Week Ending December 26, 2010 Week # 5

This is the tree that has been in the Mission Office. The Watsons and Campbells (our office couple missionaries) decorated the tree with much work, creativity and love. Every missionary's picture is on the tree. Christ is the gift beneath the tree. A picture of President and I is at the top. The tree is beautiful and has inspired many questions and remarks by those who come and go through the office, some of whom are not members.

Most of my “mission president” type work this week was been behind-the-scenes work. I worked with the assistants to plan out next month’s mission president training and, since one of them will be traveling with us on this round of missionary visits, we also determined which one would go to which zones, and which one of us would be teaching which part of the fundamentals of preach my gospel. I also caught up on reading letters to the mission president and did more office work than usual. Sister Macdonald caught up on the photo portion of our history here and prepared for future cooking needs etc. The two of us delivered Christmas fudge that she had made for neighbors and some of our friends in the ward.

Wednesday was Sister Macdonald’s birthday and almost every missionary (and many former ones) texted her, or called her, wishing her a happy birthday. Many sang to her as well. It is obvious she is loved by her current and former missionaries.

Thursday morning I called each of the missionaries who will be training or taking on a new leadership assignment and encouraged them in their new duties. On Friday morning we had a conference call with all of the zone leaders to tell them of all the details of transfers. This was the first time we had all the zone leaders together for a conference call to announce transfers, and I think it answered more of their questions by doing it this way.

On Thursday evening we traveled to Roseburg and had dinner with Pres & Sister Smith prior to attending a baptism in Myrtle Creek. The Smiths have become great friends while we have been here and we always enjoy our time with them. It is always good to go to a baptism a little farther away from Eugene as people don’t expect to see the mission president and his wife there. This particular baptism completed a family as the husband had been baptized a few weeks back, and the wife received her witness a little later that she too should be baptized. Now her husband was able to perform the baptism.

On Friday, Christmas Eve, we enjoyed a dinner with the two office couples at the Watsons home. It was great to be with them and everyone’s cooking was excellent! Later that evening we had just over 20 of the missionaries serving in the Eugene area over to the house for snacks and some scripture study. Many of the missionaries shared what they had studied recently regarding the birth of the Savior or His teachings. We then read through Luke chapter 2. These missionaries often tell us how much they learn from studying with us, and while that may be true, we too gain so much from hearing their insights.

On Christmas Day we enjoyed talking with our children, various family members, and several current and former missionaries. One of our missionaries has no family and so we called him and had a nice casual visit with him, like he may have had if he had called home. Later that day we attended another baptism of a new member who wanted to be baptized on Christmas Day. It was good to see so much ward support there on a Christmas day.

On Sunday our youngest son and his wife (Clint and Tava) flew in to spend a few days with us. That evening Clint came with me to the baptism of four people in the Spanish branch here in Eugene. Since he served a Spanish speaking mission, he understood what was going on, and I could feel of the spirit and happiness that was there.

Week Ending December 19, 2010 Week # 4

The relief society sister who provided lunch at one of the zone conferences, set up a sugar cookie decorating station for the missionary's dessert. They really had fun decorating their cookies. What a great idea! Thanks sisters!

Cookies and ice cream! What more does a hungry elder need?

This is a storm we watched roll into shore. Such beauty even in a storm.

Some of you parents have commented on the Christmas present your elders and sisters received from us. Here is a picture of it.

The biggest news for the missionaries this week was that I received notice that they could Skype home for Christmas. Some had already asked and I had told them they couldn’t Skype. Everyone is happy with the change in the rules. The biggest news for me for the week was that Sister Macdonald made it home again. As I was talking with Elder Patrick Kearon of the Seventy last week, he joked that I should let him know if she disappears and doesn’t come back. I was happy to report when I spoke to him on another matter this week, that she did come back and that the mission was sure to run better with her here. She returned late on Sunday and we left early Monday afternoon to get to the first zone conference in Medford.

On Monday evening we were invited to have dinner at the home of the Johnsons who live in Central Point. They had served as full time senior missionaries in Brookings until October 2008. They also invited the senior couples, who would be coming to zone conference, serving in Lakeview and Brookings as well as the Idiarts. The Lakeview senior missionaries didn’t end up coming over as they were fearful of driving in potentially bad road conditions (which thankfully didn’t materialize) but we had a delightful time getting to know the Higginbothams who are currently serving in Brookings.

