#3 Hitting the pavement running . . .
Happy Thanksgiving!  On this Thanksgiving day we sit here pondering our many blessings.  This new adventure is such a blessing but is stretching us in so many ways.  Once we work through the home sickness for our children and grandchildren, I believe we can embrace the joy of serving.  The pace of this learning cure does keep us so busy that we don’t have a lot of time to miss the family.  We are , it seems, in another universe as we are meeting new people every day, and learning unfamiliar tasks.

After we arrived on  Saturday the 15th we switched our gears into fast forward .  We unpacked and dropped into bed, then attended church at 11:00 Sunday morning.  As missionaries, we were to greet people and introduce ourselves.  The ward was warm and friendly, and I had a difficult time remembering anyone's name.  It was such a strange feeling.  Yet, this badge gave me an urgent sense to reach out to everyone.  Since the Jensens were going home on Thanksgiving Day, there were 14 of us (full time missionaries) who practiced and sang at their farewell talks this past Sunday.

But we really hit the pavement running Monday morning.  Sister Jensen is an amazing and energetic personality who has been with the mission from it's beginning 17 months ago.  She is committed to speak only positive things, and she reaches out to so many.  She is also very tenderhearted friendly with everyone.  Brother Jensen is a man who will do anything for anyone. His laid-back personality lets a person know that he is the most important person in the world. This couple loved their missions and do not want to go home.  They have spend the past week and a half trying to teach us the many many things they’ve learned about and done with missionary housing.  And, in their spare time they have taught a few converts, and truly served and cared for many who are hurting. from life’s struggles.

We arrange for and set up all missionary housing.  When an area is closed by the president, we close it down and removed all the furnishings.  We buy all the furniture, utensils, vacuum, cleaning products, etc.  We have a truck that pulls an enclosed trailer to transport our apartment “kits.  The goal is to standardize all apartments with the same items so the missionaries can live comfortably and simply.

Tuesday, we left at 7:00 am for a 5-hour drive and headed to Bishop to close one apartment and open another.  We met four missionaries, plus a senior couple who helps us with housing in that area.  They invited us, the Elders and Sisters missionaries to their home for lunch.  Then we all went to close the apartment that the Elders lived in.  The young Elders thought they'd cleaned and packed for the move, but oh my, their definition of clean varied from ours.  The apartment was old and quite disgusting.  Members give the missionaries their old couches, tables, and dressers, and over time, missionaries accumulate a lot of “stuff.”  The sister missionaries were so helpful both at moving and cleaning.  So, there were eight of us moving stuff out, sorting and taking the useable items to the new apartment, and cleaning the old apartment so the owner could come for a walkthrough and close it.

Each missionary has his/her own story.  One cute Elder had just been here three weeks.  He came from a violent city with unhealthy parents.  He wasn’t sent to the MTC., but came straight to the mission.  Wow! That had to be hard.  He said he almost returned home that first week.  When I asked him what kept him here he said he “prayed really, really, really hard. “  He hasn’t one Mormon friend back home, but he has a strong testimony of the gospel.

When the missionaries help with these rigorous moves (whether in or out), we like to take them out to lunch.  One new experience for me, as we eat most of our meals out as we travel, is that Elder and Sister Jensen and all the missionaries, pray over their meals out loud in the restaurants.  I've always said a silent prayer, but this is the first I’ve visibly prayed in a restaurant. 

We left and headed up to Mammoth, about 2-1/2 hrs. further to take the Elders an iron and a few other needed items.  The four elders who live there are pretty isolated in that resort town, and were thrilled to see us.  We could see they were hoping we would take them to dinner-so we did.  What cute and dynamic guys. Two Elders are English speaking and two are Spanish speaking.  It is difficult to teach there because the population is vacationing, and the workers can't attend church.  But they are positive and work hard.

 We headed back to Bishop, spent the night, then closed an apartment  in Lone Pine the next day.  That place has been occupied for a few years, and so much had been accumulated, that the Spanish speaking elders offered the extra furniture and clothing to a woman passing by.  Within minutes we had a eight women combing the “free garage cell,” asking us what things they could take.  It was actually quite fun.

