Message 9 January 2012

Message—9 January 2012

Dear Family & Friends,

Tuesday we spent some time in the morning updating the apartment records and organizing the apartment information so things will be up to date at the end of January when a new senior couple, Elder and Sister Ellis from Texas, will be arriving to take over our apartment assignment.  We will take as much time as needed to help the new couple learn what they need to know to fulfill this assignment we have had since we arrived in NY last March.

Tuesday, about noon, we arrived at the Mission Office and picked up the check to pay for the Fairport apartment.  About 1:30 pm we met Elder Swanner and Elder Adair and the zone leaders, Elder Cox and Elder Morrison, who drive a Chev Colorado pickup, at the storage shed where we keep the extra apartment furnishings.  We sorted through what was available to select the items that will be needed in the new Fairport apartment.  We had the items set outside the storage shed ready to be loaded into the trailer that the AP’s were supposed to bring at 2pm.  Due to miscommunication the AP’s did not come at 2pm, they were waiting for us to call them and tell them whether we were really going to move or not.  While we were waiting, it started snowing on some of the apartment furniture, so we quickly found something to cover the furniture.  About 3 pm we called the AP’s and discovered the communication problem, so they quickly got in their truck and brought the trailer to the storage shed.  By the time they arrived the snow had quit; so we loaded everything in the trailer and the two trucks.  We then drove to the new apartment and got everything put in the apartment.  The Elders and the Zone Leaders stayed and helped put everything away.  The AP’s and ourselves left to take care of other things.

On Wednesday we attended our district meeting with the missionaries in the district.  In the afternoon we met Elder Swanner and Elder Adair to purchase some items they needed for their new apartment.

On Thursday and Friday we spent all day in the Mission Office to be trained by Elder and Sister McVea in our new responsibilities which we will have beginning at the end of February or maybe a little sooner.  When Elder and Sister McVea finish their mission near the end of February, Sister Jensen and I will be the other Mission Office Couple along with Elder and Sister Servoss.  Sister Jensen will be responsible for the mail that comes to the office and getting it to the right place and to the right missionaries.  She will also take care of baptism and confirmation records so the information gets to the right places, including having membership records made.  She will also take care of the referral record keeping; and some other miscellaneous assignments.  I will be the vehicle coordinator, more commonly called the “car czar” in our mission; that means I keep track of where the “cars are”; a little pun.  This involves insuring the cars and trucks we have are properly maintained and serviced, repaired when needed, accidents reported, and coordinate with the Fleet Administration Office in Salt Lake to replace older vehicles as they determine it is time to replace them.  There are a lot of records to keep related to all the vehicles.

Saturday we had our P-Day.  Sister Jensen washed our clothes etc., and I vacuumed and mopped and did some other cleaning projects.  We did some grocery shopping. Then we spent a quiet evening together and rested.

Sunday we had a wonderful Fast & Testimony meeting.  In the afternoon, I took the Elders to visit a less active family in Hilton; their last name is McKeebe.  The parents have four children, two boys and twin girls.  The wife has grandparents in Salina UT, she was an Allred from that area.  They are both working on finding jobs in Utah so they can move back to that area.  The husband has been a police officer in Rochester for 20 plus years; and is now doing security at the Veterans Administration office.  He also has a pilot’s license and would like to get into wild land fire surveillance from aircraft.  The wife is an Information Technology expert.  Sunday at 8pm our time, we had the Elders, two recent converts, and an investigator whose name is Yazzinia (Yasi) all come to our home to watch the CES Fireside so we could hear Elder Jensen’s address on the “Unspeakable Gift of the Holy Ghost”.  The instruction he gave is awesome.  The Elder’s had just taught a lesson to the investigator about the Holy Ghost, so Elder Jensen’s instruction was very helpful to Yasi.  Today in our office staff meeting President Christianson said he was also very impressed with what Elder Jensen shared.  He said some of what was shared will help him in a meeting he has this week with a Jewish person.

Today, Monday, we spent the day at the mission office, for staff meeting and also for training with the McVea’s.

After hearing Elder Jensen’s discourse I have been thinking and pondering about it quite a lot.  One idea that came to me I will share with you.  Since the Holy Ghost is “THE” teacher; meaning whatever truth we learn comes through the Holy Ghost; we should take advantage of any opportunity to learn from the Holy Ghost.  Sometimes we complain about getting up on Sunday and getting ready for church.  People in our mission complain about having to drive 10 to 20 miles to get to church.  I had the thought that if we knew a member of the first presidency or quorum of twelve were going to be in our Sunday meeting I think the majority of us would make the time and put forth the effort to be in our meetings.  It seems to me that we are not understanding that every Sunday in our meetings we have the opportunity to hear or feel messages from the Holy Ghost (through those who teach by his influence) who is a member of the Godhead.  The Holy Ghost is the person who tells the prophets and apostles what to say and teach.  The Holy Ghost is also the source and the power by which WE can receive messages of eternal worth.  The Holy Ghost only teaches what Heavenly Father and the Savior would teach; should we not be willing to take time to attend our meetings each Sunday to hear what our Heavenly Father and the Savior want us to learn.  Three to four, or even more, hours is not much time out of our lives to avail ourselves of the opportunity to learn from the Holy Ghost.  Obviously, we can also learn from the Holy Ghost all during the week in many other settings, not just in church meetings on Sunday.  The other great blessing of sacrament meeting is to have the privilege, after repenting, to take the sacrament and allow the atonement to purify us so we can be forgiven and be more worthy to have the Holy Ghost be with us during the week.  Through our personal or family prayers, and in our home evenings, and in our daily scripture study we can also be taught by the Holy Ghost.  What a powerful gift and opportunity we have to learn from the person who represents the Father and the Son.  I know we can be blessed by the Holy Ghost every day of our lives; he is always available to help, guide, and teach us.  I know the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost live and love us and will bless us as we allow them to, through our faithful obedience and repentance and service to others.

We express our love and appreciation to each of you.  Each one has blessed our lives in many important ways.  Your kindnesses, prayers, thoughts, service, and love have helped in many ways to enable us to become who we are.  We pray for you each day and know you are being blessed in many ways; we hope you recognize the true source of your blessings.

Love,

Mom, & Dad, Grandma & Grandpa, Richard & Maxine