Four and a Half Months Later…

 Somehow with writing a weekly newsletter, writing in my personal journal and all the work in the mission office, I never have gotten around to working on this blog.  Since it is my pictorial personal history, I decided I should share something of our lives over these past months of the mission.

Although our time in Salt Lake was wonderful in many ways, we were extremely excited to finally be on our way to Peru, with 4 50-pound suitcases, 2 heavy carry-ones and 2 ‘personal items’ we were definitely NOT traveling light.

But we were traveling happy!

Salt Lake to Atlanta - 3 1/2 hours

Atlanta to Lima  - 6 hours and 45 minutes

Lima to Piura - 1 1/2 hours 

What a great greeting party!

On the left, President and Sister Van Alfen who are from our Stake in Eagle.  We didn’t know them before but quickly have learned to love them and their spiritual insights and leadership.

Next the two Assistants to the President.  Since they live in the apartment below the Mission Office, we get to know them well. They are outstanding young men and it is easy to love them.

Then Hermana Malpica who is a dynamo!  Originally from Peru, she has lived for 40 years in the US so she is fluent in both Spanish and English.  She handles all the travel and visa requirements for the missionaries.  And also arranges weddings.  That may sound strange but because of the complications and expense of getting legally married, many people live together for years and raise a family. When our missionaries teach them the gospel, they cannot be baptized until they are officially married.  Hermana Malpica does the leg work to make that happen. And it is not a trivial assignment.

The other ‘senior couple’ is the Nyes.  Interestingly they are from Meridian, Idaho.  They are very young to be considered senior missionaries.  When their youngest child left on her mission, they decided to serve also.  When they go home they will go back to work until they are officially retirement age.  Hermana Nye is the mission health advisor.  She spends her time helping the missionaries stay healthy, gives medical advice and also arranges their care if they need to go to the doctor.  She is a great mix of a caring mom and a no nonsense nurse.  The missionaries love her. Elder Nye is a pharmacist so he is a great help to his wife.  Besides that he is a super hard worker, willing to tackle any problem to help the mission, and capable of doing almost anything.  He orders supplies for the missionaries to use in their teaching, manages the office, handles packages, technology, various ‘special projects’ for the Mission Leaders….and probably a whole lot of things we don’t even know about. 

The other two young elders have been the ‘office elders’.  The one behind Hermana Malpica has been handling ‘technology’ and the one on the end has been doing finance and housing.  It took both of us to replace him.  In the language of the mission, he is our Dad, since he was our trainer.  Elder Von is brilliant and created all sorts of programs that have made our lives easier.  He stayed in the office to train us for about 6 weeks.  President Van Alfen was happy that we came so that these young missionaries could go out and teach the gospel and invite people to come to Christ.  

You are familiar with the saying, “It takes a a village”.  That phrase definitely applies to a mission.  There is so much that goes on behind the scenes to keep the missionaries healthy, living in safe and clean apartments, with money on their debit cards, necessary travel arranged, teaching supplies in the right places, phones working correctly…..you get the idea.  I am glad we get to be a small part of all of this.

Music & the Spoken Word

One of the ‘perks’ of our bonus mission at the Church Headquarters is that we can just walk across the street and attend a broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word.  If you haven't heard of it, here’s a brief introduction.  

“For more than nine decades, nearly the lifetime of radio, The Tabernacle Choir has presented a weekly program — Music & the Spoken Word — without interruption, giving voice to peace, hope, inspiration and the goodness of God. No other broadcast can claim such a heritage.The first broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word was on a summer afternoon, July 15, 1919.  Today, 96 years later, it is the longest continuous weekly network broadcast.  In a world so noisy and full of distraction, this program continues as a welcome reprieve, fulfilling through word and song our hope expressed each Sunday: “May peace be with you this day and always.”

The amazing talents and spirit that fills the Tabernacle each Sunday morning during the taping of the 30 minutes broadcast is a perfect way to start our Sabbath day.

I thought I would share a few tidbits from the  ‘spoken words’ we’ve enjoyed over the last weeks.

I wish I could share the music with you but it is readily available on YouTube.

