A Change of Course

November 20, 2013

Monday evening, the 11th, we went to the Stake RS President, Sister Ramon's house for dinner because she wanted to talk to us about how things were going.  She asked us how we would feel about cutting our assignment short with White Plains 1st and 2nd Wards and go back to the Lexington Park Ward where Sister Boone had previously served.  She asked us to think about it and pray about it and she would talk to us again, but that is kind of the direction she is leaning.  She had previously said she would look at sending us there in February, but Sister Boone will be going home shortly thereafter.  Now she wants us to go back beginning in December.  Personally, although I feel like we are just now getting to know and love many of the sisters in these two wards and it will be hard to leave them now, I also think it would be good to get acquainted with the Lexington Park Ward while Sister Boone is still here with me.  She has kind of mixed feelings about it.  She said it was hard to say good bye to the sisters there after working with them for five months, so she would love to be with them again, but at the same time she will have to go through the difficulty of saying good bye all over again.  So now we are trying to decide which sisters we want to see one more time before we are reassigned.  I am afraid that some of them we may not get to see because we have had a difficult time so far finding a time when they are home.

As we have made our appointments this week, I have come to realize that there are many sisters in these wards that I have become very fond of and I am going to miss them.  I didn't even get a chance to take pictures of these friends to keep in my journal, but perhaps I will be able to serve here again next year and see them again.

We have tried to fill our last days of November with meaningful visits and have enjoyed each appointment.  It has been fulfilling to look back and see that there really are some sisters who have made an improvement in their lives and in their church activity since our first visits with them.  Jennifer has been to sacrament meeting every Sunday this month since she made that commitment to her son the first of November.  I think she has talked with the Primary President and Bishop about his baptism.  Wanda has come from a very discouraging, depressing state, in poor health and with no job prospects to where she has now been able to get a partial-tuition grant and get accepted into a program to get an EKG technician certificate.  We invited her to lunch today along with Shelly, a sister in the other ward who is her very good friend and former nursing associate.  Going to lunch with the girls is out of the normal comfort range for both Sis. Boone and me, but I felt it was important to offer this invitation to both of them.  I am glad that we went.  Wanda said she finally feels like there is light at the end of the tunnel.  I think her continued association with Shelly will be good for her also because Shelly has gone through and is still going through some very hard times with health, family, and employment problems similar to Wanda's.  But with much effort, Shelly is working through things.  Her church and temple attendance has been a significant part of her growth and helps her with the desire to keep going and keep trying.  I am hopeful that with Shelly's encouragement Wanda will come back to church.  And Wanda is now being a friend to Shelly as well, trying to help her get into the same EKG training program.  That is where the lasting support is found, not necessarily from the missionaries who are only temporary but from members fellowshipping and loving each other.

I don't know that our visits with these sisters have necessarily made the difference, but I know for sure that the Spirit working in their lives has made a difference.  I am grateful to be a witness of the Lord's love and goodness and to recognize that He really does care about each of his children.  He knows us by name, and He loves us.  I know this to be true.

Mission-Wide Conference

November 15, 2013

The conference call with President Cooke gave me something to look forward to for the next week, as the following Friday, November 15th was a Mission-wide conference with Elder Craig Zwick from the Quorum of the Seventy presiding at that all-day event.

Sister Boone's brother and his wife came to town on Tuesday evening and visited with her until Sunday, the 17th.  This left me finding things to do during the week so that I could feel somewhat productive.  Since Sis. Boone was not sure if we could do our usual Thursday temple trip, I decided to go to the temple on Wednesday.  I invited another sister to go with me, but she could not go so I went alone.  It turned out that Sister Boone and her brother and sister-in-law went to a session on Thursday, but they stayed up north and did a little sightseeing as well, so I am glad I didn't try to tag along.  I asked Heidi if they wanted to go to the temple one evening this week since I would have time to babysit, but that didn't work out so we will try again later.

