More Blessings & Miracle's

Shannon Hambrick-Jasso is an inactive sister, and when we called on her she threw her arms around us and started crying.  We saw her three times after that.  She has an addiction to pain medication she started taking when her neck was broken a few years ago.  We had trouble getting in to see her because her 19 year old son would always tell us she was sleeping.  We knew she was moving from the 3rd ward, but couldn't get any information about where she had gone.


We were overjoyed when we saw her name on the ward list in Plano 4th ward.  The first thing we did was go to visit her.  Once again, she cried with joy and said, "I'm so glad you found me!"  Her son no longer lives with her.   She had never been contacted by anyone in that ward, but we received permission from her to let the bishop know he needed to meet with her.  That was 3 1/2 weeks ago.  We waited thinking the bishop would contact her, but didn't hear anything, so we went to visit again.


Her daughter and son-in-law were there. They told us she had been hit by a car shortly after we had seen her and was in the hospital in very bad condition.  Visitors were very restricted, but she said her mother had told her about us, and she knew she'd want us to come.


I'm amazed that this sweet girl survived the accident.  She is flat in bed and unable to move.  Both arms are broken and one is held together with large pins sticking out.  Both feet are broken, one has a metal plate in it.  Her hip and pelvis are broken, and also have large pins holding her together.  She has a big gash in her forehead where her skull was fractured. In spite of all this, she smiled when we entered her room and then began to cry!  We told her we were going to find her no matter where she went!  When I think of all the many miracles that keep bringing us to her, I realize how Heavenly Father's hand is always guiding us.  She asked for a blessing so we contacted some brethren in the 3rd ward to come.  I's so wonderful to see the look of peace on her face when they entered the room!


She has a really long way to go, but with love, care, and lots of prayers she may become whole again someday.  She is a convert to the church of about 14 years, and has a sweet testimony.  She just simply got "side-tracked" by terrible events in her life.  We will do all we can to help her get "home again...to the gospel".


Thought I'd tell you a little bit about my Mission Pres. Devin Durrant.  I'm sure many sports fans will already know him since he's pretty famous in the world of basketball.  To me he'll always be famous as a gentle, caring man who honors his priesthood.  The latter is what he adheres to during all his time while serving on this mission.  He "rarely" mentions his sport...only when he's prodded into it by the Elder's he cares for here.  There's positively no guile or personal self-centeredness in him at all!  He's kind and loving; soft spoken and warm.  The other remark I can make personally about him is that I feel really, really, short when I stand next to his six foot seven inch frame!


"Devin Durrant was named a McDonald's All-American in 1978 during his senior year of high school.  He played at Brigham Young University where in 1984 he was named District 7 Player of the Year and a consensus All-American.  He was also an Academic All-American twice.  In 1984, Devin was chosen by the Indiana Pacers as the 25th pick in the NBA Draft.  He played a season with the Pacers and part of a second season with the Phoenix Suns.  He also played professionally in Spain and France.  In a Deseret News poll in the year 2000, Devin was voted one of the top 10 college basketball players in Utah over the previous 100 years  In that same year, Sports Illustrated named him one of the 50 most influential sports figures in the history of the state of Utah.


Since leaving professional basketball, Devin has worked in a variety of positions including counselor in a bishopric, bishop, counselor in a stake presidency, high councilor and stake mission president.
He was born in Brigham City, Utah and raised in Utah and Kentucky.  He served a mission in Madrid Spain, and his wife Julie served in Peru.  They are the parents of six children."


I read one article about how difficult it was for the team to give him up to serve a mission.  He was dedicated to serve and never picked up a basketball to take a shot during the two years he was out.  He was totally focused on his mission in Spain and put the sport behind him.  That statement tells a lot about how he is here.  He is an amazing spiritual leader!


Savannah is 8 months old in these pictures, will be leaving the hospital here in Plano tomorrow.  She's always happy and smiling, but for us it's a happy-sad day!  We are all so thrilled that she can finally take the next step to going home.  Sis. Campbell and I will miss her so much!  She's now going to another hospital in downtown Dallas where her parents will receive instructions for her home care.  She'll be there for 2-4 weeks before she is finally with her family.  My heart will forever be filled with love for this little miracle!  It's so amazing to see how big she is now in comparison to how tiny she was when we got here on our mission.  It's been a long ordeal for her parents as they've gone through this challenge, but Savannah's fighting desire to make it made all the difference.

