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.

Temple Trips

In preparing for the first temple trip after our arrival, one of the sisters was talking about taking her 7 year old daughter.  I was surprised.  I said, how are you going to take care of her while you're in the temple?  I had never been on a temple trip that included children.  Boy did I have something to learn.

Children are some of the best parts of the temple trip now.  We've sort of gone through a cycle of trying to find the right balance between price and how many go. When we arrived, the cost to go on the temple trip was $15 for adults, $7 for youth and $5 for children.  The cost didn't even cover the price.  The budget covered part of the expenses. After a couple of trips, we were only getting youth who could go.  The reason:  people didn't have enough money for all to go so the parents wanted their youth to have the temple experience and would pay for them to go.

Unfortunately, we needed adults to go with them, so we ended up cancelling a bunch of trips.  In February of 2017 we really wanted to get a big groups to go to the temple.  There were many members who were coming back to church and had never seen the temple.  There were new members we wanted to share the temple with.

So we decided to get "families" to go we needed to discount the "family" price.  We charged: $25 for family, $10 for adults/youth.  There were 62 that went.  The largest group ever from Santiago.

This is our district.  The Chitre Branch had lots come too.

 The highlights from this trip.

• Estelda Machuco an early member of the branch has returned and had never been to the temple.  It was a special time for her to be here and set the goal to return.  We went in the entry and sat for a few minutes.  

 

• Raul y Juan Carlos Pimentel went for the first time.  Hermano Pimentel has been a member many years and this was his first visit to the temple.  He was so excited to be here.  He really enjoyed it.

• Jose and Elizabeth Gonzalez and their three daughters went to the temple.  Jose was baptized last year and they are preparing to go to the temple.

• Gabriel Camargo is not a member but he comes to church all the time and he has daughters who are members. (His daughter, Eria, is on the left.)

The temple is a sacred place for us.  It is the place where families are united together through Elijah's sealing power for all eternity.  This is the highest goal we can work towards. That our families can be forever.  There was a beautiful spirit at the temple all day.  Everyone felt it.  It is one of our most sacred memories from our mission.

One temple visit we met a man who served a misison with Jared in Argentina.

Another visit met former missionary companions from Michael's mission.

We love to bring others to the temple or share special experiences.

On this trip to Panama we went to the temple so Elmer and Digna could see the temple.

Our most recent trip:

We wanted another temple trip before we leave.  We worked with the prices again and this time charged $40 for family, $15 for adults and $10 for youth and children.  We had 49 attend.  It was totally covered by those going.  We were very excited.  This trip had it's special parts also.  Avidel and Evelin went for the first time to do baptisms.  Avidel was baptized a couple of months ago.  Evelin has returned to activity.

Maidalin was baptized last week.  This was her first trip to the temple to do baptisms.  (Maidalin is on the left)

• William is the son of Nelsa y Vitelio who are members.  He is taking the discussions with his wife Miriam.  This is there first trip to the temple.

The Chevaliers are a family that have been members for a long time.  This is the first time back to the temple for a little while.  So excited to have them with us.

There is a casa de huespedes (a place to stay the night if you have to travel)  There's a family history center where I worked with some people.  There is a cafeteria.  There are also sitting areas.

Some of our members ran into family members or friends who were also at the temple on Saturday.

Before we leave, we drag those who loaded on the bus early out for a picture.  I think we got most everyone.

The ride home.  Sweet.

Hermana Bernarda (above) is 86 years old.  Her daughter Maria accompanied us.

When William was trying to get permission for Miriam to get off to go on the trip, he chose a quote from a pamphlet on the temple....

En la casa del Señor sentimos la influencia del Espíritu Santo y nos acercamos más a Dios, Nuestro Padre Eterno, y a su amado hijo, Jesucristo.

In the House of the Lord we feel the influence of the Holy Spirit and we draw closer to God, Our Heavenly Father and to his Son, Jesus Christ.

My testimony is that the Temple is the House of the Lord.  His Spirit is there.  It is a most sacred and holy place where we can feel His presence and be united as eternal families.

Prayer and Revelation

I have always been interested in Prayer.  As a child I grew up knowing set prayers and trying my hardest to say them with feeling.  I was frustrated with that approach.  As I grew older I knew that God heard my prayers.  I felt I could talk to him.  I still felt awkward with trying to gain answers.  I would throw out the request and hope for the best.  In my simple understanding I looked at prayer as something I did, when I had a need and wanted someone else to take care of it.

An old friend (old now after so many years) helped me to look at prayer differently.  She helped me see that I was talking to a living being who loved me and cared about me.  My prayers gradually changed to include just talking with my Heavenly Father.  I was slowly changing the way I lived also.

Over the years in dealing with raising children, seeking guidance in life decisions, dealing with many cancers, etc.  I have been profoundly blessed in my prayers with love, compassion, answers, guidance, hope and many other things that can not be simply explained with mere words.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to give a talk at church and I decided it would be about prayer.  I figured, I had lots of thoughts on prayer and wouldn't need much preparation time (which was good because I didn't have much time).  I have to say that the Lord had other plans.  I felt like I learned so much in my preparation and I would like to pursue it a little more here.

In the Guide to the scriptures, it defines prayer as, "A reverent communication with God during which a person gives thanks and asks for blessings...The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that we must ask for in order to obtain." 

The object is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves or others the blessings God already has waiting for us.   I have found this to be so true. He has so many blessings he would pour down upon us if we would truly be open to them.  We are our own worst enemies. I have learned over the years that my greatest purpose in prayer is to take my cares, concerns to Him and ask for His guidance, peace, and will.  What does He have for me?

30 He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God; wherefore it is done even as he asketh.  Doctrine and Covenants 46:30

Thinking about prayer and receiving answers led me to look at revelation. What is Revelation?  Again from the Guide to the scriptures: Communication from God to his children on earth...Through revelation, the Lord provides individual guidance for every person who seeks it and who has faith, repents, and is obedient to the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Looking at answers to prayers in terms of receiving revelation provides a different perspective to how I look at answers.

When my children were little, I wanted to mow the yard and couldn't seem to find the key to the mower.  I was getting pretty frustrated because I just couldn't find it and I really wanted to get that done.  I decided to get the help from my children and at the same time, set a good example.  We kneeled and asked for help finding the key.  After the prayer, I had a thought in my head of where to look.  There was the key.

In the grand scheme of things finding the key really wasn't a big deal.  There were many concerns and questions that I was praying about at this time.  I didn't seem to be getting any answers.  Through the answer to the silly key problem the Lord revealed to me something greater - His love.  I knew that in that instance he knew me, he knew my concerns (the bigger more important ones) and I knew he was listening.  Revelation is bigger than a yes or no answer.  It's bigger than finding a key.  Revelation changes us.  It is personal. It is inside of us.  It's not something separate from us that someone does or doesn't do for us.

Doctrine and Covenants 8

 2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

 3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.

Each prayer we offer is an opportunity to receive revelation.  To learn what Heavenly Father would have us do. Sometimes it is different than what we originally thought we were praying for.  It is greater, it is more.  We are more after it.

In Enos verse 4 we read, "And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens."

Enos hungered for understanding of his father's teachings.  He prayed all day, all night.  He received an answer.  And that answer changed him.  He came to know the Savior more personally.  He was a different man.  This is what we do as missionaries.  We are inviting them to pray, to come to know the Savior more deeply, to be changed.  

May we be open to the Spirit of the Lord.  May we be open to the blessings he has waiting for us.  He is there.  He hears your prayer.  He loves you.  He knows you.