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.