From Mom 12/7
Dear Family,
Sorry I didn’t get a letter written yesterday. I didn’t have any more energy when we got home from our meeting last night. I’ve had a full blown sinus infection this week that has about done me in. My whole head hurt. The night before last, I woke up with a terrible ear ache. I can’t remember having one of those since I was a little kid. Yesterday, things started loosening up. My challenge now is to make sure I have Kleenex handy to keep up with a runny nose. We were supposed to go on an outing with the Elders and Elder & Sister Meng for P-day. They were going to Rottenberg again but the thoughts of walking around outside all day just didn’t sound very good so we backed out-----but we didn’t lay around all day either. The Relief Society president called and asked us if we could go pick up some clean clothes for a sister who is in the hospital. Her husband is sick too and they won’t let him in to see her. Then another sister called and asked if we might have time to take her niece to her Karate lesson then take her home, so we did that. Then last night we had an appointment with a part member family. The non-member boyfriend of their daughter was there and he started asking questions about the church and it turned out to be one of the best teaching experiences we’ve had. Nicco is 19 and at one time he had a firm belief in God but for the past few years, he really hasn’t felt a need for religion in his life. But this member girl friend has a very strong testimony and we don’t think she will back down. He has come with her to church a few times and has come to some of our Young Single Adult activities and has seemed to really enjoy them. He wants to talk to us again and said that maybe he will come to church with Katrine and we could talk some more there. He is such a nice and very smart young man. We first met him at their home early this summer and he was very friendly but not interested in talking about religion at that time. We never know when opportunities to share the gospel may come.
The sister I mentioned who is in the hospital is Sister Gogan. She had her 10th child last Friday. Her delivery went well and she and the baby seemed to be doing fine then Sunday morning when the nurse helped her get up to walk around a little bit, she collapsed on the floor. They got her back in bed and she had a high fever. They ran some blood work on her and discovered she had a serious infection in her uterus. She told Dad yesterday that she really thought she was going to die and had asked her husband to promise her that he would re-marry so the kids would have a mother. He was so sick that they wouldn’t let him come and visit her and having her tell him that was just about more than he could handle. Luckily, things are improving for both of them. She had an allergic reaction to the anti-biotic they were giving her but have found something that seems to be working. He is feeling better too. She hasn’t been able to have her baby with her since Sunday and can’t nurse him because of the medication she is on so it has been a very frustrating time for all of them. People in the ward have been taking meals in to them. Our Relief Society President called me Saturday about 7 o’clock and asked if I could take dinner into them on Sunday. Luckily the stores don’t close until 8. I didn’t have enough of anything to feed 10 people so went to the store and got some chicken breasts, cream cheese and some makings for a green salad and some zucchini for zucchini brownies and put together some chicken Alfredo, salad and brownies. It feels good to be asked to do things. It makes us feel a part of this ward. Because they live on base, there have been several people who have called us and asked us to deliver their goodies to this family too and we are happy for that opportunity too. We have enjoyed having passes to get on base.
Sunday I really felt a part of the ward. I had been asked to lead the singing in Sacrament meeting and to teach a Sunday School class and when I walked into Relief Society, they said, “Oh, here’s Sister Price. She can help us learn the alto part of this song.” (A Christmas song the sisters are singing for the ward Christmas party) That was also the day we had been asked to take a meal into the Gogan’s so it wasn’t exactly a day of rest but it was a very fulfilling day.
My limited German caused a near disaster this week. There has been a beauty shop just a block away from us and I’ve been there a few times to get my hair trimmed. The woman who owned the shop had to give up her business because they raised the rent on the building so much. But she said she is going to have a “mobile” business and that she would come to our home to do hair cuts or anything we needed done. My hair was looking pretty shaggy. I had trimmed it a few times but couldn’t do much with the back so called her. I told her I wanted just a little bit taken off all over and indicated “a little bit” with my fingers. I think she took that to mean that I wanted it really short. When I saw the hair on the floor, I was scared to look in the mirror. All I can say is that I’m glad I have three more months before I come home. It is really short. I think that’s why I caught such a bad cold-----I no longer had hair to keep my head warm. Next time I’ll find someone who speaks English. I have really liked the way she trimmed my hair before and had full confidence that she would do the same. Maybe she forgot. Anyway, I’m glad my hair grows fairly fast. But I must say, it’s easy to take care of. It would be great for a summer haircut.
