Peace in Christ

We are approaching our 7th month in the mission, but who's counting?  I guess I am.  

I will have to say that my association with the children continues to be my favorite part of our mission.  Take yesterday, for example.  We were able to visit the Corozal Branch.  As I started to play the prelude music for the service these two boys came up and contently listened to the songs.  At the end of each song they gave their commentary on what they liked about the song.

During Sunday School class I shared with the little girl a picture book that my daughter, Lisa, made for me.  She was entertained the whole class time looking at the pictures of Jesus.  Here are four pages from the book.

Our Relief Society lesson was about the Sabbath day.  As I listened to the lesson, I thought of my own daughter, Janelle, teaching the same lesson in Idaho.  I appreciate that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is truly a world-wide church and that the lessons given in church each Sunday in Belize are the same lessons that are given in Idaho, or anywhere else in the world.

This short video has a great message about the Sabbath day.

On Saturday I was able to attend a Relief Society activity and learn how to cook a Garifuna dish made out of casava root.  It was fun to be with the sisters and learn more about their culture. They even tried to teach me some of their Creole phrases.   I don't know how successful they were.

The first picture is of the sisters peeling the casava root.  The last picture is the end product.  And the other pictures are of the process in-between.   The final dish tasted like a sweet, warm, nutmeg- flavored pudding.

We were able to attend the Young Women New Beginnings program on Sunday.  I enjoyed learning about the 2018 Young Men/Young Women theme:  Peace in Christ.  The scripture that goes along with the theme is found in Doctrine and Covenants 19:23:  “Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.” 

Elder Magnusson spoke to the young women. I requested a photo with my "twin". The top photo is of the young women singing the theme song.  You can listen to the song below.  I especially love the words to the chorus.

“Peace in Christ" 

(2018 Mutual Theme Song)

There is peace in Christ
When we learn of him
Feel the love He felt for us
When he bore our sins
Listen to his words
Let them come alive
If we know Him as he is
There is peace in Christ

Chorus:
He gives us hope
When hope is gone
He gives us strength
When we can't go on
He gives us shelter
In the storms of life
When there's no peace on earth
There is peace in Christ

There is peace in Christ
When we walk with him
Through the streets of Galilee
To Jerusalem
Mend the broken hearts
Dry the tear-filled eyes
When we live the way He lived
There is peace in Christ

As I've said before, we love serving with our hard-working missionaries.  Elder Hoskinson has been out on his mission one year and has a hole in his shoe that was guaranteed to last the two years.

I'm standing with Elder Richardson.  His hometown is the same place where my roommate from my freshman year at college (43 years ago) lives.  He knows her and her family.  I took the picture to send to my roommate, Charlayne.

At a birthday party with the missionaries.