Message—2 January 2012
Dear Family & Friends,
Tuesday, December 27th, we made a trip to the Storage Sheds and picked up some items which we took with us to the transfers so we could deliver them to missionaries who needed them. The transfer meeting was at 12pm at the chapel on Kreag Rd in Fairport NY. The president changed to this chapel so the missionaries would know where to find it for future meetings which will be held there. After the missionaries had all left the chapel with their new companions, we took Elder Swanner and Elder Adair with us and went to see some apartments both they and we had found. We also went with these same elders to see some additional apartments on Wednesday. After seeing all the apartments we narrowed the choices down to the two best for the best price and in the best location. We then called the Mission President and asked him for a decision on which apartment he would prefer the missionaries live in. His answer was to pursue trying to get the apartment we found which is located over a garage at a nice home in the eastern part of Fairport. We provided the information needed by Elder Servoss to take care of the paperwork needed to get a lease agreement signed and arrange for making the first payment to the owner. It took until Tuesday morning, January 3rd, (I know this due to a conversation with elder Servoss today) to get all the paperwork done and a check to pay the owner made out and signed by the President.
On Thursday we took our two new elders, Elder Hulse and Elder Preisendorf, to our first district meeting with them and the new zone leaders, Elder Campbell and Elder Wilson. The meeting was held at the chapel in Greece. Elder Hulse is the new district leader, he is from Terreton Idaho (sometimes called Mud Lake); this is west of Rexburg somewhere. Dave will probably know exactly where it is. Due to the large number of companionships that were involved in last week’s transfers, both of our previous elders were transferred out and the two new elders moved in. They are both good missionaries and we are enjoying getting better acquainted with them. Elder Preisendorf is from North Lehi, northeast of the Lehi Block Company where they make bricks etc. He has a lot of musical talents.
On Friday I took the elder’s to visit with an inactive member who lived in Hilton NY. He is a photojournalist who is self-employed and does work for a variety of people or companies or publishers. He grew up in Salt Lake and has been a member of the church all of his life. We did not get the details from him about a first marriage, but he has remarried an Italian lady from here in western NY who is a strong catholic. He does a lot of traveling and moves fairly often; this is the main reason he is inactive. He moves more often than his membership and that is how he has become inactive. He went on a mission to the British Mission (London area) in 1969, so he and I had some similar stories to share, since I went on my mission to the North British mission in 1963-1965, with the last 6months in the British South mission which is west of London. He shared a lot of stories about his photojournalism projects. The condo in which he lives, has one of the major streams of water that flows in to Lake Ontario right behind his condo. He said he went out fishing one day last year in this stream when the salmon were going upstream to spawn, and he caught a 42 pound salmon in the stream and took pictures of it for one of his projects.
Saturday we had a P-Day and got the wash done and the apartment cleaned up for Sunday and a new year. Saturday afternoon my brothers and sisters and their spouses, except for Anne who stayed in California, gathered at Jay & Loni’s home and had a nice dinner and some visiting etc. While they were together, they tried to connect with us by Skype; but we were not able to make connections. So we just talked a few minutes on the phone. I love my family members very much and appreciate their kindnesses and their good examples; I have learned much from each of you. We had been invited to a Senior missionary couple New Year’s Eve dinner and party at the Hill Cumorah Visitor Center; but we decided not to go. We did not want to risk being in the New Year’s Eve traffic to return home late at night. We stayed at our apartment and enjoyed a peaceful evening together all by ourselves.
It is hard to believe that 2011 has gone, and we are now in 2012. Time really does fly “… on wings of lightning, we cannot call it back…”. One more month and we will be on the downhill side of our two years here in this wonderful mission. We become more convinced each week that the work of the Lord is divinely guided and facilitated. He really is “…able to do His own work..” (2 Ne 27:20-21) , but he is patient and kind and loving and allows us to help in small ways; so we can have experiences to help us learn what we need to learn. He blesses us so abundantly along our daily journeys. I think we do not always recognize how much we are blessed by Heavenly Father and the Savior and the Holy Ghost. I sure do not take much credit for what is accomplished as I try to be helpful. Heavenly Father magnifies our efforts far beyond what we actually do. We love our Father in Heaven and His only begotten son, the Lord Jesus Christ; and we are so thankful for the help and guidance of the Holy Ghost in our lives. We know this is the true church and that we have prophets and apostles who are inspired to teach and lead us in the correct ways. King Benjamin is absolutely right, the more good we do the more blessings we receive; we will never be able to repay the Father and the Son for our blessings; and the promised blessings awaiting us as we follow the gospel plan and teachings and revelations provided in scriptures and through current revelation. The atonement and resurrection are the greatest gifts available to us. We work at repenting every day and strive to keep the covenants we have made and serve Heavenly Father and our King and Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, and our fellow men.
We hope Josie has a wonderful birthday tomorrow, January 3rd; and Lynne on January 19th. We talked with Josie and Austin tonight and wished Josie a happy birthday tomorrow. We hope all those in school will be ready for another year of learning and growing and adding to their knowledge and understanding as school resumes this week. As we always told our children, school is enjoyable and rewarding and even fun if you will attend all of your classes, and do the assignments given on time, and hand them in with your name written on the assignment. As you take your classes try to learn what subjects you like and which ones you do not like as well. This will help you decide later on, what type of work you want to do to make a living for you and your family when you get older. Learning what subjects you do not like will help you decide what you do want to do during your adult life.
We express our love and appreciation to all of you for the good you have brought in to our lives. We are grateful for your thoughts and prayers for us. Please know we also pray for each of you as well.
Love,
Mom & Dad, Grandma & Grandpa, Richard & Maxine
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