Tim Palmer is struggling again. We can always tell when he doesn’t want to talk to us when one of his kids answers the phone and he tells them to tell us that he will call us back. But he never does. Dad called him the other day and Tim thanked Dad for not giving up on him and that he still wants us to come and that he wants to get active in the church again. He even said he wants us to teach his 9 year old son and wants him to be baptized. Dad told him that would be fine after Tim got things sorted out in his own life so he could support his son. He made another appointment with us then changed it for the next day, which was today. He just called and cancelled again. Those are not good signs. It’s amazing how quickly the adversary works on people who are moving toward the truth. We’re not giving up on Tim. He’s a very nice person. We hope we can help him overcome some of his fears.
We had a good meeting with Ron Peterson. He is the one with the unpleasant wife. Wednesday he told us that he couldn’t come to church this Sunday but promised us he would be there on the 16th. When we were about to leave, he told us that he really appreciated us coming and that he really enjoys our time together. He said that through the years, they have had several young missionaries call on them. They gave them the lessons but didn’t take the time to just talk to them and answer some of his questions. I’m not saying anything against the young missionaries. They are wonderful and do a great job but I think that one advantage us “seniors” have is years of experience. We’ve been through some of the challenges these people are going through and can understand their feelings. He is working on his smoking problem and is praying more regularly. He asked us about prayer---if you are supposed to just memorize something or what you are supposed to do. We told him about the steps of prayer, addressing our Heavenly Father, thanking Him then asking Him for things we need then closing in the name of Jesus Christ. We encouraged Ron to think about things he would like to know and then just ask in prayer as if he were asking a person about something because he is asking someone about things. He is asking our Heavenly Father. He seemed quite amazed that he could just talk to our Heavenly Father like that. We’ll see that happens. It was nearly a year ago that his wife scared the heck out of me when we were there and I vowed I would NEVER go back! But Ron wanted us to come and she is usually not there, (thank goodness) so it works out well. He said, “She has her friends come and talk to her about religion and I’m going to have my friends come so I can talk about my religion.” He said he can see a change in his family since he has been reading and studying with us.
Tonight is our ward Christmas party. I’m supposed to make Heavenly Potatoes, or Funeral potatoes, as they call them here. We have invited several of our inactive people and I think some of them are planning to come. Last year it was a lot of fun and there was tons of food! That’s one thing this ward is plenty generous with. When people bring food, they bring lots of it. I don’t think it has fully sunk in that Christmas is less than three weeks away. And speaking of Christmas, some of you have asked what we would like or what we need. The people on base keep us pretty well supplied with anything we need for food. We’re fine on clothes and I think just about everything else. To be honest, I don’t want anything I have to pack up and carry home. We would love pictures or letters from the kids, maybe a CD----things like that. Save the money you would spend on gas to come and see us when we get home. Thinking how soon we’ll be home with you again is the greatest gift of all !!
Every year our Relief Society President offers to have parents bring their children to the church to be tended so they can go Christmas shopping. This goes from 1 until 5 in the afternoon. She taught kindergarten for several years and always has lots of fun things planned for them to do.
Tomorrow is the day for that and she has asked Dad and I to help her again this year. We did it last year and it was a lot of fun and a good way to get acquainted with families. Missionary life is never boring---exhausting but not boring.
I guess that’s it for this week. I can just imagine how busy all of you are with all the preparations for Christmas. It will be so fun being there next year. This is a hard time to be away from family. Know that we love each one of you very much. You are in our thoughts and prayers every day. I’m going to forward a neat Christmas e-mail we received from Doyle and Karen Judy. They are serving a mission in Palmyra, New York. It has been fun sharing stories with them.
