Sunday, February 22, 2009
February 16 -22, 2009 -Cancellation Week!!
What a week!!! We had a great Monday, finding people and having great visits. Marian went with me to Coloma where she & I and Chris & Kathy ate together and visited and I got my hair cut. Then we went to visit Shelly, whom she had never met. A great productive meeting and day. Gerry went with Ted and caught 3 people that we have been chasing for 5 months. Then it went downhill from there. Everyone was sick or the weather prevented us getting with people. Everyone at church was sick or knew someone was missing because of illness,last Sunday, (we were in South Haven). Three of our Home Teaching appointments were cancelled. We filled in with another but then today church was cancelled because we got 14+ inches of snow in the last 24 hours. (pictures at top). So our hours doing this great work this week were single digit. Even the time doing the genealogy was skipped cuz I was finishing up the inventory on our flood at home with Coryell.
So, not the best record week, but fortunately, a rare type of record for us. We will have the elders to dinner and invite our neighbor, (our other neighbor is in the hospital, we visited her yesterday. Not the best thing to be excited about but it WAS service.) :)
So, not the best record week, but fortunately, a rare type of record for us. We will have the elders to dinner and invite our neighbor, (our other neighbor is in the hospital, we visited her yesterday. Not the best thing to be excited about but it WAS service.) :)
Monday, February 16, 2009
Letters with grandchildren
Hey Grandma!
It was so good to hear from you! Thanks again for calling. Also, thank you for the beautiful card! I loved the pictures on it. I thought it was cool how they designed the outside. How is your missionary work coming? Did you have a good time on your double date? Things here are pretty good, but busy. Today was my first Sunday with the Mia Maids and it was weird since there are 15 beehives and 3 of the mia maids! That was a little strange to what I was used to. It was fun to be with the other girls who I haven't seen in a while like Michaela who is a year older than me. Basketball is going well also. Our team has won 3 out of 4 games and we all have a lot of fun together. We work well as a team and I have a good time with two of my friends from 2nd Ward, Megan and Becca. I enjoy playing the post position the best. The post is mostly the taller players so I get paired with Megan tons. School is going well to. I got straight As on my last report card and I'm really enjoying each of my classes. Right now we are doing a lot of preparation for high school. I can't believe that I'm going to be a freshman next year! I am having fun though deciding on the different classes that I want to take. The only elective that I'm sure about is Spanish since I think that learning it would benefit me greatly in the future. Anyway, my first dance is going to be on the 28th and I can't wait! I found a really pretty modest dress that we just ordered.It is also my friend's first dance so at least we will both be a little clueless instead of me just standing there looking confused! Just Kidding. Well, I miss you a lot and I can't wait to hear back from you! I love you!
Love,
Hanna
Hi sweet granddaughter,
Wow I love it when you write me. Thank you for the "thank you" for your birthday gift, I'm glad you like the card.
We had a great time on our double date. We have made such good friends here with the part members we home teach and visit teach and the branch leaders. They are wonderful devoted people and they teach us so very many things.
It is so good you are in Mia Maids now. Soon the Beehives you are close too will follow you and the Mia Maids will be the bigger group. In the meantime you will become closer to these older girls and have fun in a way only a small group can.
What fun to go to dances and start to get comfortable with that part of your life. Your parents have prepared you well and it should be such a nice experience in which you will avoid pitfalls that others your age haven't. I'd love to see you in the new dress. Suggest to your dad to get a picture and email it to me. It sounds so sweet!
Congratulations on all the A's!!!! That is wonderful. You should have a great time in High school with all your friends. You certainly have prepared well. A senior here just asked me to help her come up with a quilt that she can make out of her old tee shirts. That will be fun. I hope to come up with a really fun design that I can help her with. I have been teaching members and nonmembers how to piece quilts.
Another thing I am doing is getting personal histories from people in an old folks home. They let me ask them questions about their lives and within an hour I know them pretty well. They have had fascinating lives and I am learning from their life’s experiences and making such great friends. Look on my blog for some of my stories.