I'm always a little more homesick on holidays, and miss my family and friends!  The 4th of July was a busy, fun day for us.  We went to the early morning flag ceremony and breakfast at church, and then    went to the Plano Parade with Marjean and some ward friends.  It was short....not as good as Preston's, but we had fun!  We went to a movie and out to dinner at a restaurant...Texas bar-b-cue ribs...yum!  By the time this was over, all three of us were so tired we didn't stay up for the fireworks....

First Baptism

This picture shows Pres. & Sis. Durrant, Elder Larson, Me, Rebecca and Sis. Campbell at the baptism of Rebecca Lewis.  When we first got started in Plano 3rd Ward the missionary's asked us to visit  Sister Lewis.  She learned about the gospel 19 years ago and quickly developed a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  Her mother was a devout Catholic, and she didn't feel she could join the church because of that.  The missionary's have continued to visit her throughout the years, and challenged her to baptism many times.  She has committed on many occasions, but then backs away at the last minute.  She knows lots of people in the ward and has attended occasionally.  Her mother passed away a year ago, and yet, she still held off.

Sis. Campbell and I quickly made good friends with her.  She shared her testimony with us on several occasions, but was fearful of following through with the decision.  She has had many miracles in her life with priesthood blessings.  The missionary's gave her grandson a priesthood blessing when he was admitted to the hospital for surgery a couple months ago.  Her daughter and husband were touched by the blessing and decided that they might be willing to hear the message.  They have not had their first discussion yet.


Last week Sister Campbell went home for the funeral of a friend.  I went to Rebecca's home and had lunch with her.  She told me she, once again had committed to be baptized.  Though having some doubt, I was overjoyed with her.  She had actually talked with the Mission Pres. about it, so she said she felt pretty confident.  It was scheduled for Aug. 4th.  The next day I got a call from her that she had moved it up to this weekend so she could have it on her Mother's birthday.  We, and the missionary's, were holding our breath that she would make it through.  She was baptized last evening!


This is an amazing story about never, never, giving up on Heavenly Father's children.  Rebecca just simply had a challenge with decision making even though she knew that baptism was the right thing to do.  She will find great joy in the church and has already been serving by doing meals every week for two families in the ward.  I don't think Sis. Campbell and I can take a lot of credit for her decision, but I do know she felt our love and encouragement.

This picture is of Sis. Hunter and her granddaughter.  She and her two teenage boy's were baptized about 3 months ago.  When the missionary's found this family they had no furniture except for a bed that Sis. Hunter was using.  The boys were sleeping on the floor.  The ward pitched in and found beds for the boys and slowly some furniture for the rest of the apartment.  They are still very poor, but have sweet testimony's of the gospel.  We've been meeting with them on Monday evenings, and teaching them how to have Family Home Evening. Her son's are gone for the summer to live with their dad so I took her and her granddaughter out for dinner at Wendy's.  It was so much fun to talk with her and hear a little about her personal life.  What a joy to see how much difference the gospel has made to her family!  I love being here to help!

Sis. Nelms and I were "cutting loose" at her granddaughters wedding. She wanted to come with me when I went early to help with the food.  Some friends of the bride put on music, and the next thing I know Sis. Nelms gets up and says "I want to dance!"  So, here we are!  I was amazed at the rhythm and balance she had in spite of being blind!  I told her I could see why Bro. Nelms wanted to meet her when he saw her on the dance floor years ago!

We attended a senior missionary conference this week.  These are all of the seniors serving in the Dallas Texas Mission.  It was fun to meet and talk with each of them, and is always a joy to be taught by Pres. & Sis. Durrant.

