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