Happy Birthday, Brady

Hey, Brady!  Happy Birthday today!  Congratulations on reaching the ripe old age of 11 – finally out of Cubs, and into the 11-year-old Scouts.  And almost ready to get the Arrow of Light – amazing!  Way to stay busy and challenged.  Richard G. Scott (a nuclear scientist before he became an apostle) said, “Challenges help us become more like our Father in Heaven.”

So you should go for every new thing you can:  soccer + basketball + piano + hiking & camping + becoming “an expert” on the Book of Mormon + swimming + human relations + chess + learning a new language + knowing some of the world’s greatest art and classical music pieces + …!!  This list could be endlessssssssss….

So here you are at 11.  What will you do with the next year?  …with the next month?  …with the next week?  …with the next hour?  Will you waste your time with mindless video games? NO WAY!!!  Will you have fun going to an occasional movie (Star Wars, maybe?) – Of course!  We need balance in our lives.

So, Brady – just know that we are on your side.  We are part of the Brady Fan Club, and whatever you end up being, doing and achieving; we are cheering for you.  Love every minute.  Stand tall and smile!

President Diaz (our Mission President) recently told all his missionaries about his Five Keys to success in life: 

   1.  Charity for others.

   2.  Perseverance.

   3.  Valor (Bravery).

   4.  Confidence.

   5.  Having the Holy Ghost to always help us.

President Diaz is working with his team of missionaries and teaching them how to share the gospel.  He was a pro soccer player in Chile when he was young.  He hasn’t told his missionaries much about it yet.   Maybe he never will – he is quite modest.

Chileno men have their own way of giving abrazos (greetings).  First they shake hands, then they give two pats on the back (hugs), and then they shake hands again.  Here are Elder Pava and Pres Diaz giving abrazos.

Elder Pava is from Colombia.  He was our old District Leader and also our Zone Leader, and he wants to be a professional soccer player after his mission.  He used to RUN up and down the hills of Valparaiso from appointment to appointment – just to keep in shape.  His comps got into better shape too….

We thought you might be interested in a couple of soccer (futbol) things here in Chile.  Every day on the way to the cemetery, we pass by the stadium (estadio) named after a popular older professional footballer.  The Santiago Wanderers is a Chilean fútbol club based in Valparaíso which currently plays in the Primera División (first-tier), holding home games at Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander, which has a 23,000 capacity. It is commonly known as Estadio Playa Ancha.  Everyone from 2 – 99 is passionate for the green team.

Los Rojas (The Reds – Chilean National Selection team) won the 2015 Copa América (the main international football tournament for national teams in South America) that took place in Chile between 11 June and 4 July 2015.  Twelve teams competed which included two guests – Mexico and Jamaica. Uruguay were the defending champions, but were eliminated by the hosts (Chile) in the quarter-finals. Chile won their first title ever, by defeating Argentina in the final on a penalty shootout after a goalless draw. As winners, Chile qualified for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.  And now they are starting the qualifying games for the 2018 World Cup in Russia! 

This poster is in our lunch room at the cemetery.  It is an old one for “The Reds” before the 2014 World Cup in Brasil (we say Brazil; they say Brasil), but we expect to soon see signs saying NOS VEMOS EN RUSIA! (See you in Russia!).

“Nos vemos” is a dicho (a saying), like in “Nos vemos mañana.”  (We’ll see each other tomorrow.)  That reminds us of another dicho that the missionaries use when they have to leave a discussion and go to another appointment.  It is “Tenemos que irnos.”  The funny thing about it is that before they say it, one of them quietly touches his ear lobe, and then softly touches his nose (ear-nose… it sounds like irnos, and it means, “Let’s wrap it up.”)

The young elders and hermanas work hard in our mission.  They study their scriptures every day, every day, every day!!!  They practice teaching and teach lessons every day, every day, every day!!!  Here are Hermana Alvarez and Elder Cherry setting up cameras for our District picture.  Look at their scriptures.  They have all kinds of tabs to help them find quotes and be great teachers.

