We have learned that the onc constant in the LDS Church is that of "change". We have learned to be flexible in all things. People we have learned to love, come and go. Challenges are faced, solved and then a new one emerges from nowhere. Solutions never before considered enter our minds. Each new day is a new adventure. We are slow learners, I'm afraid, and to be a little "off-balance" has been the way we learn best.
We have just returned from Comayaguela, Honduras Mission. Five, very dear days have flown by and are becoming a blur already. If I don't write a few memories I will have forgotten them by the time we have the next Zone Conference in Nicaragua. We leave on Sunday. It is Friday night.
We admit that we aren't able to "sight-see" in any of the countries we visit as these visits are intense working days. But as we drive hundreds, perhaps thousands of miles, we can see the landscape, visit markets, talk to people who live in these places and experience the joys and discouragements of the development of the church. This is all we could ever ask for. We see parts of these countries in an intimate way we think miraculous. For example, we were so close to Tikal, but couldn't find an hour to go there, on the other hand, we wouldn't trade these hours
for anything in the world.
Honduras is beautiful! In fact, it is one of the most beautiful lands we have seen in Central America. It is the only country without volcanoes and yet is is the most mountainous. It is the least inhabited and so thousands of miles are pristine. Forests of pine make us think of Yellowstone and Western landscapes. The undergrowth is not as thick as one might think and it is possible to hike and walk through these places. It doesn't appear to be as dangerous as Guatemala, although in all of Central America one has to be aware of surroundings at all time. Neverthe less, we still love Guatemala more than any of the countries even with its difficulties and disadvantages. There is a vibrancy and an energy...eclectic and interesting that we don't see anywhere else. There is not country in Central America with the incredible ancient history of Guatemala, and that ancient history is still living and evident today.
Our Zone Conferences were wonderful as we had the whole day in each zone to do lectures and clinics. We sometimes feel as we are talking to ourselves when we talk about balanced diets. We discovered that eldeers eat 13-14 eggs a day because they are inexpensive, for example. We field amusing questions and as we go through our clinics often hear some discouraging health issues. The miracle of it all, is that these young men and women - sometimes from backgrounds of abuse, poverty, serious mental and physical disabilities, families who have disowned them become such incredible people. These young men and women come into the mission with all these issues and learn to rely on the Lord. They rely on the Spirit and they grow. We see an obvious light in their countenances and come away almost in disbelief that they are becoming such great men and women.
We loved the Mission President and his wife. They were both from Argentina and were so gracious and kind to us. We went to their lovely mission home one night and the President cooked an Argentinian barbecue with several kinds of meat that could melt in one's mouth. They had six childen who seemed perfect. They go to a private school and our friends who we met last summer are the senior couple in this mission, pick them up from school. One day they asked if they could go to McDonalds after school. They purchased one child's hamburger and a small fry. They each took little bites and passed it on to the next one. There was not a single murmer or argument. This may seem insignificant, but is is an example of the generous nature of all the people we have met.
We were too busy to take even a single photo so I can't record anything in pictures. I feel sad, but hope I can remember the missionaries, the leadership and the landscape. One disadvantage of being so busy is that sometimes wonderful events merge with other wonderful events into a blissful blur and it is difficult to isolate memories.
We leave on Sunday for Nicaragua. This time we will be there for 7-8 days, but will stay with the Mission President for all that time. I worry as it is difficult for me to do this. As I was grumbling to myself as we were flying home yesterday, a song popped into my head. "Nephi's Courage" with the words "I will go, I will do just what the Lord commands..." was the Spirits way of giving me a swift kick. I have been laughing about it all day. I am still worried, but we will do our best.
If I could wish for one thing, it would be for more Senior Missionaries. We haven't been a single place, visited a single mission where Senior Missionaries are not needed with urgency. Why did we wait so long to go? How can we convince others to come and help? The church is growing so rapidly that leadership and example is essential to provide stability. Without a doubt, the church here in Latin America will continue to grow without seniors, but it would help so much to have men and women who have experience in the gospel provide leadership.
