Another beautiful Sabbath to reflect on our past week. We have finished up with all the training outside our zone and actually got to spend 2 full days in the "Historical Families Reconstitution Zone".
Before I go any farther I want to clear up a possible misconception about this zone. It is not highly secret or clandestine in any way. We just happen to be in a secured room because that is where they put the project. Also, it is not a place for patrons to use until we get projects completed and then they are posted on the internet for everyone to use to research their lines. So, don't feel like I am breaking confidences if I tell any stories about what we are doing. It is not confidential, just very detailed. In fact, one of the projects was completed last Thursday and they were all so happy. They have been working on this project since 2003. So we may never get to see a project all the way through. I do want to tell you that the work is very exciting. Both days of it!
My days have been broken up a bit because I started Physical Therapy last week. I am walking a lot more now and the last couple of days have not even need to push the wheelchair in front of me to sit down. My new therapist is Oryslava from Ukraine. She was a luger with the Ukraine luge team who came to the Olympics in 2002 and decided to stay. Now, I have had therapy from 3 other therapists and have only had one bruise. Oryslava however bruised my right thigh the first day (Tues) so badly that she was surprised. So the 2nd day(Wed) she said she would leave my IT band alone and work on strengthening exercises for me. She had me doing so much that I actually became nauseated and had leave before they could ice me. I remained nauseated for the rest of the day and all day Thursday I was so sore and nauseated and even Friday morning every time I tried to walk or exert myself. Friday when I arrived at PT before they got me started on anything I said I needed to talk with her. When she learned what had happened she was very apologetic and said, "Most people when they come here will say " No, I can't do that..., etc. " but you tried everything I gave you and you have a positive attitude and were willing so I thought you could handle all this. You have to tell me to stop if it is too much!" I looked at her and said, " Stop, it's too much!" We had a good laugh. She promised to not beat me up so much but we still had a good workout.
I must admit that I am a little sad to be healing so quickly. I have enjoyed having Ed push me around everywhere and we both have enjoyed the handicapped parking. Most of all I have enjoyed the fact that Ed has prepared all the meals and served them to me. He, on the other hand, though he will miss the handicapped parking (not really) will enjoy the fact that I will be able to cook all the meals again. hahaha He will be very relieved that he will not have to haul the wheelchair in and out of the trunk of the car for me.
Ed and I have joined a SLCounty Parks gym facility up by the U and went up on Saturday. I did a little walking on the lap track (2 laps) above one of the skating rinks at the facility. There are two pools, one indoor and one outdoor, two skating rinks and a good sized weight room and a room with lots of bikes, etc. It is a nice facility and quite inexpensive. It will be good for us.
My mother has been giving me lots of the records she has had for our family. I think this is one of the reasons we have been called here. There is a lot of work to be done on my mother's side of the family. I have recently found that my great grandfather had quite a bit of land holdings in Houston, Texas area so I am anxious to look into that.
The Elijah choirs (missionary choirs) will be putting on a concert here at Temple Square sometime in December. When I find out the dates I will post them so if any of you come this way for the holidays maybe you would like to hear us sing some holiday favorites. You would think that practicing at 6:24am would not get a great sound, but we are sounding quite nice. Of course the mix changes every week with people coming and going into the mission, but we have some fun. Our director, Elder Brague, was the band director at Utah State and he is very humorous. He knows how to get us to wake up that early and how to get us to sing without having to lower the key because it is soooooo early!!!
Today Ed and I went to hear Kyle Schmieg give his return talk from his mission. He is surely a wonderful young man. He does not remember us at all, but it was so fun to see him and remember his young years in The Woodlands and see how he has grown. It was great.
I hope everyone has a lovely and safe week.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Our Assignment
Last Friday all the missionaries in our group and our trainers were all very excited for us to receive our assignments. First we had our daily devotional, then we had about 30 min. of final one on one training in the Training Zone and then we went downstairs and were treated to fresh homemade bread and jam that our trainers made for us. After that we went into the chapel (in the JSMB) for what is called the "Go Forth" meeting. We all sat with our trainers, who were just as anxious as we were. Ed and I had to laugh at the opening song, "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go"! The Presidency did tell us that it was chosen by design.
