Week Ending Dec 27, 2008 Week #3

Boy, do Tom and I look tired. They say pictures don't tell lies, but I don't remember feeling tired. Being around my missionaries always energizes me, even those who come back to say hello. We miss you Elder Hall!

Christmas again! Averi is wondering if this is indeed a "present". "Where are the toys?"

Macy is definitely confused by her gift. "I know it's a toy, but what is it?" "Should I show glee?" "Someone please explain." Hopefully now that she's home and has had a chance to really open it, she is pleased rather than confused.

Camrie loves opening presents and being older understands that you have to open every part of the present and explore it to really understand what you have. She really digs in. I love to watch.




Have to play with Grandpa. That's what he's for.




Averi believed this horse was hers and not to be shared. However, peace was made and the horses back was almost broken as he gave all three a ride. He better keep smiling. This is what Grandpas are for.

This week we finished up this round of interviews in Corvallis and Salem. When we went to Salem we drove through some of the heavy snow that has been crippling northern Oregon for the last week or two. The Portland airport has been closed on and off for 10 days or so and the Portland Trailblazers even had to take a bus to Eugene one time and fly out of that airport to get to a game. Anyway, the dividing line between what has been rain and snow was about 5 miles south of Salem so only that area of our mission has been plagued with the real bad ice, while the whole Portland mission has had to deal with it.

There are about 60 missionaries in the two zones in the north and that always means long days when we go up there. This time we had the extra treat of welcoming in a new senior couple – the Kirkham’s – who had braved snow and ice to drive here. We visited with them for an hour or so before they headed into their first area of labor, Lincoln City, on the coast. They were so upbeat and it was fun to get to know them and feel of their excitement for the work. Not too many couple missionaries would choose to come out the week of Christmas when they could have been home with their family and come a week later. They are going to be great.

We finished up around 5:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. It was surprisingly fun to wish these great missionaries a Merry Christmas and see how excited they are to be engaged in the work of the Lord. As we drove home we talked to the Strattons (who work in the office and our neighbors of ours in Orem) and ended up having dinner with them at their apartment. It was good to be with friends on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Day we had breakfast with the Strattons and the assistants at our home and enjoyed some great whole wheat waffles that Sister Stratton had a recipe for. It was the first time we have not been with family on Christmas Day since my first mission, but it was good nonetheless. Later in the day we got together with them again and enjoyed an evening at the Barnes home and several other members of the ward. It was fun to be included as one of the group and feel of their spirit.

We had other visits and phone calls with various missionaries here, but the highlight of the day was talking to our missionary son and all of our other children on a conference call. It was fun to have all of the kids on the phone at the same time and just interact with all of them as though we were all sitting in the same room even though all of us were in different places. I sure do love our family and how comfortable all of us are together. I hope we will always stay close together and interact that way.

Two of our children, Chalisa and Ryan, and their families were scheduled to fly here and were to arrive in Eugene at about 10:00 p. m. on Christmas Day. However, heavy snow in SLC delayed their coming by about six hours and they sat on the plane in SLC for about five of those hours getting deiced and then getting snow out of the engine and then getting deiced again. Fortunately the children slept through most of that, but when we got to our home at about 4:00 am on the 26th they were all ready to get a few hours of sleep.

Tommy and his family were going to drive here, but as the snows increased that became increasingly questionable. Unfortunately the thing that really put it out of the questions was when Tommy ended up in the emergency room on Christmas evening with an apparent appendix attack. He and Ashlee headed home at about 2:00 a. m. with medication but no real answers and his appendix still intact. The coming days have not answered the question clearly either, so they remain in our prayers and a part of our concerns. We hope he will be healed quickly and completely.

Since we have family here, Kaye and I have both tried to take some time off to just visit with them and enjoy their company. Intermingled have been some needed calls with various missionaries, starting the work on transfers, and various other events.

Camrie – our oldest granddaughter - wanted to see the missionaries and we had four over for dinner on Saturday night and it was fun to have the grandchildren see some of what we do as we interacted with them. Macy sang Christmas songs for them.

Another bonus came on Sunday evening when Elder Hall (who went home in October) came by with his parents and brother and had dinner with us. He comes from great stock and I can see why he turned out so great. Difficult to not wish he was still here.

Week Ending December 20, 2008 Week #2

Here is our front yard blanketed in snow. We are the only ones we know of that shovel the snow. They also don't drive in it or do school. Just different.

Here is a view of the backyard. I was fearful that I would not see snow for three years, but here it is, a wonderful early Christmas gift. I love it!




I reported snow last week, but now we have really seen snow and how it cripples this town and state. It doesn’t snow like it does in Utah as there always seems to be a sheet of ice along with the snow. Also since it doesn’t snow nearly as often, nor does it last as long as it does at home, they haven’t invested in the tools to fight the snow. Their solution is to just close schools down and wait it out. Although we had received several inches of snow throughout the mission, by the end of the week it was warmer and the rain had come and cleared out the snow in all but the high country, but not before we had six car accidents as a mission and made various body shops happy. According to the weather man it doesn’t look like we will be having a white Christmas, but we did see snow in December.

Tuesday we started our trip south to have interviews, after we had received a pretty heavy snow fall on Monday and even the freeway had been closed for a while that day. Fortunately as we headed south, we were not one of the six accidents we had in the mission and although it took a fair bit longer to get to out first interview city – Roseburg – we did make it safely and enjoyed seeing the good missionaries there. We then headed on to Grants Pass for another set of visits.

When we arrived in Medford there was no sign of the snow we had been experiencing as it had melted very quickly and I was happy our missionaries there were no longer experiencing hazardous driving conditions.

We were lucky enough to get back in town before the snow came on Wednesday night. On Thursday and Friday our interviews were in the greater Eugene area. We needed to drive very slowly to get off our hill, but all went well.

This next week we have three missionaries going home mid-transfers to get back in time for school (and Christmas might have had an impact on the chosen date to go home too.) They participated in all of the going home things a few weeks ago and we will not even be in town to see them off as we will be heading north for interviews. We were supposed to welcome in a senior couple while we were in the area, but they are going to wait until the next storm passes before they head out this way. This will probably delay them a week or so.