Friday, I again drove up to the temple to attend the Mission Conference, which was held in the Visitors Center at the Temple.  It was a wonderful day.  The meeting began with a reception line to allow each of the missionaries in attendance to shake hands with Elder and Sister Zwick, President and Sister Cooke, and Elder and Sister Harden Eyring (Pres. Henry B. Eyring's brother).  Elder Zwick said when I shook his hand, "Sister Hatch, I remember when your papers came through in Salt Lake."  I didn't take the time to ask him what or why he remembered, but it was nice to know that he did remember.

  Elder Zwick (behind blonde sister missionary), Sister Zwick in pink, President Cooke and his wife (Center), and Elder and Sister Eyring on right.

 Elder Zwick (on left side) greeting the young Elders, Pres. Cooke (hidden) and his wife, and Elder and Sister Eyring on the right.

Elder Zwick told us that our mission calls came from a Prophet and our assignments came from the apostles.  This follows the pattern that was laid out in the Doctrine & Covenants section 112.  They spend many hours each week reviewing all of the applications and making assignments as directed by the Spirit.

Verses 21 and 22 say those they (the Twelve) call "shall have power to open the door of my kingdom unto any nation whithersoever ye shall send them---inasmuch as they (meaning me) shall humble themselves before me, and abide in my word, and hearken to the voice of my Spirit."

The following are a few notes to help me remember the discussions throughout the day.  Elder and Sister Zwick both spoke to us as well as Pres. and Sister Cooke and Elder and Sister Eyring.

Elder Zwick:

·         What am I willing to do differently?

o   I will teach principles the same way I learn them (by the Spirit).

o   Obedience is the first law of Heaven.

o   Simplify and Intensify your teaching.

§  Companion 1:  Choose a principle from Preach My Gospel

§  Companion 2:  Give an example to illustrate the application of the principle (an anecdote or story) and then testify.

§  Companion 1:  Support the principle with a scripture and testify.

o   D&C 84:85  Treasure up…the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour

·         Preach My Gospel and the scriptures are all the teaching tools we need to be effective missionaries.

Sister Cooke:

·         Repentance

o   We have a genetic code from Heavenly Father that gives us power to overcome temptation.

o   As we repent daily we can change and have strengthened ability to be more in harmony with Christ's teaching.

President Cooke:

·         President Lincoln said we can't escape history, we are in it.

·         We are in the history of hastening the work of salvation.

·         Compare the work to an ocean wave.  The goal of a surfer is to catch the wave and ride it as far as you can.  Associated with the wave is the rip current and the undertow.  The rip current pulls back out into the sea.  The undertow is the force that pulls out when the wave recedes and then comes back in again on the next wave, keeping the wave going.  (I think this is how he explained this phenomenon.)  Anyway, he encouraged the missionaries to be the constant undertow to keep the wave going or keep the momentum going in hastening the work of salvation.

·         Preach My Gospel Page 115—How Do I Develop Christlike Attributes?

o   Be an example to the wards to bring the spirit of Christ.

o   Matthew 4:19 says "And he sayeth unto them, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."

o   Mark 1:17 says "And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men."

o   Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:16 says "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Sister Zwick:

Two desires:

·         That the Spirit may teach us both individually and collectively.

·         That we may learn and be able to understand what the Lord wants us to do.

·         My right and privilege as a representative of Jesus Christ is indicated in Mark 4:16-17.  I will make you to become fishers of men indicates a scripture of action.  We will become fishers of men line upon line, precept upon precept—daily spiritual growth.

·         Steps to becoming:

o   Faith—Don't limit yourself by what you think is your capacity.  Let the Lord define and expand your capacity and He will.

o   Obedience.  2 Nephi 31: Press forward with steadfastness in Christ.

o   Act on personal revelation.

Lunch at the Stake Center next door.

Enjoying a lovely lunch of Chicken Parmesan, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables, rolls, and cake.

 We sang happy birthday to the missionaries with birthdays in October, November, and December

 Time to wrap it up and head back to the Visitors Center...

