A time of celebration

Temple Trip:  
Last Saturday was a temple trip for the Ovalle Sur Branch, with whom we have been doing so many Family History Family Home Evenings.  We spent almost two weeks before the trip helping them with their family history and preparing names for the temple.  Just before the trip, our Mission President came for missionary interviews, and while he was here he did 13 temple recommend interviews, mostly for members attending the temple for the first-time, from Ovalle Sur!

We went to the temple with them, and what a blessing it was to watch them help each other perform the ordinances for their ancestors and have a good "first time" experience in the temple.

We were inspired to hold these Family Home Evenings in Ovalle Sur.  The Lord knew they were ready and would respond.  They did, and the blessings they will receive will be more than they can imagine.  The strength it will add to their Branch cannot be measured.

La Programa de la Clase de Piano:
Last Sunday, ten of my piano students came together in one of the chapels.  They each played two hymns and directed two hymns for an audience of about 50 family and friends. Like I have said before, I could write a book about what it took to get them to the point of playing a hymn, but they all played and directed.  With one minor exception, they did remarkably well.

A few months ago two or three of them were still struggling to read music and had very little sense of melody or rhythm.  They would actually sing along as they played, often singing a few measures ahead of their playing--and with a melody even I didn't recognize--and not being aware of any of it!

I finally came up with a way to rewrite some of the hymns and make them easy to read and play.  I chose 12 hymns they really liked (some that are not in our English hymnbook) and gave copies to the students who needed them. When I showed them how to follow what I had written, and how easy it was to play a hymn, their faces lit up with enthusiasm and an "I can do that" look.

It allowed some to play in the program who would not have, otherwise.  When they use the organ setting on the electronic pianos in the chapels, they actually sound pretty good.

Part of their responsibility when they "signed up" to get a keyboard and learn piano was to help teach other.  I have appointed four of them as teachers and they will continue class on saturday mornings at one of the chapels.  I am going to pray a lot for them!

I have come to love each one of my students.  I am grateful for the Lord's help in every way, and for the Harman Foundation that provides the keyboards and learning materials.  These sweet people now see themselves as someone who can play a hymn, which is something they never dreamed they would have the opportunity to do.  (Pilar, the one directing music below, sent on my phone a video of her playing "I need thee every hour" and said that it was a hymn she always wanted to learn to play.  Now she knows how--and I didn't even teach it to her.   She learned it out of the book by herself because she can now read music!)

This is Salvador playing and Pilar leading. 

Here they are receiving their Certificates of Achievement (and also another Certificate saying that they now officially own their keyboards).

These are the flowers they gave me at the end.   It was a fun and rewarding evening.

The Zone had a birthday party barbeque for me--it was P Day and they don't need much excuse to have fun together.  Here they are singing "Cumpleanos Feliz" to me, just seconds before this cake was smashed into my face!

Our Monte Patria Elders so proud of their mathematical equation for converting people!

Last night our branch--Ovalle Norte--had a party for us.  People took turns expressing their feelings for us and sharing the experiences we have had together.

 The Relief Society President (below) organized it and spoke quite a while.  There was great traditional Chileno food and dancing.  

It was wonderful.  They are like family to us.

 Some entertaining photos you might enjoy!

       A gypsy camp just outside of town.  There are several tribes that wander throughout South America.  They do not have to answer to border restrictions (passports) between countries.  They are a very interesting group of people.

A chileno hearst (coche funebre).  Funerals are big and dramatic here.

These last 4 pictures are friends from my running route:

My street sweeper friend.  Spends the whole week sweeping the gutters in our neighborhood.  Then does it again the next week, and the next.  We have become good friends.  He is holding a postcard I gave him of Delicate Arch.  

These men, and several others "hang out" on a certain corner of the street pretty much all the time.  There is evidence in the photo of what "consumes" their day.  The one on the right holding the bottle says a full-bellied "good morning" to me every time I run by, so proud of his two words in English.

This is Miriam.  She owns the store on the corner of the park where I run.  She is really sweet and we have become good friends.  She has a Book of Mormon.

