Alejandro Vicente Rivera - Faith and Trials

[20 Sept 2017]

The most impactful event of the last few weeks was the premature passing of one of the newest members of Rama America - Alejandro Vicente Rivera.

We met Alejandro and his family shortly after they were baptized in Rama America, back in May. 

Sometime around March, Alejandro and his wife, Marina, had realized that they needed to make some changes in their lives. Alejandro, 37 years old, was a miner, which is a good job here, but very dangerous. Before joining the church, he drank with his fellow miners, chewed coca, played futbol on Sundays, etc. Miners have a set of very indigenous beliefs in Pachamama (Mother Earth, basically), meant to protect them in the mine, and have very little use for some nebulous God. They have a strong brotherhood with other miners, and strong cultural pulls to share their spare time with their miner brothers.

As they talked they decided they wanted to find a church to go to. They truly wanted to change. They knew some members who were their friends, knew that they didn't drink coffee or alcohol, and knew that they were happy. So they contacted their friends, and they passed the reference on to the missionaries.

They next day, the missionaries knocked on their door, and the Vicentes were so excited to see them. In the first lesson, they expressed to the missionaries how they wanted to change. They had actually been waiting for a while - Alejandro had wanted to go knock on the missionaries door.

Upon hearing the gospel and joining the church, they left their old life behind. Alejandro studied and learned, and accepted assignments with joy. He was ordained a Priest, and helped with the administration of the Sacrament each Sunday when he didn't have to work. He bore his testimony every chance he got - sweet, and powerful. He and his wife, Marina, attended our temple preparation classes, with a goal of going to the temple and being sealed as a family next May. They had a Family Home Evening at their home for the entire branch a couple of weeks ago, and Alejandro stood by his younger brother's side while he taught a well-prepared lesson. His brother, Cristian, was baptized in August, and Alejandro ordained him a priest a week ago. He was planning to be alongside Cristian as he learned how to administer the Sacrament this last Sunday.

We had had his wife and children over for a Family Home Evening at our apartment a couple of months ago. Alejandro couldn't be there, but we had such a sweet experience with his wife and family.

His assignment last Sunday, was to speak in Sacrament Meeting about Faith. Molly and I weren't able to be in Rama America, but those who were told us how strong his testimony was. One member told me that he had chickened out on his first speaking assignment three times after being baptized, and was so very impressed by Alejandro. You could see and feel the light and joy that had entered the lives of this sweet family - Alejandro and Marina, and their four children - Alexander (11), Danitza (9), Maritza (6), and Jhael (4).

On Thursday of last week (Sept 14), we were walking downtown when we met President Huarachi, the president of the branch. He was carrying a boquet of flowers with a card of condolences. When he told us it was for Alejandro, who had been killed in a mine accident that morning, our hearts broke. So many thoughts went through our hearts and heads.

We went to the "funeral parlor" where his velorio was being held. It was full of miners and their families, Alejandro's family, and Marina's family. It was an interesting experience. At one point, all the miners came to the front and surrounded his casket. They sang a song, and then each of them placed the wad of chewed coca in their mouths into a bag at the foot of his coffin. This is part of the Pachamama belief and ritual.

President Huarachi gathered the members of the branch who were there around the casket a little later, and we had a little service - an opening prayer, some songs, a few words by him, and a closing prayer. I'm sure not many really heard us in the bustle of the large crowd, but Marina later said that she had felt a sense of peace while we were there.

On Friday, Molly and I went over to the chapel to make sure things were ready. We were told that the miners had stayed with Alejandro through the night. That morning they had accompanied his body to the Taxi Drivers Union Hall (?), and had some sort of service there. He was a taxi driver before getting the job at the mine.

At about 3 or so, we heard the band accompanying his procession outside the church, and within minutes, the chapel was filled with family, branch members, and miners. We had a wonderful service, with a couple of members giving sweet testimonies. Then, Hna. Vicente asked President Huarachi if she could speak. It was a powerful testimony. She told us that she had felt peace and love, that she felt like Alejandro was with her throughout the night, and that she knew that the gospel was true. It would surprise me if there weren't a number of family and friends touched by the Holy Ghost that afternoon.