 ...and 5 minutes later the room looked like this...many hands make light work.

 Elder and Sister Zwick visiting with Sister Dutton.

Genuine representatives of the Savior.

Afternoon Session:

Sister Eyring:  Obedience is the 1st Law of Heaven.  It was this law that allowed Christ to give His life for us.

Elder Eyring:

·         Remind the Bishops and Ward Councils about the power and influence of the Temple Visitors Center in teaching the people.  Challenge them to come here and bring investigators here (to the Visitors Center).

·         Remember the strength of the Prophets and what they knew.  Mosiah 8:17-18.  They (the things the prophets reveal) are the means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles.

·         Trust.  Don't look back, look forward with trust.

Elder Zwick:  Am I Willing?

·         The mission will only be as strong as its weakest servant.

·         Elder Zwick helped build the 1st chapel in Bolivia.  Four elders working in three small cities for 17 months prepared the people so they could have a branch established there and have a chapel.

·         To keep spiritual growth going

o   Fast and Pray

o   Goals- Write down some things you can do

o   Pray that Heavenly Father will accept your very best

o   Repent when you don't do your very best

o   Meaningful companionship study

o   Continue to look like a missionary (even after you get home)

o   Keep the routine of a missionary

§  More scripture study

§  Learn compatibility with companion

§  Have a schedule

§  Prayer

§  Rely on others

§  Preach My Gospel as your guide

·         Earned Trust:  Levels of growth:

o   MTC level of understanding

o   Missionary Routine

o   Obedience

o   Exact Obedience

o   Know That We Know

o   Treasure Up—Growth is equal to dependence on the Lord

·         Helaman 5:4 The strongest building that can weather the storms has a strong foundation

·         The Law of Sacrifice for full-time missionaries is perfect use of the Lord's time.

·         Omni 1:26  Come unto Christ—Partake of salvation—Offer your soul—fast and pray—endure to the end.

A view of the temple at the close of the conference.

Not the Normal Routine

Nov 7-8, 2013

The Temple and "Homemaking Night" 

We took a sister from White Plains 2nd Ward with us to the temple on the 7th.  It was fun to get to know her a little better on our hour drive.  That night we attended White Plains 1st Ward's weeknight Relief Society meeting or whatever title they give that meeting these days, which we had signed up for the previous month when we were working with their ward.  Sister Boone made a holiday jar and I attended the crème brulee (burnt cream) class.  I don't know what interested the sisters more, tasting this heart-stopping custard (ingredients heavy cream, egg yolks, and sugar) or playing with the torch to burn the sugar on top prior to eating it.  When I got home, I looked up the nutritional information and confirmed my suspicions; this is not something I want to become addicted to.  A 1/2-cup ramekin (custard cup) contains about 400 calories, 19 grams of saturated fat and 285 mg of cholesterol (calculations varied by source).

Conference Call With Pres. Cooke

How We can Hasten The Work

Sister Boone and I left before Homemaking meeting ended so that we could be home in time to call in for another conference call with President Cooke and the other senior missionaries.  He told us about the Washington D.C. North Mission's increased focus on "hastening the work of salvation".  I feel like we are living in a historic time as far as missionary work is concerned.

A few months ago (just a short while before I left for my mission) a special broadcast (Hastening the Work of Salvation) by the Church was presented in which our leaders shared with us how each one of us could take part in this important work to share the gospel message with the whole world.  Pres. Uchtdorf said "There is a way for everyone…to participate in this great work.  We can each find a way to use our own particular talents and interest in support of the great work of filling the world with light and truth." 

This broadcast explained the responsibilities on different levels for the ward leaders, stake leaders, and missionaries and how they work together as one.  Here are a couple of quotes.

"Stake presidents and bishops exercise priesthood keys for missionary work in their units. Mission presidents exercise keys for missionaries and convert baptisms. When priesthood keys are exercised in unity, leaders serve together and the powers of heaven can bless their work."

