From Mom 10/25
Dear Family,
We’re had a good, busy week with a variety of experiences. Senior missionaries have so much more freedom to do things than the young Elders and Sisters do. We’re thankful to have a car and to be able to do all the things we do. Today has been a service day. Last week we visited a young Japanese girl who is here studying violin performance. She studied in London for three years and then came here to study with a teacher who had been highly recommended to her. She has a two hour lesson every week day and she practices a minimum of 5 hours a day. Usually it is 9 or 10 hours. She lives alone in an apartment and spends most of her time practicing. When we went to see her we told her to call us if she needed anything. She sent us an e-mail and asked if we could come over and help her put a wardrobe together. There are no closets in houses here so everyone has wardrobes or “schronks” as they are called. It was one of those pre-fab kits made with pressed wood so it was really heavy. We were there for 4 hours. I don’t know how many times we started over. Finally Yuka said, “Let’s see what the instructions say to do.” In a very short time, we had it together and she was very happy. It was a fun change of pace for us. She really appreciated our help and we had an opportunity to get to know her better. She grew up in the church but hasn’t been very active since she came here. She told us she just wanted to see how it would be without the church. We’re a little concerned. She said that if her parents knew she wasn’t going to church all the time, they would probably quit helping her with her lessons. She admits that she has not been honest with them about this and is thinking she better get back to doing what she knows is right. We’re hoping to stay in touch with her and that she will want to come back to church. Her violin playing is just incredible. She played for a special number at Sister Reynolds baptism last month and when she started playing, it just sent chills all over me. It’s like listening to Jenny Oaks Baker play. When we were over there last week we asked if she would play something for us. We told her to just pick something out and when she finished she asked if we had any favorites. I love “Clare de Lune” and asked if she would play that. She said she didn’t have any music for that here but she’d see what she could do. Oh my gosh, chills all over again. She’s just amazing.
Tonight at our English class one of the young men who attends asked if we could come to his house in the morning and help him put a bed together. That just hit our funny bone as we had just spent the afternoon helping someone else assemble some furniture. You just never know what you’ll be asked to do when you’re a missionary.
We had a fun but freezing time at the football game last Friday. This game was played on base against a team from another Army base here in Germany. The Germans don’t play regular football. They call soccer football and they are really into that. But this was a real game complete with the Star Spangle Banner, cheerleaders, hot dogs and the works. The kids here lost in a big way. Now I know how all the people who play Shelley feel. But it too was a nice change of pace. We went to watch a couple of young men from our ward and they were awesome. The team just needed a few more like them. The little brother of these boys was at the game and told us he had a game the next morning---flag football----so we went and watched him play too. He was the star of the team-----caught passes, intercepted a pass and ran for a touchdown. And when he went after someone, he didn’t stop until he had their flag. That too was a fun time. This family is such a great family and it was just nice to spend this kind of time with them.
We met with Tim Palmer this morning. What a change has come over him! He usually comes to the door in clothes that look like he slept in and his hair is never combed. This morning he had clean clothes on, his hair was combed and he had a smile on his face and a sparkle in his eye that was just great. We commented on that smile and he said he just feels happier than he has been for a long time. He hasn’t had any beer in over a week and he’s reading in the Book of Mormon every day. He said when he has read it before, it was just words and he had a hard time not letting his mind wander but now he is understanding it and really enjoys reading. He’s anxious to get his life back together and feels very optimistic about that happening. We first met him shortly after we came to Wurzburg but had a hard time getting back together with him. But we had a good feeling about him and Dad just kept calling. Most of the time it was nothing more than a visit on the phone but he finally let us come visit him again. Today he told us that he would like us to come as often as we had the time to come. He also told us that he got to the point that every time Dad would call, he’d think of some excuse not to be able to meet with us and would think, “Oh those Mormons. I wish they would leave me alone.” But today he thanked us (Dad) for being persistent. He said he feels like he is finally getting control of his life again. His “live in” wife has been having an affair with a man she works with for 2 years. She is anxious for Tim to get out and move on. He has been very depressed about this but now he’s ready to start again and this time to do it right. He loves his kids and that is hard for him. In a situation like this, the mother has complete control of what happens with the kids and right now he isn’t sure what will happen. His attitude is so good and so positive right now. It’s wonderful to see the change the gospel brings to peoples lives.
I’m sure I’ve told you about Thomas and Elana Beck. They are the young couple we have been meeting with almost every week. He was baptized about a year before we got here but they had quit coming to church. There had been no follow through after his baptism so we gave them the new member lessons. We have kind of a standing appointment with them on Sunday afternoon and we’ve talked about a lot of different things. Thomas wanted to become an Elder so we spent a lot of time talking about the Melchizedek priesthood with him. He was finally interviewed and approved and this Sunday at stake conference he will be presented and will be ordained an Elder. They are so excited and so happy. They want to go to the temple but Elana says she wants to wait until Thomas knows for sure that that’s what he wants. She doesn’t want him to go just because she wants to. She wants him to understand the importance of it so it will have real meaning to him. He is very quiet and doesn’t say a lot but is opening up more each week. Sunday he told us about his childhood. He was put in a boys home when he was five and got out when he was 16. That helps us understand him so much better. He really didn’t have much of a life as a young person and he still struggles being around people. But he’s getting better every week. We notice on Sundays that he hangs around and visits with people more all the time. No one leaves to go home right after church. They just all act like they are so happy to be together. It’s a great feeling.