I was thinking today about the times in my life when I've been the happiest. I've come to realize that when I've tried to stay spiritually close to my Savior, I am happy.  Being spiritually close has come by prayer, enjoying the scriptures,  and reflecting on my many blessing.  These times of being obedient to what I know is truth gives me strength and power I didn't realize I had. Living the gospel is an act of obedience.  The Savior has given us guidelines to find joy and happiness and those guidelines are a pathway back to Him.  We cannot reach our goal to be with him without being submissive and obedient.  Elder L. Tom Perry stated:  "The discipline contained in daily obedience, clean living, and wholesome lives builds an armor around you of protection and safety from the temptations that beset you as you proceed through mortality."


The prophet Mosiah told his people that keeping the commandments of God will bring both temporal and spiritual blessings:  "I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God.  For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness.  O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.  Mosiah 2:41


"May we all find a place of happiness through submitting to the will of our Father in Heaven, and thereby knowing His love."

Father's Day & More

As I was sitting in church yesterday, I began to think of all the wonderful men who've touched my life.  I will forever be grateful for their influence and love.  I first thought of my dad who was married in the temple to my mom.  He fell away from activity when I was very young, but he always made sure I went to church, and let me know there was no way to get married except in the temple.  Though there were many challenges in my home, I grew up feeling secure in his love for me. 

With the challenges in my own life, I've found solace in the gentle care and concern of brothers in my ward. I feel so appreciative of men who honor and uphold their priesthood.  They've been by my side so many times when I had a need or concern.  Whenever I've needed a helping hand they've been quick to respond.  I'll always be grateful for them, and the example they set for me of righteousness.

I also wish to express my love and gratitude to my sons, and sons-in-law!  They've always been by my side when I have questions or concerns; and available to fix or help with things I didn't know how to handle.  Being single and on my own has been a wonderful learning experience for me, but there are many things I've had questions about and needed personal advice.  I'm ever so grateful for their love and support!

Most of all, I wish to express gratitude to my Savior and Heavenly Father.  As I listened to the messages of yesterday's church meetings, I just kept reflecting on how amazing it is to know they are there and the "sure anchor" in everything I do.  I've experienced, on a daily basis, their presence and feel their love.  I cannot imagine a life without that knowledge and peace. This also make me think about the prophets, apostles, and my ancestors who went through so much so I could have these blessings.  I feel so small when I think of my efforts compared to their great leadership and devotion.   I hope that I too, can leave a legacy of love and testimony for my family and those around me.

I want to share a little more about Plano and the wonderful sister I'm living with here.  The city of Plano has four large high schools.  Marjean teaches Physics at East Plano High School which had a graduating class of 1500 students this year.  She received her master degree in teaching when she was 40 years old, and was in accounting until that time.   She also teaches online classes to 30 students in the summer, as well as many during the school year.  She has 2-3 students she tutors almost every evening during the school year.  She is now teaching summer school!  All of this on top of being the YW President!  She is a bundle of energy, and one of the sweetest people I know.  It has truly been a blessing to learn from her dedicated example.

I told her a few weeks ago that I'd love to see where she works, so she took us this week.  She's a bundle of energy, and one of the sweetest people I know.  It's truly been a blessing to learn from her dedicated example, and be able to stay in her home.  One of the big projects she has her students do each year is to build a guitar.  They are told it should have a theme i.e. a song or movie, but it has to be something she would know.  They are supposed to be able to play it on the guitar and give a presentation on why they chose this theme.  She asks them if she can keep the guitar's in her classroom until they graduate from high school.  Her classroom is so cute with all of them displayed on upper shelves around the room.  It's fun to look at them and guess what the theme was.

The following guitar had a special meaning to me and will to most of you.  This young man chose "I Am a Child of God" as his theme.  When he gave his presentation he told everyone that the pictures represent the hero's and things that are most important to him in his life.  Marjean said she was standing behind the kids when he was talking.  She said,  "His testimony was so strong that I was crying, and several of the kids in the class we tearing up too."

We met with the RS. Pres. again today and she gave us a list of sisters to visit in Plano 4th.  We've seen about 12 sisters this past week that the bishop wanted us to visit.  Many of them were in apartments and were not at home.  We will continue to do our best to help.