By Thursday evening we were exhausted.  We’d purchased and moved for hours, cleaned and taken things to Good will . .  and I had a wave of missing the family.  I wasn’t sure I could do this.  I too, prayed “really really really hard” for the strength to  do what needed to be done.  Mike and I realized we had not had time to move in, or make our apartment a home, so we took a few hours to hang pictures, purchase needed items, and settle into our new place.  Friday morning I felt human again.  Luckily, Saturday we were able to make a three hour drive to see our grand daughter, Reese, in a play

This week has also been packed.  We love the missionaries we been able to get to know.  There is so much to learn; but, our trainers have done a fabulous job setting up a system that I’m sure will help us as we move forward.  They are on their way home today and we have the keys to move forward.  Even though Mike and I have both sent missionaries (seven, combined) from our families, we had no idea how much effort and expense is put out by volunteers and the church, to help these young men and young women be successful in their work in the “Lord’s University.”

We are so grateful this Thanksgiving Day and always, that we have this opportunity to work with and get to know these incredible young people, who, like most of us, are trying to figure out how they can best serve our Father in Heaven as they reach out to bring others unto Christ, our Lord and Savior.  We are mindful that all good things come from Him, who gave us life.

And we are so grateful for you, our friends and loved ones, who love and support us in our efforts.  May the Lord continue to bless you!

 Assistants at lunch on a crazy-busy day in the office

 Bakersfield  Apartment Inspectors

 Three Moves In Bishop and Lone Pine

 Lunch In the Sun Break

 Bakersfield Mission Office

Oil Rigs are scattered throughout the landscape, working 24/7

#2 MTC Weeks

We have arrived in Bakersfield.  The whole adventure doesn’t feel real yet, but we had a nice welcoming party with the Jensens and Moons to greet us.  They had our apartment set up, with dinner and treats to greet us.  We are replacing the Jensens, who are mainly over missionary housing, and we will be sad to see them leave (on Thanksgiving Day.)

Our two weeks in the MTC were rigorous and quite emotionally draining.  We started each day with a devotional.  We were divided into districts of eight and did much of our work in a classroom The young instructors, returned missionaries and current college students who work part time to teach us, were amazing. 

In the days that Mike, my brothers, and my children went on missions, they memorized seven discussions to teach the gospel.  I wanted to go on a mission, but daddy wouldn’t consider it because he didn’t think girls should serve a mission.  Now the teaching has changed and the missionary is to take time to get to know the investigator, assess what he needs or is seeking spiritually, then teach the concepts of the gospel that can fulfill his needs.  The goal is the same.  The purpose of teaching the gospel is to invite others to come to Christ.  Of course, following Christ, and striving to be like Him, repenting of personal sin, and  taking on His name through the receiving the ordinances of His gospel will bring peace and eternal happiness.  The thing I love about missionary work is that we are not asking the investigator to believe what we say, but we ask him to pray and find out truth for himself.  Sharing the gospel isn’t meant to force, coerce, or argue a belief for anyone; but, to let others know of the restoration, the plan of salvation and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Of course our course of study was Preach My Gospel.  I was frustrated how difficult it was to get the things of my heart, and my knowledge of the gospel out of my mouth in any sort of intelligent way.  I was not that great.  Luckily, Mike was more articulate.  We had many role-plays, but three were with folks outside the MTC. It was surprizing that, even though the scenarios were role-playing, we cared so much about the individual.  It was pretty exhilarating.

  We had three other couples in our district:  Elder & Sis. Wallace who were going to SLC on a Family History mission; Elder & Sis Russell who were going to Fiji on a Perpetual Education/self reliance mission, and Elder and Sister Blanchard who would be serving in their own stake  in Logan on a Member Leadership Service Mission.(this was actually their 3rd mission -- they were in San Jose as an office couple, and a Humanitarian mission somewhere.

