7-21-2013 Kings, Queens and Missionaries in the Making

Kings, Queens and Missionaries in the Making

          Last Sunday was fun of all fun days.  We have with us a tote bag made by Val’s mom that has at times been crammed with camping and other paraphernalia.  

The tote bag is orange, at top.  It was filled with white and
brown towels--the sheep.  Then, below are outfits for King Mosiah,
King Lamoni, Ammon, and Queen Lamoni, respectively  :)

Sunday, it was overflowing with costumes from our closet for Primary to outfit Ammon, King Lamoni, Lamoni’s wife, sheep and some thieving “scatterers of sheep.”  Each of the eight four year olds received a mission call:  “Hermana Garcia, you have been called by the prophet on a mission, do you accept?”  “Yes!”  With near to life plaquetas or name tags, the children marching about the room to “Armies of Helaman.”  

Our half of the multipurpose room contains the only keyboard which complements the chapel’s sole piano (no organ here.  And we figure, it is easier to not have accompaniment, because when the pitch gets high you can change keys as you like!)  Friday, Sister Garcia, stopped in the hall to say some nice words about “You are “flying” with your Spanish.” (After working hard at understanding why she was using the word flying or volando--I mean Val knows that word but as many angels as work there, it is the first time I have heard that word there--also trying really hard this week not to want to fly home and appreciate family gatherings) I listened to her rave about her daughter was in the four year old Haz lo Justo or Choose the Right class who was “fascinated” by the dress ups and learning through acting.  A huge Costco-like cake had been passed out and cleaned up just prior to the 10 minutes we had left for our lesson, with inches of icing and puddles of punch mixed with children’s suit coats, ties, and Sunday dress.  All this, after singing a monkey song about a little monkey who eats so many mangoes that his stomach explodes--Kristen, Zach and children in Spencer ward nursery, you do not know what you are missing!

President and Sister Ocampo’s four grandchildren who live in our neighborhood knocked enthusiastically at my door Sunday.  Three year old Nefi (pronounced Nef EE) has adopted me already because I have bubbles--burbujas and balls--pelotas, but this time he brought his brother and two sisters..   What he had not experienced was play dough, the “plastilina” which I had made out of whole wheat flour—my only stash of flour—with no color…Pioneer play dough!  

Looking up from molding snakes and dinosaurs, I could see four children creating their own little Central American temple

I am grateful, for capturing a slice of childhood that I am missing elsewhere, and it truly is a picture of heaven--I can understand a little more why the Savior would say, "Let the little children come unto me."  I want to be the bright light that attracts such beautiful butterflies, so transient, touchable and wise in their own way.  I was apologizing to the 11 year old oldest sister, who had just been extolling the virtues of her mother (who can play the flute, the violin, the viola, and can sew and knit) for such a mess to their Sunday clothes.  "Oh my mom will not worry.  She has so many problems that are bigger than this," and then proceeded to show me the rip in the lace of her slip and tell me about how a person helping in their home had burnt something important.  "No worries."  In essence, flour and water wash off. "And hasn't this been fun?"  My funnest part was listening to them sing in English "Families Can Be Together Forever."  They decided they were going to teach it to me in Spanish.  They would sing a line and then the oldest sister and the Raquel would militantly say “otra vez” (“again”) after which we would obediently comply.  It reminded me of playing Ring around the Rosy with William--three times is never enough!   Super funny, and a great way to soak up a song!  

This hour came was balm to the missing of grandchildren and I plan to answer the next frantic Sunday knock on the door, especially if it reveals this kind of enchanting amusement.

This sculpture by Jesus Zelaya, was captured on our latest outing to the National Gallery of Art
My  latest version of "Let the little children come to me!"

Val wants to write about waffle night:  7/21/2013

Monday, Laurene and I did the FHE starting with whole wheat waffles with papaya, mango, pineapple, bananas, and whip cream (as done by Grandma Starkey and her father Charles Peterson).  

We introduced the food by saying that is what the Starkey's do for a fiesta. 

We then had a joint discussion of  each of the 14 people, each expressing a testimony of how a symbol  has helped to [lift] their family.  

My symbol was the scriptures.  “When I had a little girl age three and a brand new baby, 

I looked everywhere to find scriptures for children.  I finally found a red Children’s Bible and little Kristen would read it every day.  