Two sisters we've visited have quickly become special to us.  One sister has been a member for 4 years now, but she rarely comes out to church.  She is suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder.  She suddenly lost her parents and an uncle to cancer a few years ago.  She then got cancer herself and had to go through all the chemo.  She has a son that does all her shopping for her.  When she does come to church it's only to Sacrament Meeting.  She comes in late and leaves early.  We could tell she was nervous when we stopped by, but she agreed to have us come each week and share the scriptures with her.  What a hard life for her!  She is receiving counseling and hopefully it will help.

Another sister, Marky Forrest, has been a long time member but only comes occasionally.  We became instant friends with her.  She lives in the cutest little house .... it reminded me a bit of my home in Redmond.  She is 70 years old, divorced, and has a son living with her.  We had such a good time talking with her.  She filled us in on all the site's in Texas we should see.  We were so thrilled when she came to church yesterday.  She sat with us during the all the meetings.

I just love having experiences like these!  It helps me feel the real purpose of serving in the church, and having this opportunity to be on a mission!

                                             

New Opportunities to Serve

Last week we met with the Ward Correlation Committee in Plano 4th Ward, and they gave us a "starter" list of people to call on.  The bishop said we'll be needed here for a long time as they have  people who need extra love and support.  We've visited three at home in the past two days.  It will be hard to catch people as there are, at least, 22 large apartment communities in the ward.  People move in and out sometimes before they're even aware of them. 


Our baby Savannah will be eight months old before she goes home from the hospital.  Her parents have now agreed to do a tracheotomy on her and put in a g-tube.  She will have the surgery on the 24th of this month.  It's amazing to look at how chubby she is now, 15 pounds, when she was only one pound four ounces at birth.  She's always happy and bubbly when we come.  I caught her mother with her a few days ago and she was putting braids in her hair!  So cute...I just had to take a couple of pictures!  Look at those cute smiles!

When we were at the cemetery we noticed some beautiful buildings up on a hill.  We drove up to them and it was a Baptist University.  I'm added these few pictures.  The Baptist's here are very strong, and don't like us Mormons!  We're lucky we didn't get kicked out while taking these pictures.              

  

  

Last Monday evening we went to a concert in the park with Laneeda.  She has been gone for a few weeks visiting her daughter in England and her family in Utah.  We were so sad to see the change in her Alzheimer's in such a short time.  My heart aches for her family.  We are happy she is back as we enjoy our outings with her.  Bro. Lucero seems to have confidence in us as he calls us when he travels on business so we can check in on her.

The miracles and blessings of our mission are many.  In the past few weeks we've had several people tell us that we are here on our mission because it's an answer to their prayers.  I can't begin to tell you how those words touch my spirit!  I've heard, over the years from missionaries, that their missions were exactly where Heavenly Father needed them to be.  I can attest to that now.  He really does provide a way for us to love and touch those who need us in their lives.

Jeffrey R. Holland   "All Things are Possible to Him That Believeth" 

"Returning from the magnificent spiritual experience high on the Mount of Transfiguration where He was shrouded in glory and heard the voice of His Father say, “This is my beloved son: hear him” (Mark 9:7), Jesus was understandably dismayed when He came upon a group of His disciples and local scribes arguing and striving with one another in a hostile way.

Responding to the Savior's inquiry as to the cause of this contention, a man stepped forward, the father of an afflicted child who said that the self-­destructive spirit afflicting his son, an infirmity the boy had since childhood, was getting increasingly more dangerous. Initially the father had approached Jesus' disciples for a blessing, a cure of some kind, but they could not provide it—apparently prompting the shouting match now in full force. With the boy gnashing his teeth and foaming from the mouth as he wallowed on the ground before them, the father said to Jesus in something of a weary, last-resort tone of voice:

“If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.  Jesus said unto him, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:14–24).

Christ, ever the teacher, seizes on the man's very language and limited faith and turns it back on him and states  "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”  In that very instant, in the length of time it took  to hear His voice, or the majesty of His bearing, or simply the words He spoke....something touches this man spiritually and an inexorable change begins. Up to that moment he had thought that everything depended on others—doctors, soothsayers, priests, the disciples, or, here at the very last, Jesus. Only now, in this exchange, does he grasp that a great deal of the answer to his quest rests upon his own shoulders, or, more accurately, in his own ­soul.

