We have had another amazing week. We have kept busy every day and have had some great experiences, not only in our zone, but with our own research and also with our wonderful missionaries here.
Let me begin with an amazing story we were told this week. This was shared in our prayer meeting in the British Zone but it involves a letter sent by a senior couple to missionaries in the Headquarters Zone. This experience teaches a number of important principles, among them obedience and trust in the Lord.
A senior couple determined they would send in their mission papers. The only request they made in their paperwork was they would like to be sent somewhere warm. Their call came and they were called to the Ukraine (actually, Ed and are not sure of the place, but......). They were not happy and decided not to accept the call.
A year later after discussions with their priesthood leadership they determined they should send in their papers again. Again they were called to the Ukraine. Again, they were not happy, but this time they decided they should go. They were on a Humanitarian Mission and one of their assignments was to serve at a penal colony. Soon after arriving at the prison, the sister was cleaning up after they had helped serve a meal and seeing that she was alone in the room she was talking out loud, grumbling about the situation saying things like, “I don’t know why we are here….”, “I can’t communicate with anyone because nobody speaks English....” etc.
Then from the other side of a wall she heard, “I speak English”. She was startled and they went to find out who was in the prison who spoke English. When they found this young man, it was their son. He had left home when he was 17 and they had not had any contact with him after that. He had traveled around the world and ended up being arrested because he had taken a picture of something that the local authorities did not want him taking a picture of. This couple completed their mission and are now working to free their son.
Is that not a cool story? There are little miracles just waiting to happen if we will live in such a way that we can recognize them. Father In Heaven wants so much to bless us. He is waiting to bless us, each day. I know this and I feel His tender mercies in my life.
Today on the Music and the Spoken Word broadcast, the MoTab (Mormon Tabernacle Choir) sang the hymn "Improve the Shining Moments". I have been thinking a lot about being grateful this past week. As I listened to the words to this song and the message, I was struck by how much happier we would all be if we would just "improve each shining moment" that comes our way. "Don't let them pass you by" because we never know what may come to us in those moments that we could miss because we let ourselves get in the way of the Spirit.
I also read this quip in the British Zone Newsletter:
Stop whatever you're doing and become grateful. This alone will create cheerful thoughts and “cheerful” chemicals running through your body. There's something about having an attitude of gratitude that is very powerful...Determine that you're going to keep cheerful thoughts in your mind about every situation. It's your choice how you choose to handle the situation because happiness is a choice. I choose to be happy right now in this moment.
Another great thing that happened this week was a sort of reunion with friends we had when we lived in Louisiana. It was so good to see people we haven't seen in 20+ years. We met for lunch at 1pm and almost had to order dinner because we just kept talking and talking (I think I have done that before with another good friend ^_^)
It is so wonderful to meet people from your past and to see that they are strong in the gospel and that they are happy.
I have also learned about many sad things this week. Friends who are struggling with sadness and diseases and tragedy in their lives. But I believe very strongly that in all things we have reason to be happy and grateful. No matter what we may be asked to endure in this life we can know that we are children of a kind and loving Father In Heaven who only wants for us to grow and learn and return to Him. He cannot make our lives easy, but He can and does send us peace. I am so grateful to know of Him and to know of the Savior and to know that I am loved by both. I hope you know that too.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Half Way Mark
We have been on our mission just over 6 months. I can't believe it! The time is flying by for us. I am starting to feel the panic of leaving. I don't want this to end. I remember feeling that way when I was in Thailand. I remember trying to savor the smells and listening to the conversations in the market and at church that I knew I would not hear again. I am that way here. Every time I walk across the Temple Square and see how different it looks with the weather, the seasons, the time of day, the number of people there, etc. I savor it.
I felt this way at church today in the beautiful chapel in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (JSMB). It is such a joy to meet in that room. The high council speaker commented on how he feels when he comes to this chapel. He admitted to gazing around at the architecture and decor and how his mind has wandered a bit from what is being taught from the pulpit. Then he said, "That is probably why we don't build churches like this....it is too easy to be distracted." Well, I thought, we never did build them like this, this was a ballroom in a hotel!! I must admit that I gaze around from time to time since, as missionaries, we are in this room often. I think the ceiling looks like a very elaborate wedding cake. I love it, but that is what I think of when I look at the white ceiling. I want to savor this sight.
Last week the moon was full and at this time of the year it makes its way down in the morning by going farther north than usual. On Thursday when we were walking to the Library about 7:30AM from our earlier morning choir practice in the JSMB the moon was just above the horizon straight in front of us next to the old pioneer cabin on the plaza between the Family History Library and the Church History Museum. It was breathtaking! Our friends took a picture. I have included it in this blog. I tried the next morning to get a shot too, but it was cloudy on Friday and I didn't have any success with my camera. I stood outside for 25 minutes before going in for prayer meeting. I tried several set ups to get the moon, but by the time the moon was in the right place, the sun had lit up the sky too much for a good picture. I wish I could take a picture of each moment to cherish in coming years.
Not very practical, am I?
A sad thing has happened to Ed. He was typing his journal for 2011 and he had opened his 2010 journal file for some reason and inadvertently wiped out his entire 2010 journal! It is so sad that he will not have his recorded experiences and feelings for the first 6 months of his first mission. I hope that he can recall some to record. I am hopeful. I was at a meeting last Friday where one of the participants told the following story as an illustration of the importance of keeping a journal and doing our personal history:
His father had not been one to keep a journal or write his personal history until a little while before he died. He began writing but then he got a recorder and began recording his story in his own voice. After he died Jeff’s daughter got the recorder (or tape… I don’t remember) and was transcribing his words. One day Jeff saw his daughter and she had left the room and was crying. He asked her what was wrong and her reply was, “I want to live in such a way that I never do anything to prevent me from living with grandpa.”
I believe in Oral Histories. I believe that hearing the voice is very important. Digital recordings can be made and left for our children so their children can hear our voices telling them how much we love them and their parents and to bear our testimony of the importance and the permanence of the family beyond the grave and that the only way we can have that joy of being together is because of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It doesn't have to be our entire personal history, but to hear our voices is important. I'm going to do something about that. Don't know exactly what or how just yet, but I am going to do something.
My sister and her husband arrived yesterday ready to enter the Mission Training Center (MTC) on Monday. They are going to the Manchester England Mission and will be working in the office, relieving two young missionaries there and then they have a ward assignment also to help with activation. They are very excited. Ed and I decided that they and other missionaries around the world are on "real" missions and we are on a "pretend" mission. We have so much flexibility here that others do not. I know that we were called here by the Lord for a purpose and I am grateful to be here, but we do have it so easy, almost like a 9-5 job and then the rest of the time is our own. I think that this is a test to a degree, for the Lord to see what we will do with that time. I am trying to be better about that. I want to be worthy to serve our next mission, wherever that may be.
