Our Homecoming

We made it home to Idaho Falls. The flights were all on time, and we had no problems, which was an answer to many prayers. When we got to the airport in Idaho Falls, all of our grandchildren and their parents, and my mom and Chuck were there. They had signs and banners welcoming us. When they saw us, they cheered loudly. All the people coming off the plane stopped and let us go down the stairs by ourselves. We felt like celebrities.

It was awesome to see all those wonderful faces and hear the cheers for us. We had waited for a year and a half for this moment and it lived up to all the anticipation. It was the perfect culmination of our mission.

Then we got to hug our little grandchildren. We hugged and kissed each of them, many times lifting them up. We held Maren who was 3 weeks old. We hugged our children. The tears welled up and overflowed. It seemed like a long time since we had seen them. It was an amazing homecoming.

So, our mission is officially over. We have now given talks in two wards and at a family home evening. We have answered questions about what it was like, how much it cost, and if the health care is good in Uruguay. We love talking about our experiences, and we find the spirit enters the conversation. We have grown a lot and feel we have served our Father in Heaven. President Anderson told us the Lord accepts our sacrifice. What sweet words for our weary souls to hear. We gave as much as we could, wished we could have done more, and are so grateful for the experience. Missions are not for wimps, and they are well worth all the work.

Speaking in Moreland, Idaho

We are speaking in our home ward, Moreland 2nd Ward, on February 12, at 1:00 p.m. We meet at the Blackfoot West Stake Center, 101 N. 900 West. We are having a luncheon afterward, about 3:00 at a member's home, Colleen and George Winder, 116 N. 1400 W., Blackfoot, ID, which is out in Moreland, west of the church about 5 miles. We hope you will be able to come.

A Surprise Baptism

We had wonderful news this afternoon. A young man came into our office to talk to Jerry. He told Jerry that when we had spoken in Montevideo 11th Ward (Barrio 11) in November, there was an investigator there. She was touched by Jerry's talk. She was crying and said this was what she was looking for. She wanted to meet with the missionaries. She is being baptized on Friday.

We are so excited to know about that. We had no idea that our talks about the Career Center would have an impact on anyone. Jerry talked about the book, Believing Christ, which helps us apply the atonement in our lives and realize there is hope. We thanked the young man for letting us know, especially because we only have five more days left in our mission.

So, we have made an impact on at least one person by speaking in other wards. We had a great day!

The Miracle of the Gospel

I went over to talk to Mirta, my neighbor, because her back was hurting so badly she couln't come to church. The sister missionaries came after about 10 minutes and we talked to her about her goals. She said her main goal was to not have pain in her back. We explained about priesthood blessings, and she asked for a blessing. Tomorrow, Jerry and someone else will give her a blessing.

The sisters asked her if she wanted to be baptized on Sunday, January 29th (the day before we fly home.) She said she really wanted to. We made plans and as it stands now, Jerry will baptize her (and sing a song.) I will play the piano. It is going to be wonderful!The sister missionaries are going to stop by every day this week for a short visit to answer any questions and clear up any doubts she has. I am grateful for our diligent sisters! Please keep Mirta in your prayers.

The gospel is true. It changes lives for the better! We are here to grow and progress. The Lord uses the weak and the simple to do his work on the earth. (D&C 1:23.) That would be Jerry and me. I am grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ that allows us to repent and draw closer to Him. It is truly a miracle when people accept the gospel and choose to be baptized!

The Gift of Tongues

Today was a wonderful day in our mission! We spoke in our own ward, and I spoke for 10 minutes or more with just an outline in English in front of me. I spoke about how the Lord can use our talents, no matter how small they are, to further His work on the earth. I said that we need to use our talents to serve in the church, to be humble and accept the callings that we receive and fulfill them. I had written and re-written the outline several times, however, I didn't have time to type it out and get it revised by anyone. I did NOT want to read my talk. I prayed for the gift of tongues and was blessed. I asked for the faith and prayers of the congregation also. The gift of tongues is alive and well!!

