This is Our Year Mark

September 1, 2011

We have officially been in Uruguay for one year. It seems longer than that because of our routine and our comfort level here. We are happy to be serving in the same mission Jerry served in 40 years ago. What a blessing this is!

                                                                                      A Chapel on the outskirts of Colonia, Uruguay

The church is true. It is like a stone rolling down a mountain without hands. What amazing changes have taken place in this country over the last 40 years. The whole country was one stake with a ward in every major town. Now there are stakes in every major town and 7 stakes in the capital city of Montevideo. There are 2 missions in the country, each with close to 200 missionaries. And there is a beautiful temple about 5 miles from us. It is wonderful to be able to go and rejuvenate every few weeks. We have been able to see sealings of young people we know, do baptisms for the dead with new members of the church, and be in the endowment session with newly called young missionaries. What a blessing that has been in our mission.

 

 

 

I just gave my next-door neighbor, Mirta, a Book of Mormon yesterday. She and her aunt, Pelusa, are interested in knowing more about the church. Mirta's 93-year-old grandmother died 2 weeks ago. They had been taking care of her, and when she passed, they had questions. They felt lost and at loose ends. This has been a blessing for them. It has also made me realize how much I take for granted. The gospel is wonderful and joyful. It gives us hope through the atonement and through the love of Christ and Heavenly Father. We have a purpose here and when we leave this earth, we will continue to learn and grow. All this was new to them. I hope they embrace all of the teachings. You are more than welcome to pray for them to accept the gospel fully.

 

 

I am now teaching music in Primary at least until October 23, after the Primary Program. We have 10 children in our Primary.  One Sunday recently, no children came. The Primary President and I talked for an hour, in Spanish, of course. We decided to go to Sunday School the next hour. I went to Sunday School, but she never came. When I got to Sacrament Meeting, there were 3 children that had come na hour late.   It was good that she was there to give the lesson she had planned.  I will let you know how the program turns out.

 

 

At our Ward Conference, Jerry sang, "Learn of Me" in Spanish. I played for him. Afterward, people, including the Stake President, wanted a copy of the music. They were so excited. (Janice Kapp Perry should give me a commision.)   We now have a Relief Society Choir that is learning that song and others.  The week after ward conference, Jerry spoke.  People were very moved by his talk on the atonement. He used Stephen Robison's book, Believing Christ.

 

         The Rambla in Colonia--upriver from us

 

We went to Colonia on a 3-day weekend in July. It is about 130 miles northeast of Montevideo on the coast. We saw the sites of the old colonial town from the 1600's.

 

                                                                        The new lighthouse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The  Old Lighthouse -- now a restaurant with seating

inside and out.

 

 

 

 

 

We climbed the stairs to the

top of the new lighthouse and looked out over the area.

 

We walked along the old wall of the city and across the drawbridge that has been recently restored. We felt like we were back in the 1600's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the old bullfighting ring. They don't have bullfights anymore, but they use the stadium for other things.

It was interesting to see one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the lobby of the

Sheraton Hotel in Colonia.  Very fancy!

 

We stayed with a missionary couple, Mark and JaNelle Cox from So. California.  (It was windy.)

                    The chapel in downtown Colonia.
                    It is two stories, which is unusual. 

Mark Cox is the branch president and he asked us to do a musical number. We sang "Learn of Me" together, which was beautiful with the harmony.  JaNelle played for us. I played the piano for Sacrament Meeting, and Jerry gave a talk on the Atonement. We also ended up giving the Sunday School lesson impromtu. Luckily, we had our talks in our church bag, so we talked about our work in the employment office. People were pleased to hear about what we do.  After all that, we felt as if we served while we were visiting Colonia.

 

 

 

 

We are happy to serve here and do whatever we can to help the members here.  They are strong, wonderful, Latter-day Saints. I know we are being led and guided in all we do. It is incredible sometimes to look back and see how things have worked out in one way or another. The Lord uses our talents and abilities in many ways. We are pleased to be a part of his work here.