We met with Ron Peterson----the man whose wife is always so happy to see us! He’s coming along and he’d like to come to church but is afraid of what will happen at home if he does. Yesterday while we were meeting with him, a lady from the Jehovah Wittnesses came to meet with his wife. They went upstairs. His daughter was honestly worried what would happen with people from two different churches in the house at the same time. But the house didn’t fall down or catch on fire. I was glad our meeting was over before they came back downstairs. I’m not afraid to admit that that woman scares me to death! Never have been around such an ornery person!!!
Life goes on. We had a fun FHE Monday night and the Institute class last night was good. Meeting with the young people is always a bright spot in our week. The German people don’t do a lot on Halloween. Some people dress up in costumes but there is no trick-or-treating. There are Halloween decorations in the stores and lots of pumpkins for carving but it’s not like it is at home. They have several religious holidays and everything closes for those days. It’s just plain different here.
We’ve read about the fires in California. How sad. We’re concerned about Clinton and Sharon Lingren and are anxious to hear from them. They usually send us their family letter each week so I’m sure we’ll be hearing something soon. Sharon has asthma really bad and I can just imagine what all this smoke is doing to her. We just never know what’s going to happen but with everything that is going on, we had better listen to our leaders and be prepared for anything.
We hope all is well with all of you. Hearing about all you are doing makes us tired! We’re grateful for all you do and are very thankful to have you as family. At the press conference with Pres. Eyring, he told of being in college and his father going over a physics problem with him that he had gone over just the week before. His Dad commented that he didn’t know it this week any better than he had the week before and then asked him if he didn’t think about physics all the time? When Pres. Eyring told his father that he didn’t, his father told him that he needed to find something to do that he did think about all the time, even when he wasn’t working on it. That is when Pres. Eyring realized that he wanted to be a teacher. I told Dad after hearing that that I guess that’s why I love being a Mom to all of you because I do think about you all the time, even when I’m not there with you. Nothing will ever mean as much to me as my family does.
Much love always,
Mom
We’re had a good, busy week with a variety of experiences. Senior missionaries have so much more freedom to do things than the young Elders and Sisters do. We’re thankful to have a car and to be able to do all the things we do. Today has been a service day. Last week we visited a young Japanese girl who is here studying violin performance. She studied in London for three years and then came here to study with a teacher who had been highly recommended to her. She has a two hour lesson every week day and she practices a minimum of 5 hours a day. Usually it is 9 or 10 hours. She lives alone in an apartment and spends most of her time practicing. When we went to see her we told her to call us if she needed anything. She sent us an e-mail and asked if we could come over and help her put a wardrobe together. There are no closets in houses here so everyone has wardrobes or “schronks” as they are called. It was one of those pre-fab kits made with pressed wood so it was really heavy. We were there for 4 hours. I don’t know how many times we started over. Finally Yuka said, “Let’s see what the instructions say to do.” In a very short time, we had it together and she was very happy. It was a fun change of pace for us. She really appreciated our help and we had an opportunity to get to know her better. She grew up in the church but hasn’t been very active since she came here. She told us she just wanted to see how it would be without the church. We’re a little concerned. She said that if her parents knew she wasn’t going to church all the time, they would probably quit helping her with her lessons. She admits that she has not been honest with them about this and is thinking she better get back to doing what she knows is right. We’re hoping to stay in touch with her and that she will want to come back to church. Her violin playing is just incredible. She played for a special number at Sister Reynolds baptism last month and when she started playing, it just sent chills all over me. It’s like listening to Jenny Oaks Baker play. When we were over there last week we asked if she would play something for us. We told her to just pick something out and when she finished she asked if we had any favorites. I love “Clare de Lune” and asked if she would play that. She said she didn’t have any music for that here but she’d see what she could do. Oh my gosh, chills all over again. She’s just amazing.
Tonight at our English class one of the young men who attends asked if we could come to his house in the morning and help him put a bed together. That just hit our funny bone as we had just spent the afternoon helping someone else assemble some furniture. You just never know what you’ll be asked to do when you’re a missionary.
We had a fun but freezing time at the football game last Friday. This game was played on base against a team from another Army base here in Germany. The Germans don’t play regular football. They call soccer football and they are really into that. But this was a real game complete with the Star Spangle Banner, cheerleaders, hot dogs and the works. The kids here lost in a big way. Now I know how all the people who play Shelley feel. But it too was a nice change of pace. We went to watch a couple of young men from our ward and they were awesome. The team just needed a few more like them. The little brother of these boys was at the game and told us he had a game the next morning---flag football----so we went and watched him play too. He was the star of the team-----caught passes, intercepted a pass and ran for a touchdown. And when he went after someone, he didn’t stop until he had their flag. That too was a fun time. This family is such a great family and it was just nice to spend this kind of time with them.