One day she found a page with a picture of Christ suffering on the cross.  Every day she would bring me the page and ask me, “Mommy, why did Jesus die?”  “Why, Mommy did Jesus die?” 

  None of my answers seemed to stop her from asking the same question.

One night in my nighttime prayer, I decided to ask Heavenly Father how to answer Kristen’s question.  An idea came to my mind to look in 3 Nephi 27:14 , which I did.  This verse explains that Jesus was lifted up on the cross, so all mankind could be lifted up.  “Jesus was lifted, so we could be lifted.”  The next day I explained this to Kristen and she was satisfied.

A symbol of the scriptures and this story helps me understand that Heavenly Father cares to answer questions of a three-year-old, and He cares to answer mine.  Closeness to the Savior and His Father can be found in His holy words.” 

Val:  We had some more plumbing problems with the food disposer and the pipes.  Sunday, three liters of water emerged from under the kitchen sink onto to the floor.  Monday and Tuesday we had maintenance people come.  They tried cleaning and ultimately tried to duplicate the water coming out, without success....we have no clear understanding of why it would leak on Sunday a not on Tuesday.   Hopefully it will stay dry. Update: No more leaks, so far!

A couple came from Nicaragua to be sealed and had to leave their children home because of lack of funds.  The trip consisted of 3 days journey and they spent more than they had expected. Some of the workers and missionaries pooled some food and money to help them get back home. 

Saturday the temple presidency called a meeting of the stake presidents to come and discuss the temple, attendance and ways they can help improve attendance and the number of workers.  This is very good and timely, because there seems to be a slowing in the last two weeks.

Laurene: A funny story from Tuesday.  I had to watch a very energetic four year old for five hours while his parents prepared for the sealing of their family.  We were good for about the first three hours..then we were scrambling for ideas (after making three toilet paper roll missionaries, playing "hide the lego," watching every movie we could find, I finally brought him early to the temple to see if a walk would do my little friend good.  He did not want to know the English or Spanish word for walk or hold hands, and I nearly lost him in the dark twice.  Finally I got permission to bring him to the little comedor or eating room, where I had an apple, his favorite food.  Which he ate, then my mangos and papaya, until he realized that there was a door, and what if he tried to run out!)  About this time, I was joined by my coordinator; there are supposed to be two nursery people always, but my other helper needed to leave.  Sister Falluea manned the comedor entry until I cleaned up, then we mounted the stairs to the second floor to await our invitation for little Joel to unite with his parents. 

I don't bring cameras to the
temple...but this is as
 close as I could find to
match his smile ..only
add 100% more anticipation
a little fear, a lot of glee--and
white clothes!

 My partner asked little Joel if he knew about what happened to Jesus when he was a little boy.  Jesus went to the temple and his parents couldn't find him.  How would he like to be like Jesus...he could hide from his mom and dad in the stairs--but he would have to be very quiet and still or else they might find him.  

Amazing, it worked magic in an otherwise inconsolable child.  He was quiet, like a little boy with the contagious anticipation of a child waiting for someone to find him in hide and seek for at least half an hour!

As I helped sisters do initiatory for family and other names and wished I could be with my family and daughters during a big upcoming gathering, it was hard to not fight back tears.  So, I need to acknowledge that Heavenly Father sent a little girl this week Wednesday from northern Honduras to get her endowment.  She happened to come when things were a little slower and I was able to understand that she had received a call to Lago Salado--Salt Lake Temple Square mission, where my brother David’s daughter Anna

 from Washington State received her call just before we received ours.  

This Hermana Aguilar (left) ...my blessing Wednesday

Hermana Aguilar spoke English, and was so loving and caring to share her stories and enthusiasm.  She went to the embassy to get her paperwork ready for her mission.  Three advisers awaited, two looking friendly, and one with a scowl on his face.  She was in the line behind the man with the scowl.  Oh no, she thought!  And she began to pray.  Two people in front of her were turned down.  When she approached the man, he began to smile, and he gave her all the things that she needed to prepare to leave in a few weeks.  

