Keeping busy on the break

Performing at a baptism

Skyping with the iPad

Skyping with the MacMini

Scrubbies by Janeen

Temple Gardens need lots of gardners

Blue Skies in Guayaquil

Meeting People

low temperature with colds and chills.

The temple is closed this week and next for regular maintenance.  As per custom, all the temple missionaries have gone traveling, except us.  Since Janeen is not feeling well, we have the extra pleasure of not having to go anywhere.  Besides, Guayaquil is the largest and most interesting city in the country, and people come here from all over Ecuador, Perú, and Colombia. We don't miss anything by staying here.

We are really the only missionaries left, except Presidente Rojas.  His wife has gone to México, and he is here alone.  Janeen stays home alone to rest and sends me off on errands.  Of course, I keep finding interesting people, and it takes me a while to get back.

For example, while shopping for oritos (small bananas) I discovered an artist who has an LDS items store near the temple.  Xavier makes his own website, records, paints, sculpts, designs all kinds of interesting things for the LDS visitors: http://xalapa.ucoz.com/

While dropping off my dry cleaning I discovered http://www.musicaypapeles.com/ a music store run by Tania Sempértegui Zambrano, a concert pianist who signed me up to tune her piano on Monday.

While looking for a movie rental store so Janeen can have options while resting at home, I discovered "la Funación Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil del Ecuador" 

http://www.fosje.org.ec/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=70&Itemid=70

Then I got permission to videotape the rehearsal, so I was there until practically 6pm.  I will interview the main people next week for my Ecuador music project:

http://www.cantos.org/music/ecuador

When I left the rehearsal I discovered the arranger.  Luis Izurieta was the director of the Ecuador National Band of the Army for 40 years.  Now he does a lot of interesting projects for the symphonies in Guayaquil.  I will tune two pianos at his home tomorrow.

I actually met more interesting people than I have time to tell you.

This morning we were awakened by the Serenata of a mockingbird singing loud and clear outside the window of our apartment.  A great birthday gift.

Baptisms

Several of the new members come regularly, every week, or even more often to do baptisms. There is one couple in their late 50s who bring a grand daughter, and take turns watching her in the lobby.  Each of them in turn goes down to the baptismal to do as much work as possible.  They are planning their sealing in September to celebrate one year as members.

This week we are swamped with youth from all over the country here to do baptisms before the two week temple closing.  We are working long hours in the weeks before closing because they request extra sessions beyond our regular work day.  This week we have been doing 9 hour shifts so far.

A Piercing Drama

Pinos

We meet a lot of interesting people, more than we have time to tell about.  For example, the Pino family.  He is about my age.  They were baptized four months ago.  They attend the temple two or three times per week to do baptisms and confirmations.  He likes to do 100 at a time if possible.  They attended church regularly, never missing one week, for six years before finishing all the details to divorce his first wife and qualify for the temple. Now they are looking forward to being sealed next year.

P.S.  The temple grounds does have interesting flora AND fauna.

The Poor

In previous blog postings we told of Hermano Sánchez, and his great poverty caused by not being able to work, due to an on the job accident 4 years ago.  He told us that his bishop could not do much for him, as most of the families in Machala are worse off than he is.  

Poverty does not diminish their faith.  This past week the Machala Stake filled the temple two full days.  The morning shift had to start at 5 am and work until 2:30 pm to give them the extra sessions they requested.  Machala has one stake with 5 wards and 7 branches.

Yesterday Sister Howard had compassion on another of the poor.  She hired one of the older women who works one shift every week in the temple as a volunteer worker.  The lady not only ironed, did dishes, swept, mopped, and cleaned the house, but stayed late as an honored guest, in conversation until late.  We offered her a ride in the taxi with us, as we had to go to the mall.

