Week 15

April 30, 2017

 

 

Dear Loved ones,

This has been an amazing week! Tuesday my brother, Winston and his wife Shirl, dropped by on their way home from Salt Lake. It was so fun to see them, unfortunately, I was about to leave for a meeting, so we didn’t have long to chat.

My meeting was some sort of Multi-Stake Public Affairs council that I was invited to attend because I am the mission representative to Just Serve, the church website for community service projects. The Mayor of Pocatello was our guest speaker.  He talked about Pocatello being chosen for a new temple.  He commented on all the talk about where the temple will be built.  He reminded us that the most obvious place may not be it.  He told about the people in Twin Falls being certain that their temple would be built on a large piece of land that the Church already owned.  Then President Hinckley came to visit.  He asked to be driven all over Twin Falls.  He saw a large green area and asked about it; he was told it was a golf-course.  He then had them drive him down into an area near a small waterfall where he looked up onto the golf-course and said, “that is where the Lord wants his temple.  I have seen it there.” Therefore, the mayor counseled us all to not waste time speculating where the temple will be built.  We will all know when the church announces it. 

At the end of the meeting the Mayor bore a powerful testimony of Jesus Christ.  We had a 7^th Day Adventist there to tell us about a community event they are hosting, he raised his hand and said how grateful he is that our city government is run by someone who truly understands and loves the Savior.  It was an amazing meeting and I was grateful to be there.

The housing couple that I work with in the office are coming to the end of their mission.  Monday, their replacements will come in for training.  We wanted to have special office good-by, so Thursday we stayed in the office for lunch.  Sister Christensen brought chicken salad and croissants, Sister Parkin brought a vegetable tray, and I brought cut-up fresh fruit.  The Balls, the couple that are leaving, brought us strawberry pies. It was a fun time to just chat and enjoy each other before things change. Afterward, the Christensens and the Balls left, so the office was quiet when I had I great surprise, my brother Robert and his wife, Linda walked in.  They were on their way to Idaho Falls to see their Grandson, James perform in his final Ballroom Dancing competition.  It was so good to see them.

Thursday night was Relief Society.  My Ward only meets every 6 weeks, but they had an amazing Evening. The round tables were all set up for us with a good supply of water-color pencils, brushes, and we each had a piece of art paper, and a cup of water at our place.  An artist in the Ward then spent a little time talking about the 5 shapes that make up everything: spheres, cylinders, pyramids, cubes, and cones. She also explained the “Law of thirds” and then told us to draw a circle on our paper not in the center but applying the “law of thirds”.  She then sat at a small table in the center of the room and had us gather around and watch her do that.  We each went back to our table and followed her example. She then gave us many small steps in the same manner. When the evening was over we all had an amazing picture of an apple on a shelf. Plus, we all had ample time to visit with each other as we worked.  She walked around between steps and encouraged each of us. It was such an enjoyable evening.

Friday, was Mission Leadership Council in the building, so it was my turn to work in the office alone.  I also got to go down and help we the lunch and eat with President, Sister Hancock and the missionaries with leadership assignments. Such a wonderful day.  I will attach a group picture.

Friday evening, Brother and Sister Kunze in my Ward invited me to go with them to a concert on the Idaho State University campus. They had tickets to “Elijah”, but Mendelsohn. A community choir of over a hundred singers performed with their local orchestra.  Soloists were brought in from around the country. The music was so powerful and I loved having the words projected so you could follow along. Afterwards, we went to a buffet put on by one of the sponsors for the performers.  Brother Kunze is an emeritus member of the board, so we were included.  It was such a delightful evening.

Saturday, I was thrilled to have Emily come up and visit me.  I drove her all around Pocatello and she took me to dinner at Sizzler’s.  I wish she could have stayed longer, but realize that her family needed her to go home with them.

Congratulations!! To my amazing grandchildren, Alden Funk and Amy Hancock, for Graduating this week from BYU.  I am so proud of the hard work accomplished and hope the next chapter in your life will bring you joy and success.

Emily and I spent time talking about the reunion and Thanksgiving, I will send out attachments.  Please let me know ASAP how many of your family members will be there either Thursday or Friday night to go to the Pickleville Playhouse. I need to know how many 3 to 11 year-olds because they are cheaper. The tickets are going so don’t delay.  I will order as soon as I hear from each of you.

Looking forward to spending some time with you at the reunion.  I am grateful you agreed to come within my mission boundaries so I can be part of it.

Love,

Mom/Grammie/ Sister Shill