Sunday, September 26, 2010

59th Post Monday Sept 20 - Sunday Sept 26, 2010

Another Monday already. I had some Elders help load up the truck and trailer this morning so I would be ready to go tomorrow morning. We are opening another new apartment and I need furniture to put in it. Spent the rest of the day working on photos for the incoming missionaries (Dec, Jan, and Feb), updating apartment data, repaired a vacuum for the sisters, and cleaned up the garage. All the senior missionaries were invited to the mission home for dinner this evening. We were all there, 6 couples and 3 senior sisters. The Stringfellows and us are in the office, as is Sister Betty Jo Young, the Nagels are CES missionaries at Sam Houston State College in Huntsville, the Christensens are member support missionaries also in Huntsville, the Thomas' are employment down town (took our place), and Sisters Billingsley and Peggy Jo Young are in the employment office next to the mission office, and the Peacocks who are the Bishop Storehouse managers. We had a wonderful time visiting together. What a blessing to be associated with such good people. President and Sister Hansen are an inspiration to all of us.

Tuesday I left early to get the Zone Leaders moved into their new apartment. They had been living with the ASL missionaries in a 2 bedroom apartment. We have 3 new ASL missionaries arriving tomorrow so President Hansen decided to get a one bedroom apartment in the same complex for the ZL's. The move went well as there were 8 or so missionaries to move the stuff, even though their new apartment is on the third floor. When I got back to the office Elder Stringfellow wanted me to drive him down to retrieve a car that had been towed. This one cost the Elders about $190. Towing in Houston is a real racket.

Wednesday I went out inspecting apartments. I was back to the office in time to greet the new ASL missionaries. Two of them are hearing and the other has an inplant that allows him to hear a little bit. We have an ASL missionary, Elder Jex, in our mission. He is totally deaf and will now be a trainer for one of the new ASL missionaries. He and his companion, who can hear, were at the office to greet the new missionaries. I could see the excitement in his eyes of having now THREE new missionaries that he can talked (sign) to. Each one of us in the office have a brief orientation for the missionaries on what we do and how we can help them.
This evening the Stringfellows and and us were invited to Brother and Sister Johnson's for dinner. He is also a Shell retiree and has been to the Delaware City Refinery a few times. They are wonderful people, too bad they will be moving to Utah soon. Sister Johnson is from Louisiana and loves southern cooking. She fixed gumbo that was some of the best I have ever had - it was very good. Leona was a bit nervous when she said that she was not announcing the menu until it was served. After sitting at the table and the blessing given she said that she had made "true gumbo - a labor of love" just for us. Well, Leona thought it would be filled with fish parts of all kinds and she was truely releaved to discover it was instead lots of chicken and a little sausage! She throughly enjoyed it and Sister Johnson shared her recipe with her.
We cooked chicken today for chicken pasta salad for a sister's training meeting lunch tomorrow. Our assignment was to cook and cut up the chicken and clean and slice the grapes. Leona and Melissa Vincent have always wanted a "calling" to fix lunch for the general authorities between conference sessions. We are getting practice and more "job qualifications" for that assignment!

Thursday I went out apartment inspecting again. The last place I went is a place that I always have to call the office to get in the gate. After inspecting the apartment I debated with myself if I should stop by the office and see if I could get a pass card or not. On the way out the gate I thought STOP and get a card. So I did. The manager was in the back and her assistant was helping someone else. When I explained what I needed she said as long as your name is on the lease you can have a card. I said I signed the lease, which she verified and so all was great. As I turned to leave she said, by the way do you have a copy of the Book of Mormon I could have? My 12 year old daughter has a friend who is a Mormon and she would like a Book of Mormon. I told her I did not have one on me but would see that she got one. I got back into the truck and drove back through the gate to the missionary apartment (thinking I hope they have an English copy, they are Spanish speaking missionaries - they did). The apartment manager thanked me for getting the copy for her. It was a real blessing for me! A neat experience.

We had Elders Thomson, and Anderson (the AP's) over for dinner this evening. They are such fine young men and wonderful missionaries. Pres. Hansen called this evening and said that one of the sisters apartment had been "broken into" and a CD player was missing and their stuff had been gone through. There was no sign of forced entry, so the Sisters were really worried. We had them stay with other sister missionaries fairly close by. After we talked we decided to look for a new apartment for them, which will take some time in that area.

Friday we went into the office for a while before heading down to MD Anderson and another BCG treatment. The treatment went well. I spent the rest of the day at home.

Saturday was a stay close to the facilities day for me. I did not feel like doing too much. This evening Leona went to the sister's apt and watched the RS Broadcast. Afterwards I walked over to get her and then Leona and I watched the movie about Joseph and Emma on BYU TV on our computer. She was truely an elect lady. She had such great faith and endured many trials and hardships. They are examples to each of us. Someday I hope to shake their hands and to say thank you.

Sunday we got up and went for a short walk around the lake. There was a little breeze and it was almost cool. We took a loaf of bread to feed the ducks, swan, turtles, and fish. It is fun to watch the animals, they seem so hungry. Fast and testimony meeting was good. The Bishopric always reminds us to be short and what a testimony is. The results are many more people are able to participate and the testimonies are centered on Christ.

1 comment:

Diane said...

Uncle Steven and Aunt Leona,

We are thrilled to find your blog! It will be fun to read about your mission and all the fun things you are experiencing in Houston.

We miss seeing you all--the whole clan! We send our love,

Darin and Diane and Boys