On now, to Nicaragua. We had a disaster lecture in the CCM this morning as we had missionaries from the CCM in Chili crowd the room as their CCM is temporarily being refurbished. The Elders in the back couldn't see Kim, the screen, the board and became restless and hot. We don't know how to fix this, but we have thought of a few strategies should this happen again. Besides all this, the computer failed half-way through and Kim had to do the lecture from memory. Now, we hope all will go well in Nicaragua. So far, the lectures, activities and clinics have been fabulous. They have all been very different, but successful just the same.
How could two little old people from Salt Lake City be participants in such a great work? What a blessing!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
wings on their feet and fire in their hearts
I am reading a wonderful book by Morris West called "The Shoes of the Fisherman". This man is a Catholic scholar and I have read several of his books over the years. This book was written in 1963. I read this particular book while in my 30s and much of what I read then has informed part of my own personal ethic and identity. The book is an account of a man who was just elected by the Cardinals to be the new Pope. The book is fascinating because of the story, but it is also thought-provoking because of the philosophy. I am constantly reading sentences and paragraphs over and over because I see the similarity of love, purpose and service that the men in the book portray with that of the people in our own church and throughout the world, whatever their creed. It is a good book! The night before his installation (I can't remember if that term is correct) he made this plea to the Cardinals. Knowing they would leave the Vatican the next day he asked, "send me men with wings on their feet and fire in their hearts". These words ring in my mind while I am sitting each day during Zone Conferences with young men and women who truly do "have wings on their feet and fire in their hearts".
In another place in the book, one of the protagonists is writing in his journal and remarks that the "Earth is the Lord's textbook". Profound! This was interesting to me as I have been comparing and contrasting the accounts of the creation of the world as found in Abraham, Moses and Genesis.
I know I promised, but I had my fingers crossed. I said I wouldn't talk about eye-glass clinics anymore, but I must mention the adventure we had on Saturday. After 9 days of intense Zone Conferences we went to Solola for the last conference. Solola is situated in a high mountain region of Guatemala and it is right next to one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Lake Atitlan sits at the feet of three volcanoes and the people there retain a traditional Mayan culture. There is so much poverty here, but the people are kind and the church is growing. Many cannot read and there are many who speak a different language...there are 23 different dialectics in Guatemala.
The missionaries rented a spot right in the middle of the Saturday market. This market is the same as it was 100 - 200 years ago, certainly, even longer that that. By the way, most people wear the traditional dress. It is beautiful! Notice that in the pictures the men wear a "skirt". This is the mark of this particular region. The bags the men are wearing cannot be purchased. The men make these and put their name and town in the knit. They are beautiful. Sometimes the men will make one for a missionary and they are to be treasured forever. By the way, one of the occupations of many of these men is "ganadero" which means cowboy. There are times I think I am right back in Wayne County as often men wear cowboy hats and pointed shoes. They do not wear levi's, however.
We set up our clinic right in the center of the plaza. Fruits, vegetables, CDs, watches, rope, and on and on, are laid out on blankets for people to walk past. I don't know how to describe this. We were nervous before we started, but once we began we forgot fear as we were surrounded by color, noise, chattering, smells of cooking.
Guatemala gives a whole new meaning to "fast food", as everyone seems to eat on the streets. These little vendors are everywhere, but here in Solola we walked past hundreds of little food vendors with their barbecues broiling everything from blue tortillas to sausage, to pollo.
We gave away 150 pair of glasses and then stopped counting. We had 8 missionaries helping us and the whole process was so professional. It was something I don't think I will ever forget. The lake may be, and I, too, (a confirmed sceptic) think that this lake is the same lake mentioned in the Book of Mormon and identified as the "waters of Mormon". If one looks down through the water it is possible to see submerged cities. Interesting!
