1- Mother’s Day gifts from Elders Piriz & McNulty, and Hermanas Scott and Francani.
2- Daisy Duarte (center ) on a mini-mission with hermanas Jara and
Mera. Daisy went to Asuncion with us for her final missionary
interview.
3- Hermana Cranney looking for recipes in the McMullin’s kitchen.
4- The “truck” on our way to Granja Paraiso, or Paradise Farm.
5&6: Pictures of Granja Paraiso where we found an inactive family of 8.
Hello to Everyone:
We are a week late in sending a good email due to travel to Asuncion to work for a week. Details to follow.
We left Monday morning to drive to Asuncion and prepare for a week
of home inspections for the missionaries. The mission President
assigned us to conduct inspections of all of the missionary houses in
the Asuncion area (64 houses). We were only able to complete 31 of them
this week, so we will be heading back on June 5 for another week. He
wants all of the houses to be inspected, and new smoke / carbon monoxide
detectors installed prior to the arrival of the new mission president
on July 1.
We really enjoyed our work there, visiting with so many wonderful
Elders and Sisters, all of whom are working so hard to further the work
of the Lord. The houses vary significantly - some being quite nice
while others are very worn out and difficult to maintain. At times the
missionaries live in the best houses available in the area and it may
not be a very nice house. In addition to conducting the inventory and
inspection, we also try to teach that there are at least 3 reasons why
the missionaries need to keep their houses clean and orderly: 1) The
house of the Lord is a house of order, and these houses are where the
servants of the Lord live, 2) the missionaries are blessed when they are
obedient, even in the little things like cleaning their houses, and 3)
the missionaries are more likely to get sick if they live in a dirty
house.
The very first day we were there, we ran into the office for just a
few minutes. When I went out to bring in a few things I found one of
the back passenger windows had been broken out and Cheryl’s laptop and
tablet gone. We are broken-hearted but have learned to be more
careful. We will be looking to replace it with something less expensive
so that Cheryl can work during the last 6 months we have left. Tough
lesson on being careful.
We really enjoyed the short pieces of time we spent with the
McMulliins. We learned so much from them about serving with all of
your heart, might, and mind. Pres. McMullin leaves early each morning
and returns home late every evening. He travels throughout the mission
to participate in Conferences and missionary meetings and interviews.
Each week he receives nearly 200 emails from the missionaries and he
reads each one - replying when necessary. We have grown to really love
and appreciate the McMullins.
On the drive home last evening we spoke about what we need to do
during the last 6 months of our mission. We want to focus on
strengthening the leaders here in Horqueta, or preparing new people to
serve in the branch. We need to help the members not only have a
testimony but be converted to Jesus Christ and serving him. With so
many new members we struggle with gossip, contention, and offending each
other. We continue to teach that charity can drive out all of these
issues if we but follow the example of Jesus Christ and learn to love
and forgive.
We have been pretty healthy and now we are into the flu season here
with many people ill. Three weeks ago we only had 2 members attend
services in Tacuati - due to horrible rains and flu. Yesterday they had
28 attend - more normal for that wonderful group of church members.
Last week the Ypane river was so high that water was running over the
bridge and no one could pass.
We love you all and thank you for your prayers and support.
Love,
Jerry and Cheryl
Jerry and Cheryl
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