This is one of the greatest New Testament accounts we have probing the complexity of faith and the degrees one experiences in its development. The man's initial faith, by his own admission, is limited. But he has some faith. He did, after all, approach the disciples but, of course, met disappointment there. With whatever remaining faith he has, he turns to Jesus and says, “If thou canst do any thing,” please help us, hoping perhaps Jesus might be able to succeed where all others have failed.

So here, almost before our very eyes, we see a man address the issue of faith and we see the seed of faith begin to grow. “Straightaway” the scripture says, not slowly or skeptically or cynically but “straightaway” the father of the child cries out and sheds parental tears. After all, this is bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. This is as close to home as it can get. This is a father pleading for his son. This is new faith versus old fear in a fistfight, a fear perhaps only parents of struggling children can ever know. He cries, literally, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” And of course we know the miraculous blessing that then comes as a result of such an honest, earnest ­assertion.  

So often we think we need great faith in order to accomplish His will, but if we turn to Him, he gives us the strength to overcome our weakness.  Once again, it is the atonement making it possible for us to become as He is.  We are incapable of doing that on our own, so our faith, though small, bridges the gap."   (end quote)

                            

                                   

Memorial Day

RaNae, Connie, Jean, and I had a free day on Saturday, so we went to the Dallas - Ft. Worth National Cemetery.  It was established in 2000 and already has 35,000 people buried there.  There are soldiers who have been killed since 2000, soldiers that have been moved to this cemetery, and soldiers who served earlier in their lives and chose this place when they passed.  Spouses can also be buried there. Thirteen burials were scheduled on Saturday.  They said the average is 10-12 a day.  It is a very beautiful place with rolling hills and a feeling of quiet sadness.  Such sacrifices from so many....


The bench garden was an eagle scout project. James I. Stone earned a "Metal of Honor" for his service. Very sad feeling to see the most recent burials as our sad story continues. The large headstone is in honor of a helicopter crew that went down.   This poem has been in my thoughts since then.

                                                             Flanders Field

                                                In Flanders fields the poppies blow
                                                Between the crosses, row by row,
                                                That mark our place; and in the sky
                                                The larks, still bravely singing, fly
                                                Scarce heard amid the guns below.


                                                We are the dead, short days ago
                                                We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
                                                Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
                                                In Flanders fields.


                                                Take up our quarrel with the foe;
                                                To you from failing hands we throw
                                                The torch; be yours to hold it high.
                                                If ye break faith with us who die
                                                We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
                                                In Flanders fields.

                                                                                   John McCrae

                     

                                   

On Memorial Day we spent time touring the George W. Bush Library and Museum.  There was a lot of excitement when it opened awhile back as there were five U.S. Pres. in attendance.  We called the two sisters in Irving, and one sister that works for the mission employment office to go with us.  We enjoyed a beautiful patriotic weekend!  The museum was wonderful!  My heart ached for what leadership our country could have had with Mitt Romney, and the cost of where we are now! Such a tragedy and heartache!  When I look at the good moral men the George Bush's were; along with Ronald Regan, Abraham Lincoln and others;  my heart aches with sorrow that our government has changed so much.  My hope is that the American people will be able to come back to the family values that can make our country whole.  God Bless our Country and it's People! 

Sister Hulse, Me, Sis. Shell, Sis. Campbell and Sister Bennion at the library and museum.  "The wind always blows in Texas."  

 

  

Mother's Day, Challenges & Blessings

Things have been way too slow for me this past 10 days, but today we found out that all is clear for us to start work in another ward.  We'll be working with Plano 4th Ward, and will be meeting with the bishop and RS Pres. this week.  Pres. Wilding, our stake president,  feels that there are a lot of needs there also, so hopefully we'll fill our time up again.  We've drawn close to in Plano 3rd Ward.  They've been so helpful to us as we've tried to discover our mission calling.  Pres. Durrant had just turned us loose, so we have tried to apply the teachings we've received over the years to help others.  It has been so rewarding!  There have been many needs and are still many who need love and support.  We'll continue to work with them also.

