THEOTUS AND LOLA

This afternoon we had a couple who live in the apartment next to us over for dinner.  Theotus and his wife Lola are in their 80's.  They have a number of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but it was the 62 year-old daughter and a 24 year-old great-grandchild that caught my attention.  They are older than they look.

 An interesting thing about this is how we were able to invite them over.  I (Russell) had been feeling for a couple of weeks like we should get to know them better.  Even though they live close to us, we rarely see them given our schedules.  After coming back from the office one afternoon and praying about it, I decided to just ring their doorbell and ask.  While I felt good about the plan, I was surprised when they didn’t answer the door given their car was in the parking lot.  Having failed at my attempt, Eileen and I changed our clothes and went to the gym.  Upon our return, just as we were approaching our building, Theotus and Lola came out.  The timing was perfect.  We asked and they accepted our invitation.  After entering our apartment, Eileen expressed the obvious; the timing of our meeting was not chance but an answer to prayer.  Now, we need to figure out how to follow-up on our dinner meeting with them.

This week we got news that our replacements have been called.  The Stimpson couple, from McKinney, Texas, will arrive in the later part of January.  Eileen spoke to Sister Stimpson, welcoming her to the mission and briefing her on what the mission health advisor (nurse) role is like here.  Although we have been through this several times before, it still feels a bit odd to get the reminder that our days here are numbered.  Eileen has started telling me things she will miss about being here, and about her concern of not being needed (like she is here) once we return home.  I see that as a good sign that she likes being here and filling the position she has been called to.  Of the five full-time missions we have served, I believe this is her favorite.   

On Friday, Eileen got a call from a young elder telling her his companion was sick and not fully with it cognitively.  After briefly talking to the sick elder, Eileen remembered that the elder’s father was a doctor.  After calling the parents and arranging for the father to talk to his son, Eileen left that conversation to call Missionary Medical to get an ER visit authorized.  She suspected that there was a risk the elder had meningitis, a concern the father expressed to Eileen shortly thereafter.  Eileen told the elders to meet us at the emergency room of the hospital (CenterPoint) here in Independence.  I like to accompany/drive Eileen when she goes as it provides me an opportunity to serve with her, and I can sit with the companion while Eileen goes with the sick elder to be examined.  Fortunately, meningitis was not the diagnosis, but we were still at the ER for four to five hours.  

One interesting thing did happen while the elder’s companion and I were sitting in the waiting room.  A woman, perhaps in her 30’s or 40’s, sometimes it is hard to tell, came to check in.  The security guard came into the waiting room and used a wand metal detector to check her out.  I overheard the admitting nurse say that the woman had only been out of a place, who’s name I did not recognize, for a few days. Centerpoint Medical Center does indeed serve a wide range of clientele.

Our lesson in Priesthood meeting today was taught by a brother that had just recently returned from a family reunion in Hawaii.  He told us that it was the 84^th reunion for his extended family and that next year the reunion would be held in Independence, celebrating 100 years since his great-grandfather was told to, “Move to Zion.”  Brother Fuimaono told the story of how his great-grandfather, while living in Samoa, was told by the Spirit during a tropical storm in 1924 to do something he did not understand.  A year later the family moved to American Samoa and moved into a house next door to an LDS family.  Soon the family was being taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ by missionaries and were baptized that year.  It was only then that Brother Fuimaono's great-grandfather started to understand what “Zion” and the Spirit’s direction meant.  Although the family did not move to the U.S. until decades had passed, and some on to Missouri in 1970, the family did stay true to the faith.  The dependents of that great-grandfather now number over 1,800, most of whom are active members of the Church.

Eileen in a look alike photo with her great grandpa George Q. Cannon. I just forgot to bring my matching hat. He was in prison for polygamy.  

This butterfly landed on our window while driving. 

This is one way to hide your identity. 

I went with the senior missionaries to the Negro Baseball Museum while Russell was at the temple. It was very interesting to see the history of racism in baseball and other sports. 

While we were waiting in the ER waiting room a 30 minute program came on about a restaurant which has delicious hamburgers in SLC.  I have lived in Utah for many years and never seen a hamburger that big.

Russell with the elder in the waiting room of the ER.  Photos used with permission of the elders.

