Two...

Two is an important number in the mission...

"And ye shall go forth in the power of my spirit, preaching my gospel,

two by two

in my name, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump,

declaring my word like unto angels of God."

D&C 42:6

During their two years (or 18 months for the sisters) of full time service they devote themselves to studying, meeting people and teaching about Jesus Christ and His restored Church. 

At each baptismal service there are two witnesses

"and every word shall be established...by two witnesses"

D&C 42:80

"in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established"

Matt 18:16

The Book of Mormon is a second (2) witness of Jesus Christ

and the most important missionary tool to teach the restored gospel.

President Prince and I 

are just

Two normal members of the church

with too many weaknesses

now having completed two years of our missionary service

Here is a quick accounting of two years as mission president:

We have received 227 missionaries since arriving

We have seen 114 missionaries complete their service and return home.

We have received visits from two of our children...the youngest two!

We have had 3 grandsons and one granddaughter born

One Grandson turned two on July 1...he is how we countdown our mission!

We have given countless talks in stake and district conferences.

We have had one visit from an apostle.
We have had one mission tour with Elder Uceda.
We have seen our mission divide from one big mission into two.
We have driven 100's of mile and made many plane flights.
Every 3 months we have held zone conferences...sometimes several zones together and sometimes individually.
We have had between 9 - 15 zones in the mission...15 at present.
We have added sister training leaders to our missionary leadership council.
We have held webcast and skype sessions with missionaries throughout the mission.

We have had hours of interviews with hundreds of loaves of banana bread.

We have celebrated hundreds of birthdays with chocolate chip cookes.

There have been 2451 people baptized.

We have received un-numbered emails of support from family and friends.
Our hearts have grown twice the size in love for our missionaries and the people of Colombia.

It is never TOO late to decide to serve the Lord.
May you decide to help a missionary 2-day!

We say Goodbye and We say Hello - Hello, Hello....

We Say Goodbye...

We Love Elder Jara.  

He is the first missionary we received 2 years ago.

A trip to Crepes y Waffles for a goodbye dinner helped to 

sweeten up the parting 

 He ate the WHOLE thing!

Our Assistants went with us...Elders Menendez, Avalos, and Welling!

 EARLY...the next morning we waited at check in

 Shed a few tears

 Gave a few hugs

 Promised we would keep in touch forever

 

And then we say Goodbye...and he is on his way home!

We Say Hello...

Hello, Hello!

 We welcomed 5 new missionaries to the Colombia Cali Mission on July 2, 2013

They loaded up the van and in the hands of capable assistants and secretaries

they were off to Cali!

 A Welcome Lunch at the mission home was enjoyed almost as much

as getting to know these great missionaries...they are a prepared group!

Then off to Cristo Rey

Elder Flores (our new materials secretary)

 With sunshine in their eyes and

a lot of fatigue from early mornings...we had a successful changing of Assistants today.

Elder Avalos (left picture...left of Pres Prince) is off to run our mission branch in Buenaventura!

Elder Welling is joining Elder Menendez to help keep Pres. Prince running! (literally)

I love this picture!

O, Cali...O Cali...How oft we would have shared the gospel with you...!

Our July 2013 Group

Elder Dean, Sister Rojas, Sister Campos, Elder Lyle, and Elder Correa

Meeting their trainers and first mission companion

 Elders Correa and Whitney

 Elders Dean and Cartes

 Elders Borg and Lyle

 Sisters Quispe and Campos

Sisters Rojas and Chacón

LUNCH and GETTING TO KNOW YOU

 TRAINING

and then we say goodbye...goodbye...goodbye!

special delivery...

On Saturday, June 29 our 10th grandchild

Daphne Adeline Quinn

made her dramatic entrance into the world.

5 weeks early, 5lbs 1oz of cuteness.

 She has become the center of our world, 

the focus of our prayers,

the exercise of our faith,

and the tenderness of our hearts.

I wait hourly for updates and pictures.

I have Face Timed in the Nicu with her and ached to hold her.

We have seen miracles, 

we have felt the prayers of many in her behalf.

I believe angels are close by because I can't be.

I KNOW my prayers have been heard.

We were promised our family would be blessed as we served...

The Lord keeps His promises...the blessings come to us

Special Delivery as we plead for His help and deliverance.

I know the Lord hears the prayers of missionary families...

Keep praying for your missionary sons and daughters

The Lord will deliver them from danger, sadness, and homesickness.

His blessings come Special Delivery to those who seek them.

A little bit of this and that...

There are many little things that happen
in between the BIG happenings in the mission

Here is a little bit of this and that...

A Visit from Maria's granddaughter, Ana Sofia

It was SO fun to hold this little one.
She is as good natured as she is cute.
She must take after her grandma Maria who always has a smile for everyone!

(how I missed holding 3 of my grandchildren as babies!...they were born after we arrived here in the mission and are growing up fast.
Our 10th grandchild is due in August....
...how I ache to be there when that little girl is born!

Going to church with friends

Actually this is worthy to note for the following reasons:

1.  President Prince had a coordinating council this day and could NOT come

which meant that I was to pick them up and get them to church by myself. Not a big deal you say?  Just come and try to navigate the streets of Cali.  

It was a full-blown miracle and act of faith to arrive and return!

2.  President Prince and I are teaching the missionary discussions to the 2 beautiful young women on the back...Jennifer and Jessica.  They are amazing, talented, intelligent young women.  It is a miracle to watch them absorb and learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

3.  Their cousin, John David, decided to come also.  He was scooped up by the great young men in this ward and has since been back to a scripture and soccer activity.

Father's Day grilling 

They bought a gas grill for the mission home and we had the first cook out on Father's Day.  What says Father's day more than a grilled steak?

Happy Father's day to all the wonderful mission Dad's!

(it is kind of unfair that the missionaries only call home for Mother's Day!)

Missionary Activity with investigators

 We have always welcomed our missionaries here in Cali to bring investigators to the mission home for family nights and activities (IF we are home!)
Elders Delgadillo, Chase, and Torres along with Hermanas Perdomo and Chacón
brought 12 investigators over for a fun night of activities and friendship

Sisters Chacón and Perdomo with their investigators

Elders Torres, Chase, and Delgadillo with their investigators

The evening was a success with games, lesson, and brownies & ice cream!

 A trip to BUGA

 We were there for Elder Riepl's first baptisms in the mission 
and we were there for his last ones.
You can see in their eyes how much his companion and the people in Buga love Elder Riepl.  He was an excellent missionary and leader.

On the way home from Buga I rode in the backseat (made for 2) with
Sister Torgerson and Sister Oliver.
We were cozy and even happier to get out when we got home!

It is the little things that happen in between life that make it so sweet.
May your week be full of little bits of this and that!