Friday evening we had a 3rd ward party and we took our chairs to sit at the park.  We were among the first to arrive as we were helping with set up.  We put our chairs up and sat down.  Before long we were in a circle with many ward members who had joined us.  It was typical of the way they've received us into their fold.

There's some situations that have been hard.  We have two sisters in a nursing home Sister Alarcon and Sis. Adams.   It is a state funded home so it has lots of people there.  It is "heart rendering" to walk down the halls.  These are people that will only leave when they return home to Heavenly Father.  We read to the two members we visit, and have picked up another girl that was in a wheelchair in the hallway.  She has MS and is severely crippled.  She is probably only 35-40 years old!  She loves chocolate, so we take her a Hershey bar when we go.  We could spend all of our mission just giving service to this one nursing home, and the sweet people there!

Tuesday of this week, after we had gone there, we felt a need for some cheering up, so we decided to see if we could find a lake in Plano.  Seems unlikely to find one in a place that is so flat, but we have been told there are several.  After looking at a map we discovered there was one only 10 miles away so we drove out into the country.  It was so beautiful and green on the drive.  We stopped at one point to ask someone where the lake was.  It just happened that the woman we talked to had only been here one year, and was from Washington.  She proceeded to tell us that the water in the lakes here are gray.  Nothing like the beautiful lakes of Washington!  We got our directions and proceeded to Lake Lavon.  It is a huge lake and we were at the south end which was in Wylie, TX.

After seeing the lake we went into the town of Wylie.  It's an old town and had a cute main street that reminded me of my home in Preston, ID.  However, we found that there is a larger, newer section that is evidence of how dramatic the growth is out there.  There were cute little farms in places, and large expensive developments in others.  Since I have a fondness of farms and old houses, those are the pictures I took.

We walked around this beautiful Victorian Mansion in the town.  It was built and owned by Thomas & Mattie Brown, and has been restored.  We didn't get to see the inside, though I really wanted too.  We talked to a man who said it is rented out as offices for the school district.  It even has a wishing well!  This is my dream home! 

This farm was so beautiful, and there was a "B" on the entry gate so I think it should be mine.  There is even a swan and her goslings by the water.  My brother Tracy will enjoy seeing this.  Sorry Tracy, I didn't get a picture of the cattle, but they were there.....

On Mother's Day we drove to Irving, TX after church to have dinner with Sis. Hulse & Sis. Shell.  These are the two sisters we were in the MTC with.  It was Sis. Shell's birthday so we had a double celebration.  These sisters have had so many challenges since they got here.  Sis. Shell has had severe back problems, and been in and out of doctors offices.  This past week she fell and broke her arm, and had to have stitches in her head.  Her comment, "No, I'm not going home...no matter what!"  Sister Hulse has some nerve problems in her hand so she is also having a struggle.  They are such sweet sisters, and have worked hard on computer and phone calls for their ward.  Unfortunately, they haven't been able to get out much with all the health problems.  Our prayers are with them that they will soon be able to go out and do more.

I love Mother's Day!  It's a time when I think of my wonderful mother and grandma.  I learned so much from their example in teaching me to be a nurturing and caring mom.  My kids are all  wonderful, and I miss them so much!  They sent me sweet blessings for Mother's Day.  Being their mother is my greatest joy!

 

Today was ward conference here in Plano 3rd.  Pres. Wilding, the stake president, talked about the Plan of Salvation and shared a wonderful testimony with us.  Bishop Hoki gave a talk that was also outstanding!  He is an amazing bishop who really thinks out what he wants to share with the congregation.  He shared with us that he had once been in a business deal with other ward members, that didn't work out.  He was the bishop in that ward also, and there was room for very hard feelings with them.  He said it took him years to pay off the money he had lost.  As the bishop in the ward, he prayerfully prayed for guidance in working through this without being bitter and angry.  He choose to move forward and continue to love and serve them.  He talked about how much different his life would have been had he let angry feelings get in the way of who he really was.  His choice to forgive took away the possible bitter feelings that would have eaten away at him all these years.  The choices we make in this life are not something we should put off making.  We will still have to make many of those choices in the eternities, and it will not be easier. 

