052 Tuesday to Tuesday (April 15-21, 2015)

We have been blessed with the new Senior Couple.  Elder Smith is not only an upper HP guy, he is really good with computers. I guess he must have something to do with marketing HP because he has great ideas on how we can better market Family Search at the festivals. We met with Jane Orne (Stake Genealogy Director) and talked about how we can do more than we have before. I don’t think he understood why we had to go to her to present any ideas or why we needed her input, but we had to make sure he understood that we can’t just do things on our own. He is going to make a presentation to show at the festival and use it to get the attention of the visitors. We are excited about this opportunity. Jane is really laid back and is not in a hurry, so Elder Smith was a little shocked that she suggested we not meet again until May 5^th. He has done this kind of stuff in his job, so he knows how long it takes to get something put together and all the kinks worked out before the festival. We left the meeting looking forward to our next meeting.

Thursday found us again inspecting one apartment holding Elders and one holding Sisters. It was fun because we got to go to the Peewaukee area to visit the sisters. Craig wasn’t feeling well toward the end, and I usually go into the Sisters apartment by myself. I ran through their apartment so fast I think they were wondering what in the world I was doing. On the way home, we stopped at Costco. We had gotten two new tires from Sears in March but had found nails in the other two tires and decided we would get Costco to do them. They were much cheaper, thank goodness, and we were told (Craig saw it on the computer) that the ones we had gotten from Sears was not recommended for our Honda. So they rotated them to the front and put the newest ones on the back. Whatever! The ride is much smoother now. We are astonished that we are getting 32-34 miles a gallon out of the car, and we just hit 100,000 miles. We have put on over 25,000 since we got here.

That night we did not have Pathway, and it was a treat to be able to stay at home. Course, there is always genealogy to do, and I’ve started making copies of all the stuff we are collecting here so I can throw away the paper and not take it home. It is very liberating to do that.

Friday, we had paperwork to put together and just took it easy. We don’t have many days that we can say, wow, there is nothing on our schedule. 

Barefoot and all, just relaxing and taking it easy.

On Saturday, we planned to go to the Milwaukee Genealogy Workshop, but did not make it. It was cold and rainy, and Craig did not feel well so we stayed inside.

Sunday saw us at Church with the Armstrongs. We decided we would try to begin having FHE with them each week. They said they would like that, so we planned the program and dessert. We will have to work it so that they can also plan a program themselves. We did get in touch with Denise, and she said we could go over in the afternoon on Monday.

On Monday, we started out at the gym. I love to exercise. It helps my knees to feel better. I like to think it helps my stomach to get smaller, but then I look down and realize it is still there. Shouldn’t that have dropped off at the corner somewhere? Why does it hang around?

Denise contacted us and told us we couldn’t come because she didn’t feel well. I had to insist on going because we still had stuff in our car that we had been carrying around for a while. She didn’t seem to like it, but she consented to our going over. When we got there, she acted sick and after opening the door laid on the couch and let us bring in the stuff. Then we asked if she needed a blessing, but she said no. Her sister, Christine, was there. I told Denise she needed to send her sister home, but she says she has to take care of her. We feel she will regret that decision.

That night we had FHE with the Armstrongs. She doesn’t get off work until 6:00, and he then goes and gets her. We were meeting at 7:30, and we can’t stay long because they are tired. We had bought a pie from a place called Baker’s Square. Their pies are to die for, and we have sampled just about every one they make. Craig gave a short lesson, and we tried to get them to help with the lesson. They really seemed to like it. We won’t be available next week because we are going to Texas for Jackson’s birthday. We are getting excited and know this week is going to drag by. When we get back though, we will have FHE every week with them if possible.

On Tuesday, we had District Meeting. We love the missionaries that we meet with, and for the most part, we are so impressed with their leadership. We do (or at least I) see a somewhat more lax attitude with this group we have now. There is one missionary in particular, who really makes us scratch our heads with wonder that he is still here. He does not portray an obedient attitude. Several times we feel he embellishes what he does to the point that it is fantastical. There have been times when we have caught the other missionaries rolling their eyes when he talks. He only has two transfers left (12 weeks), so we hope he will catch the vision and do better.
In studying, I found a quote from President Benson: "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power." I really like that. If  we are obedient because we realize it will allow us to become more like our Father in Heaven, and we will have the power to do His work.

On Thursday of this week, I will finish my first time reading the Book of Mormon for this year. I have read it fast this time, and I’ve tried to concentrate on the book like it is a history. Know the facts and the action so I can get a better grasp of what is happening when, where, and by whom.  I have benefited from this reading as I picked up things I hadn’t before. For example, I have read this book over and over, and this is the first time that I realized that there were only 200 years after Christ’s visit to the Americas before the Church began to tear itself apart as there were “ites” again. After 4^th Nephi, basically, all the fighting and everything is over. Mormon then comes in to bring it together, and then Ether reaches back in history to tie up loose ends. When I start reading again, it will be with a different method in mind. I don’t know what it will be as at this time, but it will be different.

Our scripture for this month is 2 Nephi 11:5

     And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul 
     delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from 
     death.

Elder and Sister Lenhard