How are you seen and how do you do it?

We had a really great councilio this month.  Our assistants taught what needs to be done to learn to play the beautiful music of missionary work.  Part of that is being a missionary constantly. 
Then we were blessed to have a ward missionary leader come and tell us what he sees as a member in missionaries.  He was able to share with us things that we shouldn´t do to build confidence and several things that he feel like would help us prepare to work with members.  Part of that is to have faith in the members of the ward.  As missionaries identify some powerful members that you can use. Plan for powerful lessons, it doesn´t help to play rock paper scissors to decide who gets to give the message.    It helps when both companions are fully engaged in the lesson.  Several other great ideas where shared.   It was great to have the perspective of a ward member!

Whew!... The Packers

We had the opportunity to start a Mission Tour with Elder Alan F. Packer and Hermana Packer just hours after we got our last missionaries off.  We had one zone conference in Asuncion where we had about 130 of our missionaries gather and then immediately after that we left for Concepcion where we were able have the rest of the mission.  Our plans were to get a group picture with everyone but time would not permit so we were only able to snatch a photo with the Packers and our Assistants.  Nevertheless, we were able to receive some great training from the Packers. 

Changing some leadership

This change has also brought us to the end of Elder Villacreses`mission.  We are so grateful to have worked with such a wonderful Elder and amazed at his talent. As we quietly move to a new era we will have the opportunity to work a little closer with our new assistant Elder Lovelace.   

Elder Lovelace and Elder Villacreses working together for the last day.

It was really neat that we got to meet the family of Elder Villacreses when they came to pick up their son.

Ready? Go!

Lined up and waiting for that moment of truth... who is my new companion and where am I going?

It is always a little crazy the week of changes in the office but this time we had so much going on that our new missionaries had to start off with ready to run.  None the less they were ready and are off to a great start.  We started our time again in a wonderful place the Botanical Gardens of Asuncion where this country was dedicated by Ezra Taft Benson.  We are seeing some of the prophesies of this land coming to fruition. 

Running to get a new companion... how exciting!

Hermana Tenòrio de Brasil

Hermana Harrison de Utah

Hermana Amado de California

Hermana Asay de Nevada

Hermana Saenz de Peru

Hermana Garcia de Peru

Hermana Lopes de Brasil

Elder Garcia de Peru

Elder Camargo de Brasil

Elder Messa de Brasil

Elder Rodrigues de Brasil

Are we getting it all?

This month for zone conferences we have been practicing lesson one.  Our missionaries give lesson one literally a hundred times a month but sometimes with something that is so familiar, you start leaving things out.  Our zone leaders and assistants have done a great job of helping us remember all the points of the lessons.  They have been creative and we have seen that you can present in many ways but in the end it will all come down to the same truths. 

Luque and Limpio areas had a  game to see if all points were covered in two minutes

Zone leaders would hold up the points and we would all check to make sure that they touched on everything.  

Your peers can be the toughest group.

Concepcion preparing to start

Elder Falcòn is the champion ball dribbler in Pedro Juan but that comes after a lot of practice.  

Some tough competition is presented by Hermana Gaone

The Asuncion area finds that sometimes it is much easier to get the picture when there is bigger pieces rather than a lot of little things. 

Concepcion was great finding each part of lesson one that is hidden and getting them all in order.