From Dad 2/17/2008
Hi everyone,
We have had a good week. It has been interesting to see and feel the response of those with whom we have been working as the final days of our mission close in. We are thankful for the letters we continue to receive from home. Nothing brightens our day more than to know we are still in your thoughts. Thanks.
We had a tender, warm and very funny get together with the young adults Saturday night. At times everyone was laughing so much no words could be spoken. They have an awesome ability to make humorous situations that originally were more embarrassing and frustrating than anything ever seemed possible. There were lots of brother and sister stories. We couldn’t resist sharing a few of our own including the time in Church when Camille was three and she was standing on the bench twirling her underwear on the end of her finger! There is no protection for the innocent when no harm is intended. It took four hours to eat a simple meal and to hear a lot of heart warming and truly funny stories. When the dishes were done and everything was put away and group pictures were taken, they sat us down and a very tender moment had arrived. In turn they each told of things that had happen with them in their own personal lives that had strengthened them and prepared them for their coming responsibilities and years ahead in their lives. They expressed the feeling of being a family. How happy Heavenly Father must be to know and see how his children truly love and care about each other. Two have moved away for work and more schooling. One is on a mission and one will be married later this year in the temple. Our cup is full.
In the investigator class yesterday “Sister” Meyer was so positive in her answers. It was clear she had been influenced by the Spirit. The lesson was on the Holy Ghost and that he is a personage of spirit who can come to us and teach us.
We talked about mother Eve and her very important decision to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We talked about her innocence before hand yet she had the ability to still decide on her own. Once the decision was made and she had knowledge of good and evil good things as well as difficulties to place. Yes, they now knew they would die and they were taught how the Savior would come in time and redeem them and all of their family from this death. There Spirit bore witness to them that because having children is a good thing it was only possible after they had gained the ability to both recognize and do things that would be good. When things that were not good happened a way was prepared through repentance to have the stain of those things removed from our hearts that we could reenter our Heavenly Father’s presence again clean so His presence too would remain forever clean and holy. Sister Meyer thought for a long time about how it was only after Eve chose her path she would follow that the Spirit came and confirmed and bore witness to her of the importance and the goodness of her choice. So often the hardships and challenges in life are seen by others, to be only a curse instead of a blessing. In truth they are the source many times of our greatest growth and development when we can see past the mistakes and still love and care about those who offend us. When we look for the good the Spirit will come to us as well and give us a witness when we make good choices. Forgiving others when they say and do things that can potentially harm and hurt us is one of our most important assignments in life. To emphasize this point the Lord explains truly the greater sin lies with us when we are unable to forgive t hose who wrong us. Eve needed to forgive Satan for lying to her and leave the judgment for his act in the hands of our Heavenly Parent. We look forward to Thursday to see if Sister Meyer will want to make the decision to be baptized. It can only be then that she can see if the Spirit will bear witness to her of the goodness and the blessing of such a choice. At no time will the Spirit interfere with her agency and tell her before she makes a decision whether it is right or not. What a wonderful protection we are given in life.
We had dinner with the relief society president and her husband who is not a member of the Church. We talked a lot about their son who is on a mission. When their son was still at home he seemed so uncomfortable when anything religious was discussed. Yesterday as the time for us to leave was at hand he turned to his wife and said, “Shouldn’t we have a closing prayer?” Then he proceeded to ask mom to say t he closing prayer. Little steps may seem to go unnoticed nevertheless they are very real and change our lives for the better every single day.
Tim Palmer was in Church yesterday for the fourth Sunday in a row. Mom has it pegged so clearly. His greatest obstacle is being able to forgive himself. It is so amazing when we talk about forgiveness to realize the one person we have the most difficult time forgiving is oneself. We are thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows how difficult this step is and patiently helps us through.
We meet with our mission president today and will have a good handle on our timing for what needs to be done and how best to accomplish it in these last two weeks. Reality has hit. We are ready. We love our German family. Many times when you were growing up people would ask, “which of y our children do you love the most? Or they would comment doesn’t it take away y from your ability to love those you already have when another comes into your life? The truth is and will always be each person we love only increases our capacity to love even more those we have already come to love. Our love for you only grows stronger with each new person who enters our lives who we learn to love.
We love you guys with all of our hearts and nothing can or ever will take your place. Thanks for being family. Y you are what makes our life worthwhile.
Have a great week. Your snow stories are amazing. We have forgotten what snow even looks like!