"Under the direction of the bishop, ward council members fully engage to help each investigator and new or returning member progress. The ward mission leader directs and coordinates these efforts with the full-time missionaries."  I didn't really get the full impact of this message when I listened to the broadcast the first time."

President Cooke told us in our conference call that no longer is the vision and mission of the Church separated into three parts:  Proclaiming the Gospel, Perfecting the Saints, and Redeeming the Dead.  It is all one work, and it will be most effective when everyone is working closely together.  We have had a great surge in the number of full time missionaries over the last year, but no longer is missionary work to be viewed as a great effort by full time missionaries assisted only at times by ward members when they can find time to help.  Now the keys of missionary work are in the hands of the Stake and Ward leaders, and the full time missionaries are here to help them.  Additionally, (and I find this part really exciting) there is greater emphasis on introducing family history work to investigators and members alike.  This can be a powerful way to fulfill the responsibility of redeeming our dead while at the same time building and strengthening testimonies of Jesus Christ and his gospel and thereby bringing others to Christ.

On Friday, Sister Beckes and Sister Divine, the other Women Auxiliary Specialists in the mission, called and asked if they could visit with us about the new emphasis in our mission, which they feel has basically put us out of a job.  They were concerned that the shift to have the Wards and Stakes be responsible for the missionary work would take away their assignments of finding and teaching, and they wanted to know what we have been doing in our Wards and see if they have just been focusing on the wrong thing to this point.  They drove down from Silver Springs, and we sat and visited for about an hour.  I think they left feeling like they have not been doing things all that much different except that their Stake Relief Society President has not worked with them to the same degree that Sis. Ramon has with us in giving us assignments and helping us see how we can serve the Wards.  Their Stake President actually said to them when they contacted him with a question "I didn't think you were still here."  That made them feel rather unappreciated.  We told them that we plan to continue to receive our assignments from the Stake Relief Society President until such time that we are given different directions by our Mission President.  Although some days we wonder if we are making a difference and if we are really doing what the Lord expects of us while we are out here, I'm sure that there is a purpose for our service, and as we serve faithfully and prayerfully we will be blessed and so will others.

A Fun Visit

November 11-14, 2013

On Monday and Tuesday, the 11th and 12th, Sister Boone and I had appointments with a few of the sisters who work in the Primary that we don't get to know at church or had previously not been available for visits.  Each visit was enjoyable and uplifting for us.  Mollyanne is one we had tried to see previously, but she and her husband travel a lot.  She grew up in the Episcopalian faith and married a Catholic boy.  A few years later she was baptized, but her husband was not.  Still, there is such a spirit of love and faith in that home that was uplifting to us as we visited with her and her sweet mother.

The first time when we stopped by when she was out of town, we saw their beautiful big house on the banks of the Potomac and knew we would just have to come back and see her another day

Mollyanne's husband is a toy train and old toy collector and she also has some collections (bears, tea sets, and odds and ends).  He does way more collecting than she does.  They go to train shows all over the world.  I wish I could have had the same degree of tolerance for Verlin's hobbies as she has for her husband's affinity to spend large amounts of money on his hobby.

First thing when we arrived, Mollyanne asked her husband if he would take a few minutes to show us his train collection while she finished getting lunch ready for her mother who stays with them sometimes.  He has a room that is almost completely full of trains (these are the old electric train sets).  Three and a half walls are covered with shelves full of trains, and under the train table are 130 boxed sets that have never been used.  Then he has more than that in another room, and even more in the attic.  We had to get a couple pictures before we left.  

The most interesting piece to me, yet a little disturbing, was this life-size kangaroo that Mollyanne brought home from one of their trips.  (I had to make these pictures a little larger to appreciate their total awesomeness!)

