From Mom 9/28
Dear Family,
I've written several e-mails on these church computers and I don't know whathappens, but all of a sudden they just disappear and I can't find them.It's so frustrating. Another frustrating thing is this German keyboard.The Z and the Y have traded places so if you get some weird words, that'swhy.
I mentioned to you that we are in an international ward. There are peoplefrom all over here but they all speak English in some form or another. Wehave several black people, a few Oriental, quite a few from England, Russia,and quite a few from the states who are here on work assisnments. Did Itell zou that one of the families from the US is the Manning family. CarrieManning is Mark Pugmire's sister so is Karen Risenmay's sister in law.They, the Mannings were also close neighbors to Dave and Jeri Gill whilethey were both stationed in the Air Force in Ohio. I was so surprised whenshe got up in Relief Society and said, "You're the one related to theRisenmays, aren't you?" Then when I asked her how she knew the Risenmaysshe told me who she was. They moved here in June. He works for Boeing andthey will be here on assignment for two years. It's nice to feel like Iknow someone from home.
The boundaries of this ward are huge. From North to South is two and a halfhours and from East to West is two hours. The bishop is one and a halfhours away. The ward mission leader is nearly an hour away and we'vevisited both of them. There is lots of pretty country to see along the way.I have an idea we'll use our milage quota up each month if we visit eachfamily, as we've been asked to do.
Last night we visited a part member family. The wife is a member and theoldest daughter has been baptized but the husband is not a member. He comesto church regularly but still has lots of questions to ask. They are a nicefamily. The 12 year old daughter is having a hard time with some things inschool right now. They have had a tutor working with her but have recentlyhad some financial setbacks so the bishop asked if we would be willing tooffer to help their daughter. She is very outspoken and when we talked withher and her mother about helping, she said she didn't want us to help herbecause we were too old! But before the evening was over, she warmed up tous and as we left, she apologized for talking to us the way we did and wehave an appointment to work with her Monday afternoon. I think what warmedher up was when her mother told us how much she loved sports and she saidshe like softball best of all. Well, that's my favorite game to play too sowe started talking about it and her whole attitude changed. We're hoping tobe able to work with the Dad too. They are a very nice family.
Saturday we will be watching the morning session of conference at 6 PM.Before that, we will be able to watch a rebroadcast of the Relief Societýbroadcast. Then on Sunday, we will watch the rebroadcast of the Saturdayafternoon session and Priesthood session and then the Tabernacle Choirbroadcast at 5:30 and the Sunday morning session at 6. The Sunday afternoonsession will be broadcast from 10 until midnight. We may just pass on thatone and read it later on when we get our internet going. We're just thankfulwe can watch what we can.Things are starting to pick up slowly but surely. We still have plenty oftime to study and plan because most people work during the day so ourappointments are in the evening. Hopefully we'll be getting busier as timegoes on. We're not used to this much free time. Maybe retired people areused to not have too much to do but we have never retired and it's hardslowing down this much. I'm starting to getting used to the different timeschedule too. I still wake up at night but am getting back to sleep in ashorter amount of time.
This is definitely a stretch of my faith. I've wondered several times whywe are here but then who am I to question the inspiration of our GeneralAuthorities in issuing a mission call. I don't know that I will ever getthe language down but hopefully will learn enough that I can carry on ashort conversation-----like "I don't speak German." The other day we got ona streetcar and a lady motioned for me to come and sit down by her and shestarted talking to me and I just sat there, feeling like a real dummy.Sister Manning said when that happens to say, "Sprachen Sie English?" thanthey will know I can't speak their language. So much to learn!Dad is the driver and I'm the navigator. I know both of those are a bitscarry! I'm usually 180' turned around but somehow, and we know it's withthe Lord's help, we've been able to make it to all of our appointments andback home again. That in and of itself is a miracle!
I'm going to send this before it disappears again. Know that we love you.We think of you probably too much of the time. I didn't know I had so manytears! I miss my family! Take care. Will write more later.