I felt this way at church today in the beautiful chapel in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (JSMB). It is such a joy to meet in that room. The high council speaker commented on how he feels when he comes to this chapel. He admitted to gazing around at the architecture and decor and how his mind has wandered a bit from what is being taught from the pulpit. Then he said, "That is probably why we don't build churches like this....it is too easy to be distracted." Well, I thought, we never did build them like this, this was a ballroom in a hotel!! I must admit that I gaze around from time to time since, as missionaries, we are in this room often. I think the ceiling looks like a very elaborate wedding cake. I love it, but that is what I think of when I look at the white ceiling. I want to savor this sight.
Last week the moon was full and at this time of the year it makes its way down in the morning by going farther north than usual. On Thursday when we were walking to the Library about 7:30AM from our earlier morning choir practice in the JSMB the moon was just above the horizon straight in front of us next to the old pioneer cabin on the plaza between the Family History Library and the Church History Museum. It was breathtaking! Our friends took a picture. I have included it in this blog. I tried the next morning to get a shot too, but it was cloudy on Friday and I didn't have any success with my camera. I stood outside for 25 minutes before going in for prayer meeting. I tried several set ups to get the moon, but by the time the moon was in the right place, the sun had lit up the sky too much for a good picture. I wish I could take a picture of each moment to cherish in coming years.
Not very practical, am I?
A sad thing has happened to Ed. He was typing his journal for 2011 and he had opened his 2010 journal file for some reason and inadvertently wiped out his entire 2010 journal! It is so sad that he will not have his recorded experiences and feelings for the first 6 months of his first mission. I hope that he can recall some to record. I am hopeful. I was at a meeting last Friday where one of the participants told the following story as an illustration of the importance of keeping a journal and doing our personal history:
His father had not been one to keep a journal or write his personal history until a little while before he died. He began writing but then he got a recorder and began recording his story in his own voice. After he died Jeff’s daughter got the recorder (or tape… I don’t remember) and was transcribing his words. One day Jeff saw his daughter and she had left the room and was crying. He asked her what was wrong and her reply was, “I want to live in such a way that I never do anything to prevent me from living with grandpa.”
I believe in Oral Histories. I believe that hearing the voice is very important. Digital recordings can be made and left for our children so their children can hear our voices telling them how much we love them and their parents and to bear our testimony of the importance and the permanence of the family beyond the grave and that the only way we can have that joy of being together is because of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It doesn't have to be our entire personal history, but to hear our voices is important. I'm going to do something about that. Don't know exactly what or how just yet, but I am going to do something.
My sister and her husband arrived yesterday ready to enter the Mission Training Center (MTC) on Monday. They are going to the Manchester England Mission and will be working in the office, relieving two young missionaries there and then they have a ward assignment also to help with activation. They are very excited. Ed and I decided that they and other missionaries around the world are on "real" missions and we are on a "pretend" mission. We have so much flexibility here that others do not. I know that we were called here by the Lord for a purpose and I am grateful to be here, but we do have it so easy, almost like a 9-5 job and then the rest of the time is our own. I think that this is a test to a degree, for the Lord to see what we will do with that time. I am trying to be better about that. I want to be worthy to serve our next mission, wherever that may be.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Blessings from the Past
Last week was a full and fun week. Monday began with the Elijah choir at 6:24AM which is always a great way to begin. Music brings the Spirit to my heart. We are sang an arrangement of "I Need Thee Every Hour" which always has me weeping by the end. I certainly need Him, oh, how I need Him. I love that everyday as a missionary I am surrounded by people who are of the same heart and mind and we are happy to be together in this work. It is very rewarding. Everywhere I walk I see smiling people.....truly a blessing.
Last week my sister was in town from Houston. She came for our mother's 86th birthday. Wednesday evening we had another missionary temple devotional with Elder Packer of the Seventy (son of Elder Packer of the Twelve). On Thursday my sister came to the Family History Library and I showed her a little of what we do. Later we took her to lunch and after lunch I walked her over to the Church History Library and then cut across Temple Square to return to the Family History Library. Walking by the Reflecting Pool I ran into Elder Marlin K. Jensen. He had a big grin on his face and saw my tag and started talking to me about watching the newlyweds getting their pictures there and how he was reflecting on how he felt on his wedding day. I told him that we (some of the missionaries) had been talking about him the night before after Elder Packer (of the Seventy) had spoken to us because he spoke on the same topic that Elder Jensen (of the Seventy) had spoken to us about last October: listening to and following the Prophet of the Lord. (Isn't that interesting that so many talks we are hearing are on the same subject. There were several on that topic during October Conference also.)
Elder Jensen said he was impressed that I remembered that. I told him not to be impressed, I just wrote it down. He chuckled and then he told me that he had been at a stake conference last year in the Hollywood, CA area and gave a 35 min. talk. He was told the next day that his entire talk was up on You Tube the evening after he had given it. Someone had video taped it in Stake Conference! Then he said to me, "We must be so careful about what we say now." I told him that I was confident that he and the brethren were always careful about what they say.
I would like to share a thought I have had this past week regarding what we say.....words are very important. As I have been reading the English translations of the Tongan Oral Genealogies, I have been touched by the testimonies and words of these sweet people. Many of them express how happy they are that their children will hear their voices and know their about families, but one I read this week particularly touched me. He said: I leave my blessing with my wife and my children and my grandchildren when they hear my genealogy and all those who will come after and listen to my words. (This is not an exact quote, but it is the gist of his words.) Even though these people made these recordings 30+ years ago, they wanted to leave a blessing on their posterity who they were confident would hear their voices. I am so happy that I can do a small part to help their posterity to have the opportunity to hear this blessing that was left for them.....a blessing from the past.
While my sister was here from Houston some in our family wanted to go down to the Carl Bloch exhibit again at the BYU Museum of Art so I was able to go again with them. I loved seeing these beautiful works of art again. I love seeing the talent of this man and the beautiful feeling about the Savior and His life that he captured so long ago.....a blessing from the past. I am so happy that those in Denmark were willing to share these spectacular altar pieces and other works with us and that we have the opportunity to see them. I hope to be able to go another time or two before the exhibit closes. (Ed did not go again.....he felt that surely we could find someone else who would appreciate it more than he would. I am grateful my cute husband indulges me as he does to satisfy my varied interests.)