We went to church today (12-21-08) in a small town just south of Eugene called Cottage Grove and took Elder Jaynes with us – he is one of the missionaries leaving this week. It was the first area he had served in and a young man he had taught there almost 2 years ago gave his farewell address before leaving on his mission. It was really nice to be there and see the cycle of conversion at work.

This week we delivered some of Mom’s famous homemade fudge to all of our neighbors. We were a bit apprehensive as very few of them had been by our home to welcome us. As the new kids on the block we decided to just go and welcome them. It went good and some invited us in and we visited and felt much more at home. We look forward to getting to know them all better.

In our discussion with the missionaries before interviews this round it has been good to reflect on my own mission. I remembered how good it was - and is - to be in the service of my God at this time of year. I know our Savior lives and I hope to be able to give my heart completely to Him.

Week Ending December 13, 2008 Week #1

Sister Sterzer learned how to make fudge and was a huge help along with Sister Toomey and Sister Wood. We accomplished a lot in a very short time.

Take the Zone Leaders from around the high council table and they start looking just a little strange, but nothing like.....

Poor President is always trying to look dignified.

It snowed today – Saturday 12-13-08! I got up to go to the gym at 6:00 am this morning and I found about 2 inches of snow on my car. By the time I drove down the hill and hit Williamette there was no snow on the ground. This little hill we live on is just enough higher than the office and town to get snow even when they don't. Eugene is only at about 400 feet above sea level and our little hill is just enough higher. It looks great. In the higher areas of the state, like Bend – about 3,600 feet above sea level – they will get more snow and the mountains between here and there are expected to get a foot or two with this storm.

Although this week is normally not an interview week, we decided to start early so we could see all of the missionaries before Christmas and give them a small gift and some of Sister Macdonald’s home made fudge and short bread. Unfortunately I have been having some with each group (just to be sociable of course) but I need to stop this or I will end up looking more like Santa than I want to!

We did interviews this week in Klamath Falls, Bend / Redmond, and Coos Bay. Since the snow didn’t come until Saturday we were lucky to get the traveling done on the roads that are more subject to heavy snow early in the interview process.

Christmas is a great time to be in the mission field. We feel so much closer to the Savior as we are doing His work full time. It is nice to be able to put up some of the decorations and have some help since we are trying to fit in extra visits right now. Several missionaries have given service to us: one companionship put up the lights on the house, another helped decorate the tree, some sisters will come today to help with a little more cooking and wrapping, and several companionships have helped us eat some of our food and goodies. It has been fun to have about 15 different missionaries (in addition to the arriving and departing missionaries as well as the zone leaders) come and share the holiday spirit with us in our home.

I received a letter telling me that our compliment of missionaries will be increasing. It is scheduled to go up by about 13 companionships. It will be both a challenge and a blessing to prayerfully determine where to put the additional missionaries.

We also found out that two new sets of senior missionaries will be coming. One couple will be coming the week of Christmas and the other one in late January. We are excited to have them come and help build the kingdom here.

While I am well aware that the real signs of success in this type of work are the inner changes that are made in individual people, it is fun to watch the great growth in lessons being taught and people joining the church as missionaries do their very best to become "Preach My Gospel" missionaries. The office missionaries found records by individual month in the office for the last five years and we hit a record in November in the key indicators related to lessons taught, people with a baptismal date, and baptisms. I am so happy that our missionaries and the people here are being blessed to teach and receive the gospel.

I am so lucky to have the companion I do! Sister Macdonald is the best.

Week Ending December 7, 2008 Week #6

It was too cold to take pictures outside the Portland Temple with our December departing missionaries. This was taken in the atrium just inside the temple.

Our Dec. 2, 2008 arrivals. We hardly knew what to do with such a small group. Small in number, but large in personality and spirit.

We have had a very unseasonably dry winter thus far – just typing that statement increases the likelihood that all of that will change now.

This week was another of our “Best of times and the Worst of times.” For the best of times we welcomed in eight new missionaries – six Elders and 2 Sisters. (The worst of times is sending home missionaries we have come to love.) They arrived on Tuesday. All went well in their arrivals and this was the first “normal size” group we have had (our first transfer week we didn’t receive any incoming missionaries and the last two incoming groups were very large groups of 22 and 19.) Dealing with 8 missionaries was very calm. Elder Turner from Riverside (who had gone on exchanges with Clint) arrived safely and was all he was built up to be and he seemed excited to be here. He said my personality was very similar to Clint’s. That is great news for me, but likely not so great for Clint. :>)

Wednesday we enjoyed going to the Portland temple with the group going home the next day. One of our returning missionaries has a cousin serving in the Portland mission and he was able to come to the temple that same time and visit a bit with his cousin. It was quite nice. The going home testimony and “last supper” was held that evening with the group, and it was very enjoyable. They all went home safely on Thursday, but there was a mix up with one of the sisters who was traveling to Palm Springs and when we went to the airport they didn’t have a ticket for her. That took a few calls and about 45 minutes of waiting time at the airport to work out with the travel group in SLC. I was glad we had arrived early enough to resolve the problem that same day.

Friday we had Zone Leaders Council (ZLC) here at the mission home instead of starting here and traveling to the chapel. It was a bit tight, but I think everyone liked the homey atmosphere.

At the end of the ZLC – one of the zone leaders who jokes with me from time-to-time came up to me and put his arm around me and asked “How is the best mission president in the church?” He had been joking around with me about him and me going to a Portland Trailblazers basketball game. So I told him no he couldn’t go to the game. He then got a bit more serious and told me he had received a speeding ticket on his way to the ZLC. I asked him how fast he was going and he told me 96 mph in a 65. I was sure he was kidding me, but the long story short is he wasn’t kidding. The fine will cost him about $500, which I determined is punishment enough.