Val: The week ended on a great note on Saturday.   Our turn started at 12:10 and I was asked to direct the first endowment session at 2PM.  President Ocampo asked that Laurene also take the session.  During it, I wondered, and Laurene realized that her family in Logan was doing an endowment session with Becca Gee at exactly same time in the temple we were married in 20 years ago.

Laurene:  The request was unusual.  It was only during our anniversary week that we had a few sessions together, but none since.  Imagine the surprise, when our president poked his head to make the request. It took me some time, but as the doors closed and the session began, I realized in real time that we were experiencing the very same thing that Becca and Steven's family, our daughters and my mom 3,200 miles away had gathered to witness.

This was amazing, and I located the Spanish version of 1 Nephi 1:20 to review some new vocabulary: "entrañas misericordias," or tender mercies.  Both were such.  

May your eyes this week be fixed to notice similar goodness--to know that you are known, even in your extremities…

And may your days be blessed as you mix with children of kings and queens, or missionaries in the making…

                          Love, Val and Laurene 

P.S.  This is Kristen, grown up...with Savanna, age one, who has conquered fear and as of this week is WALKING!

 Baby Evelyn has gained a pound—milestones!  

P.P. S.  Happy Birthday to Jannette, Brianne, and Carma!

7-14-13 “Let the Little Children Come…”

Proud Auntie, 7/10

We have BIG news this week…and it is hard to preface it…but no story is good without context, so…Early this week in the mountain bowl of the capital city of Honduras, a memory of a small village of Kaysville, in the Wasatch mountains in the valley of Lago Salado (Salt Lake) thinking of friends and neighbors from our cul de sac, comes a reminder of what brought about the big green purse…

 “Amazing, what can happen when you just do what Russell Ballard once said--we can't cross the plains, but we can cross the street!  

On my way to visit a neighbor, I was walking home from Mom's, with the reality dawning that our mission departure was approaching, and I did not have a purse.  I had looked and looked, but the time was closing in.  "Heavenly Father...I know this is silly...but...I need a purse.  Where and how I am going to get one, I do not know!"  We had exactly 10 days from opening our call to setting foot into our Salt Lake temple "Missionary Training Center."  The walk from my Mom's to our neighborhood is about ten minutes.

As I walked past our neighbor to the north, he peered out.  

"I need you to know that my wife just sent a purse over to your house."

She wondered if I could use this forest or olive green bag with zipper at the top and three at the side.  I now call it my "prayer purse."  The outside pockets have easy access for temple recommend, apartment key, pens, pencils, nuts (“you are what you eat”--which are appreciated going from assignment to assignment without time for a full meal deal) then Kleenexes, which "come in useful" when your gift of tongues has gone missing or you miss home.

The fabric is light, but holds both English and Spanish conference Ensign, a Book of Mormon, a few tiny notebooks, and a handy dandy Primary Songs in Spanish, Canciones de Niños.  

What more could a person ask for?  All I had to do was pray and walk down the hill and rejoice in the quote from President Spencer W. Kimball: ‘God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs.’ (Ensign, July 1978 p.4) “

Val’s contribution:  “This week we had a bus from Masaya Nicaragua come.  I got to do an endowment session with them and a sealing with them.  The highlight was in talking to them, when I found that they have 5 wards and 2 on the outskirts.  When my companion Elder Carl Albrechtsen and I were there we had one branch and it met in our home and had about 10-15 people in 1972.  Wow!”

This pictures is a small piece of the Masaya stake, where Val served with his mission companion as the branch president to a close to a dozen

Laurene's commentary:  Tuesday began with me volunteering to help in the guardaria or nursery after vowing never again—after struggling earlier with a wild toddler and his energetic five year old counterpart on the stairwell endlessly awaiting their family sealing—when forever got a second meaning!

Tuesday's children were a nearly 18 year old boy and his teenage sister who came with their parents from Masaya, Nicaragua..  Their older brother joined earlier at the encouragement of a tia or aunt, and is currently serving a mission in Colombia.  The rest of the family joined just over a year ago.  

