March 27, 2017

March 27, 2017

I have reached the high point in my mission.  I can’t imagine having a more wonderful evening than I just experienced. It was the last night for two of our missionaries, Sister Cliff from Phoenix and Elder Bradfield from New Zealand. I have such happy memories of being in Elder Bradfield’s home when Dad and I were on our mission together.  We had a lovely dinner at the mission home after which we went downstairs for a testimony meeting.  Elder Bradfield bore a powerful testimony by sharing how different aspects of his testimony were strengthened by each companion that he served with.  Sister Cliff told us of her fears when she received her patriarchal blessing because it talked about her leadership roles. She said at 17 she was a bundle of anxieties and couldn’t imagine leading anything. She said how hard it was in the beginning to knock on doors and how she has grown to love sharing the gospel with strangers. President Hancock shared a little of his family history.  He comes from Levi Ward Hancock whose son Joseph Smith Hancock had a son who came to Arizona. I can’t remember his name but his son had to take over supporting the family when his father died even though he was just 10 years old.  He became a sheepherder. Living among the sheepherders he grew up without the gospel had problems with alcohol. The next generation avoided alcohol but were not active in the church. I don’t remember exactly how it comes down to him, but he was telling the story to explain how happy he was to have his daughter and her husband here visiting. He delighted in seeing how they were teaching the gospel to his grandchildren.  His point was that although his ancestors were lost to the gospel their descendants have established the gospel in their homes.  He wanted the missionaries to remember that they won’t know the reasons why there are less active families here in Idaho, but it is important for them to work to bring them back into full fellowship in the church.

Just as we finished our meeting the doorbell rang.  The Bradfields had spent the day down in Salt Lake trying to make connection with the elders that converted them.

I had wondered all day if the Bradfields would even remember me considering how many other senior couples would have come to Takapuna Ward in the last seventeen years. When Joy walked in she called me Nancy and gave me a great hug! Elder Bradfield’s father took a while to place me.  I took our mission picture and showed it to him.  He asked Dad’s specialty and as soon as I said something about allergy.  He knew immediately and said, “He changed the way I practice medicine by telling me how effective Zantac is in treating allergies.”  

We sat in the living room and visited for a while.  It was amazing to hear Elder Bradfield’s father call him Tom with his New Zealand accent.  It immediately brought to my mind the four-year old version of Elder Bradfield.  So many memories came flashing back.  The parents told their conversion story.  Brother Bradfield’s family was tracted by missionaries when they lived in South Africa.  He was given a Book of Mormon which he put on the shelf and never touched in the following 8 years.  In the meantime, he met Joy and hated to admit they had lived together about 5 years, but when they wanted to start a family they decided to get married.  She was having her family come from England, so it was decided that he would go home and live with his parents until time for the wedding.  He went home and one night with nothing else to do, opened up the Book of Mormon. He couldn’t put it down. After the wedding, he spent his honeymoon reading the Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price. After the honeymoon, he found some missionaries and told them he wanted to be baptized. They said he would need six lessons.  He didn’t want to wait.  Joy wasn’t ready and wanted him to wait for her, but he said he knew it was true and didn’t dare not act on that knowledge.  Eventually, Joy also joined.  It was so wonderful to hear them repeat the story I remembered hearing years ago.  So wonderful to meet their son and find him such a wonderful missionary.

I just had to write while it was fresh in my mind.  It’s been a wonderful week!

The Gospel is so amazing! And so true!!!!

Love and hugs,

Grammie/ Sister Shill

Week 10 & 11

March 26, 2017

Dear Family,

Sorry I didn’t write last week.  Some group froze my computer and claimed to be Microsoft and they were walking me through saving me from some problem.  When they got control of my desktop, and told me I had to pay for some outrageous program. I turned off my computer called Jon.  In rather picturesque terms he said that letting someone on my desktop was like having unprotected ___. I won’t forget that! He told me not to turn it back on until I had someone check for malware. So my computer sat in the repair shop waiting its turn to be fixed.  I got it back Friday.  Fortunately, they didn’t find anything on there.  They told me that the security program I had bought was not good.  They put a free program on that they like called Avast Free Antivirus and Avast Safe Zone Browser. Has anyone heard anything about this or does anyone suggest a good security program?

