NO CELL PHONES PLEASE

One of the problems that is becoming more and more prevalent in the Church is the use of cell phones during our meetings. Somehow it just hasn't registered that cell phones are not appropriate during our worship service. It is a subject that has even been addressed during General Conference sessions. I guess it is one of the hazards of our modern day inventions.....we become so used to having them with us that we can't imagine our life without them.

Last Sunday we visited a TINY branch in Guatemala City. They hold their meetings in a house. During the meeting, I looked up on the wall and saw this sign:


Translation: To communicate with God you don't need a cell phone. Please turn it off or put it on Vibrate.

I couldn't believe that this problem had reached even a little branch in Guatemala. It was a great sign. I especially liked the picture of Christ next to the notice.



During the meeting one of the members bore his testimony about the brigada. His son and two other future missionaries from their branch were able to go and get their dental/medical work done. They had no idea that we had been a part of the group. After the meeting we talked to them and Wayne had his picture taken with the father and son. This is at the door to their "chapel". (By the way....the dad gave both the Sunday School lesson and Priesthood lesson).

I also experienced my first earthquake during the meeting. It lasted for about 30-40 seconds. Afterwards I learned that these are quite common in Guatemala. It felt to me like being seasick....something that I definitely don't like. Everyone was calm (except my companion...he wondered why they weren't more cautious with the whole thing...after all we were in a concrete building!!)

NURSERY

Today I happened to be in the NURSERY at church for a few minutes. The choir was using that room to run through our special musical number....anyway...after the choir left I was there with the Primary President, Counselor, Nursery Leader and THREE adorable little girls. They decided that they wanted to have singing time. So we sang nursery songs. They have a great way to do "If you Chance to Meet a Frown"....the girls are back to back and one is the frowny face and the other the smiley face. It was adorable. I wanted to get a picture of my three little nursery girls....and then we got a video of their song...

PS. They are all being potty trained...and had to show me their "big girl panties"....it it the same everywhere...

AS PROUD AS THE MOTHER

The Martinez Family

Today was another great Sacrament Meeting. We were so excited to see Hermano Martinez there. We visited his family the very first day that we were assigned to our La Vega Ward. One of their daughters lives in Utah with her husband. They have been members of the Church for a few years, but he has been less active for awhile. Hermana Martinez came up to us at the beginning of the year and said that her goal for the new year was to be at Church every week.

Her two boys started to come with her. One has been a little more active than the other....and they had both gotten out of the habit of coming to Church activities. About a month ago they started coming with their mother....at first they just came in their soccer shirts...but they were there. Then a couple of weeks ago they presented the boys for Priesthood advancement. One was advanced and the other received the Priesthood.

Today the oldest boy blessed the Sacrament for the first time. That is why his dad was there. I was so excited to see the fruits of this family. You would think that I was the mother...I was so proud. The boys are preparing to be missionaries. What a beautiful family they are!!

You forget how much the little things mean.

STAKE CONFERENCE

After conference

We attended our Stake Conference this weekend with our ward in the Toncontin Stake. What a wonderful experience it was. We were able to see all of our missionaries (there are 14 sets of them in this Stake). They were busy with investigators and new members. It was interesting for Wayne and I to realize that the people aren't speaking quite as fast as they used to. (We are starting to understand what is being said.) We had several people come up to us that we have met during the past three months. We felt like we belonged. It was a wonderful feeling.

One of the buses leaving the church
You can't really see....but it is crammed with people

Some of the people have to come quite a long way to attend Stake Conference. They have buses for them, so that they won't have to take taxis, and so that they will be able to come. The parking lot was absolutely full. The talks were inspiring and the singing was unbelievable. Every person was singing.

We made a few contacts there today....and have an appointment for this Friday with an investigator....we will be teaching him. I guess we know what we will be studying this week. The first lesson....IN SPANISH.

I was excited to see Hermana Espinal. She is the sweet sister that I spent the night with while she was in the hospital. It was good to renew that friendship. Just a great weekend...we are starting to feel at home.

Hermana Tomkinson and Hermana Espinal

NEW ASSIGNMENT

The La Vega Building

We received an assignment this week to attend a ward full time and work in their area during the week. We are so excited. The area and ward that we will be assigned to is La Vega. It is an area of town about 10 minutes from our house. We had been by the building a couple of times before, but hadn't yet visited a ward there. We went this morning as the new "missionary couple" for the ward.

