Holy Week

 We're over most of the initial "wonder and amazement" phase of all our sudden changes and now we're fairly settled and comfortable with the new, though temporary reality that is Timor Leste. There have been a few difficult challenges this week for sure but also some real joys too.

The first joy was attending our "twig", hardly even a branch, for the first time. I may have mentioned before that 12 of the 26th members are 2 families that work for the American Embassy, (pictures of them next week). Another 7 members are the DeSilva family - 4 of them rode their scooter and a little public transportation mini-van called a  "microlet" to church and the other 3 got a ride with us..

Sis DeS, the RS Pres, and 2 of her 4 daughters

Brother Jimenez is a member from the Philippines and is the Elders Quorum Pres.

I'll introduce others to you as we become better acquainted with them. The locals are all so humble and lovable. When they shake your hand they touch your handshake to their bowed heads and then they touch their heart with their other hand. Why don't we greet each other this way?? Let's make! Relief Society was a combined women's meeting of 5 of us ladies, 12 and older, EQ also included 3 young men of the ward with the older men with a total of 8 and The Snows taught 2 children in Primary. The Branch President's family was out with sickness. I want you to imagine someday the church in Timor Leste being as large and countrywide-encompassing as the Philippines, and then you'll remember hearing about its very humble beginnings in 2024. 

 Knowing our time is limited here, for our Monday P-day, we chose to visit the most notable landmark in Dili, the large statue of Jesus Christ that you see from the airplane as you descend into the city. It's called the Christo Rei. It seemed so fitting and coincided so perfectly with our in-depth companionship  study of the Savior's last week of his mortal life, referred to as Holy Week, for any unfamiliar with the term. After a relatively short drive to the point of the bay inlet, we commenced a doable hike up the mountain, an ascension of many uneven, sometimes crumbling stairs.

           Let Us Ascend to the Hill of the Lord

All along the way were alcoves depicting the Stages of the Cross, a perfect reason to stop for a breather and contemplate all that had transpired in the Meridian of Time. These renderings had been etched or compressed somehow into metal "canvases" for lack of a better word. I took a picture at each place but will only share a few here: 

The residue of the wax candles actually added some realism to the scene.

How many drops of blood were shed for me?

This one also struck me with some stark realism as I looked at the bramble of thorny twigs on the tree above, looking much like a crown.

The Good News is that after the agony of the Cross, and the Atonement wrought in Gethsemane beforehand, Christ rose again, giving us all the universal gift of Resurrection

                   He is Risen! And so will we!

           Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World

We have felt the impact and influence of our Savior's love for us throughout our mission but especially this week as we've studied daily all that He accomplished and experienced for us. We listened to the "Lamb of God" all through the week and sang many hymns and watched many videos of His triumphal entry, His cleansing of the temple, His final teachings, His miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, the Last Supper, the betrayal of Judas, His suffering in the Garden for our sins, His unjust and ironic trial, His Via Dolorosa, and finally His hanging on the Cross followed by His burial in the tomb. We cannot wait for Resurrection Sunday! Tomorrow we rejoice! Alleluia!

We have felt, to an even greater degree, such profound indebtedness for His suffering, for the forgiveness He offers us for our sins, for the miracles He gives us. Rob sliced his thumb pretty good during meal prep last night, even into his nail bed, and yet it hardly bled. We can't explain it logically but a visit to a non-existent Insta-Care was not required. We are being protected on this mission despite our own foolhardiness, at times. Yes, we're experiencing our own small agonies; the daily mosquito bites, Rob's Achilles heel aches, and a few other woes and trials for both of us, but we're weathering them all with some divine help from our Lord. We kneel all amazed.

Sorrows last for a night but joy cometh in the morning

So what does He ask of us? Certainly we cannot repay him for the gift of our life and our personal resurrection. That would be impossible. He asks us merely to believe in him. He asks us to keep all His Father's commandments which is actually for our own good too. 

              He asks us to be his Lower Lights

...to guide others towards Him into safe harbors

                   ...to be fishers of men

...to expend some effort in gathering Israel on both sides of the veil

...to help redeem our dead, those who never had the chance to hear of Jesus Christ and the great plan of happiness in their lifetime, by doing family history and temple work

...to love our new neighbors

...and to be of good cheer!

"...For according to the great plan of the Eternal God, there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish, yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made."

Alma 34:9

Now the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also. 

Alma 42: 15