  Doctrine and Covenants 88: 

77 And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.
78 Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand....

For the next four months we will be reading the Book of Mormon again and especially study four of the “Doctrines of the Kingdom”.

It has been especially wonderful to study about Jesus Christ at this time of year.  Reading, studying and pondering from  The Guide to the Scriptures is a great help which is now available to us.  

  This is what it said under the heading "Jesus Christ": 

                "Jesus Christ is the greatest being to be born on this earth.           

         His life is the perfect example of how all mankind should live."

He is ‘our Divine Volunteer’.

“In five of the most profound words ever uttered, He meekly said, “Here am I, send me.’ ” Linda K. Burton at the 2015 First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional.

Happy Birthday, Bryant

Dear Bryant,

Happy 9^th Birthday on the 9^th of December!!!  That is a very special thing – like when your Mom was 21 on the 21^st of May, way back many years ago!

But what a super time of year to have a birthday – when everyone is excited and happy, and when all the lights go up.  Hey, Bryant, remember a couple of years ago when we were at your house around this time of year and you had your birthday, and your neighborhood all got together and put up a whole bunch of lights on your street?  That was awesome!  Did you guys do that this year too?  Did your Dad put that big reindeer on top of your roof?  Anyway Bryant, we noticed in all your pictures, that you always have a really great smile.  Like it lights everyone up!  Amazing how smiles spread so fast!  You are a “bright spirit” and we love you.  

So keep being A LIGHT TO YOUR FRIENDS.  

“You bright spirits could not have chosen a better time to be born, with more neighbors waiting and needing to be shown the gospel.  I know you have been properly placed because God did it....”

BYU Devotional, "All Hell is Moved" by Neal A. Maxwell who was a President of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this devotional address was given at Brigham Young University on 8 November 1977.

Chistmas is happening here even though it is about to be summer!

 

On Saturday we went shopping at Jumbo. But first we decided take the nearby ascensor up to see what we could see.

 

A new view of the bay

Then we shopped and came home and decorated our tree,

 set up our nativity

 and just last night Grandpa put up lights on our balcony.

 

That same Jesus, whose birthday we celebrate at Christmastime, is your Friend now and always, and He is the same Jesus whose love for you is never changing. He loves all children, and has need for their hope, their faith, their cheerfulness, and their clean and bright spirits to help light the way for those whose lives have been clouded by sadness.        

Friend , Christmas Message to Children of the Church in All the World from the First Presidency December 1974

  

There is a fun blog post on www.lds.org:

At a family home evening the Mom set the timer for one minute and asked her children to write down the answer to:

“What do you want for Christmas?”

Her 7-yr old daughter said the time was too short!  The Mom then set the timer for another minute and asked:

“What do you want to give for Christmas?”

Her 4-yr old son said he wants to give  “good stuff that people would like. Or stuff that could make you have a lot of powers.  Real powers.”

Then she asked the question: “What can you give of yourself this Christmas?”

And because of the answer from her 4-year old son, she said, “All of us can follow the example of the Savior in giving as He gave.  In doing so, we give ‘stuff that gives real power’ and see our own power grow as we become more like Him….”

    

“Give the good stuff this Christmas.    Give love.”

Blog: What Can You Give of Yourself This Christmas?, By Irinna Danielson December 4, 2015 

We enjoyed Elder Bednar’s talk at the Christmas Devotional about light and what they observed in the Americas the night Jesus was born:

Third Nephi chapter 1, verse 17 And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear....

18 For they knew that the prophets had testified of these things for many years, and that the sign which had been given was already at hand....

19 And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given.

20 And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets.

21 And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.

“Jesus Christ is the light that dispels fear, provides assurance and direction, and engenders enduring peace and joy.”  David A. Bednar

The Savior is bringing into our apartment - a warmth and  love, peace and joy.  Now that is real power!!

So, yes, we are enjoying our summer in Chile.

