We may be old, but we're still daring enough to stand right next to a man-eating plant...
and we still love each other enough to put our arms around each other often...
and we most certainly don't move as slow as this guy, yet. They don't know what old is. Give them time.On Monday night, July 7, 2009, we met the Portland Mission president and his wife in Salem, which is the dividing line between our two missions, and enjoyed dinner with them. It is very invigorating to talk with President and Sister Dyches. We compare notes on what is going well in their mission and share with them things that are working in ours. We also just get to know each other, which is the best part. We get together in meetings with the mission presidents in the northwest area twice a year, but I get so much out of this informal exchanging of ideas over dinner we have every couple of months. We have really grown to love the two of them and respect them for all they are doing.
Although we started interviews last week in the Coos Bay Zone while we were holding the seniors conference out there, this week we started interviews in earnest. We interviewed almost 70 missionaries Tuesday through Friday and went to Medford and back to visit with them. One of the zone leaders asked me how I liked interviews and I truthfully told him that I loved meeting with the missionaries. To do so builds me up as well. I left unsaid that by the end of the week I find myself really tired. I think striving to be “emotionally up,” in tune and sensitive to the spirit takes a bit more out of me than I can plan for. I do know that although I am somewhat exhausted by the end of the week, the Lords strengthens us and on we go.
Tuesday night after interviews in Roseburg and Grants Pass we had dinner with the Grants Pass stake president, President Lathen, and his wife. Afterwards Sister Macdonald and I attended their stake Bishopric meeting. The total meeting was dedicated to missionary work. As we visited with the leadership of that stake for about an hour and a half, we were impressed with their commitment to missionary work. Interesting enough, President Lathen's brother is a stake president in the Salem Stake and he has invited me to be in his stake next Tuesday evening with his Bishops. I am happy that there is a growing interest in missionary work throughout the mission.
Sunday evening Elder Burton from Payson, Utah stopped by with his girlfriend for dinner. He was touring the mission and we enjoyed the evening with them and the Strattons from the office. It's great to see how happy and well he is doing.
Although we started interviews last week in the Coos Bay Zone while we were holding the seniors conference out there, this week we started interviews in earnest. We interviewed almost 70 missionaries Tuesday through Friday and went to Medford and back to visit with them. One of the zone leaders asked me how I liked interviews and I truthfully told him that I loved meeting with the missionaries. To do so builds me up as well. I left unsaid that by the end of the week I find myself really tired. I think striving to be “emotionally up,” in tune and sensitive to the spirit takes a bit more out of me than I can plan for. I do know that although I am somewhat exhausted by the end of the week, the Lords strengthens us and on we go.
Tuesday night after interviews in Roseburg and Grants Pass we had dinner with the Grants Pass stake president, President Lathen, and his wife. Afterwards Sister Macdonald and I attended their stake Bishopric meeting. The total meeting was dedicated to missionary work. As we visited with the leadership of that stake for about an hour and a half, we were impressed with their commitment to missionary work. Interesting enough, President Lathen's brother is a stake president in the Salem Stake and he has invited me to be in his stake next Tuesday evening with his Bishops. I am happy that there is a growing interest in missionary work throughout the mission.
Sunday evening Elder Burton from Payson, Utah stopped by with his girlfriend for dinner. He was touring the mission and we enjoyed the evening with them and the Strattons from the office. It's great to see how happy and well he is doing.
A few weeks ago we sent a letter out to all the missionaries who went home in our first year of service. That prompted many of them to drop an e-mail or to call us. It is good to hear from them and know they are continuing to make progress in their lives.
As Sister Macdonald was visiting with one of the elders after I had interviewed him, he told her about this great older couple they were teaching. He told her they were very receptive to the gospel even though they were quite old. He was impressed that an old couple would listen to young men and humble themselves to feel the spirit as they were taught. Then she made the mistake of asking how old this couple was. The answer: the man was about fifty and the woman in her late forties. I guess we know how they really feel about this “old couple” who are leading their mission.
As Sister Macdonald was visiting with one of the elders after I had interviewed him, he told her about this great older couple they were teaching. He told her they were very receptive to the gospel even though they were quite old. He was impressed that an old couple would listen to young men and humble themselves to feel the spirit as they were taught. Then she made the mistake of asking how old this couple was. The answer: the man was about fifty and the woman in her late forties. I guess we know how they really feel about this “old couple” who are leading their mission.
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