Missionary Discussions

Brother and Sister Almaraz and their daughters moved here from Mexico last year. Since moving, they had not been out to church. The elder's quorum president asked that we visit them and encourage them to attend. They welcomed us into their home. Brother and Sister Almaraz were sealed in the temple in Mexico. Their oldest daughter, Chenitza (Jenny), was baptized, but we found out that in the process of relocating, Sofia age 9, had not been baptized. So we have been giving her the missionary discussions in preparation for her baptism. We are using a combination of Preach My Gospel and the CTR 7 primary lessons to get her ready so her dad can baptize her soon. Sister Almaraz and the girls speak very little English, so most of our communication is in Spanish. Sister Brown's language skills are improving each week. By the time we get home, I expect her to be fluent. She on the other hand will be happy if she can bear her testimony in Spanish.

Almaraz family - Gabriel, Jenny, Sofia and Rocio

We attended our first convert baptism on Saturday. The sister missionaries had been teaching Marcellus over the past few weeks and he gained a strong testimony of the Gospel and had a desire to follow the Savior's example and be baptized. Two weeks ago he got up during Fast and Testimony meeting and bore a sweet humble testimony of how the Gospel has changed his life. He has a bright future ahead of him.

Sister Carroll, Marcellus and Sister Delgado

 Sometime missionary work is not all that glamorous.  Like the time the high priest group leader called and asked if Robyn and I would like to do a little service for some members who were in need. Their apartment just happened to be infested with bedbugs. Yikes. And before the exterminator could come, all their clothing and bedding needed to be removed and laundered and the apartment vacuumed. Robyn was nice enough to volunteer me immediately. She on the other hand, felt that someone needed to monitor the progress via a secure com-line from headquarters 30 miles away. I didn't sleep very well the night before, but after hearing about what this poor couple had been suffering with the past few months I knew I had to go. The dear sister is in a wheel chair having suffered 3 strokes and her husband is not much better off physically.  Apparently, unbeknownst to them, the bedbugs arrived on a couch that they had bought at the Salvation Army store.
The high priest group leader told me that he had also called the sister missionaries and asked them to come. They said, "Sure." I'm sure they did not have a clue of what they were getting themselves into. Without telling the HPGL, I called the sisters and explained that this was no place for them and that they should call him back and politely decline. They thanked me over and over for the heads up.
Home Depot just happened to be out of hazmat suits so I told Robyn to be ready to hose me off outside when I returned. We must have pulled 20 large bags of clothing and bedding out of the apartment and then off to the laundromat. I had every machine in the place going for over 4 hours. It felt good to be able to help them. Robyn said that she will let me back into the apartment in 6 weeks as long as I can prove that I am not a 'carrier'.

I'm not sure why he is smiling

YEP, those are them

Just a few of the machines that we used

Sign outside our apartment
Now I know why I brought the long underwear

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUIZ
Each candle represents?
A. 10 years
B.  12 years
   C.  15.5 years
 D.  20 years 

About 3 years ago, the Mormon Chanel produced an hour long audio broadcast/documentary about the Kaw River ward and how it has grown and flourished in-spite of being in the inner city of Kansas City. We have met most of the people that are interviewed in the program. It provides an interesting view on some of the problems and challenges that we face here on our mission. 

https://www.mormonchannel.org/listen/series/faith-in-action-audio/kaw-river-ward-bilingual-ward-family-episode-49