We went to a couple of baptisms this week – one for a man our assistants had tracked out and taught. He is a solid man who is excited about what the gospel can do for his family. He is the first in his family to be baptized but he has support from everyone. He and his wife are divorced, but they are seeing each other again. She came to his baptism along with her older son from a prior marriage. Their six year old son wants to wear a badge like the missionaries. Today he was confirmed (I was able to stand in the circle) and ordained a priest. He bore his testimony and said he had lived in SLC for 17 years, and said he was determined if an LDS person ever asked him to learn more he would. I am sorry he had to move to Eugene to be tracked out by missionaries to have that opportunity, but glad that he found it eventually. Also when we was baptized one foot came up and he had to be baptized a second time. His 6 year old son was confused he was "only" baptized two time, because he thought he had to be baptized three times - once for the Father, once for the Son and once for the Holy Ghost.

Mom is wrapping a small present for each of the missionaries and cooking a little treat for us to bring to them while we are doing interviews the next few weeks. Once again I think she is overdoing it, but she does so great!

Although this calling is still the hardest thing we have ever done, we are loving it more and more each week.

Week Ending November 30, 2008 Week #5

One of the many impressive and beautiful bridges that we cross in our travels. It reminds me of a cathedral. I'm sure my photo doesn't do it justice.

We fell in love with this houseboat parked by the side of someone's home. Had to take a picture!

I wish I knew the name of this lake and this old volcano, but I don't. I only know that the view was especially breathtaking on this particular day.

This week was fairly light as we had our zone conferences (that we usually hold this week) two weeks earlier to accommodate the visiting general authority. We were happy to have two of our sons – Tommy & Ryan and their families here for Thanksgiving. We also finished up transfer assignments and I made leadership calls.

All of our missionaries had one or more meals with a ward family on Thanksgiving. They followed tradition of past years, which I am now questioning, of playing in the various ward turkey bowls throughout the mission.These football games are, in theory, “non-contact.” Based on the pulled hamstrings, sprained ankles and other injuries that occurred, I am rethinking what the events for the day should be. Anyway, I am so grateful for how the members treat these great missionaries.

The kids left for home on Saturday and we left to drive to Coquille – about 2.5 hours away. We attended a baptism Saturday night and then stayed the night at Bishop’s Hladky’s home. He had invited us to speak in the ward on Sunday and overnight in Coquille. It was a pleasure to be able to do that. After we spoke in Coquille we also attended sacrament meeting in North Bend and visited with the Elders there.

On Saturday night, after the baptism and dinner with the Elders and the Hladkys, I went teaching with the Elders to a single sister and her four children. We were scheduled to teach the 3rd discussion and I was to teach on enduring to the end. When we got there the 2 boys ~ 11 and 13 or so weren’t there as they were watching the “Civil War” (the football game between Oregon State and UofO) at the house of Pastor Lee. We really had a good discussion and the woman and her daughters had read from the Book of Mormon and had a very good understanding. When we were almost done – I had even taught my part - the boys arrived home along with Pastor Lee and his wife. Pastor Lee is a man in his 40s or 50s who has tattoos on his arm and was wearing biker apparel - as was his wife. He had on a cap that said “Bikers for Christ.” We exchanged pleasantries but it was still just a bit uncomfortable. She committed to come to church again and to hear Mom and me talk the next day, but sadly she didn’t make it. I really feel bad when someone I know doesn’t come and I get a better understanding of how the missionaries feel when their investigators don’t come.

Other than the normal routine of reading a lot of great letters from the missionaries that pretty well sums up our week. This coming week we will look forward to welcoming in new missionaries and sadly sending some missionaries home as well.

Week Ending November 22, 2008 Week #4

Turkeys in the neighborhood. I wonder if they'll stick around for Thanksgiving.

This week went fairly well as planned – which in and of itself is somewhat unusual. I had the chance to interview about 60 missionaries in Corvallis and Salem areas. While I am interviewing one Mom is visiting with another and I think that combo really helps lift them. Most are doing so good and were really excited following last week’s zone conferences. You may remember that Elder Mask interviewed two of the missionaries in that area that were contemplating going home and gave them both blessings. It strengthened them for a little while. From Saturday to Tuesday and Wednesday respectively one said he still wants to go home, and one had a significant reversal and wants to stay.

The elder more determined to stay had written to his parents on Monday and said he was definitely going home. They called me when they got the letter on Thursday. Having just visited with him on Wednesday I was surprised and when I called him back he said he was doing a lot better when we visited. I asked him if he was at a “1” to “2” level of commitment and happiness when he wrote to his parents where was he when we visited the day before and now? He told me he was an “8” to “9.” So I pray the Lord continues to help him feel His spirit and that he will want to stay. I also hope the other elder catches the vision of this great work.

Last week when Elder Mask was here he taught about the need to have “Fire in the Bones” for the Book of Mormon. It is obvious that many of the missionaries have caught on to that phrase and personally have that vision and want to build on that foundation.

Thursday we had dinner with one of our neighbors – at their home. They have been extremely friendly to us and to the previous mission presidents. They had invited the assistants to come with us and teach a lesson. They are so very gracious but did not seem ready to be taught further. They are so kind to us and we appreciate their friendship.

Thursday and Friday the assistants and I worked on upcoming transfers. On Friday night Mom and I spoke at a ward dinner / fireside about 80 miles south in a town called Myrtle Creek. The ward had invited all those who had completed the Bishop’s challenge to read the Book of Mormon in 100 days to celebrate with a dinner and to read together the final two chapters of Moroni. There were about 75 people who had completed the challenge and were there – which I thought was great for their small ward. I was impressed - since they asked us to be the keynote speakers after that event - that the bishop must have anticipated missionary work to come out of this reading. I challenged them to “noise about” this good word as the people did in 3rd Nephi and let others know what they found. It was great to go and visit with them, and we were further blessed as Elder and Sister Stratton from the office came with us.

With Thanksgiving coming up we are excited to see Tommy and Ashlee and their girls arrive late tonight and then have Ryan and Rachel arrive on Monday. It will be fun to have Thanksgiving week with them.

