OBEDIENCE

Each new missionary to the Missouri Independence Mission (MIM) is taught that we are: (1) a Christ centered mission: (2) a Preach My Gospel (PMG) mission: and (3) an obedient mission.This is the mission culture we strive for in the MIM. The third pillar of that culture is sometimes a challenge.

In Chapter 3: Lesson 4 of PMG, we learn about Becoming Lifelong Disciples of Jesus Christ.One critical part of that process is learning to be obedient to God’s commandments, as given to us through his divinely appointed prophets.  Fortunately, we live in a time when we get more of that direction at least every six months with General Conference.  As missionaries, we have the added benefit of being led by a mission president, through whom we can receive inspired direction specific to our work and needs.

By keeping the commandments and other direction given to us by God’s representatives, we can avoid the consequences of sin and error.  From experience, our own or that of others, we learn that divinely inspired rules do not restrict our freedom; but rather they enhance it, allowing us to more safely navigate the many challenges we face in life.  In a spiritual sense, obedience is doing God’s will, and not pridefully trusting in our own understanding.

This past week, two of our elders went home early.  They chose not to follow the direction that was meant to help keep them safe.  On Halloween, President Sommerfeldt asked all the young missionaries to be back to their apartments by 6:00 PM.  Between having a lot of children running around on the streets in the dark, and some adults participating in activities which make being out more dangerous, President felt it best that the missionaries be in their apartments early that night.  While just not being in by the time you are supposed to be will not get you sent home early, not being in as directed allows you to be in places where you should not be.  And some things done in those circumstances can get you sent home. I (Russell) feel sad for the missionaries and their families.  I know this was not the homecoming they had hoped for.

This past week, our daughter Shefali, who is turning 37 on the 14^th, disclosed on Facebook that she has been diagnosed with cancer.  She told us before that, but we did not want to say anything here until she made the news public.  She is in the process of getting an appointment with an oncologist.  We have been praying that she can get in as soon as possible.  Shefali is about the same age as my mother was when she was first diagnosed with cancer.

On Friday we took Sisters Devashrayee and Tippits, two of our Spanish speaking missionaries, to our favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch.  When our waiter first came to our table to greet us, the sisters, perhaps out of habit, started speaking in Spanish.  A brisk conversation started that I did not understand.  After he left us with the menus, Eileen mentioned to the sisters that if they could get him to let them teach him the Gospel, we would bring them back each week and pay for their meals.  When the waiter came back to get our orders, Sister Devashrayee launched right into a conversation that I could not follow, until they started exchanging telephone numbers. It turns out they learned that the man’s wife also worked at the restaurant and that they would be interested in learning more about the Church.  Which brings up the question, if we take the sisters to dinner at the restaurant while the husband and wife are working, and we talk to them there, is that a bona fide teaching appointment?

Sister Kington and Sister Hyde at a medical appointment.

Sister Kington told me about a miracle which happened the day previously.  She felt prompted to wear these boots while out knocking on doors.  At a trailer park, a big dog came running out to the sisters. The dog bypassed Sister Hyde (who had regular Sunday shoes on) and went and latched on to Sister Kington's boot.  If you look closely you can see where the dog bit through the leather.  She had a bite on her leg but it didn't break the skin.  It would have been much worse had she not felt impressed to wear her boots that morning. 

Sister Devashrayee goes home next transfer.  We have become very close to her and will miss her.  Sister Tippets is the blonde missionary. They are both awesome!

WHEN THE VALUE OF MEDICAL ADVICE EQUALS THAT OF A CRUMBL COOKIE

This fall, like they have done in prior years, Missionary Medical sent out a reminder to the missions to promote getting the missionaries vaccinated against the flu.  Historically, the Missionary Department, of which Missionary Medical is a part, has encouraged future missionaries, under the direction of their individual doctors, to be inoculated for the flu, Covid and a number of other diseases.  In almost all cases, if someone is unwilling to be vaccinated, they will not be assigned to serve outside their home country.