After several hours he looked like he felt so much better. 

FISHERS OF MEN

In Matthew 4:19 we read, “And he saith unto them, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  While the “them” in this instance, was addressed to a few who would become his apostles later, the same invitation is given to each of us by Jesus Christ: to follow Him and share His message.  

As I look at myself and the other full-time missionaries called to the Missouri Independence Mission, it is sometimes easy to forget that lofty calling when dealing with the realities of daily life.  It is easy to become distracted by the immediate but less important things going on around us.  As Eileen and I interact with the young missionaries, addressing issues that can seem to be very trivial, it easy to forget their calling and just repeat to ourselves, “Only six years out of primary.”  Because of the nature of our callings in the mission office, we spend the majority of our time with a minority of the missionaries.  But every once in a while we have an experience that reminded us of who they really are (sons and daughters of our Father in Heaven) and we see the progress they are making.

As the mission nurse, Eileen reviews the missionary recommendation papers of each missionary before they arrive.  On the day they arrive, she also interviews each one with regards to their medical issues and needs.  Most are inconsequential, but a few face challenging obstacles.  With some you wonder how they even got this far in the process.

One such missionary can neither smell or taste.  As such he can’t or doesn’t eat most foods. His papers even noted that he disliked interacting with people.  Eileen and I wondered just how long he would make it on a mission.

On the day after he arrived, I tossed a large bag of potato chips in the back of his new companion’s car, as I thought the new elder was going to need something to eat that night.  When we saw this missionary and his companion a couple of months later at a restaurant with a member family, Eileen took a picture of them and sent it to his mother, who was also worried about how her son would do in the mission field.

With our most recent batch of 25 new missionaries, and after several experienced elders having to go home early, the mission was quite stretched to find trainers for each of the new missionaries.  We were pleasantly surprised to see the elder with the unique eating habits assigned as a trainer.  At the first zone conference following this assignment, Eileen talked to the elder and asked him how things were going. The elder said he was concerned he wasn’t knowledgeable enough to be a trainer. Eileen told him that President Sommerfeldt must have confidence in his abilities. The elder became a little flustered and Eileen knew he was trying to be humble.  He then said, I see how much my new companion is like I was when I first arrived, just afraid to speak to strangers.  In that conversation it was amazing to see the growth and maturity which had occurred since the now senior companion/trainer first arrived in our mission.  It was one of those moments where God reminded us that with Him nothing is impossible.

Last Monday, at our senior missionary FHE dinner, we said goodby to several missionaries who were finishing their missions.  Elder Christiansen, who is known for telling jokes at each of our get-togethers, bore a strong testimony of our Savior, His work and church.  It has been 48 years since we both served our first missions in Indonesia.  Sampai ketemu lagi Penatua!

President and Sister Sommerfeldt presented for FHE on Monday. They told us about themselves, their family and their call to be mission leaders.

Sister Braillier and Elder and Sister Christiansen will be leaving us.

One of the wards did a clothing drive and included the whole stake. They collected clothing for weeks and then had them all organized into sizes and sex.  Over 850 people came to get free toys and clothing.

As the song goes....one of these ankles is not like the other.

While getting my hair done I had 3 calls come in within the first 10 minutes of processing.  By the time my hair was colored I had 7 calls and 4 texts.  Since I never know which call is going to be an emergency I always have to answer. I am basically on call 24/7.  Friday night I didn't pick up a call and the missionary hung up and immediately called back. I assumed it was an emergency and quickly got the call. Turned out it was a missionary with a rash on his foot.

I guess my zone conference presentation on ingrown toenails had an impact. I have had a number of missionaries in the last week contact me to tell me they have one. This missionary had 4 which had to be removed. 

Early morning session at the temple.

STAR SPANGLED BANNER PRACTICE

 

PLAY BALL

Last Tuesday evening, our whole mission had the opportunity to attend a professional baseball game.  The Kansas City Royals were hosting the Boston Red Sox, and it was JustServe Night at The Royals.  Once a season, it is like the Church’s night at the ball game:  the missionaries sing the national anthem;  Elder Gary E. Stevenson threw the First Pitch; and many members of the Church attended.

