Children and Youth

Primary activity to visit the Firemen

I am constantly amazed by the desire and determination of young people to look to our Savior and try to follow Him.

Shortly after we arrived in Santiago a new Primary president was called.  She made all sorts of assignments for the Sunday meeting.  Up to this point the president hadn't been assigning talks etc.  Well the kids loved it!  They were so excited each week to find out what their assignment was for the following Sunday.  When they didn't get an assignment they were heartbroken and would cry.  

We found it interesting that at the same time we were trying to encourage some of the adults to take a more active role in the branch and believe me, they weren't crying if they didn't receive an assignment.  We joked that wouldn't it be wonderful to have the adults say, "Why can't I do something next week?  Why didn't I get an assignment?"  We definitely need to be more like little children.

Dulce and Alejandra singing

Isabela dressed for traditional Panamanian dance after her baptism

One activity the kids talked about missions and received "mission calls".  They were so excited.  Some thought they really would be going to that country when they grew up.

I think Christofer should go on a mission with tablets.

Brother helping little brother read his call.

It has been so inspiring to see a young person, hear of the gospel with their parents, make commitments and KEEP THEM.  One young girl of 9, was taking the discussions with her father.  Her mother had been less active.  Although less active, her mom still was able to teach her of Jesus and Heavenly Father.  She is just finishing reading the Book of Mormon.  She has memorized many of the Articles of Faith.  She was so excited to be baptized by her dad.

The week of the Primary Program the little ones were so excited they were running all over the place before church started.  I invited them to greet people as they arrived.  They were so cute.

Greeting members before church to the Primary Program

The Youth are amazing.  I personally get impatient with aloofness, attitude, etc. but behind all the outward show of disinterest is a NEED for spiritual things.  I worked with a young man who was having trouble reading.  His insights into the scriptures and the gospel strengthened me.  He and a couple of his brothers were baptized a few years ago.  Their mother isn't supportive.  She often is an obstacle in the trying to live the gospel.  Once she threw the clean white shirt her son had ironed for church in the mud so he would stay home and babysit younger siblings.  He comes every week.  He comes every Wednesday for Activity Night, he is trying so hard to prepare for a mission.  It's an uphill battle.  But... he's trudging along the best he can.  Many of our youth are in the same situation.  They don't have parents in the church but they come so faithfully and try to be better, try to live the gospel and try to learn more.

I pray for our youth.  I pray they can continue to be pure.  They can continue to be worthy of the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  They can continue to know that God loves them.  They are His sons and daughters.

President Moises Gonzalez playing with the kids in the rain.

Gino is our special youth.  We call him our "secret weapon".  Gino has grown up in the church and has such knowledge and strength.  We've taken him on discussions where he's taken over, taught, testified and committed people to make covenants without any help from us.  I can't wait until he goes on a mission.

Some have a special spirit about them.  They try so hard to support and uplift each other.  There are so many temptations in the world.  Many in their own homes.  They have to be extra strong.  They are.

I wish I had a whole other mission just to be with them and watch them to continue to progress.

Missionary stories

Our current District

I am a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I joined when I was 17 years old.  Thinking back, I am humbled that Heavenly Father sent me his representatives with a message of my Savior Jesus Christ, of the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ.  I am so very grateful for the young men who taught me, who patiently answered my questions, who brought me the greatest gift I have ever received.

When I left to serve a mission to Cali, Colombia a few years later, I was hoping that I could have the same impact on someone else's life.  I was again humbled that the Lord would be able to use me in teaching and bringing to someone else this wonderful gift.

Panama City, Panama has some of the most amazing young missionaries.  Their stories are inspiring.  As the mission nurse (no I'm not a real nurse), I have been able to come to know many of our missionaries.

Our first multi-zone conference with President Current

I will share some pictures here.  I want to share a little of what I am able to experience and what I see.

The missionaries love to pose at conferences.

Our Elders from Santiago riding to a meeting with us.

Young men have to be at least 18 to serve a mission.  Young women need to be 18.  They leave their homes, their friends, their schooling, their sports, their scholarships, their lives for 2 years (young men) or 18 months (young women).

While on their missions they are allowed to send and receive emails once a week.  They can call home on Mother's day and Christmas.  They miss weddings, funerals, graduations, new births in the family, etc.

I remember as a young woman leaving for 18 months.  We didn't have email back then.  I rarely received mail from home.  The mail system in Colombia was not really reliable.  What happens though, is that you become so involved in the work that you put your other life sort of out of your mind.  You are so focused on others that you don't worry about yourself or your family.

Many of our missionaries are the only members in their family.  They come with little support but great desires to serve the Lord.  I am so inspired by their testimonies and desires to serve the Lord.  We had a sister at Christmas who called home on our computer.  She had joined the church just the year before she left.  Her mother was not a member.  Her mom missed her.  When she talked to her at Christmas it was very emotional.  The  mom missed her, wanted her to come home.  Our dear sweet sister tried to encourage and be brave.  Lots of tears were shed.  I remember needing support on my mission.  This dear sister had very little.  She had lots of faith that the Lord would be with her family while she served.

New missionaries arrive every 6 weeks to the mission.  There is an orientation meeting, I get to tell them about drinking lots of water and if they aren't willing to do what I say- don't call me 😐  I really do say that.  They are so excited to be on their missions.  I love hearing where they are from.  We get lots of missionaries from Central America.  We also have missionaries from Peru, Argentina, and Colombia.  When I hear that their parents were missionaries I remember the Latin missionaries I served with so many years ago. Most of them were first generation missionaries.  What a great legacy to now have missionaries serving who are grandchildren of my generation.

New missionaries during orientation

We always take pictures of new missionaries arriving

It's pretty exciting for them to meet their trainers.

Every six weeks missionaries finish their missions.  It is so hard to say good bye to missionaries you have grown to love and admire.

Elder Erias had been our zone leader with Elder Lau

Love Elder Lau (left).  He's home but I sure miss him.

I just love the meetings where we see lots of missionaries.  It's great to see ones that we know well and hear how they're doing in their new areas.

Missionaries are assigned a trainer.  What a hard job that is.  If the new missionary is from the States, they help them learn the language, how to teach, the mission rules and help them adjust to missionary life.  This is one of the hardest assignments as a missionary.

Sister Ramsey (Right) trained Sister Campbell

We love to take the missionaries to dinner on the way home or to meetings.  They love it too.

Our very first district.

What an amazing group of Elders in one location.

Mondays are our preparation days.  We get to clean, do laundry and sometimes play together.

Missionaries are representatives of Jesus Christ.  They have been called by a prophet of God to take the world His Gospel.  They are worthy, they are prepared, they are obedient.  They are humble.

Sometimes we get to be with them when they're teaching.  What powerful testimonies they have.  They teach with great power.

Some suffer through pain as they try to finish their missions with honor. Sometimes the heat, the walking, the stress can make enduring to the end a bit of a challenge.  I am so impressed with the effort many make to offer their all to the Lord.

I have been amazed at the impact these sisters have had.  We have worked since we arrived for Karina to get baptized.  These sisters are amazing- through love the got it done.

I am so very thankful for the past year and a half of being associated with such incredible young people.  They have taught me and inspired me to be better.  Often, people refer to them as angels.  They truly are.

May we all try to be a little more like them.  Be willing to leave behind things in our lives now to be an instrument in the Lord's hands to bless His children.