From Mom 5/17
Dear Family,
It was so good to talk to you on Sunday! It just amazes me how clear the reception in clear across the ocean and country. It doesn’t seem like we are quite so far apart when we can talk on the phone once in awhile. I still have to think twice when people here tell me they are going to Italy or Holland or Spain for a few days. I guess this must seem pretty much like home because when I hear them talk about their trips, I envision thousands of miles and lots of hours on a plane. They are talking of 3, 4 or 6 hours of driving by car. Our bishop found out just this week that he will be out of the Army the end of August. He has about a month of leave saved up so they are going to travel most of the month of August and go to Spain, Greece, Holland and I don’t know where else then they will be moving back to the states----to Twin Falls. They are really excited about the temple being built there. They have never lived close to a temple. They are a great family. I’m glad they will be just a few hours away. Maybe we can keep in touch with them.
Today is P-day and unlike most of our P-days, we only have one appointment. I should say “had”. Dad is feeling under the weather so he called and cancelled. I think our standing out in the rain watching Bro. Vollrath playing tennis last week took its toll on both of us. We had an umbrella but we still got a bit wet. Thursday night I started coughing and couldn’t stop and Friday I was not feeling well at all. Not getting much sleep the night before, I pretty much spent a good part of the day in or on the bed. I’m feeling much better now but have been going at about half speed most of the week. I could tell Dad was not feeling well yesterday but we didn’t stop all day and when we got home last night, he sat on the couch and went right to sleep. He was running a fever too and I finally did convince him that it was okay for him to go to bed early when he doesn’t feel well. He gets up about 5:30 every morning and doesn’t go to bed until 11 or 12. Yes, that’s breaking mission rules. He’s always got a “project” he’s working on. He actually went back to bed this morning and has laid pretty low today. The heat was turned off in our building when it was so warm last month. Now it is cold and rainy and the heat is still off. As you know, Dad requires lots of warmth and I think between being worn out, getting wet and not “cooking” all the time, it has caught up to him. I’m glad it is P-day. We won’t miss much work and we have a full day tomorrow. I think getting used to all the humidity here is a bit difficult. And the extremes in the weather hasn’t helped. We were all ready for summer then it turned cold again.
I guess I’d have to say the highlight of the week has been Stephanie’s wedding. Yes, they did it. I have no idea where they are going to live or how they are going to live. Neither one of them has a job but they both probably qualify for some kind of government assistance because of their health conditions. The ward has been very supportive. They were married at the Rathause, which is comparable to a court house there. Neither one of them invited their parents to come. There were 7 people from the ward, including us, a couple of their friends and Stephanie’s guardian. Sister Rosel had asked a few sisters from the ward to bring finger food so we could have a little luncheon for them at the church after the wedding and I think they really appreciated it. Sunday after church we are having a “linger longer” luncheon in their honor. Everyone signed up to bring something so it will be a nice lunch and an opportunity for everyone to wish them well. I’ll e-mail
you a couple of pictures of them. They don’t look like the typical couple getting married but they’ve had so much unhappiness in their lives that I don’t think they know how to be really happy. They hardly touched each other. The wedding was very different from what we’re used to seeing. Whoever was officiating talked to them for quite awhile then they each went up to the table and signed some papers then he shook their hands and congratulated them. No kissing, no hugging, no exchanging rings. That was it. When the sister from the ward who was taking pictures told them she wanted a picture of them kissing, Stephanie said, “Not in front of everyone.” But we finally talked her into it when we
were at the church and I think she kind of liked it. Sister Rosel, our Relief Society president, had made her a beautiful bouquet which I think really pleased her. We boxed up all the leftover food for them to take with them. One of the strangest things about this wedding was that Christian changed his last name and they will use Stephanie’s last name for their married name. He said he hates his family and doesn’t want that name anymore. Isn’t that going to be nice when they want to do some family history? Everyone is just kind of shaking their heads and hoping for the best for them. I really hope they will be happy. Both of their lives have been so full of challenges and unhappiness. The one thing they do have in common is the church and both are very knowledgeable about the gospel.
Our favorite Elder Penrod was transferred this week. He has been here for 3 months and it seems like he just got here. This was his first assignment since coming to the mission and I was just sure he would be here another month or two. We had such a great district meeting on Monday and I thought while we were together how much I have come to love and respect the Elders in our district and was so hoping that there wouldn’t be any changes this time, but no such luck. We drove the Elders to the train early Wednesday morning and then picked up Elder Blackburn and his new companion in the afternoon. Elder Penrod is just an outstanding young man----so full of enthusiasm and love for everyone. I had to blink hard to hold the tears back when we got to the train. He is so concerned about anyone of the opposite sex even getting near him but I told him I was old enough to be his grandmother and gave him a hug before he left. He is from Farr West Utah so maybe we’ll get to see him sometime when he finishes his mission. Another Elder from our district was also transferred. I didn’t know him as well because he works in a different city but he too is a great young man. I’ll send a picture of our district along with pictures of Stephanie.