We had a talk by one of the Councilors in the Mission Presidency and then the Mission President stood up and spoke. He told us that many of us would be receiving our assignments and not have any idea what we would be doing. With 22 zones in this mission and what little we have learned we can certainly understand that. Coming to this mission is definitely not a guarantee that you will be in the Library helping patrons find their ancestors. There is so much that is being done. I had no idea. So, after preping is all with that comment, her proceeded to call out our names and giving the zone name and introducing the Zone Leader. When our names were called he said, "Ed and Nora Moulder to the Historical Families Reconstitution Zone" . I looked at my trainer and said, "What is that?!" She told me a little and then at the end of the meeting we met our Zone Leaders, Elder and Sister Cook. I had met Sister Cook in the choirs already. She is very excited that I will be in her zone. Her husband was very nice and knew that we would have lots of questions so he tried to explain as simply as he could what we would be doing. This is all I have so far: We will be handling old records that have become available to the Church from places mostly in Europe before 1500 and making them ready to be available to the public. This zone used to be called the Medieval Zone, but it has expanded a lot so they changed the name. I know there are some missionaries there who are working exclusively on records from the Pacific Islands, natives who know the language.
Sorry, but until we get trained this week, I really have no idea what we will be doing. I do know that we are housed in a secured (locked) room in the basement of the Family History Library. We do not work with patrons. I don't think patrons are allowed in the room because you have to have clearance to enter although there is a doorbell, so I don't know what that means. I do know that we have a lot of flexibility in our zone and that the number of missionaries where we are is very small. Next week I will be able to give a lot more details I think. All missionaries had to sign consent documents that we will not disclosure any sacred or personal information outside our zones. I don't think that is ours. Mostly that is about personal diaries of the prophets and general authorities that are in the Church History Library or the Headquarters Zone where very personal information is handled. I think I will at least be able to tell you what I am working on that will be going public! Anyway, more next week.
We only had a few minutes with the Zone Leaders and then the missionaries, trainers and some of the Presidency walked over to the 11:00 Endowment Session at the SL Temple. Since my mom is an ordinance worker at the temple on Friday she arranged to be on that session and she was able to help me with my wheelchair. I told her I thought I could walk, but it probably was a good thing that I had the chair rather than doing all the standing and going up stairs in this temple. However, I did have a little scare in the wheelchair which I won't go into but needless to say I am getting out of that chair as quickly as possible!!!
Along that note, Ed and I joined the County Park sports facility up by the U of U campus. It is very nice and I was able to get on a recumbent cross trainer and work out for the first time in a long time. It felt very good and I am doing very well today. I have my first physical therapy session here on Tuesday so I am very hopeful that I will be walking normally before long. Ed hasn't had to align my legs for almost a week now and I can tell with the decrease of pain that the hips are in better alignment. I am being very diligent with my home exercises twice a day.
The weather here has been beautiful for us with Ed pushing me around from our apt to the JSMB each day. The Library is even closer, but returning from Church today we started to get sprinkled on before we got home. Ed tried to break into a run for the last block, but the wheelchair just isn't built for that and I was so nervous......it felt like the wheels were going to fall off they were shaking so hard. To him it felt like I was applying the breaks and he kept saying, "don't do that!" I didn't know what "that" was because I was afraid of another face planting and at high speeds! Finally I communicated to him that he couldn't go that fast and he realized it was the chair telling him to stop, not me. We didn't get too wet and the storm held off until we were safely in our apartment. I just need to get well enough to walk on my own!!
I appreciate your comments and emails and appreciate your support. We feel so grateful that we are able to be here. I had no idea it would be this amazing. I hope everyone has an opportunity to do this.