Each one of us have times in our lives where we just want to "bury our heads in the sand", hoping that the need to move forward will just go away!  I've seen that with a few people here in the ward.  They've gone to church for years, and have families that yearn for the blessings of the temple, but they won't take the step of baptism.  One sweet woman has been working with the missionary's for 19 years!  She loves the church, has experienced miracles with priesthood blessings, but just can't move forward to baptism.  She loves having us over, and loves the social interaction.....my heart aches for her resistance to make a choice that will bring eternal blessings.

It is critical for us to continue seeking the blessings of eternity, and help others to do the same.  I'm  grateful for the opportunities the gospel provides so we can continue to grow and change.  I'm so thankful to have the gospel in my life.  I hope my friends and family will be lifted by something I've written or shared, for that is the purpose of my life and my mission.

The Blessings of Service

"Wow, time goes by so quickly that I just don't get to this blog enough.  This is my journal, as well, so I need to be more diligent at keeping up with it!

There have been so many sweet blessing come to us over the past few weeks.  First of all I want to report on Savannah Smith.  She is still in the hospital at 6 months old.  She weighs 11.6 pounds now, which is probably pretty small for someone her age, but she has been a little fighter to live and make it through.  I love going to see her, and we do it every day now, as she needs more attention.  She focuses on me more now, and give me such big, happy, and lasting smiles.  It truly warms my heart and makes me realize how precious life is!  Her lungs are still not well enough for her to be without oxygen and she still has the feeding tube.  They are waiting for her parents to accept that she needs to go home with a trac. for breathing.  They are so reluctant because of the fact that the surgery didn't go well for her.

Victoria, brought her two other children to church a couple of Sunday's ago.  We were so thrilled to meet her cute kids.  She has a son that is 12 and another daughter who is 4.  I sat by her cute daughter during Sacrament meeting.  She drew me several pictures, and at the end I drew her one of me and her with a note that said "I love you", I read it to her, and then she reached up and gave me a hug and kiss!  So fun to be with kids that you know have been raised with love and affection.  We're hopeful this family will accept the teachings of the gospel when they're all settled at home again.

I mentioned the two missionary's in our ward in one post.  I just found out that Elder Degn is a nephew of my cousin Rhonda Barfuss!  The world of the church always seems to guide us to people we know, or discover we have mutual friends and family!


Speaking of which, I found Elder Richardson again at the missionary meeting with Elder D. Todd Christofferson. I was glad I got to see him again as I wanted to get a picture.  He's going home in another week, and will be warmly greeted by Pres. Stephen & Marianna Richardson.  This family holds a special place in my heart!

The Saturday meeting we had with Elder Christofferson was wonderful!  He was there with Pres. Donald Halstrom - Pres. of the 70, Elder Randy Funk, Elder Terrance Vinsin, and Elder Todd B. Hanson.  Elder Hanson told me he used to live in Redmond and then in Woodinville.  Had we talked longer I'm sure we would have known the same people.

They asked us to be at the meeting at 9:30 even though it didn't start until 10:00.  At 9:15 Pres. Durrant asked us all to have a seat and be very quiet for the arrival of these priesthood leaders.  The reverence was so amazing and created a spiritual feeling that was powerful.  When they filed in, Pres. Durrant said they wanted each of us 259 missionary's to line up and shake hands with these good brothers.  What a sweet blessing to all of us!

They each bore their testimonies and shared special experiences they have had in their lives.  Elder Vinsin is the newest Seventy and was just called at this last conference.  He has been assigned to serve in Africa.  He and his family are from Australia, and I loved his accent.  His message was that of Alma and the Sons of Mosiah, who had fallen away from the church but repented and became great missionary's.  They became "Instruments in the Lord's" hands in spreading the words of the Savior.  He shared this poem:

                                                 COME TO THE EDGE
                                                 Come to the edge.
                                                 We might fall.
                                                 Come to the edge.
                                                  It's too high!
                                                 Come to the edge!              
                                                 And they came,
                                                 And we pushed,
                                                 And they flew.
                                                                           Christopher Logue

Elder Funk counseled us to cherish the moments of our work, and study the atonement again, and again, and again!  He said our lives will be forever changed by serving missions, and that we will always look back at our mission; and gain strength to face our trials because of our experiences here.