“Kindness is a lovely force but it can only be powered by people.  For all our magical gadgets, no appliances, instrument, apparatus or device can extend kindness to another human being.  That power is vested only in people. “ Anne O

“So what’s in a name?  When it comes to the name of Jesus Christ, everything.  His titles and names remind us of His divine role in our lives-bringing us hope, healing, transformation, and salvation.  He is our Savior. He is our Redeemer. He is our Christ.”

‘The individual piece and stitches of our service to others may appear small and insignificant.  But a tapestry could never be called beautiful without the thousands of individual stitches by which it was made.  ‘Great things are not done by impulse,’ said Vincent Van Gogh, ‘But by a series of small things brought together.”

“Jesus Christ laid down His life for you and me, His friends.  And it’s this great sacrifice-this greater love-that is known as the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  His atonement includes His suffering, death, and Resurrection, which together makes it possible for us to return home to God and to receive heavenly help along the way.

The Savior’s love is more powerful than our biggest mistakes.  Because of His atonement, we can repent and begin anew.  

Jesus’s love is stronger than our deepest sorrow, depression, and even our most vexing anxieties.  Because of His Atonement, we can find peace and hope.”

‘The pace of life has changed-yes. But not the purpose or the principles. Let no one be deceived about flexibility as to fundamental principles. We cannot afford to be flexible in terms or honesty.  We cannot afford to be flexible in matters of virtue, old fashioned as the word may seem.  Flexibility must not mean setting aside considerate manners, or sound morals, or honorable obligations-or setting aside the commandments or tampering with the basic laws of life……to change the superstructure-the facing and the fashions- is one thing, but to tamper with the foundations is another…..the age old, God given rules of honesty, morality, responsibility….and even the inner voice called conscience are still what they have always were, no matter how times have changed, no matter how modern we feel, no matter how flexible other things may be.”

“It is life’s challenges, the weight, the strain, and the struggle, that true inner strength is forged. May we discover that the quiet work of building inner strength has the power to transform us and lift us and inspire those around us.”

“Nearly 600 years ago, Thomas á Kempis, in his book, The Imitation of Christ, wrote: ‘Love is an excellent thing….It bears a burden without being weighted and renders sweet all that is bitter…..Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger or higher or wider, nothing is more pleasant, nothing fuller’. God is a God of love and we can feel the power of His love as we exercise faith and trust in Him..  Thee is power in love - it is God’s power.  Power that can change our lives, power that can change the world.”

It was raining in Salt Lake City this morning so we were very happy that Music and The Spoken Word is now being broadcast from the Conference Center which is right across the street from our apartment.  During the summer when the number of tourists in Salt Lake City swells, the larger and more comfortable Conference Center is better equipped to handle the crowds. It’s only about 2 blocks to the Tabernacle but in the rain it was nice to only walk 1 block.

I was particularly touched by both the music and the spoken word this morning.

“Faith is that quality of trust which prevents the uncertainty of the future from destroying the opportunities of the present-which brings peace in the midst of confusion, and sleep even when some problems are unsolved.  Faith is trust, belief, conviction, a force in the lives of all balanced men, and it leaves an awful emptiness when it dies or departs.”

“And thus it is with prayer.  We may not know quite how it works, but we don’t need to. The Lord has not burdened us with complicated formulas.  He has made the process of prayer so simple that a humble child on his knees can make it work.  The only requirements are that out desires be righteous and our supplication to be sincere.  The Lord stands ever anxious to assist us.”

“Knowing that God’s love for us is real and unchanging can calm the storms of life and bring meaning amid uncertainly.  God will not forget us or forsake us.  In this we have peace - a peace that comes from knowing that the world and its affairs remains in the loving and all powerful hands of Him who created it in the beginning.”

Today to celebrate Memorial Day, the choir sang several patriotic songs.

I loved listening to

America The Beautiful

Shenandoah

God Bless America.

This photo taken by our son John seemed appropriate to include.

“In a way we are each writing our own epitaphs today.  Our remembered acts may include a few things we did in life, but our lives will in large part be remembered for how we did those things.  What we do matters, but how we do it matters even more.”

