June in Boston

 

the front two are zone leaders visiting, Elder Wooley's family moved to portugal a while back - his dad works "from home" and they felt that's where they should be. Behind him is Elder Gomez and then Elder Keller, whose family decided to move to Brazil about two years before he left on his mission. His mother is Brazilian and when a temple was announced in their area they decided that meant it was time. He didn't learn much Portuguese while there though - said his Spanish study in school was more help. For some reason when I put on this outfit I saw my mother - 

During the weekly zoom, after hearing briefly from departing missionaries( including the Ropers who have been doing cars and secretarial in the office), Pres. R mentioned some things from the New Mission Leaders Seminar - there are some great bits online in the Church Newsroom, well worth reading. Elder Cook told them that the 12 months ending May 31 this year had the most convert baptisms in the entire history of this dispensation. And numbers are still going up. Sister Wright talked about beginning with Exaltation in mind - told of a family converted and going to temple-“This is the fruit of beginning with exaltation in mind. As we support new members in obtaining a temple recommend promptly after baptism and extend an invitation for a specific time for them to perform proxy ordinances for their ancestors, they will be five times more likely to receive their endowment.” The missionaries here are super familiar with their purpose, they recite it every day as they begin their study (in their mission language).“invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.”  Said President Holland: “In short, it means that the missionary has aligned his or her purpose directly with God’s purpose — that of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of a friend. Mission leaders won’t have to give endless sermons about obedience or being a kind companion or working hard when missionaries have the vision of Christ’s “atoning love elevated before them.” 

I really like that thought, that being dedicated to that purpose is aligning ourselves with God.

Been thinking we should see the North End but it turns out that's where we were when we did the walking tour of the Freedom Trail. Although I don't think we saw these cool houses (not my photo!) - bu we do pass similar ones sometimes on the highway where I can't snap photos through fences & traffic.

Was reading Elder Tai's talk "The Love of God' and was caught by the phrase "pause frequently to remember that you are a child of God and think of things you are grateful for". The word pause has come up several time recently, for instance in the zoom class (adjusting to missionary life), we were reminded that emotions are instantaneous and reason needs a moment to catch up, so pause - Also, pause during the day and listen for the guidance of the Spirit, pause and ask for help,  maybe a good watchword for the week is Pause. Another good line from class - "We don't know the future, but we do know the Father." 

Tobin Bridge, we drive this one a lot, including every time we go to the church bldg (except in extreme traffic when occasionally google takes us some other way like off to the airport) It goes much higher  (over water and land), this is near the end.

Got to join the elders for a mtg with a sister who wants to come back and make it to the temple, gathered in the hall/entryway since there is no "sala" or living room in the apt. Always get food pushed upon us - 

Ropers (who are leaving - secretary and kindly car czar), Archibalds  (their replacements), and McCoys (over housing - complicated because every time missionaries transfer most apartments want loads of info and to do background checks on everyone)

After Friday morning mission zoom and then the resilience class, we realized a whatsapp message was there from yesterday about helping with a move so we headed over- we helped load, drove MIL to hospital and then out to new house. Cris said it was pertinho as in really close but it was a good 30-minute drive during least busy time. I guess "close" is relative....

Durk found out why the chair was going to be thrown out instead of brought up to the 3rd floor when we helped with a move today

-No missionaries were harmed in the filming of this story-
(we actually were asked when we arrived if we could take the grandmother to her doctor appt but when we got there and tracked things down, the appointment had been canceled, so a little extra driving but our day had been pretty empty and we were glad to have something helpful to do.)

Jerusa and chef at graduation party

Anyone want to chime in with what this tree is? 

Jerusa invited the world to her sons graduation party, they went "very American" with hamburgers cooked by our professional who did the memorial day churrasco. It was a family party of course since its Latin American, though there were plenty of his school friends. 

They moved the start time back a bit due to heat but when we got there it was perfectly lovely. Quite a ways away but a nice neighborhood of actual houses, yards, etc. 

