January 18, 2016

It is actually Tuesday morning, the 19 of January.  Yesterday all day we were helping care for Elder Simao who has a confirmed case of Dengue.  He was in the hospital and they kept running blood tests and all of them came back negative.  Sis. McMullin insisted that we know what type of test they were running because one kind of test is for when you are just thinking you have dengue, and the other for when you have had It for a few days.  Elder Simao has been sick for nearly a week and when they ran the test yesterday it finally came back positive.  So he has to stay in the hospital for 2 or more days until his white blood cell and platelet counts stabilize and then 4 or so days of rest at home.  He thinks he can go back to work tomorrow, but he needs to bet well because he is scheduled to complete his mission and return to Brasil on the 26 of January. Everyone struggles and suffers when there is sickness in a district or zone as it is so much harder to focus time and energy on missionary work.

Sunday we went to Tacuati and attended our meetings there. It was great with 28 in attendance (or 29 of you count the little black dog).  It was a good meeting with a good lesson on being honest and then a very good Sacrament meeting with one of the members speaking as well as Elder Mendoza and Elder Simao.  Hermana Cranney bore her testimony and I gave a few closing remarks.  It was great to be there again.  During the meeting one rather troubled sister kept repeating everything that was being said, so Cheryl tapped her on the arm and said “Shhhh”.  From that point on the woman kept threatening Cheryl and acted as if she was going to hit her.  Finally one of the missionaries sat between them so that no one got hurt.  This was not the first time that this woman has had trouble at church.

While we were in Tacuati, the local branch here in Horqueta had 35 in attendance.  We are so grateful that the Familia Cristaldo is still attending.  They are such a wonderful couple and we love seeing them and visiting them in their home.  He sells hammocks during the day and cooks and sells hot dogs and hamburgers at night in the central plaza.  Sometimes he works until 2 or 3 in the morning on Sunday morning but he has been coming to church on time. 

Several weeks ago we gave the missionaries a reference for one of the meatcutters at the local supermarket.  Rodney is very friendly and asked for a copy of the Book of Mormon - so we gave one to him.  The missionaries could never seem to connect with him so last Sunday afternoon Cheryl and I went to Rodneys house and had a very nice gospel discussion.  We have not been formally trained as missionary teachers, but we did share our testimonies of the restored gospel and of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.  We plan to see him again this coming Sunday and we invited one of the members (Isidro) to participate in the visit. 

The missionary couple in the South Mission, the Biglers from Payson , UT are going home and are sending to us boxes with nice pans and a crock pot.  We have not been able to find a slow cooker here anywhere and they are gifting theirs to us.  We will pick them up when we are in Asuncion in early February.

We are doing pretty well - sure grateful for our air conditioners.  It has been very hot this week and we are miserable when it gets so very hot.  We appear to be healthy and we are eating reasonably well with 2 good meals per day.  (I also snack in the late evening when we return to the house).

Thanks to all for your love, support, emails, WhattsApp messages, etc.  We love you.

Jerry and Cheryl

3 Photos:

1 - the leaf of the mamon / papaya tree.  It is supposed to have properties that help prevent dengue and help with the recovery if you already have Dengue.

2- You mash up the leaf, add water, mix well, let sit for a while, and then drink the water - straining out the pieced of leaf.

3- Me with the juice of the papaya leaf and my “Bombilla” or filtered straw.