Last Week of October---Taking a Break

October 25 through October 31, 2013

Sister Boone's daughter came for a visit the 24th through the 29th, so I took the opportunity to go visit Heidi a little bit.  She invited me to have dinner with them Sunday evening, the 27th.  She asked if I was spending the night, but I hadn't thought about it so was not prepared to do so.  I went back Monday morning, this time prepared to spend the night since Sis. Boone's daughter did not leave until 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Monday, we drove to the Branch Avenue Metro station and rode the Metro to D.C. so Isaiah could have a field trip to the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian.  I think Isaiah had a great time.  Joshua not as much because he spent a lot of time in the stroller when he would much rather have been out crawling on everything he saw.

 On the Metro heading to the Air and Space Museum in D.C.

One of Joshua's moments of freedom from the stroller. 

 The coolest thing about this plane was it's color, which happens to be Isaiah's favorite.

Isaiah listening to an audiovisual display.

Later, when I was back home, I told Sis. Boone that we had gone to the Branch Avenue station.  She shared with me that a gentleman in D.C. had told her and her daughter that the Branch Avenue station was "not a safe place."  I am glad I didn't know that.  It didn't seem much different than the BART station that I used when I visited Anson in California, but then again, I was told it is not wise to travel that one after dark.

Chesapeake Beach Railway

On Tuesday, I went on another field trip to Chesapeake Beach with Heidi and the boys.  It was a beautiful day for an outing.  We started out by going to a couple libraries and then headed for Chesapeake Beach.  We parked and walked down to the beach and tried to get a few pictures.  Joshua seemed to enjoy the leaves and the sand, and Isaiah liked dragging his feet in the leaves as we walked along the trail to the beach.  However, once we got down by the water and tried to get the boys to pose for some pictures with Heidi, Isaiah was not too keen about sitting on the log we chose to sit on.  He has become more aware of bugs and does not really like to share his space with them.

Next, we drove to the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum and toured the building that was the original depot for the train that ran there.

Here is a little history from their website. (http://www.cbrm.org/.) 

"In the late 1890's Otto Mears planned a Chesapeake Bay shoreline resort with railroad service from Washington and Baltimore. Mears and a group of Denver business associates designed a resort town with hotels, bathhouses and beaches, casinos, a race track and a 1600 foot boardwalk. The boardwalk was built out over the water and supported a band shell, a carousel, a dance pavilion, a roller coaster and many entertainment booths. Passenger steamers arrived daily from Baltimore during the summer months and tied up at a mile-long pier.

The first train arrived in Chesapeake Beach on June 9, 1900, filled with passengers and freight. The resort fulfilled Otto Mears' dream, but after only 35 years, financial hardship brought on by the Great Depression and the growing popularity of the automobile spelled the end of the dream. On April 15, 1935 the last train left the station.

Today, more than 100 years after that first train arrived, the past has been recaptured thanks to the selfless work of local preservationists and the Calvert County Historical Society. Countless hours of labor have brought the original station back to life. A group of dedicated volunteers help the curator ensure that the history of the railway and the resort are not forgotten."

 Guess what Isaiah's favorite part of the museum was--a little wooden train set (just like the one that he owns) that is there for the kids to play with.  Heidi and I enjoyed the memorabilia that was on display there.

We tried to get a few pictures by the old rail car and baggage trailer next to the museum, but once again Isaiah was too worried about dirt and bugs that he might accidentally touch, so we gave up on that idea.

OUR PHOTO SESSION WENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS

 Looking good so far.

Isaiah, are you going to get up by Mom?

Hurry, I don't think Joshua is going to sit here very long.

I'm glad you are still smiling, Heidi.

(Joshua) I don't think I like this anymore.

(Isaiah) Are you sure there aren't any spiders?

Well, then you can both just sit on my lap.

Are we having fun yet???

I think we're done!!

On the Railway Trail

The Marina

We then went for a walk along the Chesapeake Beach Railway Trail which followed along the route of the old abandoned railway.  The boardwalk went alongside and over Fishing Creek, so it was a very picturesque trail that we enjoyed immensely.  It was a beautiful time of year to take this walk.

Love these boys!!

We had too much fun and took way too many photos to share them all here.  The sun was getting low in the sky when we headed for home.  We arrived home about dinnertime, and I drove back to Waldorf after dinner.