It was cold on Saturday, as it almost always is, and we finally had to buy a tablecloth at the market to put around the shoulders of one of the missionaries. He would not trade his spot at the table for anything. He was Latin and he loved the process he was involved with. We kept the clinic open for three hours. After the little service project was over we took all the missionaries to lunch in the next town. Panachel is very near Solola and it has the same sort of market on Fridays and Saturdays. All the streets in this town are made of cobblestones and rocks. As I walked down the street I pulled my famous trick of falling. I was stunned by the impact, but suddenly 8 sets of hands pulled me off the street and into the air.
Notice the grounds of the hotel where we stayed on Friday night. We had been to lunch there before. Our window looked out over the lake and before I went to bed that night I opened all the windows - floor to ceiling and from one side to another. The sky is clear up here in the mountains and from our balcony I could see about 1/2 of the sky as well as the black lake. I saw familiar stars and consellations set in the West behind the volcanoes. In the morning, from the bed I watched the sun rise over the lake. It has been an intense week, and hundreds of miles of driving each morning and night. This beautiful hotel and the Solola market was the "frosting on the cake", so to speak.
We have been in the office all week...working some nights till 10:00 trying to catch up before we leave again on Monday. We will go to Honduras for 5 days, then to Nicaragua for a week. After that, things will settle down for three weeks. I just finished the Central America Health Newsletter we send out each month. I am so inept on the computer that doing this newsletter is a struggle, albeit a fun one, to finish on time. I wanted to send this one out in Spanish, so after it was translated for us this morning by a good friend I find that I can't understand a word...even though I wrote it. The pictures in the newsletter are incredible and I took them while in zone conferences to identify certain issues. I save these newsletters and they will be a marvellous part of my journal someday. Each issue highlights the concerns the missions mention in their "Incident Reports" and the newsletter has become a great networking tool between us and the Mission Presidents, and also among the missions.
The pictures are all amusin, but they are serious just the same as they illustrate different sections of the newsletter. One, however, is worth mentioning. In Central Clinic there is a large scale. The missionaries head for that scale before they even check in with the mission secretary. Last week, one of the missionaries who had been watching his diet for weeks stood on the scale, hoping he had lost weight. As he stood there adjusting the weights the nurse put her toe on the scale and the Elder didn't even notice. He was so upset to think he had gained 7 pounds. We didn't tell him that she had given the scale a little push until he had been in the office for about an hour. This was one of those moments where I had the camera ready. It was in my hand just then. It was a Kodak moment.
We tried to go home and watch the inauguration, but we had to settle for re-runs late in the evening. Kim wanted to see the politics, but I was interested in the clothes the women were wearing.
We are grateful to be here. How grateful we are for the prayers of others. They are felt!
In another place in the book, one of the protagonists is writing in his journal and remarks that the "Earth is the Lord's textbook". Profound! This was interesting to me as I have been comparing and contrasting the accounts of the creation of the world as found in Abraham, Moses and Genesis.
I know I promised, but I had my fingers crossed. I said I wouldn't talk about eye-glass clinics anymore, but I must mention the adventure we had on Saturday. After 9 days of intense Zone Conferences we went to Solola for the last conference. Solola is situated in a high mountain region of Guatemala and it is right next to one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Lake Atitlan sits at the feet of three volcanoes and the people there retain a traditional Mayan culture. There is so much poverty here, but the people are kind and the church is growing. Many cannot read and there are many who speak a different language...there are 23 different dialectics in Guatemala.
The missionaries rented a spot right in the middle of the Saturday market. This market is the same as it was 100 - 200 years ago, certainly, even longer that that. By the way, most people wear the traditional dress. It is beautiful! Notice that in the pictures the men wear a "skirt". This is the mark of this particular region. The bags the men are wearing cannot be purchased. The men make these and put their name and town in the knit. They are beautiful. Sometimes the men will make one for a missionary and they are to be treasured forever. By the way, one of the occupations of many of these men is "ganadero" which means cowboy. There are times I think I am right back in Wayne County as often men wear cowboy hats and pointed shoes. They do not wear levi's, however.
