Week 5

Monday was Doug's birthday. It was wonderful to celebrate his life here on my mission. It was an incredibly long but very sweet day. As I've mentioned, I joined the mission choir. Monday we had the mission devotional, which we have every Monday, at 7:30 am. We have to be there by 6:10 so of course that requires getting up an hour earlier. This day was unique because we also had a mission conference in the evening. It included a nice dinner at the Conference Center, followed by a mission picture on the steps outside, and then the conference on the Book of Mormon led by the president and his wife in the Assembly Hall. Because of the choir number, we had to go early to the dinner, walk across the street to the Assembly Hall for rehearsal and warm-up, walk back to the Conference Center for the picture, and back to the Assembly Hall for the conference - and then back to my apartment. A LOT of walking. I debated all day whether or not to sing with the choir for the evening meeting. I just didn't think I could manage all that walking; but I felt pretty good during the day so I decided to go for it. I'm so glad I did. It was a wonderful experience even though difficult. At some point during the evening I realized how much Doug was able to accomplish without ever giving in to his physical pains. I need to remember that more as I serve. Life doesn't come without challenges and pain; and if we expect to get the most out of life and every experience, we need to push through and carry on in spite of any obstacle.

We have to wear white blouses and this lovely rose. 🙄

Do I really have to include a "laugh at myself" paragraph every week? Well, maybe one more. So I'm sitting in my recliner after this very long day wearing my jammies of course. It's 9:00 pm. Camille sends me a text - (C) Are you home? (Me) Yup. (C) You're getting a delivery in a few - just didn't want you to be nervous if there is a strange man at your door 😊 (Me) Well I'm in my jammies! (C) Robe? (Me) He won't get in without a key - who is it? (C) 🤔 Cookie delivery guy :) Guess I should've planned that one better - I just assumed you had a door! (Me) With a gate and two locks! Does he have my phone number? (C) He has mine - says ETA is 8 minutes. 

Anyway, I get dressed and wait at the gate for him and try to flag him down after he finally drives up and seems very confused. After about five more minutes he brings me a box of Crumbl Cookies - warm and very delicious after a very long day. Thanks Camille & Family! 

Wednesday night was Coray's birthday. It was fun to celebrate with him and the family this year! Love you Coray! This picture is with the tie that Abby knitted for his birthday. Good job Abby!! 

As I said last week, my days are so similar. I'm thoroughly enjoying the work I'm doing, and able to do more new things and catch on easily. I'm feeling appreciated and needed. It's great to be able to serve here! I was able to go to the temple twice this week - Friday night with friend Jenna. I'm so grateful for the peace there and the blessing of my eternal family.

Saturday night was super fun to sit in less rain than was expected and watch Jonathan play football at Weber State! He got in some great plays and they won! Yay #89! 

I read the Book of Mormon every night, and I finished it again Friday night. It is the sweetest end to my day. I'm always just a little bit sad for Moroni as I picture him alone, traveling with precious records, to bury them for the later delivery to Joseph Smith on the Hill Cumorah. I'm so grateful for my testimony of its truthfulness and the second witness of Jesus Christ, His gospel and resurrection. Here is Moroni's closing message to all of us (Moroni 10:32-34):

"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot. And now, I bid unto all, farewell. . . ."

Week 4

So four weeks already! This week is anniversary week - the 26th. It's hard to believe that a month has already passed - 11 to go, but I'm not counting! I'm grateful for the flexibility that they give to senior missionaries. I'm sure they've learned by experience that the best way to get old folks to go is to let them see their grandkids and talk to their family and friends whenever it's necessary, or not necessary. I enjoyed going down to Highland yesterday to do my laundry (a necessity!) and go to Sarah's soccer game - they won! Yay Sarah! Wish I could just swing up to Idaho to see Tyler's or Washington to see the Wengreens. But for now I'm just grateful to be near Coray & Family! 