We learned a lot, and have set some goals to help us become better missionaries.  I will admit, by Thursday, I sort of hit the wall, and thought: “what on earth am I doing here?”  The other couples were so cute, and we had a lot of fun.  There were many spiritual moments, and I gained a profound respect for those who do missionary work.  It is amazing that, as much as I love the scriptures and know that this gospel is true, I stumble at giving chapter and verse when teaching.  I hope to remedy that.  My mind is not clear as it used to be and my memory seems to weaken more each year.  Ug!

The second week our training was on the mission office programs and the computer. Although I've worked with Microsoft Word and Excel for years, I learned so many tips to use,  And there is still so much I don’t know.  And, we are very tired.  Our days were more rigorous, but not so emotionally draining.  The church has excellent programs to help the offices keep track of the missionaries:  we worked on Microsoft word, Excel, mission finances, newsletters, referrals, baptismal records, correspondence, housing, etc. Each day we were exhausted. We had a great time and and felt like we were learning a lot.

Once again, we enjoyed our district couples.  We worked with the Bedkey’s who are going to India (but haven’t received their visas yet, so will do an interim at San Diego), the Birch’s who are going to Calvary Canada, and the Kieles who are going to Gahana, Africa.

Our devotional Tuesday night featured Elder Dean Davies, second counselor in the presiding bishopric.  He and his wife did an inspiring job.  I believe if we will remember the moments of personal inspiration, and inspiration from sources such a classes and devotionals, scripture reading, etc. it will be easier for us to follow the Lords plan.  It is just hard to remember--because we have so many distractions in our daily challenges. 

We finished Thursday afternoon, went home and began to pack our Pilot.  Mike packed the care while I gathered our “stuff.” Wow! Mike loaded the Pilot using the rock, pebble, sand, water principle, and actually got everything in the car.  Amazing!  And now we are on the road hoping to serve our Savior the next 18 months in a place where we can help young missionaries as they serve the Lord!

What a challenge!  What a blessing for us!

            1/3 of our Senior Missionary Group:  (Notice Mary & Auston Johnson in our group)

                       Evening Walks in Beautiful Provo

        Packing for 18 months was no easy task!  If we were leaving the country we could only take two suitcases each!

#1 Welcomed at the MTC

Who could have guessed that we could experience so much emotion since we received our LDS mission call on July 17th?  We've tried to make 18 months of memories in 3 1/2 months so that we wouldn't miss our children and grandchildren so-o-o dramatically. I don't think it's going to work . . . but we've had some great fun.  And, we have spent endless hours trying to get all of our affairs in order, our house put together, Ryan moved in, and have even done some Christmas shopping.  And, we have had such wonderful support from the friends and family we cherish so much.

Last night the kids made a great dinner (we don't have any of our own food left in the house) and we had a fun, noisy, chaotic family night.  I can hardly believe how the grandchildren get cuter, more talented, and more loving each year. As the adults were putting the dinner away, the little ones formed their own little choir and instead of singing "Let It Go," they were in the living room singing "I am a Child of God." In the midst of it all, the reality hit me that we really are leaving to do something I have wanted to do my whole life: serve a mission for my Savior, Jesus Christ.  At the same time I knew that it would be one of the hardest things we've done, because we have to, for a moment, leave a part of life that is more precious that life itself.  I had no idea it would be so difficult.

We've had the promised blessing that our family and friends will be watched over, and we know that the Lord can certainly bless, teach them, and help them in ways we never can, but still the tears flowed.  And . . . I am comforted.

Finally, Today we are here at the Missionary Training Center.  What an adventure.  There are 1500 young missionaries in the halls, and 89 of us senior missionaries in our group that arrived today.  The seniors here are from all parts of North America, and will be serving all over the world.  We are among the few who will be serving in the states.  Each missionary has a story of how and why he/she got here.  Many have made major sacrifices to come serve the Lord.  What a blessing it is for Mike and I to be part of this; and, although we don't know exactly what our lives will be like in Bakersfield, CA,  we know we will find joy in the journey.