At this round of zone conferences one of my counselors spoke first and started the meeting with a Christmas message. They were followed by Sister Macdonald who wove a Christmas message into a parallel of the Sons of Helaman and the fact that they carry their mother’s heart with them, and she did a great job. I led two discussions in the morning. During the first discussion we made a list of things that lead some to believe the gospel is not true, and another list that leads people to believe the gospel is true. As we discussed the differences, we concluded that the Spirit can and will direct us to the truth, if we are open to the belief that the Lord does live and that he will direct His children to the truth. During the second discussion I showed a picture of a horse pulling a heavy load and we discussed how that applies to each of us in our duty as missionaries. The insights the missionaries shared were so wonderful. I was impressed with their wisdom and sensitivity to the spirit.

The assistants then led a great discussion entitled “finding through mining.” They showed ways for the missionaries to find new investigators through referrals like Elder Evans had taught us over a year ago, and through other ideas recorded in Preach My Gospel. The afternoon was split between testimonies from various missionaries and some closing comments from me including sharing the story “A Brother Like That.” I later commented to Sister Macdonald that I had felt the spirit more during these three days than I had ever felt in any other three day period of my life. I enjoyed leading these discussions and testifying of the Savior over and over again.

At the end of the week I received a pleasant call from the Leucks who own a place out in Depoe Bay. They asked if we would like to use it. I had work to do on Saturday, so I mostly stayed in and worked (with the BYU football game playing in the background) but we had the office senior missionaries with us and they hit the town and saw the sights. On Sunday we went to Sacrament meeting in Lincoln City, and to Priesthood and Relief society in Newport. We enjoyed seeing the missionaries and members in both wards. It was also nice because Sister Macdonald’s nephew lives in Newport and we enjoyed seeing his family. One sister told Sister Macdonald how much one of her talks in a previous stake conference had meant to her, which made them bond instantly.

Sunday evening upon our return to Eugene, one of our great missionaries, Elder Crandall, stopped in for a visit with his sister and some friends who were traveling with him. It was great to see him and feel great feelings of love for him and all missionaries we have come to know over the past few years. He reminded us again of the long term benefits that come from our service here.

Week Ending December 12, 2010 Week # 3

"Will we be on the blog?"

"Please go away."

Yes, they look natural.

Show offs!



Some do love a camera.

Some are totally unaware of the camera.

Some are very cooperative. "Yes, the blog!" "Hi Mom!"

Sister Macdonald was out of town this week. We don’t have much time apart on this mission, so this has been very different for me. She has been home once before for our youngest son’s wedding. This time apart was for another happy event in our lives. We have had two granddaughters born in the last month or so, and while I was talking with my general authority contact, he quickly authorized, and even encouraged her to go home and see the two of them. We have had two grandchildren born previously and she didn’t go home for either of their births, so we called around to all of our children to make sure there would be no jealously about her making a trip to see these new ones. We quickly got enthusiastic support from all of the children and so I booked her trip. Last Saturday she left for Texas to spend a few days and was able to witness the baby blessing there. Then she headed to Utah for a visit and another baby blessing the next Sunday. With the baby blessing in Highland, I was able to watch via Skype. I am so glad that she has had such a good time, but I do look forward to her return later tonight.

I was able to interview the missionaries in the Corvallis and Capital zones on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sister Macdonald made sure she had prepared beforehand the homemade goodies for these missionaries. They enjoyed the goodies but missed having Sis. Macdonald there. During this trip to the northern zones, I was also able to visit with stake leaders of two stakes who are planning to divide their Spanish branch. I needed to see what support they may need and if they will need additional missionaries in those areas. We have already needed to increase the number of Spanish missionaries assigned to this mission once before, and it looks like we will need to increase that number again.

Although this is only week three, my assistants and I worked a little bit on transfers. Since we make transfer changes in Burns when they come in for zone conferences (as Burns is over five hours away) and since we have moved zone conferences up to week four, we needed to get an earlier start on them. Anyway, that was a long lead in to again say that the Lord’s presence was felt in determining who goes where and who they go with.

On Thursday evening I enjoyed a dinner with the Watsons. I am lucky to have good people who try to make sure I don’t starve while Sister Macdonald is gone. She actually has taken really good care of me by having several meals in the freezer before she left, but I loved both the meal and the company at the Watsons. On Friday afternoon I attended a district meeting. That evening I went out teaching with two missionaries in Eugene and enjoyed the opportunity I had to be involved in teaching the gospel on the front lines. Saturday I tried to go to another baptism in Santa Clara, but I had heard the wrong start time and missed it by two hours. I was able to go to that ward on Sunday and witness their confirmations. Saturday I went out to dinner with the Lymans, and Sunday I enjoyed one more dinner out, this time at the Salisbury’s who have also become good friends. We will miss so many good people here in Eugene who have become so dear to us, when it is our time to go home.

