Sunday Blog:)

Sunday, November 17th, 2012  

A good quote for this week:  President Brigham Young (1847-1877)  “There is neither man or woman in this Church who is not on a mission.  That mission will last as long as they live, and it is to do good, to promote righteousness, to teach the principles of truth, and to prevail upon themselves and everybody around them to live those principles that they may obtain eternal life”

On that spiritual note, Monday was busy as always with lots of mail.  Tuesday was a very sad day as two missionaries were sent home early; this is not the first time since we arrived here but it always is just really hard for me to accept.  Wednesday the Lord gave me a blessing of encouragement through a request for a teenage girl who had died to be baptized in the temple.  There is no doubt in my mind that he is aware of each of us and all is well.  I think I will place that story at the end of this; it is fairly long.  Wednesday night we cleaned house a little as the Reads, from Roseburg, had called and were coming up to see us and go out to dinner on Friday; I knew we’d be late home on Thursday because of a plan to go to Roseburg and have dinner with Linda, so Wednesday was the night to get stuff done.

Thursday the elders in the office left in the morning to pick up/exchange some of the mission vehicles; Thursday afternoon Dad and I headed for Reedsport with him driving a mission car and me the Prius.  We met two elders there along with a senior couple who had driven the elders to our meeting place, then Dad handed over the vehicle to them; we left some very happy people behind:).  We then drove on to Roseburg, crossing over “Charlotte Creek” on our way:).  We delivered a bicycle rack and a package to the Melrose Ward elders, and then met Linda and her friend Tamra at Sheri’s restuarant for dinner.  Since we are going to be with Charlotte for Thanksgiving I had called her last weekend and suggested meeting a week earlier for a “Thanksgiving” dinner with her.  I thought Shari’s would have turkey dinners as a normal menu choice, but had to settle for a hot turkey sandwich...I had mine with no bread, dad had the bread.  It was a little bit of Thanksgiving - at least had cranberry sauce:).  Linda and her friend had different meals rather than turkey, but that was fine.  We did have pie for dessert!  We stopped at the house and picked up a few things before coming home that night.

Friday morning Dad had a call from the Reads that they would not be able to make it Friday, but would like to come Saturday - which was fine with us.  We had TV dinners that night, since I had nothing planned; which was good because we had eaten too much the night before:)!

I think twice this week we had peanut butter sandwiches for lunch...but not really, because when shopping last week I bought almond butter - actually we made it right at the store & then bought it - for the first time.  I had read that it was healthier than peanut butter, which I really don’t care for anyway.  I have decided that almond butter is quite good - and grinding it up right before buying it was kind of fun.

Next Monday I have my (hopefully last) appointment with the doctor about my foot; all seems to be well although it may take some time for it to feel completely normal.  My heart is continually filled with prayers of gratitude for the ability to use it again:)!

We were happy to hear from Jim, Jr., Christine, Charlotte and John this week, and I even got to talk to Mary for just a few minutes.  Love and miss everyone so much...would like to turn back the clock to the busy days at home with all my children there, but of course that is not part of the Plan.  Jim, Jr. is under a lot of stress at work and would benefit from all remembering him in our prayers.  Christi and Ammon made it to Utah and back for Ammon’s medical appointment and all turned out well for them. Christi has managed to sell a good portion of her “extra” chickens at a reasonable price so the amount of work and cost will decrease. Charlotte and Seth are helping out a young woman and her 2 children by letting them live with them in their home for a while; we look forward to meeting her.  John sounds healthy and well at school and said he liked the cookies I sent him:).  Mary Elizabeth sounded good when I talked with her although she seems to be working a LOT of hours.  Wish I could remember more of all the little details, but don’t.

I will close with my story of the week:

On Wednesday November 8th I received a phone call from a Sister Holly Seable from Grants Pass, with a “sort of” referral which she warned was a “little unusual.”  She told a story of Littia, a girl with whom her son, Keenan, was friends; Littia had apparently been investigating the Church and had reached the point where she wanted to be baptized.  She was only 16 and needed her parents’ permission, but she had not lived with her parents but with her grandparents since babyhood and they had legal guardianship over her.  Her grandparents are Catholic and apparently said no.

On the 17th of October Littia died.  Sister Seable did not give me any details, but said that her son, Keenan, was very unhappy that the grandparents had not given permission for Littia to be baptized.  His mother tried to comfort him and encouraged him to give it some time and that perhaps later that could be done.  Then, without any solicitation, the grandmother called Brother Seable and said they would like Keenan to baptize Littia.  The Seables were unsure of exactly how to proceed and so she was calling the Oregon Eugene Mission office for direction. Unsure myself of exactly how to proceed I called first the Medford Temple and then the Portland Temple, learning that a baptism for Littia would have to wait until one year after the date of her passing.  Then the concern became one of how to share this information with the grandparents.  Sister Seable was feeling strongly that this was a window of opportunity and that perhaps missionaries needed to meet with them, but wanted to discuss it with her husband and son before asking us to do anything.  Littia and her grandparents lived in LaGrande, Oregon - which is not in our mission.  So I said I would wait for their call to let me know what they would like me to do.  