The sister was astonished by everything she saw.  She has been living for years with her husband in the "cerro", the poor section of town up in the hills.  Yesterday was the first time that her tiny block house had any running water or a bathroom.  When we took her home and met her husband, and saw the two small rooms of her home, we drove slowly through the wet streets (water from the open sewers), We paid the taxi drive $11 (usually we pay $2 or $3), because the roadways are so poor there, and it is so dangerous at night.  That neighborhood has much crime, and a taxi is likely to get assaulted and the occupants robbed.

First, we took her to the mall.  Hermana Vera had never seen the mall, though she had heard of it.  We walked very slowly, as everything was so amazing to her.  It is a very large mall, and it was full of people shopping, playing, eating, talking.  She was astonished by the food choices, and took home all the leftovers.  The escalator scared her, but so did the elevator.  She was astonished by the automatic features of the water and commode in the bathroom.  She is accustomed to being home in the tiny block house with her husband who does not like to go out and do anything.

Change has come to Ecuador, but there are still many who are poor.  Those who are poor in Spirit are ready to hear the Gospel, have a change of heart, and become blessed of the Lord (See Alma 32).  Hermana Vera has suffered much, and missed much, but she is very devoted to her faith.  She and her husband and step daughter ride a series of buses to work every Wednesday at the temple from 4 to 9 pm.  They pay 25 cents for each bus, and 25 cents to ride the motorcycle taxi on Sunday.
  

"And they came unto Alma; and the one who was the foremost among them said unto him: Behold, what shall these my brethren do, for they are despised of all men because of their poverty, yea, and more especially by our priests; for they have cast us out of our synagogues which we have labored abundantly to build with our own hands; and they have cast us out because of our exceeding poverty; and we have no place to worship our God; and behold, what shall we do? And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word."

Speaking of change, here is a story of an older Navajo woman who just wanted to butcher sheep.

Dan and his grandma left early, “before they are fed” she said. Slow, uneventful drive as they headed north into Colorado. Past the Ute casino, the terrain changed to mountainous country.  “This was our land, where we use graze our sheep. Every summer we would take our herd high into the hills. On top of that mesa, Anazazi’s lived” said Grandma with sadness in her voice. “We now have to leave our home and buy sheep to butcher” Dan drove on with little or no interest in what grandma had to say. Cotton wood, cedar and willow zip on by and he turned right at the Truck Stop Café.  That was a good place to eat he thought as the boarded up building faded from view. The café could not compete with the Ute Truck Stop. “There” grandma hollered followed with a whack to Dan’s right cheek.  Up a dirt road and a vast alfalfa field littered with hundreds of walking wool. Dan honked his horn at the main house and waited.   Soon the owner appeared and waved them in. He grabbed a wad of bills from her grandma’s hand and left her sitting in the truck.  “Don’t let him cheat you…..  pay only $80” she said “Don’t get an old sheep.  Make sure the tail is cut and check their teeth” The price was $80 and the owner helped select the sheep and was soon loaded onto the bed.  “Tell grandma, she can butcher your sheep under that cottonwood tree but do it before my herd of pigs return. They don’t like the smell of blood” he said.  Dan parked and with grandma instructing, Dan went to work. Faster than Miss Navajo Nation, Dan soon had the meat processed and packed into coolers. The entrails he placed in a large bowl.  Coolers packed in the back seat with grandma holding the large bowl of entrails…. they headed home. The city of Cortez soon faded from view and the high desert country filled their windshield.  Dan felt a large jolt from the front.  The truck would not slow down and it skidded off into the ravine. Grandma fell forward as the truck started to roll.  They both hit the roof and Dan blacked out. Grandma screamed as the bowl fell from her lap, entrails spill inside her coat, and she blacked out also.  Dan slowly regained consciousness as the siren approached. He rolled over, saw grandma’s entrails through her coat and vomited. He felt hands pulling him out and he started to scream. "NOooooooooooo!" A young medic rushed over to grandma and saw grandma’s intestines.  He gently pushes them back into her coat. Gently….. ever so gently… she was being moved onto a gurney when she regained consciousness and abruptly sat upright. Entrails fell from her coat…. The young medic fainted, his co-worker gasped and held in her vomit.  Grandma got mad and whacked the young lady. “You stupid that was going to be made into achii' ”

Out in the country

"Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing---yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness to the extent thereof." (Doctrine & Covenants 19:38)

"Prayer unlocks the powers of heaven in our behalf.  Prayer is the great gift which our Eternal Father has given us by which we may approach Him and speak with Him in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Be prayerful.

