Week Ending March 22, 2014

Sunday in seminary we had a good experience. I asked the students to imagine they had been there when Christ invited the people to touch His hands and side one by one when He visited the Nephites and the Lamanites. I waited a few minutes for them to think about it. I asked one boy what he would have said to the Savior. Very pensively he said he would say, “Sorry.” I felt his deep thoughts. I asked his sister how she would have felt and what she would have said. She had tears in her eyes when she said, “I don’t think I could say anything.” I know how she felt. It was very touching.

In Sacrament Meeting the parents of the departing missionary both spoke and talked about what advice they’d give her. Her father talked about our need to first think of the Book of Mormon as a testament of Christ and second about it being a record of the Lamanites. He said we need to be first children of God and second Lamanites or other group. He said we need to get over our differences and leave our bad traditions behind and be children of God. The missionary spoke and shared some scriptures, her testimony, and her desire to serve. It was a wonderful meeting. I was leading the singing so I could watch the people. We sang “God Be with You Till We Meet Again”. The missionary’s sister cried during the entire song. She will really miss her sister. I barely made it through with a few tears in my eyes. She is a really sweet girl and I will miss her.

We had the last Temple Prep class today. It is sort of a discussion of what happened in the temple, her feelings, and how to make the temple part of our lives. In Relief Society the president asked the sisters if they had anything to share. She told the sisters about our experience in the temple with the missionary and also the blessing to her husband to be sealed to his parents. Another sister spoke about some health issues she is having. There was a really sweet spirit in the room as the sisters gave her consoling and comforting words. Someone suggested we fast and pray for her, so the sisters are fasting tomorrow together. I thought that was very sweet. After more discussion we sang our song and started the meeting. We actually had a very good lesson about the sacrament—I was very touched.

After the meeting there was a luncheon for the missionary. Several people had brought really nice dishes. We sat with some sweet people and had a good visit. Afterward we said our goodbyes to the missionary and left.

Gallup Institute Class

Monday I got quite a bit done, but not as much as I would have liked. We attended our district meeting and had a good time. The food is always wonderful. I had a good visit with one of the sisters while we ate. We left early to attend the Young Adult home evening since it was the missionary’s last time. They had pizza and other treats—everyone seemed to bring something. We played CatchPhrase and had a really fun time. We said our goodbyes once again. I’m really glad we went to the two home evenings—it lifted my spirits a great deal and made me realize how much I have to be thankful for.

Sister Bethany Pine, missionary, with Sister Roeth

Tuesday we were awakened at 2:25 am by a phone call from our son telling us they were at the hospital ready to deliver their baby. The baby was scheduled for delivery on March 28. Apparently, the baby had other plans. We went back to bed, but first thing in the morning we received word that our 14^th grandchild had been born at 6:53 am. He weighs 8 lb 7 oz and is 21 inches long. Later when pictures started arriving we were amazed at the full head of dark hair he has.

Just as I finished dressing a lady from church knocked on the door. She is the lady with the website class and she was having trouble uploading pictures to the site. She came in and we worked for most of the morning. I helped her figure out what was needed and she was able to get more done. She had created some new web pages, one of which did not link in correctly to the page we did the other day. We were able to copy the original to the new page which saved some work. I’m glad I could help.

Since we are not sure how the early birth will impact our travel plans, I felt impressed to get stuff packed up and ready to go.

Wednesday we had a meeting with our CES supervisor in Thoreau. It was a good meeting and there was a powerful spirit there. At one point we were talking about how to involve students and he played the student and had another senior missionary be the teacher. The student wanted to share a thought he’d had from his reading, which he did. Then the teacher asked why he felt the way he did. Brother Miller, with tears in his eyes, shared his testimony of the gospel and the blessing of having latter-day prophets. It was touching. The teacher then asked another class member to share her feelings followed by another. It was a moving experience. I was impressed by both teacher and student—the testimony of the student and the observation of the teacher that identified other “students” in the class that had been moved by the experience. It was a good experience.

After that we went to visit Jack Surprise, our potter friend. Jack and his wife had a fire in their home on Tuesday and they were staying at the shop, so we were able to meet his wife. She is from Peru. I had a good visit with her and she is delightful.

When we left there we drove to Crownpoint. At the store we bought some dinner at the deli. We then went to the church and waited in the car until it was time for seminary. Apparently, when the students arrived and saw us in the car they were curious as to why we didn’t come in. Cute kids. The teacher asked if I would demonstrate the scripture squeeze for the students. I did it, but it would have been better if I had been able to prepare so I could think through what needed to be done. One student was really tired and slept during class, but he also gave some good responses during the lesson.

After class we visited with the teacher and her husband, the branch president, about students who were not there and what needed to be done to reach them. He committed to visiting with one of the students at school—he is the coach—to try to find a solution to get her there. The two boys that were there live close to her and have offered rides, but she won’t ride with them. We stayed later than we had hoped so it was dark driving home. It was a profitable day and I had enjoyed it.

Thursday just as I was going to shower the lady with the website class came by to see when I would be available to help her. She knew I had the quilting class, so she wondered if I could help her in the afternoon. I suggested she come to the church while we were there, so that’s what she did. I would work on the quilt a bit and help her over a hurdle then go back to the quilt while she worked on the next piece. She stayed for lunch then the president left and I stayed a while so she could work. I finally needed to go home, so she came to our place. I worked on my stuff while she used the computer. I didn’t get as much done as I would have liked, but it really helped her. When she left she said “Thank you.” Then she said, “It really doesn’t seem like enough to just say thank you, but I don’t know what else to say.” I appreciated that.

The president finally finished her quilt top. It is really beautiful. We found a sheet for backing and I told her to press her quilt and the sheet. She wanted to do that at home. She took the batting with her so I’m sure she will spread it out on the floor and put it together. She’d be better to put it on the frame and tie it. She’s a very unique person—for her birthday she had dyed her hair purple. Her scalp was purple, so it looked weird if you looked closely, but it was sort of cute on her.

Back at home I reviewed my seminary lesson and did a few other things. I packed some more stuff and figured some more things that need to be done. I wish I knew how much I will be able to get in the car. There is so much stuff that needs to get home eventually.

Friday I split my time between packing and studying. I feel like this lesson needs so much more to be effective. I have a basic outline, but it needs some polishing.

In the late afternoon we went to a family’s home for dinner. We stopped to pick up some fried chicken and sides. We passed the mom on the way, waiting for the school bus. It was arriving just as we got there. When we got to the house no one was home—the man and his son had just finished fixing a truck and were test driving it. They were back soon enough and we went inside and set up for dinner while we waited for the mom and the girls.

We enjoyed dinner. They are a good family and the kids are really well-mannered and sweet. They all thanked us many times for bringing dinner. When we told them about the ice cream and berries they said they had not saved enough room for them so we waited. We watched a movie they had wanted to see for a long time. We then had ice cream and berries and really enjoyed it. Afterward we watched “Treasures in Heaven”, the story of John Tanner. It is an amazing story of a man who was converted to the church during the Kirkland period and actually saved the Kirkland Temple by donating much of his vast fortune. We were all very moved by the spirit there. We had a good discussion about living the gospel and the blessings of the Lord in our lives. We ended with a family prayer. It was a wonderful evening. I really enjoyed being with their family and feeling of their goodness.

Saturday we went to the flea market. That is always fun. When we returned home, I worked on my seminary lesson. I think it’s about ready to go. By night I was exhausted.