Riding on the Omnibus

Every weekday, we catch the bus 116 outside our apartment to go to the office.  On the way home, we catch bus 121 because is not as crowded.  We have figured out the schedules so we are usually able to find a seat, and often we are able to sit together.  However, at times, I am sitting next to someone who doesn't have earphones and I talk to them.  I am not that good at Spanish yet, even now, but they use their creativity to  understand me, and I understand them.  That's huge!!  The gift of tongues is alive and well!!

I usually size them up to figure out how to ask them a question.  Either they are a student or they are working in the downtown area.  So, that's easy.  One time, I asked a student about his studies.  He was sitting in the back corner of the bus.  He was obviously a very nice young man, but was a little ragged around the edges like he had started experimenting with undesireable things.  He didn't look very happy.  He was 16, and had one more year left of school.  (The students are in the middle of their school year here.)  I told him about Jerry and I and that we are helping people find jobs, etc. 


We talked for about 10 minutes before he had to get off.  I don't think I will ever forget the smile he gave me.  After he got off the bus, he turned and waved at me and smiled a wonderful, bright smile.  I felt like I had made a difference in the life of one person that day already.  I hope he knows people care.

One lady gets on the bus and greets me.  We talked several months ago, when we first got here.  I still don't exactly know where she works, or what she does, even though she told me (in Spanish.)  She went to the United States on a trip for 3 weeks, and when she got back, she wanted to speak English.  We talked for 15 minutes straight.  She has 3 young adult children who are working and going to school.  They are so busy, trying to get their education and work on the side.  She is trying to support them in their lives, and work at her job also.  It reminded me of our family a few years ago.  I told her about our office, and invited her to tell her kids about our services.  When she told me their schedules, they are busy during our office hours.  I know that's true for so many people.  It was good to talk to her, and we greet each other when we happen to be on the same bus. 

I met an architect who designs schools.  She was very friendly, until I bore my testimony that the church is the true church on the earth.  I found out that she is Catholic.  I told her the Catholic Church does a lot of good things and smoothed it over with her.  I gave her a pass-along card with a picture of the temple and the church's website on it (mormon.org).  I hope she looks into the church further. 

I met a student who has 4 more years to study to be a doctor.  She was so friendly and kind.  I told her she would be a good doctor.  I told her about the church and encouraged her to look at the website on the pass-along card and find out more.  I met a man who is in charge of a museum of natural history here in town.  He has a Mormon friend, and I told him it was important to know if the church was true.  When he got on the bus 6 weeks later, he greeted me.  I didn't think he would remember me.  That was nice.

So, there are all sorts of wonderful people, not to mention the Jewish man who said he would never change, but got all the young people sitting near us into a conversation that steered toward the church.  How amazing was that?

On the way home, we sometimes have entertainers who are looking for a tip.  They board the bus for free and play, collect tips, and get off.  Here is one of the guitarists.  He was singing and playing a typical Uruguayan folk song.  The clip is really short.

When he started his second song, he enlisted the help of the "guard" who is the ticket-taker on the bus.   This clip is short also.  It begins with the guard who is wearing a knit hat.  I wasn't sure if the video would pick him up or not, so I switched to the guitarist.

I love the applause at the end.  The Uruguayans are very polite, and they love music, especially their folk songs.  This is a memory we want to keep, but it also gives you a flavor of the country.   

There are opportunities to share the gospel all over.  We need to open our mouths and say something.  People are curious.  Even people in Idaho Falls would like to know a little bit more about the church.  We can give them a pass-along card with the website on it.  I love pass-along cards!!  They are so welcome.  The person feels as if you have given them something harmless, yet valuable.  Let's try to hand some out.  First, you have to get some from a missionary or the distribution center.  Then, keep them on your person.  Be prepared.  Let's see how many we can hand out!  Keep track and report on the blog (or email us) about how many you pass out next week.

