A Night Out!

Wednesday evening, August 6, 2009

We were scheduled to visit Steffani. She had surgery today so she was in bed and couldn’t receive visitors. We had a nice chat with her husband who is not a member on the doorstep. (He waved big and friendly to us early the next morning as he drove by us.)

We next saw a black grandma herding her 16-month-old granddaughter down the road. We smiled and waved. She came right over to us to talk. She read our nametags and said she was a Christian too and she could tell we were people of God because we had smiled and waved at her. (She said if you smile and wave to others you have love in you and that is from God).


She shared with us her love for Jesus and told us a little bit about her life. She is from Zimbabwe and lives with her daughter in Ohio. She asked us to pray with her. Her son is in Zimbabwe trying to get his Visa Papers signed so he can come to America to live and she wanted our prayers in his behalf. Scott offered the prayer right there in the parking lot next to our car. She was so happy afterwards. We gave her our card and invited her to church. She said she would let us know what happens to her son. Nice lady. We will watch for her in the complex.

Decided to try again for the 3 time and see Lisa. She is an inactive lifetime member that no one can get in to see. We knocked on her door about 7:20 pm and she opened up a crack. She said, “Thanks, but no thanks.” She said she was taking a vacation from church. We kept her talking and bit-by-bit she spilled out all the things that had offended her about ward members and the church.

She evidently had taught Gospel Principles for 3 years and had many other teaching assignments but she got her feelings hurt and she was tired of not fitting the Mormon mold by being “SINGLE.” She then said that every time she goes to church she hears the same thing. She stated very forcefully that she is a very intellectual woman and she needed to be simulated mentally.

I asked her if she was reading the Book of Mormon and she said honestly that she was not. I invited her to start at the beginning of the Book of Mormon and read it and to pray and ask God to teach her something new. I told her we would be back in two weeks with cookies and we would discuss what she had learned. I only asked her to provide the milk! She laughed said she would.


I asked her if I could give her a hug and she was so taken back she let me. All her prickles melted in that hug. I then asked if I could get my picture taken with her so I could say to my kids, “Here is my friend, Lisa, the writer.” She liked that and let Scott take our picture together. We plan on going back in two weeks with cookies. She definitely needs a friend.

We then drove out into the county to see the new investigator, David. We found his home with our trusty GPS. With out that sweet device we would be hosed! David wasn’t home but his wife, Diane was. We talked to her on the doorstep. She was quite friendly. She seemed surprised we came for a visit. Diane had followed David into baptism in their last church and she isn’t too happy about him looking for something different. Bless her heart. Change is hard for sure. We just need to befriend her.

David wants to be baptized right now. He keeps telling Scott, “It just makes sense!” He is fascinating to watch in class. He loves the participation, he loves the doctrine of prophets in these last days and he loves the fact that there are answers to all his questions.

Mission Office

What goes on in the Mission Office

August 2, 2009

Dear Family,

This past week we have been finishing up our “on the job training.” I have been busy making sure all incoming and out going missionaries have plane tickets, the president and his assistants have the flight itineraries, and everything is a go for Week One.

I have made lots of notes in the instruction binder and practiced with Elder Tingey. Yesterday we went through several scenarios of different things I would come up against and he said I did great. Monday I will be the official office secretary.

We run on a 6-week schedule and then repeat it over and over. The first week, Monday, we have new missionaries arriving from the MTC. The office staff gives them the dos and don’ts and they watch a driving video since our mission has cars due to such a large geographical area. The new missionaries have supper at the president’s home, which is the mission home, that evening and then the assistants deliver them to their new areas of assignments the next day. This is where the shuffle begins.

The old missionaries finishing up their missions come into the mission office on Tuesday. They go on splits and proselyte in town until 2:00 and then they go to the mission office for interviews with the president. They then go to the mission home to have supper and spend the night. The next day the assistants take them to the airport early and make sure they catch their flights home.

The number of incoming and out-going missionaries is rarely the same, so a lot of work goes into closing down some areas when there aren’t enough missionaries to go around or opening up areas when there is an increase of missionary power.

The financial secretary (Elder Parker) is in charge of housing and handling apartment rent, finding apartments, paying bills, and making sure the apartments are in safe areas, etc. What a huge job. He quietly does his work in the background and makes it come off without a hitch.