The sisters in the ward have been more than generous about feeding the missionaries lately. We had two dinner appointments last week and have three this coming week. The members here are so good to us and we appreciate their kindness very much.
We still meet with Petra once a week. She is studying the parables in the Bible right now. She had a hard time understanding them so we talked about how Christ related his teachings to things that were common to the people of that time and that helped her. She read the parable of the Prodigal Son after we had talked and she understood it completely. She asked if we would talk about the Ten Virgins next time. She wants so badly to understand the gospel so she can explain things to people who ask her about her new church. She told us that someone she works with told her that her life must really be boring now that she doesn’t go out and party and doesn’t get all involved with all the problems in the world by not watching a lot of TV. Her reply was, “I have my Heavenly Father who loves me and has provided a way for me to know where I am going. I have my scriptures, I have my church. I don’t need anything else.” She also told us that another person commented on how happy she always looks and how peaceful she seems and wondered why. Petra gave her a similar answer. She asked us one time if she looked different to us and we told her she did and that it was the light of the gospel shining in her eyes and on her face. She is so great and loves to share the gospel with others.
This has been a bit of a slow week. We’ve met with quite a few people but they are people who are at square one as far as understanding the gospel even though most of them are members. But they seem interested in learning so we go back. It takes lots of patience working with these people. If we didn’t know we had an important message for them it would be very difficult to keep going. The more I read and study the more important Christ becomes in my life and our hope is that we can help others understand how important He is in their lives too.
Thank you for all the Mother’s Day greetings. I feel it a privilege to be the mother of such a great family. And that includes all the in-laws too. I couldn’t have picked better companions for my kids. How I love all of you.
Have a good week. I’m sure the excitement is building for the upcoming trip. That along with the excitement of another school year ending has got to be a pretty fun time.
Know that you are loved and prayed for each and every day.
Much love,
Mom
It was so good to talk to you on Sunday! It just amazes me how clear the reception in clear across the ocean and country. It doesn’t seem like we are quite so far apart when we can talk on the phone once in awhile. I still have to think twice when people here tell me they are going to Italy or Holland or Spain for a few days. I guess this must seem pretty much like home because when I hear them talk about their trips, I envision thousands of miles and lots of hours on a plane. They are talking of 3, 4 or 6 hours of driving by car. Our bishop found out just this week that he will be out of the Army the end of August. He has about a month of leave saved up so they are going to travel most of the month of August and go to Spain, Greece, Holland and I don’t know where else then they will be moving back to the states----to Twin Falls. They are really excited about the temple being built there. They have never lived close to a temple. They are a great family. I’m glad they will be just a few hours away. Maybe we can keep in touch with them.
Today is P-day and unlike most of our P-days, we only have one appointment. I should say “had”. Dad is feeling under the weather so he called and cancelled. I think our standing out in the rain watching Bro. Vollrath playing tennis last week took its toll on both of us. We had an umbrella but we still got a bit wet. Thursday night I started coughing and couldn’t stop and Friday I was not feeling well at all. Not getting much sleep the night before, I pretty much spent a good part of the day in or on the bed. I’m feeling much better now but have been going at about half speed most of the week. I could tell Dad was not feeling well yesterday but we didn’t stop all day and when we got home last night, he sat on the couch and went right to sleep. He was running a fever too and I finally did convince him that it was okay for him to go to bed early when he doesn’t feel well. He gets up about 5:30 every morning and doesn’t go to bed until 11 or 12. Yes, that’s breaking mission rules. He’s always got a “project” he’s working on. He actually went back to bed this morning and has laid pretty low today. The heat was turned off in our building when it was so warm last month. Now it is cold and rainy and the heat is still off. As you know, Dad requires lots of warmth and I think between being worn out, getting wet and not “cooking” all the time, it has caught up to him. I’m glad it is P-day. We won’t miss much work and we have a full day tomorrow. I think getting used to all the humidity here is a bit difficult. And the extremes in the weather hasn’t helped. We were all ready for summer then it turned cold again.