Week Ending November 16, 2008 Week #2 and 3

Aren't the leaves beautiful. This is the Portland Temple, but the leaves are beautiful everywhere we go. This is Elder Hall - one of the assistants who trained us.

The last couple of weeks have been fairly busy as we had to change our zone conference week from week # 5 to week # 3 in order to accommodate a member of the 2nd quorum who toured our mission from November 12th to the 15th. His name is Elder Clate Mask. In truth it worked out better for us too since two of our children and their families will be here during Thanksgiving. That week would normally be scheduled for our zone conferences. We would have moved the conferences anyway, but the changed schedule sure kept us busy the last two weeks. So in the last two weeks - on top of the normal scheduled interview travels we also held three multi-zone conferences, went to two coordinating council meetings and we spoke in the Florence ward sacrament meeting on the 16th.

We have traveled a lot in the last two weeks in order to fit in everything with two trips back and forth to Medford for interviews and the zone conferences as well as trips to Bend and Klamath Falls. We also interviewed all of the Eugene missionaries. We just love visiting with our missionaries!

The Rogersons from our stake in Orem visited us November 8th to the 10th. He had served a mission here 47 years ago and they came here for two days on their way to visit various temples. While they were here Sister Macdonald drove them by the apartment he lived in while in Eugene. It is still standing and is still an apartment. The owner let them walk through it and take pictures. He really enjoyed that. She wants copies of his pictures and copies of his old pictures too. He promised to send them to her.

We picked up Elder and Sister Mask in Medford on the evening of the 12th. They had been touring the Portland mission the 1st of the week and flew from Portland down to Medford. We had been in Bend and Klamath Falls Monday thru Wednesday and then came over to Medford to meet them. If you don’t know much about him – which is easy enough since there are a few seventy these days - here is a brief bio: He served as a mission president in Barcelona Spain from 1997 to 2000. He taught seminary for about 30 years before going out as a MP. After his mission he served as a Bishop of an Arizona State University singles ward for a couple of years and retired from teaching seminary before being called into the 2nd quorum of the 70 in 2003. He is full of energy – as is his wife – and they seemed fresh at every conference we were at with them.

We held multi-zone conferences in Medford, Eugene and Corvallis on Thursday, Friday and Saturday respectively. The Elders were happy to be taught by him. I asked Elder Mask to visit with two of the Elders who have been contemplating going home and he seemed to boost their spirits a bit. It is good to have them visit with another person for a change, and hear him council them the same way.

On Friday night we had a dinner with the three local stake presidents and their wives at the home of President and Sister Martin. It was nice to visit with them socially on top of the more formal church meetings I have with them.

After the final zone conference on Saturday we drove the Masks to Portland where they had another day or two of church business to do up there.

Sunday, the 16th, we spoke at sacrament meeting in the Florence ward and we really enjoyed it. A nonmember came up and told us he felt the spirit stronger than he ever had and then he hugged Sister Macdonald. I found him afterwards in Sunday school class and told him (in front of the missionaries and others attending the class) to let me know when he was going to be baptized and we would come back out. He told me he would. The missionaries then told me that they hadn’t invited him to be baptized yet. I said you have now. It felt right and I trust that he will go thru with it. It felt great to be involved in that level of missionary work on a personal level.

Week Ending Oct. 31, 2008 Week # 1

Here are our newest arrivals. They were picked up at the airport on the president's birthday, Oct. 21. We sang Happy Birthday and he blew out candles. They are an especially energetic bunch.

This was a week # 1 and we held our Zone leader’s Council. Because of a change in the upcoming zone conferences due to a visiting GA coming, we also started interviews.

Specifics for this week – ending 10-31-08

Saturday and Sunday we spent at the stake conference in Bend. We both spoke at the Saturday adult session, and I also spoke for 30 minutes in the priesthood leadership session. I was happy to see how committed they are to missionary work. The counselor who spoke before Sister Macdonald used almost everything she had prepared. It was fun to watch the spirit influence her so mush as she spoke without using any of her notes. The audience was so quiet – they could tell they were hearing inspired words. On Sunday all of Oregon had a regional conference via satellite. The drive up and back through the mountains was absolutely beautiful.

Monday we prepared for Tuesday's Zone leader’s Council. I am impressed with the level of maturity and leadership we have coming from such great young men. Unfortunately my time at Zone leader’s Council was regularly interrupted with a concern over a missionary. It was resolved successfully late that night, but it often took me away from the meeting. I hope that the zone leaders could learn from my absence the importance of saving the one and caring for him.

Wednesday I mostly prepared for upcoming meetings, travel, and a General Authority who will be visiting in mid November. I also called several missionaries on a variety of things. We had the Sisters over for dinner that night, and we learned that the local Elders get a bit jealous when we have them over. That makes us inclined to have them over more often. :>)

Thursday we drove out to Coos Bay for interviews there. Again the drive was beautiful and the interviews were largely uplifting – I know for me, and I hope for the missionaries.

Friday (which is Halloween) we have instructed our missionaries to be off the streets by 6:00 pm and have a district meeting that will lift and inspire them.

I am learning so much from all of our missionaries – but probably the most from the new ones. They come from very different back grounds – even if they may look the same to the outside observer. We live in such a world of abundance that it can be difficult to teach our children how to work hard when we also want them to have all we can provide for them. I find that those missionaries who come with the following three key things do well:


1: They are worthy and free of major sins,

2: They have learned how to work hard and are willing to do it,

3: They have a testimony of this great work.


All the rest can be taught on the job. The vast majority do great and it is fun to watch them grow and develop into wonderful servants of the Lord.

Week Ending Oct. 25, 2008 Week 6

These are the innocent bystanders at the Portland Temple who became our photographers. Such good sports! The young man just returned from his mission.

Another awesome group of faithful missionaries we will hate to see go. The Rosenthols joined us again and provided their family names. It was good to see them. It was also good to have the Strattons with us.

President's birthday had to include a joke on Elder Leet. Everyone is always looking for a chance to get even with him for some reason.