We met with Bishop Luis Mayen before the meeting and he was excited and wanted to know which afternoons we would be in his area. I would guess that he is about 32 or so. He also says that he has a group of young people who are working on piano and wanted me to help them with that one day each week. We are going to meet him Tuesday afternoon and go visiting members around the area. We will park the car at the building and then walk for our contacts. Who knows....we might be teaching lessons to non members soon!

It was great knowing that the people we met today will be the ones we see every Sunday for awhile. It made us want to remember their names a little bit better. We were absolutely delighted to walk into the chapel and see the Florez family that we met a few weeks ago in Campamento. They were there working on refinishing the doors in the building there and they had the three little girls that sang Primary songs to me. The girls just ran up and hugged me. I felt like I was home.

We are hoping to be able to help with the part member families. That is a big problem here...that and inactives. The retention rate is pretty low. We will keep you posted on our first tracting experience....

SINGING AND TESTIMONIES

I guess that we have mentioned how amazing the people here are with their singing in the meetings. It is unbelievable how fervent their worship is through song. They sing each song in full voice, usually acapella. I feel like sometimes I am hindering them when I play the piano for them.

Today was our third testimony meeting in Honduras. It is an even more unbelievable phenomenon. I have never seen anything like these testimony meetings. It doesn't matter if you are attending a large ward or a small branch. Everyone bears their testimony. Today we were visiting a small branch in Guaymaca. It is about 1 1/2 hours from the city. There were probably 50 total people in attendance. Wayne and I had decided to be prepared, just in case there was a lapse in the meeting. He remembers how awkward that was when he was Bishop, and he wanted us to be prepared just in case.

Well.....when the testimony meeting time came, the people just kept on going to the stand....the first one was a young girl about six years old. There was not a break the entire meeting. One of the young boys that has attached himself to Wayne was sitting by us, and told me that we (he and I) were going to go and bear our testimony. I knew I had to...you can't tell a young boy NO...so he and I went to the stand. I actually got through it. (I have no idea exactly what I said, but noone laughed).

And we were worried about a lull in the meeting. It was the same way last month when we attended one of the wards in the city. People sat on the stand for 30 minutes to get their turn...entire families. I truly believe that we can learn something from their example. We need to bear testimony often and truly testify about the gospel. Watch your meeting this next month and see what happens...If there is a lull, take care of it!

Elders Gomez with their new convert

We were so pleased today with our two missionaries in Guaymaca. Elder Gomez and Elder Gomez (not a typo) are there. They had 4 investigators at church today, and one new member who was baptized just yesterday. What a spirit they bring into the branch. They taught the Gospel Essentials class on the Plan of Salvation. After the meeting block, we went to their house to chart on our map where it is. We did a surprise house check...and they passed with flying colors. They got Snickers to break their fast with this afternoon.

We enjoy our time with the Saints each Sunday. They truly make this experience rewarding. We are beginning to recognize members and are learning where the different buildings are.

Ciudad Espana

CHICKENS, FLIES, FIRES AND LATINO MUSIC FROM NEXT DOOR....

Members of the Cuidad Espana Branch
The front to the church is right behind Wayne
Notice the broken bottles on top of the wall for security

How was your Sacrament Meeting today? We had the greatest opportunity this morning to return to Cuidad Espana. President Gomez asked us to go and visit the branch there and to take the electronic keyboard. This is the city that was built for the people after Hurricane Mitch where we delivered our two missionaries several Friday nights ago. We love the layout of the city...you can see the different areas by the different color of rooftops.

Wayne with Elders Mazariegos and Elder Medrano
(Elder Mazariegos is being transferred this week)

The church building is in an old home that they have converted. It is right across the street from a HUGE Methodist building. We got there early and were able to help set up and watch the Saints arrive. They were wonderful!! These people were meeting in the most meager of circumstances with distractions that would make most people stop coming to church. I am not kidding...the neighbors were playing Latino music almost full blast next door. I told them that today we would rival their neighbors with the organ and the Tabernacle Choir. They really do sing like that...full force. I have never heard anything like it! Everyone sings....there is a lesson in there somewhere about our true worship.

They had about 40 in attendance today...about the average. Mostly women and children and probably 2-3 Melchizedek Priesthood holders...not counting the missionaries. The families were so fun...one mother had 2-3 of her children and their families including several grandchildren. She wanted her picture taken with me.

Making another Relief Society sister friend
She carries a large type Libro de Mormon and a magnifying glass to read

As we were sitting during Sacrament Meeting I felt something next to me and looked down and it was a DOG. They said that he usually shows up each week and is just a member of their branch.
Here he is just leaving the church building.





