Closing in on the end....

In His Own Time, in His Own Way Posted: 28 Oct 2013 06:00 AM PDT "Going forward with our service and work is an important way to qualify for revelation. In my study of the scriptures I have noted that most revelation to the children of God comes when they are on the move, not when they are sitting back in their habitations waiting for the Lord to tell them the first step to take." —Dallin H. Oaks, "In His Own Time, in His Own Way" Topics: Revelation, Spiritual Self-reliance

I am trying very much to be "on the move" instead of just waiting for the Lord to show me where to move...but sometimes it seems quite hard:).  Hopefully going forward with our service and work will qualify us for that revelation!

Mission Notes....

Monday:  Christine sent us pictures yesterday but I got them after I had sent out the blog, so will include them in this one.  Becca's birthday:) plus pictures of their emerging new house:).  Big changes! Beautiful Becca on her 8th Birthday:)!!! I am not going to comment on the house pictures...they stand on their own!  Looking forward to the next ones!

Continuing with Monday, it was pretty normal, less noisey than last week because our two nurses were gone most of the day.  They went up to Corvallis with an elder who had to have surgery on his knee - a surgery which sounds like it went very well and he should have a good recovery.  Normally a missionary would be sent home for such a procedure and then return to the mission when healed... but it just happens that his parents are serving a mission as well - in Finland.  So that made returning home not really an option:).

We left the office a little before 5 to take the mail to the post office and then went to Winco to do a little grocery shopping.  I got to try out my Travel Scoot - and it worked quite well.  I practiced taking it out and setting it up myself; I am sure that if I do that more it will be even easier and faster.  After Winco dad wanted to get gas at Fred Myer, so I decided to go in there while he was getting gas and pick up just a couple of things I had noted in their ad last week.  I decided to just use their electric cart - and it worked fine... until I got to the frozen food section, where it gradually lost its speed and its ability to move forward until I finally had to leave it and walk to the cash registers; not a big deal since I only had a couple of things:).  Dad met me there and proferred his arm as we went out:).  Came home, unloaded everything and had a quick dinner...then felt good enough to work on a couple of my multitude of projects:).  Good Monday! Darn!  When I went to bed and picked up my phone to set the alarm, I discovered that Jim had called several hours earlier...much too late to call him back.  I am beginning to lose faith in my phone's ring! Tuesday...a little more noise, a few more people.  Our office elders were taking care of the elder who had the surgery on his knee, but apparently one of them had about had his fill of it and was allowed to come into the office while the other one held down the fort at their apartment.  I think it was a hard day for him - our Sister nurses and Dad went over in the late afternoon to provide a little break; the APs were supposed to go over this evening at 7.  The plan is for the elder to be in the office tomorrow, but we're planning to give him the president's office - hope that works:)! Got to read a letter from a recently baptized member of the church...it was amazing.  The gospel does change lives!  That is one of the blessings of being here, even if we are not on the proselyting end of it...we get to hear so many amazing stories.  I will try to share more than I have in the past - you would like them too:)!  Along those lines, here's a letter that one of our elders (Japanese) sent to the mission president after receiving a challenge:

150 Baptism!!!!!

We love this goal. We can make it. We can do it. It's time to make this goal. But it is not easy to make this goal. We have to work hard more than we ever have. We need to double our efforts. We need to be focused and attentive on our work. Heavenly Father can help us to reach this 150 baptismal goal as we do our part which is 10-1-10, 5 doors, teaching The plan of salvation to members and Miracle wall. We can not waste time this is the Lord's time. He wants us to use it wisely and effectively. We are to represent Jesus Christ. Every morning I wake up think of Jesus Christ His Atonement. It really helps me get motivated naturally puts me in better attitude as I think of what His done for me. I love His Atonement so much. We need to show him that we can get 150 baptism! We have to work diligently and faithfully.We can do this!

Also we need set our mind and our heart to Savior and our purpose.
President Eyring said  God will put prepared people in the way of His prepared servants who want to share the gospel. You have had that happen in your own life, How often it happens depends on the preparation of your mind and your heart.

I know that God prepared people in our path because we have strong desire. He WILL help us to reach this goal. Oregon Eugene Mission can do this.We love OEM. Love you

Here is the accompanying picture...  We have wonderful missionaries in our mission...I love them! A Little More Monday....   I got to talk with Jim Jr. today - sounds like he had a little fun exploring the web about my Travel Scoot; I loved hearing about how well the kids are all doing and look forward to seeing them before too much longer.  As we drove down through town today towards the office I thought of how beautiful all the trees are and that I will miss them when we're gone...and the flowers that always bloom in abundance in the spring!  Got a short e-mail from Christine...looking forward to talking more before the week is over.  Oh yes...had a call from John B today; he was headed out to try to convince some local stores to carry his game.  We've been trying to figure out a way to make it less expensive...but so far no answers.  Any inspirations anyone?