We have the best district ever! It's amazing to hear them discuss the doctrines of the gospel, bring up scriptures and conference talks, principles to help with the things that aren't going as well as they'd like. No wonder the church leaders want to get more missionaries out, they are really grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ, understand the blessings that come from living it, and know how to teach. Today several mentioned they have friends who believe but feel they aren't ready to be baptized because they are afraid they can't live the commandments or keep commitments well enough. Immediately they were sharing talks about comparison, scriptures about joining Christ's people, Mosiah 25 and 3 Ne 27, if they want to be better, they must look to God who is best, can't have an enduring relationship with God without baptism, and it is a commandment and necessary to salvation. The Chinese sisters in Malden are amazing finders! 30 people last week alone! but many have to be passed along to the YSA wards, the English wards, etc. They are helping a newly baptized Chinese family in Vermont (I think) also- 

Elder Gomez made brigadeiros! nice small ones, (that's good because they are super sweet and rich), basically cooked down condensed milk "truffles". We had this feeling it was our turn to bring donuts, there are Dunkin Donuts places all over everywhere in Boston. Many of the missionaries bring their lunches to eat at the end, I don't know how many districts meet at the same time in the Binney, seems like enough people to be more than one other, so there were plenty of people willing to take care of extra donuts. I wish there was some not-sweet treat we could show up with. Chocolate frosted doughnuts went last, who'da guessed?

Next to last District Council with Ballard and Esplin, we have such a super district, change might be hard! (this group will definitely go home understanding the value of councils & how they work)

We finally heard from Amarildo and were relieved that he has just been extra busy at work as his boss is gone and he is doing everything, so he wasn't blocking us or anything :) 

Current heat index is 102, not looking forward to delivering food out in midday sun tomorrow.

We continue to be surprised at drivers - this time more than one driver going around the (apparently too slow) left turners to left turn in front of them and right in front of a big bus coming the other way - 

Survived food delivery, not too bad considering. Elba would have sent help along but most of her staff wasn't there. We broke up the townhouse route into two parts and I figured out a better route with less backtracking. The bags were extra heavy though - included really big spaghetti squash (many didn't know what they were - one was telling her friend it was a melon branco - white melon) and cantaloupes. But at least we are doing something helpful, over 82 people were happy to get food on their doorstep. It did wear us out and I persuaded Durk to pick up food at Chili's.  Plus the books came in for Self-Reliance so we drove to branch president's house to get them - they are packing up for 6 weeks in Brazil. We got to go along North Shore Drive.

Speaking English and showing photos and paying big bucks does not ensure a good haircut. But we did hear proper Boston accents at the salon....and a few weeks will help the haircut work better.

Don't get many chances to photograph views so here's one skyline

A while back the elevator to the lobby area starting closing so slowly it set off its own alarm. They closed it down and said it would be fixed the next week. At least two weeks later the west elevator is also down. one left and its smaller and wobbles. We might be hauling our groceries up 4 flights of stairs by next week, feels like Brazil when they couldn't fix the water in Sister Chamber's building for many weeks because the plumber broke his leg and apparently there weren't any others... Update: west elevator back and there is actually a fourth elevatore we hadn't been on - no having to haul groceries up four flights 

12 emails and counting plus other messages plus a how-to video and we still haven't confirmed if its even possible to actually schedule the room for the self-reliance class. That's Durk's day today.

Another appointment canceled.... so -  pupusa place for lunch! - they have a lot of other food but that's what we call it. Fun to be able to walk to places to eat!

Mission zoom: more departing missionary testimonies. A new fact: the word in Hungarian used for for making covenants is to Tie or Knit - we tie ourselves to God or are knit together-

One had heard about President Monson doing a hospital visit - he talked to every single person on every floor (took four hours!) and when asked why, as prophet, he would take that time he said he has learned its all about the people. "A testimony grows with Effort". "Let's make heaven crowded"

When the Risenmays came last year, the former pres said with the new mission leaders amazing things would happen, which many rolled their eyes at as they had just amazed the mission by having 50 baptisms in a month. Now that would be disappointing as they are around 100 and still growing. Its not just here - there was a news story about over 100 people baptized in one day in one place in Papua New Guinea.

just seemed very "Boston Missionary' image, and we do go by waterfronts or over bridges a lot when I can't get photos 

If you made it this far, you get to read the exciting news: 

106 baptisms in June for the MBM

 **I was trying to finish off June in this post but the Festa Junina was bigger deal than expected so it will get its own post.