Elder Leet presents President with his birthday cake at the Lowry's Monday brunch. A memorably experience. "The Old Gray Mare, he ain't what he used to be."

Rick and Dawn Meeves came for a very short, but fun visit. We spent a day at the coast and hiked Spencer's Butte and of course, visited a lot.

This was a week # 6 and we greeted 19 new missionaries, sent home 11, and had a house full of activity.

Specifics for this week – ending 10-25-08

Monday our two assistants had a baptism in the early evening and we went to that. Elder Hall went home this week, so it was especially nice for him to be able to baptize a sweet sister who is around 70. Her daughter is a long-time member and she and her husband had the missionaries teach her in their home.

On Tuesday we sent home our first Elder with a medical problem. He had so wanted to stay and had in fact had surgery in the field three months ago, but the possibility of another surgery and the related recovery time mandated he go home. He called us a couple of days after he was home and told us he had seen a doctor and if all goes like he hopes it will, he will be back in a couple of months.

Later that day we welcomed in 19 new missionaries. They are great and full of life. We have 76 companionships of young missionaries and 41 missionaries who have only been out for 6 weeks or less. While it does make for a few challenges as we try to get trainers for all of these new missionaries - it is great to see their enthusiasm and all the life they bring into the mission.

Wednesday we took the departing missionaries to the Portland temple and had the traditional final day with them. I have determined this is perhaps my favorite day of the whole transfer period. The ability to quietly reflect in the temple with honorable young men and women who have faithfully completed their mission is truly a wonderful experience. Of course, I hate to see them go the next day, but that sweet moment in the temple is so rewarding. I will admit there is a bit of selfishness on my part as well, because I so enjoy the opportunity to be in a place where my cell phone doesn’t ring and I can have some quiet reflective time of my own.

Thursday morning it is so enlightening to me to be able to quietly study the scriptures with the departing missionaries for an hour or so before they go. It is a unique time as they are feeling the pains of leaving and in some ways wanting to stay, and also feeling the excitement of the next stage of their life. We also sent off my final trainer (the second of the two assistants who were serving when we got here) and it was sad to see him go.

Thursday and Friday I spent some time in the office and also in planning out the next few weeks. This weekend Mom and I speak at a stake conference in Bend, so we need to finalize talks and drive up there for a couple of days.

Week Ending Oct. 18, 2008 Week # 5

This was a week # 5 with Zone conferences and finalizing and making the leadership calls for transfers etc.

Specifics for this week – ending 10-18-08

Sunday I had a heart stopping moment over concern for one of our missionaries. I felt like I should go to a second ward, but Mom and I both felt impressed that we should come home after the first ward we went to. Shortly after I came home the phone rang and it was the home bishop of one of our Elders. He told me that he understood that our elder had been killed in a car accident the night before. I was shocked, of course, as I had heard nothing and couldn’t believe it was true. He told me The elder's mother had called him and told him her work had called and told her. She was wondering why she hadn’t heard from me. I quickly called the elder – who answered the phone. Obviously there was some mix up some where. I called the Bishop back and then the mother. My heart went out to her for the pain she had felt for that time between her first call me getting back to her. The truth was her daughter had been in a non-life- threatening accident but the wires got dreadfully crossed. I NEVER want to have a real version of that.

We had multi-zone conferences in Medford, Corvallis, and Eugene on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday respectively. The assistants put together a video that highlighted the good experience they had finding, teaching, and preparing a woman for baptism. She was found as the result of the combined fasting and prayer of Elders Payne, Hall and Leet when they were together as a 3-some. She will be baptized tomorrow right before Elder Hall goes home. The video was great and showed the right amount of humor and sweet spirit. Mom gave a great talk around Pres Hinckley’s quote found on page 94 of PMG. We did some role play on finding. I really enjoyed being the investigator and helping the missionaries learn how they can improve. We had the car man speak on winter driving and I related the experience I had above and encourage them all to be safe. My ending talk focused mostly on Pres. Uchtdorf’s Priesthood session talk about lifting where you stand. I emphasized that we should not seek leadership callings or run from them. Anyway the vast majority of these missionaries do just great regarding this. So maybe I spoke to the masses when I should have spoken only to the few.

After zone conferences we gained some information that suggested that a few of the proposed transfers needed to be changed. After that was completed I made leadership calls and the assistants called everyone else. Most of them go exactly as you would think they would – the missionary takes on the new assignment with humility and confidence that the Lord can help them through it. That being the case, it is funny when it doesn’t occur exactly like that. When I told one Elder that I wanted him to become a district leader he said “Oh Crap.” I asked him (with a bit of humor in my voice) if “Oh Crap” meant “Yes President Macdonald, I will do what ever you and the Lord would like me to.” He quickly got the point and had perhaps remembered that week’s zone conference and agreed to do what he could in this new assignment. I then thought that perhaps my talk to the masses was OK because it reached this one. I really enjoy the regular opportunities I have to teach correct principles to such a receptive group of the Lord’s servants.

Week Ending October 10, 2008 Week # 4

Perhaps the biggest news for us in missionary work this week had nothing to do with the Oregon Eugene Mission, but with our favorite missionary serving in the California Riverside Mission. Our son Clint who has been out 13 months was called to serve an English speaking mission and therefore had no Spanish training in the MTC. Although he had been in Spanish immersion in grade school, and took Jr High Spanish, and one year of Spanish in High school, he has not used or studied Spanish since then. And yes, he was transferred to be a Spanish speaking missionary this last week. We are glad for the confidence his mission president has in him, and pray that he will be blessed with the gift of tongues. At the same time he has been called to serve as a zone leader, so he will have his hands full.

Now on to the OEM.

This was a week # 4 with the remaining interviews being completed and the beginning of planning out the transfers and preparing for next week zone conferences.

