Now, this is a week of celebration. In two
days, we can count it as one year to the day when we landed in Milwaukee. It
had been a long trip, and it was cool and rainy. We got to the Mission Home,
and all I wanted to do was find my bed and lie down. Of course, they had dinner
for us, and we met other senior couples in the mission. One of those couples is
still with us (the Carters), but they will leave in September. One couple (the
Booths) left last November, and their replacements (the Barleys) will leave in
October. They only came for the year. The brother is not in good health, and he
came at the request of President Cutler (they served in the Temple together in
Bountiful). Another couple, the Smiths, showed up in April, and I believe they
will be here for 18 months. So, we have good friends to work and play with
while we are in the mission field.
On the 29th of April, Denise allowed
us to come in for a few minutes – just to drop off some stuff we have picked up
for her apartment that was donated by Ward members. At first, she didn’t want
us to come and made up an excuse about not feeling well, but I pressed her to
just let us drop off the stuff. We just wanted to see her to get a feel about
how she was doing. When we got there, her sister was there. I told her she
needed to get her sister out. She is an addict, and she has no intention at
this time of cleaning up her act. She is not good for Denise to be around, and
it worries us that she is there most of the time. We brought in the stuff,
Denise laid down on the couch; the sister’s children were there. Timmy acted
like he didn’t know us. I asked if we could get a hug, and he just passed us
by, but the sister’s little girl came over and asked for a hug. Every time we
see her, she has this look of need about her. She wants love, and she is not
getting it. Denise has told us that the sister has pawned everything she could
get her hands on, and now it is too late to get it back. It includes the
children’s toys. What a shame. Drugs will destroy families! Denise said she had
to keep her sister because she had to help her. We will see who helps who.
On Thursday, I had a doctor’s appointment for
my blood work to be done. It was an early appointment, and may I say how much I
hate needles. I like this doctor though because he doesn’t believe in giving
you anything that you don’t need. Got the blood work done, and hope the
cholesterol is good. I know my sugar is good, it is always low. That is a
blessing, but that cholesterol is a stinker. I was told that it is probably
genetic for me. So, kids, you need to keep an eye out for it.
That afternoon, we had district meeting and
interviews with President Cutler. This is the first time he saw us
individually. Usually, he takes us as a couple. I think we both had good
meetings with him. Craig is so full of ideas about how we can use the materials
we are developing for the festivals to reach more people. We will see where it
goes.
To finish the day, we had Pathway. The new
classes have begun, and that night there was a writing assignment where the
students wrote a love letter to something. One wrote to her shoes, one brother
wrote to ketchup, one to her bed, etc.
They had to read each other’s papers, and there was a lot of laughter going on.
Suggestions were made, and ideas tossed about. We so enjoy working with these
people. They are truly a group a friends.
May came in with a pretty day. We went to the
gym and then over to get our haircuts. We enjoy the stylist; she is funny.
There are no children in her home, but dogs are their babies. We always get to
hear the crazy stories of their little ones at play.
We met with the Smiths later that day to talk
about some ideas for the festival. They are so bright. He is a kind man, but I
get the idea that when he makes a suggestion, he has thought about it a lot and
he expects the rest of us to pay attention. Very knowledgeable in the techy
world, and people oriented. His wife is usually quiet, but I don’t think she
would back down in a fight. We are enjoying working with them.
Many of you may have had a Women’s Conference
(other than General Women’s Conference) within your Wards. Ours was on the 2nd.
There were several lessons; I went to classes on tai che and scripture reading.
We had started out with lunch, and we were given a tag with a colored symbol
for our seating. Of course, I didn’t know the people at my table. These are the
sisters in the North, and we don’t get to work with them very much because
their Stake President doesn’t really need us. At the same time, we are assigned
to a North Ward, but we don’t really interact with the members there because
their Stake Genealogy Director considers her stake off limits to us. She would
not be happy if we tried to teach their members. So, it was really awkward. If
the sister next to me hadn’t talked with me, I’d have sat quietly and listened
to everyone else because they were talking about their pasts together, and I
found no way to interject my craziness. After we went back for cookies for
dessert, I noticed my friend found a seat elsewhere. Man, to be rejected so
bites. Haha I guess we didn’t have as good a relationship
as I was hoping. Afterwards, we went to our classes, and I enjoyed them. I can
see why investigators often find us intimidating and unfriendly. It is easy to
see why they may not want to come back. I know I could have been pushy and
gotten in on things, but there are times when I just feel like the fifth wheel
among the members here. It’s not bad, so I won’t get into it, but the City
Branch was so much more friendly. I miss it.
