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!
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.
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
