I know we can't complain about weather here because it really is like our springs but it is Tennessee winter. There is somethings about January that just goes on forever to me. So in a few more days we get to say hello to February. We have a slower week this week with no travel that we know of. We had zone conference last and part of this week. The days we didn't have zone conference dad traveled back to Hendersonville to help fix a dryer and found it really needed to be replaced so ended up buying a new dryer. I traveled back to Chattanooga with the housing sister that took over Sister Simes place. Her name is Sister Coburn. We are looking for a new apartments for a senior couple that is coming from Idaho Falls to the mission. We don't know them, their names are the Peterson's. They will serve in YSA branch in Chattanooga. I think he is excited -her not so much.
So we tried to find a nice place. It really is a nice apartment complex it is very new and has lots of amenities that will help them support and make fun activites with the YSA people. They have two pools and big patio's and BBQ about 6 and a large theather room conference room and pool table and a kitchen and party room in the club house. So in the next few weeks we will be furnishing this apartment for this senior couple. We are also trying to replace some beds throughout the mission because some of the beds are old.
On Monday's we always go to a FHE with a couple that hold it at their home. It is a struggling little group but we are finally starting to get some interest from some regulars. This makes us feel good because we feel it fits a need for some of our single older adults that have no family or social connection than church with the ward. We played a game Monday that was cute and fun. It is something we have never seen but some of you might have. You take flour pack into a tupperware dish that is a little high and turn it upside down to make a flour tower. You set a dime on top and a table knife at the side and everyone takes a swip at the flour until the tower falls with the dime on top and then if you are the one holding the knife you get to retrive the dime with your teeth. Well guess
who got the special priviledge. (see picture)
 |
| Sister Ellis and Barfield |
The zone conference on Friday was in Cookeville which is almost to Nashville so we went to the temple Friday early evening and then stayed with our Nashville friends the Lamberts that night and came home on Saturday by way of Sparta and Crossville and did missionary apartment inspections. This is fun because we get to know the misionaries better and they (like any kid) want to get a celestial housing award which means they get to have special candy bars and their picture in the newsletter. This maybe something you could do in your own homes to get your children to keep up with their rooms and to be helpers in their jobs or chores they have for the week.
It is amazing to me that so few kids really know how to clean. They thought they had cleaned the sink in the bathroom but they had not used a nice soft scrubby pad to get hard water and soap scum off so it felt dirty. The minute you use the right stuff they could feel the difference in how clean the sink felt. They cleaned under the stove plates but not around the edges of the stove plates after you lift them up. These Elders and Sisters did a real good job but there were a few things that they just forgt or didn't know how to clean.
I try really hard to hope that my missionary boys were not airheads in cleaning their apartments. I hope I taught them somethings. Sister Griffin said when the AP's were using the mission home laundry space month after month they would come do their clothes but she never saw their sheets. So she asked them about it and they said, "Oh are we suppose to wash our sheets!!!!"
So mothers of our future missionaries let them know how to clean and do laundry more than just once in their preparation for missions.
When we got home from our temple week end we watched a show that Amy suggested we rent from amazon. It is called Greater and we really liked it. So if you have not seen it, it is good.
We feel blessed to have so many good experiences with good people. We were in a very busy bakery on Saturday morning in Franklin TN. Just close to the temple. Their were all kinds of people eating breakfast picking up breads and pasteries. We asked about how popular it was and was it that way everday. The lady said yes but we are closed on Sunday. I then said we love businesses that close on Sunday and like to support those places. She asked where we were from we told her where and why we were in TN. I then gave her a pass along card. Just from a statement that the business was closed on Sunday. I think it is easy to find ways to share something of the gospel. It can be something that your belief has in common with their belief. When you find that capitalize on it. Find out why they feel that way and how they were taught. We didn't have that opportuity with the lady because she was so busy but she took our card and thanked us sincerely.
Another missionary experience came the monring of zone conference. We pulled off the freeway and had a little time to spare so I saw Krispy Kreme doughshop and said to dad lets get doughnuts for the missionaries this morning. So Dad went into the shop he came back and told me that as he was waited on, the young lady looked at his badge brightened and said, "I use to go to that church". Dad said, "Use too?' He asked her why she was not going anymore after he heard her answers he asked her for her name and phone and address so the missionaries could contact her and meet with her. She was willing and gave him the info. We decided that we were suppose to go get doughnuts. We almost didn't then decided to.
Life in the mission field is good. We get panic attacks once in awhile because we see the time going quickly now. Our mission president and his wife have already had contact with the new mission president coming. And they have announced it to the missionaries. it is really amazing how things just keep going.
The Lord is certainly in control because it is rolling like a stone cut out of the mountain and it is gaining speed. We send our love to all of you. Be good missionaries! Pray for all the missionaries but especially yourselves to have opportuinites to share something of your beliefs.
Love Mom Grandma and Sister Christensen
 |
| Nashville Temple |
No comments:
Post a Comment