Week 52

Dear Loved Ones,

 

It has been a busy week in the mission.  Monday night was the farewell dinner and testimony meeting with the missionaries going home.  This is always my favorite mission event.  It is so inspiring to hear the spiritual growth of these young people. Hard to say goodbye to some you have gotten to know well and to realize you probably will never see them again.  It was hard for me to say goodbye to Sister Maldonado who is returning home to Puerto Rico.  She hopes to come back to BYU Idaho and do animal science.  Time will tell.

Tuesday morning, we all gathered around our computers to watch the announcement of the new First Presidency. I am delighted that Elder Oakes will have the opportunity to be in the First Presidency as he is next in line to be the President. I am happy for the Uchtdorf’s that they will have more traveling assignment in Europe where they can visit family and friends. I will miss his talks at Women’s conference, because he really “gets” women.

Tuesday afternoon, I went to lunch with my new friend Daisy Christensen. She is a delightful person and had an amazing story to tell me. She lives in an apartment in the basement of her Sister’s house that their Dad is paying for half. Her sister is an alcoholic and her friends brought her home the other night and told Daisy to watch her that they thought she was in real trouble. Daisy didn’t know what to do for her, so she said to her sister, “If I were this sick, I would want a Priesthood blessing”.  Her sister agreed that might help.  So, Daisy called her Home teacher and he came over and gave her sister a blessing. Before Daisy moved to Pocatello she prayed that she would have a dedicated Home Teacher. The Lord answered that prayer. Her Home Teacher was just released as the Stake President. After the blessing and visit with her sister.  Her sister said that she would be alright with someone nonjudgmental like that coming to visit once a month. Daisy was so thrilled with her sister’s response. It validated her feelings that she was right in coming to Pocatello.

Wednesday, our five new missionaries arrived. Four Elders and one sharp Sister. The Elders also seem like they will be successful missionaries. The office staff gives them a little briefing and then they go to the mission home for dinner and the Assistant’s give a little bit about Idaho and missionary work. Sister Hancock has a presentation about their family and then the missionaries each get an envelope that tells them who will be their companion and where they will be serving.  It is always a fun night.  I get to go and take pictures.  I am so grateful President Hancock lets me attend these special nights.

Thursday, was Transfers and those days can be hectic for President, the assistants, and the housing coordinators, but not too bad for me.  Though I did have three baptism reports brought in.  That’s always a happy thing.

Thursday night was Relief Society “Girls Night Out”.  We went to the home of a women in the Ward who is the wife of a counselor in the Bishopric.  She may have a job in R.S. I don’t know because I am in Primary. It was a fun evening – everyone brought snacks. Yummy salsa, chips, veggie trays, fruit etc. After we all had time to eat and chat she gathered half of us on the bench under her huge bay window that overlooks Pocatello and the other half on chairs creating a circle.  She then had us all share what was meaningful to us in 2017. Did we discover a scripture that helped us? Or anything else we would like to share. It was a good experience.  Most of the sisters had very insightful comments to make. Others were not pressured to share if they didn’t want to.  Great night!!

Friday, I treated as my P-day cleaning, groceries etc. so I was free to drive to the Idaho Falls Temple (with President’s permission). I had a family name that Family Search had given me, so I did Initiatories and Jennifer and I did an endowment session.  I listened to a great book on the way to the temple call “The Holy Invitation”.  There is an article by this author in the December issue of LDS Living. It is a great book especially for those going to the temple for the first time to give them some perspective.

I was home in plenty of time for my Saturday night Stake Conference meeting.  I love those meetings there is always a special spirit there.  Today was our Stake Conference centered on Charity. The Stake President used the same quote from Marvin J. Ashton that I told you President Hancock used in Zone Conferences. His counselor gave a wonderful formula to the youth or those struggling with their testimony. He termed it BDK Believe – Do – Know. He illustrated this with several quotes from John in the New Testament, including the story of the woman at the well. She ran to tell her friends that she had found the Messiah. They believed her so they acted on that belief and when they had come to the Savior they then knew for themselves. If you only believe what your parents or others tell you that is enough if you will “do” the Lord’s will you will come to know the Savior for yourself.

Hope you all have a great week.  I will be going to Zone Conferences this week so I am looking forward to great experiences.

 

Love to all,

Grammie/Sister Shill