You cannot make it alone.  You cannot reach your potential alone.  You need the help of the Lord" (The Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 470).

Guayaquil

I have been doing a lot of preaching in this blog, and not much of showing where we are.  Here are some photos of Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Attend the temple

We are very busy in the temple.  Today we are receiving 300 from the Esmeraldas, the furthest stake of the district.

"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. . . . Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalms 51:1-3, 10)

"The parable of the Prodigal Son [Luke 15:11-32] typifies the condition of too many of our fellow men, who mistakenly feel that squandering their inheritance in riotous living will bring them happiness.  But it also portrays those who make another type of mistake---feeling that their righteousness makes them superior to their less-disciplined brethren.  Both brothers in the parable desperately need the Lord to free them of their burdens.  This is the message of the parable.

"We learn from this parable that all of us, regardless of our status or condition, have an absolute need of the Lord's saving grace.  We are all dependent on him for peace in this life and for eternal life" (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, p. 33).
My latest video is about the music of Ecuador:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzioqXTvmc4

Hermano Sánchez taught us important principles.

A sister saw him in the temple, and told him she was upset to see him in a wheelchair instead of walking.  She continued on down the hallway, and he spoke to me: "It is very painful and dangerous for me to walk, but with the wheelchair, I can go and do whatever I need to.  I am very happy to be in this wheelchair!"

As soon as he got a wheelchair, his leg pain was greatly reduced.  It did start up again later, but in the joints, not the middle of the leg.  We concluded that the dead part of the bone does not hurt, and is not irritating the muscle any more.  However, the joints hurt: what could be better news: the most important part of the bone is alive!  Pain means there is life.

I poured him the rest of the juice, and asked, "is the glass half full or half empty?"  He smiled and said that to him is is half full, and he is more than satisfied with it.  He is content to
accept whatever he has and whatever his situation, and to bloom where he is planted.

Tuesday his Bishop ordered a wheelchair from Quito.  Wednesday at noon it arrived.  He attended the temple in his new chair that evening. He left Thursday morning on the bus, and arrived in good health and good spirits to be with his family.

Thanks to the intervention of the temple missionaries, he has an appointment for the surgery he needs.  It is in our nature to help people.  It was good for us to have this opportunity.  We probably won't be allowed to do anything like that again.  This time we needed Hermano Sánchez, and he needed us. wnd we are all better for it.

The Father of My Children

The father of my children............................


Has a brain that sheds inspiration in the middle of the night,
Eyes that see the needs of others and then he acts accordingly,
Ears that hear beautiful music he has composed.
A nose that smells the luscious aromas from his wife's kitchen (especially the bread),
Lips that speak no evil of anyone, only kindness,
Hands that calm the pain in his wife's feet at night,
Feet that dance a jig with so much enthusiasm,
And a heart that feels the love of his family.

by J. Janeen Howard

Good Things to Come

Trust God and believe in good things to come:

Parents

Janeen has been a natural at caring for Hermano Sánchez, because she is a mother.  It was her mother instinct that made it possible to see he had a need, then to organize all the temple missionaries to get him fed, housed, and to the doctor.  Fathers also have instincts and desires for their children.  Lehi and J.F. Smith explain it well:

"But behold, my sons and my daughters, I cannot go down to my grave save I should leave a blessing upon you; for behold, I know that if ye are brought up in the way ye should go ye will not depart from it" (2 Nephi 4: 5).
https://beta.lds.org/youth/mormon-messages/video/mothers-and-daughters?locale=eng

