smile and eating their preferred Paraguayan holiday treat with a joyful heart. But please, when I come home, do not buy me pan dulce in hopes of reminding me of what they eat in Paraguay. I will be just fine with some apple pie, mint brownies, cheesecake...
Well, another week has passed and I am feeling a lot better. I was feeling better on Wednesday and we worked a full day. Unfortunately, then my companion got sick and was down Thursday and Friday. This meant we spent a lot of time in the house and I watched A LOT of church movies...Legacy, the Testaments, District 2 (missionary training movies), Joseph Smith movie, etc, etc. (side note: I wish they would make a District movie in South America- it would be so legit!) But it was good to relax, clean and catch up on letter writing.
December 8th marks a very important day in Paraguay for those of another faith. This is the day that many people walk to Caacupe to worship the Virgin of Caacupe. I’m not exactly sure where she came from or why they think they should worship and pray to her, but many people do. They walk all the way there (a few hours away from Asunción) or some of them cheat and take the collectivo and only walk a little bit but they walk with a purpose. Apparently they promise the Virgin that they will give up something or act a certain way so that she will continue to bless their family. Just a cultural tidbit!
Some good news is that we had a full house at church on Sunday! I love fast Sundays in Loma because all of the Primary kids get up first thing and run up to bear their testimonies (at least 15 of them). Then they all finish and leave the stand at the same time. There are always more people who want to bear their testimony than they have time for. Pamela and Gissell both bore their testimonies in Sacrament Meeting. It was very special. Gissell, Junior and Pamela are doing great. Gissell and Junior got their temple recommends and they are planning to go this Saturday with the youth. I wish I had more to report on the investigator side, but with all the sickness that we have been experiencing in our little companionship, we don’t have too much going on right now.
An experience that was somewhat entertaining this week was a lesson that we held with a member’s mom. It wasn’t the lesson that was entertaining but rather, the little mice that kept scurrying across the room and behind their furniture as we sat talking with them. I’m not sure if they didn’t see them, were just ignoring them, or had adopted them as the house pets, but nonetheless, it made Hermana Tua'one and I give each other more than a few raised eyebrows, trying not to laugh and muttering to each other under our breath in English. All the while that this was going on, the lady’s 95-year-old dad, who wasn’t quite all there, said to us, every ten minutes, “seems like it’s going to rain.” I wish we could have practiced in the MTC (Missionary Training Center) for some of the crazy things that go on during lessons in Paraguay!
Here in Paraguay, they build their cemeteries above ground. They don’t bury people underground. They build little houses at the cemetery with enough room to fit their whole family and they just stack the coffins on top of each other whenever someone dies. Quite different than the states.
Anyway, that’s all for now. I want to wish my two sisters, Rae and Becca, a very happy birthday! I love you both tons and hope your birthdays (were) are wonderful!!!
And also, I want to congratulate my friend, Faith, for getting her mission call here to Asunción Norte, which is the best mission on earth! I am so excited you are coming here and who knows, I could be your mom! (That’s mission talk for trainer ;))
Hasta luego,
Hermana Brittner