Wednesday--Back to Visiting

Wednesday the 30th Sister Boone and I were back out visiting sisters in 1st Ward.  We drove down to Nanjemoy and visited with Sister Candland, another mother of ten children and a very sweet lady.  They have a home right next to the shore of the Potomac.  It started as a summer home, but after the kids were out of the house, they moved there as their main residence.  It is a beautiful, secluded place.

Hundreds of Canadian geese during migration

We had two other appointments in addition to three other sisters in the area that we wanted to drop in on, and they were all home and visited with us for a bit.  This is the first time there was someone home at every house we went to.  Thursday, Halloween, we went to the temple and then had a 5:00 appointment for which we were a few minutes late because the route we took was a bit confusing, but it was a nice visit.  Except for a few Halloween decorations at some homes, I wouldn't have even known it was Halloween.  We didn't have any trick-or-treaters come to our apartment, and we didn't see any children on our way home.

On Friday, although it was November 1st and officially 2nd Ward's turn to have us visit, we decided to finish up the week with 1st Ward visits and then start on Monday with 2nd Ward.  Our first appointment was with an active sister and the second appointment was a less active young sister that we had tried on several occasions to see or call without much luck.  She finally agreed to a visit on Friday afternoon.  As we were about to end our visit she told us she found it interesting that we should visit her that day because just the previous day her nearly-8-yr-old son told her as they drove past the church that he liked his church and would like to go again.  (She was active in Young Women for a while and then quit going to church.  She guessed that there are probably not many of her friends still in the ward.)  She told her son if he wanted to go she would take him.  We told her we thought that was a great idea and encouraged her to come on Sunday.  We talked about Kaiden's birthday party the following Saturday and ended with a spiritual thought and prayer.  She told us she would see us Sunday.

Sunday we were scheduled to start attending the other ward, but we didn't want Jennifer to come to church and not be there when we said we would be, so we decided we would attend 1st Ward meetings and 2nd Ward Sacrament meeting as well.  We sat near the door where we could see Jennifer easily and she could see us, and we waited.  She didn't show up.  Then right after the sacrament she came through the door and looked for a seat.  We motioned to her and moved over to make room for her and Kaiden.  When she realized that it was the 1st Sunday--testimony meeting, she began to talk about going up and bearing her testimony.  She asked Kaiden a few times if he would like to go up and bear his testimony.  Then she began to ask him to just walk up with her and hold her hand so she could go up.  He was too bashful to do that.  I was about ready to offer to walk up with her but thought that might be a little awkward for her.  Then the next speaker took a little too much time and the meeting ended with her not being able to go up.

I was happy to see several ward members come up and give Jennifer hugs and welcome her back.  She took Kaiden to Primary and we went to Sunday School and Relief Society together.  She signed up for a class at RS weekday meeting this week and also to help with the Food Basket projects in November and December.  I don't know if Jennifer will keep coming back, but I was grateful for this experience.  It makes me feel more like a real missionary.  Hopefully the Spirit will continue to prompt her.

November 6, 2013

Here we are back in White Plains 2nd Ward trying to remember names and faces and get in the swing of scheduling visits with sisters that we haven't seen for over a month, some of them two months (if they were last visited early in September).  Monday, we had two visits out of ten.  Tuesday, we had three appointments, one other sister that we found at home, and six others not home. 

One of the sisters that we visited we were able to serve a little bit.  She is the mother of 14, (two on missions, one away at college, and 11 at home with two sets of twins and two adopted).  She home schools them.  She was trying to keep up with school work, piano classes, and getting one of her sons ready to speak at a Boy Scouts of America event as the youngest Boy Scout to earn all possible merit badges (about 134), just to mention a part of her busy day.  I asked if there was anything we could do to help her, and she told us she was doing some last minute sewing projects, sewing on buttons, hemming pants, and fastening all of the merit badges to her sons merit badge sash so that they don't fall off during the event he is attending.  I volunteered to secure the buttons on a coat that she was sending to her college daughter, and Sister Boone sewed a button on a suit coat.  When Sis. Boone asked "what next?" she said, "well I have this merit badge sash that needs to be finished."  Since we had another appointment to go to, Sister Boone offered to take it home and do it with her sewing machine and also hem the pants.  She was so grateful for this offer.