Elder Fox is the referral secretary. He pours over church on-line maps, finding out which area “incoming referrals” go to and then contacts the missionaries in that area. He gets a lot of calls from the MTC.

Your dad, Vehicle Coordinator, is kept very busy keeping the missionaries on a tight schedule on their car care—when to change their oil, training them to call him right away when accidents happen (which they do frequently because of the narrow winding roads and backing up), rotating tires, listening for funny noises (which he is an expert at), or any kind of car trouble. Plus he keeps meticulous records of vehicle expenditures. He has an audit coming up in November and everything has to be just so.

Every month the missionaries have to detail their cars, which includes a deep cleaning, wash and wax. This involves a lot of phone calls and buying of supplies for the missionaries to keep their cars looking good. One of the church’s goals is to train the missionaries to take very good care of their cars personally and to realize it is a privilege to drive a car. If missionaries are in a preventable accident they loose driving privileges for 6 months or maybe for the rest of their mission.

Last night Joseph B. Worthin’s son stopped by to pick up a pickup the mission had. He will be driving it back to Salt Lake for the Church. He is the materials manager for the church. He was telling your dad they have now started to put “little black boxes” in the cars of six other missions. The “black boxes” have GPS in them. The tracking is turned on all the time so it records where the missionaries are, what the speed limit is in that area, and how fast they are going. It has a G-force indicator, which records how hard they are making their turns, and their starting and stopping. If at any time they go over the speed limit by 20 mph their driving privileges are taken away for the rest of their mission. What a wake up call for sure!

This past week I went on splits with two different sister missionaries. We visited a dear little grandmother, Collen with a word of wisdom problem who is raising her 5-year-old grandson. This dear sister comes to church when she can get a ride. She also has an artificial leg and it is hard for her to get around. Her Book of Mormon is an older version—a big blue one with pictures in it. It is so worn out but very much loved. She says she reads from it when she has a desire to smoke and that helps greatly. We invited her to turn off the TV and play sacred hymns to help her remain focused. She said she would. The missionaries are going to get the ward 5 yr. primary teacher to go back with them to Collen’s home so the little grandson would get to know her and look forward to going to church on Sundays.

The other sister is not a member but her husband is a recent convert. After visiting with them for a little while I learned of her worries for her daughter with aspergers. I shared my testimony of how reading the Book of Mormon helps one find the peace in this life so our troubles don’t consume us and how turning our problems over to the Lord and waiting for him to put the puzzle pieces together helps greatly. She teared up and then gave me a big hug when we left. She said she would start up her reading of the Book of Mormon again. She is such a dear mother.

We have started going to the fitness center every morning at 6:00am and working out. When we walk down the road to and from the center in the morning the trees hang over the road and you feel you are on the island in Juristic Park. There are strange bird calls that sound like Rusty is out there! It is quite beautiful and calm at that time of morning. Things definitely change when we hit the freeway at 8:30. What a rush.

We are doing well and think of you often. When we see a cute baby we think of our beautiful grandkids. When we see young couples with children we thank the Lord for our hard working children at home. Thank you for loving each other and being strong in the gospel. You bring a great peace to your mom and dad just knowing you keep the commandments and are bringing your children up in righteousness. Thank you. A mom and dad couldn’t be prouder. We keep you in our prayers.

Have a great week. MOM and Dad

Week 2 in Ohio

July 29, 2009

Dear Family,

Last night we went back over to our investigator’s home for lesson # 2, the Plan of Salvation. They were waiting with the door open for us.

The spirit was very strong and the elders did an awesome job of explaining the plan and answering questions. The highlight of the evening was when Trisha realize for the first time that Heavenly Father had a body like ours and we were created in his image. That concept was totally new to her. Her and Eugene, her husband, both said that made total sense to them. That explains why it is so hard for them to pray. They weren’t sure what God looked like or what his personality was like. To know he was a loving parent and that we lived with him before earth life felt good to them.

The elders invited them last night to pray as a couple for a week and then report back.

Eugene, is a manager of a restaurant and he has to work every Sunday except one a month. Two weeks ago when he attended church he loved it. He said he learned so much in Gospel Essentials class. He defiantly wants to go back. He hates working Sundays. This Fast Sunday we are fasting for him so conditions can change at work and he will be able to attend church more.