We had a talk by one of the Councilors in the Mission Presidency and then the Mission President stood up and spoke. He told us that many of us would be receiving our assignments and not have any idea what we would be doing. With 22 zones in this mission and what little we have learned we can certainly understand that. Coming to this mission is definitely not a guarantee that you will be in the Library helping patrons find their ancestors. There is so much that is being done. I had no idea. So, after preping is all with that comment, her proceeded to call out our names and giving the zone name and introducing the Zone Leader. When our names were called he said, "Ed and Nora Moulder to the Historical Families Reconstitution Zone" . I looked at my trainer and said, "What is that?!" She told me a little and then at the end of the meeting we met our Zone Leaders, Elder and Sister Cook. I had met Sister Cook in the choirs already. She is very excited that I will be in her zone. Her husband was very nice and knew that we would have lots of questions so he tried to explain as simply as he could what we would be doing. This is all I have so far: We will be handling old records that have become available to the Church from places mostly in Europe before 1500 and making them ready to be available to the public. This zone used to be called the Medieval Zone, but it has expanded a lot so they changed the name. I know there are some missionaries there who are working exclusively on records from the Pacific Islands, natives who know the language.
Sorry, but until we get trained this week, I really have no idea what we will be doing. I do know that we are housed in a secured (locked) room in the basement of the Family History Library. We do not work with patrons. I don't think patrons are allowed in the room because you have to have clearance to enter although there is a doorbell, so I don't know what that means. I do know that we have a lot of flexibility in our zone and that the number of missionaries where we are is very small. Next week I will be able to give a lot more details I think. All missionaries had to sign consent documents that we will not disclosure any sacred or personal information outside our zones. I don't think that is ours. Mostly that is about personal diaries of the prophets and general authorities that are in the Church History Library or the Headquarters Zone where very personal information is handled. I think I will at least be able to tell you what I am working on that will be going public! Anyway, more next week.
We only had a few minutes with the Zone Leaders and then the missionaries, trainers and some of the Presidency walked over to the 11:00 Endowment Session at the SL Temple. Since my mom is an ordinance worker at the temple on Friday she arranged to be on that session and she was able to help me with my wheelchair. I told her I thought I could walk, but it probably was a good thing that I had the chair rather than doing all the standing and going up stairs in this temple. However, I did have a little scare in the wheelchair which I won't go into but needless to say I am getting out of that chair as quickly as possible!!!
Along that note, Ed and I joined the County Park sports facility up by the U of U campus. It is very nice and I was able to get on a recumbent cross trainer and work out for the first time in a long time. It felt very good and I am doing very well today. I have my first physical therapy session here on Tuesday so I am very hopeful that I will be walking normally before long. Ed hasn't had to align my legs for almost a week now and I can tell with the decrease of pain that the hips are in better alignment. I am being very diligent with my home exercises twice a day.
The weather here has been beautiful for us with Ed pushing me around from our apt to the JSMB each day. The Library is even closer, but returning from Church today we started to get sprinkled on before we got home. Ed tried to break into a run for the last block, but the wheelchair just isn't built for that and I was so nervous......it felt like the wheels were going to fall off they were shaking so hard. To him it felt like I was applying the breaks and he kept saying, "don't do that!" I didn't know what "that" was because I was afraid of another face planting and at high speeds! Finally I communicated to him that he couldn't go that fast and he realized it was the chair telling him to stop, not me. We didn't get too wet and the storm held off until we were safely in our apartment. I just need to get well enough to walk on my own!!
I appreciate your comments and emails and appreciate your support. We feel so grateful that we are able to be here. I had no idea it would be this amazing. I hope everyone has an opportunity to do this.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Our Mission Begins
Sunday, August 15, 2010
We have completed our first week as official missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has been a full week. I surprised myself on Friday afternoon when we came back to our apartment about 3:30PM and I was so tired I fell asleep! It was the middle of the afternoon and I was struggling to keep my eyes opened. Ed went out and walked again. He will be very happy when we get our assignment next week so we can set up an exercise schedule.
We began our mission on Friday, Aug 6th with a yummy luncheon in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (JSMB). I was so excited to receive our name tags here. I feel so official! We met all the members of the Mission Presidency and their wives. We were seated at a "Texas Table". One of the Presidency are Elder and Sister Boye who are from San Antonio. Another missionary couple, Elder and Sister Wheeler are from Shilling, Texas by Amarillo. There is a Sister Missionary who is from College Station. We felt very proud that Texas was well represented in our group of 20 missionaries.