And this is the man who keeps the park clean, watered, and pruned.  Since the day my stuff got stolen last March, he insists on keeping my jacket in his wheelbarrow so he can protect it.  I gave him a Book of Mormon last week and he said he could tell it had good teachings in it and that he will read it at night.

Well, this has been a great experience.  Since we know we will probably never see these people again, saying "good bye" is full of hugs, kisses, and tears. We will leave next Thursday and explore a few days on our way to Vina.  An interview on Sunday the 20th with our Mission President, departure dinner on Monday, temple trip and flight from the airport on Tuesday.  Our hearts are full of love and tender memories.  

Our testimonies have grown tremendously as we see the Lord's constant guidance of missionaries.  It is His work, and it has been a great privilege to be part of it.

See you soon!

With much love,

Elder y Hna. Jones

Winding up..........

We have written before about having Family Home Evening with Margot and her family.  After several weeks of complications (sickness, travel, and visitors who don't like Mormons) we finally went back last week.  She gave a lesson from the Book of Mormon Stories about Moroni making a banner of liberty from his shirt.

  For the activity, the children made their own banner of liberty on a torn-up tee shirt. As in the real story, they wrote on it about defending their freedom, their home and their family.

                        We hung it on a stick.  They were quite proud of it when it was finished.


Next we played with the twirling buttons that Pickle (our very sweet granddaughter) made and sent to Elder Jones for Christmas.  They loved them and learned quickly how to make them work--even the missionaries!  Thanks, Pickle!

We went back again last night and did a lesson (again from the Book of Mormon Stories) about the group of Lamanites who were converted to the gospel and felt so badly about the evil they had done in the past that they buried their weapons in the ground, even knowing that it might mean they would die if attacked by their enemies.

It prompted a discussion (as much as possible from such young children) about what that might feel like to them.  We brought two cardboard swords Elder Jones had made and let them "dig a hole and bury them."  But for 7 and 9 year old boys, that was fun for only a few minutes.  When we left they were happily attacking each other.


Two weeks ago on P Day we went to La Serena and saw this bookmobile.  We both have very fond memories of bookmobiles.  We loved the artwork on it.

Also while there we saw this construction project.  The Chilenos have learned that if they want a building to withstand all the earthquakes, they need to put LOTS of rebar in it.  Earthquakes continue to occur close to Ovalle.  After each one, Elder Jones calls out his estimated number classification, and he is usually right.  Last week we had one 5.3, one 5.2, and a 4.8, all within 15 miles of Ovalle.

Also we saw in the harbor of Coquimbo a Viking Ship that was on the attack with a pirate ship.  Not sure who won.

                                             
(It is winter vacation here for two weeks, and the ships were full of families, so I am sure there were lots of hostages to be ransomed afterwards.:)

The wonderful investigator family we talked about in our last blog still continues to learn and grow in their understanding of the gospel.  Three days ago we prepared a family home evening to share with them about family love.  It seemed like a good topic for their first time.  We had the dad ask the two children to talk about how they knew their parents loved them.

The 8 year old responded very sweetly and with an obvious and tender assurance of the love he felt from them.  Then the 14 year old boy began expressing his very deep feelings, filling the room with love and the Spirit and bringing tears to all of us.  We loved watching the faces of the two parents as they listened to their children.

This family is so ready to embrace the gospel.  Their home is full of Christ-like love.  It is just a matter of time.

We have almost finished with our Family History Family Home Evenings.  We have given about 20 by now and have one more left.  We love meeting with families and watching them begin to understand as the Spirit testifies of the importance of this work.

Many of them have followed up with visits to the Family History Center to learn how to actually do it, or have us help them.  Many do not have computers, internet, or knowledge of how to use familysearch.org., so it is a big move forward for them. Many also do not have any records or histories of their ancestors.

We love showing them our family trees on familysearch.org.  Many are in awe of the photos, stories, and fan charts on our sites, and it gives them a glimpse of what is possible.

This group was our Zone until last week, until almost half of them were transferred. :(   We told someone the other day that when we left home we had 11 grandchildren.  Now we have at least 50, and we have to keep saying goodbye to a few of them every 6 weeks.  What a blessing they have been to us.  We love every one of them.