"May the fathers in Israel live as they should live; treat their wives as they should treat them; make their homes as comfortable as they possibly can; lighten the burden upon their companions as much as possible; set a proper example before their children; teach them to meet with them in prayer, morning and night, and whenever they sit down to partake of food, to acknowledge the mercy of God in giving them the food that they eat and the raiment that they wear, and acknowledge the hand of God in all things.  This is our duty, and if we do not do it the Lord will be displeased, for he has said so.  He is only pleased with those who acknowledge his hand in all things" (Gospel Doctrine, p. 288) (Joseph F. Smith)

Suffering

"But he knoweth the way that I take; when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10).

"We have learned many things through suffering.  We call it suffering.  I call it a school of experience.  I never did bother my head much about these things.  I do not today.  What are these things for?  Why is it that good men should be tried? . . . I have never looked at these things in any other light than trials for the purpose of purifying the Saints of God that they may be, as the scriptures say, as gold that has been seven times purified by the fire" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor, p. 203).



As youth, Saul and David were humble and chosen.  Once they had authority they yielded to the temptation to trust in their own strength, which only alienated them from the true source of their power (1 Samuel 9-13, Jeremiah 17:5).


We are reminded the the loss of health, job, and property made us available to come here.  When we arrived, we found that our bank card was compromised, and we had lost much more.  Was all this to prepare us to help Hermano Sánchez who has similar problems?  Or was it so he could help us by his example to see that we needn't focus on our pains, but on staying qualified and active in the temple?  This is the true way to honor and bless our family.

As Dad and I left our Saturday shift (about 5pm) there was an hermano sitting on a bench beside the temple with his head down resting on his arm and cane.  Actually it wasn't just a cane but one that fits around your wrists.  I touched his shoulder and he looked up kind of dazed.  I think he had been asleep.  I asked if everything was alright and the way he said it I knew it wasn't.  I probed him more about where he came from and where he was staying etc.  Come to find out he was sleeping in the bus station in a chair because after he got to Guayaquil some men hopped on the city bus he was on and robbed everyone!  He lost all his money!  He was staying over to see the doctor on Monday and they may take his leg off.  He has osteomylitis and the infection is going up his leg.  He is a young father with two daughters ages 7 and 5.  His wife had to stay home with the children.  He served in the temple yesterday and since 8 am today!  I can't tell you how my heart felt after talking to him.  I sent Dad into the apartment building to find the "super" to see if the man could stay here.  Then the counselor to the temple president and his wife came from the temple and I walked over to tell them what happened to this man.  To make a long story short, he now has a room to stay here as long as he needs it the president said.  I took him a sandwich and fresh orange juice, then here comes the counselor's wife with food from the temple today, and then our neighbor's wife put together food for him to eat!!  I told him he was going to get "gored"!!  Pres. Furhiman gave him $15 to go in a tax it to get his things and to buy his medicine, then he will return to stay here.  He is such a humble, kind and loving man.  I told him that many angels live here and they will take care of him.  At first he didn't want me to do anything but the spirit told me differently!  So, I listened to the spirit!  Now I can sleep better tonight!  

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these (my sisters) ye have done it unto me."  We must always listen to and act upon the promptings of the spirit.  I told him we are all mothers and that is what mothers do.  We care for others!  God bless him.  His name is Hermano Sanchez in case your family would like to remember him in your prayers.

Can you believe we have been on our mission almost a month?!!

Sending lots of love,    Mom

What is our job?

Our service assignment is to be "Temple Workers", which means we spend over 30 hours per week attending to people who travel from far and near.  It is a great assignment.  Not only is the environment beautiful, but everyone is always smiling.  

We are set apart as Missionaries who "should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people. And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another. And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children of God" (Mosiah 18:20-22). No wonder we are always smiling and/or crying.