After our service, we accompanied the hearse, on foot, first to the Vicente's home for some last culturally important event, then to the cemetery, some three miles up the highway. At the cemetery, the miners took the casket into a little shelter, and from what we could tell, railed on God, life, and anything else that came to their minds in their fear and grief. What a different feeling from just moments earlier in the chapel. At dusk, they finally brought the casket out and prepared to place it in the crypt. President Huarachi, in the midst of a very large group of people, very few of which understood the magnificence of what he was about to do, asked for a moment of silence, and then proceeded to dedicate the grave by the power and authority of the priesthood. I was so proud of his faith and courage.

The funeral procession on foot, through town. We
were about halfway back in the whole procession.
You can vaguely see the raised hatchback of the car
being used as a hearse in the distance.

Others might be tempted to curse God, as Job's friends encouraged him to do, and as Alejandro's miner friends did, but not Marina, and not his family. In a very short period of time, this young father had demonstrated his faith, his trust, and his obedience. Marina knows that raising her children without their father will be hard. But she has faith as well, and strength, and testimony. And the love and support of this sweet branch here in Tupiza and all the members.

We can learn from these experiences, these trials, and recognize that God's plan will bring us joy throughout the eternities if we have faith. I look forward to someday being able to see the joyous reunion between Alejandro and Marina and their children. We will do everything we can to help them reach their goal of being sealed in the temple.

We Love Being Missionaries

[19 Sept 2017]

We've been very busy these last three weeks. We've had visits to members' homes, helping them with their Family History work and updating their records. We've listened and encouraged a couple of families having problems to be patient, listen, love first, and work to understand God's plan for us and all his children. Piano lessons are becoming a bit more successful with two members - Claudia from Rama Tupiza and Gelvin from Rama America. Both are very motivated. We've had lunch with the missionaries at a member's home, dinner with the missionaries here at our apartment, and get to help the sisters with lunch each day this week. We've been to baptisms, a birthday party, a funeral, spoke in church in Quiriza again - what a fun trip - and continue to be able to wash our clothes in a real washing machine due to the generosity of a lovely sister here in Rama America.

Megan Cuiza at her birthday party. She was baptized

earlier in the day. She is one of Molly's dearest friends.

 So, on to the details.

[Molly]
It's always enjoyable going to Quiriza. The scenery is spectacular (looks like southern Utah, especially Capitol Reef Nationl Monument) and the people are wonderful. They always appreciate us coming. This particular trip was a bit of an adventure. We were about half way to Quiriza on a windy, narrow, dirt road when we saw some rocks strategically placed in the middle of the road warning us not to go any further. Our taxi driver got out and looked up the road a ways. He didn't see any problem so he moved the rocks and we continued on the road. It wasn't long before we found the reason for the roadblock. A piece of the mountain had fallen onto the road making it impossible to pass. We were able to find a spot to turn around and headed off into the river bed. We had to cross the river twice, luckily it wasn't very deep. There was one place that had some deep sludgy mud that would have been easy to get stuck in, so our driver got out and scouted around and found us a better route through some tall weeds. It was fun and we made it to church with time to spare. We took a different route home. We had to cross the river again. We went through some little villages with cute names like Chacopampa, Espicaya, and Pilquiza. It was beautiful and we enjoyed the scenery from a different perspective.  

Rocks blocking the road to Quiriza - no way around due to the cliff.

Off-roading through the riverbed.

The Quiriza branch.

Diogenes and Isabel Martinez - two of the first members in 

Quiriza, along with a great-granddaughter.

Miguel Martinez, son of Diogenes and Isabel, with three of his children.
The son in the middle is getting baptized this week, and wants to
be baptized in the river like his dad and grandpa.

Two cute sisters after our meetings, eating the sandwiches
provided by the sisters of the Relief Society.