As I go through my journal for the week, I realize that my days are going to be so similar. I did get two new projects added to my list of responsibilities that the previous sister didn't do. I love that actually. I'm grateful that they can trust me to do it. I even got a handshake from the mission president this week. He usually walks past my cubicle without glancing my way - he's busy, I get it. But apparently the executive secretary talked about me in their presidency meeting and said I was catching on fast and doing a good job. So President said, I hear you're doing a great job, or something like that. So, yay me. 😊

I may have mentioned that every morning we have a zone devotional. This week there were a couple of messages about Joseph Smith. One talked about a comment from Lorenzo Snow, who knew the prophet well. He had seen the imperfections in Joseph, but marveled at how the Lord was still able to use him for His purposes. In a BYU fireside given by Neal A. Maxwell, he said, "One of the great messages that flows from the Lord's use of Joseph Smith as a 'choice seer' in the latter days is that there is indeed hope for each of us! The Lord can call us in our weaknesses and yet magnify us for His purposes." That is such a sweet thought to me. We don't have to be perfect in our callings or responsibilities, but the Lord will overlook our weaknesses even when the world may not; and He will allow us and help us to do what is required to build His kingdom. 

Here's the full talk. It's so good!

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/neal-a-maxwell/joseph-smith-choice-seer/

A couple of days later we sang "Praise to the Man" in devotional - just 10-15 senior missionaries in a small room. But the power of singing that there as a missionary was so profound to me. I've sung that hymn in some pretty amazing settings - at the Nauvoo Temple dedication, in the Conference Center and Tabernacle - and yet the emotion of it overwhelmed me with gratitude for being able to serve here and sing in a building dedicated to Joseph's memory.

I'm grateful for my testimony of the Prophet Joseph's divine calling as the prophet of this dispensation. I don't need to know or worry about his imperfections. All I need to know is that the Lord called him to be His servant in restoring the gospel for us in our day. I'm grateful for our pioneer ancestors who gained this testimony and remained faithful so that we could enjoy these blessings.

Week 3

As I was reading through my journal for last week, I realized that my days will be so very similar. It will be difficult to share meaningful things with you about my mission without a little effort on my part. So I'll start with the summary of happenings for the week:

Monday mornings are mission devotionals where everyone meets in the beautiful chapel of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. The mission choir sings and there are six or eight short talks by missionaries telling about themselves. I was going to sing in the choir - I went to the practice, after all. But no one mentioned that there's a choir uniform! The women wear white tops (with a little red flower that's provided) and black skirts and the men all wear red ties. I don't see the point frankly, but then I'm not in charge! Well, I got there at 6:15 for nothing because of course I wasn't wearing a white top. Oh well. I'll think about next time! 

I'm learning my responsibilities in the Mission Office. I'm really enjoying what I do, and I feel that I'll pick it up quickly. There are a thousand little details to manage, and I haven't learned them all yet. My trainer, Sister Smyth, is giving me the pieces as I need them, and I'm writing everything down even though she has a thorough binder of to-do lists - yes, binder! I still don't have access to all the software and databases because the permissions have to come from Church headquarters. We're hoping that this week I'll be fully functioning.

On Tuesday I passed Elder Gong in the parking garage. I really wanted to speak to him and thank him for his sweet voicemail when Doug died, but we're told strictly not to engage general authorities in conversation for various and understandable reasons. I might have broken that rule, but he was obviously coming from the temple and seemed to have something on his mind because he looked deep in thought. Hopefully there will be another time to appropriately do it. I saw Elder Stevenson in the cafeteria on Wednesday. I might have to start keeping track of GA sightings like Camille did with handshakes when she was in high school! With Doug's callings we were occasionally invited to events where we could meet them, and she got very excited about it. 😉

On two Tuesday nights each month the sister missionaries go to the Humanitarian Center to tie quilts. It was a fun evening. My cousin (once removed) Kathy Withers is a church service missionary there, and I was able to meet her. Her mother is my cousin, and I don't think we've ever met before unless it was when we were very young. She's closer to my age than her mother was. It was fun to make that connection!