The really neat thing last night was when the missionaries asked if they had any questions and Eugene wanted to know if you paid Tithing on your gross or net income. He blew the missionaries away. We are not even close to teaching that lesson yet.

He said he wants to pay tithing and that he is a planner and would like to know the exact amount so they can do some planning. Your dad explained Tithing was paid on your ‘increase” and that it was between him and the Lord. I then shared my testimony of the blessings that come from paying tithing and how paying it helps you manage your money better.

Trisha would like to know how to make meals stretch because they have 14 people living with them right now because extended family members are homeless and jobless.

Eugene is about 25 and so willing to support 3 families with his meager income plus he wants to pay tithing. What a Christ like individual. He just doesn’t know it.

His mother was initially against the missionaries coming. The first time we went she wouldn’t come anywhere near us. Last night she made excuses three different times to come into the house just to see and hear what we were saying. She was pleasant to us as we were leaving. Big change.

Eugene and Trisha will let the missionaries know when they would like to set the date for their baptism. Trisha likes to get hugs from me when we leave. She is so cute.
O, I didn’t tell you Trisha has one artificial leg from her hip down. She is 4’10 and about a size 2 with long brown hair. She wears pants to church because she doesn’t want anyone to notice her leg.

The first time we meet Eugene we asked him what he liked to do and he said he liked to shoot his 40 caliber. Your dad asked him,” A 40 caliber, what?” Then Eugene raised his t-shirt. Strapped to his waist was a semi-auto handgun. He whipped it out, jacked out the clip and the shells, and tried to hand it to the missionaries. They backed away and explained that they are not allowed to handle guns. It was a very funny Redneck moment. He even has a car out front, the hood of which is propped open with a fishing pole. Chaun would like that.

A cute story:
The sister missionaries backed into a decorative post with their car and put a fist size dent into their bumper. They were devastated. They took it to the repair shop close to the mission office. The bid was $480. 00 to remove, straighten, and paint the bumper. He gave them the option of heating the dent and popping it out and retouching it for $75. We opted to go the second route. The sisters took it in yesterday and he fixed it for free. We think the sisters charmed the repairman; they are so cute. They came into the office ecstatic. Your dad wrote the repairman a very nice thank you card.

We are doing well. We had another cloud burst today. Water was running across the roads on the way home. We send our love. MOM & DAD

An Ohio Miracle

July 24, 2009

Dear Family,

We had a very busy "first week" in the office. We went home tonight, skipped supper because we were so tired and laid down on the bed to rest. We were just dozing off when the phone rang and the elders wanted us to go with them to helped teach a sweet little family. We jumped right up, excited to go. It was a young couple and the husband's 17-year-old sister. The elders invited them to read the Book of Mormon and pray together each day as a couple and ask Heavenly Father to let them know the truthfulness of the BoM. They took the invitation. You could really feel the spirit.

The miracle that took place was all the children and extended family that kept coming into the room just to see what was going on but didn't want to stay. It was hard for the spirit to come until Scott asked if we could start with prayer. The dad said, "You bet." Then he asked Scott to give it. The whole time I was praying the extra people would just stay outside and that we could have some peace and quiet so the spirit could teach. My prayer was answered and the extended family brought chairs under the patio cover and sat and listened really quietly through the front door. No more children running in and out, no more interruptions. When we were leaving the extra friends and family were friendly compared to when we arrived. The Elders we were with were incredible and the spirit really taught.

The husband said he learned so much attending our church last Sunday for 3 hours vs. all the other "150" churches he has ever attended over the years rolled all together. At first they were not so sure they could sit through 3 hours but when they were leaving church they were amazed how quickly the time went. The husband said he liked us coming tonight because he felt good again just like when he left church. He liked that feeling. What a good young couple.

It will be interesting to see how their "Couple scripture reading and Couple Prayer" goes this weekend. They are scheduled to come to church this Sunday again. They are in our prayers.

Ohio is beautiful. I saw my first firefly on Tuesday night. The forest blinked on and off with a bright yellow glow. It was exciting. We also saw our first red cardinals. They are incredible--so pretty. The mission president's wife said baby ones fly down to her bird feeder everyday. She also has box turtles come into her yard from the forest. Every once in a while she has to help one get back through the fence because it gets stuck. How funny!

