Working with Elders

October 16, 2010

Dear family,

This morning dad and I got up early and took a drive along the river to see the fall colors. They were truly beautiful—vibrant reds on the sugar maples and brilliant yellows on—“unmaple” trees! Ha Ha!  We worked our way around a long loop and ended up at the local store for groceries. Autumn is one of my favorite seasons and getting outdoors and seeing Heavenly Father’s handy work lifts the spirits.

This week I’ve been busy organizing the mission files according to events and color-coding them. The next secretary should be able to find the corresponding color folders and have everything she will need to build folders or find instructions to stay on schedule. It has been a work of love in progress for sure.  Each month I have been refining it.

I have been taking opportunities lately to really listen to the elders that come into the office to work. It has been a real joy to teach them that what they are doing, whether repetitious or mundane, is very important in the Lord’s hands. We just have to be consistent and have faith that all will work itself out in the grand scheme of things. One elder has been putting the “We Believe Cards” (Like the ones I sent you) into bundles and rubber banding them together.

We ordered 60,000 cards so you can imagine how many bundles that will make. I asked him if putting together the cards was the hardest thing he had ever done. He said, “No, stacking hay was!”  Well, that led to the topic of a job well done and that led to equating bundles of cards to acres of hay cleared off the land and stacked safely in a barn for winter. I told him if only one righteous family joined the church because of all those cards and all their posterity stayed active to build the Kingdom of God, then what he was doing was the most important service he could do. He just needed faith that Heavenly Father would get those cards into the right hands. You should have seen the light go on in his face. He thanked me and went back to work. As he was leaving the office for the day he said, “I did about 3 more acres of cards, Sister Earl.” What a good young man!

A few weeks ago I sent out welcome packets to several incoming missionaries. I must have gotten distracted because I accidently switched welcome letters with 3 elders. Long story short, when I found out I called to make my apologies and straighten out my mistake. One sweet mom said it had been a blessing in disguise. Her son who was extremely shy got on Facebook and found the elder whose letter he had received. They became friends. Now her son is looking forward to the MTC because he will have a friend waiting there for him. Heavenly Father is so wonderful how he can turn a mistake on my part into a blessing for someone else!

Dad is feeling much better and his busy week doing car inspections went well. Three days worth with three different zones each day with lots of traveling between Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati. Dad was shot the last night when he dragged in but that was the same day all 33 Chilean Miners made it to the surface so we figured no matter what kind of a day we had it was one of the best days ever in history! Hurray for Chile! Thank you, Heavenly Father for answering all those prayers!

Have a great week and know we love you all. Our prayers go out to Brooklyn and her doctors on Tuesday. We love you all.

Mom and Dad

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A Fast & Testimony Meeting

The new ward has decided they sorta like us, or rather, they have taken to Mom. She wins hearts when she tells stories from her life, and now that they know her a little, the story she told today in Fast and Testimony meeting really turned the tide. Everyone was hugging her and telling me off to the side what a wonderful woman she is and how much they loved her testimony. It is odd that she had not planned to get up, and suddenly she was on her feet and headed up front. She was quite surprised and didn't know what to say, so out came a short story about how scripture study had given her an answer to prayer several years ago.

So, that's the first part of the story. Then in Priesthood a man told us what it did to his wife. His wife is a non-member but she attends with him occasionally, and he is always afraid someone will push her too hard. Background; he and his wife invited the Elders to dinner a couple months ago and the wife was so impressed with one of the elders who just talked to her and didn't push and she felt he was so sincere. Then this week they invited two different elders to dinner, and he wondered and worried what they would say to her after dinner. Turns out that she is Catholic and that one elder is a convert of two years and was Catholic. They spoke of his conversion and about how she can gain a testimony of the church through reading the Book of Mormon. He invited her in a non-threatening way to find out for herself by studying and praying about the Book of Mormon, and told her that answers to prayer come through reading the Book of Mormon after praying with real intent. So, a couple days later she comes to church with him, and Sister Earl tells a story of a problem she faced, how she prayed with real intent to find the answer of how to proceed, and then went to her scriptures, and there was the answer in the Book of Mormon. It was in the story of the Prophet Helaman and the 2000 Stripling Warriors. The good brother says he can see that "it is going to happen this time." Today after Sacrament Meeting the woman said to her husband, "In the Catholic Church there is just the clergy. No one else says or does anything. You people are So Involved!"

