December 14, 2008

Hi family....
Here is what we have been doing... hope you enjoy... miss ya...

Dec 14, 2008
Here it has been two weeks since I have had a minute to write. So much has happened the past two weeks that I don’t know where to start. And I probably won’t remember everything to write.
Let’s see.. After writing Sunday morning the 30th, Ron and I took the day just to be by ourselves. Too tired, too overwhelmed and felt we just needed to stay home and rest, read, study on our own, feeling a little lost and need space from people.... It wasn’t until later that day, that we knew what some of our feelings were. We got word from the family that Christine had been in a terrible auto accident. She was fine, but the car was totaled. Brad, told us it was a miracle that she was alive. We were so filled with gratitude to our Heavenly Father for watching over her and protecting her. Nothing but a miracle and angels could have saved her. We were glad for the opportunity of having modern day technology that allowed us through Skype to see that she was really okay. I was so overwhelmed with gratitude that I had to ask for a blessing on Monday. I could hardly control the tears. Ron and Pres.
Jones gave me a blessing. It was amazing and I felt so much peace overcome me that I was instantly okay, and reassured from our Heavenly Father that all was well.
The next days were very anxious for Ron, not only worried and concerned about Christine but with so many problems with his check printer and then the internet being down on one computer in the office.. And then only to have a technician come and do a dumb thing by trying to fix things, that the only thing he did was to switch plugs – re-plug the computer into another port which caused the printer not to work. To say the least we were not happy people for about two weeks with all the frustrations going on. It’s been a rough time for Ron especially.
I think I forgot to mention on Sunday the 23 of November was the Primary Program at the Pocuro Ward. I had forgotten until today, what a special Sunday that was and what a beautiful program it was. Towards the end of the program, the children sang the first verse of “Call to serve” and they had asked all the missionaries to walk up during the chorus singing. Well the Pocuro Ward is where most of the couples of the East, Area office and Temple missionaries go, so there were about 15 or twenty of us, along with the full time Elders and Sisters serving in the area walking up singing. It was an amazing feeling.
We did have the opportunity to attend a small branch in Lo Espejo on Fast Sunday. What a cute branch. Only 39 people there. The McCown couple in our mission were assigned to the Lo Espejo ward in the Ochgavia Stake. We were able to go and attend with them. I even played, that is sort of played, not very good, the piano for Relief Society. It is for sure I am not a piano player. But it was fun to try and I did my best for a quick response to their request. The people were great. We took a lunch and went to a park afterwards and enjoyed some chicken, crackers and cheese. It was such a good day.
Today, the 14th we again went to the Lo Espejo ward and it was their primary program. They only had 8 children in their primary. What impressed me was the willingness of those little kids to participate 4 and 5 times reading the parts of the program and they were not scared or anything. They sang the songs as if there were 20 or more of them. It was so cute and the spirit was so strong there. They too, asked the missionaries to walk down the isle singing the song “Called to Serve”.
There was only 6 of us! The McCowns, two Elders and us! One sister came up to me and said that when we stood up to sing, it was like the angels in heaven and that the heavens had opened up. She was so touched by the spirit. (I understood this and she was talking of course in Spanish)...
What a difference between a small branch of 8 children, verses a ward of about 50. One big and beautiful, one simple, and sweet. The message the same, the spirit the same. Amazing!
This weekend we great. Friday, was a rough day in the office, but the rest of the weekend was very special. Over at the Pucuro Ward, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, was held a special missionary, Christmas program. Hundreds of people came all three nights. They broadcasted the President’s message, ward choirs sang, and they served refreshments, and had beautiful Nativities displayed. We went Friday night, but didn’t stay the whole time. We had a problem to go and take care of that couldn’t be put off. Each night, we noticed as we looked out our window, of all the people that came and went up to 11:00 at night. VERY special event. It was a great missionary tool. It never seems to amaze me, how true the gospel of Jesus Christ is. How it blesses the lives of others.
Saturday, we went with the Dixons and the Davis’ to another Feria. This one was an Artistsian’s Feria - displaying their hand crafts. Amazing things that they had made. Mostly from Chile and I saw some from Peru and a few other countries. We had to take 2 taxi’s since a taxi can only take 4 people. The first taxi got there in no time at all and cost them 2500 mil. It took our taxi, about 45 minutes, and the total was 9 mil...
but we only paid 5 mil. Which was still too much. The taxi driver didn’t know where he was going. He got lost... stopped 3 times to ask directions. He was very nice and so sorry. He had to even stop and ask another taxi driver how to get there. We thought it was funny, inspite of being frustrated with him. We saw the most unusual display outside the Feria area. There were probably about 100 or so displays made by kids. Abstract objects made of cardboard and paper-mache, with a picture of the child and a story along with it. These were made by 5-8 year olds. Amazing... After seeing these displays, we went and had lunch downtown. We finished up about 3:30 and went back to our apartment, took a nap, and then I needed to go to the office for a couple of hours, and then about 7 pm we went over to the Dixon’s apart and watched a movie along with the Davis’. We watched Mama Mia. We all laughed, sang along with the songs. We had such a good time... Just what this one needed!
Oh and after church today, we took a nap, and then I went over to the office to finish up downloading all the pictures of the missionaries for the end of the year video. That took me about 10-12 hours of work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, to finish what I could do. I can’t find about 30 pictures of those that went home between Jan thur March.
Hopefully, we can find them from last years video. Then about 6:45 we went over to the Dixon’s for dinner, came home about 9:30.. GOOD WEEKEND!