You may know that for years we have composted (I guess you could call it that.).  Our town has a composting system that is a really good idea.  Each home has a little green bucket with a little green bag in it, which is made of starch. Just about anything goes in it for the city to collect and compost locally.  So leftover food, cooked or raw, paper towels, tissue, cat litter, etc. When the little bag is full you just put it into the bin outside with the green lid.

We also buy leaf lettuce with the root still on it, which means the lettuce is always really fresh.  I really like this method.

Last week we had a mission conference in Sydney.  The church has a wonderful Christmas lights exhibit at the headquarters there, just next to the temple.  There was also a life sized nativity outdoors and inside one of the buildings an art show depicting the life of Christ.  It was wonderful!   Here are some pictures of the nativity.  Hope you feel the spirit of the Christmas message.

We made it! It is wonderful, updates to come. In the meantime please enjoy this video.

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-05-01-they-gave-up-their-christmas?category=welfare

The first responsibility of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to invite all to come unto Christ.  In addition the Church teaches and encourages self-reliance and provident living.  Included after a brief summary of our first three weeks is a small glimpse into the world of church humanitarian services.

Still No Visa

We finished our regular studies on October 28 and then spent a week attending classes for seniors working in offices doing newsletters, correspondence, taking care of cars and apartments for missionaries.  We learned a really, really lot . 

 The next week we attended classes for senior missionaries going to work with church education or young single adult centers.  Throughout the world teenagers study the scriptures daily in classes called seminary.  In St. Louis our youth go to a church near their high school at 6 am. everyday.  The teachers are some really dedicated and amazing people.  Love you all.  This early morning class is the desired way and is held wherever possible.  Classes and gathering places are also held around the world for singles  18-30. They usually meet three times a week.  One night is called a Family Home Evening, one is scripture study and one is an activity. We learned a lot that week also.  

On November 11 we decided to follow the senior missionaries doing humanitarian service.  We toured Welfare Square which is an amazing place.  Anyone who travels to Salt Lake City should take the tour.  We learned the many things the church does to help people in need whether through disaster, unemployment, illness or other misfortune.  The typhoon in the Philippines was fresh on our minds so seeing first hand the many things the church does to help throughout the world was timely.  We also had several presentations from different phases of the humanitarian services.  Must brag that our son Robert was one of the presenters and we learned of a gardening project among the Navajos in Arizona.  It is amazing how this project changed the lives of the participants.

 Warehouse where supplies are stored.  This is one of about 6 aisles of goods.  Things can be moved to a disaster area on a moments notice.

 The flash kind of hinders the view of the milk bottling part of the dairy.  It is really massive but you cannot really tell that.

 This is a small view of the Deseret Industries used goods store.  It is one of the cleanest, biggest, and nicest charity stores I have ever seen.   People who work here are often being trained for employment.  Some employees may be individuals with handicaps that would prevent them from other types of employment.

This vat contains the makings of cheese.  There is as huge paddle that goes up and down the vat churning it constantly.  It is hard to tell but the cheese is curds at this point.  When we lived in Wyoming we would love to stop at the cheese factory and buy fresh curds.  They are delicious, and if they are fresh they squeak when you chew them.  The cheese is then pressed into blocks.


This gigantic granary  stores many tons of wheat and I have forgotten the correct amount.  It is something like 13,000 tons.  It is only one of many granaries throughout the US.

After our tour they treated us to some of the products produced from church farms and processed in church plants.  The bread was still warm and it is the best chocolate milk I have ever tasted.  They use the same recipe as Stephens chocolate.  There was also honey, raspberry and strawberry jam, peanut butter, and butter, all grown and produced by church welfare

For more information on Church Welfare you may find the following links interesting.

. http://www.lds.org/topics/welfare/the-church-welfare-plan/history-of-living-providently?  http://mormon.org/faq/welfare-serviceshttp://mormon.org/faq/welfare-serviceshttp://mormon.org/faq/welfare-services

Nov. 6, evening

We have noticed several young men zooming around the MTC (missionary training center) in wheelchairs.  Of course I was curious about how they would be serving as missionaries.  Sunday at a mission conference one of these young men played a beautiful piano solo.   It appears he has needed a wheelchair his entire life.  His hands were quite stiff and not shaped like you would expect a piano player's hands to be.  I was so impressed with his sharing his talent.  Then a couple of these young men in wheelchairs talked to us.  They are so humble, so happy to serve, so grateful for the opportunity to be missionaries.  They serve here at the call center talking to people who make inquiries about the church.  I am so grateful that there are many ways to serve and all who want to do so may.