We are doing well. Thanks for the beautiful pictures of the cutest grandkids around and the fun emails. We love you all. Have a great week.

Love, Mom & Dad

Our new address:
Elder and Sister Earl
3975 Brandychase Way #29
Cincinnati, OH 45245

Sunday 19, 2009
Using our trusty GPS we found the ward building and attended our 1st meeting. It is the Cherry Grove ward. We were met in the foyer by 2 other senior missionary couples, 3 sister missionaries, and 4 elders. What a mob—it was great. One couple is serving in a historical site for the “Underground Railroad”. They are teaching decedents of slaves how to find their ancestors through genealogy. The response is incredible. Here is a link if you are interested.
http://www.freedomcenter.org/underground-railroad/

The other couple’s mission is “leadership” and they are called to serve in the ward.

Within 3 hours we felt at home in the ward and knew we had found some of the salt of the earth. Such good members. Their missionary work is a bit slow they said. It was as high as one a week a while back. WOW. . .

Someone asked us to describe our apartment and surrounding area: You come off a very fast “PIKE”—like a speed way— and then turn into a wooded area. The main office is a beautiful building immediately on the left with a small lake out front. They have a balcony hanging over the lake and you can feed the fish just like at Rocky’s cabin. The water is greenish color so you don’t see the fish coming up for food until they are right there with their mouths open. We have seen several families fishing. The catfish are very big and have 6 inch long whiskers, the carp are huge, and the blue gill are plentiful. Way fun to watch—woops got off on fishing. . . you drive through the trees and our apartment is on the left encased in trees. You can see the lake (dark blotch on the picture. Click on any picture to expand it).



This is the walk in closet/utility room. COOL huh?

Here is the entry. Our little patio is in the top left of the picture behind the foliage.

Here is the living room. The ceiling is slightly vaulted and has a skylight.

This is our combination kitchen, laundry room, & pantry. FUN!


Here is the Patio. Since we are on the 3rd floor, you can see the trees are pretty tall, maybe 50'+


Here is the Den. There is a window on the left wall.

WE LOVE YOU. Thanks for your support!!
.

MTC Day 9

We have been learning the computer software the Church uses in the mission offices. It is called MOS, or Mission Office System. It lets you manage the mission apartments, the missionary companionships, manage when the missionaries come and go, write checks, do electronic disbursements, manage the cars and track car maintenance, and much more. We are learning it in segments, but even so it is daunting since it is all brand new. We all are in a small room with 16 computers going and an overhead projector, so the room gets REALLY warm by the afternoon. The trainers are BYU students and are pretty good.

On Monday a new group of senior missionaries came to the MTC, about 80 total. This is more than twice as many as were in our group last week. They ran around like headless chickens, and us older and more mature senior missionaries were rather smug. (No we weren't, it was fun helping them figure out the cafeteria and where things are.) They are all excited and that’s GREAT.

Tonight we had a fireside with a 70, Elder Steuer, who is now the Ogden Temple president. It was good, and hearing the MTC choir again was really special.

Let’s see, what did I learn today about the spirit. Ah, two elders came to us as we were walking purposefully across campus to the fireside. (You can tell when the senior couples are walking purposefully. They barely make their normal shuffling sound and go almost 1/2 the speed of the Elders instead of the normal 1/4.) They did a street approach and talked us into letting them bring us a Book of Mormon, all of this in Spanish. It is true what they say, even though you don’t know the language, you still understand almost everything. WAY COOL! It is fun to hear snatches of conversation in different languages in the halls and cafeteria. When we say Hello, they answer in their new language. I tried answering in German, but they signed to me thinking I was deaf.

Doing GREAT, very excited, TWO MORE DAYS! YAHOO!
We Love you all!
Scott

MTC Day 7

SCOTT:
Many years ago, when I was about 10 years old, the music chairman in our ward, Mrs. Simmons, asked several of the more rowdy boys in our ward (hmm, who would that have been) to come to her house to practice a song. She was so sweet, it made me ill. We had to practice and practice. Although I was not especially good at singing, I had a good ear for music, and I can tell you it was BAD. It was torture, yet she pretended she was having a wonderful time. I am still today not so sure that she wasn’t. Then, horror of horrors, we had to sing this song in Sacrament Meeting.