Specifics for this week – ending 10-10-08

Some of the interview schedules are altered from time to time in order to be able to meet with Stake Presidents while in the area. This last Saturday we met with the Pacific zone in between conference sessions and with the stake president and the zone leaders just prior to priesthood session. It is good for me to get to visit directly with the stake presidents and feel their commitment for the work. They are great! I so enjoyed conference and the messages often seemed geared to missionary work or to a specific missionary that I am working with.

We ended up over-nighting in Coos Bay on Saturday so we could spend Sunday in Brookings and visit with the senior missionary couple there (who is leaving in a couple of months) and also with the Bishop and ward mission leader (WML) in that area. In between sessions of conference on Sunday Sister Macdonald and I met with the Bishop and the WML – who are so committed to the work and are working to have people prepared to be taught. Brookings is so far away from the rest of the missionaries that sending a couple there is the only thing that makes sense, and we have no more couples coming. I felt so bad to know how prepared the people are to be taught and then to have to tell the local leaders that I could not send anyone until more senior couples agree to come. We lose another senior couple in January where the story is exactly the same. That will leave us with only one senior couple out proselyting and we are supposed to have eight. The truth is we could use a lot more than eight!

From there we finished interviews over in Klamath Falls and then went up to Bend. We stopped in a little town called LaPine where the local leaders have requested missionaries (they found an apartment and have arranged people to be taught as well.) Again this area might be best for senior couples, but I plan to send the Elders there as it is closer to town and they won’t be all alone. Along the way I met with other great stake presidents who understand missionary work.

The end of the week I worked on transfers with the assistants and Sister Macdonald started working on the cooking required for the next couple of weeks. The transfer experience is both exhausting and invigorating at the same time. I know the Lord is very concerned about each individual missionary and the people they will interact with, so I try very hard to be a worthy tool in His hands.

I have now been here long enough that I feel like I know the area, have met several times with most of the stake presidents, and know a fair bit about these great missionaries. Each one is a unique child of their Father in Heaven and wants to do what is right. It is fun to see them be so willing to take on any new assignment, and also be willing to “lift where they stand.”

The weather here is starting to turn a bit colder and we are starting to see how everything stays so green here.

Week Ending October 4, 2008 & Week 3

Monday we had an activity with the Corvallis Zone to hike Mary's Peak. The hike was humid, but beautiful. We reached the top as dark clouds were gathering. It was beautiful and we were hungry.

I think they really enjoyed cutting up "Wilbur". Yes, they even named him.

It felt like we were on top of the world, but if you climbed a little further you could see the ocean--on a clear day--it wasn't.

They were so proud of their cooking. They had been at it since the wee hours of the morning, a real labor of love (boyhood adventure).

October 3, 2008

This was a week # 3 with the northern interview schedule.

Specifics for this week – ending 10-3-08

Last Saturday I was scheduled to go teach a lesson - while Sister Macdonald was at the relief society broadcast - with a trainer and his new companion and, as sometimes happens, they were not available when we got there so we went out and knocked on doors. It was enlightening to do that again. We found one good possibility that they will follow up with. It was fun to testify at the door and feel the spirit with them. The new Elder told me, “I don’t like to find, I like to teach.” ;>) I agreed with him, but told him until we find we can’t teach.

Sunday morning Sister Macdonald and I attended companionship study with another companionship and attended two wards. It is really great to have some one-on-one time with the missionaries.

Monday we went on a zone activity with the Corvallis zone and their zone leaders had roasted a pig and surprised everyone with a great meal. It was a lot of fun and delicious too. This is what all of the pictures above are showing off.

Tuesday and Wednesday I interviewed about 60 missionaries and visited with two stake presidents along with the zone leaders to discuss missionary work in their stakes.

Tuesday night while I was visiting with the stake presidents Sister Macdonald taught a lesson with the sisters and they both told me how good she did with her part and the spirit she brought with her into the teaching experience.

All-in-all another great week of trying to build the kingdom.

I pray that you have a great week as well. I look forward to hearing from any and all of you.

Love,

Week Ending September 27, 2008 Week # 2

Lisa Johnson and Connie Whaley came for a quick visit. We had a great one day trip to the coast with perfect weather.

We needed a picture in front of Andrea's neighbor's beautiful and oversized (by Utah standards) flowers. We just couldn't believe that we were together in Oregon!


If not for the wind, I think Connie and Lisa would have stayed at this lookout for the entire day. None of us wanted to head back to Eugene or closer to their time for them to return to Utah.




This was a week # 2 and we are now back to normal with the MP seminar behind us two weeks now.

Since some have asked - Our normal “complement” or number of missionaries is 184, broken out as follows: 20 senior missionaries; 136 English speaking Elders; 12 Spanish Speaking Elders; and 16 English speaking Sisters. We will be roughly at that number – except for the senior couples (we only have half the number of senior couples and we would love to have more) – at the end of this next transfer. We are not increasing in the total number of missionaries assigned to our mission, but over the last six months or so the number has decreased and they are fixing that by sending extra now. Having this big bubble in two years will be tough. As you remember 22 came in a week ago and 4 of the 21 coming in next month are really part of that group of 22 but stayed longer in the MTC to accommodate their language training. So 26 will go home together in 2010.

Specifics for this week – ending 9-27-08

This is a fairly heavy week of interviews as I interviewed about 70 missionaries while putting a bunch of miles on the car. In this mission we hold a district meeting / training session in each district while interviews are being held. We start that training with some singing and then we study the scriptures with the missionaries for a half hour or so. And we have enjoyed the 7 of those we have had this week. I then have them come out in companionships for their interview. While I am interviewing one of the missionaries Sister Macdonald reviews their area book with their companion and just talks with them, and then we switch. She and I then compare notes at the end of the day. It makes for good insights from both of our perspectives.

A new assignment I have – or at least one I am just beginning to understand - is that I am to sit in with the ZL in as many of their monthly meetings with the stake presidents as possible. That has added another meeting for me while I am traveling into the out lying areas of the mission. So far it has worked out OK. (I do say this with a new level of exhaustion though.)

One of our elders had surgery yesterday to have a cyst removed and will be in the hospital until Sunday. We visited with him last night and will call on him again. He seems to be doing good and is in good spirits.

