Dear Family & Friends,
This past week was not as physically exhausting as the week before. We have recovered mostly from our trip to Utah to attend with Austin and Josie being sealed in the Draper Temple and having a family reunion while we were there. Monday evening we attended the new missionary orientation training at President Christianson’s home. There were 6 new Elders and 2 new Sisters who arrived in the mission Monday. We provided our standard training for these 8 new missionaries. The missionaries seem to just keep getting better and better as each new group comes. Also on Monday when Sister Jensen checked her computer referral file she found there were 150 new referrals; most of them came through the Pageant, but some also came from other sources. She also received some additional referrals during the week. She has to get these sent to the right missionaries, or to the right mission and follow up with the ones within our mission to report what happened. She kept very busy with all of these during the week. Some of these people invited the missionaries to return and teach them more about the gospel. One lady accepted the invitation to be baptized on the first visit.
On Tuesday I went to the Transfer meeting at the Kreag Road Chapel. With all of the transfers that were made I had a number of new designated drivers to talk with and provide the needed instruction. I also took the mail that had come to the mission office for the missionaries. Elder Servoss also gave me the new directories with the changes in companionships for those who needed these directories. On Wednesday 7 Elders and one Sister returned to their homes after completing an honorable and successful mission. We will miss these great missionaries.
Wednesday evening I had accepted a request from the regional CES Director to teach his Institute class that night, and also the next four Wednesday’s while he does some training of Seminary teachers. There were about 15 YSA youth who attended. We discussed the first 5 chapters in the Book of Ether; it was a good discussion and meeting.
Thursday I and Sister Jensen got the letter and form printed and mailed so the missionaries can do their July Car Reports. I hope they will follow through and get the reports done and mailed to me by August 1st.
Saturday we attended our Geneseo Ward Pioneer Activity. We did sack races, three-legged races, handcart races, and a tug of war; then we had food and a bake sale that was a silent auction to help provide money for the Young Women to go to their YW Camp. One of the tug of war pulls was between the missionaries (Elder Maisey, Elder Stoddard, and myself) and all the Primary Children. We did pretty good to begin with, but they kept adding more children until we lost. Everyone had fun and it was a good activity. We then met the Servoss’s at the Henrietta Mall and went to the Amish Stores up in Lyndonville to get some things they have. We then went to a restaurant to dinner with the Servoss’s and then went home.
Today we had a good day at church; the speakers talked about qualities that our Pioneer ancestors had and how we can apply them in our life. The talks were good. After our church meetings we met the Elder’s at their apartment with some lunch we had brought with us which Sister Jensen prepared. After eating we spent the rest of the afternoon taking the Elders to some referrals which were in the far reaches of the Geneseo Ward area. All but one of the people let the missionaries talk with them; one couple let the Elders teach a discussion. The man was very interested in the church doctrines except for the Word of Wisdom. He said he would be baptized if he did not have to give up his tea, coffee, and wine. The missionaries may be able to go back and teach more to a few of these people.
We are being greatly blessed as a mission by reading the Book of Mormon together. There are miracles happening and people being taught and accepting the invitation to repent and be baptized. We are having more unity and more spiritual blessings come to each companionship, including us senior couples. Reading, pondering about, and praying about the Book of Mormon really does bring the promised blessings into our homes, and our lives, and our marriages. Our testimonies of the gospel are being added to every day; we know Heavenly Father, lives and loves us, Jesus Christ is truly our Savior, President Monson is the Lord’s prophet today, the scriptures are true including the Book of Mormon. We love each of you and pray for you daily.
Love,
Mom & Dad, Grandma & Grandpa, Maxine & Richard
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