For the past almost 50 years I have loved helping children and their parents love and play music.  It is so gratifying to see a young man who was given the opportunity to play when many parents would have thought it not possible.  Many are blessed because of his playing for us.  I thank his parents for giving him that gift.  It just reminds me once again...every child can.  

Wednesday, November 6, 3013

If anyone thinks we are in Australia, Surprise!  We are still visa waiting.  We have high hopes that it won't be too much longer.

Here in Provo, Utah is a large complex built for the missionaries of all ages to come for further education before departing to various parts of the world.  There are probably 2, 000 here, mostly young men and women 18 and 19 years old.  This week's group of  "seniors" is 130.  For most the stay is approximately a week to 10 days studying our missionary handbook "Preach My Gospel."  For those learning a language there is an additional  6 or so weeks with intense language training.  Each Wednesday morning about 6 am a huge bus loads up those ready to leave and takes them to the airport where they depart to various parts of the world to "Bring people unto Christ."

A passage from the Book of Mormon reminds us of our purpose "..we talk of Christ,we rejoice in
Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

Because we still don't have visas we attended some classes that do not pertain to our assignment as member-leader support.  We spent a week learning about office work (which really gave me some computer knowledge that is useful).  This week we spent with people going to military bases and young single adult centers and seminary and institute centers.  We really studied in depth how to study and how to teach.  I loved it.  We had so many spiritual experiences as we shared and learned from one another.

We have a great work to do in bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world.  It is amazing and humbling at the same time.  We love being here and we love our calling.

SAll unday, October 27, 2013

I have been trying to figure out how to get a picture from my e-mail to this blog.  We had 75 in our week of training for "seniors."  We had an amazing week studying and teaching to prepare for our assignments in various parts of the world.  We made really good friends with a couple from Wyoming (kindred spirits, I guess).  They are going to Ghana and will be spending another week here learning the office work.  Since we don't have our visas we think we will join them in the office training this week.  We aren't assigned office work but it never hurts to learn everything you can.

This morning all the "sister" missionaries, those young women preparing to serve and we "seniors" had a wonderful Relief Society meeting.  This is the women's organization throughout the world that looks after the welfare of all people.  As we studied the 25th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants the young women commented on each verse and why and how it is important to their lives.  All comments were valuable and uplifting.  One that causes us all to pause and ponder is v. 10.  "And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better."

As I ponder on the things of the world that I so love, teaching children piano and sewing beautiful things,  I know that these things are also be a part of building up the Kingdom of God on earth. Each little talent developed, each little child loved, each parent encouraged,  is part of doing what my Father in Heaven would want me to do.  As I teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to others I pray for  happiness and unity in families.  That is probably the most important part of our work, and it comes as people accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and change their lives for the better.

Second Day

We have just finished 2 days of training here at the Missionary Training Center.  There are 75 couples here this week going all over the world,   Ghana, South Africa, Thailand, Iowa, Nauvoo, New York, Philippines, Australia, Texas, and that is just a start.

We are studying Preach My Gospel and doing some role playing.  Our teachers are young returned missionaries and they are amazing.

Tonight we attended the weekly Devotional.  There must have been over 2,000 missionaries in attendance, all in various stages of education.  Two young ladies going to Japan were telling us about the 4 alphabets they need to learn.  We ran into Sara Eskelsen, who says Mongolian is hard.  She looks fabulous.

Elder Robbins spoke to us tonight and told many wonderful stories of the miracles that have happened as missionaries open their mouths.  We know there is a special purpose for each of us in our callings.  We love the Gospel and are grateful for the opportunity to share it.

3 Weeks to St. Louis Goodbyes

Our opportunity to speak in sacrament meeting is September 29th at 1pm The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (15081 Clayton Rd. Chesterfield).