On Friday, Jenna (my dear friend from forever) came after her shift at the Conference Center, and we went to dinner at the Garden Room, which is on the top floor of the JSMB with a beautiful view of the temple. It's always fun to get together, and afterward we drove around the city for a while and got milkshakes at Crown Burger. 😋

I think I might have to keep "the joke's on me" section going. Yesterday (Saturday) I invited Sister Davis to go to Walmart with me to do a little shopping. We were greeted by a smiling older Polynesian gentleman who came up to me and said, "How do you know that your church is the true church?" I thought, oh great! here's my test! So I said something about the Holy Ghost confirming it to me, and he pressed a little more. "How do you know that it's not telling you the wrong thing - how do you tell evil from good?" So I looked at Sister Davis and told him more about how I know and she chimed in too. Then he got this broad smile, and we could tell that he was kidding us. He told us that his friends ask him if he's LDS or a Mormon, and he says, "No, I'm a member of the CJCLDS church," and then goes on to say it's the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We got a good laugh - at least he did! I think it was a good test, though, for when that happens for real!

Every morning at our Zone devotional we recite the mission scripture. It's taken from Mormon, chapter 7, verse 9:

"9 For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them." 

I've added the bold type because that's where they put the emphasis when saying the verse. I wanted to be sure what that and this were referring to, so I read verse 8: 

"8 Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you." 

We know that the record from the Jews is the Bible, so the verse is telling us that the Book of Mormon was written so that we could believe the Bible, and if we believe the Bible, then we can also believe the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is another witness for Jesus Christ, and I love reading it every day. I encourage you all to do the same; and if you're not, then you can begin now! I know that the Book of Mormon is true and was given to us in our day so that we may come to know Jesus Christ better and serve Him better by learning of Him. I'm so grateful for my testimony that Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration and he translated the Book of Mormon for our day. I'm also very grateful for our pioneer ancestors who accepted the gospel and sacrificed so much so that we, their descendants, could be so blessed today.

Thank you all for your goodness and example to me!

Training Week

I want you to know I'm keeping a journal for the first time (at least regularly). Thanks to the Ashtons for the birthday gift! It was so good to read through the week's happenings. There were many sweet reminders of things I would have not remembered. 

Monday was Labor Day and so we had the day off. I ran some errands and finished setting up my apartment. As I had experienced on Saturday, I'm still a little self-conscious about wearing my name tag away from Temple Square. I get a few side glances and polite smiles. I'm so grateful for the scripture that came to my mind from the Apostle Paul: Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. . ." I realized that I am wearing His name, and I need to represent Him well in all that I do. I had the same experience yesterday when attending Jonathan's football game at Weber State. Again the scripture came to my mind. Thanks to all my family members for their example who have served missions and are currently serving. I'm becoming more brave!

While unpacking I came across my patriarchal blessing. One of the lessons given to me in the MTC included an invitation to read my blessing with my mission in mind to see if I could find something there relating to my mission, and I did. There is a paragraph that begins, "In faith you shall perform your mission well and successfully." I think every other time I have read that paragraph, I was thinking in general terms of my "mission in life," never dreaming that I would actually serve a mission. Now I can read it with a whole new emphasis as I think about the next year. I'm so grateful for that blessing I received so many years ago!

The next three days were very compacted and quick training on FamilySearch. Thankfully, I was already familiar with most of what they taught. I felt a little sorry for those who had very little experience! I did learn a few new tidbits that I've already started using. At the end of the training, they included some fun activities to do with family history. One was a game similar to Jeopardy, which links to your own FamilySearch account. I'm proud to say that I won the prize - by more than 2000 points! But who's competitive? 

On Wednesday, we had a morning devotional that included a thought by one of the young elders. He talked about building on the rock-firm foundation of the Savior rather than the sandy foundation of the world. He closed with the third verse of "How Firm A Foundation":

    Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed

    For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.

    I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

    Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

It felt like a personal message to me - from Doug because of what that hymn means to our family, and from God, because I know that I'm being strengthened and helped and held up as I serve Him on this mission. It was a sweet experience.