The attendance in the Quiriza Branch was even more sparse than usual. A lot of the men were out hunting wild oxen (kind of like our deer hunt, I guess). There were 5 sisters in Relief Society, counting me. I enjoyed participating with them and hearing their comments and testimonies. The Relief Society President is a good teacher and inspires a lot of sharing. Charlie got to give a talk in Sacrament Meeting, and it turned out completely different from what he had prepared.

After the meetings, a sister brought us all something akin to a hot dog. Some of the members walk a couple or more hours to get to church, so the sisters in the branch often provide a light meal.

We got home in plenty of time to put the chicken lasagna in the oven for our dinner with the missionaries. Elder Fiero, who has been our District Leader is going home this week and since we haven't had this group of missionaries over before, we thought it would be nice to invite all 8 of them for dinner. It's always fun to spend time with them. They are like our children. I gifted him with a song that is always sung when missionaries go home, "Placentero Nos Es Trabajar", played by me on the zampoña (a simple wooden Bolivian instrument.)

[Charles]
Today, we spent some time with Hno. and Hna. Mamani. He is the Elder's Quorum President, and is doing a great job in organizing Home Teaching, and encouraging the brethren to be involved. She has a great desire to do her family history, so we went over and helped enter her grandparents and an uncle in FamilySearch. She has some dates to verify, so she is going to take us to the local government offices and show us how you find death dates, birth and baptism dates, etc. As we were talking about death dates, I told Hno. Mamani that we needed to find dates for about eight people that I had been told were dead. He told us that he had lunch yesterday with one of them, so that crossed him off our list (we want to meet this fellow!), and told us that he had known the other seven, and that they really had passed away. So, that will help quite a bit.

We spent this evening with Hna. Vicente and her family and brother-in-law. Her husband was killed last week (see the next post) in a mine accident. Since Elder Fiero is leaving tomorrow, she wanted to share dinner with all of the missionaries here in Tupiza. She is working towards taking her family to the temple next summer (they were baptized in May), getting Alejandro's work done, and being sealed as a family. She is an amazing member. 

Hna. Vicente with two of her children
(and two of the missionaries).
The caption on the picture of the temple is "Our Goal".

We love being here. Some days, we try to just be in the background, encouraging, listening, and enjoying it all. Other days, we are in the middle of things, speaking in church, teaching, feeding missionaries, and enjoying it all. Either way, we feel like this is where we need to be. We are learning while we teach, being loved while we love, and appreciating more each day the beauty of the gospel plan in the lives of all of God's children. Especially these humble, wonderful people in Tupiza.

Flowers blooming at Plaza Leon. Spring is coming.

Missionary Experiences

[1 Sep 2017]
Sorry for the lack of pictures. We’ve been having some real missionary experiences these past two weeks and haven’t bothered to document anything with the camera.

Here in Rama America, there are even fewer Melchezidek Priesthood holders than in the Tupiza branch, so the Branch Presidency consists of President Huarachi, and one counselor. They don’t have a branch clerk, so I have become the defacto clerk, which is perfectly fine with me. As a result, though, since President Huarachi has been doing all the membership stuff himself, he is very interested in how I look at things. Each week, I have an opportunity to show him the errors I’m finding, and what needs to be done to correct them. That results in needing to meet with members and reviewing their records. So, he’s been accompanying us (it makes it so much easier to get in to visit when someone known, and loved, in his case, comes to the door) to visit inactive families.

One of the families, the Venturas, were baptized 15-20 years ago, and had been very active. Some things happened, though, and their feelings were hurt. We’ve heard comments from others about some of the things that happened, and there were three or four strong families that left at that time. It had to do with gossip – we don’t know any facts, nor who all was involved, but there are some real lessons to be learned about how we treat each other, and how fragile some testimonies are. We really need to love, be patient, realize how imperfect we are ourselves, and what the purpose of the gospel and Christ’s Atonement really are.