Jerry's talk was amazing! He used the Uruguayan Mission Hymn that the missionaries sang 40 years ago. He sang the first verse, and then told the story of Nibia. How he and Elder Hansen had played a "game" where they looked for the right street, the right apartments, and the right door. They knocked on her door and she answered the door crying. They said they had a message for her from Jesus Christ. Several weeks later, she told them they had come to her door just as she was planning on commiting suicide. They had saved her life, physically and spiritually. She was baptized, and later, her son, and her niece, Myrna, with her Communist boyfriend. What an amazing story that is! We just had lunch with Nibia this afternoon in the same apartment they taught her 40 years before. She is so kind and wonderful!

Jerry sang the 2nd verse of the Uruguayan Hymn, and told the story of how incompetent we were at the beginning of our mission. We had to learn a lot in order to be useful here.

After singing the 3rd verse of the hymn, he bore his testimony. We were all in tears, although we had also laughed at his funny comments. What a wonderful talk he gave! Afterward, many people came up (while I was playing postude music) to let me know that my talk had touched their hearts. Jerry was surrounded by grateful ward members in the foyer.

Mirta, Pelusa and Betty

Mirta and Pelusa, her aunt, came to church today, and went to all three meetings. They enjoyed it, but it was a long time for them to sit. I hope they will come next week too. Thank you for your prayers. Here is a picture of us in the lobby of our building, as the taxi was pulling up.

I am wearing the beautiful scarf they gave me for my birthday and Christmas. I got lots of compliments on it, in front of them. That was my idea. Our ward was so friendly to them! I am grateful to be in a ward that welcomes everyone. How wonderful it is to see a ward embrace and encourage new members and investigators. There were 5 investigators at church today and a one-week old member, Diego.

Diego is in his late 20's. He wanted to hear more about the church because he has a friend who is a member. He took the discussions and was baptized last Sunday. He received the Aaronic Priestood today. He came to church in a suit and tie and looked like a returned missionary on the way to being a stake president. He is a very impressive tall, handsome young man. The father of the friend (a girl) baptized and confirmed him. His future looks bright.

Changing the subject, Mirta and I go to the feria on Saturday mornings about 10:30. Yesterday, she looked so summery and stylish with her sun hat, I had to take a picture or two. She is a good friend and I will miss her dearly.

Christmas at the Mission Home 2011

We celebrated Christmas at President Ronald and Sandy Heaton's home of the Montevideo West Mission. They kindly included us even though we are in the other mission. They invited the president of our mission, President Da Silva and his wife also. We had a pot luck dinner. Sister Heaton had set the tables so nicely. Here is an example of one of the tables.

Jerry has changed, but not that much. This is Elder Goates and Elder Diaz, two of the temple missionaries. The ladies are always invited to fill their plates first, so the men are waiting patiently. Pres. and Sis. Da Silva are in the background (in the mirror.)

The temple missionaries are amazing cooks! They all raised large families and know how to feed a crowd. Yum!

The young missionaries treated us to a Christmas hymn as a special musical number.

Elder Diaz played Santa and had a special treat for each couple. He was so kind. He made a great Santa!

After a Christmas Story, and some crazy gift exchange games, the young elders and sisters went home. We older folks sang Christmas carols and songs. We felt the Christmas spirit.

At midnight, we went out to watch the fireworks. There were even more this year than last year. It was awesome!!

There are at least 12 sets of fireworks going off at the same time in this picture.

This was my best action shot!!

These fireworks were in the opposite direction from the temple.

After forty minutes, the fireworks ended and we went to our room at the hostel. We got special permission to stay there even though it was closed. Hna. Barney stayed there also. On Christmas morning, we went to church at the chapel next to the temple. We had another delicious pot-luck dinner with the temple missionaries and took a taxi home. What a wonderful way to spend Christmas!!

For the pot-luck dinners, I took an orange jello salad, and for Christmas dinner, cheese cubes with marachino cherries on the top. But after all that good food, I was still really hungry for pumpkin pie.

A few days after Christmas, I made one--from scratch. First I cut up the pumpkin and baked it.









Then I blended it, mixed up the pie filling, made the pie crust, and baked the pie. Sister Broadwater's parents had come to pick her up from her mission. They came to share the pie with us. They appreciated American food after a week of Uruguayan food.

She and her mom helped by whipping the cream with a wire whip in a mug. It takes some work, but it is worth it.

Big bite!! Pumpkin pie and whipped cream! Now our Christmas was complete.