We're planning to do a little good bye celebration on Friday  for the couple leaving the office next Monday.  I'm going to make sweet rolls for the morning surprise...and then we'll do some kind of a lunch thing.  We will miss them and their wonderful spirits. Went to bed last night and realized I had not finished the day's blog.  From the office we went to the mall, took out my travel scoot and headed to Verizon and then the Apple Store.  We ordered 2 iPhones and signed a new contract with Verizon instead of US Cellular, where we have been since our first day with a cell phone.  A telephone call with a service representative spurred me into action (my final words to her were that I would never be calling them again!)  We're hoping the phones come in before our trip to Wyoming...only time will tell.  Guess that is about all for yesterday...so far today is too quiet - not enough to do.  The mail is LATE (it is past 3:00p.m. now) and it is frustrating to realize that I will end up very pressured trying to get it out.  But wait!  I will not be getting it out - we are holding the mail starting today since transfers are Monday.  That is a blessing:)!!! Got to talk with Emily for awhile last night; she sounds good, and busy as always.  Rose is teething...no so fun.  Eli's Halloween picture on Facebook was awesome:).   I  am looking forward to finding a way to get down there... just not sure when:).  We had a total of 2 doorbell rings on Halloween... the first ring came early and had 2 costumed kids there (happy as a lark to take the handfuls of candy we suggested!); the last ring came after we had actually given up and closed up shop (closed the curtains which we had left open to help kids/parents feel more comfortable.) The next morning, in talking with the other couples in the office, only one had very many takers - a couple had none show up.  So we have a lot of candy in the office for elders and sisters who come through our door.  (There will be a lot of them this coming week, so that is good!) Friday evening...we have had quite a day, partying with our departing senior couple, the Routs.  Got up early to get the rolls out of the refrigerator; everyone at the office seemed to enjoy them - I was a little frustrated with the dough not rising as it should have.  But, the ingredients and the taste was OK:).  We followed up on the breakfast treat with a lunch of pizza, brought in from Papa Johns just across the street and then we all went to Yogurt Extreme (I even rode my Travel Scoot) and had our desserts.  All was great and the owner of the yogurt place took our picture:  The Routs are front and center to the left a little; the Terrys (who will be leaving just before Thanksgiving) are front to the right. At the table behind are our two new couples, the Fluckigers and the Kleinmans. Elder Fluckiger is first on the left, Sister Kleinman in red, Elder Kleinman nexe, and Sister Fluckiger next, a little hidden by Elder Creswell, an office elder.  Dad is next to the right from him, then me, then our elder who had the knee surgery.  Our other elder, Elder Haines, is the one with the blue tie, just to the left of the front table:).  Not that you really wanted to know all of that - but I wanted it in case my memory fails! Our goodbye partying for the Routs was a great success; Monday is transfers and at least one of our office elders, perhaps two, are leaving although he doesn't know where he is going yet.  With all the departures and other changes the character in the office will probably change greatly over the next week or two - so it will be interesting to grow closer to the new couples and work out our working relationships:). After all that, when we left the office we headed to the Mongolian grill to meet the others in our dinner group from the ward here.  All in all it was way more food than this body could handle in one day - I brought half of my dinner home with me, maybe more.  Will enjoy it tomorrow:). Saturday:  Dad left this morning for Roseburg to do a number of things with our property and equipment, preparing for the winter.  At first I was going to go with him because there are some things I would like to search for at home... but decided to stay here instead and work on my seemingly endless and constantly growing list of things I need/want to do!  Have had a good morning, kind of slow, but really enjoying the lack of a schedule.  I heard from Dad and he is probably headed back here now, having accomplished all of his goals:). Tomorrow we get to "sleep in" as daylight savings time changes again disrupting our schedules:).  I really do wish we could just follow the example of Arizona and skip this whole thing! Sunday...Church was wonderful as it always seems to me to be:).  As one of those bearing testimony spoke briefly of commandments and the perception of some that they are restrictions to our freedoms...the thought flashed into my mind that what they really are are building blocks to freedom - the ultimate freedom - and happiness:)!  There were many testimonies borne; such a good ward we are in:).  Now it is going to be hard to leave it....   Dad has been playing around on his computer and has discovered all the pictures we have in iPhoto (there are a LOT), including the one below.  Anyone remember these characters?  I thought perhaps it would make a good Facebook post?  Let me know what YOU think! Family Notes:  Have made the rounds calling each of our favorite families this afternoon...found out that Jeanie has had bronchitis which has slowed her down along with her two youngest - Colin has had strep and Tanner something, I apologize for not being able to come up with the exact thing several hours later:(.  Got hold of Charlotte (& Seth - who actually answered Charlotte's phone) - she sounded good, altho she was cold (so was I at the time of calling - winter is on its way!).  She made a heroic effort to catch up on her computer artwork (successful) and said she had even visited the library this past week.  I also found out that if you check out e-books and don't finish in the allotted time, they don't charge you fines...they just delete them.  Always good to be learning something, right?  She and Seth have been preparing for their 3 week get-away to New Zealand; they fly out next Saturday at 4:30 p.m. I believe, returning home after Thanksgiving...the 30th I think.  Wishing them a wonderful celebration of their first five years! Mary did not have the best of weeks as her boss, Jerry, went to Abu Dhabi (sp?) and did not come back at the appointed time, leaving her with quite a few  challenges to deal with.  Sounded like she has done well with it and we're hoping he comes home tomorrow - and that the coming week is better for her!  I caught up with Steve and Holly as they were hanging out at her parents home:).  They both sound great; Holly seems to be skipping the morning sickness thing (good job Holly!) and is doing well at school.  Steve enjoyed talking with Dad - about lots of things I think, but mostly what I have heard is car-related:).  Quick visit with Emily revealed that Eli may be a homebody for a few weeks because of a contageous disease...I will wait to hear from her tomorrow after she's talked to the doctor.  Meanwhile, she on the phone with Dad...talking about - you guessed it - CARS! Love to all:)!