Yes we are. We are ALL enlisted, aren't we? We are INVOLVED. The church is not a Sunday Thing, it is a Life Thing. It changes who we are, and helps us to Become. Putcher Shoulder to the Wheel and all that.

The lesson in Priesthood today was on Repentance, and ended with the thought that we can tell when we have truly repented because our hearts are Turned. Our will has changed, we have given our will, or rather offered it to our Father in Heaven. Our will is swallowed up in the will of the Father. We don't actually loose our will, it stays strong, we just align it with that of the Father.

I see that many of my mistakes in life still cause me much pain. I guess we still remember them so that we won't forget to avoid the pain that will come if we fall back into old habits. Harder for me than the pain of my past mistakes is the thought that many who I have hurt may still hold onto that hurt rather than let it go to Him who asks us to lay those burdens at His feet. I hope they can do that some day.

Love,

Pa

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A walk in the Emily Traphagen Preserve

Emily Traphagen Preserve

The fall colors are turning things, but they all turn at different times so you don't see all the changes at once. For example, you can see all the leaves on the ground in the pictures, but few of the leaves on the trees have turned. The Oak trees have dropped their acorns. They are really neat!

This fungus is very large, over 6" wide, and grows at various places all along the log.

Here is the underside of a BIG one. The feel and odor is quite amazing. Smells just like fresh mushrooms in the store

Big Funnel web, didn't see the spider!

Vines that are sometimes 4-5" diameter! Still have not figured out if they go up the tree, drop back to the ground, and re-root themselves?

This goose at our housing complex thinks he is a Rooster!

Sugar Maples indeed are FANTASTIC. This one is right out our front door so we watch it change every day. Click the picture for a bigger view.

Here is a big fungus.

Check out the square nuts, both of them!

Snackies for Conference

Conference is coming tomorrow. You gotta have something to nibble on between the talks, right? So, here is how you make Cinnamon Rolls a super easy way. Rhodes bread dinner rolls, defrosted, flattened, some margarine, brown sugar with cinnamon, raisins and chocolate chips, well watch the video, you'll figure it out. Bake for 10 minutes at 350F.

Y U M ! ! !

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Some Fun

A Moment of Clarity

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HE prepares "every needful thing"

Dear Ones,

This last couple of weeks has flown by with the speed of light. Scott has been very busy building bicycles, repairing flats, installing new brake cables, and tweaking adjustments to make the used bikes we rent to missionaries useable. 

Monday we were busy in the office. In the evening we attended a FHE with wonderful grandma and grandpa Senior Missionaries. Then Tuesday night we went to the storage unit to help some friends finish fixing the last of the bicycles and load them in the mission trailer. We got home at 11:00 and went to sleep.

Wednesday evening we had 17 smiling new missionaries enter into the service of the Lord. Some faces were showing signs of shock but all were very tired by the end of a busy day of travel and instructions. Bless their hearts! We had several dozing off during the evening training sessions. 

Sister Jensen always prepares a wonderful supper for new arrivals and the office staff is blessed to eat with them their first evening in the mission field. While President interviewed each missionary separately, Sister Jensen instructed them on how to stay healthy and the office staff did the dishes. The missionaries were instructed on car care and safety by your dad and Etiquette by Sister Duff. We then serve them brownies and ice cream to wake them up and send them off to bed. I like that part!

Now the work began: President and the assistants met and through prayer and inspiration they decided who was paired up with which new trainers. President and the assistants went to bed around 2:00 a.m.

Thursday morning we arrived early at a chapel next to the Columbus Temple for transfers.  Thank goodness for scout training. Since we arrived early we had enough time to vacuum, put up chairs, and set up the rooms so the spirit could be in our meetings. We changed out 42 companionships and placed our new arrivals with their new trainers. After our meeting the parking lot was packed with missionaries loading luggage in and bikes on member’s cars.  We loaded up departing missionaries’ bikes into the mission trailer and we were off to the office.