I just called one of our trainers and his new Elder and I found out they have a first lesson with someone they just met this week and so I invited myself to go teaching with them tonight while Mom is at the relief society broadcast. They seemed really excited, and I hope they are not nervous.

Next week Mom is going teaching with some sisters while I meet with the stake presidents in that area. It is good to go out and see how it is really being done.

Well I think that is a wrap of another week of our life. This mission life is great. One minute I am doing regular mundane business stuff (signing checks, booking hotel rooms, making business decisions on the running of the mission etc.) then I am caring for a sick Elder, and then I am kneeling in prayer with one of the Lord’s chosen and trying to help him become even better. It is great!

Week Ending September 20, 2008 Week #7 & 1

These are our new arrivals for the month. It's a great group.

The Rosenthals worked in the office. We will miss them.

Elder Payne was one of the A.P.s that helped train us. We will miss him so much and will always be grateful for all he has done to help us on our way.

Another fantastic group headed home. We will miss them all. It gets more difficult every time.



This was a week # 7/1 with transfers and zone leader’s council.

Specifics for this week – ending 9-20-08

Due to the mission presidents seminar last week we had a 7-week transfer cycle which is now being followed by a 5-week transfer. While the seminar was refreshing and got me more focused on this great work, it made this week extremely busy!

On Tuesday we had 22 new Elders arrive. When I was meeting them at the airport I noticed there were only 21 there. I asked the Elder in charge of the group how many he had with him and he said 21. There was a Spanish Elder who had been schedule to come out in the next transfer but as he was a native speaker, he didn’t need the extra time in the MTC and was coming in this group. When I called the missionary department from the airport no knew what was going on so we came home with 21 missionaries. I was thinking I would need to change a lot of transfer plans. As I walked in the door the phone was ringing. The missing Elder was calling me from a pay phone. He was at the airport and had been routed through Portland and arrived in Eugene about 30 minutes after the large group. The assistants went back to get him. About 5 minutes later I got a call from SLC telling me that he would was on a later flight.

I understand that 21 is the largest group of new missionaries this mission has ever had at one time - so we now have a new high bench mark at 22. It was exciting to see their enthusiasm and excitement for the work. Each one seemed so committed and ready to give his all. It is also fun to have various connections with them; one knew a business associate, another a ward member, and another a friend. By the way, 21 are coming in the next transfer.

On Wednesday we went to the temple with the returning missionaries and then had their final dinner etc. On Thursday we had them go home on the noon flight instead of the 6:00 am flight which made for time in the morning to study scriptures with them and have more relaxed departure plans. I lost an assistant and a mission assistant with this group; and the process begins again with training and helping others grow in new assignments.

Friday we had our zone leader’s council. We decided to have those items that are more announcement oriented printed out before hand so they could just be taken with them. Then we could spend more time in the scriptures together. I enjoyed having time in the scriptures with the leaders of the mission. I think we will follow that format in the future.

Throughout the week Sister Macdonald has cooked up a storm and was at it late every night so I hope she can relax a little bit tomorrow before we hit the road again with interviews, etc. on Tuesday.

Week Ending September 13, 2008

We were able to have Sunday dinner at Mom and Dad's with with grandkids.

Ryan and Rachel picked us up at the airport and brought us home for our 5 hour layover. It was great to spend time with family.

Chalisa and John were out of town and Tava was taking care of the girls. They were a little confused about whether or not we were done with our mission.

We had a two hour layover on the way back to Oregon and Chalisa and John visited in the airport with us then. It was wonderful to see everyone.

The bulk of this week revolved around the mission president seminar. It was conducted by Elder Clayton of the 70 – he is one of the 7 presidents, and Elder Perry of the 12 presided over it. I went to the meeting feeling a bit overwhelmed by this assignment. The first day I felt even more overwhelmed. I guess I was looking for some “feel-good” messages, and what I heard was – “you need to do more.” So at the end of day one, I was actually fairly down and wondered how I could possibly do more, when I already wasn’t doing what I knew I should do yet. I really had a great spiritual experience when I was reading the scriptures and re-learned that miracles come AFTER the trial of your faith. I know this is His work and He will prepare a way for it all to get done.

Anyway after that enlightenment I gained a lot more from the seminar and put a plan in place to do it all at a presidency meeting with my two counselors this last Saturday (yesterday) and I feel like we can do what is asked of us, and can have great success.

At the seminar – which was in San Diego - we had one afternoon when we went to Sea World. It was a bit different for me to be walking around Sea World with Mom in a skirt and me in business casual and both of us with name tags on. Most of the others were dressed similarly and some of the men just wore their slacks and white shirts – no tie. We stood out. Seeing Elder Perry there dressed like that was indeed foreign to me.

On Tuesday evening Mom had an allergic reaction to some shrimp which was hiding in a pasta dish and had to be taken to the first aid booth at Sea World (we had our dinner there with the others participating in the seminar after the park was closed.) They filled her up with Benadryl and she was knocked out from about 7:30 pm on, but was OK the next day.

On Wednesday we all went to the San Diego Temple, and Mom and I were the witness couple. Clint's mission president and his wife stood in the circle next to Sister Macdonald and she was quite teary eyed after that. It was powerful to be there with so many great people involved in this work at this level.

In addition to great instruction throughout the three days, I enjoyed the one-on-one time with various area 70s and other mission presidents. It felt good to learn more about this assignment and feel the Lord's spirit moving it along.

This next week is transfer week – it was actually delayed a week due to the MP seminar – and one of my assistants, Elder Payne, is leaving us. Elder Leet has been called to work with Elder Hall – who goes home in 5 weeks. Elders Payne and Hall have been great – they have served for 9 and 6 months respectively and have everything down so well. I will now have the opportunity to train new ones.