That morning we were interviewed by each member of the mission presidency and their wives. We had a chance to express what we might like to do for the rest of the mission and for them to get to know us. Based on these interviews and their inspiration, we were given our assignments on Friday morning. It was at a special meeting they call "Go Forth." President Fenn first talked about the Holy Ghost being with us to help with the work. He talked about how thin the veil is, and that our loved ones will be helping us. I'm so grateful for that knowledge. My assignment is to serve in the mission office as the full-time missionary coordinator. I'm not exactly sure all that is involved, but I'll be sending out information to new missionaries, working with church travel to make their arrangements, and keeping track of everyone through spreadsheets and databases and lots of files. There currently are over 500 full-time missionaries! I'm really excited! The office is on the third floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. And the fun begins tomorrow!

Yesterday was my day off, better known as P-day when you're 19. I got to go to Sarah's soccer game and spend the day at Coray & Mindy's. Then Saturday night we drove to Weber State for Jonathan's first home football game. It was so fun and exciting to be at the stadium cheering them on and watching him play! They won 41-24. 

OK, I have to share my most embarrassing moment of the week! I spent the night at Coray's and then came home Sunday morning to get ready for church. I'm just getting out of the shower when my doorbell rang. I decided to ignore it as I dried off.  It rang again. Still ignoring it I put on my first layer and towel-dried my hair. It rang a third time. So I timidly walked through my kitchen less than half dressed with wild hair, and said at the door, "Hello?" It was my two friends - ministering angels - bringing me some jam and peaches. They apologized for their persistence and told me that they didn't dare leave because my keys were still in my door. Well, I was grateful for sure, but more than a little embarrassed for being so ditzy!

My favorite quote from the "training zone" this week was on the wall in front of me. It's from Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone: "I promise you that all who faithfully attend to temple work will be blessed beyond measure. Your families will draw closer to the Lord, unseen angels will watch over your loved ones when Satanic forces tempt them, the veil will be thin, and great spiritual experiences will distill upon this people." That's why we do this work. There are so many blessings associated with finding and knowing our family, and I know that angels are attending us.

MTC Week

On Saturday, August 24, I was set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by my stake president, Tonn Petersen, in my home. I'm so grateful that Caryn, Jon, and Tyler were there with me to hear the wonderful blessing I was given by such an inspired leader. He blessed me with gifts and blessings that only the Holy Ghost could have given him to tell me. We could feel the presence of my sweet husband, Doug; and it was almost as if Doug were helping him with the blessing and letting me know that he would be my companion through this special time in my life. He also blessed me with help from both sides of the veil, which of course includes Doug, but I think also includes ancestors, family and friends who are aware of me. 

I entered the MTC on Monday, August 26, after a fun breakfast with Coray. It was wonderful to get one last hug and boost of confidence before I entered the great unknown! I was given some pretty special tender mercies early in the day - I saw three friends from Orem that I wasn't expecting! First, I was greeted by Curt Jolley, a friend and colleague of Doug's from BYU. He was the official greeter for the missionaries arriving, but it was sure fun to see a friendly face! Then at lunch just by chance a man sat across from us. He was coming in from the hot sun, obviously working at the MTC grounds. He looked so familiar - I asked him if he were Richard and he said yes. It was Richard Fafita, who married a girl from my home ward, landscaped my yard, and hired Cameron to work for him. The next friend I met was a counselor in my MTC Branch Presidency. It was Larry St. Clair, who had coached Coray on a junior high basketball team and knew Doug at BYU. It was sweet to have these friendly faces from a past life to help me feel at home and relax just a bit.