Sealing

Last night was yet another great shift at the temple.  For example, a couple came to be sealed to their children.  After they joined the Church and qualified, they brought their children and friends, and it was just like a wedding.  Also there was a wedding, as a returned missionary brought his bride.  Another exciting event was that a woman came to see her mother, a temple worker, who is a nurse.  The young woman is expected to give birth in the next day or so.  As I chatted with her, I discovered that this is her first (and granda's first).  She was praying that all would go well.  All the ladies were touching her and reassuring her, and everyone was smiling.  When her husband arrived, they went downstairs to do confirmations at the baptistery.  Nothing slows these faithful people from offering service in the temple.

The temple is different from a church or chapel.  In the temple, sealers exercise the  "keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven" Matthew 16:19. " if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them-Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths..." (D&C 132:19).

To our dear family and friends

To our dear family and friends back in the USA and some in other parts of the world:

We humbly beg your forgiveness for writing one letter to you all about our arrival and  settling in to our new life as temple missionaries in Guayaquil, Ecuador. There is so much for us to learn to be ready to serve the Lord here in the temple. We are busy putting our apartment in order, getting a little rest before Wednesday (6:15 am) when we begin our temple orientation, and shopping for food etc, that our time is very limited to write each one of you separately,  We so want you to describe a little of what our first impressions are of the area and how our trip went, so the only thing to do is write this way for right now.  We love you!

We got up at 2 am Saturday morning because the shuttle was picking us up at 3 am for the airport.  Our flight was to leave at 6 am.  After the shuttle dropped us off and we got into the airport we found out our flight was cancelled due to some problems with the plane!  At least they found out before we left!  The airlines called the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah to ask for a shuttle to come pick us up!  We arrived back at the MTC about 6:30 am.  I was so tired, but we ate breakfast and I went back to our old room where we had been for 2 weeks and just rested the whole day!  Roy ran around doing different things (singing with the mexican Elders and Sisters, getting medicine for my earache and body aches, and preaching to the same group of Elders and Sisters!  Oh, he gave a couple of them a lesson on the harmonica too! They just love Elder Howard!

We repacked some of our things and left a few more behind.  Oh, Roy's brother gave him a suit that he had used on his mission in Nauvoo, but while we were in Provo we decided to buy Roy a new one and a couple pair of pants.  So he gave the suit to one of those Elders he was singing with and he was so happy to have Elder Howard's suit!  It will be used well, Nathan!  The next morning (Sunday) we didn't have to get up until 3:30 am because the shuttle wasn't coming 'till 4:30 am!   This time we actually left and arrived in Guayaquil at 11pm, went through customs (which was a piece of cake and they didn't even look in our luggage!), arriving at our apartment about 1 am (Monday morning)!  I think in 2 days we had only 7 hours of sleep!

What a beautiful apartment we have with a view of the city and foliage that is spectacular!  I just want to sit and look out the window!  Some of the sister missionaries had purchased food for us and flowers which was on the table and counter.  Such a warm welcome we had!  Then Pres. Rojas (temple president) and his wife took us shopping for food later in the day to a HUGE store which is kind of like Wal-Mart, but much bigger and cleaner.  They have everything to buy there except a car!

In the evening we had dinner with another senior couple and then had to go to a meeting with all the senior missionaries and the temple president.  By the time we got back to our apartment I was closing my eyes!  Today they let us have off so we could rest (that is the operative word!) and get ready for tomorrow.  This is a very large temple and a lot of people come on a regular basis to do baptisms and ordinances.  We have 8 senior couples and 3 couples in the temple presidency.  President Rojas and his wife are from Mexico but speak English very well.  Roy tuned their piano this morning and she brought us a lunch of homemade enchiladas and rice!  I made the most delicious smoothie (liquado) to drink, using fresh orange juice, bananas and pulp of guava.  We love each of you very much and hope you feel that love,

The Lord has blessed us in miraculous ways just to get us here and is continuing to bless us each day.  Roy's health is a miracle in and of itself.  He seems to have more stamina than ever and my feet didn't even hurt after shopping for food!  That is a miracle too!

