30 May 2016

Fotos:

1- Leticia Gonzales Soria - the young convert of 11 years of age. 

2&3- Ready for her baptism.   

Happy Memorial Day and thanks to all those who serve / have served in our armed forces.  Grateful for Dad’s service in two conflicts and that we enjoy the benefits of his service and the service of millions of other Americans.  

We have had a very good week.  Cheryl has been spending more time with two Spanish speakers to try and improve her Spanish language skills. Elder Piriz takes time with her when we are at the church and they typically read El Libro de Mormon.  Daisy Duarte is improving her English so she and Hna Cranney work once a week on Spanish / English together.  Hna Cranney is steadily improving.

We also worked this week installing smoke/carbon monoxide detectors in missionary homes in this area of the mission.  We covered Concepcion, Horqueta, Yby Yau, and Pedro Juan.  The mission purchased a DeWalt cordless drill and it makes the installation a piece of cake.  We also get to see and visit with missionaries with whom we served before.

Our trip to Pedro Juan was interesting- as usual.  The missionaries met us in Yby Yau to install the first detectors.  They had a big house but it had some problems:  1) roof leaks in nearly every room, 2) kitchen has no running water so they do their dishes outside in the open, 3) plumbing in outside dishwashing area broken so it makes a real mess.  We will recommend repairs or moving to a new house.  A funny story is that the two elders in Yby Yau sleep in two different rooms which is usually not allowed.  But one of the Elders snores so loudly that his comp can’t sleep in the same area of the house. 

We completed our installations and then went to have our car serviced.  We are so grateful for a mission provided car that will go anywhere (4x4) and we only pay for diesel and maintenance.  After they were done at Nissan we went to Shopping China and bought a new compute for Cheryl (we found an HP), a new battery for my camera, a 1TB storage device to backup all of our data and fotos, and a few treats such as candy bars and marshmallows.  We didn’t get home until pretty late that night.

Saturday we spent time a the chapel preparing for a baptism.  Leticia is a cute 11 year old indigenous girl that was adopted by a family in our branch.  She lived way, way out in the campo and her mom asked Hna Sanchez to take her home with her to help her have a chance with school, a non-abusive father, learning Spanish, etc.  So the Sister Missionaries have been teaching Leti for some time now - using the family to translate from Spanish to Guarani so Leti can learn and understand.  They were in no rush, but spent all of the time necessary to help Leti understand the covenants that she would be making.  So Saturday we went to clean the font and I was the only one who wore my rain boots that day (rainy day) so I got to clean the font.  The first time they missionaries filled it the water was dirty and sandy so we had to pump out the water, clean, and refill.  The water the second time was better but still not too clear - and COLD!  It is winter here and the water heater doesn’t work.  But we did our best to prepare so it would be a wonderful experience for Leti.

We arrived at the baptism early enough for me to get changed and Leti was already there.  In Paraguay no one, and I mean no one, ever arrives early for anything but Leti was already there and dressed in white.  I changed into white clothes and we had a wonderful baptismal service - all in Guarani (except for the baptismal prayer).  At the end of the program, Leti literally ran to the font and took off her shoes so she could be baptized.  As I entered the font I was stunned by how cold the water was, but Leti was a real trooper and the baptism was a huge success.  On Sunday she was confirmed a member of the church and given the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  She was confirmed by our Branch Mission Leader in the Guarani language so that she could understand the blessing.  It was very special.  One other neat thing - Sunday morning everyone was excited for the Sanchez family to come to church for Leti’s confirmation - but they were all sick so Leti came by herself.  A young, 11 year old indigenous girl, came to church by herself so that she could be confirmed.  What a wonderful example for us all!

For many weeks we have been teaching Priesthood Preparation classes here in Horqueta.  Many of the young men / men here do not understand at all about the Priesthood and how it can bless the lives of many.  Cesar Cohene has been attending the classes and so eager to learn and become an Elder.  Cesar has been a member about a year, speaks mainly guarani, about 30 years old and single.  Yesterday he was interviewed via Skype by a member of the mission presidency and last evening sustained at District Priesthood meeting and ordained an Elder.  He was able to participate with ordaining other Elders also.  What a great example of faithful devotion to the Lord. 