                                                          *****************

We have tried to write and send this edition of our blog for over a week, but for some reason we seem to be living each day in fastforward.  In one month we will be in Vina with other departing missionaries, for one last interview with our mission president, a testimony meeting, then a dinner (which we don't actually have to cook!).

For many reasons, and very mixed feelings, we are looking forward to these last few days.  We will see once again a few missionaries we really got close to while serving together, we will be able to express our appreciation to our President and his wife for the amazing impact they have had on all of us, we will be able to go to the temple as a group of missionaries, and then.................we will come home.

"I cannot say the smallest part which I feel."

Elder y Hna. Jones

La Boda, El Padre, y El Testigo  
(The wedding, the father, and the witness)

We have become good friends with a young couple, Andres and Katerin, who got married last week.  She is from Peru and did not have a father at the wedding, so they asked Elder Jones to be her father and escort her into the chapel.  Sorry the picture is not focused, I had it on the wrong setting and did not have time to change it.  But here he is doing what he does best--being a father!

Couples here who get married and then later receive the ordinance in the temple have their ceremony in the chapel and their celebration afterwards in the cultural hall.  This one began with an opening prayer and hymn, followed by the ceremony performed by what in the States would be a Justice of the Peace, then a few testimonies, a message from the Branch President, another hymn and prayer. 

 Two witnesses are required, one for each.  They asked me to be witness for Katerin.  During the ceremony when the Justice was talking, Fredy (our friend who was the other witness) and I stood with the couple to "witness."  The Justice explained things to me before it all started, but since he wasn't speaking "church spanish" I did not understand that I had to actually say something.   I thought I just had to sign my name!   Anyway, at the point where I was supposed to respond to his request, I got some of it right but a glance over to Fredy which meant, "what do I say now?" helped me through the rest without making a complete fool of myself.  

But now they are married and hopefully will continue their course toward the temple.  

The celebration after included lots of tasty food and some entertainment.  These dancers came to perform.

Family Home Evening in a box.  About a month ago we had an idea to create a family home evening lesson that we could share with families in their own homes.  It was very apparent that the Lord wanted us to do this, and to offer it first to the families in Ovalle Sur Branch.  We met with the President of that Branch and got his approval, including an announcement in his next Sacrament Meeting explaining what we wanted to do and that we would pass around a sign-up sheet during Sunday School.   

Seventeen families signed up!!  We have done five so far and they have been wonderful experiences. We talk about the temple and why we have to do the ordinances for our ancestors, then about family history and how to do it, ending with them setting goals in these areas.  The Spirit has been very strong each time.  We have taught new converts and long time members.  It has been a great challenge but very rewarding.  

This is one of the families.  The father is not a member but listened closely and had a great time telling a family story.  There are some tender feelings in this family and a great desire to continue their family history work.  

Monte Patria:  We have a new Branch President in Monte Patria (again) who is working really hard to make things better there.  He loves the members and his heart is in the right place.  Because of lack of opportunity and education, his employment is sweeping the streets of Ovalle every day.  His wife works also, and spends the day cracking walnuts.  Her daily batch is weighed before and after, and the nuts and shells have to add up to the same weight or they reduce her pay.  Be grateful for opportunity.

This is Elder Winward, Elder Jones, and Elder Giles.  Elder Winward and Elder Giles left to go back home a few weeks ago.  We worked with Elder Winward in Monte Patria.  We have learned a lot from him and his companion.  They plan, conduct, and often speak in Sacrament Meeting every week.  They also usually teach the Sunday School lesson and often the Priesthood lesson.  They do everything!  And by the way, Elder Winward is from Preston, Idaho and has skills, but does not keep his tater tots in his pocket!:)

A wonderful family:   Last week we went with the Monte Patria Elders to give a lesson on the Plan of Salvation to a family they had met.  I was asked to say what the atonement meant to me, and Elder Jones was asked to bear his testimony.  By the time we finished, they were both crying. The evidence of the Spirit was so strong that hardly anything else happened for the next several minutes.  We realized once again how very life-changing this knowledge is to people who hear it for the first time.  It is hard for those of us who have grown up with it to understand this.  

