New Callings, as Trainers!

Someone asked the other day if we were “Winding Down.” To us that seems to mean “are you slowing down?” The answer would be an emphatic NO! Wow, there is a lot to do. On Tuesday the President gave us two Elders to train. We have been preparing for this for many months, making folders and binders of instructions and examples. Now the fur is flying. It is amazing how their minds can absorb all the information. As Helaman said of his 2060 stripling warriors, "Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoke; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually." It is truly amazing to explain to them a concept or the steps of a procedure, and, voila, they get it! We have been training them for 4 days, and will get about 2 more days, and then they will be in charge. If we were training a senior couple it would take 3-4 weeks.

Each night our busy dreams are filled with all the things we forgot to tell them. There will be much of that they will just figure out on their own.

"Things work out, it isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out, don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in him, if we will pray to him, if we will live worthy of his blessings, he will hear our prayers." Gordon B. Hinckley

There are numerous little miracles every day. I find that if I don’t jot them down, I forget them by the next day. Writing to this Blog every week or two has been mostly a failure since I capture so few of those daily and even hourly miracles. So many of these miracles involve individual missionaries and how the little miracles that happen each day impact their lives. Most of these I cannot share. I can just say that as we go through each day, we feel to do certain little things, not because they seem at the time like revelation, but just because it feels like the right thing to say or do. Then we catch a glimpse later of what an impact was made. Probably most of the time we don’t ever find out. This leads me to the real point of this blog. We are feeling sad. These little blessings come because we are “actively engaged” and that will soon end. Other callings and many non-callings will come our way, and blessings will follow, but not with the daily intensity as they happen here and now. Still, “Things will all work out.” 

Love,

Dad & Mom

Christmas Packages and Fun!

Today dad and I went to the post office to pick up more Christmas packages for the missionaries. While dad was loading presents off the dock into the car I was inside putting stamps on our own Christmas Cards. There was a man in his late 30’s' early 40’s standing next to me doing the same thing. The following is our conversation:

“Hey, we’re both doing our Christmas thing putting stamps on Christmas cards!” I said cheerfully.

“I, guess.” He said, a little down.

“How many lucky people get your cards this year?”

“Thirty three.”

“Are your kids getting excited for Christmas?”

“I don’t have any kids.”

“Well, then are you getting excited for Christmas?” I asked as I kept peeling and sticking stamps.

“Not really. We are going to my in-laws for Christmas and I hate to go because it is boring. We never do anything. The only good thing is that we are only staying a few days.”

“Well, I guess because you love your wife you can do anything for a few days, huh? I have noticed some families just sit around and watch TV while others go outside and do things. Maybe you could look around and fix some things while you are there. That way you don’t have to be just sitting around getting bored.  I guarantee her parents will think you are incredible.”

“Well, I do like to fix things. But, I just hate not having the right tools.”

“Could you take a few of your own so you have the right tools?”

“Ya, I sure could.   BIG PAUSE    “I don’t know why I couldn’t!”  

He walked over to the drop box and deposited his letters. As he walked past me he smiled and said brightly, “You have a Merry Christmas, Ma’m!”

“Same to you, Sir!”

Aah, I do love Christmas.

Here are a few pictures of all the presents stacked up in President’s office. Every day we bring a full carload home from the post office. What good memories it brings back of Christmas Eve and pulling out all the gifts and putting them under the tree. What fun times! O—did I tell you I love Christmas?

 Packages

 More Packages

 Still More!

Click this one to see Dad!

AND MORE!

Click this picture.

Here is the mission staff. 

 Here is where I work

 Elder Ayers is helping me sort the mail before forwarding it.

There is a LOT!

Hit and Stay

A mission miracle happened this past Monday. The Friday before, Scott showed our last used mission car to a family in our ward. They loved it and were very interested in buying it. They were just headed North for Thanksgiving and needed to work their finances so they would get back with us in a couple of days.

All weekend we received phone calls on the car and had to turn people down. Monday morning rolled around and it was plenty busy in the office. We never heard back from the interested family, but didn’t think much about it.

President Jensen came into the office Monday afternoon and broke the news about an accident that had just happened that morning. A missionary in Kentucky was hit by a car while riding his bicycle and broke his leg, in two places! It was quite the story.

As President Jensen was leaving the office he turned around and asked if we had any available mission cars not in use because the injured missionary and his companion would need a car now to proselyte in. Aaaa, Heavenly Father was watching out for the missionaries and for us too.

If we had sold the car we would not have had a vehicle available when we needed one and perhaps the missionary would have to go home to get better. What a blessing that he is alive and he can still stay and do missionary work.