Last year we arrived just after the game night, and we heard that missionaries singing the national anthem didn't go as well as hoped.  This year more effort was put into practicing and it turned out much better.  The ballpark limited the size of those singing to just 150, which allowed those of us not wishing to sing, or those with voices not beneficial to the effort, to gracefully not participate and just observe.  While watching the game was entertaining, and since no young missionary would miss the opportunity to go (which turned out to be a super-spreader event for Covid in the mission), it was unplanned event related to the singing of the national anthem that made the night memorable for Eileen and I.  

Our seats were near the right field line, not the best seats for watching the game, but actually about the closest for watching the missionaries when they were singing on the field.  Eileen went down to the first row in preparation for taking pictures and a video, where she was asked by a woman seated there if she was the mother of one of the missionaries.  Eileen said she was kind of a mother to 200 of them, then explained that she was the mission nurse.  While waiting for the missionaries to sing, Eileen and the woman, who was there with her husband, started talking.  The couple looked a little rough-around-the edges.  They both had long unkept hair, with baseball caps and sunglasses on.  The woman disclosed to Eileen that they were there incognito to watch their daughter sing in the choir of missionaries.  They had no intention of letting their daughter know they were there as that might be against mission protocol.  But they wanted to see their daughter sing and had driven from Utah for that sole purpose.  Eileen took her pictures and then returned to our seats as the game started.

After an inning or two, Sister Sommerfeldt came by where we were sitting.  Eileen couldn’t help keeping the secret to just the two of us, and got up and discreetly told Sister Sommerfeldt about the parents on the first row.  The two then walked down to the couple and started talking to them.  President then came by and I told him where our wives were and what was going on.  He asked, “They drove all the way from Utah just to see her sing in the choir?”  To which I said it seems so.  He thought about it for just a few seconds, then went and got the young sister missionary and asked her to follow him, as he walked down toward the front row and Sister Sommerfeldt.  Eileen was able to capture the reunion, see the pictures below.  The parents took off their hats, glasses and wigs when confronted with their daughter who initially did not recognize them.

As I watched the events unfold and pondered them during the rest of the game, I couldn’t help but feel a little of the joy the parents and their daughter experienced.  I was grateful President was willing to let them meet.  I then recognized that not only had they been blessed by the unplanned meeting, but that Eileen had been blessed to be a critical part of the event.  It was inspiring to me to see God use Eileen to connect the parents with their daughter.

In the end, The Royals lost the game 5-6.  A young sister missionary and her two parents went their separate ways after enjoying perhaps the best baseball game of their lives.  And I went home grateful to know that God cares about us and can be involved in even the smallest details of our lives.  

Last Sunday afternoon, Sister Creer invited us over for dinner with Dennis and Sondra Cato of the Independence 3^rd Ward.  Brother Cato was released from being the stake president here just a few years ago.  Both Brother and Sister Cato are natives of Independence and grew up as active members of the Community of Christ (formerly know as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (RLDS)).  Brother Cato was one of six elders who on April 6, 1985, formed The Church of Jesus Christ (Zion’s Branch), after separating from the RLDS church due to certain doctrinal changes during the 1970s and 80s, most notably allowing women to be ordained to the priesthood.  Brother and Sister Cato joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints several years later, along with other members of Brother Cato’s family.

Sister Creer invited us and President Dennis Cato and his wife Sondra over for dinner. We had a delightful time listening to their stories of living in Missouri over the years and their conversion from RLDS to LDS.
 

Russell and I at the Royals game prior to its start. We were staring straight into the sun so I finally relented and allowed Russell to buy me a visor. Merchandise is not cheap at the ball field!

Sister Sheffield led our missionaries in singing the National Anthem.  The elders on the very front row performed the anthem in ASL. 

Sister Dow's parents requested a selfie with me.  They drove from Utah and came incognito to the game because they wanted to see their daughter sing. Sister Dow Sr. has blond hair under that wig, Brother Dow is bald and shaved off his beard for the game. In the end President Sommerfeldt allowed the young Sister Dow to come see her parents. It was a huge surprise for all of them. It was a very sweet reunion. 

Elder Stevenson threw out the first pitch and then visited with the missionaries after the first inning. 