We also met our Branch President and his wife (who is the RS Pres.). They told us that the branch operates a little differently from other branches in that the missionaries do not receive callings per se, but the President will invite individuals (or you could volunteer) to teach a specific lesson or to play the piano/organ for a month, etc. Every couple will serve together as companions for home teaching. It was very fun to attend out first Sunday meetings and hear the congregation singing. Wow! There were a few people who had family visiting, but there were only 4-5 children in the entire congregation. It was very quite during the sacrament. Nice.
After the luncheon on Friday we had multiple pictures taken. I did not enjoy this part very much. Then we went back to the training room on the 3rd floor of the JSMB and met our trainers. Each of us is assigned and individual trainer. Ed and were assigned to a cute couple who are serving as missionaries from South Jordan, Utah. They drive in each day and attend their home ward. Sister Rogers is very sweet and Brother Rogers is a computer guy, perfect for Ed. We didn't do much in the way of training on our first Friday, but it was good to get started.
We were given the weekend to get our affairs in order and rest up for an intense week. We were very happy for this. We went shopping that evening and basically got everything we needed.
On Saturday we celebrated Autumn's birthday. She wanted to go to Tucano's for lunch. It is a Brazian restaurant we had never been to but she loves it. I think Ashley had introduced her to it. Fortunately it was close by our apartment. We invited my mother to join us and then we all went to our apartment so they could see it. We then played games and ate the fruit pizza I made for her since she doesn't like cake. It will be fun to be close to Autumn/Derrick and my mom and other family members while we are here.
Monday morning begins with a devotional meeting at 7:30AM. From there we go for instruction from the Presidency or for training at our computers. We have an hour for lunch. We have been shown around so we know how to get to the cafeteria in the Church Office Building (COB) where there is a wide variety of food available at very reasonable prices. We also have enjoyed having a cup of soup from the Nauvoo Cafe in the lobby of the JSMB. It is much easier on Ed because he has to wheel me everywhere.
Yes, I am in a wheechair for most of the time. Even though our apartment is just two blocks away I am not yet able to make the walk, but I am confident that I will be able to make it soon.
Things are getting better for me it seems each day. The 3 weeks of traction and the fact that the therapists in Houston showed Ed how to help get my hips realigned has made a big difference.
The new exercises they gave me to do have also helped, so I am encouraged. Ed is certainly ready to have me fixed! He doesn't mind pushing me around but he really doesn't like being responsible for fixing the meals in our little kitchen. I do what I can, but I can't stay on my feet standing very long yet. If I am walking I do much better, but standing is still very painful.
We are seeing a neurologist here tomorrow morning.
We have had a few adventures with the wheelchair. It seems that Ed isn't able to judge the door openings really well. He also doesn't have a great ability to watch for bumps....
Walking home one day we took the crosswalk in the middle of the block between temple square and the conference center. There is a significant dip for a gutter. We made it down the first and scraped the foot rests then crossed the street. Ed didn't learn from the scraping of the feet and charged ahead not noticing that there was another significant dip and a little lip on the street side. I saw it coming but only had time to put my feet down a little bit. The wheelchair hit the lip and stopped and I continued the forward motion. There were several people around us and Ed of course did his usual yell as he realized what was happening. I was airborn for a split second but my feet saved me and I fell back into the chair. I was so happy that I was able to stop myself before face planting on the sidewalk. It was very close.
Thursday last week we went for a tour of the new Church History Library. They described to us some of the work that is done there so we would have a little idea of the work done in that part of the mission. Some of us may be assigned there. I was so impressed with this facility. So much has been done and is continuing to be done. There are a lot more volunteers/missionaries needed.
Actually that is one thing we learned. In the last year the Church has seen a decline in the number of senior couples serving. I'm sure part of that has to do with the economy, but it has had an impact on the amount of work that is done.
We have enjoyed going around stores getting the things we need. We are supposed to wear our name tags wherever we go. We are not supposed to wear jeans anywhere except if we are working in a yard or exercising, etc. so we have had many people come up and start talking to us about our mission. Most are surprised when they find out we are from Texas and then they start telling us about their missions or other people they know who are serving or they say, "I really should be doing more research and family history work than I am doing."