After the meeting Cheryl and I offered to take Cesar back to the farm where he works.  He has a good job at a farm and he is allowed to have Sundays off so he can come to church.  We started the drive thinking that a 4-5 kilometer drive would be easy.  We asked him how long it takes him to walk to church on Sundays.  He said about an hour if he runs most of the way!  We drove over some of the roughest roads we have seen in a long time.  It took us nearly 30 minutes to get him close to his work and then 30 minutes home.  We are so blessed.

We are so grateful to be here, to be serving the Lord, learning so many new lessons about life, so grateful for our many blessings - our family, the gospel, our health, even just our opportunities in life.  
We love you all.

Jerry and Cheryl

Note:  More fotos to follow.

Horqueta, Paraguay: 23 Mayo 2016

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

Mid-week fotos

We had a big parade yesterday - to celebrate the 223 anniversary of the founding of Horqueta.  I thought you all might enjoy seeing what a rural Paraguayan parade looks like.  Enjoy!

Horqueta Birthday Celebration

 

Hello to all:

Just a few fotos to show you how Horqueta is celebrating it’s 223rd birthday this week.

One is a poster for the birthday, and the other is Hna Cranney in front of the municipal building in Horqueta.  Pretty cool street painting.

Love you all.

    

Weekly update: 5/9/16

 

 

Well, Hello to everyone.  First the fotos:

1- The Hermana Cranney at Burger King in Asuncion with Elder Piriz and Elder McNulty.

2- Us with two of the hermanas who served at different times in Horqueta and now are companions in Asuncion.  Hermana Scott from Californiaa and Hermana Torres from Peru.

3- Hermana Cranney sitting in her new chair.  Sitting at her side is President Duarte - he is the branch president and is the artisan who made our chairs.

4- A foto of my chair in progress.

5- A foto of Cheryl’s chair in progress.

6 - Our neighbors Carlos and Petty teaching us how to cook some new dishes.  Very good.

We have had a good week here in Horqueta.

We drove to Asuncion on Monday to haul for chairs to the McMullins.  They ordered two and so did we.  In exchange for delivery from Horqueta, they will ship them with their household goods to the US.   On this trip we did not get a single traffic ticket - wahoo!  We always enjoy our visits to the mission office to see missionaries that have served here or in the office.  We always shop at SuperSeis, a very nice supermarket that has an imported food section.  We typically buy jams, brownie mixes, etc.  We also took advantage of the opportunity on Monday to order leather covers for our scriptures from Dino.  He does a very good job and each missionary can select which scripture scenes they want on the covers.  It takes about 1-2 months to complete as he does orders for both the north and the south missions in Paraguay. 

Tuesday morning I had an appointment with a doctor in Asuncion.  I have been sick and I took advantage of a good, American trained, English speaking doctor.  He did a good job and had me tested for Dengue.   The tests came back negative so at least we know what I don’t have! He said that after a week or so if I am not feeling better to call him and he will see what else he can to.

We headed home Tuesday afternoon with two passengers - the Elders from Horqueta had been in Asuncion to sign Emigration papers.   We had a safe and uneventful journey home.

It is amazing how much Horqueta now feels like home to us.  We have wonderful friends and neighbors, the branch of the church is full of so many good people, and we have everything we need here in our little house.  We have been watched over and blesses so abundantly with safety, security , and good health.  We are so grateful for the prayers and support we receive from everyone.

Thursday we conducted home inspections on two missionary apartments in Concepcion.  The elders had worked hard and the houses were pretty clean and well organized.  These wonderful missionaries are more focused on the work than on cleaning their houses.   But they do try and clean it up at least for the inspections.  I also had our weekly Presidency meeting and we had a Skype meeting with Pte McMullin, our mission President.  We talked a lot, and he trained a lot, about ward mission plans.  They are so crucial to help convert, retain, and reactivate members of the church in a growing area.  I figured out as well that some of the less active leaders should be listed on the ward mission plan for activation efforts.  We need them to be active; we need them to feel of the love of the Saviour in their lives again;  we need their help.