We set up our clinic right in the center of the plaza. Fruits, vegetables, CDs, watches, rope, and on and on, are laid out on blankets for people to walk past. I don't know how to describe this. We were nervous before we started, but once we began we forgot fear as we were surrounded by color, noise, chattering, smells of cooking.
Guatemala gives a whole new meaning to "fast food", as everyone seems to eat on the streets. These little vendors are everywhere, but here in Solola we walked past hundreds of little food vendors with their barbecues broiling everything from blue tortillas to sausage, to pollo.
We gave away 150 pair of glasses and then stopped counting. We had 8 missionaries helping us and the whole process was so professional. It was something I don't think I will ever forget. The lake may be, and I, too, (a confirmed sceptic) think that this lake is the same lake mentioned in the Book of Mormon and identified as the "waters of Mormon". If one looks down through the water it is possible to see submerged cities. Interesting!
It was cold on Saturday, as it almost always is, and we finally had to buy a tablecloth at the market to put around the shoulders of one of the missionaries. He would not trade his spot at the table for anything. He was Latin and he loved the process he was involved with. We kept the clinic open for three hours. After the little service project was over we took all the missionaries to lunch in the next town. Panachel is very near Solola and it has the same sort of market on Fridays and Saturdays. All the streets in this town are made of cobblestones and rocks. As I walked down the street I pulled my famous trick of falling. I was stunned by the impact, but suddenly 8 sets of hands pulled me off the street and into the air.
Notice the grounds of the hotel where we stayed on Friday night. We had been to lunch there before. Our window looked out over the lake and before I went to bed that night I opened all the windows - floor to ceiling and from one side to another. The sky is clear up here in the mountains and from our balcony I could see about 1/2 of the sky as well as the black lake. I saw familiar stars and consellations set in the West behind the volcanoes. In the morning, from the bed I watched the sun rise over the lake. It has been an intense week, and hundreds of miles of driving each morning and night. This beautiful hotel and the Solola market was the "frosting on the cake", so to speak.
We have been in the office all week...working some nights till 10:00 trying to catch up before we leave again on Monday. We will go to Honduras for 5 days, then to Nicaragua for a week. After that, things will settle down for three weeks. I just finished the Central America Health Newsletter we send out each month. I am so inept on the computer that doing this newsletter is a struggle, albeit a fun one, to finish on time. I wanted to send this one out in Spanish, so after it was translated for us this morning by a good friend I find that I can't understand a word...even though I wrote it. The pictures in the newsletter are incredible and I took them while in zone conferences to identify certain issues. I save these newsletters and they will be a marvellous part of my journal someday. Each issue highlights the concerns the missions mention in their "Incident Reports" and the newsletter has become a great networking tool between us and the Mission Presidents, and also among the missions.
The pictures are all amusin, but they are serious just the same as they illustrate different sections of the newsletter. One, however, is worth mentioning. In Central Clinic there is a large scale. The missionaries head for that scale before they even check in with the mission secretary. Last week, one of the missionaries who had been watching his diet for weeks stood on the scale, hoping he had lost weight. As he stood there adjusting the weights the nurse put her toe on the scale and the Elder didn't even notice. He was so upset to think he had gained 7 pounds. We didn't tell him that she had given the scale a little push until he had been in the office for about an hour. This was one of those moments where I had the camera ready. It was in my hand just then. It was a Kodak moment.
We tried to go home and watch the inauguration, but we had to settle for re-runs late in the evening. Kim wanted to see the politics, but I was interested in the clothes the women were wearing.
We are grateful to be here. How grateful we are for the prayers of others. They are felt!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
Are you getting tired.....?
Are you getting tired of our eyeglass stories? My journal will think this is all we have done, lately. It isn't, but somehow, just when we think we'll get a breather Heaven gives us a kick and tells us to get moving again.