This is the transition that I have felt this week. Each day we have been inspired regarding this work, both the genealogy and the family history. A sign in the training room reads something like this: Genealogy without the history is just mythology. We have heard over and over again about the importance of this work and the many individuals who are waiting for their work to be done. We have been counseled to make prayer, scripture study and journaling a more important part of each day so the Holy Ghost will be able to teach us, and guide us to the names and histories of those who are waiting for us to realize the blessings of the ordinances of the gospel.
One of the messages we received from our Mission Presidency is to keep the TV off. This was so funny to me. Ed had told me before we came that he wanted to get a TV. I told him that I didn't think we should be watching TV at all. (Ashley told him the same thing, "You should be focusing on your mission, Dad!") When we arrived at our apartment we found that the previous missionaries had left a TV. It was an old one and after getting it hooked up Ed said that he would want to get a better TV. Then when we heard this counsel from the presidency Ed slowly turned his head towards me and I just smiled. We haven't turned the TV on once during the week. I think we will not be spending money on a new TV anytime soon. Let me just say here, I love my husband dearly.
We have another full week of intense training this week. There is so much to learn. Each day I am so concerned about my ability to remember the new stuff that I was taught that day. There is so much! On Friday we will receive our permanent assignments. We have learned that the Family and Church History Mission has 22 zones where we could be assigned. On Friday, we will meet our zone leaders after getting our assignment and then we finish our training by going to the temple as a group; missionaries, Presidency and trainers. It will be a great way to finish our general training. The following Monday we will report to our assigned places and receive another week or two of training in our specific assignments. Stay tuned!
We have completed our first week as official missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has been a full week. I surprised myself on Friday afternoon when we came back to our apartment about 3:30PM and I was so tired I fell asleep! It was the middle of the afternoon and I was struggling to keep my eyes opened. Ed went out and walked again. He will be very happy when we get our assignment next week so we can set up an exercise schedule.
We began our mission on Friday, Aug 6th with a yummy luncheon in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (JSMB). I was so excited to receive our name tags here. I feel so official! We met all the members of the Mission Presidency and their wives. We were seated at a "Texas Table". One of the Presidency are Elder and Sister Boye who are from San Antonio. Another missionary couple, Elder and Sister Wheeler are from Shilling, Texas by Amarillo. There is a Sister Missionary who is from College Station. We felt very proud that Texas was well represented in our group of 20 missionaries.
We also met our Branch President and his wife (who is the RS Pres.). They told us that the branch operates a little differently from other branches in that the missionaries do not receive callings per se, but the President will invite individuals (or you could volunteer) to teach a specific lesson or to play the piano/organ for a month, etc. Every couple will serve together as companions for home teaching. It was very fun to attend out first Sunday meetings and hear the congregation singing. Wow! There were a few people who had family visiting, but there were only 4-5 children in the entire congregation. It was very quite during the sacrament. Nice.
After the luncheon on Friday we had multiple pictures taken. I did not enjoy this part very much. Then we went back to the training room on the 3rd floor of the JSMB and met our trainers. Each of us is assigned and individual trainer. Ed and were assigned to a cute couple who are serving as missionaries from South Jordan, Utah. They drive in each day and attend their home ward. Sister Rogers is very sweet and Brother Rogers is a computer guy, perfect for Ed. We didn't do much in the way of training on our first Friday, but it was good to get started.
We were given the weekend to get our affairs in order and rest up for an intense week. We were very happy for this. We went shopping that evening and basically got everything we needed.
On Saturday we celebrated Autumn's birthday. She wanted to go to Tucano's for lunch. It is a Brazian restaurant we had never been to but she loves it. I think Ashley had introduced her to it. Fortunately it was close by our apartment. We invited my mother to join us and then we all went to our apartment so they could see it. We then played games and ate the fruit pizza I made for her since she doesn't like cake. It will be fun to be close to Autumn/Derrick and my mom and other family members while we are here.