It was the fifth Sunday today and the topic was on Youth Standards and how to help them to dress more modestly. Wayne and I felt that we were back home....same problems and same discussions. (At least that's what we think they were talking about...it was in Spanish).

The branch Young Women and their leaders
Notice the medallion on the leader in pink

Today made me realize how my worship needs to improve. Could I go week to week without ideal circumstances? Would I be faithful enough to give talks over and over, and lessons every other week? Would I be able to go to a small home that everyone meets in? I really need to look at the true meaning of worship.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF SUNDAY....

Today we are experiencing quite a different kind of Sunday. We are confined to our apartment and have been on lock-down officially for the last 48 hours or so. The church is receiving threats towards the missionaries in Honduras, so all 3 missions are being instructed to have their missionaries stay inside until further notice. We were able to go with President and Sister Gomez (minus nametags, etc) yesterday for a couple of hours and go grocery shopping, etc, but other than that we are all to remain in our apartments until SLC gives us further information. In fact even the mission presidents are confined to their homes. President and Sister Gomez were scheduled to attend a Stake Conference yesterday and today.

It all started when Texas executed a Honduran national that was convicted of murder in the United States. Because of this action, the Honduran gangs have vowed to kill North Americans here in Honduras. We have had several missionaries threatened (including a set of North American elders who had people at their apartment the other evening with guns saying that they were going to kill them). They are also targeting the Latinos who are wearing the North American church nametag.

We are not worried about ourselves. We are in one of the most secure areas that we have seen in Honduras. In fact, they are finishing the installation of one of the most unbelievable gates that we will have to get through even to enter the driveway for our apartment. The missionaries out in the remote areas are not as lucky. They are known for their proselyting, etc and are easier targets. We ask you to remember them in your prayers. Salt Lake City is on top of everything, and President Gomez has had many teleconference meetings with them and the area. We will keep you posted on what is happening here. We have made contact with our US Embassy person that we know (thru email)....All of the church Central America security is in Panama right now with President Monson as he dedicates the Panama temple.

We are hoping the get the "all clear" soon, because this week Wayne is supposed to start at the dental school.

THE TALANGA BRANCH

We loved our Sunday at the Talanga Branch. We attended there with the Gomez family. Wayne was instructed to give his talk again for practice and not to look at his notes so much this time. He did a great job. President Gomez called on me to bear my testimony in Spanish (which is about the only thing that I CAN do). And of course, I played the keyboard for Sacrament Meeting. There were probably about 50 people in attendance. We went to Sunday School where both Wayne and I were asked to read scriptures for the lesson. We did it without too many pronunciation corrections. Then I went to RS....there were four of us there....most of the women in the branch were in YW or Primary. (It is so cool to hear I Am a Child of God in Spanish)....after about a minute the Branch President came in and brought a manual and he and the RS President were visiting for a minute and then he came over to me and indicated that he wanted me to GIVE THE LESSON.....RIGHT THEN....IN SPANISH!!! For those of you who thought that nothing would ever throw Sister T for a loop....you should have been there. I just about died. I guess that he thought that I was a little more fluent in Spanish than I am because I gave my testimony in Spanish!!!

The lesson was on temples and family history. I am so humbled because of my inability with the language. We had a discussion for a few minutes, and then one of the sisters just read the lesson for us and we discussed....I can't wait until I am better with the language. I can't believe the difference even a week makes.

The people are so happy to see us come. Everyone embraces us and is so happy to have us here. There was an older man on Sunday who took my hand and just looked into my eyes and told me something. I'm not sure what it was, but he was so genuine. He looked like a migrant worker with a big white hat and jeans on. But, everyone has a white shirt and tie on for church. As we were leaving the chapel, he was leaving on his bicycle.

There was also a man in a wheelchair. We were glad to see that it was one of the wheelchairs from the church. They have a wonderful program that benefits people worldwide. We took our picture with him to send it to our contact in SLC....

The people love to have their pictures taken. This family was so happy to be at church together. I told the girl that she was my nueva amiga. She was typical of the young people here. You could just pick them up and put them in any ward in the United States. They are the very same.

We met the elders there. One of them is Elder Applewhite. He is from North Carolina and will be going home in about 2 weeks. We were so impressed with him. He and his companion are waving at us as they walk home from the church.

This week our goal is to find a car. There are several possibilities that we have. We just need to follow all of our leads and hopefully something will materialize. Thanks for all of the support you give us. It really helps to know that there are so many of you reading about our experiences.