Wednesday morning we started our day by returning the completed projects to Sis. Bonney.  She again expressed her appreciation for our service (mostly Sis. Boone's).  When I saw a sign on an elementary school marquis indicating there was no school today, I wondered how the rest of our day would be.  The weather was beautiful, kids were out of school…and no one was home.  Granted some of them worked, but even the ones that we knew didn't work and whom we felt quite certain we could catch at home were not there.  I can't say that I blame them.  It was a wonderful, sunny, almost 70-degree temperature day.  And now since we are supposed to drive the Beltway to the temple tomorrow, it is going to rain L.

A Small World

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Tonight was the Suitland Stake Auxiliary Training meeting.  Bro. Volk from the Stake Presidency asked us if we were going to attend.  We told him we had not heard about it.  It wasn't really for missionaries, but since it was for Ward Relief Society Presidencies, he thought it might give us the opportunity to meet more of the women who serve in the Stake.  But, Sister. Boone's daughter and granddaughter came for a visit this weekend and Sister Boone said she would not be attending.  Sister Ramon, the Stake RS President called and invited me to go to the meeting with her and her Secretary.  She said she would like to introduce me to the rest of the RS leaders in the Stake, and I would be able to listen to them discuss their concerns regarding Family History, Visiting Teaching, and the Stake activation plan called Focus Fifteen, all of which are a part of our focus as well.  I thought it was worthwhile to attend, and enjoyed the interaction with some of the sisters in the Stake. 

There was an added bonus after the meeting (besides the refreshments).  While we were driving to the meeting the topic came up that I had grown up in Montana.  Sister Ramon told me that there is a sister in her ward who is from Montana.  I mused how kids at college when I was attending Ricks College would say, "You're from Montana?  Do you know so-and-so?  They are from Montana."  I would say there is a fat chance of that happening since Montana is the 4th largest state.  And they were usually from clear across the state.

After the meeting was over, the sister that we were talking about introduced herself to me as Sister Edward.  She said, 'What part of Montana are you from?"  I told her the Billings Stake.  

She said, "We used to be in the Billings Stake."  

I said, "We lived about 80 miles east in the Musselshell Valley."  

She said "Lavina, Rygate…"

I said, "Those are towns in my school district [that we played ball against].  I went to Musselshell." 

She said, "I know Musselshell."  

I said, "We went to school in Musselshell and church in Melstone."  

She said, "I know Melstone."  

Then she asked if I knew Barr Edward or John and Donna Edward.  I told her I remembered them but was quite young when they moved away from our branch.  (It is coming back now.  I vaguely remember Barr and Darla but not the other kids, Brent, Annette, and Ross—names sound familiar.)  Then she asked me if I knew the Savages.  I said "My mom is Rose Savage, sister to Ven, and Bert, and Gil (and the rest)."  Then we made the connection.  Her husband is Ross Edward, the youngest son of John and Donna, the family that used to be in my home branch.  It was a fun discovery for me.  She wrote down my name and email address and my dad and mom's names so that she can tell Ross about us.  It is interesting how often people in this worldwide church make connections with others and especially here in the DC area where so many people from all over the country are brought together because of some connection with the military or federal government.  It really is a small world.

A quick search on the internet produced the obituary of John and Donna's oldest son, Barr who died in May 2011.  His dad died in 1989 and his mom in 1995—(they are buried in Ogden, Utah.)

Anniversary Week

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Sister Boone and I sat down Sunday afternoon and made a long list of sisters we could telephone and see if we can get a few appointments for this week.  We were successful in setting nine appointments and then planned a few cold calls to fill in the gaps.  A couple of the appointments canceled on us, but it turned out to be a good week in spite of that.  We are just trying to remain positive that we do have a purpose for being here.