Today in our fireside we got to sing it again. Here it is, from a 1909 children’s hymn book.

1. Kind friends, as here I stand to sing,
So very queer [strange] I feel,
That now I've made my bow, I fear
I don't look quite genteel;
But, never mind, for I'm a boy
That's always full of joy—
A rough and ready sort of chap—
An honest "Mormon" boy.

Chorus.
A "Mormon" boy, a "Mormon" boy,
I am a "Mormon" boy;
I might be envied by a king,
For I am a "Mormon" boy.

2. I'm proud to know that I was born
Among these mountains high,
Where I've been taught to love the truth,
And scorn to tell a lie;
Yet I'll confess that I am wild,
And often do annoy,
My dearest friends, but that's a fault
Of many a "Mormon" boy.

3. My father is a "Mormon" true,
And when I am a man,
I want to be like him, and do
Just all the good I can.
My faults I'll try to overcome,
And while I life enjoy,
With pride I'll lift my head, and say,
I am a "Mormon" boy.



APRIL:
Today for Sacrament we attended a Polynesian Branch of Elders and Sister. What a joy it was. Each Sunday the branch members are told what the topic will be for the next Sacrament Meeting and each is to to prepare a 5 minute talk just in case they are called upon to speak.

Well, two individuals were called out of the audience and gave it their best. It was remarkable because all this whole branch is learning how to speak English besides what ever language they will speak on their mission if they go on to a foreign country which most were. The sweet little sister from mainland China apologized for “speaking small.” WOW, what a testimony.

Then the musical number (Brightly beams Our Father’s Mercy) was sung and harmonized by 7 Polynesian Elders. It was incredible. The funny thing about this group of Elders is that we have noticed them, sat close to them at a lot of meals, and they came across as some pretty jovial characters. At Sacrament we saw their more spiritual side. Their mothers would have been proud of them.

A lot of our group of Senior Missionaries are departing today and tomorrow for their missions around the world. We have made some good friendship and wish them well.
The friendships we have made here are quickly made due to sharing spiritual experiences hourly. These friendships will last a lifetime not just a few years. We don’t talk about the weather that much!

The Havillands are headed off to the Philippines, the oldest couple, the Bassetts are in their 80s and headed to Costa Rica. This is their 4th mission. Our favorite couple is the Daniels from Malad. They are headed to Puerto Rico at the end of next week.

We have about 5 couples that are staying to learn to be Office Specialists with us. It should be a busy week.

Hope you all are happy. We appreciate you emails and prayers. Thanks a million.


.

MTC, Day 5

Today was very interesting in many ways. Probably the most interesting (interesting does not do justice, but I think using AMAZING over and over becomes redundant, so you should read into the word “interesting” a bigger more gooder word) thing was a chance meeting with the mock investigator from Day 2. He is a lawyer in the area named Don Savage. He was the first investigator we taught. It was in our room on Tuesday and he played a pretty straight part. No apparent emotion, very straight, no smiles, kinda intimidating. He did take our picture at the end of the session and gave us a card and told us he would email us the picture later. Today when we bumped into him he was a very different person. A pretty big smile, and a greeting of instant warmth and recognition. He said it was a privilege to get to be our very first investigator on our first real day of MTC training. He said that he was very touched with the spirit as we taught him, and, well, then he teared up and couldn’t talk any more. Wow.

Today we got to teach mock recent converts. It was Sam Durst and his mother. Sam is about 22 and in a wheelchair with pretty significant handicaps. He could talk but it was a great effort, with each word taking some time, but it was clear and showed he is a very sharp guy. He is on an MTC mission and comes several times a week to be taught, playing different roles. He asked to read a scripture with his mother’s help and did the sacrament prayer. Here is his picture. His mom is pretty special too! It was a real blessing to teach them.



Well, we are done with our proselyting training, next comes a ton of training for the mission office. It looks pretty DAUNTING!

We saw and heard the MTC Choir sing a song I had never heard before. It is quite a touching number. Here is the text. Pretty Special message.

I Marvel at the Miracle
text John V. Pearson
music: Janice Kapp Perry

I marvel at the miracle - Of God's great love for me.
I try but cannot comprehend, And ask how this could be.
For I had left behind my God - And lost my way through sin.
Still God loved me and sent His Son To lead me back to Him.