Love always,
Dad and Grandpa
We have had a good week. It has been interesting to see and feel the response of those with whom we have been working as the final days of our mission close in. We are thankful for the letters we continue to receive from home. Nothing brightens our day more than to know we are still in your thoughts. Thanks.
We had a tender, warm and very funny get together with the young adults Saturday night. At times everyone was laughing so much no words could be spoken. They have an awesome ability to make humorous situations that originally were more embarrassing and frustrating than anything ever seemed possible. There were lots of brother and sister stories. We couldn’t resist sharing a few of our own including the time in Church when Camille was three and she was standing on the bench twirling her underwear on the end of her finger! There is no protection for the innocent when no harm is intended. It took four hours to eat a simple meal and to hear a lot of heart warming and truly funny stories. When the dishes were done and everything was put away and group pictures were taken, they sat us down and a very tender moment had arrived. In turn they each told of things that had happen with them in their own personal lives that had strengthened them and prepared them for their coming responsibilities and years ahead in their lives. They expressed the feeling of being a family. How happy Heavenly Father must be to know and see how his children truly love and care about each other. Two have moved away for work and more schooling. One is on a mission and one will be married later this year in the temple. Our cup is full.
In the investigator class yesterday “Sister” Meyer was so positive in her answers. It was clear she had been influenced by the Spirit. The lesson was on the Holy Ghost and that he is a personage of spirit who can come to us and teach us.
We talked about mother Eve and her very important decision to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We talked about her innocence before hand yet she had the ability to still decide on her own. Once the decision was made and she had knowledge of good and evil good things as well as difficulties to place. Yes, they now knew they would die and they were taught how the Savior would come in time and redeem them and all of their family from this death. There Spirit bore witness to them that because having children is a good thing it was only possible after they had gained the ability to both recognize and do things that would be good. When things that were not good happened a way was prepared through repentance to have the stain of those things removed from our hearts that we could reenter our Heavenly Father’s presence again clean so His presence too would remain forever clean and holy. Sister Meyer thought for a long time about how it was only after Eve chose her path she would follow that the Spirit came and confirmed and bore witness to her of the importance and the goodness of her choice. So often the hardships and challenges in life are seen by others, to be only a curse instead of a blessing. In truth they are the source many times of our greatest growth and development when we can see past the mistakes and still love and care about those who offend us. When we look for the good the Spirit will come to us as well and give us a witness when we make good choices. Forgiving others when they say and do things that can potentially harm and hurt us is one of our most important assignments in life. To emphasize this point the Lord explains truly the greater sin lies with us when we are unable to forgive t hose who wrong us. Eve needed to forgive Satan for lying to her and leave the judgment for his act in the hands of our Heavenly Parent. We look forward to Thursday to see if Sister Meyer will want to make the decision to be baptized. It can only be then that she can see if the Spirit will bear witness to her of the goodness and the blessing of such a choice. At no time will the Spirit interfere with her agency and tell her before she makes a decision whether it is right or not. What a wonderful protection we are given in life.
We had dinner with the relief society president and her husband who is not a member of the Church. We talked a lot about their son who is on a mission. When their son was still at home he seemed so uncomfortable when anything religious was discussed. Yesterday as the time for us to leave was at hand he turned to his wife and said, “Shouldn’t we have a closing prayer?” Then he proceeded to ask mom to say t he closing prayer. Little steps may seem to go unnoticed nevertheless they are very real and change our lives for the better every single day.
Tim Palmer was in Church yesterday for the fourth Sunday in a row. Mom has it pegged so clearly. His greatest obstacle is being able to forgive himself. It is so amazing when we talk about forgiveness to realize the one person we have the most difficult time forgiving is oneself. We are thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows how difficult this step is and patiently helps us through.
We meet with our mission president today and will have a good handle on our timing for what needs to be done and how best to accomplish it in these last two weeks. Reality has hit. We are ready. We love our German family. Many times when you were growing up people would ask, “which of y our children do you love the most? Or they would comment doesn’t it take away y from your ability to love those you already have when another comes into your life? The truth is and will always be each person we love only increases our capacity to love even more those we have already come to love. Our love for you only grows stronger with each new person who enters our lives who we learn to love.
We love you guys with all of our hearts and nothing can or ever will take your place. Thanks for being family. Y you are what makes our life worthwhile.
Have a great week. Your snow stories are amazing. We have forgotten what snow even looks like!
Love always,
Dad and Grandpa
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