I won't detail everything from the MTC. It would mean copying my journal and just taking up too much time and space. I just have to say, though, that I was so amazed at all that goes on there! I knew in concept what surely must happen, but to experience it for myself was just incredible. I think every parent of a missionary needs to get a glimpse of what their missionary kids experience. They really don't take pity on the old folks either! Even though I won't be teaching or proselyting, I still had the MTC experience learning from Preach My Gospel. We were taught how to quickly get to know someone, from the fun-to-know to the good-to-know to the need-to-know. The need-to-know allows you to find something of a gospel nature to share with that person. We practiced on assigned "others" who were other missionaries learning the same thing. Through the process we were taught to listen to the Holy Ghost telling us what this couple needed to know. Then on Friday they brought in volunteers, and we had to do the same thing. These are fellow church members, but still it was harder to go through the process with less time to get to know them and prepare a meaningful lesson. All of this was definitely a stretch for me, but a really great learning experience personally. I loved picturing my three missionary grandchildren doing the same thing months or weeks earlier. I really was given an appreciation for the inspired programs of Preach My Gospel and what takes place at the MTC. I was amazed at the high caliber of teachers - just young BYU students themselves. In fact, Jon and Camille did it too! I'm even more proud of them for what they were able to do!

A couple of other details that I just want to include because I don't want to forget them:  On Tuesday night we had a devotional with Bishop Gérald Caussé. He taught us what it means to be a "bold missionary," which is something I needed to hear. I also sang with the MTC Choir. It was pretty incredible to sing "Hope of Israel" and "Called to Serve" with a thousand other, mostly young, missionaries. On Thursday night, my companion and I walked over to the new MTC buildings so that we could see the special murals and walk through the building. I was hoping that somehow Doug could see them through my eyes. He was working at BYU during the early planning stages for this addition to the MTC, and we frequently drove by during the first stages of construction. He didn't get to see the beautiful result. The pictures I've attached show the view from one of the buildings looking at the rooftop garden of the second building. The foyer of the building has a chandelier of hundreds of long strings with small lights and feathery attachments. From below you can't tell what it is, but from the second floor looking down you can see that it represents the world. Then on each floor of this building at both wings (so 12 in total) there are huge murals, I would guess maybe 10 feet by 30. They are photographic representations of stories from the scriptures with a quote giving particular reference to missionary work. They are so beautiful with lighting from behind which brings out the detail. The picture I took was of the sons of Mosiah. It's impossible to do it justice.

On to Friday! We left the MTC at noon to get to Salt Lake by 2:00 for a lease signing and welcome meeting. After this orientation, we were met by young elders serving in the mission who helped us unload our cars and move in. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by my apartment. I chose the one that is on the bottom floor. There are big windows, and I only have to go down seven steps - we thought that would be easier for carrying down groceries, etc., and I can park on the street to unload without having to go through the parking lot and courtyard. It has one bedroom, a living room, kitchen and bathroom. It's probably not very big, but I was trying to have low expectations. It's bigger than I expected. My furniture is in great condition and very comfortable. I even have a recliner! The bed is comfortable, and I have enough closet and storage space! I think I can do it for a year!

Friday night and Saturday were spent at Smith's, Walmart, and Costco buying the necessities. I'm not completely unpacked, but I also have Monday off because it's Labor Day. I think by Tuesday I should be ready to begin my training for the mission. We won't know until Friday what our specific assignment is, so more fun and surprises ahead.

Today is Sunday. I attended the Ensign Peak Branch, which consists of only part of my mission. After we have a permanent assignment on Friday, we will be assigned a branch based on where we work. Today was testimony meeting. It was sweet to hear the strong testimonies of the young elders, most of whom are challenged in some way, but not with their testimonies. We also had a General Authority Seventy visit - Elder Jimenez, with his wife. He spoke for the last 10-15 minutes of the meeting. That was an extra blessing for the day.

Sorry that this first post is so long! I don't expect that they will all be this long. I'm excited and grateful to be a missionary. I know there will be challenges, but I also know that I will be blessed to be able to serve!

The pictures:
1 - Everybody knows you have to have a photo in front of the map.
2 & 3 - All the senior missionaries going all over the world - 10 of us to USLCHQ, four sisters and three couples.
4 - My district - The Deweys are going to Korea to work in the office. The Millets are going to Hungary for MLS and working with YSA. Sister Davis was my companion for the MTC and is going to my mission. The cute young sister in the middle was one of our five MTC teachers - Sister Kurihara.
5, 6 & 7 - The new MTC building - rooftop, chandelier, and mural.
8-13 - My apartment (for the benefit of my family who might be dying to know!)