“If we spend our days waiting for fabulous roses, we will
miss the beauty and wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around us.”
-President Uchtdorf, Nov. 2011
May 14, 2012
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!! It’s people like you who make this world a better place. It was great hearing from my family yesterday, always a treat. Mother’s Day in Paraguay is celebrated tomorrow, not sure why it is different.
This week was very busy. What I am realizing is that it is a blessing to have so many progressing investigators but it’s also a lot of work! My companion keeps asking if things are always like this and of course, I tell her no. We are very blessed right now to be working with so many interested people. It’s tricky because the new missionary training program that missionaries do their first 12 weeks in the field adds an extra 1 1/2 hours of studies into the morning and it really cuts into our proselyting time. We have two investigators that are supposed to be baptized this Friday. We have been praying that everything works out. They are on opposite sides of our area and we are supposed to see them both everyday. My companion started singing, “Over the river and through the woods, to Lujan’s house we go," because it is such a hike over there. Did I mention that my area is very hilly? Every other street is up, down, up, down, so yes, I am getting super fit.
The highlights of the week were the baptism of Kuka, the ward mission leader’s son, a family home evening with Ruben and Lela and petting a monkey. Yes, petting a monkey! Let me explain in order...
Kuka just turned 8 and it was really cool to see a dad baptizing his son. It’s not terribly common here to see a worthy, active Priesthood holder baptizing his son and there was a great spirit there. Four of our investigators came- Ruben and Lela and a new couple we are working with- Fernando and Maria. The event was of course chaotic for me, as we lacked another witness for the baptism and the baptismal clothes were a disaster and we started 45 minutes late. I should really be used to this by now but all is well that ends well, right? Kuka is now a baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We had Family Home Evening with Ruben and Lela, the young couple we have been working with. We watched the 1980´s church movie, “Families Can Be Together Forever,” which I really like, regardless of how cheesy it is. The Spirit was strong, as we all shared our testimonies. Ruben and Lela have become regulars in Sacrament Meeting but for some reason still aren’t ready to be baptized. Keep them in your prayers.
Here’s the monkey story, definitely a highlight! We found this awesome new investigator named Carlos who wants to change his life for his kids and has already read a ton of the Book of Mormon. His family has a pet monkey named Moni. I petted Moni and then it was Hermana Greer’s turn. Moni immediately attached himself to her arm and started bearing his teeth as if he was about to bite her. Yes, it was frightening, but according to Carlos he is very nice to people he knows. Moni also has a pet chicken which he has raised and treats like a daughter. Yes, a monkey with a pet chicken, only in Paraguay! Also, Moni eats mandioca and bread, not your typical monkey food!
Other highlights of my week include teaching the Plan of Salvation to the primary kids because their teacher didn’t show up. I just love the kids here! Another highlight was watching how my new companion reacted to her first crowded, colectivo/bus ride. It doesn’t bother or surprise me anymore because I am use to it, but I have to admit that they are quite unusual. First of all, after district meeting in Caacupe, we have to wait from 15 minutes to an hour for the bus to pick us up to take us back to our area. When we get on there is absolutely no breathing space at all. All the seats are filled and people are crammed in the aisle. There are at least 5 people touching you, as you are all squashed in between each other in this tiny colectivo. The worst part is when new people get on and try to jam in, or people have to get off and push through the huge crowd of people to the exit. It’s quite an entertaining experience.
Well, love you all! Keep the faith!
Hermana Brittner
May 14, 2012
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!! It’s people like you who make this world a better place. It was great hearing from my family yesterday, always a treat. Mother’s Day in Paraguay is celebrated tomorrow, not sure why it is different.
This week was very busy. What I am realizing is that it is a blessing to have so many progressing investigators but it’s also a lot of work! My companion keeps asking if things are always like this and of course, I tell her no. We are very blessed right now to be working with so many interested people. It’s tricky because the new missionary training program that missionaries do their first 12 weeks in the field adds an extra 1 1/2 hours of studies into the morning and it really cuts into our proselyting time. We have two investigators that are supposed to be baptized this Friday. We have been praying that everything works out. They are on opposite sides of our area and we are supposed to see them both everyday. My companion started singing, “Over the river and through the woods, to Lujan’s house we go," because it is such a hike over there. Did I mention that my area is very hilly? Every other street is up, down, up, down, so yes, I am getting super fit.
The highlights of the week were the baptism of Kuka, the ward mission leader’s son, a family home evening with Ruben and Lela and petting a monkey. Yes, petting a monkey! Let me explain in order...
Kuka just turned 8 and it was really cool to see a dad baptizing his son. It’s not terribly common here to see a worthy, active Priesthood holder baptizing his son and there was a great spirit there. Four of our investigators came- Ruben and Lela and a new couple we are working with- Fernando and Maria. The event was of course chaotic for me, as we lacked another witness for the baptism and the baptismal clothes were a disaster and we started 45 minutes late. I should really be used to this by now but all is well that ends well, right? Kuka is now a baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We had Family Home Evening with Ruben and Lela, the young couple we have been working with. We watched the 1980´s church movie, “Families Can Be Together Forever,” which I really like, regardless of how cheesy it is. The Spirit was strong, as we all shared our testimonies. Ruben and Lela have become regulars in Sacrament Meeting but for some reason still aren’t ready to be baptized. Keep them in your prayers.
Here’s the monkey story, definitely a highlight! We found this awesome new investigator named Carlos who wants to change his life for his kids and has already read a ton of the Book of Mormon. His family has a pet monkey named Moni. I petted Moni and then it was Hermana Greer’s turn. Moni immediately attached himself to her arm and started bearing his teeth as if he was about to bite her. Yes, it was frightening, but according to Carlos he is very nice to people he knows. Moni also has a pet chicken which he has raised and treats like a daughter. Yes, a monkey with a pet chicken, only in Paraguay! Also, Moni eats mandioca and bread, not your typical monkey food!
Other highlights of my week include teaching the Plan of Salvation to the primary kids because their teacher didn’t show up. I just love the kids here! Another highlight was watching how my new companion reacted to her first crowded, colectivo/bus ride. It doesn’t bother or surprise me anymore because I am use to it, but I have to admit that they are quite unusual. First of all, after district meeting in Caacupe, we have to wait from 15 minutes to an hour for the bus to pick us up to take us back to our area. When we get on there is absolutely no breathing space at all. All the seats are filled and people are crammed in the aisle. There are at least 5 people touching you, as you are all squashed in between each other in this tiny colectivo. The worst part is when new people get on and try to jam in, or people have to get off and push through the huge crowd of people to the exit. It’s quite an entertaining experience.
Well, love you all! Keep the faith!
Hermana Brittner
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