We have also learned that when people are first taught the gospel by the missionaries and begin to see a completely new way to live, it brings to the surface things that need resolving in their lives.  This is a wonderful family with two amazing children; but like many others, they have some issues to resolve.  

Elder Jones and I met with them again last night and suggested some very basic doctrinal paths to happiness.  They committed to try it for a month.  

A national park close by has petroglyphs made by Incas.  Apparently a Martian came to visit a long time ago because they drew his picture on the rock!  

                                      Fishing boats in the harbor of a town north of Ovalle.  

Seeing how growth comes from challenges, blessings come from righteousness, purity of heart comes from humility and love, and the path for each of us is different, we are reminded again and again that God is in the Heaven and knows what we need more than we do.  Trusting Him, even and especially when all we have are questions, takes the fear out of the unknown and lets us step into the future with confidence.   A hymn keeps coming to mind, that explains how this feels to me right now.

God Moves in a Mysterious Way

His wonders to perform; 

He plants his footsteps in the sea

And rides upon the storm.

Ye fearful Saints, fresh courage take;

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy and shall break

In blessings on your head.

His purposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err

And scan his works in vain;

God is his own interpreter,

And he will make it plain.

God bless you all,

Elder y Hna. Jones

 Miracles, Love, and Trust

We went with a branch in our District to the Santiago Temple last weekend.  A few who were newly baptized took names that we had helped them find.  It was wonderful.

One sister in the branch wanted to finish the work for her Dad, but when we looked on her tree, the ordinance records were not correct.  Because of the "possible duplicate" page and some serious "puzzling" between us, we finally realized that the person in her tree was not really her dad.  After she left and I could then think in English, I worked on it a while and there is no doubt that the Spirit guided me to the correct information, and how to put her real dad in her tree where the wrong dad had been.  (Stuff I have never done and had no idea how to do.)  I printed the temple ordinance form and when I gave it to her as we left for the temple, she realized, as I had already, what a miracle and a blessing it was to be doing the work for her real dad.  

I also had a baptism and confirmation performed (by one of my piano students) for one of my family members named Eugene Edward Sumner (LZ59-ZQR) born 14 Aug, 1903, in Illinois.   Does anyone know who he is?  I could not find him anywhere.  (Family Search sent his name to me a few months ago.)

Here are a few pictures of our Family History Center (Centro de Historia Familiar).  Because of the intense effort of Elder and Sister Cluff and Elder Jones and I to make the Center a welcoming and well-equipped place, we have three computers, a scanner/printer, lots of interesting things to do, and of course a candy bowl!  

This Arbol Familiar takes up one whole wall.  Elder Cluff made it, and people of all ages have drawn a picture of their family and put it on the tree.  "Mi Familia" booklets, sign-in book, and candy bowl are on the table below.

Inspiring family history stories to read, coloring and activity pages for children, and a temple matching (concentration) game I made from two sets of temple cards.  

                                                   Our three computers and printer/scanner.  

Our most recent family home evening with Margot and her family was quite eventful.  We made them a pendrive with primary music on it, and they starting dancing all over the room to music they had never heard before.  It was pretty lively for a while.  

Then we made brownies.  Margot was making yogurt in her only bowl, so we used a plastic tray to mix it in.  What they did not eat as batter was baked in a toaster oven, which did not quite do the job.  It was still baking when we left.  But the fun they had was worth the mess they made.  We love these kids.

  

This family has a lot of challenges.  We hoped to bring the spirit, and some love, into their home once a week, but progress is slow.  The children are so hungry for it and are so receptive.  Elder Jones is such a great role model for them.  They really love him. 

Two weeks ago there were some people visiting who had a very strong dislike for Mormons.  It felt like winter in there.  We said we would come back the next week.  

A P-Day discovery that is really pretty.  Called "La Laguna."  High ground water in the area creates streams and ponds in a very dry desert.  It is so nice to see real green.  

Our district leader just gave us this photo from Margot`s baptism last November in a river near Monte Patria.  To get to the part of the river deep enough to do a baptism we had to walk across part of it.  Like the Weber River, it was slippery and rocky.  But with the steady arm of Elder Jones, I made it across. 

