Missionary Reunions 2013

This year we held three Missionary Reunions, one in October in West Valley, Utah and two in December, one in Vera Cruz, Mexico and the other in Mexico City, Mexico.  Dennis and I

always knew we were very blessed to be able to serve a mission in Mexico with our

six children at a young age, but this year as we traveled back to Mexico

and we were overwhelmed with emotions of gratitude and humility with the outstanding

brothers and sisters (elders Y hermanas) that truly and deeply blessed our

lives and the lives of our posterity.  Our missionaries and their families literally showered us

with love, hugs, tears, gifts, kind words.  As they shared their experiences of their

missions and their lives since their missions, we were in awe.  The Latin people have something

extraordinary about them.  Genuine faith, patience, humility, unconditional love.  Even though I couldn't understand everything that was said, I could always read their hearts and souls.  They shared story after story, miracle after miracle.  Many of them travel by bus 12-24 hours to see us.  They are true disciples of Jesus Christ in every way.  They are perfect examples to me. I love them so much and am forever grateful to have served with them.  

                            

Elder Ernesto and Sister Emily Canton

                                           Silvano Perez Family and Luis Perez Family

                                                                 Luis Perez Family

                                                            David Alvarado Family

                                                              Larry Corsini Family

                                                           Rafael Pastrana Family

                                                              Yolanda Reyes Family

                                                           Maria Guzman Family

                                                            Sister Silvia Gala Hoil

                                                       Sister Maribel Lopez Camargo

                            Elder Fernando Lopez and Sister Alma Rosa Lopez (brother and sister)

                                                         

                                                   Abraham Jahudiel Salcido Family

                                                               Sister Heidi Robinson

                                     President Oscar Aquilar and Sister Rosa Embila and son

Sisters Zarahemla Gutierrez, Maribel Lopez, Elizabeth Garcia, Heidi Robinson and Rosa Embila

Sisters above and Elder Rafael Baez, Roberto Zamora, Adalberto Mancilla, Juan Moctezuma & Oscar Aquilar

Dennis receiving a hug from a missionary granddaughter!!

                We loved listening to their missionary experiences and their lives since their missions.

                     I wanted so bad to convey my love for them and how they changed our lives!!!

                                                            Angel Castillo Family

                                                 Sister Sarai Lara and Jose Arano

In front of the Vera Cruz Mexico Temple

The Rafael Baez Story
Our first reunion in Mexico was in Vera Cruz.  After the first 4 to 5 hours, I whispered to my husband, that I needed to eat!  He announced to our missionaries we were going to break for about an hour for lunch.  One of our Elders, Elder Salcido took us back to our hotel where we had lunch and then I told my husband I needed a quick power nap.  Elder Salcido wanted to take my husband on a tour of the city of Vera Cruz while I rested.  Dennis said, he would rather go find one of our missionaries that wasn't at the reunion, Elder Rafael Baez.  Elder Saucido said he believed he knew the general vicinity in which he lived.  The first house Elder Salcido knocked, the man knew where Elder Baez lived because he was the local mailman so they went directly to Elder Rafael Baez' home.  He was not home, but his wife, mother, daughter and grandchild were.  His wife told them he was at the Bishop office at that moment.  They called his cell phone and Rafael came home to find his Mission President and one of his Missionary buddies in his home.  Dennis and Elder Salcido brought him back to the church and he spent the remainder of the reunion with us that day.
Dennis and I got up the next morning and flew to Mexico City for another reunion.  That evening we were surprised to see Elder Baez again in Mexico City.  When Elder Baez got up to bare his testimony, he shared the following.  He said that when he was talking to his Bishop yesterday that the Bishop told him to go home because two important visitors were waiting for him at his house.  Also, he said that two weeks ago, the Bishop had called him into his office and told him he needed to get his life in order because the Lord may want him to be the next Bishop.  Elder Baez' response was, "I'll only be Bishop if I can see my Mission President again."  Two weeks later Dennis is standing in his living room.  Elder Baez had told his wife he needed to take the bus to Mexico City so he could attend our Mexico City Reunion so he could share that story.   I love the gospel!

Christmas 2013!!

The Best Christmas Gifts Ever!!!

Dennis and Kathryn

Travis, Kim, Sabrina, Whitley, Bailey, Morgan, Mylee

                                     Chad, Tiffany, Gunnar, Jessica, Kourtney, Zach and Rylee

Stephen, Tara, Trinity, Grace, Jovie and Indy

Adam, Tristen, Cade, Luke, Pyper and Redd

 

                                             Treavor, Sara, Owen, Lewis and Kathryn

                                               Clay, Telisa, Bodie, Tatum and Lincoln






                                                             Christmas Eve 2013

We started with the feast!!