Also last week we had a wonderful tour of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and learned much about the history of that beautiful space we see almost every day. It is such a privilege. I was surprised to learn that the LDS Church had sold the property to the group who decided that SLC, Utah needed a fine hotel. It is surprising to me that the Church would have sold the property across from the temple for a hotel. Even though the cost was enormous, I am happy that the Church did the major restoration work that was done on this building. It is such a pleasure to meet there so often, especially on Sunday. Many of you probably know that the current chapel (where we meet each week) was the ballroom. When it is very still you can hear the original wood flooring creak a little underneath the carpet as the High Priest's walk around to pass the sacrament......another blessing of beauty from the past.
These blessings just make me more and more excited for each new week because I can never know what is "around the corner" here. We learn new things each week. I am so happy and grateful to be alive and that we can be here serving the Lord. I am gaining a greater insight into the principles of love, service and consecration. I know that this mission is unique and that this is the Lord's training time for us. I am confident that our service is blessing the lives of others, some past and hopefully some present as we grow into our call. I pray we each feel the same as we serve in our various capacities.
Last week my sister was in town from Houston. She came for our mother's 86th birthday. Wednesday evening we had another missionary temple devotional with Elder Packer of the Seventy (son of Elder Packer of the Twelve). On Thursday my sister came to the Family History Library and I showed her a little of what we do. Later we took her to lunch and after lunch I walked her over to the Church History Library and then cut across Temple Square to return to the Family History Library. Walking by the Reflecting Pool I ran into Elder Marlin K. Jensen. He had a big grin on his face and saw my tag and started talking to me about watching the newlyweds getting their pictures there and how he was reflecting on how he felt on his wedding day. I told him that we (some of the missionaries) had been talking about him the night before after Elder Packer (of the Seventy) had spoken to us because he spoke on the same topic that Elder Jensen (of the Seventy) had spoken to us about last October: listening to and following the Prophet of the Lord. (Isn't that interesting that so many talks we are hearing are on the same subject. There were several on that topic during October Conference also.)
Elder Jensen said he was impressed that I remembered that. I told him not to be impressed, I just wrote it down. He chuckled and then he told me that he had been at a stake conference last year in the Hollywood, CA area and gave a 35 min. talk. He was told the next day that his entire talk was up on You Tube the evening after he had given it. Someone had video taped it in Stake Conference! Then he said to me, "We must be so careful about what we say now." I told him that I was confident that he and the brethren were always careful about what they say.
I would like to share a thought I have had this past week regarding what we say.....words are very important. As I have been reading the English translations of the Tongan Oral Genealogies, I have been touched by the testimonies and words of these sweet people. Many of them express how happy they are that their children will hear their voices and know their about families, but one I read this week particularly touched me. He said: I leave my blessing with my wife and my children and my grandchildren when they hear my genealogy and all those who will come after and listen to my words. (This is not an exact quote, but it is the gist of his words.) Even though these people made these recordings 30+ years ago, they wanted to leave a blessing on their posterity who they were confident would hear their voices. I am so happy that I can do a small part to help their posterity to have the opportunity to hear this blessing that was left for them.....a blessing from the past.
While my sister was here from Houston some in our family wanted to go down to the Carl Bloch exhibit again at the BYU Museum of Art so I was able to go again with them. I loved seeing these beautiful works of art again. I love seeing the talent of this man and the beautiful feeling about the Savior and His life that he captured so long ago.....a blessing from the past. I am so happy that those in Denmark were willing to share these spectacular altar pieces and other works with us and that we have the opportunity to see them. I hope to be able to go another time or two before the exhibit closes. (Ed did not go again.....he felt that surely we could find someone else who would appreciate it more than he would. I am grateful my cute husband indulges me as he does to satisfy my varied interests.)
Also last week we had a wonderful tour of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and learned much about the history of that beautiful space we see almost every day. It is such a privilege. I was surprised to learn that the LDS Church had sold the property to the group who decided that SLC, Utah needed a fine hotel. It is surprising to me that the Church would have sold the property across from the temple for a hotel. Even though the cost was enormous, I am happy that the Church did the major restoration work that was done on this building. It is such a pleasure to meet there so often, especially on Sunday. Many of you probably know that the current chapel (where we meet each week) was the ballroom. When it is very still you can hear the original wood flooring creak a little underneath the carpet as the High Priest's walk around to pass the sacrament......another blessing of beauty from the past.
These blessings just make me more and more excited for each new week because I can never know what is "around the corner" here. We learn new things each week. I am so happy and grateful to be alive and that we can be here serving the Lord. I am gaining a greater insight into the principles of love, service and consecration. I know that this mission is unique and that this is the Lord's training time for us. I am confident that our service is blessing the lives of others, some past and hopefully some present as we grow into our call. I pray we each feel the same as we serve in our various capacities.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Just Like Heaven
It snowed last night so it was a beautiful morning when I walked over for branch choir practice. The sun was shining and the sky was blue, a great change from the foggy, pollution filled air that has covered the valley for most of the last week. It made for a great start to a wonderful Sabbath day.
Today at church meeting a talk was given that put into words what I have been feeling for some time. He said, "This (meaning being with us in the missionary branch) is just like heaven will be." Another speaker said, "Whenever I come to the Missionary Branch I always learn something. It's when the members get up. Some don't get up, but wheel in their chairs, some use canes, some use walkers, others are slow, but all are here to serve." I am so grateful for the ability we have to so easily serve a mission. Ed wasn't called from the pulpit in General Conference to go overseas for 3 years and leave us to support ourselves. I have healed so I don't have to stay in a wheelchair, I can get up (though some days I may be considered one of the slow ones....). I am sure that heaven will not have the physical frailties that were referred to, but the things of the heart, the sociality, will be the same. It is such a blessing to be serving with so many righteous men and woman who bring such varied skills and experiences from which we all learn and grow.
Last Tuesday evening we attended a fireside given by Heidi Swinton who wrote the Biography of President Monson among other things. She was amazing to listen to. She spoke for a solid hour without one note. She was well informed, engaging and humble. She told about her experience being asked by Pres. Monson to write the book and then working with him to complete the work. It was very interesting. She has a great love and respect for him. Ed gave me the book for my birthday but I haven't yet started it so he is reading it right now.
I have been reading some of the Tongan Orals this past week. We are getting ready to put online some of the English translations. I am so touched by some of these cute people and their words. I wanted to share some of them with you.