Last week the young missionaries had interviews with our mission president in their apartments so the pensionero who was with him could inspect for cleanliness, repair, etc., while the President did interviews.  We invited them to dinner, and they finally got to our apartment at 10:30 pm.  They still had to drive an hour to the next location that night, so we just ate and visited.  He and his wife are wonderful people.  

President Diaz and his wife, and Elder and Sister Gould from South Jordan, Utah (Y Worry Lane, near the JR Temple).  He is the new pensionero.  They have been here about 6 weeks.  

Yesterday, Sunday, we had a Branch lunch after meetings were over.  It was our Mother's Day celebration, complete with candy, silk roses, and a traditional Chilean barbeque which the men prepared and served.  

This is our chapel in Monte Patria.  It is also a classroom and the cultural hall.    The kitchen is about 5' x 6', and there are two other small classrooms and a primary room.  This is most of who comes to church each Sunday.  This Branch has had some hard times recently, but things might be turning around now. We surely hope so.  

 The Relief Society President made one of their traditional cakes.  It must have taken all day.  I don't think I would even attempt it.  The filling is caramel sauce and peaches.  It was delicious!  (You can see the layers inside it in the lunch photo above.)

We love you all.  We close with a scripture we have been thinking a lot about lately.

Proverbs 3:5  Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.

If you are interested in a similar message, go to Mosiah 4:9.  It is a powerful scripture.

Elder y Hna. Jones

Family History, Family Home Evening, and our Chilean Family 

In the past two months we have watched several conferences.  One for Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay with Elder Bednar and others.  Another was of course General Conference, and another was a satellite conference just for Chile from Salt Lake.

We also had District Conference with the Mission President and his wife and the Temple President and his wife attending.  (We invited the four of them to come to dinner after conference, thinking that they for sure would already have plans, but they didn't--so we fixed them dinner!  It turned out really pleasant, and they enjoyed some basic American food.)

Anyway, after all these conferences and conversations, we became aware of something really relevant and important:  that newly baptized people who go to the temple within 3 months of their baptism have an 80% chance of staying active.  Without that experience, the percentage is much, much lower.  We have seen that in our District.  The new members here who take family names and go to the temple soon after baptism, are still strong and involved.

So we have taken on a new focus of attending baptisms more consistently and working with the Elders or Sisters to bring the new convert to the Family History Center with their booklet filled out and ready to find temple names.  Our Family History Center has been busy lately, and it is wonderful. I have to keep refilling the candy bowl!  Next blog I will include some pictures of our center.  We actually have 3 computers, which is more than can be found in the centers in many big cities.

Today a sister came in who was recently baptized and I told her some of our family history stories, and she loved them.  Another newly baptized sister came in yesterday with her booklet almost full.  She is planning to go to the temple next month with her branch.  It is a really spiritual experience to watch the eyes of new converts open to this very important work.  To them, it is a completely new concept.  After I show them a few really sweet family history videos made by the church, and also our collection of stories, a feeling of opportunity and responsibility comes over them, and the spirit testifies that this work is true and important.

We are so grateful to our Zone of missionaries.  They understand and support this part of missionary work and have come with the new members to help them get started.  We have urged them to start talking about family history long before baptism so they know to expect it as part of their transition to becoming a member.  The missionaries explain that they can provide their ancestors the same opportunity for baptism as they just had, and can feel the same excitement and happiness.  We think it is going to really make a difference.  It has already!


Transfers this week-again!
We will probably have big changes in our Zone this week.  So tomorrow we are making pizza and playing soccer and ping pong.  This is our district.

Elder McAllister (Michigan), Elder Passos (Brazil), Elder Jones (home), Elder Winward (Idaho), Elder Caro (Chile), Hna. Rohner (Arizona), me, (not pictured, but Hna. Rohner has her arm around me anyway!), Hna. Fajardo (Costa Rica).  We really love this group.  They are our family here in Chile.

