A letter to the men from Dad (but girls can read it, too.)
Hi my sons,
How was your week? We have been fighting off the crud but still have managed to remain fairly active in spite of it.
Yesterday we met with a family that mom had expressed no desire to ever return to see again. Feelings kept coming back to call. We did. An appointment was made. Several times we considered undoing it. Even as we left the car to go into the home we considered returning home and just canceling. Mom said no, we should continue. The wife, who is currently studying with the Jehovah Witnesses, was not there. We began our discussion with the less active member. Part way through talking about Christ and the New Testament, the wife came in. It was clear she did not like having us there. Mom had read her much better the last time than I had. As we continued she picked up her book and went over and sat away from us on the couch and looked up the scriptures in the New Testament and followed silently along. Ron was like a sponge and seemed to enjoy being taught. As we left short greetings were exchanged with the wife and Ron walked us to the door where he expressed a desire for us to come again and to continue teaching him. He said we can leave it to Martina whether she would ever choose to join us. Our plan is to call him on Monday and see how things are. If it feels right we will make another appointment.
Last night we went to Erlangen to hear Elder Ballard. He was accompanied by Elder Jon Huntsman. As we walked in the door they had just arrived and were shaking hands. I kept looking at Elder Huntsman thinking I should know who he was. It didn’t occur to me to hold out my hand and say, “Hi, I’m Elder Price”. We were standing reasonably close to each other for several minutes. Only in the early morning hours today did the full impact of last night hit me. Not only were we seeing and hearing an apostle carry on casual conversation with many young servicemen and their families, but I was standing next to a billionaire! Elder Huntsman was so normal and easy to be around it left a deep impression on me. They also had a common grandson with them who bore a humble but strong testimony, and who had just returned from his mission a month ago. Elder Huntsman was in the area on business and Elder Ballard had asked for and received permission to go with him and to visit many of the armed forces where possible.
The young (40 or so) man who introduced Petra Kempe to the Church is being released from the military in three weeks. He told her yesterday he acknowledges he is an alcoholic. We don’t know yet where he will go. If he remains here we may have the opportunity to work with him again. He is very nice when he hasn’t been drinking. We don’t know that much about his family and what he has to return home to in the states. His assignments in the military included a lot of direct combat where lives were lost. He has had a hard time letting the atonement and an understanding of his duty to allow him to let go of feeling responsible for those who died. War creates many problems. It is always nice to know the Lord never starts one but when hearts allow He eventually prevails for them to end. It is also nice to know in the millennium they will not learn war anymore.
Zach, do you think next Thursday will be your “big day”? We hope so. We also hope we will receive a call or an email or some way to know where in the world you are going to be the next two years. How awesome can it be? It will be so fun exchanging emails (we hope we will be added to the list when you send emails home) and traveling that road, wherever you are, together. We only know when you will give it your whole heart you will never regret one hard, challenging minute of your whole mission! We love working with the young elders and sisters here. They just have a fun and happy spirit about them. We just had a new “greenie” from the states last week come to Wurzburg. Remember your fun pipe moving days? A mission will be a piece of cake!
Have a great week and keep the home fires burning bright.
Love always,
Dad and Grandpa
How was your week? We have been fighting off the crud but still have managed to remain fairly active in spite of it.
Yesterday we met with a family that mom had expressed no desire to ever return to see again. Feelings kept coming back to call. We did. An appointment was made. Several times we considered undoing it. Even as we left the car to go into the home we considered returning home and just canceling. Mom said no, we should continue. The wife, who is currently studying with the Jehovah Witnesses, was not there. We began our discussion with the less active member. Part way through talking about Christ and the New Testament, the wife came in. It was clear she did not like having us there. Mom had read her much better the last time than I had. As we continued she picked up her book and went over and sat away from us on the couch and looked up the scriptures in the New Testament and followed silently along. Ron was like a sponge and seemed to enjoy being taught. As we left short greetings were exchanged with the wife and Ron walked us to the door where he expressed a desire for us to come again and to continue teaching him. He said we can leave it to Martina whether she would ever choose to join us. Our plan is to call him on Monday and see how things are. If it feels right we will make another appointment.
Last night we went to Erlangen to hear Elder Ballard. He was accompanied by Elder Jon Huntsman. As we walked in the door they had just arrived and were shaking hands. I kept looking at Elder Huntsman thinking I should know who he was. It didn’t occur to me to hold out my hand and say, “Hi, I’m Elder Price”. We were standing reasonably close to each other for several minutes. Only in the early morning hours today did the full impact of last night hit me. Not only were we seeing and hearing an apostle carry on casual conversation with many young servicemen and their families, but I was standing next to a billionaire! Elder Huntsman was so normal and easy to be around it left a deep impression on me. They also had a common grandson with them who bore a humble but strong testimony, and who had just returned from his mission a month ago. Elder Huntsman was in the area on business and Elder Ballard had asked for and received permission to go with him and to visit many of the armed forces where possible.
The young (40 or so) man who introduced Petra Kempe to the Church is being released from the military in three weeks. He told her yesterday he acknowledges he is an alcoholic. We don’t know yet where he will go. If he remains here we may have the opportunity to work with him again. He is very nice when he hasn’t been drinking. We don’t know that much about his family and what he has to return home to in the states. His assignments in the military included a lot of direct combat where lives were lost. He has had a hard time letting the atonement and an understanding of his duty to allow him to let go of feeling responsible for those who died. War creates many problems. It is always nice to know the Lord never starts one but when hearts allow He eventually prevails for them to end. It is also nice to know in the millennium they will not learn war anymore.
Zach, do you think next Thursday will be your “big day”? We hope so. We also hope we will receive a call or an email or some way to know where in the world you are going to be the next two years. How awesome can it be? It will be so fun exchanging emails (we hope we will be added to the list when you send emails home) and traveling that road, wherever you are, together. We only know when you will give it your whole heart you will never regret one hard, challenging minute of your whole mission! We love working with the young elders and sisters here. They just have a fun and happy spirit about them. We just had a new “greenie” from the states last week come to Wurzburg. Remember your fun pipe moving days? A mission will be a piece of cake!
Have a great week and keep the home fires burning bright.
Love always,
Dad and Grandpa
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