Love,Mom
I've written several e-mails on these church computers and I don't know whathappens, but all of a sudden they just disappear and I can't find them.It's so frustrating. Another frustrating thing is this German keyboard.The Z and the Y have traded places so if you get some weird words, that'swhy.
I mentioned to you that we are in an international ward. There are peoplefrom all over here but they all speak English in some form or another. Wehave several black people, a few Oriental, quite a few from England, Russia,and quite a few from the states who are here on work assisnments. Did Itell zou that one of the families from the US is the Manning family. CarrieManning is Mark Pugmire's sister so is Karen Risenmay's sister in law.They, the Mannings were also close neighbors to Dave and Jeri Gill whilethey were both stationed in the Air Force in Ohio. I was so surprised whenshe got up in Relief Society and said, "You're the one related to theRisenmays, aren't you?" Then when I asked her how she knew the Risenmaysshe told me who she was. They moved here in June. He works for Boeing andthey will be here on assignment for two years. It's nice to feel like Iknow someone from home.
The boundaries of this ward are huge. From North to South is two and a halfhours and from East to West is two hours. The bishop is one and a halfhours away. The ward mission leader is nearly an hour away and we'vevisited both of them. There is lots of pretty country to see along the way.I have an idea we'll use our milage quota up each month if we visit eachfamily, as we've been asked to do.
Last night we visited a part member family. The wife is a member and theoldest daughter has been baptized but the husband is not a member. He comesto church regularly but still has lots of questions to ask. They are a nicefamily. The 12 year old daughter is having a hard time with some things inschool right now. They have had a tutor working with her but have recentlyhad some financial setbacks so the bishop asked if we would be willing tooffer to help their daughter. She is very outspoken and when we talked withher and her mother about helping, she said she didn't want us to help herbecause we were too old! But before the evening was over, she warmed up tous and as we left, she apologized for talking to us the way we did and wehave an appointment to work with her Monday afternoon. I think what warmedher up was when her mother told us how much she loved sports and she saidshe like softball best of all. Well, that's my favorite game to play too sowe started talking about it and her whole attitude changed. We're hoping tobe able to work with the Dad too. They are a very nice family.
Saturday we will be watching the morning session of conference at 6 PM.Before that, we will be able to watch a rebroadcast of the Relief Societýbroadcast. Then on Sunday, we will watch the rebroadcast of the Saturdayafternoon session and Priesthood session and then the Tabernacle Choirbroadcast at 5:30 and the Sunday morning session at 6. The Sunday afternoonsession will be broadcast from 10 until midnight. We may just pass on thatone and read it later on when we get our internet going. We're just thankfulwe can watch what we can.Things are starting to pick up slowly but surely. We still have plenty oftime to study and plan because most people work during the day so ourappointments are in the evening. Hopefully we'll be getting busier as timegoes on. We're not used to this much free time. Maybe retired people areused to not have too much to do but we have never retired and it's hardslowing down this much. I'm starting to getting used to the different timeschedule too. I still wake up at night but am getting back to sleep in ashorter amount of time.
This is definitely a stretch of my faith. I've wondered several times whywe are here but then who am I to question the inspiration of our GeneralAuthorities in issuing a mission call. I don't know that I will ever getthe language down but hopefully will learn enough that I can carry on ashort conversation-----like "I don't speak German." The other day we got ona streetcar and a lady motioned for me to come and sit down by her and shestarted talking to me and I just sat there, feeling like a real dummy.Sister Manning said when that happens to say, "Sprachen Sie English?" thanthey will know I can't speak their language. So much to learn!Dad is the driver and I'm the navigator. I know both of those are a bitscarry! I'm usually 180' turned around but somehow, and we know it's withthe Lord's help, we've been able to make it to all of our appointments andback home again. That in and of itself is a miracle!
I'm going to send this before it disappears again. Know that we love you.We think of you probably too much of the time. I didn't know I had so manytears! I miss my family! Take care. Will write more later.
Love,Mom
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home