The most amazing thing happened on Monday. We had to turn down two Mission requests for glass clinics: Honduras, Comayaguela Mission and Central Mission...both during their zone conferences where we are doing health lectures, and we felt very badly about this.. We were completely out of inventory of the lower numbers. This means over a thousand pair of glasses have already been distributed throughout Costa Rica and Guatemala. We knew we would be getting glasses in Feb. and March, but until then, we were out of business. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday we made it a matter of prayer...really thinking that we couldn't possibly find anything and that we were asking for the impossible. Surely glasses couldn't/wouldn't drop out of the sky. Well, they did! Sort of!..On Monday we had gone to the Central Clinic for health exams and the Mission Mom asked us to look in some sacks they had found off in the corner. They were garbage sacks full of glasses. A year or so ago a scout had an eagle project to collect glasses and sent them to Guatemala. No one knew how to dispense them and so they were put away. We had to laugh. glasses did, essentially, "drop into our lap". We have enough to do several clinics of a considerable size now, and this will hold us until February and March. We are not working on our second, maybe third, thousand. Then we will quit, I think. Dad is the key to all this success because he knows, intuitively - and of course because of many years experience" how to measure powers. If only we could communicate, somehow, with this scout and tell him that his glasses will now be used. Our grandson is doing another project in Chicago for his eagle project and how we bless these young men and the scouting program that promotes such activities.
Of course, some of these glasses will be lost, unused, broken by chldren, sat on, etc., but we figure that even if 2/3 are making a difference then it is certainly worth it. If we give 2,000 glasses away, then over a thousand will be used to help make a quality difference in someone's life.
We see some other major benefits, totally unexpected about this project and just as worthwhile. First, except for dad, the parents and missionaries, children take over this clinic. They run it and have ownership in it. I sit and play with babies, take pictures, hug people, etc., because the town people take over. The missionaries, wherever we are, figure out how to do the clinic in about 10 minutes. We have a great system and it is very orderly and professional and everyone loves it.
Second, these clinics make these people in the far reaches of Guatemala feel that someone loves them and is aware of them.
Third, the children - 9 - 16 or so in age, are fascinated! They are incredulous with the magnification part of the glass. They can't stay away. They see us work with the printed page, "Where's Waldo" is a hit, and they see the importance of reading. Many children don't go to school nor do they, if they even begin, go past the primary grades. There is no follow-up, no requirements enforced and so unless the child is motivated (or the parents are) the kids stop going to school. In one clinic we had a 11 year old boy named Ricardo (or something like that) stick with us all night. At the end of the evening he told us he wanted to be a doctor. He probably will never have that chance, but what if he did?
Fourth, generous people from all over the US have really been the privot for the project. The glasses are a symbol of caring. Each glass represents someone we love. This project has been a way, and a worthwhile way, to connect our world with a third world country. Guatemala is two countries, actually, with a modern segment of society very similar to our own, and a major portion of the country being very needy and economically depressed. Much of that latter part of Guatemala still is a hundred years behind. And yet a funny sight is seeing women in their traditional dress, walking down the street with a cell phone at their ear.
There are so manyother surprising benefits of this program, but it is late and we just returned from a zone conference.
Something surprising and very affirming seems to be always happening.
There have been other PR purposes, none of which we would have ever imagined.
I promise, with my fingers crossed, that I will try to talk about other things from now on.
The most amazing thing happened on Monday. We had to turn down two Mission requests for glass clinics: Honduras, Comayaguela Mission and Central Mission...both during their zone conferences where we are doing health lectures, and we felt very badly about this.. We were completely out of inventory of the lower numbers. This means over a thousand pair of glasses have already been distributed throughout Costa Rica and Guatemala. We knew we would be getting glasses in Feb. and March, but until then, we were out of business. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday we made it a matter of prayer...really thinking that we couldn't possibly find anything and that we were asking for the impossible. Surely glasses couldn't/wouldn't drop out of the sky. Well, they did! Sort of!..On Monday we had gone to the Central Clinic for health exams and the Mission Mom asked us to look in some sacks they had found off in the corner. They were garbage sacks full of glasses. A year or so ago a scout had an eagle project to collect glasses and sent them to Guatemala. No one knew how to dispense them and so they were put away. We had to laugh. glasses did, essentially, "drop into our lap". We have enough to do several clinics of a considerable size now, and this will hold us until February and March. We are not working on our second, maybe third, thousand. Then we will quit, I think. Dad is the key to all this success because he knows, intuitively - and of course because of many years experience" how to measure powers. If only we could communicate, somehow, with this scout and tell him that his glasses will now be used. Our grandson is doing another project in Chicago for his eagle project and how we bless these young men and the scouting program that promotes such activities.