We met with Tim Palmer this morning. What a change has come over him! He usually comes to the door in clothes that look like he slept in and his hair is never combed. This morning he had clean clothes on, his hair was combed and he had a smile on his face and a sparkle in his eye that was just great. We commented on that smile and he said he just feels happier than he has been for a long time. He hasn’t had any beer in over a week and he’s reading in the Book of Mormon every day. He said when he has read it before, it was just words and he had a hard time not letting his mind wander but now he is understanding it and really enjoys reading. He’s anxious to get his life back together and feels very optimistic about that happening. We first met him shortly after we came to Wurzburg but had a hard time getting back together with him. But we had a good feeling about him and Dad just kept calling. Most of the time it was nothing more than a visit on the phone but he finally let us come visit him again. Today he told us that he would like us to come as often as we had the time to come. He also told us that he got to the point that every time Dad would call, he’d think of some excuse not to be able to meet with us and would think, “Oh those Mormons. I wish they would leave me alone.” But today he thanked us (Dad) for being persistent. He said he feels like he is finally getting control of his life again. His “live in” wife has been having an affair with a man she works with for 2 years. She is anxious for Tim to get out and move on. He has been very depressed about this but now he’s ready to start again and this time to do it right. He loves his kids and that is hard for him. In a situation like this, the mother has complete control of what happens with the kids and right now he isn’t sure what will happen. His attitude is so good and so positive right now. It’s wonderful to see the change the gospel brings to peoples lives.
I’m sure I’ve told you about Thomas and Elana Beck. They are the young couple we have been meeting with almost every week. He was baptized about a year before we got here but they had quit coming to church. There had been no follow through after his baptism so we gave them the new member lessons. We have kind of a standing appointment with them on Sunday afternoon and we’ve talked about a lot of different things. Thomas wanted to become an Elder so we spent a lot of time talking about the Melchizedek priesthood with him. He was finally interviewed and approved and this Sunday at stake conference he will be presented and will be ordained an Elder. They are so excited and so happy. They want to go to the temple but Elana says she wants to wait until Thomas knows for sure that that’s what he wants. She doesn’t want him to go just because she wants to. She wants him to understand the importance of it so it will have real meaning to him. He is very quiet and doesn’t say a lot but is opening up more each week. Sunday he told us about his childhood. He was put in a boys home when he was five and got out when he was 16. That helps us understand him so much better. He really didn’t have much of a life as a young person and he still struggles being around people. But he’s getting better every week. We notice on Sundays that he hangs around and visits with people more all the time. No one leaves to go home right after church. They just all act like they are so happy to be together. It’s a great feeling.
We met with Ron Peterson----the man whose wife is always so happy to see us! He’s coming along and he’d like to come to church but is afraid of what will happen at home if he does. Yesterday while we were meeting with him, a lady from the Jehovah Wittnesses came to meet with his wife. They went upstairs. His daughter was honestly worried what would happen with people from two different churches in the house at the same time. But the house didn’t fall down or catch on fire. I was glad our meeting was over before they came back downstairs. I’m not afraid to admit that that woman scares me to death! Never have been around such an ornery person!!!
Life goes on. We had a fun FHE Monday night and the Institute class last night was good. Meeting with the young people is always a bright spot in our week. The German people don’t do a lot on Halloween. Some people dress up in costumes but there is no trick-or-treating. There are Halloween decorations in the stores and lots of pumpkins for carving but it’s not like it is at home. They have several religious holidays and everything closes for those days. It’s just plain different here.
We’ve read about the fires in California. How sad. We’re concerned about Clinton and Sharon Lingren and are anxious to hear from them. They usually send us their family letter each week so I’m sure we’ll be hearing something soon. Sharon has asthma really bad and I can just imagine what all this smoke is doing to her. We just never know what’s going to happen but with everything that is going on, we had better listen to our leaders and be prepared for anything.
We hope all is well with all of you. Hearing about all you are doing makes us tired! We’re grateful for all you do and are very thankful to have you as family. At the press conference with Pres. Eyring, he told of being in college and his father going over a physics problem with him that he had gone over just the week before. His Dad commented that he didn’t know it this week any better than he had the week before and then asked him if he didn’t think about physics all the time? When Pres. Eyring told his father that he didn’t, his father told him that he needed to find something to do that he did think about all the time, even when he wasn’t working on it. That is when Pres. Eyring realized that he wanted to be a teacher. I told Dad after hearing that that I guess that’s why I love being a Mom to all of you because I do think about you all the time, even when I’m not there with you. Nothing will ever mean as much to me as my family does.
Much love always,
Mom
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home