Our neighbor across the hall was a missionary in Albuquerque when I was about 19 or 20!  He ate some of my mother's delicious food and visited our family!  He came back to the area and married a young woman from Ojo Caliente, NM and worked at the telephone company with my father and brother-in-law!  Now isn't that a miracle, that from any place in the world we could have gone we are here and across the hall is a couple that knew my family!  We feel so loved and needed here and pray we can learn quickly all we need to know to do our jobs well. Please keep us in your prayers, we need them!  We will answer any emails we receive from you and hope you will write when you can.  May the Lord bless you in all you do.  

Love,     Elder Roy and Sister Janeen Howard

We ever pray for you.

We enjoyed the temple workers parrillada yesterday and the 4 hours of Salsa Music.

"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father . . . For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost."  1 Thessalonians 1:2-5

Ecuador

Two weeks ago tonight we arrived in Ecuador at midnight.  Monday and Tuesday we organized the apartment.  Wednesday we started working in the temple.  Since then, we have been busy night and day.  Sorry to miss posting in the blog for two weeks!

Last night was the ward talent show.  It was amazing to see so much very excellent, well developed talent in one ward: classical violin, dancers who did traditional Inca and Criollo, also Charleston, Spanish Gypsy, Flamenco, jazz, roc, and more.  Also very fine singers, actors, and poets.

My contribution included accompanying a temple missionary couple (Fuhriman) who sang a Mexican Bolero in harmony, a sing-a-long led by Elder Rigby: "Solamente Una Vez"; also they wanted me to sing "El Aguacate", a traditional Pasillo Ecuatoriano that I learned last week.  They all say that they are greatly honored and appreciative that I would learn their national music as soon as I arrive in their country.

Last Monday, 24 May, was the celebration of the "Batalla de Pichincha, 1822", the decisive victory over the Españoles that resulted in Independencia for Ecuador.  So, I composed a song about it in Pasillo style, recorded it, and played it at the show.  This was also requested, as everyone seems to know that I wrote this and they are very pleased that I would honor their country in this way.

I also arranged Elder Rigby's original hymn " for 3 part men, and created a Spanish version "Mi Alma Se Deleita, el Salmo de Nefi".  We will sing it soon.

In the past two weeks I also: learned 7 temple ordinances in Spanish, found an Otovaleño to teach them to me in Kichwa, started a Kichwa curriculum for the temple workers, played the organ in the temple chapel for meetings, and worked every position in the temple except clothing and laundry.

In my spare time I started a piano tuner course with 15 students, acquired funding for 18 keyboards to give "piano" lessons, had friendly conversations with hundreds of people from all over this country, and established working relationships with key people including National Government: the bank minister and the Indigenous Language Literacy Bilingual Education Committee; Professional Musicians from the Symphony, the Piano Pedagogy, and the traditional Criollo and Andean music; and the U.S. Peace Corps.

Today I am too tired to remember what else we have done.  Of course, Janeen has done much more than that, particularly with sewing, cooking, and building relationships in the ward, the mission, and all the people back home with phone calls ( we can call your phone number from our computer ), Skype, and emails.

Travel

We had a pleasant and restful day of travel, leaving the MTC at 4:30am. The driver benefitted greatly by Sister Howard's experiences working with wayward young people, as his wife's family is facing a challenge. We had a number pleasant conversations and collected one name of a Guayaquil woman who wants to have missionaries come to her home. We slept well on the flights, were received at the airport by the Rojas the Fuhriman's and others of the temple staff. We went bed at 2 am in our new apartment. We are having a hard time waking up, but today is our day of rest.

Salida1

Saturday we left at 3 am for the airport. The flight was cancelled due to weather in Dallas. Everyone else was rerouted, but we were returned to PRovo, where Sister Howard rested, and I spent the day in amazing spiritual experiences. For example, I found a family history couple going to Pohnpeii and gave them names of friends to contact. I prayed with a man who was stranded and begging for money at a shopping center, and gave him money, because that is what Tino would do. I encouraged many young missionaries and established important networks with senior couples. Igave several formal presentations in missionary classes.