Monday morning begins with a devotional meeting at 7:30AM. From there we go for instruction from the Presidency or for training at our computers. We have an hour for lunch. We have been shown around so we know how to get to the cafeteria in the Church Office Building (COB) where there is a wide variety of food available at very reasonable prices. We also have enjoyed having a cup of soup from the Nauvoo Cafe in the lobby of the JSMB. It is much easier on Ed because he has to wheel me everywhere.
Yes, I am in a wheechair for most of the time. Even though our apartment is just two blocks away I am not yet able to make the walk, but I am confident that I will be able to make it soon.
Things are getting better for me it seems each day. The 3 weeks of traction and the fact that the therapists in Houston showed Ed how to help get my hips realigned has made a big difference.
The new exercises they gave me to do have also helped, so I am encouraged. Ed is certainly ready to have me fixed! He doesn't mind pushing me around but he really doesn't like being responsible for fixing the meals in our little kitchen. I do what I can, but I can't stay on my feet standing very long yet. If I am walking I do much better, but standing is still very painful.
We are seeing a neurologist here tomorrow morning.
We have had a few adventures with the wheelchair. It seems that Ed isn't able to judge the door openings really well. He also doesn't have a great ability to watch for bumps....
Walking home one day we took the crosswalk in the middle of the block between temple square and the conference center. There is a significant dip for a gutter. We made it down the first and scraped the foot rests then crossed the street. Ed didn't learn from the scraping of the feet and charged ahead not noticing that there was another significant dip and a little lip on the street side. I saw it coming but only had time to put my feet down a little bit. The wheelchair hit the lip and stopped and I continued the forward motion. There were several people around us and Ed of course did his usual yell as he realized what was happening. I was airborn for a split second but my feet saved me and I fell back into the chair. I was so happy that I was able to stop myself before face planting on the sidewalk. It was very close.
Thursday last week we went for a tour of the new Church History Library. They described to us some of the work that is done there so we would have a little idea of the work done in that part of the mission. Some of us may be assigned there. I was so impressed with this facility. So much has been done and is continuing to be done. There are a lot more volunteers/missionaries needed.
Actually that is one thing we learned. In the last year the Church has seen a decline in the number of senior couples serving. I'm sure part of that has to do with the economy, but it has had an impact on the amount of work that is done.
We have enjoyed going around stores getting the things we need. We are supposed to wear our name tags wherever we go. We are not supposed to wear jeans anywhere except if we are working in a yard or exercising, etc. so we have had many people come up and start talking to us about our mission. Most are surprised when they find out we are from Texas and then they start telling us about their missions or other people they know who are serving or they say, "I really should be doing more research and family history work than I am doing."
This is the transition that I have felt this week. Each day we have been inspired regarding this work, both the genealogy and the family history. A sign in the training room reads something like this: Genealogy without the history is just mythology. We have heard over and over again about the importance of this work and the many individuals who are waiting for their work to be done. We have been counseled to make prayer, scripture study and journaling a more important part of each day so the Holy Ghost will be able to teach us, and guide us to the names and histories of those who are waiting for us to realize the blessings of the ordinances of the gospel.
One of the messages we received from our Mission Presidency is to keep the TV off. This was so funny to me. Ed had told me before we came that he wanted to get a TV. I told him that I didn't think we should be watching TV at all. (Ashley told him the same thing, "You should be focusing on your mission, Dad!") When we arrived at our apartment we found that the previous missionaries had left a TV. It was an old one and after getting it hooked up Ed said that he would want to get a better TV. Then when we heard this counsel from the presidency Ed slowly turned his head towards me and I just smiled. We haven't turned the TV on once during the week. I think we will not be spending money on a new TV anytime soon. Let me just say here, I love my husband dearly.
We have another full week of intense training this week. There is so much to learn. Each day I am so concerned about my ability to remember the new stuff that I was taught that day. There is so much! On Friday we will receive our permanent assignments. We have learned that the Family and Church History Mission has 22 zones where we could be assigned. On Friday, we will meet our zone leaders after getting our assignment and then we finish our training by going to the temple as a group; missionaries, Presidency and trainers. It will be a great way to finish our general training. The following Monday we will report to our assigned places and receive another week or two of training in our specific assignments. Stay tuned!
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