Cantaloupe for Christmas January 24, 2016
The feeling of Christmas lingers here even though it is 80 degrees and sunny every day. People love their decorations and still have them up, including the lights on the very tall tree in the plaza that was shown in the December blog.
Christmas was very different. For that week, the missionaries (all of us) were a family, and created some great memories for and with each other. We had some very tender moments of sharing gifts and showing love to each other. We were given a few gifts, and opened them on Christmas morning, instead of at midnight Christmas Eve like the Chilenos do. It reminded me how simply love can be shared and how sweet and thoughtful people can be, (and how easy it is to make a missionary happy!)
We spent the afternoon of Christmas with four elders in the Family History Center using the computers to scype with their families. We loved sitting off to the side watching the expressions of wonder at how grown up, happy, and inspiring these elders are to their families. The mothers especially had a hard time containing their emotions as they watched the faces of their sons. One missionary from Brasil is the only member in his family ("for now," says Elder Passos), and it was obvious that the mom was really listening as he bore his testimony to her. Elder Passos is the one on the right in the photo above. He's awesome!
We lost our fun and crazy District Leader, Elder Santa Ana, a few weeks ago in a transfer. This is him with Hna. Andrade from Brasil.
Those two have a kind of "brother/sister" relationship that is really funny. It will be much quieter around here without him.
The next day we "scyped" with our family to open the special presents we make for each other every year. For at least 15 years we have drawn names and made something special. I am continually amazed at how creative, talented, and resourceful our family is. I think for all of us, it is the gift we most look forward to giving. Elder Jones' present from Pickle (Andy and April's 5 year old girl) was 11 string-threaded wooden buttons that are used for the "button game." (You loop the string around a finger of each hand and twirl the button between them.) She made 11 so he could give them to children here.
Watching her explain how she did it, who helped her, and what she wanted him to do with them was priceless. Each present was given and received with equal anticipation and love. We treasure those yearly happenings!
I am teaching 18 piano students now, but in small classes. It gets a little crazy at times, but is fun to see them progressing and learning to play hymns. .....................................Wow, we just had an earthquake--just a small one. Not too many lately, thank goodness. All is well................................Anyway, the keyboards are donated to the mission by a foundation set up for that purpose. (The Harmon Foundation) Students learn to play hymns and lead music so they can do it in sacrament meeting, and for teaching others. I haven't taught piano for a long time. Its easy to forget how much concentration it takes to make your fingers do something new.
In late November we were given an assignment to start attending a different branch about 30 miles away. They were really struggling and needed help. A new branch president was called from one of the branches here in Ovalle. He and his family moved their records to that branch and go there every sunday as well as other times during the week.
We had an activity there a week ago that was amazing. Usually about 20 come to church, but there were over 50 to this activity. Several people really worked hard and made it a success. It looks like the members are now starting to perk up. We had 39 to church today.
A few weeks ago we went to Santiago for a few days. We had time one afternoon for a temple session. It was wonderful. It was a weekday and not very crowded. We have been there on Saturdays when before the day even begins the sessions are full because of reservations. Busloads of people come from all over Chile. They desperately need that new temple in Conception.
It's watermelon, grape, peach, and melon season. It gets cold in the winter, but not enough to stop things like tomatoes, avocados, cucumbers from growing, so there is locally grown fresh farm produce all year around. Imagine having fresh cantaloupe from a nearby garden right now!
We feel the constant guidance of the spirit through our thoughts, feelings, and other people; and we are learning a lot. When we go to church in a very small, remodeled house; listen to sacrament meeting speakers without the help of a microphone and over the noise of a fan, close-by traffic, and small children; and people come dressed in pretty much anything; we see evidence of what we already knew--that there is a place for everyone in the church and the Lord loves and is ready to bless each one for even their slightest effort.
We love you all. God bless you.
Elder y Hna. Jones