All 15 departing missionaries had a small lunch at the church with President and Sister Jensen and then they all walked across the street to the temple and attended a session before they spend the night at the President’s home where they had their final interview.

Thursday morning the departing missionaries flew home and in the afternoon we had a huge storm system move across with tornadoes touching down here and there. The sirens went off most of the afternoon and the wind really blew. What a fitting welcome to all the new missionaries. The next day was sunny and beautiful. The storm reminded me of life: you have some rough times, you live through them some how, and then the sun comes out.

Friday is now pretty blurry. I just know there was lots of paper work, phone calls, sorting of mail, and unloading and cataloging of bikes. One very wonderful thing did happen and I will always be grateful to my incredible companion. He built me several “merge files” for all my letters I send out.  Now I just select whom I want to send my different letters to and the computer generates all the info into the body of the letter and I only have to add a little information to the letters and it is done for me. YAHOO!!  I cranked out 17 letters in a fraction of the time!  What a blessing to be married to such a sweet man.

In the middle of all this coming and going we have met several nice people in the medical profession and had some great conversations about the church. There are some really wonderful people out here. One doctor knew of and had good things to say about our church because of another Sr. Couple he had treated. You just never know the impression you leave on someone!

In Sunday school we were talking about the Lord “preparing” things. He “prepared” the great fish for Jonah, He “prepared” the way for Nephi and his brothers to go back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates, and the list goes on and on. This last week He prepared the right people to be in the right places for us when we needed them. What a wonderful loving Father we have.

We love you all and keep you in our prayers.  Stay strong and keep loving each other.                               MOM

PS.  Grandpa emailed me and said Tess Peck was now at Lincoln Court due to health problems. I called her and we had a great chat. If you get a few extra minutes please stop by and visit her also. Our sweet grandma Tess is one of those special people who make a lasting impression for good on so many lives. She sends her love to all of you.

PPS.  I finally remember what I wanted to tell you:  President Jensen has asked all companionships to take turns praying out loud for each other’s needs and express your gratitude for them. Well, miracles have been happening. Last month we had 41 baptisms in our mission. Two weeks ago we had 15 baptisms in one week.

While reading in 3 Nephi 17:17  “...no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him (Christ) pray for us unto the Father.” Tears came as I realized the joy the people must have felt to see and hear Christ pray for them, and then I remembered the sweet joy I felt when your dad prayed vocally for me and my concerns.

Don’t let a single day go by with out praying vocally for one another and expressing your love and gratitude for each other.  I promise miracles will happen in your lives too!

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A Story and a Walk in the Woodenism

So, the Roush family story has been so interesting. We love those two so very much, it has been a real tear at our heartstrings to watch them waver up and down after they moved to Kentucky. They stopped going to church for a while. We wrote emails to them and to their Bishop and the Bishop got strongly involved and assigned his best people to them. These good members tried to drop in any time they could. This caused the next problem, Sister Roush’s artificial leg doesn’t fit well because she is pregnant, so she kept it off while at home, and she can’t just invite people in without notice, so she wouldn’t answer the door. The visitors knew she was home so they got the wrong idea, and one thing led to another. Anyway, they didn’t go to church for quite a while. Then Sister Earl called Br. Roush on the phone one night and it was obvious he was reluctant to talk. She finally got him loosened up and then gave him some advice and some fairly direct instruction. He replied, “Yes ma’am.” The next week we got an email from him, they broke down and went back to church, and of course, it was not what they expected and they had a wonderful time. So, who told Sister Earl what to say? Hmm. They are moving to a home outside the city and located between the two cities he has been working, so that will help too. What great people.