It was dollar hotdog night at the stadium.  It seemed like the missionaries enjoying hanging out with each other and eating as much as watching the game.

It was a cool pleasant evening for a ball game. 

I (Eileen) gave a presentation on ingrown toenails at Zone Conference.  I did this because I had missionaries report 11 ingrown toenails within a 24 hour period of time a few weeks ago.  I was surprised at how much the missionaries liked the presentation.  I think they were especially enjoying seeing the nails of their fellow missionaries. It was kind of like a horror show that you can't look away from. 

                                 

Sister Creer and I took out Sister Sheffield and Sister Dennison for dinner to celebrate their birthdays.

I told the sisters "don't put the birthday hat on your head, just make sure it hovers." I didn't  want them to take home any extra remembrances (like lice) with us from the night. 

Part of our senior missionary district. We attended an endowment session while Russell was serving in the session we attended.

INGROWN TOENAILS

THE BITTER AND THE SWEET

In D&C 29:39 we read, “for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet.”  The context of the scripture pertains to Adam and Eve leaving the Garden of Eden and gaining knowledge through this worldly experience that we all go through.  While not always pleasant, our past experiences can help us appreciate more those times when life is good.  This last week, on Tuesday and Wednesday, I (Russell) was reminded of this contrast as I worked with the young missionaries.

Transfers occur every six weeks.  On Tuesday, new missionaries arrive from the MTC (we get most from Provo and a few from Mexico City).  On Wednesday, the new missionaries meet their new companions and a large portion of the other missionaries in the mission get new assignments (locations) and/or companions.  And then on Thursday, the missionaries going home are taken to the airport after having spent their last day with the President and Sister Sommerfeldt going to Adam-ondi-Ahman.

On Tuesday, after they land they are taken to the stake center next to the Kansas City Temple.There they are fed lunch, take pictures at the temple, and are interviewed by both President Sommerfeldt and Eileen.  While Eileen has read their missionary papers closely for medical issues beforehand (and in some cases has even called their parents for clarification), it is here that she first gets to see the missionary/potential patient.  It is interesting how often things just don’t quite get addressed in their missionary papers.  Somehow, things like recent operations, cancer diagnosis, significant emotional issues, necessary medications, etc., just escaped the memories of the missionary, his/her parents and church leaders when they were submitting/being recommended to serve a full-time mission.  Prior to their going to talk with Eileen (Sister Healy to them) they come to see me and I have a checklist of non-medical things we need to get or learn from them.  Last transfer, this was an easy process as we had only three new missionaries; this transfer, we got 25.  It was a sweet experience to meet the new elders and sisters, to feel of their excitement and witness their desire to serve God.

Now that I am no longer the vehicle coordinator, I do not participate (as Eileen does) in a training meeting with the new missionaries on Wednesday before they leave with their new companions While all three days are busy, Wednesday, transfer day, involves the most people in the mission.  So when we got word that several of our missionaries would be returning home on Wednesday (SLC makes the travel arrangements for those required to go home early), I was the only one left available in the office who could take the elders to the airport.  Other than one elder who wanted to talk to me about going to school and possible career choices, it was pretty quiet in the transit van on that trip to the airport.  I felt sad for the elders who had to go home early because of their choices.  But I mourned for their families and loved ones.  I don’t think the elders fully understood the profound change this could end up being in their lives.  I keep praying that they will quickly repent, but recognize that statistically, most will go inactive, which is tragic.

New missionaries for our mission-freshly arrived from the airport. 

Eileen with the missionaries newly arrived from the Mexico MTC. Yes the new sister is very tall and Eileen is very short. The sister played basketball for BYU. 

These sisters just met each other for the first time 5 minutes prior to this photo. They will be companions. Who could guess they would be in matching dresses?

New trainers waiting to meet their trainees.

                                        

The older missionaries created a tunnel for the new missionaries to run through welcoming them to the mission. 

        The ASL Elders practicing signing The Star Spangled Banner.  It was extremely moving.

Sister Sheffield practicing with our missionaries for the Royals game next week where they will be singing the Star Spangled Banner. 

                                     

It has been blistering hot here recently.  I am so grateful for an office and apartment with AC.

If you have to answer calls on Pday you might as well do it by the pool.