Weeks Ending December 13 & 20, 2009 - Weeks # 5 & 6

It seemed strange to not have President with us, but we had a good time together. For the first time since I've been here, every missionary in the group had been to the Portland Temple before so they weren't interested in taking too many pictures. It was a cold day.

An enthusiastic new group arriving on a cold day. They are certainly getting a taste of a cold December for Oregon. Too bad there isn't a little snow to go with it.

The sun is shining and we are soaking it up even if it is still cold. Our zone leaders are wonderful young men. We love working with them. Some of those smiles look a bit mischievious, don't you think? Me too.

Due to the influence of various narcotics, I am not sure I will ever completely remember all that happened in these weeks, but the recovery is marching along as promised, just not as quickly as I might have hoped. :>) In week five we made transfer decisions. For the time I worked on transfers, either alone or with my assistants, I took no pain medication so I could be more receptive to the Spirit and its promptings. The Lord was kind enough to make His will known very clearly and very quickly and to allow my pain to subside during that time. Afterwards I was able to get back on the prescribed pain killers and knew full well that the Lord is in charge and that He is a God of mercy and kindness. Lest I sound like I am hooked, please know that the amount of pain medication I take continues to come down dramatically each week.

During week six we welcomed in new missionaries and sent off those who had completed their missions. I was able to do everything I needed to with the new missionaries. I even had pictures taken with them without my sling, but I put my arm back in the sling immediately afterwards. (I did this same thing for the pictures taken during ZLC.) Again we have excited young men ready to go to work.

With the returning missionaries I skipped going to the temple with them, but Sister Macdonald went with them. I participated in all other activities and had a brief interview with each of them before they went home. They go home ready to reach their potential.

Since we have Christmas next week, we also held Zone Leaders Council (ZLC) this week. Sometimes I have felt like this meeting is too much of a “top down” method of dispensing information, so we asked each zone leader to come with items they could discuss that worked particularly well in their areas. I was very impressed with the input we received and how much thought and inspiration they receive in their callings for the work they do.

As I close this posting I am so grateful for the Christ Child and all that His birth and life has meant to me and to all of humanity. As I do each year, I am enjoying reading the gospels at this time of year and drawing closer to Him. I hope that each of our lives will always be focused on Him and the possibility we all have to return to live in His presence.

Merry Christmas!

Week Ending December 6, 2009 Week # 4

Tom is doing better. He can get a shirt on now.

Two views of a lighthouse near Crescent City, Calif. This is just outside our mission, but we have to travel this road to get from one part of our mission to another.

Right now I feel good enough to make a quick post about a significant event that happened last week. I didn’t report on it then as I wanted my son to be able to tell all those he wanted to before the blog was posted. The day after Thanksgiving our youngest child, Clint, became engaged to Tava Erdmann. We are thrilled! They have known each other for a long time and she wrote to him throughout his mission. Things have been going very good between the two of them since he got home. They are planning to marry in May and Tava is kind enough to be willing to come to Portland to go through the temple for her first time, so I can be a part of that. Then they will go back to Utah to be sealed in a temple there. We are so grateful that now each of our children has chosen a wonderful eternal companion.

My brother and I spoke the day I was going in for surgery and he gave me some great counsel. He said that when you feel pain or fatigue you should be happy because you know you are alive. He went on to say that the only people who never feel pain are dead. This week I am happy to report that I am very much alive! ;>) I am also grateful for pain medication and for loving people who care about me. I have received many thoughtful notes and remembrances and I am touched by all of them. I believe that all is going as it should, and next week I start with my physical therapy and check back in with my doctor.

There are always many things going on that require the mission president’s involvement. This week seemed to have more than the usual amount. I am grateful for worthy and capable counselors who have stepped in and gone the extra mile to insure that all was handled in accordance with the Lord’s plan. They are both great men who are a significant source of strength and wisdom to me and to the Oregon Eugene Mission!

Well, I will close this short note and just thank you all for your prayers for me, and for our missionaries and the great work they are doing. We are pleased to be trusted by the Lord to take on this huge task. I know that when we show significant faith in Him, He takes over and the work moves forward.