Happy Mother’s Day to all you special Mom’s out there. In Spain they celebrated "El dia de la Madre" last Sunday. In Relief Society the primary children came in and sang some songs about Mother and gave out flowers made of crepe paper to all the Mom’s. They were so sweet. I received some beautiful roses from Tom which I will enjoy all week.
Thanks for the many cards and emails I have received-I love you all, and consider myself the most fortunate person on the earth to be a Mother and a Nana.On last Monday we went with one of the Missionary couples (Aderson & Dolores Santos) to a Chinese buffet place to eat. They are a really fun couple from Sau Paulo, Brazil, you are always laughing when you are with them. Brother Santos's speech is about 70% Portuguese and 30% Spanish and it is difficult to understand what he is saying outside of church related topics.
Chinese restaurants are all over in Spain. We just wish that they also had Mexican restaurants, they have a few but not like we are used to!Our home evening was with all the Temple Missionaries and the Picard’s, the couple from France gave it. They are from France but he is Iranian and she is Armenian. They are both so sweet and they both can speak English so we can communicate, which is great. They told of their growing up and how they met and how they joined the church. Iran was once a country of religious freedom and later became an Islamic Nation. During the revolution many Russians came to Iran (Armenians and other Jews). Brother Picard said that when he was growing up he would go listen outside of a church which sang songs in Gregorian, which had a very beautiful sound. He loved the songs and said they gave him goose bumps. This began his conversion to Christianity. He went to Tehran for college. While there he met Juliette. They fell in love but because Armenians didn’t intermix, it was ten years before they got permission to marry. The one stipulation was that they had to go somewhere else to get married and live. This was the wishes of their Fathers-they had respect for all good things, but still did not want to go against custom. Seven years later the Missionaries knocked on their door and began to teach them. They were so happy to have two young men who were faithful and who loved them. They read the Book of Mormon and prayed and fasted to see if it was true. Brother Picard couldn’t believe the Joseph Smith story. Many years later he read about Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and other Prophets, and he knew that they were Prophets. When the Missionaries said it was time for them to get baptized Juliette was not ready. She felt that the church that she had been going to was just as true as our church, so why change. Brother Picard was baptized June 24th 1976. While he was in the baptismal font his wife stood three different times and said “I want to be baptized now.” She said it felt as though someone was lifting her up each time and of course that was the spirit. They did everything to make it possible for her to get baptized and she too was baptized on that day. It had been years since they had baptized a family in France, so everyone was so thrilled. They said the gospel totally changed their lives. They have had three children and all of them are active. Two of them went on Missions and all three were married in the Temple. They are a great inspiration to us and truly genuine people. They also provided a handout on a religion that I had never heard of “Zoroastrianism.” “It is the oldest (3,500 years ago) of the revealed world-religions, and it has probably had more influence on mankind, directly and indirectly, than any other single faith” Mary Boyce (British scholar of Iranian Languages). As one reads about their beliefs there is a great similarity between this and the LDS faith. They asked Tom to give the opening prayer. Then they asked me to give the closing, which totally took me by surprise! I stumbled through it and everyone clapped for me when I finished. That’s a first!
We had dinner at the Picard’s today and it was great and way to filling!
First we had a plate with hors’doeuvres. We then had the main dish which was pork chops and rice with pineapple. We had bread with each serving as well. Then we had cheese and crackers and a green salad next. We then had dessert; heaven knows where we put it all! They are such delightful people! Sister Picard told us that she didn’t really want to come, but her Bishop her husband and children encouraged her. Now she is very glad that they are here. They leave in June to travel to Kansas to be with their daughter when she has her baby, but will come back in September to the Temple.
We have been so happy serving here as well. So many people from different places all enjoying service together in the Lord’s house. We love you all in more ways than you can even imagine. Once again all of you wonderful Mom’s have a great day and know that we are thinking about you. I was just thinking about the Missionaries in the MTC here who are all so excited to talk to their families today. I remember that being the highlight of my Mother’s Day when you boys were on your Missions.
Much love to all of you, Mom & Dad / Nana & Papa / Elder y Hermana Shaw
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