In one, the interviewer told the man who he was interviewing that there will be times in the future that his children will know him, after he has died. That they will "hear your voice from where this record is going to be and they will know you some day." He promised him that the tapes would be cared for until they found a good place to store them and it would not be there in Tonga. Then the man said, "I know that these are very important. If there are people who do good works it will not be forgotten. These things will be useful in time, maybe soon." He said that in 1973 when he recorded his family genealogy. I like to think that we are some of those people who are doing "good works".
Another woman who was born in 1896 and giving her genealogy was happy because her "great, great, great grandchildren will hear my voice...". She told of leaving her ancestral lands to move to another island so their children could have an education for a better life.
Many of these people bore strong testimonies of Jesus Christ. They were the first in their communities to bring the gospel to their people. Some who joined the Church had to leave their villages because of persecution. Other fathers and mothers saved so a child could be sent to live with a relative in the US to go to school and then one by one, after the first child was established, another sibling or cousin was sent to do the same thing. Some of these parents would never see those children again but others would eventually be brought here by their children to live out their lives in America.
It is a true blessing to be able to do some of this work. We gained another Tongan Church Service Missionary this week. He and his wife just returned from a full time mission in El Paso, Texas. (He says he was on a foreign mission, hahaha!) He will be helping with the english translations two days a week. We are very excited because we are losing two of our Tongans next month and we were very worried but we shouldn't have been. This is the Lord's work and He will always provide a way for us to accomplish whatever needs to be done.
Some of the little miracles that happen out on the floor of the Family History Library with the patrons are shared from time to time. I thought I would share a couple that I like that were sent to us last week:
A man from Michigan came to Salt Lake City to try to find information about his brother who was disowned by his mother when he joined the Church 30 years ago at age 18. He thought his brother was now living in California. He felt inspired that if he came to Salt Lake this week, he could find the answer to his brother’s whereabouts.
He explained the circumstances to Elder Roberts (a missionary on the 2nd floor of the Library). A man walking by heard part of the story and placed himself a short distance away to listen. After the Michigan man mentioned the full name of his disowned brother, the man listening in introduced himself as the long lost brother. He had overheard the conversation and recognized the story as his. They both happened to be in the Library the same day to do family history, one from Michigan and one from California. (There is more detail to this story, but this synopsis gives the impact of these two brothers coming together after so long. The Michigan brother had joined the Church after the mother died but the California brother had no idea because he had decided not to talk with any family because he had been treated so poorly by them when he joined the Church)
One more for tonight:
(Experience of Sister Camille Thomas, as told to Yvonne Sorenson on 22 Dec. 2010)
Sis. Camille Thomas on Tues. 21 Dec. 2010 had an interesting experience. She had been working on the 3rd floor and walked by and noticed a patron working on a family that had an unusual name. An hour later she was working on the 2nd floor. She noticed another gentleman working on his family that had the same name. As she talked to the patron, she suggested to the man on the 2nd floor that he might want to meet the man on the 3rd floor. She introduced them and they discovered they were cousins, both working on different parts of the same family. One man was from Oklahoma and the other from Florida. Neither of them knew about the other. She saw them the next day in the stacks on the 3rd floor, locked in conversation and working together on the family.
Have a great week.
Today at church meeting a talk was given that put into words what I have been feeling for some time. He said, "This (meaning being with us in the missionary branch) is just like heaven will be." Another speaker said, "Whenever I come to the Missionary Branch I always learn something. It's when the members get up. Some don't get up, but wheel in their chairs, some use canes, some use walkers, others are slow, but all are here to serve." I am so grateful for the ability we have to so easily serve a mission. Ed wasn't called from the pulpit in General Conference to go overseas for 3 years and leave us to support ourselves. I have healed so I don't have to stay in a wheelchair, I can get up (though some days I may be considered one of the slow ones....). I am sure that heaven will not have the physical frailties that were referred to, but the things of the heart, the sociality, will be the same. It is such a blessing to be serving with so many righteous men and woman who bring such varied skills and experiences from which we all learn and grow.
Last Tuesday evening we attended a fireside given by Heidi Swinton who wrote the Biography of President Monson among other things. She was amazing to listen to. She spoke for a solid hour without one note. She was well informed, engaging and humble. She told about her experience being asked by Pres. Monson to write the book and then working with him to complete the work. It was very interesting. She has a great love and respect for him. Ed gave me the book for my birthday but I haven't yet started it so he is reading it right now.
I have been reading some of the Tongan Orals this past week. We are getting ready to put online some of the English translations. I am so touched by some of these cute people and their words. I wanted to share some of them with you.
In one, the interviewer told the man who he was interviewing that there will be times in the future that his children will know him, after he has died. That they will "hear your voice from where this record is going to be and they will know you some day." He promised him that the tapes would be cared for until they found a good place to store them and it would not be there in Tonga. Then the man said, "I know that these are very important. If there are people who do good works it will not be forgotten. These things will be useful in time, maybe soon." He said that in 1973 when he recorded his family genealogy. I like to think that we are some of those people who are doing "good works".
Another woman who was born in 1896 and giving her genealogy was happy because her "great, great, great grandchildren will hear my voice...". She told of leaving her ancestral lands to move to another island so their children could have an education for a better life.
Many of these people bore strong testimonies of Jesus Christ. They were the first in their communities to bring the gospel to their people. Some who joined the Church had to leave their villages because of persecution. Other fathers and mothers saved so a child could be sent to live with a relative in the US to go to school and then one by one, after the first child was established, another sibling or cousin was sent to do the same thing. Some of these parents would never see those children again but others would eventually be brought here by their children to live out their lives in America.
It is a true blessing to be able to do some of this work. We gained another Tongan Church Service Missionary this week. He and his wife just returned from a full time mission in El Paso, Texas. (He says he was on a foreign mission, hahaha!) He will be helping with the english translations two days a week. We are very excited because we are losing two of our Tongans next month and we were very worried but we shouldn't have been. This is the Lord's work and He will always provide a way for us to accomplish whatever needs to be done.
Some of the little miracles that happen out on the floor of the Family History Library with the patrons are shared from time to time. I thought I would share a couple that I like that were sent to us last week:
A man from Michigan came to Salt Lake City to try to find information about his brother who was disowned by his mother when he joined the Church 30 years ago at age 18. He thought his brother was now living in California. He felt inspired that if he came to Salt Lake this week, he could find the answer to his brother’s whereabouts.