Of course, some of these glasses will be lost, unused, broken by chldren, sat on, etc., but we figure that even if 2/3 are making a difference then it is certainly worth it. If we give 2,000 glasses away, then over a thousand will be used to help make a quality difference in someone's life.
We see some other major benefits, totally unexpected about this project and just as worthwhile. First, except for dad, the parents and missionaries, children take over this clinic. They run it and have ownership in it. I sit and play with babies, take pictures, hug people, etc., because the town people take over. The missionaries, wherever we are, figure out how to do the clinic in about 10 minutes. We have a great system and it is very orderly and professional and everyone loves it.
Second, these clinics make these people in the far reaches of Guatemala feel that someone loves them and is aware of them.
Third, the children - 9 - 16 or so in age, are fascinated! They are incredulous with the magnification part of the glass. They can't stay away. They see us work with the printed page, "Where's Waldo" is a hit, and they see the importance of reading. Many children don't go to school nor do they, if they even begin, go past the primary grades. There is no follow-up, no requirements enforced and so unless the child is motivated (or the parents are) the kids stop going to school. In one clinic we had a 11 year old boy named Ricardo (or something like that) stick with us all night. At the end of the evening he told us he wanted to be a doctor. He probably will never have that chance, but what if he did?
Fourth, generous people from all over the US have really been the privot for the project. The glasses are a symbol of caring. Each glass represents someone we love. This project has been a way, and a worthwhile way, to connect our world with a third world country. Guatemala is two countries, actually, with a modern segment of society very similar to our own, and a major portion of the country being very needy and economically depressed. Much of that latter part of Guatemala still is a hundred years behind. And yet a funny sight is seeing women in their traditional dress, walking down the street with a cell phone at their ear.
There are so manyother surprising benefits of this program, but it is late and we just returned from a zone conference.
Something surprising and very affirming seems to be always happening.
There have been other PR purposes, none of which we would have ever imagined.
I promise, with my fingers crossed, that I will try to talk about other things from now on.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Happy New Year...2009
Things are quiet, here. We have not done anything unusual, nor do we plan to go anywhere for a week. The very quiet is a relief. There is a peaceful feeling about routine, and we are grateful for a moment to breathe and catch-up.
The most wonderful thing has occurred and that is that we are out of glasses. More will be coming in a few weeks, but the clinic we had scheduled next week will likely have to be canceled due to lack of inventory. This is wonderful, to think that over a thousand pair of glasses have been distributed. There will be a percentage of those glasses that will be lost, sat on, forgotten, or unused; but there will be a huge number of those glasses that will help someone to read, sew, comb their grandchild's hair, cook or in someway improve their life in a small way. We read in the Book of Mormon that "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass". Perhaps these glasses won't be a means to "great" things, but they are truly appreciated by many and will be a help in numerous small daily tasks.
Christmas trees in malls and streets are coming down this week. Students are ready to go back to school in a week or two after the three month holiday. It is still the dry, very dry, season. We are beginning to long for a few raindrops.
The more we learn about the Maya the more fascinated we become. I may never know the connection to the Book of Mormon for sure, but this land seems to be a double image. We see the present, but there is a shadowy past that seems to faintly stand behind every hill, every tree and in some ways, every person we see. Traditions and culture constantly hint of something ancient and, yet familiar, because of our study of the Book of Mormon. For example, Guatemalan jade is beautiful. Like Chinese jade, it is between 7 and 8 on the hardness scale. It's toughness and density is close to that of a diamond. It is difficult to sculpt, yet it has been exquisitely crafted in objects that have been discovered by archeologists. There are several kinds of jade, but two are especially interesting to me. There are two types of jade called nephite and jaredite. I'm sure this are scientific nomenclature but who decided to call this mineral those names? Curiouser and curiouser!