I had planned to tell you about a good lesson I learned last week.  Someone brought fruit from Arizona for a sister in the mission that is from Yuma.  I volunteered to drive it up to this Sister who is living in Georgetown, ID.  I was warned in the office I had better get permission from the President.  I did and he was happy to let me drive it up there. I was excited to have a nice drive now that the weather has improved. I have to admit I never got a feeling of peace about this adventure. I had a restless night and had decided I would tell the mission Pres I didn’t feel right about going.  I no sooner got to the office than I had a call from the President.  I was about to explain my change of mind, but he was excited to tell me that Elder Dietz mission call had arrived and his parents were driving down from Idaho Falls to watch him open it in the President’s Office at 2:00. The whole office has been excited to hear where Elder Dietz would go.  He is a “two transfer elder.” This a program where young men that family or priesthood leaders are concerned that they may not be able to handle missionary work, are given the opportunity to give it a try. So they come out to a mission not far from their home and serve for two transfers ( 2- six week periods).  They are then evaluated and either return home or are given a real call and they go to the MTC before going to their new mission assignment.  We have had two such missionaries in our mission.  One elder was miserable and decided he wanted to go home.  Elder Dietz on the other hand has been a delight.  We all were so excited that he was going to get a call.  In all the excitement of watching him open his call I totally forgot my concerns and when I had learned where he was going I started out on my adventure.

I had scheduled an appointment to have the gas gauge fixed on the next Tuesday.  I wanted to be sure I had enough gas so I stopped in Inkom a short distance from Pocatello and filled it up.  It said I took 7+ gallons so that seemed about right.  Each Saturday I have filled the tank and it has usually taken 8 + gallons.  I drove up to the sister’s in Inkom and they were thrilled to get the citrus from Sister Jarvis’ family. It was a beautiful day! I had the sun roof open and enjoyed the ride. When I was back on  Interstate 15, I began thinking how glad I was I had gone on this little jaunt. But then my car failed to respond when I pushed on the gas pedal.  I was slowing down.  I pulled over to the side of the highway.

I called Onstar and told them I thought my fuel pump was broken, I was sure I could not be out of gas. They said they would have a tow truck sent out.  I figured I was about 15 minutes outside Pocatello.  I didn’t think it would take long.  Apparently, both trucks were out on call and they told me it would be about 2 hours. Well it was closer to three.  Fortunately, I had a good book on Audible to listen to and the day was lovely as the sun began to set.

Eventually, the tow truck arrived and took me to the Buick Dealer.  The driver asked for my keys because the sun roof was still open. He closed the roof and put the keys in the envelope I had filled out, and put the keys in the drop box at the dealership. It was about 8:00p.m. and I couldn’t find a car rental open, so the driver offered to drive me to my apartment.  As we approached the apartment complex I told him to just drop me at the entrance because the roads are narrow and horribly bumpy within the complex and his huge vehicle would have problems.  He was fortunately a true gentleman and insisted on driving me to my door.  When I hopped  out of the truck and started for my apartment door I opened my purse and realized that my door key was still on the ring with my car key in the lock box at the dealership.  The only people I know in my apartment complex were not home and I began to panic.  I ran back to the parking lot and fortunately the tow truck was just getting turned around.  I ask if he were headed back to town could I get a ride down the hill to the Red Lion motel.  He agreed and dropped me off.  I spent a night in the motel, called a taxi in the morning because Enterprise only brings your car to you on weekdays and it was Saturday. I drove straight to the dealership and got my apartment and office key.  They told me that they put gas in the car and it ran just fine. I still cannot fathom how that was possible. It is only 62 miles from Inkom to Georgetown.  They did find that my brakes were bad.  I figured that was true because I nearly put myself through the windshield when I put on the brakes in the rental car. They also said my front wheel bearings needed replacing.  So  the car was there until Wednesday.  

No harm came to me just my bank account.  What a hassle I could have been spared if I had stayed in the city until Tuesday, when I was scheduled to go to the dealership.  One should listen for that feeling of peace.  Excitement can confuse the answer.  One should always wait for the feeling of peace.