He explained the circumstances to Elder Roberts (a missionary on the 2nd floor of the Library). A man walking by heard part of the story and placed himself a short distance away to listen. After the Michigan man mentioned the full name of his disowned brother, the man listening in introduced himself as the long lost brother. He had overheard the conversation and recognized the story as his. They both happened to be in the Library the same day to do family history, one from Michigan and one from California. (There is more detail to this story, but this synopsis gives the impact of these two brothers coming together after so long. The Michigan brother had joined the Church after the mother died but the California brother had no idea because he had decided not to talk with any family because he had been treated so poorly by them when he joined the Church)
One more for tonight:
(Experience of Sister Camille Thomas, as told to Yvonne Sorenson on 22 Dec. 2010)
Sis. Camille Thomas on Tues. 21 Dec. 2010 had an interesting experience. She had been working on the 3rd floor and walked by and noticed a patron working on a family that had an unusual name. An hour later she was working on the 2nd floor. She noticed another gentleman working on his family that had the same name. As she talked to the patron, she suggested to the man on the 2nd floor that he might want to meet the man on the 3rd floor. She introduced them and they discovered they were cousins, both working on different parts of the same family. One man was from Oklahoma and the other from Florida. Neither of them knew about the other. She saw them the next day in the stacks on the 3rd floor, locked in conversation and working together on the family.
Have a great week.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Happy 2011
Yesterday was the last day all of our family were together and I did not make the time for a blog. Autumn and Derrick decided to stay up in our apartment one last night so we played games late into the night. Poor Aubree was so ready to have the games done. She doesn't enjoy the same games that the other girls like so much like "Settlers of Catan" and "Carcassonne". Aubree did enjoy playing "Mexican Train Dominoes" however and a real family favorite, "Pass". We received "Blockus" for Christmas from my sister, Lorna, which we quite enjoyed also. Possibly the fact that we had been playing games for about a week straight was enough to put many of us over the edge. Ed is not a good loser (did you know he was the competitive type?) especially when he doesn't read the rules himself so he depends on others to tell him all the little intricate details of these games. He did learn that this is not a safe thing to do with these games and with his children. I think he will learn to read the rules himself from now on. ^_^
We had a wonderful week preparing for the New Year. Ashley and Aubree stayed down in Provo at Autumn and Derrick's home for the first part of the week. Ed and I worked half days and then drove to Provo to join them for planned activities. On Wednesday we planned that they would all come to Salt Lake and meet us at the zoo. Our family enjoys going to the zoo and there were supposed to be lights and fun stuff at the Hogle Zoo, but it began snowing about 15 minutes before the meet time so we changed plans and everyone came to our apartment for dinner and games. The snow continued so the kids left to go back down to Provo (they had to get back to take care of their dog) and Ed and I waited to make a trip to the airport to pick up our niece flying in from Houston. Her plane was delayed due to weather so instead of the 8pm arrival time it was 1am. The snow was a light but steady snow but it was still my first time to drive the car in snow for many years. At 1am there are not many roads cleared yet, so I did not have too many other cars to dodge on the freeway getting her home, but I am grateful that the few who were out were driving as slowly as I was for the most part. We made it back to our apartment safely but I didn't relax enough to get to sleep until after 3am so I slept in a bit.
Friday we all got together again to see one of our favorite movies "Narnia. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." We were not disappointed. After seeing the movie we began our evening of games, fondue fun (we always have chocolate fondue on NYE)and going over to Temple Square to listen to some of the musical groups that were performing in the Tabernacle and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. We also walked down West Temple Street to see the snowboarders on the ski jump that had been built in front of the Salt Palace. We just watched what we could see for a few minutes and then we stopped in to the Art Museum to look around. They were having Karaoke with some music videos that students had put together. Aubree and I started singing when a video came up that was all cats and to the song "I Think We're Alone Now". We sang without the mics so everyone else in the room started singing too. It was great fun. Then they had us line up and did the telephone game. The first person had to share a New Year resolution with the next person in line and so on to the end of the line. What came out at the end of the line would be projected onto the outside of the building! She said, "I'm going to call my sister more this year" but it ended up "I'm going to yell at my sister more this year". I think one of the people she knew changed it on her...... But there it was projected on the outside of the building with her name.
We went to the Tabernacle and listened to the Kenshin Taiko Drummers (Japanese precision drumming) and then ended the evening listening to the Wasatch & District Pipe Band (bagpipes, drums and dancers). I do love the bagpipes and to hear them in the Tabernacle was great. They finished about 11:45 so we exited the Tabernacle and walked over to the corner at West Temple/South Temple just in time to hear the Nauvoo bell sound midnight and then the fireworks began. They only lasted for a few minutes, but we were with a group of people cheering and yelling "Happy New Year!" through chattering teeth and frozen breath. It was wonderful!! Derrick's parents had joined us part way through the evening which was fun also. I really loved having our entire family together one more time. With a grandchild joining our ranks, Ashley finishing her Master's and trying to get a job in Africa, Aubree graduating and trying to go to Japan, our mission ending next year and returning to The Woodlands, Derrick finishing his Master's and looking for a job.....you know a lot can happen in 12 months. It is important to take advantage of each moment of time we are given.
Last week as I was getting ready to leave the Family History Library to meet the kids
I was asked if I could take a minute and try to help a Tongan Sister. She had come to the library with her husband and two darling children to do a quick search and see what she could find about her family. We don't often get to help patrons, so I was happy to be able to talk with her. She did not know anything about Community Trees and the Tongan Oral Histories that are up online now. I showed her where to go to look and when she saw some of the information that was there, including a photo of one of the people whose history was up, she was very surprised. "There are 3 Tongan Stakes in the Salt Lake Valley, why don't we know about this?", she asked. I had to leave, but she said she and her sister would be back this week and would love to get some help. Of course I told her I would love to help her. I hope they are able to come in. We want these families to find each other!! She does not speak the old Tongan, but her husband does so he would be able to translate these transcripts.
It is a great work we are doing and we are happy to be part of it. So tonight as Ed and I are once again here in our apartment planning our week, we are so grateful for all the wonderful memories we have from these last two weeks. But, there is so much to be done and it is a new year and time to get back to work!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
We had a wonderful week preparing for the New Year. Ashley and Aubree stayed down in Provo at Autumn and Derrick's home for the first part of the week. Ed and I worked half days and then drove to Provo to join them for planned activities. On Wednesday we planned that they would all come to Salt Lake and meet us at the zoo. Our family enjoys going to the zoo and there were supposed to be lights and fun stuff at the Hogle Zoo, but it began snowing about 15 minutes before the meet time so we changed plans and everyone came to our apartment for dinner and games. The snow continued so the kids left to go back down to Provo (they had to get back to take care of their dog) and Ed and I waited to make a trip to the airport to pick up our niece flying in from Houston. Her plane was delayed due to weather so instead of the 8pm arrival time it was 1am. The snow was a light but steady snow but it was still my first time to drive the car in snow for many years. At 1am there are not many roads cleared yet, so I did not have too many other cars to dodge on the freeway getting her home, but I am grateful that the few who were out were driving as slowly as I was for the most part. We made it back to our apartment safely but I didn't relax enough to get to sleep until after 3am so I slept in a bit.