I asked Jennifer, maybe 15, to choose a favorite hymn, which she did and we sang together.   Christopher, 17, joined us.  Holding out my tiny green Hymnos,  they did not seem to need it first, middle or final verse.  Granted we were not on key for every note, but I pinched myself to witness these teens practicing our own continuation of Sunday’s song leading course.  Christopher has been taking piano lessons.  He told me his first song was Now to Heaven Our Prayer Ascending or rather the Spanish equivalent (also the first hymn I learned to play) and Nearer, My God to Thee, my first performance in a Presbyterian church in Washington, where I remember feeling every muscle clutch with paralysis!  It is good that some things "come to pass" and get a little easier.

Sister Lagos, my nursery companion, who has a missionary son in Colombia, helped me ask Christopher about sewing on buttons, cooking and other things that he listed with a “cheque” (Spanish equivalent of “check!”) that he has done or is working on to prepare for his upcoming mission call.

Val came over at the end, poked in his head and met the youth.  He cried when he heard that the little branch of a handful of members meeting in a little house in 1971 has become a stake.  

I decided that older children can be as fun as or more fun than the little ones--a reminder of the wonder of watching our own, like petals of flowers that unfold with time and warmth.

Our new friends, the Ruiz family

Here is little Daniela, who celebrated her 7th birthday here.

Now to the best part:  WEDNESDAY 10 July…a red letter day!

It started out less than red letter.  The purse became a curse:  filled with happy helps, it likely weighed a dozen pounds.  

Swinging it over a shoulder in quick effort to swoop into escalador (elevator) to magically appear two minutes later for our training meeting, I felt a “pinch,” after which movement became painful in most directions.  The maneuver earned me a trip across the parking lot to our guest house to try out the new favorite word “descansar.”  No, it is not the opposite of “to marry” or casarse…it means to lay down and close your eyes, or otherwise change activities.

At 8:48 p.m. we went to bed, calling Maria to learn what there was to know about April.  Maria had emailed 7:48 p.m. PST that the baby was likely coming that night.    Little Evelyn arrived about 4 minutes later.  This is the message we got from Tom at 10:39:

“Evelyn Marie Starkey was born at 7:52 weighing 7lbs 13oz.  Blonde hair blue eyes…Congratulations Grandpa and Grandma!”

This is Evelyn, 7/10/13, brand new

Apparently Kristen had raved about a hypno-birthing (natural relaxation) class just before Savanna came.  April and Tom took the class, loved it.  They decided they wanted a natural birth, so when the doctor appointment came Monday, the 8^th and April was a week overdue with an induction scheduled for the following day, April's doctor postponed the induction, saying that April’s vitals were doing fine, why not let things go as they would?  The class was successful enough with teaching relaxation that on Wednesday the 10^th, as they were timing the contractions to be 5 minutes apart, Tom encouraged departure, but April lingered, hoping to stay at home as long as possible.  The hospital drive is about 35 minutes and Evelyn came 15 minutes later.  “I told her next time, she needs to listen to me!” was Tom’s afterward advisory.  We are delighted about the “this time,” and any other time.  The number of “nietas have been shored to equal the number of “nietos” (girls equals boys) with 10 grandchildren on July 10.

Happy Sister, 7/11

Ramona & Joe  (thanks, Uncle Joe, for picking up!)

So hearts of grandparents have turned to nietos, and Saturday the heart of one nieta is turning to an abuelo or grandfather.  On July 13, my mom’s living brothers and sisters and their families gathered at the Paris House.  Aunt Vera amidst her courageous battle with cancer, had requested that the Hillman reunion happen close to Grandpa’s birthday.  Grandpa Floyd would have been 100 yesterday.  After working Saturday, we hurried home to call and reached my mom’s youngest brother Joe, who shared his cell from cousin to cousin to the Aunts to Mom.  





When I asked Aunt Vera’s son, Thayne,

Thayne and Connie

how his family was doing with his mom gone, he told me a story that touched my heart.  Thayne’s brother just older than me died years ago after a farming accident.  Feeling sad and alone, missing his brother one evening, Thayne wandered outside. Looking out over the expanse and vast acreage of fields, he noticed a most beautiful sunset.  This colorful moment offered a sense of his brother remembering him and a sense that he was remembered.  



Sunday, our neighbor Walter shared a story from an undertaker in his home town.  It is an area of Native Americans, where each family has their own burial ground.  Preparing a resting place for these families, the man has noticed an eagle soaring nearby. I cannot seek out sunsets this week, but Thursday Val and I saw five hawks circling the neighboring hill... If we keep our eyes open, we can see them.