Like last year, Eileen tried to arrange it so the missionaries could be vaccinated at a zone conference.  That way they would not have to go to a pharmacy or doctor on their own.Unfortunately, in order to have someone come and administer the vaccines, you have to guarantee a minimum number of shots to be delivered.  And like last year, there were not enough missionaries willing to get the shot to make that possible.  Less than  a quarter of the young missionaries were willing to be vaccinated.

The decision was made to try and entice missionaries to get their flu shot by offering a Crumbl cookie, at zone conference, to anyone who got inoculated and reported it to Eileen.  At zone conference this week, Eileen handed out three-and-a-half dozen cookies.

While I can understand why someone would not get vaccinated if they have had a bad reaction to a shot previously, or if their doctor advised against it due to their medical situation; I don’t understand why you would not follow the medical advice from a medical doctor and General Authority Seventy who heads Missionary Medical. Or choose not to follow the example of a medical doctor and President of the Church who had his picture posted on the internet of him receiving a Covid shot.  I guess when some raise their hand in sustaining the prophet and other general authorities in conference, maybe it is a qualified sustaining.

This past week, two missionaries, one young and one a senior (we don’t call them “old”), injured themselves but chose to try and work through it rather than seek medical advice.  Fortunately, their companions encouraged them to talk to Eileen. In both cases it turns out that bones had been broken, and in both cases I think the missionaries are now glad they followed Eileen’s advice and went to an orthopedic care center. While our individual missionaries span the range on pain tolerance, these two are on the high tolerance end of the spectrum.                                     

This photo is of an unaltered  photo taken with my phone of a beautiful sunset from our patio.  We have some exquisite sunrises and sunsets here.

                                    

We have only been to Crumbl cookie once previous to this purchase for our missionaries. It was fun to both see how they operate and also to see the excitement each missionary showed who earned a cookie. One sister said getting her flu shot was the best decision she has made on her mission. We hope that is a bit of an exaggeration. 

                                              

Sister Parker testing out the reward for getting her shot.

This elder was also stubborn about going to a dr.  His companion sent me a text regarding the miracles which had occurred related to his injury. It is nice to know that perhaps I can be an influence on missionaries when they are hurt or sick.   Text from companion shown below:

It must be why they pay you the big $!  ( Our Heavenly Parents in the currency of blessings).
Miracle 1 He was wearing his leather shoes
Miracle 2 The elders showed up unsolicited  and gave him a blessing.
Miracle 3 Sister Madsen brought it up at FHE
Miracle 4 Elder Healy was Paying attention and told you ( since I was not allowed)
Miracle 5 Your medical knowledge and psychology to get him to see a Dr.!  Thank you!  The toe is fractured.  But alligned…And beginning to heal.

I nagged this sister to go to the dr repeatedly for several days after a fall on some steps in the rain.  She insisted she was just too busy.  She finally consented to go when I pointed out that her grasp was weak and there was a constant popping noise when she moved her arm. I think she was afraid to call me to tell me I was right. Instead she just sent this photo with the caption saying it was fractured.

These two sisters volunteered to role play at Zone Conference. Later that night she was running a 102 temp.  I told her companion to please take off the blanket and then gave her other advice to help her symptoms.

It was a downpour today at church.  What a great idea these youth had to provide umbrellas at the drop-off point.   

TWO VISITORS

This past week we had two very different visitors, one very unexpected and the other much anticipated.

Wednesday night, actually it was about 1 am on Thursday, I (Russell) was woke by the sound of a knocking on out front door.  I was not sure if it was our door or that of a neighbor’s door, so I just stood in the front room waiting to see if another knock.  While I waited, I checked Eileen’s phone to see if she happened to have received a message from one of the missionaries, but there was nothing since earlier in the evening.  Then another knock, and it was on our door.Fortunately, Eileen was still sleeping through it all.  Independence may have wonderful things planned for it with  Christ’s second coming, but for now it is not one of America’s safer cities.  We hear police sirens often at night.  Then I saw to the side of our front room where the small patio is, the shadow of someone up close to the windows.  We have blinds so he couldn’t see in or me watching him.  I could see his outline clearly enough to see that his baseball cap was on backwards.  Then he moved back towards the front door.  When I heard him try the door handle, I decided I had no choice but to try and scare him off.  I pounded hard on the door and told him that if he didn’t leave that I would call the cops.  I heard him say he was just trying to bring some food to a woman’s name.  I told him he had the wrong apartment and to leave. While my pounding on the door did wake Eileen, she was able to go back asleep.  I however spent the rest of the night waiting to see if the person returned.