I wearied of my weaknesses - And trials filled my days.
I cried out, Lord, my burden's hard, Is there no other way?
He said, I give men weaknesses - And if they come to me
I give them strength to overcome, And I will make them free.

I pled with God to shed his grace - And take away my sin.
He did and, yet, I turned away - And stumbled once again.
At last I knelt before His throne - And offered Him my soul.
He wept, then gave it back to me - Renewed, and washed, and whole.

I wonder at the grace divine - And power to redeem;
That Christ alone could overcome - And change eternity.
My thanks cannot sufficient be. My praise is incomplete.
For all I pay, my debt remains, For God's great gift to me.

WE LOVE YOU ALL!

Day 4 at the MTC

Wow, today was filled with exciting stuff. This morning we visited a mock less-active couple and listened to their story. Then in the afternoon we tailored a lesson specific to their needs and presented it to them and committed them to doing loving acts of kindness to each other for a week. It was pretty special.

We heard an amazing presentation by Br. & Sis. Richard Burns. They have served several missions and really had a plan on how to be effective in your proselyting during evenings and weekends. It was pretty amazing how much they accomplished. They got printouts from the wards and branches where they were assigned and made forms to keep all their records on their computer. They traveled throughout their area working with inactives and part members families. They had some fantastic ideas.

They took pictures of most everyone they worked with and at the end of their assignment turned in to the branch president the printouts showing each inactive or part member family member with a little information about each person and how they had progressed. The branch president who when they first met him had said, “I don’t know what to do with you.” now said, “Oh my, I have never even met these people.”

Here are a few quotes.

“Wear out your cars, and wear out yourselves.”

“If you don’t leave their home with a prayer, how are you any different from anyone else?”

“Cars run on Gas. People run on recognition.”


Tonight President Pinegar, the new Manti Temple president, came with his wife. He must be over 80 years old, and was a FIREBALL! Wow, did he know lots of stuff! He had great success stories and helped us see how to get going. He came home from his last mission about 2 weeks ago and already has 4 investigators in his neighborhood. This in an area that is 90% LDS. He said “This area is Golden!”


Here we are in our classroom with our District and our trainer. The District leader is taking the picture, he is from Malad. He is very down-to-earth, just like normal Malad folks. We really like him.

Day 2 at the MTC

Today we saw a man publicly apologize to his wife for answering her question in a little too loud voice and offending the spirit. Wow! That’s humble!

We were asked to bear testimony to some young missionaries today. April picked 3 young sisters sitting together in the main lobby, all were going to Independence Missouri. April told them how she got the children up for school each day and read the scriptures in preparation for the day and bore testimony of how it changed their lives. “Soon our son was praying for his sister and she for him in dealing with their school trials.” They were visibly touched as she testified to this practice and they said they will be sure to implement the principle in their own families when the time comes.

We taught a middle aged dating couple the first lesson in our apartment this afternoon. The sister is a recent widow and the man is a lawyer in town. We were more nervous that I thought we would be (they played their investigator parts well) but we covered most of the topics ok and learned a LOT!

In the “Preach My Gospel” book we are covering in 4 days what the young missionaries cover in 3 weeks. They tell us that we can do it at this accelerated rate because we have lived it for 40 years and only need help in simplifying the message. It is tough to absorb that much simplification in 4 days!

Rusty asked about our Orientation. No, we did not see the film “Called to Serve.” All of our meetings together happen however in that same room where they do the orientation for the new young missionaries. There are 37 of us. We checked in and took baggage to our rooms. (We are on the third floor in a small but very nice room with a queen bed, small desk, closet & drawers, window!, bathroom w tub & toilet, separate cove w sink and mirror. It is cute and MUCH bigger than the Scamp trailer.)
Went to lunch, met w MTC presidency, got an overview, saw a video on health and shots and keeping well, Did some training in the manual, had dinner, and went to our room to unpack and studied a BUNCH before going to sleep since we had to teach investigators today.

Tonight we had a Devotional with Elder & Sister Angel Abrea, an emeritus 70, where all the missionaries (2200 of them) came. It was very good. Now we have to study, so see ya later!