Clase de piano.  
Some of my piano students are starting to lead and play in sacrament meeting.  It is really exciting for them after all this work, to see results.  I could write pages about what I have learned, and what a challenge it has been, but I am excited that by the time we leave, some (hopefully most) will be able to play in the meetings.  (Did you know that in South America the notes are not ABCDEFG, but instead are Do Re Mi Fa So La Si Do?  And they begin on C, not on A).  (What were they thinking?)  That was just one of many big adjustments for me.

But then I have to think of what a leap of faith it must be to my 18 students to learn piano from someone whose Spanish is limited, and was much more so 5 months ago when we started,  My best strategy is the same as when I was YW sports coach=lots of love and laughter--it makes up for all the weaknesses!

Family Home Evening
We have been having family home evening with Margot and her family for about 3 months, and now that they have seen it done, they need to learn how to do it themselves.  We made them a family home evening chart so they could each take assignments to prepare for the next week.
They colored large popsicle sticks and wrote their names on them.  The sticks attach to the chart with velcro.  They had a great time, and we hope they get as excited about their assignments.  We will find out this week how well it worked.

                                        The children showing the chart and their markers.
                                 

                                                Margot and her baby, holding up the chart.

One last message:
                                 One of our ancestors, Charles Dixon I, (Grandma Evan's line) wrote this letter to his two children before he died:

"This, my son, is written for they and they little sister's instruction, that thou be not high minded, but remember the rock from whence thou was hewn, and in future time, when I and they mother shall be called home, and rest in the silent grave, you may remember, that for your sakes we crossed the ocean.  See that you outstrip us in purity of heart and holiness of life, and always let your words be the picture of your hearts.  Study to adorn the doctrine and Gospel of God, your Savior, and acquaint yourselves with God and be at peace--At peace with yourselves and with all men, and may the God of Peace be with you for evermore."

May peace be with all of you, whom we love dearly.

Elder y Hna. Jones

                                                                                 
                                                             March 20, 2016
         Miracle Bread and the Sword of Laban

We have been having Family Home Evening with a family in Monte Patria:  a single mother, her three young siblings, and her three even younger children.   Recently we acted out Nephi getting the plates from Laban, complete with costumes, armour, swords, and plenty of action generated by four young boys.  Lets just say that Laban was more than dead by the end of the story. 

 The next week we made rice krispie squares with them to take around to people in the neighborhood.  Its clear to me now that this area of the world has not been introduced to this truly American delight.  There actually are no rice krispies here, so we used sweetened rice puffs.  When you mix them with marshmallows that have a tangy fruit flavor, the final product is quite crunchy, sweet, and very flavorful.  It is so different from anything Chileno that they don't quite know what to think of them.  It was fun!  I can't wait to have the Young Singles try them.  

                                                                                                                    

          Taking the goodies to members and a few other people we met along the way.  

A few weeks ago I was running in the park, but later in the morning than usual.  I was thinking hard about the scriptures I had just shared with a non-member (the lady who owns the store across the street from the park) and how I had been inspired to do so.  We have become good friends and she really enjoyed the message of the two scriptures.  I was also working on memorizing a scripture, and so was very self-absorbed when I realized I was hot and took off my jacket.  I usually take my keys and phone out of the jacket pockets, and transfer my nametag to my shirt, but since my mind was busy, I forgot.  (Big mistake!)

A few minutes later while I was running I felt an evil darkness behind me.  I turned around and saw two young men and thought--Oh, no problem--and went on running.  (Another big mistake!) ( I even said "Buenos Dias" to them.)  On my way back toward where I had left my jacket I saw it on the grass! My first thought was that the dogs had pulled it off the bench and then just dropped it. 

I checked the pockets and discovered that my keys and phone were missing!  (My name tag was too, but I didn't realize it yet.)  I searched a while and then ran down a few streets looking for the young men, who obviously were far away by then.  

A taxi driver who lives by the park saw the whole thing and went looking for them in his taxi, then came back and took me to do more looking.  We came across some Carabineros (police) and after a brief discussion, I got into their van and we went looking some more.  

We ended up at the top of a hill where there are very poor houses a little way down the other side.  The Carabineros got out, told me to stay where I was, and went over the hill with billy clubs and guns drawn!  I walked to the edge of the hill and saw them run down to the houses where two young men were walking.  They grabbed them, threw them down, handcuffed them, and searched them!  