Conversion Story

We got to the Colon Ward almost a half hour early today.  It is a beautiful, light colored, chapel.   There was a gentleman about 60 years old in the chapel, reading his scriptures.  (Uh...that's Jerry in the picture.  The man I'm talking about is on the left, outside the picture.)   Not wanting to bother the man, we went to the first row and sat down.  No one else was in the chapel.  There was a CD player playing hymns for the prelude.  What  a beautiful way to begin a sabbath morning! 

After a few minutes, the brother came over and greeted us.  He told us his story.  About 30 years ago, he was taking the discussions.  He decided he was not interested, so he brought all the books back to the church and left them there.  No one was at the door to greet him, so he just left. 
He became very active in an evangelical congregation for 20 years or so.  He served a lot in that church.  He didn't agree with some of the beliefs, however, and eventually stopped going.  

In February, 2011, two young elders knocked on his door. He was interested and wanted to know more. They were happy, because that very night, there was an activity planned at the church. He went and at the end of the activity, the elders gave him a Book of Mormon. He came to church the next Sunday. In the investigator's class, he was answering questions because he knew so much.  The elders were excited to have such a golden contact.  He was baptized two weeks later!  ( I got this information from Elder Howell from Layton, Nevada, who baptized him, to make sure I understood the story correctly.)

I wanted to take a picture of the brother right there in the chapel, but restained myself.  The thing is, his face just shined with the spirit!  He had white hair, was wearing a dark suit, with a white shirt and tie.  What a wonderful example of a person who has the light of the gospel in his countenance!  He was very excited because today he was getting set apart for a calling. 
He looks like a patriarch or a general authority because of the light the emanates from him.  I was so impressed with his humility, his excitement at being a member of the church, and his new calling. 

He was truly an example to me of someone who knew the Bible well and was used to serving in a church.  Once he found the truth, it was an easy thing for him to attend and be a devoted member.   I hope someday, I will be able to eminate the light of the spirit like he does.   

Teaching the Career Workshop

Jerry and I are the official teachers of the Career Workshop in our office. It is a 12-hour workshop spread over 3 days. We try to have one every week, but we end up with enough people twice a month. Often, we think we have enough, but they don't show up. That is disappointing when it happens. However, this week we started with eight people for the "Taller de Autosuficiencia Laboral." The title is a mouthful, but Jerry has become very good at teaching it. I help a little, but usually put the posters up and write on the board. I set up the room ahead of time also. Often, I am the receptionist in the office while Jerry is teaching the workshop because we are short on volunteers. It's better when we can both be in the workshop together.


I thought I would take some pictures of one of our workshops to show you what we do. 

The classroom is set up ready for the students to arrive. There is a maroon workbook under the hymnbook. (I forgot to take a picture of the workbook by itself.) This week the workshop is in the morning. Next time, it will be in the afternoon.

Jerry keeps the students' attention very well, using stories and personal examples, which makes it very interesting. The people feel free to add their comments too. It makes for a great workshop.

Here the students are practicing what they will say in an interview. 

Jerry has them practice interviewing each other. They practice before they have prepared themselves, and then afterwards to show the difference. The second time, I run the video camera so they can see themselves. After watching the playback, the students give each other feedback as one of the final activities of the workshop. It's very effective because Jerry has prepared them so well. 

Often when the people arrive for the workshop, they are discouraged and don't have a plan. They don't have a job and no one is offering them one. They don't know where to turn or what to do to help themselves. They feel unemployable. After the first day, they have lists of their qualities and abilities that shows them what they have to offer to an employer. They find out they are employable. Each day, they gain more confidence and their self-image improves.

After teaching the workshop, Jerry is tired. I am too, but I don't know why. I don't do that much.  (Behind him is just a poster that is stored behind the couch.)

Jerry has all the pressure of how to teach a particular group of people, and how to express himself in a different language. He stands most of the time when he's teaching, except when he is sitting on his chair.