This week has been busy in the office. I have been trying to catch up on the mission history.  Last year’s history is due the end of this month.  Sister DeWitt had last year’s put together.  I am just waiting for the President’s overview of the year.  I have been trying to summarize the events of each month so there won’t be a problem at the end of 2017.

This coming week will be busy.  We have transfers but only one elder is arriving and we are losing a sister and an elder.  Elder Bradfield’s parents are coming from New Zealand to pick him up.  I am so excited to see them. Who thought I would ever see my favorite couple from New Zealand again.  So many happy memories of being in their home while on my first mission.

Sister Christensen invited me to go with her family to see “Beauty and the Beast”.  It was fun to be on a family outing and I enjoyed the show though it seemed a little overdone.  I liked Belle very much and the beast was lovable.

One of the Stakes here puts on an annual “Walk with Christ” I think it must be a little like we did the Christmas story one year in Lehi where parts of the story were told in different rooms in the building and we had a donkey ride and the nativity in the back of the church.  I have met the man that will be playing Pontius Pilate. The office staff says it is really worthwhile.  I took a picture of the poster with my phone and will send it to our group chat.  Would any of you in Utah like to come up.  If Katrina has something else planned for Jon’s birthday, maybe you could come up Friday night.  I would get motel rooms for any of you that want to come up.  Let me know what you think.

Love and hugs to you all, Grammie   

       P.S. The Gospel is true!!!

Week 9

March 12, 2017

Dear Family,

This has been a busy week.  I like having a busy week.  My final report on February baptisms was due on Thursday. I’ve been struggling with the problem that President Hancock told the assistants not to waste time making the reports that I have been trained to use in determining if I have the forms for all baptisms.  It is true that the Key Indicator reports give me numbers and location of baptisms, but without names, I have struggled all month trying to match up names.  President suggested that he would tell them to email me when they have baptisms. They only have access to computers on Mondays, so I didn’t think that would work.  Last Sunday night it occurred to me that they would have their phones at their baptisms and they could text me the name and Ward and that would give me a list of the baptisms with names that I could check off when the reports come in.  I put my idea into the newsletter on Monday and I received some this week.  Time will tell if this will work.

Wednesday, we were able to hold the Zone Conference in Montpelier that was canceled because of a blizzard a couple of weeks ago.  I drove up with the Christiansens, the couple in charge of Vehicles.  I enjoyed visiting with them and getting to know them better.  Fortunately, the roads were clear, but the snow created a total white out in the fields and on the mountains.  People’s driveways had huge piles of snow where they had been plowed.  All the missionaries seemed especially happy to be together.  In the words of the President, they all acted like they were suffering from cabin fever.  They’ve been rather snowbound because of the weather. I loved hearing their talks when the President called on them extemporaneously. They are such an inspiration to me.

One thing I have learned working in the office is how much missionaries love getting mail.  I feel guilty about the poor job I did of writing to my missionary grandchildren.  I am going to try to be better. Let’s as a family send brief letters to Braden and Steven.  It means a lot to the missionaries when they have a letter in the mail.  I will tell you a sad story about one of my favorite missionaries.  I know I shouldn’t have favorites but Elder Horne was in my Ward and he was so helpful in introducing me to people in the Ward.  He has been transferred out to be a Zone Leader somewhere else.  He was in the office the other day, and I asked him if he had checked to see if there was mail for him.  He told me he never gets mail, and to make matters worse his companion gets mail all the time.  The other day his companion tricked him into thinking he had mail because he put two of his letters face down on Elder Horne’s desk.  His companion was telling me how excited Elder Horne when he saw the letters. He laughed and thought it was such a funny joke he had played on his companion.  I thought how cruel!!!  I would love to have my family send a bunch of letters to Elder Horne at the mission office 135 S. 7^th Ave, Pocatello, ID 83201 and let him have the last laugh!!

I know I am so ashamed that my grandchildren didn’t hear much from me.  I hope you will all forgive me and I hope I can be better to those who will yet go to serve.  I love you all and hope that you got to see the wonderful discussion with President Eyring and Elder Holland that took place in Palmyra.  Thanks to whoever sent me that link.  I really enjoyed it.