This is a huge adventure. Just like you being stretched and learning from your classes and sports and Young women, grandpa and I are learning heaps about being comfortable as missionaries, about HF's gospel, about ourselves and life. It is challenging and exciting and a huge privilege. It is so great that HF provides us with these learning experiences, even at this age :)!!
I love you Hanna and am so very proud of you and look foreword to seeing you and hearing of all your adventures and hugging and hugging you. Thank you again for this lovely letter.
Love, Grandma
It was so good to hear from you! Thanks again for calling. Also, thank you for the beautiful card! I loved the pictures on it. I thought it was cool how they designed the outside. How is your missionary work coming? Did you have a good time on your double date? Things here are pretty good, but busy. Today was my first Sunday with the Mia Maids and it was weird since there are 15 beehives and 3 of the mia maids! That was a little strange to what I was used to. It was fun to be with the other girls who I haven't seen in a while like Michaela who is a year older than me. Basketball is going well also. Our team has won 3 out of 4 games and we all have a lot of fun together. We work well as a team and I have a good time with two of my friends from 2nd Ward, Megan and Becca. I enjoy playing the post position the best. The post is mostly the taller players so I get paired with Megan tons. School is going well to. I got straight As on my last report card and I'm really enjoying each of my classes. Right now we are doing a lot of preparation for high school. I can't believe that I'm going to be a freshman next year! I am having fun though deciding on the different classes that I want to take. The only elective that I'm sure about is Spanish since I think that learning it would benefit me greatly in the future. Anyway, my first dance is going to be on the 28th and I can't wait! I found a really pretty modest dress that we just ordered.It is also my friend's first dance so at least we will both be a little clueless instead of me just standing there looking confused! Just Kidding. Well, I miss you a lot and I can't wait to hear back from you! I love you!
Love,
Hanna
Hi sweet granddaughter,
Wow I love it when you write me. Thank you for the "thank you" for your birthday gift, I'm glad you like the card.
We had a great time on our double date. We have made such good friends here with the part members we home teach and visit teach and the branch leaders. They are wonderful devoted people and they teach us so very many things.
It is so good you are in Mia Maids now. Soon the Beehives you are close too will follow you and the Mia Maids will be the bigger group. In the meantime you will become closer to these older girls and have fun in a way only a small group can.
What fun to go to dances and start to get comfortable with that part of your life. Your parents have prepared you well and it should be such a nice experience in which you will avoid pitfalls that others your age haven't. I'd love to see you in the new dress. Suggest to your dad to get a picture and email it to me. It sounds so sweet!
Congratulations on all the A's!!!! That is wonderful. You should have a great time in High school with all your friends. You certainly have prepared well. A senior here just asked me to help her come up with a quilt that she can make out of her old tee shirts. That will be fun. I hope to come up with a really fun design that I can help her with. I have been teaching members and nonmembers how to piece quilts.
Another thing I am doing is getting personal histories from people in an old folks home. They let me ask them questions about their lives and within an hour I know them pretty well. They have had fascinating lives and I am learning from their life’s experiences and making such great friends. Look on my blog for some of my stories.
This is a huge adventure. Just like you being stretched and learning from your classes and sports and Young women, grandpa and I are learning heaps about being comfortable as missionaries, about HF's gospel, about ourselves and life. It is challenging and exciting and a huge privilege. It is so great that HF provides us with these learning experiences, even at this age :)!!
I love you Hanna and am so very proud of you and look foreword to seeing you and hearing of all your adventures and hugging and hugging you. Thank you again for this lovely letter.
Love, Grandma
Sunday, February 15, 2009
February 8 - 15, 2009
Another week has flown by and been very busy and full of learning experiences.
Sunday we were at church from 8:00AM until 9:00PM. We had the regular meetings and then our potluck and ward council followed by the welfare meeting and then we had our Book of Mormon reading class for the investigators followed by a baptism. A great day but exhausting for us old fogies.