Thursday morning, when I left for the gym, I saw a $10 bill slid under the front door.  I figured our visitor must have been a food delivery guy with a bad address and that he had tried to make things better with us by putting some of his tip money under our door.

Thursday evening I went out on the patio to water our hanging plants.  To my surprise I found a plastic bag on our patio floor.  Inside was a carefully prepared meal of homemade tacos.  The plate, small bowl and glass cup were not the kind you would expect the recipient to throw away. Clearly someone was trying to do something nice for a friend, yet whoever delivered the meal didn’t know where the friend lived.

We put the $10 and a note from us into the bag with the food just as it had been delivered, exactly where it had been left behind a short fence, hoping that perhaps the delivery person would recognize their mistake and come back the next night an maybe pick up the food they had mistakenly dropped off at the wrong apartment. Unfortunately, the bag was never picked up.

Yesterday, our mission had a visit from Elder Gong.  Elder Gong was in town for a stake conference and spent Saturday morning meeting with our entire mission.  Between our young full-time missionaries, our young service missionaries, and the full-time senior missionaries we had about 240 missionaries in one chapel.  With Elder and Sister Gong were Elder Bennett (G.A. Seventy and Area President) and Elder Morgan (Area Seventy from the Kansas City metropolitan area).  Elder Morgan was a convert to the Church at age 18 in Independence.  Prior to his conversion he was a member of the RLDS church.

In Elder Gong’s message to us were several points that stood out to me. First, Elder Gong told us we were fulfilling prophecy.  He referenced Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith-History 1:33 which states, “that my name [Joseph Smith] should be had for good and evil amount all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of amount all people.”Elder Gong reminded us that we are part of the missionary effort that is spreading the prophecies message of the restoration, through Joseph Smith, of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.

Elder Gong then reminded us that obedience is the key to freedom (from sin and error).  As I thought about what he was saying, it occurred to me that many times a lack of obedience is due to pride and/or a lack in faith of the source of the commandments/rules.  If one had complete faith in the giver of the commandments, then one would eagerly follow the advice/commandment/rule.  Without full faith in the source of the advice/commandment/rule, we trust in our own understanding or that of the world. 

Elder Gong promised us that “willing” obedience (to God and his commandments) brings joy, that God wants us to be a joyful people, and that joyful obedience brings miracles.  He then pointed out the difference between mere compliance and joyful obedience.  It was a good reminder to me that my compliance with God’s commandments is not all that He wants for me.  God wants me to be happy in my obedience, but to do that I need to abandon my pride and turn my will over to His will.

Kansas City Temple early in the morning as the sun was coming up.

Elder and Sister Elsmore are assigned to the Historic Sites Mission as facility management missionaries. Their grandson was assigned to our mission and arrived this past week. He was put in the apartment right next door to theirs!  Sounds a little too coincidental.  Some shuffling occurred so that he is now at least in a different apartment complex. 

Wednesday night at 1 a.m. Russell heard knocking on the door, then saw the silhouette of someone peering through our blinds. We thought someone was trying to break into our apartment.  Turned out the individual was bringing a meal to someone.  We left it outside for a few days hoping they would come back and pick it up their food and dishes but they never did. It was actually a meal made with a lot of love and care.

This elder's wallet is duct taped together. It only needs to last one more transfer and then he will go home and throw it away.

Newly arrived missionaries this past week. It is sad  to see seasoned missionaries go home, but wonderful to have new arrivals come in. . 