Saturday we had a good training meeting in Concepcion for all of the Auxiliary leaders.   We drove with Hna Duarte who is the primary president of our branch.  She only has 3-4 kids each Sunday and of differing ages - so it is hard for her to implement a full primary program.  But she is there each week and loves the kids.  She wants to teach them some of the Primary songs but most of our primary leaders have never heard some of the primary music and need much help.  We are hoping to download music so they can begin to teach the gospel via music.

On Sunday we help our Priesthood and Temple classes.  I am amazed at times how much I take for granted.  Some of the youth in our branch don’t know for sure if they have been ordained to the Priesthood and if they have are not certain what office they hold.  So we have started with the basics to help them understand what the Priesthood is, how we can serve, the blessings it brings, etc.  It has been very wonderful to teach these youth about such an important subject.

The temple class has only two participants - Daisy and Isidro.  Both are very prepared and have strong testimonies.

We sure love and appreciate you all.  Greetings to those who read our blog that our daughter Angela updates for us (familia de Hna Scott).  We love the people…we love the work…we love the Lord.

Jerry and Cheryl.

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

4/18/2016

 

 

Hola!  What a great day we have had today with our Preparacion Day.  We went out to the branch President’s ranch and had a great time.  We picked fruit….grapefruit, oranges, manadarins, Persian limes, and Paraguayan lemons. He also showed the elders how to harvest mandioca.  It was fun. 

A few fotos:

1-  Me with a large machete that they use to clear brush and dig up mandioca. 

2- Cheryl visiting with a calf at the ranch.

3- Flowers and butterflies

4- Cheryl and Hna Scott and Hna Martinez. 

5- President and Sister Duarte headed for home.

This has been a busy but good week.  We have been working hard to try and update the membership records for many of the members here in Horqueta.  We had to locate copies of or recreate membership records for 9 members of the branch.  We then added at least 4 ordinations to the Priesthood that had occurred months and years ago but never recorded.  The thing is that the more we solve the more we find.  For example, we are trying to find witnesses for a baptism of a young man that occurred about 6 years ago.  Just as we are getting close we discovered that his older sister does not have a membership record either.  Well, I guess we are here to help in any way we can and sometimes it is in ways that we don’t expect.

This week in our Noche de Rama (branch activity night) we taught the lesson on “Choices”.  We used the stories of Daniel in the Old Testament as examples - when Daniel chose to eat healthy food rather than the food of the king, - when Daniel refused to bow down before the golden image and was thrown in the fiery furnace,  - and when he refused to stop praying to his God and was thrown in the den of lions.  All great examples for us to learn from and to help us make better choices every day.

We helped with Relief Society meeting on Thursday by showing a video about the formation of the Relief Society.  It went well with about 8 sisters attending and we had finger foods and cake afterwards. 

Friday evening we had Presidency meeting in Concepcion and a Self Sufficiency Committee meeting.  We have much work to do and so few willing hands.  We are trying to do something with self sufficiency and not just talk about it.  So we are trying to obtain vegetable seeds so that we can help the members plant, tend, and harvest vegetables from their own gardens.

Sunday was a great day.  We left home about 730 am to drive with the Elders to Tacuati.  We attended Gospel Principles Class and then Sacrament meeting.  They only have 2 hours of meetings each week as they are still not a branch.  We then distributed vegetable seeds to each family - with a commitment that they plant and harvest the fruit.  We had tomato, green pepper, onion, cucumber, carrot, lettuce, and a bit of spinach.  Everyone was so excited to plant their garden.  We look forward to seeing the results in a month or so when we visit Tacuati.

We had a nice lunch of chicken, pork, rice salad, mandioca, and juice at Pedro's house.  It was very good.  We then taught a temple preparacion class and shared a few ideas about Priesthood ordinances.  We finished about 4:00 pm, went and picked up the elders and drove home.  A busy but fruitful day. 

The Elders taught 5 lessons to Sister Adelaida who is planning to be baptized on April 30.   She and her family are so wonderful.

Well, we love and miss you all.  thank you for your love, support, and prayers. 

Jerry and Cheryl.

ps:  We don’t have an update on Manuela Martinez yet.  She was hoping to have surgery this week IF they could find her blood type.  In the meanwhile, her tumor continues to grow.  Thanks to those who have helped put her name on Temple Prayer rolls.