Elder Halstrom turned to Pres. Durrant and asked how many missionaries were here today, he said "There are 249."  He then said:, "The price of taking 249 missionaries out of service to come to this meeting was very great.  Whether the message we receive will be worth the cost, is up to each one of us.  The Holy Spirit is the great teacher.  What we receive depends on how we've prepared our
hearts."

Elder Hanson shared that when he was on his mission they met with a new investigator.  They had wondered about their presentation to him, and what the best approach would be.  As he invited them in and sat down with them, he reached down and took off his leg.  The Elders knew at that point where to begin.  Alma 11:  43-44, The body shall take it's perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored.  Not even one hair shall be lost, but everything restored to it's perfect frame.  He counseled us to "Be aware of our surroundings, and then we will be guided by the spirit."

Elder D. Todd Christofferson was at our Stake Conf. on Sunday and told us:  "The Holy Ghost makes it possible for each of us to serve His children.  It prepares us for ALL we need to do to serve, teach and love others.  Most all of us have an inner yearning to touch others and influence for good.  The church opens up the way for us to satisfy those feelings.  The Lord's spirit is a very personal one, but he wants us to use our personal experiences to touch his children."  (end quote)

He left us with an apostolic blessing:  "There are very hard times ahead".  He blessed us that we may have food enough to eat, and some to share.  He told us to be patient and receptive to the "burning witness" in our hearts so we can endure to the end.

Had a fun experience with Sis. Nelms husband Morris this past week.  I feel a connection with him because of my dad.  I asked him...straight out, "Why aren't you a member of the church?"  He said, "I have a few private issues".   However, he began to open up to me, and we had a nice conversation.  The issues were hurt feelings. We talked about how everyone of us have been hurt at times....but we should never give other people the right, to stop our own eternal progression.

I told him my dad had married in the temple and had raised us in the church, but had not been active.  However, he did everything he could to get us to church, and would have been very unhappy if we had not been married in the temple.  He knew the gospel was true, but he was too stubborn to live it!  I told him that's why he reminds me of my dad! "Bro. Nelms, you're stubborn just like him"!  I told him, "When you die, your are going to be baptized anyway, and you'll have to make the choice there just like you need to here; and think about how much happiness it would bring to your wife and children if you did it here!"  Well, with all that...he didn't get mad, in fact, he came out the door to catch me as I left and said, "Sis. Baxter, thank you for coming.  We both enjoy your visits!"  Maybe just one more little seed was planted in his stubborn heart".

Pres. Durrant has told us we are now going to expand out to another ward.  We will not leave this ward or any of the wonderful people we're working with, but will go out to help others.

I want to close with the following quote from a book by Marvin J. Ballard:
"Reach out to one another with love, for "Charity Never Faileth" (Moroni 7:46).  Many of you sisters may be hurting for one reason or another.  Reach out to those who suffer, listen to their concerns, be worthy of their trust, and always keep their confidences.  Share their burdens.  Teach them, both by precept and by example, about Heavenly Father's plan for His children.  Help them understand our Father's unalterable commitment to the principle of moral agency.  Teach them about the essential part adversity plays in our eternal lives. Take them by the hand and help them to repent, forgive, have faith, endure, or do whatever is needed.  Never forget that the Lord may work a miracle in their lives through you.

I know that if we do this at home, at school, at work, and at church,  the Spirit will guide us, and we will be prompted by that Spirit, and be magnificently motivated to help pollinate the world with the pure love of Christ and His gospel.  And remember, like the honeybee's 1/12 teaspoon of honey provided to the hive in it's lifetime; if we multiply our efforts by tens of thousands, even millions of prayerful efforts to share God's love for His children through Christian service; there will be a compounding effect of good that will bring the Light of Christ to this darkening world.  Bound together, we will bring love and compassion to our own family, and to the lonely, the poor, the broken, and to those of our Heavenly Father's children who are searching for truth and peace." (End of Quote)

This is the perfect description of what I see my missionary calling to be, and also a way to live a beautiful life!  May my small acts of love make a difference!