It was tricky to get 245 missionaries all settled for a photo with Elder Gong, but thanks to Sister Sheffield it worked!

Elder Gong visiting with each missionary. It truly left an impression on our missionaries as he ministered to the one. It was a reminder to me (Eileen) of the Savior ministering to the one as he visited the people on the American continent after his resurrection. 

Elder Gong spent quite a while visiting with people in the congregation at our stake conference prior to it starting. It has been 11 years since an apostle came to the Independence stake to visit. Everyone was so excited to see him. People were lined up at the door at 7am. for a 10a.m. meeting. Russell and I watched the meeting remotely from another building. 

A PICTURE SORT OF WEEK

Sunday is when we usually work on our blog. We didn't get the blog done yesterday so it might be more of a picture kind of a week.

We had 3 wonderful elders over to our home last Sunday.  Elder Van De Graff, Elder Smith and Elder Thomason.  We made 4 pounds of salmon for 6 of us. It was obvious that the elders enjoyed the salmon. We had one portion left which went home with them.  (Yes, Elder Thomason is a big guy)

This sister had surgery on Monday.  It was kind of a long day at the hospital.  She said to make sure and put her pre-surgical photo in our blog.  

Elder Draney with another woodchuck he trapped out by the AC units. He is going to send it home and have his dad tan its hide and make a hat out of it. Not sure if he was kidding or not. 

We had an excellent FHE on Monday night with Ryan Daley (shown below) speaking. He owns a very large collection of first edition Books of Mormon, Book of Commandments and even brought a 400 year old King James version of the Bible.  His discussion of the many publications of the Book of Mormon was fascinating. 

                                             

These sisters love each other so much they don't want to be separated at transfers. They said they need each other for emotional support.  They wanted me to tell President that it was "medically necessary" for them to stay together. 

We went with my sister and her friend and some other senior missionaries to Adam ondi Ahman on Saturday.  It is difficult to see but there is a rock called Preachers Rock in the distance. We could hear everything the woman was saying even though we were quite far away.

The flowers at the visitor center were quite beautiful. As it froze this past week, it was a surprise to see them still blooming. 

GENERAL CONFERENCE

Last weekend Eileen and I had the opportunity to watch all five sessions of General Conference.We are blessed to live in a time when we can hear God’s direction to us through His prophet, apostles, and other Church leaders.  I approached this conference hoping to gain insight as to what Eileen and I should do following the completion of our mission here in Missouri.  As I listened to the speakers, I made notes regarding my impressions.  I came away from conference with the clear message that I needed to do a much better job of submitting to the will of God and trusting in Him.  As I looked back over the addresses given, I can see Elder Ulysses Soares’ talk, Aligning Our Will with His, and Elder D.Todd Christofferson’s talk, Burying Our Weapons of Rebellion as being directly on point with that direction to me.  But during the conference, I came away from each session feeling like the message to me from most of the talks was to stop trusting in my own understanding and wanting things “my way,” and just trust in the Lord and submit my will to HIS.

During the past week, I was provided several examples of others putting their trust in the Lord.Two of our young sister missionaries, who are assigned to a YSA branch, have been trying to find young women to teach.  Earlier they had asked Eileen where young single women hangout here in Missouri.  Which of course neither Eileen or I had a clue.  They decided to go to a small local college, set up a booth and try to talk to young coeds about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  When asked them about how well that went, they said they had plenty of interest from young men but not from the young women on campus.  They then described to us what they regarded as a gift/blessing from God in directing their missionary efforts.  They said they usually only get one or two referrals per six week transfer period in their area, and they had just received eight, all for young women.  One of which, they are already talking with about baptism.

Last week a family, both parents and older children, were baptized.  They were from Guatemala, where they had talked to missionaries prior to their immigrating to the U.S.  For some reason they decided to come to Kansas City.  One of our Spanish speaking members, who is an Uber driver, saw them on the side of the road.  He decided to stop and ask them where they were going.  Upon learning that they had no home, he took them to his house and let them stay there until they could begin to get established here.  During that process the parents noticed their host was a member of the church they had met the missionaries from back home.  It did not take long for them to be taught and baptized.  All which started from an Uber driver following a prompting from God.

