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.