Lake Atitlan, each time we see it is more beautiful. Could this be the "waters of Mormon"? There are sunken cities along the shore with columns and homes. Divers are discovering communities beneath the waters near the shore.
We live in a geologically active area. I can hear the plates grinding together off the Pacific shore in my sleep. Of course, I really can't, but I think about this often. Central America, and Guatemala, particularly is the product of forces that are still dynamic.
If I talk about "simple things" I must mention this story. When we came on our mission we knew I would have trouble with my left foot, but we thought that perhaps we would be blessed to have that decline delayed. Blessings and prayers have not been answered in the way we thought. Pain and deformity has, while not stopped me in any way, has been a worry. So, we have left this problem to the Lord. A day or so ago, we passed a kiosk in the mall selling "Crocs". I'm sure everyone knows what those are. I have seen my grandchildren wear them. I bought a pair and brought them home. From the minute I put them on I have been able to walk. I don't know if I can explain the humor in this, but it is also a lesson. I asked for a physical miracle and the Lord, probably with a smile on His face, led me to a shoe store instead.
And on to the next week....
The most wonderful thing has occurred and that is that we are out of glasses. More will be coming in a few weeks, but the clinic we had scheduled next week will likely have to be canceled due to lack of inventory. This is wonderful, to think that over a thousand pair of glasses have been distributed. There will be a percentage of those glasses that will be lost, sat on, forgotten, or unused; but there will be a huge number of those glasses that will help someone to read, sew, comb their grandchild's hair, cook or in someway improve their life in a small way. We read in the Book of Mormon that "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass". Perhaps these glasses won't be a means to "great" things, but they are truly appreciated by many and will be a help in numerous small daily tasks.
Christmas trees in malls and streets are coming down this week. Students are ready to go back to school in a week or two after the three month holiday. It is still the dry, very dry, season. We are beginning to long for a few raindrops.
The more we learn about the Maya the more fascinated we become. I may never know the connection to the Book of Mormon for sure, but this land seems to be a double image. We see the present, but there is a shadowy past that seems to faintly stand behind every hill, every tree and in some ways, every person we see. Traditions and culture constantly hint of something ancient and, yet familiar, because of our study of the Book of Mormon. For example, Guatemalan jade is beautiful. Like Chinese jade, it is between 7 and 8 on the hardness scale. It's toughness and density is close to that of a diamond. It is difficult to sculpt, yet it has been exquisitely crafted in objects that have been discovered by archeologists. There are several kinds of jade, but two are especially interesting to me. There are two types of jade called nephite and jaredite. I'm sure this are scientific nomenclature but who decided to call this mineral those names? Curiouser and curiouser!
Lake Atitlan, each time we see it is more beautiful. Could this be the "waters of Mormon"? There are sunken cities along the shore with columns and homes. Divers are discovering communities beneath the waters near the shore.
We live in a geologically active area. I can hear the plates grinding together off the Pacific shore in my sleep. Of course, I really can't, but I think about this often. Central America, and Guatemala, particularly is the product of forces that are still dynamic.
If I talk about "simple things" I must mention this story. When we came on our mission we knew I would have trouble with my left foot, but we thought that perhaps we would be blessed to have that decline delayed. Blessings and prayers have not been answered in the way we thought. Pain and deformity has, while not stopped me in any way, has been a worry. So, we have left this problem to the Lord. A day or so ago, we passed a kiosk in the mall selling "Crocs". I'm sure everyone knows what those are. I have seen my grandchildren wear them. I bought a pair and brought them home. From the minute I put them on I have been able to walk. I don't know if I can explain the humor in this, but it is also a lesson. I asked for a physical miracle and the Lord, probably with a smile on His face, led me to a shoe store instead.
And on to the next week....
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