That afternoon, we set out for Best Buy and
turned in our phones which continually lost our numbers and other information.
I was beginning to hate the fact that it would never do anything we expected.
We feel we got a good deal on our phones. They gave each of us $70 for turning
in our old phones, then we each got $100 for the new contract. We got the new
Galaxy Note. We like that phone. I played all night trying to load up the apps
and restore games, etc. It is really a pain to have to get a new phone. These
better work really well for the next couple of years.
On Sunday, we had two appointments with two different
Wards to talk to their Ward Councils about the Pathway program. Both Wards are
in the same building. We met with the first and waited for 20 minutes for the
next to begin. We had to get back to our regular meeting because Craig was
going to give the Priesthood to Dave Armstrong after Church. The second Ward
did not get out in time for us to get back, so we had to leave and not have the
meeting. Craig has talked with that Bishop since then. They are on track and
very aware of the program.
On Monday, I got to attend a women’s luncheon.
Several of the “older” ladies in a couple of wards meet at a restaurant agreed
upon the month before. We just sit around, eat, and find out about each other.
I can always talk to old ladies. They are so interesting. I went to the
luncheon with Jane Orne, the South Stake Genealogy Director. We love working
with her. The restaurant was down in the country – still within ward
boundaries, but a good 30-40 minute drive. I got to see some country I hadn’t
seen before, and afterwards, she took me to see the lake where she is always
going fishing. They are going to build a house on the lake, or at least that is
what she said; however, I found out that she really means they are going to
remodel a home already on the lake. She and her husband are just down to earth,
and they will help you if at all possible. He buys and sells gold and silver.
He once told Craig that last year he lost several million dollars when gold and
silver tanked. They have a lot of history behind them and by that I mean they
have a lot of family mementos that are displayed all over the house in which they
currently live. They have a antique store/flea-market type business up north.
He is buying storage sheds to rent out. If he can make money on it, he finds a
way. They have about 10-15 old clocks in their living room, the kind that look
like little houses. They are just fun to be around.
That evening we had FHE with the Armstrongs. We
had asked if they wanted to do it, since we don’t have anyone to do it with and
they agreed. I took a pie from Baker’s Square (which are delicious by the way)
and we talked about the Priesthood that he had received and hoped to expel any
misconceptions she may have had. I think it went well. We just want to make
sure she feels part of what is going on, and we weren’t sure how much he knows
since he was inactive for 20 years before coming back. We had a good time, and
we asked what they would like to discuss the next Monday. He had been reading
the Beatitudes, and he had some questions. So that is our agenda next week.
On Tuesday, we met at Jane’s with Elder and
Sister Smith to discuss ideas that Elder Smith had come up with on the
festivals and how they can contribute. When we talked with them last week, I
suggested that we needed to involve Jane because she was really in charge of
the festivals. So, we got together, Elder Smith presented some ideas, and we
are off. There are so many possibilities that it is amazing. Elder Smith is
very talented, and he had a story board and the bear bones for a video that can
be used to introduce Family Search. We are very impressed. We will meet again
after talking, and he will have proceeded to develop the video in more detail.
Jane and I will do some scripting for some of the talking points on Thursday
evening after Pathway.
Our first week in May. The weather continues to
tease us, one day cold and windy, the next sunny and windy, and then sunny and
warm. We love it.
Our scripture for May is Doctrine and Covenants
67:10:
And again, verily I say unto you that it is
your privilege, and a promise I give unto you that have
been ordained unto this ministry,
that inasmuch as you strip yourselves from jealousies and fears,
and humble yourselves before me, for
ye are not sufficiently humble, the veil shall be rent and you
shall see me and know that I am –
not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual.
Elder and
Sister Lenhard
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