Friday we all got together again to see one of our favorite movies "Narnia. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." We were not disappointed. After seeing the movie we began our evening of games, fondue fun (we always have chocolate fondue on NYE)and going over to Temple Square to listen to some of the musical groups that were performing in the Tabernacle and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. We also walked down West Temple Street to see the snowboarders on the ski jump that had been built in front of the Salt Palace. We just watched what we could see for a few minutes and then we stopped in to the Art Museum to look around. They were having Karaoke with some music videos that students had put together. Aubree and I started singing when a video came up that was all cats and to the song "I Think We're Alone Now". We sang without the mics so everyone else in the room started singing too. It was great fun. Then they had us line up and did the telephone game. The first person had to share a New Year resolution with the next person in line and so on to the end of the line. What came out at the end of the line would be projected onto the outside of the building! She said, "I'm going to call my sister more this year" but it ended up "I'm going to yell at my sister more this year". I think one of the people she knew changed it on her...... But there it was projected on the outside of the building with her name.
We went to the Tabernacle and listened to the Kenshin Taiko Drummers (Japanese precision drumming) and then ended the evening listening to the Wasatch & District Pipe Band (bagpipes, drums and dancers). I do love the bagpipes and to hear them in the Tabernacle was great. They finished about 11:45 so we exited the Tabernacle and walked over to the corner at West Temple/South Temple just in time to hear the Nauvoo bell sound midnight and then the fireworks began. They only lasted for a few minutes, but we were with a group of people cheering and yelling "Happy New Year!" through chattering teeth and frozen breath. It was wonderful!! Derrick's parents had joined us part way through the evening which was fun also. I really loved having our entire family together one more time. With a grandchild joining our ranks, Ashley finishing her Master's and trying to get a job in Africa, Aubree graduating and trying to go to Japan, our mission ending next year and returning to The Woodlands, Derrick finishing his Master's and looking for a job.....you know a lot can happen in 12 months. It is important to take advantage of each moment of time we are given.
Last week as I was getting ready to leave the Family History Library to meet the kids
I was asked if I could take a minute and try to help a Tongan Sister. She had come to the library with her husband and two darling children to do a quick search and see what she could find about her family. We don't often get to help patrons, so I was happy to be able to talk with her. She did not know anything about Community Trees and the Tongan Oral Histories that are up online now. I showed her where to go to look and when she saw some of the information that was there, including a photo of one of the people whose history was up, she was very surprised. "There are 3 Tongan Stakes in the Salt Lake Valley, why don't we know about this?", she asked. I had to leave, but she said she and her sister would be back this week and would love to get some help. Of course I told her I would love to help her. I hope they are able to come in. We want these families to find each other!! She does not speak the old Tongan, but her husband does so he would be able to translate these transcripts.
It is a great work we are doing and we are happy to be part of it. So tonight as Ed and I are once again here in our apartment planning our week, we are so grateful for all the wonderful memories we have from these last two weeks. But, there is so much to be done and it is a new year and time to get back to work!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Merry Christmas!
I met a woman on Christmas Day that made me smile.
We had Christmas dinner at Autumn and Derrick's little house and she had the big meal planned well. Everyone had an assignment and there was a schedule for the use of the kitchen (which is not really large) to make their assigned item(s). Aubree was assigned the rolls. She found a new recipe and all the ingredients were there but it seems there may have been a little problem with the yeast (we are still not quite sure what) and the dough did not rise but was a large, heavy lump. So....Ed and I jumped in the car to see if we could find rolls somewhere. There was only one grocery store open on Christmas Day and it was surprisingly busy. We found wonderful rolls at the store bakery (it turns out to be a "scratch" bakery in Ridley's, not a big name store)and we headed to checkout. We were standing in line and another checker motioned for me to come over to her register so she could help us. She was very cheery and I just felt so bad I had to tell her how sorry I was that she had to work on Christmas. She smiled and looked right at me and said, "Oh don't be! I love working on Christmas! I volunteered to work today. I like it because everyone is so happy and nice on Christmas so I really like being here!" Now, doesn't that just make you smile? What a great attitude! The only problem is, everyone should behave that way all year.
We returned to the house with the rolls and a great attitude and had a wonderful meal with our children. It was a great day. Before we got started on the meal we did open gifts and the first gift we opened was a special envelope from Autumn's OB. They had asked him to not tell them the sex of the baby but to put it in an envelope which they put on the tree to be opened on Christmas Day. All of us agreed it would be the first gift. It's a boy! (sigh) We are so happy. Aubree and Ashley gave gifts to the baby and wrote names on the labels that they would like to suggest to Autumn and Derrick. My personal favorite is: Deidrich Octavian Gibelyou from Ashley, but given that the initials spell DOG I don't think that will fly, but it was fun to hear the names they came up with.
With the girls coming in on Wednesday, we didn't get a lot of missionary work done last week. We have had the experience of being missionaries in a strange land. The mission was shy a bunch of missionaries this past week. Our employee in charge is on vacation so some projects have come to a standstill but we will resume our work and be ready and willing after the first of the new year. It is a little scary to me to think about it too much because I realize that this time next year we probably will be home. Wow! Time is flying by!!!
Aubree and Ashley arrived Wednesday afternoon and we had tickets for the family to see "A Christmas Carol" at the 5pm performance time. We were seated and chatting and then there was a little stir and Pres. Monson came in with people I assume were family members. The Church was a major sponsor of the show I learned later. It was well done and fun. The following night we had tickets to see the Church production of "Savior of the World". It was also well done and very stirring. It was a great way to begin our Christmas Holiday together. Everyone stayed in our apartment until the 24th when we packed up and everyone stayed at Autumn and Derricks. Lots of fun there too.
I guess I can't leave the blog without telling about my first experience directing the Branch choir today. I was so nervous that I forgot to stand the choir. At the last minute the horrified/confused look on the faces of the choir members and the gentle reminder whispered by the accompanist saved me and I motioned for them to stand up....hahahaha I told them afterward that I would get better. I promised.
My family, the Mumford's, came over to our apartment building social room tonight for cookies, singing and a kwanzaa ball. A lot of my family who are here do this every year I heard so it was fun to join in and enjoy the fun with them. This may be a one time event for us since we will not be here for Christmas next year. We sang carols together which for me is a wonderful thing. Our family members can sing and I love singing with them.