Monday we really dragged around. That was okay because it was our "P day". (The day we schedule doing cleaning, shopping & laundry, etc., etc..). Picked up a gift for one of our families we home teach and then went with the missionaries to a members hme for a great dinner. A less active family we've been working with came with their new baby and it was a lot of fun.
We are so very impressed with the welfare meetings in this branch. They are extremely effective in working with the struggling members and within just a few months have them on a fantastic program to become self sufficient, and it works! In all the wards we have worked with this council in this branch impliments the inspired program most effectively. They really council and help each other & the members so very lovingly and effectively. We feel privileged to be a part of this and in a position to learn so much.
Tuesday, we had a great Relief Society presidency meeting and Gerry & I studied afterward. That evening we went to teach Candy & Henry another lesson and had a great time there. Later that night (about 1:00AM) we got a call from Greg & Jill telling us that after they arrived in Texas to house hunt, and rented a car, they were hit by a drunk driver and their rental car was totaled. Gratefully they were unhurt!!!!
Wednesday, we went to Kalamazoo and had a wonderful zone conference. Absolutely wonderful being taught by our mission president. We learned more about having the Spirit with us always. We learned of his training with the apostles and it was so very wonderful. Had a great time with the elders too. I still tear up when we sing "Called to Serve" to the ladies that provide lunch.
Thursday was a hard day. A girl we've been working with, trying to help her so she wouldn't be sent back to jail, finally pushed my buttons too far and I told her so. I can't take her lying and abuse any more no matter how much I want to serve. Gerry agreed and despite how sorry we feel for her, I can do no more. She is such a lost and sad girl. I guess it is hard on my pride to have to admit that I can't take it any more but I can't so I am done. She has been evicted and refused to save any of her pay to pay her bills, then lost her job........so. Sometimes the state IS the best to help these people that are so very lost and refuse to help themselves. She certainly wore out the whole branch. It is still hard and sad.....
We worked at the rehab center again and I interviewed a woman from Yugoslovia. She went to Russia after the war and became a communist, working with her husband, and 20 other people, in the coal mines there for 4 years so they could have a house. Afterward, she and her husband worked in Germany for a year on a big 800 acre farm where she was a cook for 20 people. Then she had to take her husband to Austria for brain surgury because he had a tumor that had developed from a fall from a tree as a child. It cost her a fortune she said and then he died in surgury. She had 1 child with him that died at two months. She later married again and had 2 children with her second husband. A huge event in her life was when she immigrated through Ellis Island and became a US citizen. I have asked the volunteer director if I could take these histories and enter them in the genealogical society at Salt Lake City. She said if I get a signed permission from the resident I could. Many of the people I have interviewed have never done any genealogy, so I am excited to do this for them.
Later we took Linda a treat.
Friday I had quilting and one lady came and I helped her learn to cut & piece. It was nice. Then I went to the chiropractor and we took Myra & Bob out to dinner and gave them that great movie & book "FIreproof" & "The Love Dare".
Saturday, Valentines Day, we had our missionary breakfast & meeting and later we double dated with Marian & Ted and had a lovely time.
The highlight of this week was going to South Haven for the dedication of their new chapel. It is beautiful and the Spirit was so very strong. I felt Don & Katherine Lykins (deceased) were there celebrating with us and so many of the old members. A wonderful experience & privilege to be there for this hallmark event. Picture of the chapel is above. These buildings are totally paid for when they are dedicated!!
Sunday we were at church from 8:00AM until 9:00PM. We had the regular meetings and then our potluck and ward council followed by the welfare meeting and then we had our Book of Mormon reading class for the investigators followed by a baptism. A great day but exhausting for us old fogies.
Monday we really dragged around. That was okay because it was our "P day". (The day we schedule doing cleaning, shopping & laundry, etc., etc..). Picked up a gift for one of our families we home teach and then went with the missionaries to a members hme for a great dinner. A less active family we've been working with came with their new baby and it was a lot of fun.