 

Our Christmas Program this year was a little different.  Thanks to the persistence and genius techiness of
Tiffany, we put our Nativity program on a DVD and let the kids watch themselves for a change.  In addition, Cade played a Christmas carol on the piano, Trinity shared a story about the Savior,  Owen sang a Christmas song, the Peters
Family Singers shared their talents and lastly Chad shared his testimony of our Savior.  We were crying too much to
take any pictures of that.  After the program we showed the video "The Candy Bomber", then Grandpa
Dennis came in with handkerchieves filled with candy for all the grandkids.   It was all very touching, and I thank
you all for your participation!!!

                            

                           

                           

Gift opening time!  The grandkids each had drawn a name of one another and had a budget
of $5.  They had to be pretty creative!!!

Dennis surprised me with a beautiful painting of the Savior
being comforted by an angel called "Agony in the Garden"
by Frans Schwartz  I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!!

                           

 The things I love about Christmas are hearing my family laugh, cry, enjoy eating, feeling the true meaning of Christmas, opportunities to serve, Christmas music, the smell of Christmas trees, lots of hugs and kisses.  I am especially grateful this year for computers that allowed me to Skype so I could see and hear my loved ones that weren't with us this year, Clay, Telisa, Bodie, Tatum, Lincoln and Elder Beus!!  (Thanks Jess, for taking all these pics so I could do my thing!)

Grandkids Helping Save Watson's House!!

Bishop Watson and his family in front of their Church in Haiti

His beautiful daughters!!

I challenged our grand children to earn $800 from Thanksgiving to December 17th to save the home of a Bishop in Haiti.  The only stipulation was no help from their parents.  So they rolled up their sleeves and got to work!!  They cleaned houses for neighbors, made and sold lots of cookies, shoveled snow, cleaned up after dogs, babysat and by December 12th had earned $860.06!!  They worked hard and with enthusiasm.  I have a dear friend, Diane Paynter, who had traveled to Haiti this year and is working with Voice of the Children to build schools there after the earthquake.  I have another friend, Deborah Wunderli, who started an orphanage after the earthquake, as well as, adopted three children from Haiti.    Both of my friends have now become good friends with each other and made us aware of Bishop Watson problem.  Diane told me he was going to lose his very tiny house if he didn't pay the rent for the year by December 22.  The problem is there are no jobs.  We here in this modern world have no idea what living in true poverty is like.  Living in Mexico for three years has given me a little insight.  I wanted my Grandchildren to understand.  Deborah came over on Thanksgiving and gave our family a presentation on the conditions in Haiti.  I hope they remember and know how blessed they are, and the importance of constantly serving others.  Below is letter from Diane after Watson received the kids money.

Dear Peter’s Family,

 

Words cannot express how grateful I am for your acts of service on behalf of Watson Clair Jeune and his family. I talked to him through Skype on Monday and he is so touched by your help. He is a gentle man who was called to be a Bishop at the age of 31 years old. At the time, there was a great deal of poverty among the members of his ward. Then the earthquake hit and so many people were killed, children were left without parents, most people were homeless, and he and his family and members of the ward went days and days without eating. Life is hard for him and his ward. There is little or no work in Haiti and he gives what little he has to help others and then goes without himself. Your hard work has meant that he will have a home for this whole next year and will be able to stay and serve as the Bishop.

 

Let me tell you a little about his home. It is a tiny home that is partly cut out of a hill, with a block wall that forms the outside walls. The floor is dirt and his family all lives in this one room. He has a small area where he can build a fire and they cook over the fire with just one pan. Throughout the week he walks miles and miles to serve the members of his ward because he often does not have the 5 cents to ride in the little taxi’s that are both overcrowded and hot. Next time you see a nickel and think that it is not worth much - remember that it is a lot of money to Watson. He is a man of great faith and dedication to our Savior.

 

I pray that by your service to Watson and his family that you have felt the true meaning of Christmas - that of love for your fellow men. So often we get caught up In all the things that we want and we forget about others and their needs. I hope you have felt a warmth in your heart when you were doing things to raise money for him - a warmth that comes from serving others in need. I hope that all through your life you will remember that feeling and constantly seek for it again through service to others. I am sure that your Heavenly Father watched you with great joy in His heart and I pray that you remember the scripture that says that if you have done things unto others, it is the same as doing them for our Savior.

 

I remember a time many years ago when my Grandmother took me out to a home where the family was in great need, and I watched her provide the true love of Christ to this family. Throughout my life I have often been reminded of that experience and it has helped me to be more Christ-like to others. You are blessed with wonderful grandparents who love you so much. Like my Grandmother, they wanted you to have a spiritual experience that would impact you throughout your life. I have known them for many years and they are great examples to you of service to others and faithfulness in serving our Heavenly Father. George and I love them very much. In years to come, I hope you will all look back on this experience and be grateful not just for what you could do for Watson but grateful that experiences like this help you to put life in perspective and realize that it is not what you get, but rather what you give that brings true joy.  Merry Christmas to you all.

Love Diane