I get up and down, writing on the board,

 putting up posters,

and trying to read, comprehend, and help the students when they have written something. It's nothing like what Jerry has to do, though.
At the end of the workshop, everyone gets a diploma.  Note that there were only six who finished.  That happens a lot.  These people were great!

They are so excited and happy. They are beaming because they have the tools they need to go forward. We are so impressed with the change in their countenances. They get lighter each day. It's so amazing. I thought that I was making it up, but the students do improve physically as well as spiritually. It's visible in the faces, their stance, and their mannerisms.


We have a testimony of the power of the workshop. It truly is inspired and based on true principles. What an amazing thing it is to be a part of this wonderful workshop!

The Municipal Branch in the Montevideo North Stake

Today was another great example of the spirit that is in the meetings here. There were about 35 people in the Rama Municipal (Branch.) The building was a converted house. I was so impressed with the branch presidency, the young people, and the level of knowledge the members have. It was a blessing to be able to meet them and participate in the meetings. As I was finishing my talk, I looked out and felt the spirit strongly.

In Sacrament Meeting, the missionaries confirmed a newly baptized brother who was about 30 years old. He has so much light in his eyes!  You could see the joy shining through him as we talked.  Jerry had extra time, and told Nibia's story before he talked about our job here. What a wonderful spirit that brought to the meeting! I love hearing that story. It's the reason we came on our mission.

Branch President Carreras Alvarez brought us into his office to talk to us a little before the meeting started. He told us two stories. The first one was about his conversion to the church. He has been a police officer for over 34 years. He told about how he investigated the church for 3 years. He smoked and didn't want to give that up. His mother had been ill and she wanted him to stop smoking so he could gain a testimony and join the church. He decide to pray and said to Heavenly Father, “When I go see her tomorrow, if she is better, I will take that as a sign that the church is true. I will stop smoking join the church.” When he visited her the next day, she was significantly better. He decided to join the church. Regretably however, the next day, she got much worse and died. He quit smoking that very day, and joined the church soon after, to keep his promise to the Lord and honor his sweet mother.    That was years ago, and now he is the branch president!

The other story was when he was recording baptisms in the temple. He was working at the desk. There was a door to the right and a little behind him. He heard the door open and a woman come in and say, “Thank you for doing this work.” When he turned to see who it was, she had left. He went out the door to see her, but there was no one there. No one had seen anyone come in or out, and everyone was busy with ordinance work in other areas of the temple. He believes it was one of the ancestors for whom the work had been done. We tend to agree with him.

Here is a picture of Carreras Alvarez with his lovely wife, Alici.  It looks like they are by the temple.

He has 2 children, and his wife was the R.S. teacher and the S. S. teacher today. She is also the early-morning seminary teacher. She is amazing! We are so blessed to be able to see the growth in the church here. 

One of the sisters introduced me to her lovely daughters who were 14 & 15. She says they are in the YW program, and she is the YW leader. She has been a member for 20 years. I told them that they are pioneers. What a blessing it was to meet them! Everyone was very friendly and wanted to introduce themselves.

None of the people in that branch were members when Jerry was here 40 years ago. The church is growing! And we are here to see it.  We are so grateful to be here!

Latter-day Pioneers

I have been reading a book every evening called The History of the Latter-day Saints in Uruguay , Stories of the Pioneers (Historia de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias en Uruguay, Relatos de pioneros.)  Of course it is in Spanish, which is good practice for me.  It has pictures of Jerry's mission president and some of the chapels.  It relates events such as Presidents David O. McKay and Gordon B. Hinkley visiting the mission and meeting with the president of the country. 

It also tells the story of how the church got started in different cities in the country.  When we went to Salto, we met Nélida Sosa.  She is 92 years old now, and was one of the first people baptized in Salto.  She was in Sacrament Meeting the week we were there.   As she bore her testimony, she told of the joy the gospel has brought into her life through the years.  What an amazing sister and a wonderful example of enduring to the end.  After the meeting, she thanked us for coming and serving.  We thanked her for all the work she has done in Salto.  Think of the service she has done over the years.  She has bright, beautiful eyes and a light in her countenance.  She has such a positive attitude.  She reminded me of my mom.  What a privilege it was to meet her! 