You have to look carefully, because our distance was far, but the dark spot in the middle of the biggest cloud is one of the five. 

Here is a hill just north of us--with Val crossing the street--recognize the hat?

Here are Joe's pics of his trip to hills neighboring 

 our prized Spring City, UT--I loved the view and wanted to share!

Everywhere, as we cross a street, or even peer out a window, 

we can find color

and things that help us remember loved ones as we 

work to shoulder our share of the load 

in a measured way to avoid pinched nerves, or nervios pellizcados, in our efforts to honor our loved ones.  

May your week be enriched as you cross the street, look at a changing cloud pattern,

pick up the phone, or peer into the eyes of a child!  

Spaghetti and Savanna

Savanna and Spaghetti (this is who is cleaning our house!)

We love you. 

Hermana Laurene & Elder Val

And a P.S. to celebrate big moments for brother Steven's daughter, Becca.  

Becca, Steve, Pam, Mom

Becca received her call Friday to serve in the Romania/ Moldova mission, reporting November 20th to the Provo training center. Congrats, Becca!

One last greeting to little Evelyn--and may you each feel excessively loved this week!

“If You’re Happy and You Know It” or “Si, Te Sientes Hoy Feliz”

 Val: Sunday 7/7/2013 We had a good week, though a little slow...but we had some visitors including a group of obreros (workers) from San Pedro Sula  (4 hours away), so  Thursday, it was a surprise to have so many in the starting meeting, "Capacitation".  I think I conducted 3-4 sessions this week....my knees seem to be doing ok.  Laurene and I played scrabble last night.  (Laurene’s comment: Val won by one point—we need to start a notebook like Grandma and Grandpa had in New Zealand, where they ended up even at the end of the mission and the book!)

Val: I met a man who was doing initiatory work.  He had a singular old eyepiece, that it was a broken half of a pair of glasses, without an ear piece… He held it up to one eye so he could read the card.  The thought came to my mind...he cannot afford another set of glasses.   Why do we have so much... and he has so little? 

Laurene from Monday 7/1/13:

We woke with intentions of having a paseo to downtown Honduras to find a Presidential mansion that has been turned into a museum.  We got up, read and began our clothes washing.  Before long, the fumigation crew came in response to my email singing, “The Ants Go Marching One by One, Hurrah!”  They knew the song and came to remove the ants.  Well, in the last few days, I have applied Dawn dishwashing detergent to the wall corners of the hallway.  And the ants have not again frequented that passageway, for the most part.  There was a piece of banana skin or something that attracted a small group, just inside the door.  After the helpers came, they wanted to show us what was left of the colony of very tiny ants on the edge of the sidewalk maybe 20 feet to the north and east of our door well.  Hoorah!  Success in one battle! 

Wednesday 7/3:

I was assigned to the guarderia, or nursery.  Again.  The time was set for 4:00 p.m., so until then I helped in the roperia with a huge herd of 30+ missionaries from Comayaguela, with their clothing issue.  It was fast and furious.  To the point that I simply began asking in English what sizes they were (most were 34 men’s slacks or pantalones, which was fine until we ran out of 34s, then 32s, and had to choose between 30’s and 36’s.  Which would you choose if you were 34?)  One of the missionaries looked up at me and said with surprise, “Hey, you are speaking in English!  That was super funny to me--to be seasoned to speaking Spanish to the point that when spoken to in your native tongue, it takes a moment or two to recognize it! 

Later, my coordinator, Sister Olga Falluela wanted me to come to her locker for a moment--she had something to show me.  She left it in her bag in the car, but it was a dictionary of 100 words that she is trying to learn, and one of them is “beautiful.”  And she is beautiful.  Her dark features are striking—I thought that word from the moment I saw her.  I showed her some of the Spanish canciones de ninos or children’s songs that I have been working on learning, and I need to get cracking, because I have 10 to learn before 11 a.m. today.  I practiced Popcorn Popping and The Snowman Song while beginning to cut a very ripe pineapple, wash dishes, clean a bathroom sink, and put foil under our stove top burners today.

Voila!

