This week didn't go always the way we planned it, but it went well, if that makes any sense. The people that were supposed to be attending the Dental Clinic, many didn't show up which was really hard, but there were other people that were able to be seen and the Dentists stayed busy the whole time. They did miracles! It was really hard though when we got home from the clinic on Thursday and one of the sisters here was complaining of a toothache Our District here was supposed to go down to the clinic on Wednesday - but they didn't go, it made me very sad. One older sister was in to have some of her teethe pulled, while she was waiting I started talking to her about going to the Temple and then helped her fill out her family history form, so when she goes to the temple she is going to be able to get the work done for her parents and be sealed to them. One of those side benefits of an activity, for which I was very grateful!
Wednesday while we were at the clinic President C'aal from Senahu called and asked if I could help with the District Choir practices for the Dedication this Sunday in Yalijux. We came back a little early then on Wed. so that we could make it to the choir practice. We found out Thursday morning that there is a medical brigade from an organization called CHOICE coming to work here in Senahu for three days next week so we will get to help them some by translating for them. The wonderful news of that is that we have a couple of members here that are in great need of seeing a specialist and they are going to be able to be seen. We feel so grateful to be a part of the work we see going on around us.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Saturday, October 20, 2012
The reason we are here!
What an amazing week. I shall do it backwards! Yesterday we did inspections and took the Dentists who will be here this following week for a clinic in Teleman, out to the Hot Springs Waterfalls. It is such a beautiful place. Thursday we got to go to Tikal and wonder through the jungles, with a guide. We saw monkeys, birds, tarantulas, ruins, awesome plants - and climbed lots of stairs. My legs are still discussing the stairs with me today! Thursday night though we delivered a Mission Call to one of the Sisters we have worked with getting her Missionary Papers finished. It was the first time for us to watch someone we have worked with open their letter and read it. Such a wonderful blessing. This young sister has worked so hard and waited so long to be able to go - to Mexico as a missionary!
We have been very happy with the Apartment inspections this time, most of the apartments have been in much better condition. We know they may not be keeping them all clean on a regular basis, but at least we know that once every three months they are looking good! I explained to one set of Elders, who were so chagrined when they realized they had forgot to make their beds, that if they will make a goal to make their bed every day it could change their lives. They thought that was a strange thought. I explained that years ago when I was having a really hard time with all I had to do in life, that I felt I couldn't keep up and was very down, a good friend of mine told me the secret. You make your bed every morning, it only takes a couple of minutes, then all day long when you feel like you are behind, or things are going wrong, you can refer back and think, "Well at least I made my bed." Funny how all these years that one thought has sometimes helped me feel like a successful person.
Tuesday we were in a Zone conference in Peten with Elder Duncan, counselor in our Area Presidency and one of the 70. A few important thoughts that I took from the meeting:
A. You have to have your vision, see the end product that you want first - that way you know where you are headed. It is like a builder needs to have his blueprints, so he knows what he is building. Once you have the vision of where you are going - you set your goals, not just one but multiple, like steps in the process and then you make your plans to reach each of your goals.
B. before we study the scriptures and before we go into a meeting like Sacrament meeting we need to have a question or a need in mind so that as we listen we can be taught the things we need to know by the Spirit.
C. I need to be applying the Atonement more in my own life. Baptism by water is only half a process and has no lasting change unless it is followed by the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It is this gift and the Atonement which purifies and cleans us on a continual basis. Satan works very hard to blind and block us from that process using guilt, pity, depression, a feeling of inadequacy; to block us from our own acceptance of the Atonement. We are here to be successful, but we sometimes short circuit our own potential by our lack of faith in the process provided by our love Heavenly Father. and Jesus Christ.
We have been very happy with the Apartment inspections this time, most of the apartments have been in much better condition. We know they may not be keeping them all clean on a regular basis, but at least we know that once every three months they are looking good! I explained to one set of Elders, who were so chagrined when they realized they had forgot to make their beds, that if they will make a goal to make their bed every day it could change their lives. They thought that was a strange thought. I explained that years ago when I was having a really hard time with all I had to do in life, that I felt I couldn't keep up and was very down, a good friend of mine told me the secret. You make your bed every morning, it only takes a couple of minutes, then all day long when you feel like you are behind, or things are going wrong, you can refer back and think, "Well at least I made my bed." Funny how all these years that one thought has sometimes helped me feel like a successful person.
Tuesday we were in a Zone conference in Peten with Elder Duncan, counselor in our Area Presidency and one of the 70. A few important thoughts that I took from the meeting:
A. You have to have your vision, see the end product that you want first - that way you know where you are headed. It is like a builder needs to have his blueprints, so he knows what he is building. Once you have the vision of where you are going - you set your goals, not just one but multiple, like steps in the process and then you make your plans to reach each of your goals.
B. before we study the scriptures and before we go into a meeting like Sacrament meeting we need to have a question or a need in mind so that as we listen we can be taught the things we need to know by the Spirit.
C. I need to be applying the Atonement more in my own life. Baptism by water is only half a process and has no lasting change unless it is followed by the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It is this gift and the Atonement which purifies and cleans us on a continual basis. Satan works very hard to blind and block us from that process using guilt, pity, depression, a feeling of inadequacy; to block us from our own acceptance of the Atonement. We are here to be successful, but we sometimes short circuit our own potential by our lack of faith in the process provided by our love Heavenly Father. and Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Traveling
We are in Coban, in the middle of our inspection tours. Natalie is getting a great taste of our part of Guatemala! Yesterday trying to get out of the valley though there was a huge tractor trailor rig with a big Cat thing for digging on the trailer bed that had turned one of the blind corners too tight and got his rear wheels stuck in the ditch. It took them a while to figure out how to move it, Elder Spradlin figured they should just use the Cat on the rig, but that wasn't their solution. Just were happy when they did resolve it. The hour or so delay there, plus the road work put us just enough behind to miss the planned lunch break. We did make all of our scheduled inspections though going through Tactic, Valparaiso and San Cristobol, and definately appreciated our filled rolls from the bakery in Coban!
We were able to go to Yalijux with President and Sister Watts last week when they were inspecting the new chapel. Elder Spradlin terms it as one of our "ends of the earth" or the "tops of the mountains" both with very good reason! We are so excited that their new chapel will soon be dedicated.
Today we go to Tanchi, Carcha, Chamelco and then back through Tucuru so it will be a very full day - but first we get to take a little time out to walk through the market here in Coban.
Conference was amazing and we were very grateful to be able to get most of it in English at the Church. Words of a Prophet, we are a very blessed people.
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