Message—1 August 2011
Dear Family & Friends,
The best news of the week is that on Saturday, Elder Swaner and Elder Olson (with previous help from Elder Morrison) had a baptism in the Brockport Ward; the first convert baptism in the ward in about two years. We were very excited and pleased for this great blessing. The young man’s name is Zach Eustes; he is 18 years old and is a friend of Monica Griffiths, who is the 17 year old daughter of a member family. Zach was also confirmed in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. He is a fine young man and hopes to be able to go on a mission. Quite a few ward members attended the baptism service on Saturday. It is always a blessing to be at a baptism service and feel the power of the Spirit which is always present. Baptisms are the rewards for inviting and helping people receive the gospel and a witness of the Holy Spirit that it is true.
Also on Saturday morning we served our first shift at the Family History Center in our ward building. We had one non-member lady come in and we helped her order two microfilm’s that have vital records for Italian families who are her ancestors. We also helped a sister who is a ward member find some information about her grandfather and great grandfather to help her get started on connecting her ancestors together. We will enjoy serving in this ward calling and learning how to do more of our own family history when we return home.
In finding an apartment in Warsaw for a senior couple who will be arriving in the mission on August 16th, we had some good experiences. The apartment we were led to find is next door to a retired Catholic Nun. The owners of the apartment building operate a large farm near Warsaw. Bill and Dorine Jenkins own the building, and they are 81 years old. Bill is a 4th generation grandson of the man who first owned the farm in 1881. The farm has 1200 acres; but Bill has leased out all except 300 acres to other farmers since he is 81. Bill has been on the Warsaw Town Council for 40 years straight. He was thinking of not running again this year but he does not want to let the younger people take over for fear they will not keep within the budget. While he has been on the town council, they have never been in the red, they have always had a surplus without raising taxes; and have accomplished many valuable services for the community. That is a great accomplishment from which our US Legislature could learn much. Bill is also the President of the Western NY Corn and Soybean Growers Assoc. In spite of all these great accomplishments in his life he is a very kind and personable man and helps many of his neighbors. He and his wife would make great LDS Church members if the missionaries could teach him. Bill and his wife are good friends with one of his neighbors who was the previous Warsaw Branch President.
Saturday evening we went to look through a very nice home which a good church member has offered to make available for senior couples to live in. On the way there, since we were early, we stopped for an ice cream treat and visited with a 90 year old couple who had also stopped for an ice cream treat. They were both very friendly with us even though they read our name tags. At the end of our visit, the man said if I had noticed sooner that you were a minister in your church I would have confessed my sins to you.
We are greatly blessed to be here in this mission. There are great people here who will make good church members if they will accept the invitation to receive the gospel. They are all our brothers and sisters, and already know the church is true in their hearts; they just need to feel the witness of the Holy Spirit to help them remember what they learned in the pre-mortal life; and then accept that witness and repent and be baptized and live the gospel.
We hope those who have birthdays and anniversaries this month will have happy ones and will increase their love for family members. We hope our children and their families who can make it, have a great family reunion on Saturday August 6th. McKenzie has a birthday on August 3rd, Britt has his birthday on August 16th, Wyatt has his birthday on August 18th, Aaron has his birthday on August 20th, and Chris has his birthday on August 26th. Marv and Lou have birthdays on August 25th. On August 19th Ruel and Ethel Jensen will celebrate (in the Spirit World) their 80th wedding anniversary when they were sealed together forever in the Salt Lake Temple. They now have a posterity of more than 230; and it is a great privilege and blessing to be among that number. Our lives have been blessed in so many ways, including eternal blessings, because of these two wonderful and faithful parents. I love them more every time I think of them and their great example and all they sacrificed for us.
We have an absolute witness from the Spirit that the church is true, Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration, Jesus Christ Lives and is the head of the Church and directs it through his prophet today, who is President Thomas S. Monson. The Book of Mormon is true as well as the other scriptures we have; and they can all help us learn to use our agency to follow the example of the Savior. We love and appreciate all of you and pray for you every day, and we feel the power of your prayers for us.
Love,
Mom & Dad, Grandma & Grandpa, Richard & Maxine
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