Missionaries

Today we met an Argentine couple at JCPennys. By the time we finished talking we were all hugging and crying. They promised to start attending church again, and to return to the temple. All the rears we have shed here have been because we allowed ourselves to love the people.

Today was or last day of temple training. We shed many tears with those we had learned to love as we served there.

End of the training

We are humbled to know that tomorrow morning is the end of our training. Saturday morning at 3 am we leave the Missionary Training Center and head for the airport. We need your strength and messages and prayers. Please post to this blog. You can reply to these messages and even add photos of your own. (If it asks you to register for blogger or yahoo or anything else, that is a simple, no cost step that allows the system to recognize you).

Sorry we have not been able to post photos for a while. Next week we will start adding photos again. The iPad has been a wonderful tool, but it does not do everything.

Called to serve

Choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fulness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work,
54 Including the building of the temples and the performance of ordinances therein for the redemption of the dead, were also in the spirit world.
55 I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God.
56 Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men. (D&C 138:53-56)

We are using lots of Kleenex to dry our eyes as we see the videos, hear the testimonies, share our testimonies, and feel the Spirit day and night. We know that we have been prepared for this assignment and that the Lord will provide the way.

But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance 1 Nephi 1:20

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
28 Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me -- the fountain of all righteousness. Ether 12:27

We have no shortage of weaknesses. We have been humbled as part of our preparation to learn to depend on the Lord, and not our own strength. We have been humbled to tears many times in the past two weeks as we heard the testimonies of our companions, teachers, and the general authorities, including Elder Pinegar, Elder Holland, Elder Kikuchi, and many more.

Reasonable, logical, believable

Come let us reason together so you understand what we believe.

"Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it" (Isaiah 1:16-20).

There is a god.

There a plan.

God communicates through prophets now as he did before.

God the Father and Jesus Christ are separate beings in whose image we are created. The Son prayed to the Father and the Father bore witness of the Son. John 8:13

Jesus Christ was the Son of God as He claimed.

Christ organized a church that He intended should administer the ordinances of salvation.
Ephesians 4:11-16

Eventually the Church He established fell into apostasy as was prophesied. Isaiah chapters 29,30. The Protestant reformers also said that the church doctrine had changed and the authority was lost.

The Book of Mormon is a true testimony of Jesus Christ translated from ancient records by a young, uneducated farm boy in a singled draft.

Joseph Smith really did see the Father and the Son. He re-introduced to the world many doctrines and organizational structures that were unknown in his day. The church he founded is called "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" because Christ is the head, and the prophets and apostles He calls to lead it are guided by Christ.

All this is reasonable, logical, and believable, but my testimony is based on a confirmation by the Spirit. The more sure testimony of the Holy Ghost is more powerful than reason.
"Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me" (Alma 5:46)

Temple

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" 1Corinthinthians 6:19). There is no building constructed for the third member of the godhead. His temple is your body. Keep it clean. Invite the Spirit into your life. Qualify yourself to receive this gift:

"Wherefore my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism -- yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel... Shinaka riki, nuke k'uyashka waukikuna, Churita tukui shunkuwan katishpa, na shina kashpata mana shanak tukushpa, Achill-Taytapak naupapi mana umashpa kikinkunapak k'uchakunata sakishpa, Taytata Cristopak shutita nukanchik jawapi apankapak munanchik nishpa, buatizarishpa, ari, kikinkunapak Kishpichik Apunchik-Taytata yakuman katishpaka, Achill-Kausak-Samayta chaskinkichikmi; air, ninawan Achill-Kausak-Samaywan bautizay tukunkichikmi;chayka angelkunapak shimi rimaypi parlay ushankichik; Israelpak Achill allikunata kapari ushankichikmi" (2 Nephi 31:13).