Week #4 - March 18-24

What a week, jam packed with blessings. Can I just say right at the start that there is such joy in this "work."  It is truly a marvelous work and a wonder how the Lord is in the details of our lives.  Everyone of ours.  Truly I don't know how He does it.  I just know He does.  We are witnesses of His grace and tender mercies.  No coincidences.  We just have to keep our eyes open and our hearts sensitive to his love.

Today being Monday it was to be our PDay (preparation day of the week.)  Starting from this afternoon and working our way back, here is what we have experienced this week:

We have been here for one month and today we were able to participate in the baptism of a 15 year old young man into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He lives with his grandparents during the school year.  His grandmother, despite her own health issues, cares for him along with his grandfather.  We take no credit for his decision to be baptized.  We were just at the right place at the right time.  He was taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ by two different sets of sister missionaries who were here long before we got here.  His grandmother told me today that it wasn't until Elder Gibbons asked if he was ready to be baptized that he said yes. That is humbling to know the Lord can touch hearts and work through ordinary people to bring His children to Christ.  

 

Earlier this morning, the two other sets of missionaries came to our home for a District PDay.  Usually we have PDays on our own, but once a month we join each other.  We had a potluck and played games before getting dressed up for the baptism.  Umm, have you ever played "Pandemic?"  We hadn't either and to be honest we aren't likely to play it again, but the other four were having a great time trying to eradicate the world of the pandemic.  LOL.  

Two younger sisters apparently play jokes on other missionaries and when you aren't looking they pick up your phone and take pictures of themselves without our knowing it.

Meet Sister Froelich and Sister Radmall, both from Utah.  They are great missionaries with happy, positive energy!

     

This is the softest, most cuddly blanket ever and Sister Froelich couldn't help herself.  Thank Jenny Jolley for stuffing it into our belongings before we left Arizona!

Saturday, we drove two hours south to Traverse City and attended an Easter Musical Celebration put on by our Missionaries.  We drove mostly along Lake Michigan and amidst apple and cherry fields just waiting for Spring.  It was a beautiful drive and so worth it.  The program brought the Easter spirit into our hearts for sure.  I can't describe how beautiful the small choir was (it truly sounded like there were four times as many people singing with them... angels?)  Such talent.  Took this picture on our way home.

Doesn't do it justice though.  But it does prove we do have clear skies and see the moon some times.

When we were there, and Elder came up to us and asked if we had a Granddaughter named Roxy.  And we said, "Yes!"  He said he was from Gilbert too and went to Higley High School with her and Jaxen.  We took a picture with Elder Loar and sent it to Roxy and her family asking if they knew him.  Auburn, our daughter-in-law responded, "I am sitting right next to his mother in a church meeting right now."  Like I Said.  No coincidences.  Elder Loar's mom was so happy to see it and Bryan said she teared up seeing him.

What do you do when the visits are done for the day and it's Friday date night?  Order pizza and go home to eat it.

Thursday evening Michael Choules, the Ward Clerk of our home ward (Sonoran Springs) texted us with a picture of our missionary plaque that will hang in our Church building until we return.

Our Mission President, President Peckham, sent a Facebook Messenger Chat to the entire mission Monday night with a fantastic Grand Rapids, Michigan Temple update.  We are so excited.  When a Temple is announced and going to be built there are a lot of county and city codes that the Church must meet, of course.  Many times the community it is being built in has height restrictions and in the end what was submitted was approved.

I received a package in the mail this week that contained a beautiful cashmere sweater.  The only problem is, there was nothing indicating who it came from.  As I thought about it, it was like, "This person could have.  No that person could have."  And then I realized that any of our family and friends have the hearts to do something so thoughtful.  So anyone want to confess?  Whoever you are, thank you!  Here is a picture of it in the morning before we left.  It was a beautiful day.  Blue skies and 22 degrees.  The snow was glistening.

On one of our long drives, we listened to a BYU Speech given by David A Bednar given on January of this year called, "Consider the Wondrous Works of God."  Such a great talk!  Here is my big takeaway... YOU are God's wondrous works.  He leads us and helps us grow.  He doesn't do it for us because our work is to become like Him.  He left things unfinished so we have work to do.  Here is a quote for you to ponder from the talk.  Elder Bednar was quoting the Prophet, Thomas S. Monson.