Love you lots,
Mom
Sorry I didn’t get a letter written yesterday. I didn’t have any more energy when we got home from our meeting last night. I’ve had a full blown sinus infection this week that has about done me in. My whole head hurt. The night before last, I woke up with a terrible ear ache. I can’t remember having one of those since I was a little kid. Yesterday, things started loosening up. My challenge now is to make sure I have Kleenex handy to keep up with a runny nose. We were supposed to go on an outing with the Elders and Elder & Sister Meng for P-day. They were going to Rottenberg again but the thoughts of walking around outside all day just didn’t sound very good so we backed out-----but we didn’t lay around all day either. The Relief Society president called and asked us if we could go pick up some clean clothes for a sister who is in the hospital. Her husband is sick too and they won’t let him in to see her. Then another sister called and asked if we might have time to take her niece to her Karate lesson then take her home, so we did that. Then last night we had an appointment with a part member family. The non-member boyfriend of their daughter was there and he started asking questions about the church and it turned out to be one of the best teaching experiences we’ve had. Nicco is 19 and at one time he had a firm belief in God but for the past few years, he really hasn’t felt a need for religion in his life. But this member girl friend has a very strong testimony and we don’t think she will back down. He has come with her to church a few times and has come to some of our Young Single Adult activities and has seemed to really enjoy them. He wants to talk to us again and said that maybe he will come to church with Katrine and we could talk some more there. He is such a nice and very smart young man. We first met him at their home early this summer and he was very friendly but not interested in talking about religion at that time. We never know when opportunities to share the gospel may come.
The sister I mentioned who is in the hospital is Sister Gogan. She had her 10th child last Friday. Her delivery went well and she and the baby seemed to be doing fine then Sunday morning when the nurse helped her get up to walk around a little bit, she collapsed on the floor. They got her back in bed and she had a high fever. They ran some blood work on her and discovered she had a serious infection in her uterus. She told Dad yesterday that she really thought she was going to die and had asked her husband to promise her that he would re-marry so the kids would have a mother. He was so sick that they wouldn’t let him come and visit her and having her tell him that was just about more than he could handle. Luckily, things are improving for both of them. She had an allergic reaction to the anti-biotic they were giving her but have found something that seems to be working. He is feeling better too. She hasn’t been able to have her baby with her since Sunday and can’t nurse him because of the medication she is on so it has been a very frustrating time for all of them. People in the ward have been taking meals in to them. Our Relief Society President called me Saturday about 7 o’clock and asked if I could take dinner into them on Sunday. Luckily the stores don’t close until 8. I didn’t have enough of anything to feed 10 people so went to the store and got some chicken breasts, cream cheese and some makings for a green salad and some zucchini for zucchini brownies and put together some chicken Alfredo, salad and brownies. It feels good to be asked to do things. It makes us feel a part of this ward. Because they live on base, there have been several people who have called us and asked us to deliver their goodies to this family too and we are happy for that opportunity too. We have enjoyed having passes to get on base.
Sunday I really felt a part of the ward. I had been asked to lead the singing in Sacrament meeting and to teach a Sunday School class and when I walked into Relief Society, they said, “Oh, here’s Sister Price. She can help us learn the alto part of this song.” (A Christmas song the sisters are singing for the ward Christmas party) That was also the day we had been asked to take a meal into the Gogan’s so it wasn’t exactly a day of rest but it was a very fulfilling day.
My limited German caused a near disaster this week. There has been a beauty shop just a block away from us and I’ve been there a few times to get my hair trimmed. The woman who owned the shop had to give up her business because they raised the rent on the building so much. But she said she is going to have a “mobile” business and that she would come to our home to do hair cuts or anything we needed done. My hair was looking pretty shaggy. I had trimmed it a few times but couldn’t do much with the back so called her. I told her I wanted just a little bit taken off all over and indicated “a little bit” with my fingers. I think she took that to mean that I wanted it really short. When I saw the hair on the floor, I was scared to look in the mirror. All I can say is that I’m glad I have three more months before I come home. It is really short. I think that’s why I caught such a bad cold-----I no longer had hair to keep my head warm. Next time I’ll find someone who speaks English. I have really liked the way she trimmed my hair before and had full confidence that she would do the same. Maybe she forgot. Anyway, I’m glad my hair grows fairly fast. But I must say, it’s easy to take care of. It would be great for a summer haircut.
