Message—5 March 2012
Dear Friends & Family,
For those who may have looked for a message last Monday, I did not do one, so you did not miss it. During the week of February 21 to February 25 we had four zone conferences. This same week was also the last week of Elder & Sister McVea’s mission, and the last week they were available to help us learn everything we need to know. Every day was long and the nights short for us. At each zone conference I was responsible to ensure that each of the mission vehicles was inspected. Fortunately I had help from Elder McVea, and also Sister Jensen and Elder and Sister Ellis, and some of the days Elder and Sister Servoss. Saturday the 25th was the last zone conference; Elder McVea was not there to help me that day, because he and his wife were packing up getting ready to leave for Utah Monday morning. They also prepared the home for us to move into on Monday. The weather was cooperative for the first 3 zone conferences on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday; but on Saturday it snowed a blizzard when we first left Brockport. The snow subsided some but came back again while we were inspecting the vehicles. Sister Jensen was more busy than I was, as she helped with some of the food preparations and distributing the mail for the missionaries, as well as helping me with the vehicles, she is awesome, and also tired.
Monday morning we put one load of our things from our apartment in to our car and went to the Mission Office staff meeting. While we were doing this Elder & Sister McVea loaded up their car and left for Utah at about 9 am. After the staff meeting we took our first load of things to our new home in Honeoye Falls (Mendon) in what was, many years ago, the John Young home. This is Brigham Young’s father. It took more trips to our Brockport apartment to get all but a few of our things moved to the John Young home. Tuesday morning we went back to Brockport one more time to get the last few things; then we spent the rest of the day in the mission office. Beginning on Monday Sister Jensen and I were both on our own to do our new office assignment. The McVea’s were so kind to us while they were training us and helping us learn how to do what we are supposed to do. They were also kind enough to answer their phone while they were traveling home and answer some of our questions. We really miss the McVea’s. We talked to them this morning and learned that on their first day back home in their home ward, they had been called to be ward missionaries. That is what a good Bishop would do. We look forward to visiting with them when we get home next year.
The rest of the week was very hectic for us so I did not get a blog message done. I will try to be brief and share two weeks in one message. We were able to hear some of the training given to the missionaries by the AP’s and Zone Leaders, as well as President and Sister Christianson. President Christianson’s two counselors, President Brent Miner and President Terence Robinson; both are very good teachers and leaders; they also shared some instruction to the missionaries. President Robinson is internationally recognized as one of the most knowledgeable experts on growing apples; but he is also a great spiritual leader.
Since in our new assignments we are not available to attend a district meeting with the young missionaries during the daytime; we now will be attending the Site Training meeting for the senior couples who serve at the historic sites. It is held Wednesday evening at 7pm. We have been to a few of these meetings in the past year, but we will go each week now. Elder and Sister Searle are the new Site Directors for the church history sites in the mission; they are great leaders and teachers. They served as Mission President and wife in the New York City North Mission a few years ago. We were privileged to hear some good instruction from Sister Thomas and Sister Carver on making more use of the Book of Mormon in our conversations with people we meet and who come to the sites. The Book of Mormon really and truly is the key to conversion to the gospel. It is a powerful second witness of Jesus Christ and His atonement and gospel. If we have any questions or problems in our lives we can benefit greatly by reading, pondering, and praying about what is in the Book of Mormon. The Holy Ghost really will help us know the truth of ALL things. Sometimes by the actual words we read in the Book of Mormon, and sometimes by the whisperings of the Spirit as a result of what we read. We know and testify the Book of Mormon is the word of God and will bless our lives in countless ways as we live according to what it teaches. This morning as we read together in Helaman 13 we were impressed by how closely it describes the world in which we now live.
We were both able to accomplish many of our assigned responsibilities in the office this week without a lot of help; but we did need some help to remember what to do in some circumstances. We have access to wonderful people in the Church Office building who are very patient and helpful to us in learning more about what we should do in certain circumstances. The church is very well organized to help members in their callings and assignments; and they are not used as much as they could be.
Saturday evening and Sunday morning were our two sessions of Stake Conference. Saturday evening there were several people who shared their conversion story. The atonement of the Savior is real and powerful and far reaching. These people have had very serious trials and challenges in their lives. Through repentance and the atonement we can become clean and worthy to have the power of the Holy Ghost and the blessings of priesthood ordinances in our lives. The Sunday session speakers also shared great lessons and messages and testimonies. President Wozniak is the first counselor in the stake presidency. He shared experiences he has had in the last year with his father dying and how his death helped to bring together the President and his 3 sisters. The sisters are not members of the church; but they and the President have become much closer through the death of their father.
We are so greatly blessed to have the privilege to serve in this mission where the restoration of the gospel began. The church history sites have great power to help people feel the Spirit of the Holy Ghost as they visit them. Satan works so hard on people who visit the sites to keep them from accepting the feelings they receive and try to keep them from having the gospel in their lives. Many people who fist meet the missionaries, have a spiritual witness of the truth of what the missionaries teach, but then they see or hear anti-church messages and allow those negative messages to keep them from the truth they felt. It usually takes multiple exposures to the gospel before people will accept the invitation to come unto Christ and repent and be baptized and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. The help and encouragement and support of church members with investigators is very important and influential in getting the people past the influence of anti-church messages. Members have a great influence for good to help non-members accept the gospel and gain a testimony. Members of the church are the sleeping giant of missionary work and success.
We extend birthday wishes to Carol Wilson on March 1st, Travis on March 3rd, Holden’s birthday is today March 5th, and we hope it was a happy one. Brock’s birthday is March 12th, Jason’s is on March 24th, and Todd’s birthday is on March 25th. We hope each of you had, or will have a wonderful day on your birthday this month.
We express our great love and appreciation for each of you. You are special to us and we are so grateful for your good influence in our lives. We thank you for your kindnesses, your service, and your support and prayers for us. We are so greatly blessed by having each of you in our lives.
Love,
Mom & Dad, Grandma & Grandpa, Richard & Maxine
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