4/25/16

 

 

2- Our District of Horqueta missionaries.  Elder Piriz, Elder McNulty, Hermana Scott, Hermana Martinez, y the Cranneys.  Hermana Martinez is now in Pedro Juan and Hermana Francani from Argentina is here now.

3- Having lunch in Concepcion with some of the missionaries.  It is really pretty good food.  Chicken, pasta, mandioca, potatoes, etc.

4- Elder McNulty taking advantage of the air conditioning in the pickup to cool off.

5- Hermana Cranney swept and mopped the floor and a few hours later the Elders visited.  This is what she swept up after they left.  We love them in spite of the sand on their shoes.

This has been a challenging week for Elder Cranney due to illness.  I have been blessed for nearly a year now with good health, but this week I broke out with cold sores, aching head and neck, fever, pain in the eyes, muscle pain, swollen glands, etc.  The area medical director in Buenos Aires said it was an acute virus attack and I an now taking 5 doses of antiviral medication every day (instead of the 2 per day as it says on the box).  The good news is that the medication is readily available here and seems to be helping.  I have not had much strength at all to work this week but have focused on rest, liquids, rest, a little work, and more rest.

On Monday we went with the missionaries and sisters to President Duarte’s chacra or farm.  We walked around and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the area.  It is a large farm and he has big plans for the future.  He also has cows and Sister Cranney loves baby cows.  The Pres. helped us pick grapefruit, oranges, mandarins, lemons, and Persian limes.  All the missionaries got a good supply of the fruit. 

Tuesday was change day and what a surprise.  Sister Martinez was changed out and ended up in Pedro Juan Caballero, right on the border with Brasil.  She is a wonderful missionary and we have loved getting to know her.  Sister Scott is staying, and we are so excited to continue working with such a fine missionary.  The Elders are still here for at least one more change.  Our new missionary is Sister Francani from Argentina.  She is a fine, mature missionary and we really look forward to working with her.  (Note:  Sunday night we received a phone call from Hna Torres who worked here in Horqueta when we arrived and from her new companion Hermana Ross- also previously from Horqueta.  It was so cool to hear from them both and now they are companions.  We also learned that Sister Anderson from Concepcion is now companions with Hna Lundberg who was here in Horqueta).  We are so blessed to work with and support such fine missionaries. 

I got a haircut this week from our neighbor Magdalena and she did a fine job but boy is it short!  But it is very easy to care for.  Cheryl also got her hair “painted” as they call it here.  We enjoy Magdalena and her family - Brisa and her little boy Dylan.

At noche de Rama this week, the Elders prepared a team game in which they used their dartboard to have the youth select a gospel topic and then their team had to answer either a tough, medium, or an easy question.  The hard questions valued 300, medium 200 and easy 100 points.  It was fun and helped the youth strengthen their knowledge of the scriptures.   Brother Carlos Colman was there working on repairs at the church - including new locks and keys.  Over time keys get lost and no one can get into the church unless they have one of the few keys that remain.  Hna Cranney also had a list of repairs such as a very noisy light in the Primary room.

We have been invited / assigned to travel to Asuncion May 17-23 to stay in the mission home and conduct home inspections for all the missionaries in Asuncion.  We accepted (clearly) and are looking forward to the visit and the work. 

In our temple class yesterday two of the members clearly indicated that they want to receive their temple endowments in June.  We need to arrange for interviews and prepare them well.  They are such wonderful people. 

We are looking for someone to help us clean our house twice a week since Camila is moving to Concepcion with her husband Marcos.  He is going to be working in the meat packing plant.  Our neighbors have recommended a young lady named Liz who works part time for several of them and comes highly recommended.  We don’t need much but it is great to have some help.

Yesterday in church in Concepcion I gave a talk on Faith - that it is a principle of action and power.  I hope that the message connected with some of the people - as many seem to think that an occasional visit to church is all that is required.

We love you all and appreciate your support.  We are so blessed to be here, blessed to be working with such fine missionaries, blessed to be safe and well, and blessed to be serving the people of northern Paraguay.

Love,
Mom and Dad