Back to the nursery:  I was asked to watch an eleven month little Norman Ely Romero, who was with his grandmother.  She sat with him in the sala, or waiting room.  I served him cookies and juice, which he enjoyed until I brought toys, we dressed him (in pants that were likely size 8—and I am talking age eight--

a cute little vest, a tie, a tee shirt, and a button down shirt with tiny socks and too big slippers. 

This is one of the outfits offered:
We used the vest.

Dressing was a bit of a challenge in the waiting room bathroom.  We made a choice not to go over to the guarderia because it was raining too hard.   So we did everything in the waiting room, with influx of youth ebbing and flowing with groups of young people watching the Testament and Legacy.  One of the young girls was weeping at the end of the Testaments.  I told her that happens to me, too, but I am working on understanding the words enough that it can get to me.
Little Norman played cars and legos

 (a few of the nursery toys)  

with me in his little white outfit until he got super tired and his grandma just held him close to help him go to sleep.

When it came time for me to go up, the wife or esposa of the sealer or sellador came down to let me know that they were about ready.  I took the sleeping baby from the arms of his grandmother.  He startled for a moment--but trusted me because I had been with him for all that time--and went back to sleep.  I must have stood with Sister Poujol at the door of the sealing room for 15 minutes.  It felt at least that long, because Norman was at least as heavy as our little William, who is 2 ½.  But he stayed asleep.  Val came by, and Sister Poujol told me that we are a “linda” couple (a cute couple…in case you want to give someone a compliment anytime soon.)

I love that Val could see “my” baby, and delight just a little in the happiness that I was having.  When it came time for us to open the door and go in, I helped him to the altar, but Norman was beginning to wake up, and as this sleepy little nearly one year old woke to see his mother and father with tears streaming down their faces, the sealer pronounced the ordinance that sealed them as a little family and told them that their little son, Norman was theirs for eternity. 

The moment was priceless.  It was definitely worth juice stains on my temple dress, and running back and forth to find appropriately sized clothing articles and crawling across the sala floor working to keep a tired little boy in good spirits.  They had traveled 2 ½ hours to get there and would have at least that long before Norman would be safely tucked into his camilla or small bed at his home.

A painting in the guardaria

I got to try out the organ stops programmed on Monday night--overall, they worked.  Not the chimes (a little alarming!)  But mostly everything else was beautiful and glorious!  

Since Wednesday, my Spanish weaknesses displayed themselves full swing, the most difficult day being Sabado or Saturday.  However, the fact is that there are a few smiling faces and eager embraces ready during difficult times:   “thy ^afriends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.”  (D&C 121:9)

Val is supportive, loving, and good--even when I borrow his house key and he has to pace until I finish working.  I am convinced that my mom’s formula that hard things can be improved with just a little more love is true.

Working on such this coming week, and hope to drill, drill, drill the verbos, verbos, verbos.  Glad to learn that love is a verb and that it is the bridge that makes connecting two cultures possible. 

Oh, we wore red, white, and blue to celebrate Thursday 

and here is Friday’s commentary (7/05):  

We got to see a few fireworks off my mom's porch, through the internet.  My favorite part was listening to William say, "That was a big one!"  and later hearing that he would watch a few fireworks then run around the house, come back and watch a few more in time to go racing around mom’s house a second, third, and umpteenth time.  It seems like he is all grown up in only 7 weeks.  

Working in the nursery this morning 

with a very sad little boy, maybe 18 months made me so happy when I could find a way to retrieve the terrible, terrible wand that wouldn't come out of the bubbles I bought a few weeks ago.  I dumped all the liquid out.  Then my partner with a pen or knife or something retrieved the wand from deep deep down.  Finally, finally, I pulled out the bubbles 

and without a word, they did their magic, and the crying child became a giggling toddler.  My heart sang...and so did my body, as we clapped and followed the melody of "if you're happy and you know it...si te sientes hoy feliz, aplaude, si!"  Though I yearn to speak better and understand better, some things come without words, and joy is universal.  

As this week we await the entrance of Evelyn Marie Starkey into eager arms of April, Tom, Eleanor, Thomas (and MARIA!)  

we are hoping that July is teeming with razones (reasons) to ¡aplaude, sí! (clap your hands!) 

Love, Elder Val and Hermana Laurene