Today, the 23rd is my 43rd wedding anniversary.  For the last six years I have been going to the temple on our anniversary, but did not do so today.  Still, it was a most wonderful day.   It was one of those "after the trial of your faith" experiences.  We started out in the middle of the trial phase.  Our first appointment was at 2:00 so we picked a few sisters to go to before that.  At the first house, a woman answered the door.  Her tirade went something like this.  "Oh, are you looking for Achia?  She is not here.  She is my daughter-in-law.  My husband is a police officer.  He works nights and you just woke him up AGAIN! (We have not been there before.)  If she is interested she will contact you so stop coming by." 

We left feeling rejected and a little offended (at least I did) by this seemingly personal attack.  I wondered if I even wanted to knock on another door, but we did.  It would be much safer to just call the sisters and see if we can come see them.  But from our experience, most of them do not answer their phone or return the call when we leave a message.  Two more sisters were not home.  And then it was time for our first appointment.  We had visited Nancy before and enjoyed this visit.  Sister Boone gave a little spiritual thought before we said a prayer together and left.  She picked the perfect message for such a day.  It was about pure charity.  It was a gentle reminder that helped me accept the harsh words we had received earlier this morning with forgiveness.

Our next appointment was with a wonderful sister of German descent.  She was born in Bavaria, joined the church as a teenager, and met an American student about a year later at a combined ward New Year's Eve party.  They were married in the Provo temple.  She was an only child as her father died young, and she is the mother of four children.  She studied Comparative Literature and her husband studied Slavic Linguistics.  Their children are all well-educated.  It is so refreshing to converse with her.  She talked about the differences she has noticed between Americans and Germans but it was not in a derogatory way.  In her experience, Germans are not as open with others, especially strangers, but their families are very close.  She has a wonderful relationship with her children and is such a positive person.  She has great spiritual insights.  It was just delightful to spend an hour with her.  As usual, we ended our visit with a spiritual thought and prayer.  After the thought, she asked us another question:  "In your experience here, why do you think people leave the church or become inactive?"  We said that is the question we have asked ourselves on several occasions.  She told us that her interest rises from the fact that she works with the Seminary program for the youth on a Stake level and visits the various seminary classes to observe and guide the teachers (some of which are not trained as teachers, just called to those positions as their ward calling).  When our discussion suggested in many cases the youth (investigators) just do not gain a testimony that will sustain them through this experience we call life, she shared her interesting insight regarding the matter of helping the youth (and those whom the missionaries teach) to gain a testimony outside of the connection they may or may not have with the teacher (or missionary).  They must not just be converted to the teacher but rather to the Savior.  She believes that sometimes the teacher expresses a lesson in such a way that it becomes rather theatrical, a performance.  It can be very moving, and the student may be touched by the message but does not recognize that as the Spirit or the Holy Ghost.  Unless the teacher can step back in a sense and let the student feel the true influence of the Spirit and be taught by the Holy Ghost they may come away with a false testimony, one that is dependent on that teacher and not on the true source of light, Jesus Christ.

This is the same basic concept that is often discussed about missionary work.  The missionaries come with a special message about Jesus Christ and the listeners hear and feel a special feeling that they have not felt before.  This is the Light of Christ that is available to all men.  They associate this wonderful feeling with the missionaries.  They feel the Spirit and are baptized.  But if they do not develop a relationship with the Savior, their activity in the Church and their testimony dims when the missionaries are gone.

After we talked about this principle, this good sister offered a beautiful, heartfelt prayer that was just what our spirits needed this day.  I felt my heart swell within me as we visited.  Her prayer was an expression of the message that Heavenly Father wanted us to hear this day.  We stood to leave.  She said " and now you give hugs" as if to ask that is just what you do, right?  Sister Boone hugged her and said "Thank you.  I feel like I know you now."  Then I hugged her and said "I feel like I knew you before."