Notes from Abroad

I have saved notes from all of our dear friends who are serving world wide missssions to put them together in a small collection. THe Lord works everywhere in our world and all at the same time to care for His children.
Bulgaria
Elder Wettsteins nephew, Elder Purvis, is the new zone leader in Burgas, Bulgaria and sent us the following the news brief :
KSL news ran the following. The Church of Jesus Christ LDS released this statement: "Contrary to erroneous media reports, two LDS missionaries serving in Burgas, Bulgaris, did nothing to disrupt the services of a local church and when asked to leave, did so immediately. The missionaries were invited by amember of the congregration. and had been in contact with their ZL, Elder Purvis. He said do not wear your tags and stay in the back of the church and watch. The orthodox church then called a news conference and announced that the Elders had done the following+ Interrupted the service to mark the Assscension of Jesus, were preaching, refused to leave, preached for half an hour, and were removed almost by force. The church has called for the removal of all LDS missionaries. Well Elder Purvis had the good sense to have his mission Pres. sent a note to his family stating all was well, but still the mess did get messer. This happened last week. The local church has asked that the entire LDS church and missionaries be expelled!! Mostly just bad press, but does show how anything can be twisted and turned into a potential problem. The media interviewed Elder Purvis and took photos and they were on three morning papers! He was quite surprised to see himself in the news the next day. The results have not been stated and the missionaries did have lay low for a few days. He will keep us posted of the fallout. He was emailing his family and they were on the internet at the same time and were able to chat about the mess and were assured of his safety. This is the latterdays, for sure folks While on Bulgaria let me tell another story from Elder Purvis's about their first mission president and how he was converted.
We are so blesses that Byrons sister, Cindy, forwards her sons weekly letters to us here in Fiji. [It still is such a joy to write Fiji and of course=Texas] And for all to know AUNT CINDY WRITES TO US EVERY WEEK AND IS REWARDED FOR HER WEEKLY EFFORT IN GOOD STUFF [ SULUS AND PEARLS.] PASS THIS ON OH YEA WANTERS OF GOOD STUFF=WRITEING =STUFF. Now if you are reading our blog just email me about what color of pearls you want and I will start looking. I have no real idea on prices but, tomorrow we are going to a lovo and are going to Singatoga for church. Sister Wells said to stop at a shop on sunday on the way home. She bought her pearls there and we can at least start looking and find out some prices. Sr. Wells is going to Savusavu for her earings=she wants lavender. The stores here have single silver and black but no other colors. Most go to the outer islands we are told, so we shall see.
Nigeria: We have friends, the Robinsons, in Aba Nigeria at the temple. There they start their days with the pounding of the yams as their clock. Yams? Their apt is above the patron housing and at 5:30 each day they have cooked huge yams and then start pounding them in huge bowls with huge wooden pestals. They eat mostly rice,fish [anything with a tail that swims] a starchy " ghari" ball wraped in a pumpkin leaf mixture. They have very strong teeth and attribute it to their custom of eatting chicken and fish BONES!!! Actually that is really a great source of natural calcium. Any takers????? Also the Nigeria men must pay a dowry for a wife, so few marry or at an older age [30++]. They are trying to stop this custom in the church, but then what will be their shame at a future date for this practice is unknown?? Also a faithful temple worker has now tested positive for HIV and a church decision must be made on health issues with all temple workers. ??? they just don't know. She had been deathly ill and had received a blood transfusion. The temple has received much need additional security camers and the missionaries in the temple must have armed guards at all time they are off the compound. The temple site has razor wire and is electrified for extra security. In Fiji we have only Sr. Seru's son with an old radio as security. He is the ward clerk who keeps the tything money on top of the Wells garage door each sunday night and then takes it to the bank monday morning after work. Note: Br. Staggs comments on the darndest ways to handle money is in Fiji. It is in a old blog piece. I found the rest of the Nigeris bride info. Here is the rest.The families of brides put great demands on grooms. The family of one bride demanded the following " the man must finish building their house and pay for it himself, another made financial demands that would extend for years into the marriage of the daughter!!!!!" Few marry. Like I said we love the Johnnie Lingo story, but in truth this is the direct result.
Bulgaria: I forgot to add this. Allen sent this about the first mission president of Bulgaria. Before when ulgaria was under communism [I hit something wrong,sorry] an opening was available in Nigeria for a doctor. Nine doctors wanted the job. So they put 8 slips of paper in a bowl that said no and 1 that said yes. The first time they drew the youngest doctor won. All agreed he was to young and drew again. He won again,all agreeded again he was to young. Again he won , and so it went for 7 tries and each he won. This was before you could speak of God ,so thy said it was his destiny. I cann't find his name [sorry] The younhg doc went to Nigeria and found the gospel and came home to begin the church in Bulgaria and became the first mission president.

Friends in Mexico Hales, Villahermosa, temple.
They were shopping at Wal Mart and found a young American couple just walking the isles and looking dirty, hungry and a bit tired and worn. Sr. Hale [starved for english speaking] asked about them. As the conversation turned the couple asked where the Hales were from and they replyed, Hunhtsvill.Utah . It ended up that their neighbor was the younger womens grandmother. The couple had started on a honeymoon with not enough money, quite enough faith, and had met other LDS members in WAL MARTS who had seen their condition and had helped them. So the Hales took them home. A bath in Srs. boat. Sr. Hale hates showers so ...aWALMART BLOW UP PLASTIC FLOATING BOAT... in their shower is her tub. Br. Hale has a plastic pail and he showers and bales out water , and bales out water , etc. Anyways they were clean, feed , took a nap, freshly washed clothes, and off they went to a temple session and then to the airport and home. They had enought good sense [remember the following phrase' God watches over fools, old ladies [men where necessary] and bishops and now silly newly weds.

I must leave for the temple and work, but will send all of our love from all over the world including the London temple, each says the same.............. The gospel is true, working in the temple is wonderful, and life is good.
Byron I need to looke for a blow up plastic boat-I need a tub bath, OK honey?? I'll keep you posted. Bula Vinaka Ya'll LOve MUM