Happy Birthday, Wyatt

Dear Wyatt,

Happy Fourteenth Birthday!!   You will be ordained a Teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood.  You are still a Big Man on Campus.  Everyone wants to be your friend.   You might get to drive in …4 or 5 years!?!     Incredible!!

We would like to have seen you play in your soccer matches this season – both school and league.

Fútbol of course is big in Chile…. Our Church parking/soccer/basketball court is always busy with members and neighborhood boys.

Field by our apartment is always busy...

Report of the game of the Under 17 Chile team and the USA:
FIFA U17:  Chile grabbed a come-from-behind 4-1 victory in Viña Del Mar [near our mission office] against USA, but the win was not enough to secure second place in Group A due to Croatia's own heroics against Nigeria. After Brandon Vazquez had put the USA ahead, Marcelo Allende's first half strike levelled matters before Gabriel Mazuela, Gonzalo Jara and Camilo Moya's second half efforts saw the hosts to their first win of the finals. USA finish fourth, and head home.  With tension rising, and with both sides exchanging attacks, Gonzalo Jara raised the roof off the Estadio Sausalito with a wonderful effort. The No7 cut inside on to his left foot on the edge of the USA penalty area and curled past Will Pulisic in the USA goal. Moya's late goal rubbed salt in the wounds for the USA, and left Richie Williams' side to pack their bags.  For the Chileans, a breathtaking a capella version of the Himno Nacional de Chile rang out in the stadium.

Look at yourself and think of Mormon.  In Mormon 1:2 Mormon at age ten was instructed by Ammaron about the plates.  Then at age eleven the family moved (southward) to the land of Zarahemla (verse 6).

13 But wickedness did prevail upon the face of the whole land, insomuch that the Lord did take away his beloved disciples, and the work of miracles and of healing did cease because of the iniquity of the people.

14 And there were no gifts from the Lord, and the Holy Ghost did not come upon any, because of their wickedness and unbelief.

15 And I, being fifteen years of age and being somewhat of a sober mind, therefore I was visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus.

WOW!

Just like Mormon, “thou art a sober child, and art quick to observe” ….

so we share a quote from Neal A. Maxwell.  He was a Seventy then and spoke at a BYU Devotional (Dallin H. Oaks was at the time the President of  BYU).  Ezra Taft Benson was our President and his counselors were Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson.  

                                      We love every one of these Twelve.                                                                                       They were beloved disciples.

Howard W. Hunter, Boyd K. Packer, Marvin J. Ashton, L. Tom Perry, 

David B. Haight, James E. Faust, Neal A. Maxwell, Russell M. Nelson, 

Dallin H. Oaks, M. Russell Ballard, Joseph Wirthlin, Richard G. Scott

Neal A. Maxwell speaking at a BYU Devotional:

"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency.  Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. (See 1 Kgs. 18:21.)  

This is a hard doctrine, but it is a particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked.  In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ!

We are now entering a time of incredible ironies.  Let us cite but one of these ironies which is yet in its subtle stages: We will see a maximum, if indirect, effort made to establish irreligion as the state religion.  It is actually a new form of paganism which uses the carefully preserved and cultivated freedoms of western civilization to shrink freedom, even as it rejects the value essence of our rich Judeo-Christian heritage.”

“Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted.  M.J. Sobran also said, ‘A religious conviction is now a second-class conviction, expected to step deferentially to the back of the secular bus, and not to get uppity about it’ (Human Life Review, Summer 1978, pp. 58–59).  This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions.  Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive.  Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened.”

“Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost.  Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel.  

There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do.  We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself.  

Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, ‘summer is nigh’ (Matt. 24:32).  Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat!”
“Meeting the Challenges of Today” - BYU Speeches, Neal A. Maxwell Oct 10, 1978
https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/neal-a-maxwell_meeting-challenges-today/

Witnesses to the World today

John 15:16  ...I have chosen you.

Interesting times you live in….