A week has now gone by since conference.  I’ve been praying to know what God would have me do.  I don’t have any better direction of my thoughts of doing things with family members following our return, and then possibly serving again.  But in just the last 24 hours, Eileen and I have both been impressed that God wants us to do something with Nina, a single mother with four kids.  Exactly what and how, I have no idea.  She and her children need the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His church’s organization in their lives.  It will be interesting to see how this one unfolds.

My 15 year old grand daughter has a wonderful artistic talent. She drew this picture of the SL temple while she watching conference.

A grandson studied maps of the world and made a list of where potential temples might be announced prior to conference. He guessed 10 of the 17 announced which we think is quite remarkable. Maybe someday he will work in the temple department. 

                                

Sister Kington  and Sister Anderson didn't get any females who were interested in their displays at the local college. Lots of males were interested. They said God must have been seen their desire to find young women for the YSA ward, because they recently got 8 referrals. They were very excited.

                                                       

Fungus on the hand. Icky.

The seniors did a service project on Saturday. We did 150 handwritten cards to go with Meals on Wheels dinners for Thanksgiving.

Very cute card with a nice handwritten note written upside down. We won't hire Sister Creer anytime soon to work for Hallmark cards-which incidentally has it's headquarters in Kansas City.

Sister Sheffield came up with the service project.  We hope the cards bring joy to those who can't get out with loved ones on Thanksgiving. 

Our granddaughter Bree is celebrating her 16th birthday this week. We are so grateful for the miracles that have occurred in her life. When she was born, she weighed under 2 pounds and was born without a heartbeat.

This giant woodchuck has made its home underneath the 4 air conditioning units at the office. . Elder Draney put out a trap and caught it this past week.  When someone asked Sister Creer where the woodchuck had been relocated, she replied "I am sure it will be some place heavenly."

It has been quite hot this past week. Our office was getting warmer and warmer. Turns out the AC wasn't working because someone had clipped the copper off of the AC units. We were told they probably got $15 for the copper and it will cost $24,000 to replace.  Bummer. 

THE PASSING OF GURU HUNT

As we serve on missions we meet and serve with other missionaries that we remember for years.  Even though we may never see some of them in person following our mission, the shared experiences seem to create a bond that is not forgotten.  On Friday we learned of the passing of Larry Hunt.  I (Russell) knew him as “Guru” Hunt, he was our primary instructor when I was in the Hawaii Language Training Mission (LTM) in late 1974 and 1975.  Elder Hunt was a member of the first group of six missionaries that entered Indonesia in January 1970.  Following his mission, he attended BYU Hawaii and taught Indonesian at the Hawaii LTM when the first group of missionaries to receive language arrived in early 1974.  While we have met in person only a couple of times since then at missionary reunions, I still have vivid memories of him as he taught us, not only the language but also about the people and country that we were to later serve in.  Little did imagine that less than 40 years later I would be serving there again with Eileen.

Although Elder Hunt was five years older than me, we are close enough in age that his death reminds me of my own mortality.  I would like to think that I have plenty of time to become a better person, to repent and change, as we have been encouraged to do by Church leaders.  I need to do a better job of changing today and not procrastinating.

I am so grateful to know of our Father in Heaven’s eternal plan for us, and for our Savior’s role in that plan.  I am grateful to know that I will someday again see loved ones who have passed on, and that relationships formed here on earth can survive death.

For Eileen, this past week has been both very busy and eventful.  The personal nature of her work makes it hard to appropriately describe fully most of the situations she deals with, but here are few highlights.  She sent one missionary to the ER.  After three hours in the waiting room, the elder asked Eileen if he should give up and go home.  They agreed to give it another half-hour.  Five minutes before the appointed hour, the elder was seen and then released three hours later. Following up on that ER visit, Eileen was able to get some assistance from a previously unavailable source, which was an unexpected blessing.  Another missionary was struggling with her new medication for a serious problem. After a few days of holding on, things settled down and now the missionary loves how she feels with the new medication.  