We are so very impressed with the welfare meetings in this branch. They are extremely effective in working with the struggling members and within just a few months have them on a fantastic program to become self sufficient, and it works! In all the wards we have worked with this council in this branch impliments the inspired program most effectively. They really council and help each other & the members so very lovingly and effectively. We feel privileged to be a part of this and in a position to learn so much.
Tuesday, we had a great Relief Society presidency meeting and Gerry & I studied afterward. That evening we went to teach Candy & Henry another lesson and had a great time there. Later that night (about 1:00AM) we got a call from Greg & Jill telling us that after they arrived in Texas to house hunt, and rented a car, they were hit by a drunk driver and their rental car was totaled. Gratefully they were unhurt!!!!
Wednesday, we went to Kalamazoo and had a wonderful zone conference. Absolutely wonderful being taught by our mission president. We learned more about having the Spirit with us always. We learned of his training with the apostles and it was so very wonderful. Had a great time with the elders too. I still tear up when we sing "Called to Serve" to the ladies that provide lunch.
Thursday was a hard day. A girl we've been working with, trying to help her so she wouldn't be sent back to jail, finally pushed my buttons too far and I told her so. I can't take her lying and abuse any more no matter how much I want to serve. Gerry agreed and despite how sorry we feel for her, I can do no more. She is such a lost and sad girl. I guess it is hard on my pride to have to admit that I can't take it any more but I can't so I am done. She has been evicted and refused to save any of her pay to pay her bills, then lost her job........so. Sometimes the state IS the best to help these people that are so very lost and refuse to help themselves. She certainly wore out the whole branch. It is still hard and sad.....
We worked at the rehab center again and I interviewed a woman from Yugoslovia. She went to Russia after the war and became a communist, working with her husband, and 20 other people, in the coal mines there for 4 years so they could have a house. Afterward, she and her husband worked in Germany for a year on a big 800 acre farm where she was a cook for 20 people. Then she had to take her husband to Austria for brain surgury because he had a tumor that had developed from a fall from a tree as a child. It cost her a fortune she said and then he died in surgury. She had 1 child with him that died at two months. She later married again and had 2 children with her second husband. A huge event in her life was when she immigrated through Ellis Island and became a US citizen. I have asked the volunteer director if I could take these histories and enter them in the genealogical society at Salt Lake City. She said if I get a signed permission from the resident I could. Many of the people I have interviewed have never done any genealogy, so I am excited to do this for them.
Later we took Linda a treat.
Friday I had quilting and one lady came and I helped her learn to cut & piece. It was nice. Then I went to the chiropractor and we took Myra & Bob out to dinner and gave them that great movie & book "FIreproof" & "The Love Dare".
Saturday, Valentines Day, we had our missionary breakfast & meeting and later we double dated with Marian & Ted and had a lovely time.
The highlight of this week was going to South Haven for the dedication of their new chapel. It is beautiful and the Spirit was so very strong. I felt Don & Katherine Lykins (deceased) were there celebrating with us and so many of the old members. A wonderful experience & privilege to be there for this hallmark event. Picture of the chapel is above. These buildings are totally paid for when they are dedicated!!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
January 29- Febuary 6, 2009
Thursday - A good time at the rehab center. I interviewed a lady that is over 100 years. She had a relative that had married Joseph Bonaparte, brother to Napoleon. Evidently, he married her while visiting America, she was a daughter of a rich ship builder, and Napoleon was against the marriage because he wanted his sibling to marry royalty. In spite of the Ambassador to France's assurance that she wasn't trash, Napoleon insisted his brother return home where he had the marriage annulled.(Later he married a princess of "Wafelia"??) But the lady had become pregnant so her family put her on a one of their ships and sent her after him insisting that the child should be born in France. Napoleon refused to allow her to come ashore, so as her former husband watched from shore, she set sail for England where she had her baby boy. She stayed there for 5-6 years and then returned home to America. She never remarried. Her son raised 2 sons, always bitter against France. Later one boy went to France, met his grandfather and fell in love with France joining the French navy. The other grandson never went there and always hated his French ancestry.
