ROSA and USUA

We have had zone conferences this week that went great.  Then we went to Leavenworth to meet up with Rosa Sanz.  Rosa and Jesus and their children joined the church in Pamplona Spain when I was on my mission.  We have stayed close all these years.  Usua, one of their daughters, moved to Seattle with her family some time ago.  Rosa decided to come for a visit and they drove over so we could spend a bit of time together.  We were also able to contact Michele Naylor who was my companion at the time we taught them.  She came with her husband and daughter.   It was interesting to get together.  It felt like the years had never past--we could have been in a park in Pamplona 32 years ago.  The love that I felt for Rosa then is so much the same--I really love her and care about her.  Jesus died back in March, just before my dad died.  He was a good and very interesting man.  He was unique in every way and I loved knowing him.  It was wonderful to spend some time with Usua and her precious family.  She is a beautiful woman in every way.   It was a treat for me and certainly gives a depth of meaning to the missionary work being done here in the Spokane Mission.

Janice and Preston Gee

Janice Gee is from this beautiful area of the country, and one of Preston's missionary companions happens to be our stake president.  So Janice and Preston came for the day for a visit.  Of course everyone loves the two of them and we certainly enjoyed the time we spent...and the bit of diversion that it was.  We sat is the yard and talked and then had a great dinner at Anthonys.  It is a restaurant that overlooks Spokane Falls.  (I don't normally wear flip flops and I must say it did feel nice to get those nylons off for a few hours.)

ONE YEAR

It has been one year since we have been in the mission---actually it has gone really fast.  As I heard the testimonies of the missionaries who will be going home at our next transfer, I felt very happy and grateful that
have two more years.   One our "birthday" the Othello Zone made us a cake.  It was great--covered with all kinds of interestingly colored sprinkles. Elder Kelly was transferring so he brought it to us.  I was really touched that they would think of us and do something so sweet.  I was loading up my car and set the cake on top of my car while I finished.  As I was driving away I heard the strangest sound---I had forgotten about the cake and the aluminum pan and cake went flying off the car and hit the road.  I was very sad I didn't get a photo BEFORE the accident!

The Goodbyes and the Hellos

Another great group leaves us.

The airport can be a challenge with a number of different airlines and some baggage problems.  Some of the missionaries have only been on a plane when they come on the mission and aren't very familiar with what is needed to be done.  Some are a little nervous and distracted too.  Of course I love helping and it helps keep me from getting too emotional! 

We wave goodbye, almost always cry, then race over to meet the new group....who this time happened to be a very large one.

Here they are waiting for the assistants to come with our van and trailer to pick them up.

Lets make things "equal"!

Elder Aird is a very tall missionary-and one of our assistants right now. Elder Morrell is shorter but still quite a bit taller than Mark.  So this is what Mark does to help create "equality"!

A Tender Mercy

Last night we went to a baptism of Sumalar.  She is 29 and happens to be deaf.  A wonderful member has translated for her for numerous years now, but has never talked religion as she didn't feel it was professional.  Another friend she made is the one who began to talk to her about the church, gave her a Book of Mormon and then found the missionaries for her when she wanted to know more.  This is where the interesting part is.  Elder Cluff and Elder Heywood are the two missionaries in that area.  We dont know of any other deaf people being taught by any of our missionaries-at least during the time we have been here-and we are not aware of any of our 200 missionaries that sign.  BUT-Elder Cluff has a deaf brother and Elder Heywood has a hearing impaired sister (we didn't know any of this before).  Neither of them is fluent in sign, but both are very familiar with the deaf community and certainly in interacting with them.  I dont believe its a coincidence that the two of them were put together and just happened to be in her area--lets just call it a tender mercy.

The ward she is in is a singles ward.  The young members are all so excited to support Sumalar that they have started a sign class, and those who spoke or offered a prayer at the baptism had all learned to sign while doing it.  There was such a great feeling there.  During the time when they were changing after the baptism, different people got up and shared the experience of Joseph Smith's vision in different languages---Korean, Portuguese, sign, Spanish---then someone talked about how the language of God is not a certain language, it is the language of the Spirit.  And we all felt it speaking to us.

A Busy Medical Week

It has been a VERY busy week for medical.   Two sprained ankles, a broken toe, two front teeth knocked out (on the same person-I don't love preparation day!), a hand tremor with fainting spells, three with stomach pains-losing weight-signs of ulcers, two with signs of hemorrhoids, two severe back aches, a hip feeling like it was out of socket, Bed Bugs, major migraine headaches, two feeling like they are going to throw up, one in the hospital for 5 days with cellulitis, two with high fevers, two with rashes on their hands-one of them bleeding, and a few needing counseling.  I am feeling a little overwhelmed for the first time-it doesn't help that I am in my 50's and going through this "I cant remember a whole lot" phase. My notebook is very full of notes!