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.