WAIT the miracle isn’t over yet! The man that hit the missionary has visited the missionary several times in the hospital. He lives in the same area as the missionaries and has invited them to come to his home.

Can’t you just see it years from now. The man becomes a general authority and tells about his conversion: “When I ran into the missionaries it felt just like a huge jolt. I didn’t see them coming!” What a great story to tell!

Our missionary had a pin put in his leg and he got out of the hospital two days after surgery. He is doing well and super excited to teach the man that hit him. Don’t you just love the fire and drive of a missionary! What some missionaries will do to teach!!

Love, 

Mom

Thanks Giving

Relief Society was really good Sunday. In fact, all our meetings were quite remarkable. The main theme that ran through out all our Sunday meetings was GRATITUDE.

I love the discussion part of our RS lesson because I learn so much from these good sisters. One sister remarked she had hit bottom in her life due to death in the family, loss of a job, and health issues and was in the throws of deep dark despair and had to seek medical help. 

After her exam and while waiting for the doctor to return to make out an RX the nurse gave her a remarkable piece of advice. The RS sister said it was too simple but it leaded to her getting better. It is this: “Before your feet hit the floor in the morning think of two things you are grateful for and then get on your knees and thank God.” Our sweet RS sister testified that that one simple procedure helped her get better and continues to help her today.

Another RS sister shared that every Sunday morning and evening during her personal prayers she never asks for any thing. Her prayers are only on giving thanks to Heavenly Father for her blessings. She also said her Sunday prayers are the longest and sweetest prayers of the week. A third sister reminded us that we must be specific in what we thank Him for.

This morning while reading in Luke 17: 12-19 the story of the 10 Lepers was unfolded to me. Vs 19 the grateful leper upon returning to Christ to thank him is also forgiven of his sins because of his faith and gratitude!

I am grateful for these dear sisters for sharing these reminders with me about being more grateful and for Luke recording the tender story of the 10 Lepers and Christ. I too want to become whole inside and out.

Mom

Road Kill and Fishies

Hello family,

Last week while you were freezing we had a reprieve with 70° weather. It was a real blessing due to the car inspections taking place. Dad inspected 75 cars in two days. I was allowed to help him one of the days and it was great to be out in the sunshine and in Levis! Yahoo!!!

Our latest mission car crash took place way out in the country. The elders did exchanges and a Jr. Companion called and asked permission to be the driver for the day. Elder Earl Okayed it and warned him to use caution since it was his first time driving on the roads out here. Long story short he took a curve too fast on a gravel road, jumped the ditch and ran the front corner of the car into the embankment. He called and told your dad it only broke the one light and everything else looked OK.

The quote to fix it came back at $2000. It was an expensive driving lesson!

We have a new little sister in our mission. She is 4’ 8” high. She is as cute as a button. She told President Jensen she passes out when she sees blood or gore. She can’t watch scary movies or hear scary music.  President is pretty worried about her. We are in prime “road kill” season right now. Every morning there is something new squished on the road from the night before . . . deer, possum, raccoon, skunk, and things I don’t even recognize.  We are praying she doesn’t see it!

One of our speakers today at Stake Conference was a new convert. He gave a powerful testimony and had such a fun sense of humor. He and his wife are both deaf. A dear sister translated while he signed. What a beautiful language sign language is. It was proof the spirit knows no boundaries.

We are expecting quite a wonderful group of 15 missionaries the 8^th of December. I have had lots of visits with them on the phone the past two months getting their paperwork straight and answering questions. One Elder by the name of Asher from Texas is so excited to come. He wanted to know if it really gets as cold out in Ohio as they say. I asked him if he had ever been out West in the winter and he said, “NO.” I told him to bring a warm coat!

Another Elder from Rupert enters the MTC the same day as his parents. The parents’ old Stake president has been called as a mission president and asked them to serve with him. They will go for 23 months and get home just before their son returns. Pretty neat plan!

While studying Chapter 8 in Mark I learned something:

In this chapter the Lord blesses the 7 loaves of bread and a few fish. After pondering the story I realized the bread and fish represent our individual talents. Before Christ served the people he blessed the bread and the fish.

Each of us is blessed with talents. Most of the time we think they aren’t of much value compared to others’ talents. Our Savior just asks us to use what we have and go out and use those talents to serve others and give our all. At the end of our lives our talents will be greater than at the first (like the left over baskets of food): more character, more virtue, more compassion, more charity, more substance to our lives. When I think of older people who have spent their lives giving and using their talents, Tess Peck and Grandma Earl come to mind. What wonderful examples to us.

May we all use what loaves/fish the Lord has given us no matter the size or shape. He knows what to do with them. May the Lord keep you all safely in his arms this week.

Love to all,

Your missionary mom and dad

PS Thanks for all your prayers

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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