I love you all, and I love the Lord and am so grateful to be a part of His important missionary work at this time.

  Love and Hugs, Grammie

Week 8

Dear Family,

I just looked out the window and what did I see? No not popcorn on the apricot tree. That fluffy white stuff that has been melting away all week is now falling out of the sky again!!! Big white fluffy stuff!  A week ago last Friday we had such a blizzard that even the President and the assistants couldn't get to Montpelier for Zone Conference. The conference has been rescheduled for this Wednesday, but it looks like we could have snow off and on until then. That probably means seniors won't be going.  I am sad about that.

 

Primary went well today.  Sister Elliott taught the lesson.  She and her husband and of course Baby Rosie are coming to have dinner with me. It seemed more like a Sunday Morning to get up and put a roast in the crockpot. It also seemed more like Sunday to come home to the smell of roast beef and onions. 

Last Wednesday, I had dinner again with David Linford's niece and family.  I get such a kick out of seeing their four little girls, it reminds me so much of my own little family years ago.  The next night was my Relief Society Birthday dinner. You may remember last year when I was so distraught that my committee wanted to put on a murder mystery for our Birthday Dinner. I wish that committee could have been with me Thursday night.  This Ward put on what I called a "perfect" R.S. Birthday Dinner.  The invitations invited us to "Dinner with Extraordinary Women-Italian Style." The round tables had black tablecloths with red and white checked squares on top. When we arrived there were already basket's of Italian Bread covered by red and white checked napkins, plates of Balsamic Vinegar with shredded Parmesan cheese to dip our bread in,  a salad like at Olive Garden, and fresh flowers on the tables. After the R.S. President told us that we were all extraordinary women she introduced us to our speaker.  She thanked her for being willing to come because she knows how difficult her life has become since she acquired a disease that causes uncontrollable movements of her arms and legs.  When the speaker stood up she seemed just fine, she told us she had prayed hard to stay in control to give the lesson, but she knew that since we were all in her Ward, we would be understanding if she had problems.  She had power point pictures beginning with Emma Smith.  She enumerated the jobs given Emma in Section 24 of the D&C; as she named each job she put a very large pasta shell into an empty bottle. The three shells took up most of the bottle.  Then as she said that Emma also had many other chores, she sprinkled tiny pasta shells around the big ones. She then showed us a picture of her great-grandparents that joined the church and came west, next she showed her grandparents and talked about their accomplishments both great and small. When she talked about her mother she recalled a day that she went down in the potato cellar where her mother was cutting up potatoes for seed. ( I have no idea how many potatoes you have to cut to seed an acre or more.) The amazing thing to her as a child was the fact that her mother was creating a new dress for her in her mind as she worked.  Our Speaker showed us a picture of her as a child in the dress her mother made after she finished the potatoes. She summed up her talk by trying to put the large shells into the jar that had the tiny shell but it didn't work.  She concluded that it is important for us to take care of the important things first and the little things can be worked in after. She had no problems with spasms as she gave her presentation, her prayers were answered.  The Relief Society President then paid tribute to her by telling us that during the depression she only had 2 dresses, but when another woman in the ward only had a dress in rags she gave her one of hers.   We then went to get our pasta (they had asked before hand how many wanted gluten free).  There was a choice of Marinara or Alfredo sauce and chicken covered in some kind of yummy cheese.  It wasn't long before our speaker's spasms began to return and her husband and one of the sisters helped her out to her car. We realized the miracle that she was able to give us such a beautiful message spasm free.

The Elliotts came to dinner and were so appreciative of having a roast beef dinner.  It's been a while for them.  They went to Utah State in Logan. She did her post-graduate degree at Idaho State here in Pocatello. She is now a speech therapist in the schools. He looks like Paul Bunyan, super tall and big with a wide black beard.  A gentle giant.  He stays home with Rosie while she goes to the schools.  She finishes at 3:00 and he goes to work at the Youth Correction facility. 

I've been invited to the Empty Nest Fireside again this week so more to tell coming up.

I am so grateful to be here on this mission, the gospel is true!!! I love you all!!!

Love and hugs,

Grammie