I walked down, and by the time I got there they showed me a knit hat they had found on them.  It contained my phone and name tag!  I was shocked!  How did they know?  They took the two guys up the hill, hit them hard on the head several times, kicked them several times, and threw them in the cage in the back of their van!  I was even more shocked!

We got back in the van and I knew I would need help with the Spanish, so I called the Elders who live close by and explained why I needed their help.  Cool, they said.  We drove to the jail where they locked up the two young men, then to the police station to fill out reports.  The Carabineros were disappointed that my phone was not an expensive one.  I was disappointed that they did not find my keys.  (Our apartment, the District Center, and the Family History Center). 

Later that day the Carabineros went and found my keys in the dirt in front of the houses!  I was shocked again that they would take the time to do that--and then actually find them.

I learned to pay more attention to what is around me and to signs of warning.  I learned that many people respect missionaries and want to help.  I learned the value of our nametags and what they represent to us and to others.  

That was on a Friday.  I ran there the next Monday (yes, I know, I have more courage than smarts) and got a contact for the missionaries--that made them happy.  I talked to several who were aware of what happened, including the park worker.  I told him I would run earlier from now on because I felt safe when he was there.  Good people are everywhere.  

Hna. Cluff passed away.  About two weeks ago we received an email from Elder Cluff that Hna. Cluff had just died.  They were the other missionary couple here in Ovalle with whom we worked.  They went home in early December and she has had lots of trouble since then--heart surgery, bleeding ulcers, allergic reactions to medications, trouble breathing, and lots more.  Then she got pneumonia and that made us really concerned.  Elder Cluff knows that she is working hard as a missionary in the spirit world and--the best part--has a body that works and does not hurt!  We deeply feel the loss of a wonderful, loving, and kind person.  We are grateful to know where she is and that she is happy and whole.  

Miracle Bread  Our District (Stake) had an activity yesterday based on the movie called "Seventeen Miracles."  We think it was their Pioneer Day celebration and that they do it in late summer here.  It was a very short trek complete with handcarts, and then our Branch acted out one of the miracles--the one where the mother of the family decides she can't go on and sits on a rock and cries, letting her family continue on without her.  

I was asked to go to a planning meeting for it.  Our Relief Society President asked if I would play the part of the mother and Elder Jones the father.  (There are only thee active couples in the branch, so options are slim.)  Ok, I said--sitting on a rock and crying--I can do that!  After a trip to the second hand store and some adaptations of clothing we already had, Elder Jones and I looked quite a bit like pioneers.  The others did too.  

Someone made me a rock to sit on, and I made the bread that was the actual miracle.  (In the story, I kiss all the children and my husband goodbye and they all leave because they have to stay up with the rest of the company.  The father says he will come back for me later, but the oldest daughter actually decides to stay with me, and says a prayer asking Heavenly Father for help to know what to do.  When she finishes her prayer, there is a pan of bread on the ground for them.  She and I eat it, giving me courage and strength to get up and continue.)

I adapted a muffin recipe, using fresh lemons for flavor and sprinkled sugar on top to make it look crispy and crusty.  It turned out really well.   In the story, after she and I eat it, we join the rest of our family and share the bread with them.  At that point in yesterday's reenactment, our family and many others who wanted to try bread from heaven, gathered around to eat it.  It was quite an experience to see so many tasting it and their reactions.   Its not every day you get to eat bread from heaven.

Acting out this story was a very spiritual experience for me.  It made me realize how the faith of one person in a family can have such a profound impact on the entire family.  Sometimes it only takes one person.  

It was a fun and rewarding experience.  Our family started out with about 5 daughters, but by the time we actually did it, we had 9.  It was great fun.

One of the handcarts

                                                                              trekking

                                                        Elder Jones as a pioneer, with Harold

                                                                             
                                                                      Our family

One last thing:  Orion.  Our granddaughter, Florence, had the answer to the question about how the constellation, Orion, was different here than in the northern hemisphere--he is upside down!  She said he would look like he is doing a handstand.  Congratulations, Florence.  Your dad gets to take you out for pizza!

Love to you all.

Elder and  Hna. Jones