The holidays are about family and friends and being happy. I hope that everyone has had a wonderful holiday and that the New Year will be brought in with much laughter and love. We are looking forward to doing that this week.
We had Christmas dinner at Autumn and Derrick's little house and she had the big meal planned well. Everyone had an assignment and there was a schedule for the use of the kitchen (which is not really large) to make their assigned item(s). Aubree was assigned the rolls. She found a new recipe and all the ingredients were there but it seems there may have been a little problem with the yeast (we are still not quite sure what) and the dough did not rise but was a large, heavy lump. So....Ed and I jumped in the car to see if we could find rolls somewhere. There was only one grocery store open on Christmas Day and it was surprisingly busy. We found wonderful rolls at the store bakery (it turns out to be a "scratch" bakery in Ridley's, not a big name store)and we headed to checkout. We were standing in line and another checker motioned for me to come over to her register so she could help us. She was very cheery and I just felt so bad I had to tell her how sorry I was that she had to work on Christmas. She smiled and looked right at me and said, "Oh don't be! I love working on Christmas! I volunteered to work today. I like it because everyone is so happy and nice on Christmas so I really like being here!" Now, doesn't that just make you smile? What a great attitude! The only problem is, everyone should behave that way all year.
We returned to the house with the rolls and a great attitude and had a wonderful meal with our children. It was a great day. Before we got started on the meal we did open gifts and the first gift we opened was a special envelope from Autumn's OB. They had asked him to not tell them the sex of the baby but to put it in an envelope which they put on the tree to be opened on Christmas Day. All of us agreed it would be the first gift. It's a boy! (sigh) We are so happy. Aubree and Ashley gave gifts to the baby and wrote names on the labels that they would like to suggest to Autumn and Derrick. My personal favorite is: Deidrich Octavian Gibelyou from Ashley, but given that the initials spell DOG I don't think that will fly, but it was fun to hear the names they came up with.
With the girls coming in on Wednesday, we didn't get a lot of missionary work done last week. We have had the experience of being missionaries in a strange land. The mission was shy a bunch of missionaries this past week. Our employee in charge is on vacation so some projects have come to a standstill but we will resume our work and be ready and willing after the first of the new year. It is a little scary to me to think about it too much because I realize that this time next year we probably will be home. Wow! Time is flying by!!!
Aubree and Ashley arrived Wednesday afternoon and we had tickets for the family to see "A Christmas Carol" at the 5pm performance time. We were seated and chatting and then there was a little stir and Pres. Monson came in with people I assume were family members. The Church was a major sponsor of the show I learned later. It was well done and fun. The following night we had tickets to see the Church production of "Savior of the World". It was also well done and very stirring. It was a great way to begin our Christmas Holiday together. Everyone stayed in our apartment until the 24th when we packed up and everyone stayed at Autumn and Derricks. Lots of fun there too.
I guess I can't leave the blog without telling about my first experience directing the Branch choir today. I was so nervous that I forgot to stand the choir. At the last minute the horrified/confused look on the faces of the choir members and the gentle reminder whispered by the accompanist saved me and I motioned for them to stand up....hahahaha I told them afterward that I would get better. I promised.
My family, the Mumford's, came over to our apartment building social room tonight for cookies, singing and a kwanzaa ball. A lot of my family who are here do this every year I heard so it was fun to join in and enjoy the fun with them. This may be a one time event for us since we will not be here for Christmas next year. We sang carols together which for me is a wonderful thing. Our family members can sing and I love singing with them.
The holidays are about family and friends and being happy. I hope that everyone has had a wonderful holiday and that the New Year will be brought in with much laughter and love. We are looking forward to doing that this week.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
A New Job
Last Sunday I was given the assignment of choir director for our missionary branch. I am a little intimidated with all the wonderful musicians in this group. We will see. This is a dream ward choir because of the talent here. It will be fun after I get my feet wet.
I have been training a new missionary for the past two weeks in the Training Zone. It has been a different experience and fun on many levels, but I will be happy to be back in Historical Families again full time. There is a lot going on for us.
Last week I was invited to sit in on a fairly informal meeting about Oral Genealogies. It seems that those priesthood leaders in charge are feeling a pressing need to look more closely at what is happening with these genealogies. They are coming to realize that oral genealogies are prevalent in many parts of the world and that it is a resource that we are losing quickly. The countries in Africa for instance. The young people in the villages are not wanting to stay in the small village and become the "storyteller". They can see more opportunity by moving to the bigger cities, not staying and spending their time memorizing multi-generations of names and relationships.
There is an African proverb that states: "When a storyteller dies a library is burned". Some of these men/women can recite up to 60 generations of people in their tribes. One of the interviews we put up from the hard drive we recently received from Ghana named 469 individuals. I couldn't name that many people in my own family! She was one of 2500 oral genealogies we received from Ghana and Nigeria on one hard drive. These people have signed releases for the Church to use their information, some with a thumb print because they don't have a signature. So we scan the document and put it up online with the names of the people in their genealogies. I think it is very cool to see that thumbprint. It will be interesting to see how things will develop in the next few months. I think our 200 Tongan records surprised a few people. It is nice to be part of a developing project with such potential for good. There are some different tribes (of the lost 10) that are being identified in far away parts of the world. Interesting, huh?
We are in the thick of the Christmas season here. People are exchanging gifts and there are more and more events. My brother-in-law (former MoTab member) received some coveted tickets to the Choir concert with David Archileta and Michael York for last Thursday, the 16th. It was their dress rehearsal performance, but the tickets were all gone and the Conference Center was full. It was a delightful evening. He has a very nice voice and is so cute. He is very humble about all the attention he gets and was very appreciative but was not at all "idol" like. He presented himself professionally and was obviously grateful for the opportunity to sing with the choir. At one point at the beginning of the show he said, "When I was a little boy I dreamed of singing with the Choir...." We just chuckled because he is still such a little boy. It was rather funny, but endearing.
An interesting bit of information for the Christmas season. Elder Bednar spoke at a local Stake Conference about a week ago and a missionary who was there shared some of what he taught them. He spoke of the symbols of Christmas, the tree, lights and the shepherds. The thing he taught about the shepherds was interesting to me. Some may know this, but I didn't remember reading it before (I probably did, but just didn't remember). He taught that the shepherds where the angels came were not just any shepherds and they were not watching just any sheep, but it was the herd of unblemished sheep to be used for the sacrifices in the temple. Those who were watching them were special shepherds who had been hand picked by the priests to watch out and care for those sacrificial lambs. Not so unusual that the angels would have gone to them to let them know that the "lamb of God" was born that night.