“He who suffered the most, Jesus Christ, always reached outward, relieving the suffering of those around Him.  His perfect character enables His perfect love to extend to each of us always.”

Our last ‘Music and the Spoken Word’ was memorable!

First, our son Scott surprised us with a visit.  I don’t have the words to explain how great it was to hug my ‘baby’.

Plus we happened to see our friends from Lake Oswego - Mary and Dave.  They recently moved from Oregon and are ‘grandparents jumping’ between Texas and Utah.  It was great to catch up with them.

The last ‘spoken words’ didn’t disappoint either and seemed appropriate for us as we start the next mission adventure.

“As we reach for the Savior with our whole soul, we find that ‘His arms are always open, extended, stretched out, and encircling. They are described as mighty and holy, arms of mercy, arms of safety, arms of love, ‘lengthened out all the day long’.  Indeed when we spiritually stretch towards Him with all the might we can muster, the Savior ‘reaches our reaching’”

Serving a mission in Peru will cause us to do a lot of ‘reaching’ for the Savior.  And I know that He will always be there reaching out for us with love, mercy, forgiveness and strength.

At Long Last - We have visas!

 We left Boise to serve our mission on February 27th and went into the MTC on March 3rd. During our 2nd week in the MTC, we learned that our visas would not arrive in time for our planned March 14th departure and we were temporarily reassigned to the Utah Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission.  Our service here began on 17th. After training we were assigned to the Family Search Library where we have been happily learning and serving for the last 85 days.  The visas were finally issued on June 4th and we are traveling to Piura, Peru tomorrow.  Our ‘bonus mission’ has blessed our lives with new friends and many testimony strengthening experiences.  We are truly blessed!

Samburu Secondary School Yearbook

 As a part of our training at the Family Search Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, we were introduced to the extensive collection of genealogical materials available. The goal of the library is to help guests trace their own family history. In order to assist guests we needed to learn how to search and access the:  

3.7 million rolls of microfilmed genealogical records

190,000 microfiche

340,000 books, serials, and other formats

125,000 periodicals

3,725 electronic sources including subscriptions to the major genealogical websites

Learning how to use the on-line search engine, which made helping guests a lot easier.

During our on-line training we were asked questions to help us learn how to search.   For example we might be asked, ‘How would you help a guest who wanted to search for an ancestor in Manchester, England in 1880?’  Then we used the search engine to find all the available resources.

As I was going through the required training, I was surprised when this question came up.

“What resources does the library have on Samburu, Kenya?”

I know Samburu, Kenya. I’ve been to Samburu many times.  Very interesting question! When I searched in the on-line catalogue, this was the only resource for Samburu:

‘Samburu Secondary School, Coast Province, Kenya, Africa,Yearbook’

Now I was intrigued!  I know people who attended Samburu Secondary School.

Would any of them be included in the yearbook?

I excitedly found the book and learned that it was not a traditional yearbook in the style we think of in the US.  In 2003, volunteers from Choice Humanitarian interviewed each student and teacher at Samburu Secondary School to create a record with the names of each student, his or her parents and siblings, as well as information about each student’s life and goals for the future. 

And I did know one of the students featured in the book.

Kalimbo Mkala

I met him way back in 2012, the first time I went to Kenya.

He’s the young man in the middle.

Here is the information about Kalimbo included in the book.

Kalimbo’s dream of being a lawyer changed to a dream of being a CPA.  And he did receive a degree in accounting and is now a successful CPA with his own business.

What is most impressive about Kalimbo is that, after receiving help from Kenya Keys to achieve his educational dreams, he has started his own education-based non-profit.  The goal of this organization is to help children with disabilities get an education.

So many children who had been overlooked are now in school because of Kalimbo’s efforts.

Among all the millions of names in the books at the Family Search Library, I am glad that I found one book that highlighted the beginnings of this remarkable man.

Eating Well

 The cafeteria at the MTC!  A place to make new friends who are also trying their best to serve our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ.  

We talked with missionaries going to places as diverse as Lubbock, Texas and Busan, Korea.  

From Australia to Norway to Ethiopia to the Philippines to Belgium.

I loved every minute.