Week Ending December 5, 2010 Week # 2

Two pictures of the variety in beauty that we take in as we travel through our mission. It often takes our breath away. The same roads traveled are new as weather and seasons change. What a beautiful world we are blessed with.

This was the week of our long drive. It gave us an opportunity to see our missionaries and the stake presidents in Roseburg, Grants Pass, Medford, Klamath Falls and Bend. Each day we visited with and interviewed twenty or more missionaries and each evening we had dinner with one of the stake presidents and their wives. We see these missionaries and stake presidents quite often and each time we do see them it seems like it has been a while and there is so much to catch up on.

The church provides mission presidents with a vehicle, and we are on our second one. We took delivery of this car 11 months ago and have over 30,000 miles on it. We have learned to make good use of the driving time by listening to books on tape, conference reports, mission president seminars, etc. Sister Macdonald is always working on a baby blanket for our newest grandchild while we drive as well. It has been a blessing to have this “forced” time together and we have found we enjoy this extra time together. We have made a commitment to find a way to spend more time with each other when we go back home and get involved with life there.

On Saturday of this week we had our first Zone Leaders’ Council over the phone. The assistants and I were a little concerned about how this would work, since we would not be in the same room, but it went surprising well. We had scheduled two hours for the call, but thought we would only take an hour or so. However, we ended up using all of the time available. This is not a replacement for getting together, but when our normally scheduled council (which we usually hold on week one of transfers) isn’t near the first of the month, we will hold an extra meeting by phone – so in a year’s time we will be together for nine and hold three by conference call. The obvious trade offs are the loss of personal interaction, and Sister Macdonald’s cooking of course, versus significant time savings as most of the zone leaders require a night here in Eugene and about two days away from their area.

On Saturday afternoon I also stopped by the home of one of the High Priest assistant group leaders and watched a part of the Civil War. It was fun to interact with them for a quarter or so and see their enthusiasm for their Ducks. Sunday I enjoyed a dinner at the home of President Barnes while Sister Macdonald was out of town (more on that next week) and went to a baptism for the Cottage Grove Ward. There were so many people there supporting the young lady being baptized that I couldn’t get a seat. I stayed for the baptism but left before the program was over. It is a nice problem to run out of room at a baptism.

Week Ending November 28, 2010 Week # 1

Here are the Watsons and the Campbells. Without them Thanksgiving dinner wouldn't have happened and the office couldn't function.

Here are the Johnsons. Without them nothing around here happens. She's my angel and he is hers. We love them both.

They made me get in this picture and I was brave (or stupid) to put it in the blog. These sisters are beautiful inside and out. We had such a good time decorating the tree.

Happy Thanksgiving. We enjoyed having the two office couples, the Watsons and the Campbells, along with Erda and Jerry Johnson over for Thanksgiving dinner. We also invited a fairly recent convert, but he got sick and wasn’t able to come. We were also the back-up plan for any missionaries in the area, but they all ended up being taken care of by are good members. Anyway, we had a great time with the eight of us here for dinner.

Since we held zone leaders’ council a couple of weeks ago in connection with our leadership training, we were able to start interviews this week. Sister Macdonald continued her tradition of making homemade fudge and short bread for interviews in the transfer that includes Christmas. The missionaries love her culinary skills and the touch of home memories it brings to them. This week we held interviews in Eugene and Coos Bay. After visiting with the missionaries in Coos Bay I enjoyed visiting with that good stake president. I am impressed with him, like his peers throughout the mission, who are dedicated to their assignments, and their Savior.

The material we reviewed prior to interviews as our gospel study time together was the conference issue of the Ensign. I am impressed with how much our missionaries learn from general conference and how they apply it to their teaching and their lives. If they continue to do this after they go home, they will be strong, contributing church members throughout their lives.

On Saturday morning we had a set of elders come over and help us set up the Christmas tree and later in the afternoon we had a set of sisters come by and help decorate the tree. They were each here about an hour. We certainly could have managed with out them, but it was fun to interact with them and let them have a taste of the holidays too. Later in the day I went to the baptism of a wonderful family in Santa Clara, while Sister Macdonald continued her cooking for next week’s holiday treats.

This week we don’t have a lot to report on, so I will just say how grateful we are for all of our missionaries, those in the field and those who have gone home. So many of them make the effort to stay in touch with us after they go home. This week we have heard from several of them just saying hi, wishing us a Happy Thanksgiving, or sending their wedding announcements, etc. We are thankful that they continue to do good things and that they include us in their joy. We wish them all the very best.

We are also grateful for our family. They are so wonderful in the way they continue to support us spiritually and emotionally from home. We couldn’t do this without them. We love them.