"Busy" seems to be a word that investigators use often when the missionaries try to make appointments. We have the feeling that it can mean everything from "I'm not interested" to "I really do have something else at that time and can't meet". Anyway, our past week has been BUSY with elder support, visits to less active members, and studying/preparing for teaching assignments.
Elder support mostly had to do with transportation and medical issues. A couple of weeks ago one of the elders was getting out of his car and the window just shattered as he opened the door. It was finally replaced with some additional repairs done on the internal workings that operates the window up and down. We took the elders to the repair shop, inspected the car to make sure everything was in working order, paid the bill and went our way. One of the companionships, who does not have their own car but are dropped off in their area by other elders, found 2 bikes in a shed behind their boarding. Asking around, they found out that these are missionary bikes but hadn't been used by the previous several sets of elders. The bikes looked almost new, so they decided to use them but needed 1 more helmet because they could find only 1 with the bikes. They called us, and luckily, we had a helmet in our garage with the other surplus stuff we have stored there. Off we went to take it to their boarding. The helmet was too small for either elder so, of course, that necessitated a trip to a bike shop. The elders had also found a bike lock which was a cable with a combination link to put it together. It was locked and the sales person at the bike shop there was no way to "detect" what the combination would be. The shop sold the same kind of lock so we were going to buy 2. The instructions said to decide on the combination and set it yourself. Elder Hadley, who was holding the old lock began turning the numbers and--lo and behold--the lock opened! He said that when he heard that the missionaries had selected the combination themselves, he just knew it must be 1830, and it was! We ended up buying only 1 new bike lock. We took the elders back home and left to do our own thing. The next day Elder Hadley called again and said that when they took their bikes to the "garage" (service station) to get air put in their tyres (note the spelling), the attendant put too much in and blew a big hole in the tyre and the inner tube. The force was so powerful that it bent the rim also. We got a small tyre pump that the mission office had sent us, unsolicited, a few posts back (divine inspiration, maybe?) from our garage, picked up the elders, and went back to the same bike shop and purchased a new inner tube, tyre, rim and a repair kit. We took the elders back home and went about our business. The next day Elder Hadley called again and said that when they went to take their bikes to their area the brakes didn't work. We told them to get them fixed, let us know where and when they would be done, and we would meet them to pay the bill. We jokingly told them that if we see their phone number when our phone rings, we won't answer! They were very appreciative of our help, and assured us that they will use the bikes to good advantage to help them be more effecient in their missionary work. Elder Hadley is a hard-working missionary and, before the bike episode, asked for so little from us. He is a good trainer for a greenie, Elder Cobia, from Idaho.
Our medical issues have moved from the physical (although we still get the ocassional call concerning those) to the mental health/depression problems. On Friday, President Egan called about one of our elders who is feeling that others are picking on him and he is discouraged to the point of wanting to go home (He's been out 18 months). Apparently he has had these kinds of feelings since high school. The President advised Dad to talk with the elder and try to give him some help until Monday evening when President Egan has arranged for him to talk via phone to a counselor in SLC. Dad spent the whole District Meeting time (1 and 1/2 hours) talking with the elder, then we invited him and his companion to lunch at our place. After lunch Dad talked to both of them while Mom was invited to go into the other room and study for awhile. When asked how we could help, the elder asked Dad to call him each morning around 8:00, which Dad has done. He has appreciated that, but Dad agrees with the President that he needs professional help.
Sunday began by picking up Cecil (can't pronounce his last name), the preacher of the outdoor church, to take him to church. We thought it best to take him to just a Sacrament Meeting instead of the whole block for his first time. We decided to take him to the MD 2nd Ward so we could focus our entire attention on him instead of being distracted by our concern for the temple prep class in our Ward. Cecil's wife could not come because she was working, but her friend did come with Cecil. Although the entire meeting was in English (which is unusual), they both said that they understood what was said. They speak Xhosa, very little English. She commented on how nice the building is and how beautiful the singing was, and said "They (those who bore testimonies) really believe in God". It was a great meeting to take investigators to0! A newly baptized convert was confirmed and a baby was blessed, so they were able to see 2 ordinances take place. It was a testimony meeting and everything that was said was just right. There was a very good spirit present. The elders from our ward who cover the area where Cecil and the friend live met them after the meeting and made an appointment to go to his house this week. We'll see if anything comes of it.
We were invited to our first DA (dinner appointment) on Sunday evening. We went to the home of former Stake President Van Heerden who is now Ward Mission Leader in the EL 1st Ward, which is the ward where our boarding is. His entire family was there also and we had a nice time. We left an inspirational thought and a prayer before returning home.
This week ended with a shock when we read our email from Bev about Lynn's sudden and unexpected death. Sadness mixed with shock (no other word describes it) are still what we are feeling. Our Heavenly Father's Plan of Salvation, which we teach of and talk of so much as missionaries, has certainly taken on a personal dimension for us. We are grateful and we feel blessed for our knowledge and testimonies of the Atonement and life after this. It is comforting to know that Lynn is having a wonderful reunion with Sharon and Jeff and Grandma and Grandpa Tanner.
So long for now. We enjoy reading your emails and blogs.
Love, MOM and DAD/Grandma and Grandpa A./Stan and Karen
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