Mom feeds 22 incoming missionaries lunch on Tuesday and 12 out going missionaries dinner on Wednesday night and Thursday morning along with various office support staff. We then have breakfast for 20 for zone leader council on Friday. When she was shopping for all of this at Albertsons a lady in line said “You must have a lot of hungry people at your house.” She said, “yes I am feeding about 20, 20-year olds this week.” The lady's mouth dropped open in shock, then she just turned away. It wasn’t the missionary opportunity that Mom was hoping for.

Zone Conferences Sept 2-4 2008, and a week #5

Elders participating in the “Speed Basketball” competitions.

We bought matching T-Shirts for the assistants (Elders Payne, Hall and Leet) and us to wear during the activity potion of the Zone Conferences.

The finals of one the “Rock, Paper, Scissors” competition.

Elder Capizzi wins one of the “Rock, Paper, Scissors” competitions and is awarded the winner’s certificate.

Elder Tui’one wins one of the “Speed Basketball” competitions and is awarded the winner’s certificate.

This was a week # 5 with zone conferences.

Specifics for this week – ending 9-6-08

On Sunday evening we had a very enjoyable dinner with returning and new couple missionaries. The Christensen’s, Lee’s and Rosenthal’s are completing their missions, and the Stratton’s and Dixon’s are starting theirs.

Monday we drove to Medford for a zone conference that would be held there on Tuesday, and we caravan with Tommy and Ashlee and their family that far on their way back to Stanford. We also met up with Elder and Sister Peterson who is the Area medical advisor and enjoyed a dinner with them.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we had zone conferences in Medford, Eugene and Corvallis respectively. The area medical doctor spoke in each one of those – focusing on stress and then met with missionaries who wanted to meet with him after lunch on any health issue. We also showed a much needed driving video on proper backing (we have had two backing accidents in the last few weeks.) The assistants taught about how to improve finding efforts with members and Sister Macdonald spoke on serving and used examples from Preach My Gospel. I spoke about the need to bare testimony and let the members know you are fully committed so that the members will be comfortable referring their friends to you.

In this mission they have a tradition of having an “activity” zone conference once a year (which we held this week) where they play games and socialize for the afternoon portion of the conference. It was a lot of fun and it also gave a chance for missionaries needing to see Elder Peterson to see him with out missing some of the instruction. I think it let all of the missionaries rejuvenate and get ready for this great work. I wanted something that would bring us all back together at the end, so I instituted -what I think we will be an annual event - a rock, paper, scissor competition with a certificate going to the winner. It was a fun double elimination event that had everyone laughing and cheering the participants who survived to the end. We also had a game of speed basketball with an award for that winner as well.

Friday found me in the office for the morning working with the staff trying to determine the logistics of having 22 missionaries coming in on the 16th and only loosing about 12. We have vans to rent to move people, a few apartments to open, and a lot of moving of missionaries to occur that week. After the logistics were completed the assistants and I (Elders Payne who goes home on the 18th) Hall, and Leet started planning the transfers. It is a great experience to feel the Lord’s direction in this work.

Friday evening I went teaching with the assistants to a woman they have been teaching. She has been struggling with smoking and we encouraged and testified. It was good to be out with the missionaries and to testify of the truthfulness of this work.

Saturday we will go down to Roseburg to attend a baptism and go to the wedding reception of Aubrey Wilkinson who use to live in our stake in Orem and married a man from Roseburg.

Again I am grateful for another week of being strengthened and having the ability of doing all that I need to do. I pray that each of you are also shored up and can carry forward in the way you should.

Week Ending August 31, 2008 Week #4

This week was a rather light week – especially when compared to last week. I only had two days of interviews as I had moved some of them up that had historically been done in week four to week two to be more available when Tommy and his family were in town.

This was a week # 4 with another round of interviews etc. and a pleasant visit from Tommy and Ashlee and their family.

Specifics for this week – ending 8-31-08

On Tuesday we had interviews in the Bend area. There are currently 16 missionaries in that zone including a senior couple serving in Burns. The couple’s name is Buckley and that area has not had missionaries for over 3 years. The Buckley’s have only been there about 6 or 7 weeks, and had a baptism already. They have more people with scheduled baptismal dates. The area was ready for missionaries and they were ready to go to work.

We drove to Klamath Falls on Tuesday for interviews on Wednesday. Tuesday evening we had a lovely dinner with the stake president’s family – President Paul Stewart – along with the missionaries assigned to his ward. It was very enjoyable.

After interviews on Wednesday we drove to Ashland and visited with the missionaries in that area. It was fun to have an unscheduled visit with them and find them in great spirits. They are doing very good.

Tommy and his family – who had arrived the previous Friday night in Palo Alto - drove up on Wednesday to spend a few days with us before his MBA program starts in a couple of weeks. We met them in Ashland and caravaned with them to our home. Their visit has been wonderful and has forced me to take a p-day and a half while they were here and has been so enjoyable and therapeutic.

Thursday I was in the office taking care of administrative business and interviewing a couple of missionaries. The house has been a bit full with the Strattons here as well as Tommy and company, but it was been great. All have seemed to be doing great together. The Strattons spent the week in the office and seem to be very much up to speed.

Friday I worked from home – calls, prepared some talks, read missionary letters and miscellaneous record keeping and updating, and took a short hike with Tommy, Ashlee and their family.

Saturday we took a preparation day and did a day trip to the coast with the family and enjoyed the company and the relaxation. We met up wiht the Strattons for lunch on the coast.

Sunday we went to our meeting at 9:00 with Tommy, Ashlee and their family and then spoke in the Cottage Grove ward at 1:00.

This evening (Sunday) we will have the senior couples from the office (those coming and going) and the Christensen’s who were in Lincoln City and are going home – along with the Lyman’s – over for dinner and a send off.

Although this was a complete week it was very refreshing and I feel ready for the zone conference week coming up. I feel like a new missionary (which I am) who has been trained and is now ready to move it up and take charge. I know who is really in charge, but I feel a bit more relaxed doing His work.

Eugene Zone Activity July 7, 2008

Here we are with our beloved Eugene zone

Working together through confidence courses at a beautiful church camp
Some tried horseshoes for a while then moved on to ultimate frisbee and food