Anyway, we went to visit them on a Tuesday in their typically humble Bolivian home. The father and two older sons (23 and 21) were working outside, and didn’t come in to visit with us, but the mother, Flora, and her three youngest children did. These three were born since they became inactive, and thus aren’t baptized. It was a sweet visit, but in telling us about her family, Flora was very emotional. We learned that they had two other sons who were killed in a mine accident some three years ago. One was about 17 at the time, the other about 24. It felt like a prime opportunity to remind her of the promises of the Temple, and that her sons weren’t really gone. We made an appointment to come back on Thursday.

After we got home, I looked up her sons’ names in FamilySearch, and found them easily. They were both there, but some of their information (death dates and places, for instance) weren’t complete. So, I figured that showing them this might be helpful.

When we went back on Thursday, the father, Humberto, came in to visit with us. As we talked, we realized that they had been very active for a time, and had not forgotten the principles of the gospel, nor of the temple. I fired up FamilySearch on my laptop, and with the help of their 12-year old daughter, we built them an account, and started their family tree. When we connected their sons, and corrected their information, the green icon lit up, meaning their temple work could be requested. So, we talked about what steps they would need to take as a family to get their three children baptized, to prepare for the temple, and to go and do the work for their sons and themselves, and to be sealed as a family. There was such a sweet feeling there, everyone was fully engaged. The mother, Flora, even said that she felt that the heavens had opened up again when we came, and especially mentioned Molly. It’s so easy for Mom to make loving connections with these people.

So, last night, we took the sister missionaries with us to visit them again. The father and two older sons were working away from Tupiza, but their daughter-in-law, Talia, was there and joined us. It was so sweet seeing the sister missionaries get to know the family and begin to teach them. The mother told us that she and her husband had spoken, and were committed to getting active again, and Talia even told us that she had talked to them and wanted to know more. The sisters are going to proceed from here, and when they feel like we are needed, we’ll continue to accompany them.

We went to visit another inactive family early in the week as well, from the Tupiza branch. The father is a son of one of the pioneers here – one of the first to be baptized in the area, but he apparently never really was active. His wife comes sometimes, but not often. As we visited with her, she told us about a daughter who had gotten sick and died at age 20. Again, we checked FamilySearch, and found that her temple work had already been done by other family members. Hopefully, knowing that will help bring peace to her, and encourage her and her family to work to be active again. We introduced the Elders in the branch to their family, and we’ll work together with them.

And, last Sunday night, we had a branch “Noche de Hogar” at the house of a recent convert family – the Vicente’s, in Rama America. They have only been members for two months, but they are fully involved with the branch. The mother cooked sopapillas – big scones – for everyone, and made a big pot of api, a drink made from purple corn, cinnamon, etc. Hno. Vicente’s younger brother, who was just baptized two weeks ago, gave a lesson on the Sabbath day, and did a very good job. Afterwards, we all played a game that the Elders taught, and had a very nice evening with all the members who came.

On Monday, we took our clothes over to Hna. Ibañez’s to wash in her washing machine, and had a nice visit with her. She offered to take us to find an inactive member family that she knows.
We continue trying to teach piano lessons, and we find a new person every once in a while, who wants to learn. Their schedules can be busy, so we end up waiting sometimes, but it still is a nice interaction when they come to learn.

So, we’re getting busier, and it feels so good to be here with these sweet people. Whether we are impacting their lives in any significant way, or not, we know that they are impacting ours. We feel such love for them, and want to help in every way possible for them to receive the richest blessings Heavenly Father has in store for them.

We also took a quick trip to Potosí this week for a Mission Conference. We really love President Montoya and his wife. He was an institute teacher for some time, and really has a beautiful way to teach gospel principles. Some of what we learned feel more appropriate in our private blog. So, if you are interested in reading them (the “small plates”?), you can go to our private version, “Ramblings From the ’Rents” blog (that's https://mollyandchuck.blogspot.com). It requires us to give permission, and is protected from internet searches, etc. So, if you try to get there and it stops you, let us know and we’ll fix it as quick as we can.

On a side note, the temperature has shot up, suddenly, so we’ve gone from needing the heater to needing a fan in over just two days. We still haven’t had any rain since April, but the forecast shows a 25% chance of rain on Tuesday. We’ll see.