January 11, 2016

Hello to everyone.  We have had quite a week.

On Tuesday we went to Concepcion for a zone / district training meeting,  During our district meeting and a discussion of goals and new reporting requirements, one of the sister missionaries had a panic attack and passed out.  She was out for quite a while so we took her to the clinic.  We went to the “preferred” clinic (a sort of small private hospital) and there was not a doctor available.  The second clinic was helpful and we got her right in.  While the Dr was doing his diagnosis we were on the phone with the mission president and the Area Medical Director in Buenos Aires.  They gave her a shot to calm her down, inserted an IV, took blood samples, and we waited - and waited- and waited.  The sister slept most of the time and by the time we left - many hours later - she was doing pretty well.  We are grateful that everything turned out OK.

For branch activity night we taught the lesson on “Looking forward - not back” for the new year and for life in general.  We used the bible story of Lot and his salty wife, and a really good church video.  The members seemed to understand the message and enjoyed the evening. 

I got a haircut and boy does she cut it short.  But it is so easy to take care of and much cooler.  Magdalena said that her daughter Brisa, who takes English classed from us, considers us her grandma and grandpa.  So sweet.

Friday we took the two Elders from here in Horqueta and two elders from Concepcion to work for the day.  They are trying to make sure that some of the Elders know the area and members well as Elder Simao who worked in Tacuati for 6 months is going home to Brasil in 2 weeks.  We all had breakfast with a member family and then we left them there for the day / night. 

It rained really hard that night, and there are only two beds in the tiny missionary house.  So the elders took turns sleeping and reading.  They had planned on putting some mattresses on the floor but due to the quantity of large spiders and cockroaches, they chose to take turns.  They did make it out the next morning at 500 am even though it rained a lot both here and there.

Yesterday was a busy day.  The District Presidency (including me) spoke here in the Horqueta branch.  In the afternoon we had a Branch Presidency training meeting in Concepcion where we taught “How to teach in the manner of the Savior”,  how to use the General Handbook of Instructions, and we counseled on the 2016 Area Plan.  It went pretty well. 

We had to leave a bit early to arrive back in Horqueta for a fireside on the Book of Mormon.  All of the members in the South America South Area (Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay)  have been challenged to read the Book of Mormon, cover to cover, prior to the April General Conference.  So we showed the members here a video about how many youth received their testimony of the book of Mormon.  We then invited any who wished to participate to share their testimonies of the Book of Mormon.  It turned out really well.  One of the members, Isidro Morales, told of his conversion 5 years ago.  He said that when the missionaries came and taught him, they told him that our church was the true church of Christ.  He said he needed to know that for himself.  When they testified that the Book of Mormon was the word of God, he needed to find out for himself.  So he started reading the Book of Mormon immediately.  He said hardly a page went by when he didn’t feel the Holy Ghost testifying that the Book of Mormon is true.  When the missionaries returned to visit him, he stated that he was ready to get baptized.  They protested that they hadn’t taught him all the lessons, but he said he was ready and knew it to be true.  They taught him quickly and now he is serving as the secretary in the Branch Presidency. 

We read in the church news this week that our new mission president is President Evans.  We don’t know anything more than that they will arrive in July.  We will truly miss the McMullins.

I have been sick with the flu for the past few days.  Some of the symptoms are unpleasant but I am feeling better today.   We hope that Cheryl doesn’t catch the bug that is going around.

We heard reports that a new pickup truck has arrived for us to use.  We will miss this very nice car that we have been driving, but the roads here require something more durable than a nice mini-SUV.  We don’t know for sure when we will receive the new one or where the exchange will take place. 

We have been invited by the McMullins to take care of their son Bryant again the first week of February while they are in Buenos Aires for a Mission President’s seminar.  We always enjoy our time with Bryant and their family.

We hope and pray that you all are well and happy.   We love and miss you all.

Thank you for your love, support, and prayers.

Jerry and Cheryl

Weather this morning:  Temperature = 82 degress

Humidity = 83%

Forecast for rain.