At the end of each interview I always ask the people, "What do you feel is the most remarkable thing you've accomplished in your life?" Then the last question I ask is, "What would you like to be remembered for?" It is always very interesting to hear their answers.
This week I interviewed a sweet lady who is in terrible health and a year younger than I. She and all her family have severe health issues and they were raised in Hammond, Indiana, her father worked at the steel mills. She reminded me of Mom somewhat, she has had a hard life. She had married a greek man and learned greek and joined the Greek Orthodox faith.
I am being very blessed for doing this work there. I am being taught to not fear aging. I count my blessings more for the good health I have at age 62, I am gaining good friends as I quickly get to know these individuals fairly intimately. As we visit they change from old, wrinkled bodies to individual children of HF, beautiful & rich with character and goodness. There is a staff there of 140 people caring for 120 residents.
I am gaining the trust of the staff and starting to get to know them also. The other day I was showing the volunteer director how to recognize good books from trash in a second. She was amazed. I asked her if she was Christian and when she surprised me by replying, "No." I explained to her that I felt it was the Spirit of Christ that made this process possible. Interesting reaction. We are becoming friends.
Later, we got in to visit Sharon (after 4 trys) and then took Darlene to dinner in Hartford.
Friday - I had my quilting class and had two members and 1 non member we have been working with . They enjoyed learning how to piece a placemat. A good start. Next Saturday I am having another and we are piecing a table runner, having a luncheon, doing the first book club review ( I read "Counciling with Councils" by M. Russel Ballard, an excelent book with great suggestions for all) and giving the women a chance to finish their unfinished crafts & sewing projects together. I called EVERYONE and got some surprising possitive promises. We shall see, I think we should start including the YW.
Saturday - We had the elders for our missionary meeting and breakfast. Then I worked on quilts and prepared my RS lesson for Sunday. Gerry had priesthood meetings in Kalamazoo.
Sunday - A full day. I taught the conference talk of Elder Wirthlin on how to deal positively with adversity. It went well. Then after church we visited one of our elders that had been hospitalized the night before for possible appendicitis. The mission President & his wife came over. I stayed with the elder later while Gerry & his companion went and took care of the Book of Mormon reading class. Then later Gerry & I went to the branch "Mix & Mingle".
Monday - The elder was discharged without any operation. He is fine. After study time today we went and invited several families in South Haven to come out on the 15th for the new branch building dedication there on the 15th!! Then we took our good friend Rachel to dinner and had a great time. We invited her to come to Paw Paw the first of next month when Chris & Rachel & her parents will be coming here to bless their new baby boy "C.J." at church. She agreed to come & also have dinner with the family!!!
Tuesday - Marian was back from vacation so we had a great Relief Society presidency meeting this morning. Then I studied and then went to Kalamazoo to get some things at the quilt shop and run some other errands.
I have been doing some research on finding help for our bank erosion at home. I have arranged for a company that specializes in this kind of work to do an "reconnisance investigation" soon. With Lewis Co. being declared a disaster area we have a window of getting permits more reasonably and quicker than at other times so we shall see what is all involved in protecting our bank from further erosion, at least.
Wednesday - We had great district meetings and I went to the chiropractor and bought a small sewing machine, less heavy. Lunch with the district at Fridays. That evening we had a good Home Teaching meeting with a family in Mattawan. We have a long way to go. A special challange we will get Heavenly Father's counsel on.
Thursday - We gave Angela a ride to her first STRIVE class in Decatur. We picked her up from the hospital 3 times at night this week. She is blowing up at everyone and really stressing out because consequences are catching up to her for her choices. She refused to do as she is counciled and it is coming back to bite.