I guess I’d have to say the highlight of the week has been Stephanie’s wedding. Yes, they did it. I have no idea where they are going to live or how they are going to live. Neither one of them has a job but they both probably qualify for some kind of government assistance because of their health conditions. The ward has been very supportive. They were married at the Rathause, which is comparable to a court house there. Neither one of them invited their parents to come. There were 7 people from the ward, including us, a couple of their friends and Stephanie’s guardian. Sister Rosel had asked a few sisters from the ward to bring finger food so we could have a little luncheon for them at the church after the wedding and I think they really appreciated it. Sunday after church we are having a “linger longer” luncheon in their honor. Everyone signed up to bring something so it will be a nice lunch and an opportunity for everyone to wish them well. I’ll e-mail
you a couple of pictures of them. They don’t look like the typical couple getting married but they’ve had so much unhappiness in their lives that I don’t think they know how to be really happy. They hardly touched each other. The wedding was very different from what we’re used to seeing. Whoever was officiating talked to them for quite awhile then they each went up to the table and signed some papers then he shook their hands and congratulated them. No kissing, no hugging, no exchanging rings. That was it. When the sister from the ward who was taking pictures told them she wanted a picture of them kissing, Stephanie said, “Not in front of everyone.” But we finally talked her into it when we
were at the church and I think she kind of liked it. Sister Rosel, our Relief Society president, had made her a beautiful bouquet which I think really pleased her. We boxed up all the leftover food for them to take with them. One of the strangest things about this wedding was that Christian changed his last name and they will use Stephanie’s last name for their married name. He said he hates his family and doesn’t want that name anymore. Isn’t that going to be nice when they want to do some family history? Everyone is just kind of shaking their heads and hoping for the best for them. I really hope they will be happy. Both of their lives have been so full of challenges and unhappiness. The one thing they do have in common is the church and both are very knowledgeable about the gospel.Our favorite Elder Penrod was transferred this week. He has been here for 3 months and it seems like he just got here. This was his first assignment since coming to the mission and I was just sure he would be here another month or two. We had such a great district meeting on Monday and I thought while we were together how much I have come to love and respect the Elders in our district and was so hoping that there wouldn’t be any changes this time, but no such luck. We drove the Elders to the train early Wednesday morning and then picked up Elder Blackburn and his new companion in the afternoon. Elder Penrod is just an outstanding young man----so full of enthusiasm and love for everyone. I had to blink hard to hold the tears back when we got to the train. He is so concerned about anyone of the opposite sex even getting near him but I told him I was old enough to be his grandmother and gave him a hug before he left. He is from Farr West Utah so maybe we’ll get to see him sometime when he finishes his mission. Another Elder from our district was also transferred. I didn’t know him as well because he works in a different city but he too is a great young man. I’ll send a picture of our district along with pictures of Stephanie.
The sisters in the ward have been more than generous about feeding the missionaries lately. We had two dinner appointments last week and have three this coming week. The members here are so good to us and we appreciate their kindness very much.
We still meet with Petra once a week. She is studying the parables in the Bible right now. She had a hard time understanding them so we talked about how Christ related his teachings to things that were common to the people of that time and that helped her. She read the parable of the Prodigal Son after we had talked and she understood it completely. She asked if we would talk about the Ten Virgins next time. She wants so badly to understand the gospel so she can explain things to people who ask her about her new church. She told us that someone she works with told her that her life must really be boring now that she doesn’t go out and party and doesn’t get all involved with all the problems in the world by not watching a lot of TV. Her reply was, “I have my Heavenly Father who loves me and has provided a way for me to know where I am going. I have my scriptures, I have my church. I don’t need anything else.” She also told us that another person commented on how happy she always looks and how peaceful she seems and wondered why. Petra gave her a similar answer. She asked us one time if she looked different to us and we told her she did and that it was the light of the gospel shining in her eyes and on her face. She is so great and loves to share the gospel with others.
This has been a bit of a slow week. We’ve met with quite a few people but they are people who are at square one as far as understanding the gospel even though most of them are members. But they seem interested in learning so we go back. It takes lots of patience working with these people. If we didn’t know we had an important message for them it would be very difficult to keep going. The more I read and study the more important Christ becomes in my life and our hope is that we can help others understand how important He is in their lives too.
Thank you for all the Mother’s Day greetings. I feel it a privilege to be the mother of such a great family. And that includes all the in-laws too. I couldn’t have picked better companions for my kids. How I love all of you.
Have a good week. I’m sure the excitement is building for the upcoming trip. That along with the excitement of another school year ending has got to be a pretty fun time.
Know that you are loved and prayed for each and every day.
Much love,
Mom
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