Here is a picture of her with us in the chapel.

Today, we met a sister who has been a member for 40 years.  That is very rare for Uruguay.   She talked to us after Sacrament Meeting.  She has been faithful all these years.  She lives in the Montevideo North Stake, Conciliation Ward.   (That's a funny name for a ward.)

Last week, we met a stalwart sister who told us that her whole family is in the ward.  Her son is the bishop, her son-in-law and daughter are there, and her grandchildren.  She pointed to all sorts of people who were getting ready to leave after the meeting was over.  Children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews....all were active members of the ward.  What a heritage!  Here is her picture.  Isn't she cute?  She is really short, less than 5 feet, I think.

 

These sisters have seen many changes over the years.  The gospel has been an anchor in their lives.  They have been faithful through many trials  and found joy through the gospel.  What a legacy they have made for their families and for the church.  They are an inspiration to us.  We are blessed to have been able to meet them.

Just for Kids

This post is for the grandchildren.   We have been thinking of our wonderful grandchildren when we saw these interesting things...

There are lots of parks here in Uruguay.  This one is in front of our house, and it has 8 swings!  Almost all the cousins could swing at the same time.  It also has a fun slide. 


The parents are always with their children.  Children are very important to their parents and grandparents.  You are important to Grandpa and Grandma.  We love you.

Lots of people have dogs.  This boy is walking his dog.  The dogs always have to be on a leash. 


Grandpa and I saw these little 3 and 4 year olds playing soccer.  They were learning how to kick the ball. 

One time, we saw them trying to walk with a soccer ball in between their feet.  That would be hard. 

When we saw these children, we thought of you and your basketball games.  We know you try very hard to do what your coach wants you to do.  What wonderful grandchildren we have!

One Saturday, Grandpa and I went for a walk.  We saw a carnival set up.  This was the slide.  I know we have things like this is the United States, but the kids here like to play on them too.

This looks like fun.  It is an octopus slide!!

Can you see the horn on the brown bull? That bull would be hard to ride.  He is so big!

Yes, that's Grandpa. 
He is big, but the slide is REALLY big!!  I think I would be scared to go down it.  How about you?  You are probably braver than I am.  Maybe if we went together, I wouldn't be scared.

This is a big pirate!  It would be fun to play inside there.  In the front of the picture is a track for go-carts. 

I would love to play with those big balloons in the water.  They were just setting the carnival up when we were there, so we didn't get to see anyone having fun in the water.  I bet you would have fun playing it that pool.

Don't you think it would be fun to ride on one of these?  What if they tipped over?







We went to a mall, and this carousel was there.  It was very pretty.  Later, we saw lots of children in line and kids on the ride.  All the kids speak Spanish here, but they had big smiles on their faces, just like you would if you were riding one of these horses!

I thought of all my grandsons when I saw this truck.  I think the girls would like it too.

This is the kind of ride that just shakes around like the ones at WalMart.  It doesn't really ride  around anywhere.  It would still be awesome to sit in it! 

At Christmas, there was a big display called Santa at the Zoo.   They pretended that Santa was a zookeeper.  It was different, and there were lots of stuffed animals.  The panda bears were very cuddly. 

The giraffe was cute.  There were camels, a lion, and an elephant too.  We thought about you when we saw the animals. 




Grandpa and Grandma Heath love you so much.  We miss you.  When we see things like this, we miss you even more.  We think about how much fun you would have. 


We pray for you.  We know you are praying for us.  We know Heavenly Father is hearing your prayers.  He is blessing us.  He is helping us learn Spanish better.  He is helping us love the people. 

The children here are not always quiet in church.  We are glad your parents are teaching you to be quiet in church.      You are a good example to other children when you are quiet.  You are also being obedient to your parents. 


We love you. 


Love,


Grandma Betty and Grandpa Jerry