We have been greatly blessed.  We have gained a deeper conviction that the Lord is directing our ways.  Since our calling is to Teach English to native Spanish-speaking missionaries, mission presidencies, and Church employees – and since I do not speak much Spanish, yet – I had assumed that this was Julene's mission call, and I would be her junior companion.  However, when our Stake President put his hands on our heads to set us apart as missionaries, he felt prompted to say that this call was to BOTH of us, in ways that neither of us would anticipate.  I had no clue how the Lord would be able to use me effectively until I learned Spanish.  However, He didn't waste much time in letting me know.

Julene mentioned how we were led to Ronald, and I was able to record his testimony about the Companionship Language Study program (and edit out 4 car horns) because of audio recording and editing software I had on my laptop.  If the important steps that Julene mentioned hadn't taken place that Saturday, we would not have been able to meet and record Ronald.  We felt it was a blessing from our Heavenly Father because we used it 3 times in Bogota and numerous times in Lima.  It has inspired many missionaries. 

When we got back from Bogota, we felt we needed to start putting together a brochure for the missionaries and mission presidents that would assist them in using the CLS program.  We first did a survey of all 30 mission presidents.  Only 37% of the native Spanish-language missionaries were using the program.  A very small percentage actually pass the English Proficiency test that is given at the end of their mission.  It takes hard work.  I understand their challenges to learn a new language.  We were able to gather 3 other testimonies, besides Ronald's, that were put in the brochure in both Spanish and English.  This is how the outside and inside of the brochure turned out (final version):

What a blessing my iPhone camera and links on the internet were on this project.

The next week, we met with Elder Grow of the Quorum of the Seventy to receive direction on what we should present in the meeting to be held the next day with the 15 Area Seventies who work directly with the 30 mission presidents.  When I shared with Elder Grow a thought that had come to my mind, he was very supportive and asked me to proceed.  So starting that evening, I was immediately led to find some critical visual elements on the internet that made it possible for me to put together an overview of the various members we are trying to help learn English.  That resulted in the following piece:

It has been very inspiring to both of us, as we have felt the guidance of the Holy Ghost in helping us learn how to do the things we were called to do – even when we didn't know originally what needed to be done.  Our testimony is even stronger that Heavenly Father knows where we are needed, even when we and those who call us don't have a clear picture of how the Lord intends to use us.  We have been guided and directed into new opportunities to stretch our faith and be taught.

P.S.  Even though it wasn't critical to our calling, another subject I was immediately pulled into was the creation of a phone directory for all of the senior couples like ourselves who are serving in the South America Northwest Area offices.  Below are the outside covers, which show the Temple and Area offices, and the map of the area.  Our apartment is located where the green circle #10 is indicated in the middle on the right side.  (I haven't shown the pages containing the photos of the couples.  We all look the same – grey haired and old!)

We are very grateful for all the ways we have been guided so far.  We love this mission!

Feb. 9, 2014

Walking, running, dodging to the office.

One of the most exciting things we do each day is walk to the office. Our apartment is on the corner of two very busy streets. The portion right in front of our apartment has a very nice sidewalk. The only things we have to worry about there are the large heavy garage doors that swing up without notice. We have not had a problem yet, but one of the other missionaries got a good goose egg.  A few steps away, we have to leave the sidewalk and walk on the street. Going to the office isn't so bad because we are facing traffic and can see what is coming. Walking home is a little more of a challenge. 

I tried to take a video of the process and three times it was a wash. The first time, in my hurry I took a wonderful video of my green shirt and ugly neck. The second time, I didn't push start twice. The third time, I got a wonderful video of everything to my left instead of the road. But the fourth time was truly a charm. There was soooo much traffic it made for a spectacular video. We do love the fact that we are only six minutes from the office, though.  Doesn't look like it will let me share the video :(

Last week we had the opportunity to go to Bogotá, Colombia to present at the Missionary Training Center there.  (Our friend Diana's son Bobby was at that MTC a little while ago. Too bad he wasn't there when we were.)

We were only supposed to stay for a day, but on the way to the airport, Elder Grow decided it would be nice for us to present to the Bogotá South Mission zone leaders and missionaries. What a treat! Our first presentation was to about 80 MTC missionaries in the cultural hall of the MTC. It was fun listening to them as they introduced themselves in a new language - English. I love the organized chaos. Val was a hit as he did his best to explain things in Spanish. He says its hard being a bad example, but I tell him that he is the best example of how hard it can be to learn a new language and it is an inspiration to them.

Saturday evening, we did an entirely different presentation in a cramped room to 28 zone leaders. Try getting up and moving around with 32 people, 6 long tables and lots of chairs. It worked! They did a choral reading of Proverbs 3:5-6 (Look it up. It's my favorite). The next day, we gathered 140 missionaries in a cultural hall. The mission president asked us what we would be doing that day and when I told him it would be the same as the night before, he said with concern on his face "To 140?" It went so well. After the first recitation, he had all of the native-Spanish speakers do it again by themselves.  They were great!

I must share a very tender mercy. In preparation for our presentations, we wanted to get some testimonials from former missionaries about the Companionship Language Program. Two weeks ago, we were scheduled to do our very first presentation at the MTC here in Lima. That got cancelled, but the tender mercy didn't.

On Saturday we had planned to go on a tour of Lima with another senior couple. Our trip to Mira Flores was delayed by a very slow bus so we were steps away from the tour bus when it pulled away. That meant going to plan "B".  It's a good thing that worked because there was no plan "C". We ended up going on a tour to Pachacamac - an ancient temple site. That tour took two hours longer than the first. After the tour, we met another couple and toured the Inca Market to do some shopping. It was there that we realized we were going to be late for that evening's stake conference.

We rushed to get on a bus. At one of the stops, a young lady got on the bus, walked past the other two missionary couples ahead of us and started talking to us. She asked us, in Spanish, if we were going to Conference. We were excited to find out that Lilia was a member. Val said he knew just by the way she looked - modestly dressed with a beautiful countenance. We got to our apartment hot, tired and an hour late. We changed and rushed over anyway.

After conference, we met her and her husband, Ronald. I was inspired to ask if they would like to come to our apartment for dessert. Val was less than excited, because we were both tired. However, on our way, Ronald asked what our missionary assignment was. When we told him, he enthusiastically shared his love for the program that had helped to teach him English.

At the apartment, Val was inspired to ask if we could tape his testimony. The result - a beautiful message we have shared in each of our presentations so far and added to our new brochure. We look back and see the Lord's hand in so many things that day, as he orchestrated our day to make it possible for us to meet Lilia and Ronald and collect a strong testimony of the Companionship Language Study program.