Of the 1000 missionaries who were in the MtC with us, about 120 or so were ‘senior couples’ like us.  The rest were young 18, 19, and 20 year olds.  What would you do if you had to feed that many young people, the majority of whom are young men?

Load ‘em up with carbs!  Right?

True but they also had salad bars and rice bowels and fresh fruit and lots of healthy food to assure that nutritional choices were available.  

The choices were nutritious enough to keep us all healthy and sweet enough to keep us happy. I ate more doughnuts and desserts than I’ve eaten in the last year.  

Nothing beats a BYU mint brownie!

George and I enjoyed a Diet Coke, caffeine free almost every day. 

All this yummy food was very economical as well.. 

And it was a treat NOT  to have to cook or do dishes.  

Happy, well fed missionaries!

Conference April 2025

 We live directly across the street from the Conference Center so we watched the preparations all last week.  Everything was given a spring refresh, from the flower beds to the railings.  One perk of being at the Headquarters Mission is that we did get tickets for conference.  What a magnificent building! It seats 21,000 people and as far as I could tell was completely full.

We were way up in the 2nd balcony but the view was still very good.  And of course they also have jumbo TV’s so that you can really see the speakers’ faces.

The spirit was strong and testified to me of the divine calling of each of these men and women.

My faith in my Savior was strengthened and my resolve to serve Him, on this mission, and as long as I live grew.

A few of my favorite quotes from the 5 conference sessions, 

Each April and again in October, members of our church and others are blessed to listen to words of council and encouragement from our church leaders.  When we are home in Idaho, we watch on TV. Congregation around the world make arrangements for their members to participate by satellite or internet. It truly is a time of the outpouring of the spirit.

This year our beloved prophet, Russel M Nelson, who will be 101 years old in September, attended the last session.  His message was prerecorded but his presence was a blessing to all who attended or who listened at home or at a church building.

Hopefully in October we will be watching in Peru.

Hanging Out in Salt Lake

 We are making the most of our time as ‘Visa Waiters’ or as the Mission President here at the Utah Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission likes to call us, ‘Visa Workers’.

Enjoying the last snow we are likely to see for the next 18 months.

I love it!

Shopping by bus

I have to remind myself that I don’t need to buy the super jumbo packs to try and save money.

We have to carry it all back to the apartment and hopefully we won’t be here very long.

Honestly, it hasn’t been bad!

The Utah TRAX system is handy too.  We made a trip to Walmart on the train.

We discovered that a lot of people work late in the church office building.

It’s the tall building in the back.

Photo taken at 8:00 on a Friday night.

Here is my handsome companion by the Conference Center.

I am lucky to have the same companion for my whole mission.

No companion changes allowed!

We enjoyed a performance of ‘The Lamb of God’ which was performed by an interfaith choir and symphony.  Sixteen congregations from Baptist to Catholic had participants in the performance which told the story of the last days of the Savior’s life through beautiful music.

It was held in the historic Tabernacle on Temple Square.

Our hearts were touched and our faith in Jesus strengthened.

On Sunday morning we again went to the Tabernacle to hear a live broadcast of ‘Music and the Spoken Word’.  This weekly devotional program is one of the longest running radio programs in the world, having aired every week since July 15, 1929. 

Such beautiful, faith prompting music.

We loved it!

Last night I invited the other Visa Waiters to join us for dinner.  It wasn’t your normal dinner party.  Since each missionary apartment is furnished with just enough for 2 people, my invitation included the unusual request, ‘come for dinner and bring your own plate, bowl, chair and someone needs to bring their table.’  We all have basically the same supplies so everyone understood.

And since they are our neighbors in the same hallway it wasn’t too awkward.

By me is Elder Flowers and sitting in front of him, his wife, Sister Flowers. They are from Texas and are waiting for a visa to Peru just like us. Next Elder Coleman and his wife in the blue shirt in front of him. They are from Vermont and have been waiting for 2 months for a visa to go to Jamaica.  The last couple are Elder and Sister Jané, also from Texas and waiting to go to Spain to that most wonderful of cities BARCELONA!

Today the Flowers and the Janés were notified that their visas had arrived.

Happy Day for them!

We are still waiting!

And trying to do it patiently!