Satan wants the Roush Family. He wants me and you too. (As to those he already has, he doesn’t bother them much.) “…for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.” 3 Nephi 18:18. Now in those days the wheat stalks were laid on the threshing floor and beat senseless. (I know what that feels like!) Then the wheat was sifted by throwing it up in the air and letting the wind blow away the chaff. The solid grains of wheat dropped back to the ground and were gathered. So, this makes me think on the days I feel light headed or light minded or just light, that if I chance to get thrown into the air (life does that, you know) I might just get blown clear to Bone, Idaho.  Now, I love Bone Idaho, especially in the winter, but that’s not where I need to be if I want to go back with my family to my Father in Heaven. If I am not on the ground (firmly grounded) when the gathering comes then I “miss the boat.” See how this all fits together? It's amazing.

Okay, on to lighter stuff. It has been HOT! Not so much the temperature, high 80’s - low 90s, but the humidity. We walk out the door at 8:00 in the morning and take a breath and, well, you can’t breath it. The trees are starting to turn. Tell me how they figured out it was going to be fall when it never got within 20 degrees of freezing? Last night cooled down to 50 and we are going for a walk right now. Bye!

Hey, It was cool outside and we even had an Idaho breeze. (They call it Big Wind here.) Felt Great.


Water Towers are big out here. Since there are no hills to put them on, they stick out pretty good.

Here is the trail pretty close to our apartment.

This stream bed is usually full of water, but it hasn't rained much for a couple of weeks.

Let's see you grow a fungus bigger than a basketball!

Now THAT'S a TREE!

Hanging Vines, LOTS of them. Very strong, you can swing on them!

Okay, we love you all tons, and we have to get back to the office.
Bye!


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TRANSFERS!

This week was transfer week. Because of the merge of the two missions, the President wanted to fully integrate the two areas so that there is less tendency for Ours and Theirs thinking. Thus we made the largest transfer ever in this mission, 62 missionaries were transferred. We have a great mix now. Of course, with such a huge transfer we have to update all the files of where the missionaries are, who has which car, addresses, records, files, reports, so we have been pretty busy. Elder Hoyt at the office calls the Earls the FISH, First In–Still Here. It is quite a trip.

On Wednesday 11 new missionaries arrived. They all went to the temple with the president and his wife, then at the mission home we all had supper and did a bunch of training. We took turns presenting and April did fabulous! The next morning we met at the stake building next to the temple. More training. Then the trainers arrived and met their new companions and there was more training. Then we went into the chapel for the transfer meeting.

The transfer meeting is difficult to describe. All missionaries being transferred are brought from all corners of the mission to Columbus to the stake building next to the temple. They are brought by members in their area so as not to use up the miles on the mission cars. They bring their bicycles on trunk mounts, so it is quite a sight in the parking lot. In the chapel all the missionaries who are going home sit on the stand, the ones being transferred are all on one side of the chapel, and those who will receive a new companion are on the other side. There are a few talks and a musical number , the outgoing missionaries bear a short testimony, and the missionaries sing the Columbus Mission Song (a real rousing event for sure!) and then the assistants read who is going where. Each new companionship comes quickly to the front, hugs, and goes to the middle section. It is quite emotional and exciting. The overflow is full of us old folks and members and a few missionaries who are not transferring.

That afternoon the missionaries going home all go to the temple with the president and his wife, and then to the mission home for supper, interviews, and some sleep, and Friday morning they flew home.

The graphs below show a bit of the training President Jensen showed the new missionaries. I have seen the graph before, drawn by one of the members of the 12.

The first graph shows that when our attitude and our effort are both high, we have success.

The second graph shows that when we put even greater effort and attitude into the equation, that’s when we see the miracles. Lately my effort has been phenomenal. Now I need to move my attitude from good to great.

We sure love you and we need and feel your support. THANKS!

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Daily, HOURLY, Interruptions

I want to share a special experience we had yesterday. A man called last week and wanted to know if we believed we were saved by works or by faith. I told him I believed we must do good things for others just like Jesus did, but after all is said and done it is through the Grace of Jesus Christ we will be saved. 

The man quoted me several passages of scripture that contradicted each other. I told him, “It sounds confusing. Doesn’t it?  What do you believe?” He told me.  I asked if he would like our missionaries to stop by and shed some light on it?”  Well, he did. I found the missionaries in his area and called them. They didn’t go!  The man called me back. He was disappointed they hadn’t come.