Last weekend I decided to see if I could find an obituary for Littia and/or information about her death and after looking online I did find an obituary from a LaGrande paper.  I also found my heart longing greatly for this contact to be made and a baptism to be the result.  As I pondered about it, the thought came to me that it would be wonderful if a Senior Missionary couple could meet with those grandparents to share this precious truth of the gospel, the baptism of those who have gone before us and how it may be accomplished for their precious granddaughter.  On Monday morning I called back Sister Seable to see if they had talked together and to share my thoughts.  She said they had not had time to discuss it because of outside commitments over the weekend, but she too thought a senior couple would be “perfect.”  She also told me that her husband has said that he had told the grandmother that missionaries would call upon them. So, I called the Idaho Boise mission, making sure that LaGrande was in that mission and I asked if they had any senior couples serving in LaGrande.  The answer was no, they had two sets of young elders serving there. I told them that I thought I would be calling back with a referral, which I ended up doing after talking with Sister Seable again.  Our thought was that perhaps the bishop could go with the elders...or someone else that they felt would be right for this situation. While talking with her this last time, I asked how Littia had died.  She was hesitant to share much and said that she hadn’t really been told exactly what happened.  She did say that Littia had had a hard life, beginning with parents not wanting her when she was born and that her father had recently gotten out of prison and had been bothering her.  So, I decided to move forward without those details.  When I called back the Idaho Boise mission (Monday, November 12th) and talked with the referral secretary and shared all I had found out and the need, she said she would go to work on it.

Today (Wednesday, 14 November, 2012) I had a call from a Brother Royer.  I thought he was calling to give me a referral, but he said no, he had been told that I had a referral for him.  For a moment I did not understand until he said it was something about a young girl who had died.  That, of course, was Littia.

Brother Royer had been called by his stake president and asked to take this referral.  I shared the information with him and our efforts thus far; he shared with me that he and his wife had just returned from a mission in Russia.  Oh my goodness, a senior couple, sent by the Lord to fill this need!  Then, as I was sharing all of the names with spellings, he asked the grandfather’s name and I gave it to him as I had discovered it from the obituary.  He said, “I know him!”  He said they were not close, but he did indeed know him and had had dealings with him.  Oh my goodness, what a coincidence said a sister in the office...to which I replied, this was no coincidence!  The Lord seems to be carefully providing the way for Littia’s baptism...and I cannot help thinking that there is the possibility that this will open up the truths of the gospel to more than Littia.  

Brother Royer has said that he will definitely go to work on this.  I feel so greatly blessed to have been a part of it in a small way and will wait to hear from Brother Royer how it progresses.  Surely the Lord’s hand is in this.  I shared the story with another senior couple serving in Prineville; part of her response was: “Don't you just see the hand print of God all over this experience? How awesome to be a part of this work that transcends the grave.”  Amen.

Here is the obituary that I found for Littia:

Littia May Schwarz, 16, of La Grande passed away on Wednesday, October 17, 2012. Littia was born in Kennewick, WA, on April 24, 1996. Littia was raised by her grandparents, Janet Hume-Schwarz and Lyle Schwarz. Her parents are Jeff Bohnenkamp of Portland, OR and Christine Reveal of Birmingham, AL. Littia attended Cove Kindergarten, Union Elementary, Grande Ronde Academy, La Grande High School and was currently enrolled in Oregon Connections Academy. She loved little children and was so proud to be employed at Mountain Valley Fitness and Health in the child watch center. She also worked at the Potter's House Gallery and Gift Boutique as a web photographer and staff member. Littia was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish in Union, OR. She also worked as a volunteer at the Union County Fair and served at American Legion Auxiliary meals. Her pet project was creating special Christmas trees for Mount Emily Safe Center. Last year it was a purple themed tree. This year, she wanted a rainbow themed tree. Children at the center took her ornaments and decorations home as a special treat during Christmas time. Littia was known for her caring and giving personality. Her friends included small children, her peers and she even touched the hearts of older folks. One of her acts of love for her Great grandfather Henry was to sneak in Oreo cookies at the Alzheimer's nursing home in Olympia, WA. Skateboarding was one of Littia's newest interests. She simply loved the challenge of improving her strength and skills. She had also competed with the La Grande Swim Club since elementary school admiring and working with her mentors and coaches. She played piano since first grade and longed to play her Grandpa Andy's guitar. Littia read a lot, nonfiction and stories. She wrote poetry and worked hard on school work. Two days before she passed, she happily struggled with her grandfather on Emerson's "Self- Reliance." She traveled extensively and as often as she could. From the first thrilling plane ride at age five to Disneyland, to the final car trip with her grandparents to Yellowstone, she squeezed a lifetime of adventure in her life. She loved Paris, but had a special place in her heart for Amsterdam and Anne Frank's home. "The Diary of Anne Frank" at La Grande High School was a very moving experience for her. Littia's favorite place to visit was the Egyptian Rooms at the British Museum in London. It was hard to pry her away from there once she saw and the history of mummies and old culture on the Nile. She is survived by her grandparents, Lyle Schwarz and Janet Hume-Schwarz, her father Jeff Bohnenkamp of Portland, OR, her mother, Christine Reveal, and half-sister, Harleigh Reveal, of Birmingham, AL. Grandmother Laurie McCain of Portland, OR, Great grandparents George and Betty Bohnenkamp of Boise, ID, Aunt Jill VanNattan and cousin Austen VanNattan of Portland, OR. She is also survived by numerous relatives including great aunts, great uncles and cousins. There will be a Rosary on Friday, October 26, 2012 from 6:00-6:15pm followed by a gathering until 8:00pm at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Everyone is invited to stop by and sign the guest book and share memories. A Mass Service will be held on Saturday, October 27, at 10am at the Sacred Heart Church in Union, OR. Friends are welcome to attend. Memorial donations can be made to the Mount Emily Safe Center at 2107 3rd Street, La Grande, OR, to continue her project of providing decorated trees and ornaments for their children. Like children all over our community, she was a gift on loan to all who survive.