Worked at the rehab center - good! Had my nails done and Gerry worked for 5 hours on Henry's family's well.
I love this work and being here in - degree weather. I love my companion!
At the end of each interview I always ask the people, "What do you feel is the most remarkable thing you've accomplished in your life?" Then the last question I ask is, "What would you like to be remembered for?" It is always very interesting to hear their answers.
This week I interviewed a sweet lady who is in terrible health and a year younger than I. She and all her family have severe health issues and they were raised in Hammond, Indiana, her father worked at the steel mills. She reminded me of Mom somewhat, she has had a hard life. She had married a greek man and learned greek and joined the Greek Orthodox faith.
I am being very blessed for doing this work there. I am being taught to not fear aging. I count my blessings more for the good health I have at age 62, I am gaining good friends as I quickly get to know these individuals fairly intimately. As we visit they change from old, wrinkled bodies to individual children of HF, beautiful & rich with character and goodness. There is a staff there of 140 people caring for 120 residents.
I am gaining the trust of the staff and starting to get to know them also. The other day I was showing the volunteer director how to recognize good books from trash in a second. She was amazed. I asked her if she was Christian and when she surprised me by replying, "No." I explained to her that I felt it was the Spirit of Christ that made this process possible. Interesting reaction. We are becoming friends.
Later, we got in to visit Sharon (after 4 trys) and then took Darlene to dinner in Hartford.
Friday - I had my quilting class and had two members and 1 non member we have been working with . They enjoyed learning how to piece a placemat. A good start. Next Saturday I am having another and we are piecing a table runner, having a luncheon, doing the first book club review ( I read "Counciling with Councils" by M. Russel Ballard, an excelent book with great suggestions for all) and giving the women a chance to finish their unfinished crafts & sewing projects together. I called EVERYONE and got some surprising possitive promises. We shall see, I think we should start including the YW.
Saturday - We had the elders for our missionary meeting and breakfast. Then I worked on quilts and prepared my RS lesson for Sunday. Gerry had priesthood meetings in Kalamazoo.
Sunday - A full day. I taught the conference talk of Elder Wirthlin on how to deal positively with adversity. It went well. Then after church we visited one of our elders that had been hospitalized the night before for possible appendicitis. The mission President & his wife came over. I stayed with the elder later while Gerry & his companion went and took care of the Book of Mormon reading class. Then later Gerry & I went to the branch "Mix & Mingle".
Monday - The elder was discharged without any operation. He is fine. After study time today we went and invited several families in South Haven to come out on the 15th for the new branch building dedication there on the 15th!! Then we took our good friend Rachel to dinner and had a great time. We invited her to come to Paw Paw the first of next month when Chris & Rachel & her parents will be coming here to bless their new baby boy "C.J." at church. She agreed to come & also have dinner with the family!!!
Tuesday - Marian was back from vacation so we had a great Relief Society presidency meeting this morning. Then I studied and then went to Kalamazoo to get some things at the quilt shop and run some other errands.
I have been doing some research on finding help for our bank erosion at home. I have arranged for a company that specializes in this kind of work to do an "reconnisance investigation" soon. With Lewis Co. being declared a disaster area we have a window of getting permits more reasonably and quicker than at other times so we shall see what is all involved in protecting our bank from further erosion, at least.
Wednesday - We had great district meetings and I went to the chiropractor and bought a small sewing machine, less heavy. Lunch with the district at Fridays. That evening we had a good Home Teaching meeting with a family in Mattawan. We have a long way to go. A special challange we will get Heavenly Father's counsel on.
Thursday - We gave Angela a ride to her first STRIVE class in Decatur. We picked her up from the hospital 3 times at night this week. She is blowing up at everyone and really stressing out because consequences are catching up to her for her choices. She refused to do as she is counciled and it is coming back to bite.
Worked at the rehab center - good! Had my nails done and Gerry worked for 5 hours on Henry's family's well.
I love this work and being here in - degree weather. I love my companion!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