I always wondered about why those shepherds....why that particular flock. Now I know. Bruce R. McConkie apparently taught that sometime ago.
We are looking forward to having our children all together for this holiday. We have lots of great things planned and we will enjoy many traditions in this place like we would at home. One of them is the gingerbread decorating/construction project we have done for 4 years now. It will be a little different, but we will still have fun and we will find someone to judge our work. The girls have decided that since it has now become an annual event, we have to name it so they did....."The Moulder Cup". No, our family is not at all competitive!!! hahaha
Now I just have to do something about a cup!!
We woke up yesterday morning to another light snow, but later in the day it turned to rain. It has rained most of the day today on and off, so all the new snow is gone and much of the packed snow that has been shoveled into little gray piles. I hope that we will have a white Christmas, but it isn't looking like that will happen here this year. Since we will be driving back and forth a bit between here and Provo, it is much better to have clear weather.
Last week we received a wonderful surprise. A big box of goodies from Church friends from home! What a fun thing that was for us. We were like little kids opening the box and oooing and awwwing as we read the cards and notes and saw all the things that had been sent. Everything from gum to CD's and cash to socks. We particularly enjoyed the testimonies of the Sunday School class for us to put into a Book of Mormon to share. We will try hard to accomplish that even though we don't interact with the public in our assignment. Thank you all for your thoughtfulness. It is very much appreciated. We loved feeling like we are still part of the Woodlands Texas 2nd Ward even here in Utah. We love you all.
Christmas time is a wonderful time of the year because we are all reminded of the love of our Father in Heaven and of His Son, Jesus Christ. Because of this we all try to treat others with a little more kindness and show a little bit of the love that the Savior has shared with us. He came to earth humbly to do his great work for us and I am so grateful to know that through Him I can be forgiven for my sins.
I love singing the carols of Christmas with their thoughtful phrases:
"Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care and fit us for heaven to live with Thee there." May it ever be so is my pray for us all.
I have been training a new missionary for the past two weeks in the Training Zone. It has been a different experience and fun on many levels, but I will be happy to be back in Historical Families again full time. There is a lot going on for us.
Last week I was invited to sit in on a fairly informal meeting about Oral Genealogies. It seems that those priesthood leaders in charge are feeling a pressing need to look more closely at what is happening with these genealogies. They are coming to realize that oral genealogies are prevalent in many parts of the world and that it is a resource that we are losing quickly. The countries in Africa for instance. The young people in the villages are not wanting to stay in the small village and become the "storyteller". They can see more opportunity by moving to the bigger cities, not staying and spending their time memorizing multi-generations of names and relationships.
There is an African proverb that states: "When a storyteller dies a library is burned". Some of these men/women can recite up to 60 generations of people in their tribes. One of the interviews we put up from the hard drive we recently received from Ghana named 469 individuals. I couldn't name that many people in my own family! She was one of 2500 oral genealogies we received from Ghana and Nigeria on one hard drive. These people have signed releases for the Church to use their information, some with a thumb print because they don't have a signature. So we scan the document and put it up online with the names of the people in their genealogies. I think it is very cool to see that thumbprint. It will be interesting to see how things will develop in the next few months. I think our 200 Tongan records surprised a few people. It is nice to be part of a developing project with such potential for good. There are some different tribes (of the lost 10) that are being identified in far away parts of the world. Interesting, huh?
We are in the thick of the Christmas season here. People are exchanging gifts and there are more and more events. My brother-in-law (former MoTab member) received some coveted tickets to the Choir concert with David Archileta and Michael York for last Thursday, the 16th. It was their dress rehearsal performance, but the tickets were all gone and the Conference Center was full. It was a delightful evening. He has a very nice voice and is so cute. He is very humble about all the attention he gets and was very appreciative but was not at all "idol" like. He presented himself professionally and was obviously grateful for the opportunity to sing with the choir. At one point at the beginning of the show he said, "When I was a little boy I dreamed of singing with the Choir...." We just chuckled because he is still such a little boy. It was rather funny, but endearing.
An interesting bit of information for the Christmas season. Elder Bednar spoke at a local Stake Conference about a week ago and a missionary who was there shared some of what he taught them. He spoke of the symbols of Christmas, the tree, lights and the shepherds. The thing he taught about the shepherds was interesting to me. Some may know this, but I didn't remember reading it before (I probably did, but just didn't remember). He taught that the shepherds where the angels came were not just any shepherds and they were not watching just any sheep, but it was the herd of unblemished sheep to be used for the sacrifices in the temple. Those who were watching them were special shepherds who had been hand picked by the priests to watch out and care for those sacrificial lambs. Not so unusual that the angels would have gone to them to let them know that the "lamb of God" was born that night.
I always wondered about why those shepherds....why that particular flock. Now I know. Bruce R. McConkie apparently taught that sometime ago.
We are looking forward to having our children all together for this holiday. We have lots of great things planned and we will enjoy many traditions in this place like we would at home. One of them is the gingerbread decorating/construction project we have done for 4 years now. It will be a little different, but we will still have fun and we will find someone to judge our work. The girls have decided that since it has now become an annual event, we have to name it so they did....."The Moulder Cup". No, our family is not at all competitive!!! hahaha
Now I just have to do something about a cup!!
We woke up yesterday morning to another light snow, but later in the day it turned to rain. It has rained most of the day today on and off, so all the new snow is gone and much of the packed snow that has been shoveled into little gray piles. I hope that we will have a white Christmas, but it isn't looking like that will happen here this year. Since we will be driving back and forth a bit between here and Provo, it is much better to have clear weather.
Last week we received a wonderful surprise. A big box of goodies from Church friends from home! What a fun thing that was for us. We were like little kids opening the box and oooing and awwwing as we read the cards and notes and saw all the things that had been sent. Everything from gum to CD's and cash to socks. We particularly enjoyed the testimonies of the Sunday School class for us to put into a Book of Mormon to share. We will try hard to accomplish that even though we don't interact with the public in our assignment. Thank you all for your thoughtfulness. It is very much appreciated. We loved feeling like we are still part of the Woodlands Texas 2nd Ward even here in Utah. We love you all.
Christmas time is a wonderful time of the year because we are all reminded of the love of our Father in Heaven and of His Son, Jesus Christ. Because of this we all try to treat others with a little more kindness and show a little bit of the love that the Savior has shared with us. He came to earth humbly to do his great work for us and I am so grateful to know that through Him I can be forgiven for my sins.
I love singing the carols of Christmas with their thoughtful phrases:
"Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care and fit us for heaven to live with Thee there." May it ever be so is my pray for us all.
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