Tim Palmer is struggling again. We can always tell when he doesn’t want to talk to us when one of his kids answers the phone and he tells them to tell us that he will call us back. But he never does. Dad called him the other day and Tim thanked Dad for not giving up on him and that he still wants us to come and that he wants to get active in the church again. He even said he wants us to teach his 9 year old son and wants him to be baptized. Dad told him that would be fine after Tim got things sorted out in his own life so he could support his son. He made another appointment with us then changed it for the next day, which was today. He just called and cancelled again. Those are not good signs. It’s amazing how quickly the adversary works on people who are moving toward the truth. We’re not giving up on Tim. He’s a very nice person. We hope we can help him overcome some of his fears.
We had a good meeting with Ron Peterson. He is the one with the unpleasant wife. Wednesday he told us that he couldn’t come to church this Sunday but promised us he would be there on the 16th. When we were about to leave, he told us that he really appreciated us coming and that he really enjoys our time together. He said that through the years, they have had several young missionaries call on them. They gave them the lessons but didn’t take the time to just talk to them and answer some of his questions. I’m not saying anything against the young missionaries. They are wonderful and do a great job but I think that one advantage us “seniors” have is years of experience. We’ve been through some of the challenges these people are going through and can understand their feelings. He is working on his smoking problem and is praying more regularly. He asked us about prayer---if you are supposed to just memorize something or what you are supposed to do. We told him about the steps of prayer, addressing our Heavenly Father, thanking Him then asking Him for things we need then closing in the name of Jesus Christ. We encouraged Ron to think about things he would like to know and then just ask in prayer as if he were asking a person about something because he is asking someone about things. He is asking our Heavenly Father. He seemed quite amazed that he could just talk to our Heavenly Father like that. We’ll see that happens. It was nearly a year ago that his wife scared the heck out of me when we were there and I vowed I would NEVER go back! But Ron wanted us to come and she is usually not there, (thank goodness) so it works out well. He said, “She has her friends come and talk to her about religion and I’m going to have my friends come so I can talk about my religion.” He said he can see a change in his family since he has been reading and studying with us.
Tonight is our ward Christmas party. I’m supposed to make Heavenly Potatoes, or Funeral potatoes, as they call them here. We have invited several of our inactive people and I think some of them are planning to come. Last year it was a lot of fun and there was tons of food! That’s one thing this ward is plenty generous with. When people bring food, they bring lots of it. I don’t think it has fully sunk in that Christmas is less than three weeks away. And speaking of Christmas, some of you have asked what we would like or what we need. The people on base keep us pretty well supplied with anything we need for food. We’re fine on clothes and I think just about everything else. To be honest, I don’t want anything I have to pack up and carry home. We would love pictures or letters from the kids, maybe a CD----things like that. Save the money you would spend on gas to come and see us when we get home. Thinking how soon we’ll be home with you again is the greatest gift of all !!
Every year our Relief Society President offers to have parents bring their children to the church to be tended so they can go Christmas shopping. This goes from 1 until 5 in the afternoon. She taught kindergarten for several years and always has lots of fun things planned for them to do.
Tomorrow is the day for that and she has asked Dad and I to help her again this year. We did it last year and it was a lot of fun and a good way to get acquainted with families. Missionary life is never boring---exhausting but not boring.
I guess that’s it for this week. I can just imagine how busy all of you are with all the preparations for Christmas. It will be so fun being there next year. This is a hard time to be away from family. Know that we love each one of you very much. You are in our thoughts and prayers every day. I’m going to forward a neat Christmas e-mail we received from Doyle and Karen Judy. They are serving a mission in Palmyra, New York. It has been fun sharing stories with them.
Love you lots,
Mom
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