I talked to him for some length and then turned the phone over to Scott. As I listened to your dad’s side of the conversation the spirit filled the room. A great peace and calm could be felt. We promised to get the missionaries right over to see him.

 I called the missionaries back to see what had happened. We will call him Elder Bob. He said they didn’t bother to go see him because they had asked around and other missionaries said the man in question was a “time waster.”  He had been studying with another faith and he had lots of questions, but that was it.

I shared with Elder Bob our experience in Cincinnati concerning 4 converts that were formerly from the faith the man studied with.  I told Elder Bob about those converts’ incredible faith and knowledge of the Bible and how it was their “questioning” that led them to the restored church.  Each of our dear sweet convert friends had gone through many sets of elders before they accepted the gospel. It took one sister 10 sets of elders/sisters before she joined.

I told Elder Bob it wasn’t our job to judge who is ready and who is not. Heavenly Father is preparing people. I then told him he might be lucky number 10 and to GO see the man and answer his questions. Well, he and his companion did.

Yesterday Elder Bob called and reported back to me. The visit went well, the man wanted a copy of the Book of Mormon to read because he had heard about our church all his life and he was now ready to read the Book of Mormon for himself. Also the man promised to attend church this coming Sunday with the elders!

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A member lady from Salt Lake called and asked if some elders could give her “in-active” mom in Ohio a blessing. The mom was recovering from surgery. Sister missionaries working in the area took a member of the bishopric and the ward mission leader with them and the brethren gave the mom a blessing. The sister missionaries reported back the blessing was given, the mom was very receptive, and they had an appointment on Friday to visit and teach her.  Such obedient sisters! When I reported back to the daughter in Salt Lake she was ecstatic . . .

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Two weeks ago while traveling home from Zone Conference it started to rain. “Dump buckets” would be a better description out here. A missionary didn’t stop fast enough and hit another car. The elder exchanged information with the man but the man left before he gave his information back to the elders. We didn’t know how to contact the man so we waited.

The man finally called our number. He was angry, demanding, and wanted to talk to our insurance company—not us! Your dad was calm and very professional. Yesterday your dad called the man back to see if he was able to talk to the insurance company and if they had helped him. At first the man was abrupt but calmed down and thanked your dad once he felt your dad really cared.

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Our days in Columbus are filled with paperwork and schedules to meet, but it is the “interrupting phone calls” that turn into “Tender Mercies “of the Lord. The longer we serve the more we see the need of a listening ear for all mankind.

What did we learn? How do I view my daily interruptions? Do I take time to listen to other’s concerns . . . little people, big people?  It does make a BIG difference! Let us start today to make the change.

Love you all, mom and dad

Zone Conferences

We have been busy all week with Zone Conferences. Tuesday we were in Cincinnati and met with all 3 zones there. It rained all the time we inspected the cars so we got REALLY drenched.

Wednesday we did 1/2 of Columbus, Thursday Dayton, and tomorrow we will do the other 1/2 of Columbus.

On the way to Dayton today we passes Miles and Miles of corn fields. The weather was just right for corn this Spring and it is all 8' tall. It is quite amazing!

 

Elder Duff was driving the Van. He is a retired truck driver from Kentucky. Here I asked him to count to 4 for you.

It is fun to see people who are not afraid to express themselves for fear of public opinion.

At the conference most of the missionaries come early and use the cleaning supplies to buff and touch up their cars so they can win the Clean Car award.

Impressive!

Each car is judged for cleanliness and if it meets the standard, the driver and co-driver get a Clean Car award. The cleanest car in each zone also wins Gold Key Chains for the driver and companion. Than at the last Zone Conference, the top cars in each zone (there are 9 zones) all compete for the Gold Plates award, a solid metal license plate bracket that says Golden Plates Award, Ohio Columbus Mission, to put on their car for the next month. The winner is chosen from the 9 cleanest cars by determining which of the 9 is getting the best gas mileage above the EPA rating for that type of car. Any missionary who earns the coveted Golden Plate award 3 times on their mission gets one to take home with them! Gas mileage has gone up over the whole mission by more than 3 mpg since Columbus started this program.


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