With each group of new missionaries, Eileen reads through their papers and does follow up calls with the parents if she needs more direction.  It is interesting to see in some of the situations how reality differs from what is noted in the papers.  The overstatement and understatement of problems have both been  issues with some.  And then there are a few situations, where neither the parents, Eileen or the Sommerfeldt’s can see how the missionary will be able to survive in the mission field.  Sometimes they don’t make it, but some do.  And when that success happens, it is wonderful and amazing to watch.  Miracles happen!

Russell has nurtured these flowers through a very hot summer. We love seeing them on our balcony.

 The two dots are not freckles but how long the elder's blood clot is.

We haven't had waffles since our grandkids were here. It seemed like a wonderful way to start the morning prior to the conference sessions. It is such a blessing to be able to hear conference live.

This missionary wiped out the basketball hoop. When asked if he was hanging on the rim he said no.  I think he recognized his mistake and that is why he looks like a little boy who just got in trouble. 

SEPTEMBER'S COURSE CONTINUES

Last week I (Russell) mentioned that September this year was beginning to look a lot like the challenging September & October period last year, during which the young missionaries experienced so many difficult health situations. This week was a continuation of the seemingly seasonal trend with two cases of heart problems, an ovarian cyst, and a blood clot mixed in with the usual less serious medical issues.  For me personally there actually is an upside to this in that I can help Eileen by driving her, and sometimes the young missionaries, to their medical appointments.  I find joy serving with Eileen on a common task.  And as our mission president recently pointed out during a staff meeting, my official call is not as an “Office Missionary” like the others in our office, but as a “Couple Mission Health Advisor” (AKA, assistant to the mission nurse).  At times I see it as justification for sharing my opinions on medical issues.  It is probably safer and more appropriate if I confine my medical role to that of being a driver.

Last Sunday I sent a short email to a friend, Randy Wright, who had recently begun a mission with his wife in Samoa.  I was surprised to get a FaceTime call back that evening (Monday morning for him).  Modern telecommunications are amazing.  I was able to see their apartment, which reminded me of the challenges  missionaries have with housing in some parts of the world.  Missionary life here in Independence is spoiling me, not only do we have good heating and cooling in our apartment, but we can get to a Walmart, Sam’s Club and a Costco within a few minutes drive.  How quickly I forget what life is like for most of the world and just take for granted the comforts of life I enjoy.

I (Eileen) went here for a medical appt. I was bugged by the name of the facility. Couldn't they think of something that doesn't make you feel like you are walking into a nursing home?   I mentioned my suggestion to the nurse and she said "well, it used to be a nursing home."

We took the APs, Elder Hymas and Elder Timpson out for lunch. Elder Hymas returns home next transfer. They have been great APs.

Fancy meeting other missionaries at the doctor's office.  Seven missionaries had doctor appointments just on Thursday.  It is a luxury when I actually get to sleep through the night without missionaries calling.

Saturday the senior missionaries went to the Battle of Lexington State Historic Site.  The site was the location of a Civil War Battle in 1861. A decade prior to the Civil War taking place, a steamer carrying a number of LDS pioneers exploded and 26 pioneers who were on their way to the SL valley were killed. Russell was serving at the temple yesterday and didn't join us.

Prior to serving in Missouri, I never realized the importance the issue of slavery was in this state. This map showing the number of slaves in each county was at the museum. 

It was sobering to read of slaves being sold as property as part of an estate. 

Senior missionaries in front of the Anderson House.  This home was initially owned as a private residence, then it was taken over as a  hospital for those with small pox and requiring amputations. It changed hands from North to South forces 3 times.  There are still bullet holes which can be seen in parts of the building.  The winding staircase in the middle of the home goes up several flights.

Sister Creer and Eileen at the  site of the Battle of Lexington, Sept 18-20, 1861.

This missionary needed to go to the doctor for treatment after receiving 4 yellowjacket stings the previous day.