A very busy week leading up to Father's Day

Today is Father's Day and I want to express gratitude and appreciation for Glen, who has been a wonderful father to our children.  He has been steady and consistent and has provided refuge, safety, a wonderful home, teachings, support and love for our children.  How grateful I have been for his goodness, kindness, patience, acceptance, and forgiveness.  He would always drop everything to help them for whatever they have asked.  He has tried to follow the Savior in His Christlike attributes that have blessed our lives.  Thank you for everything, and Happy Father's Day, Glen!

Happy Father's Day from our children and grandchildren!

This week has been so very busy with so many things going on!  Glen again had two full days of visa waiters from the MTC which is hard, because he also has full days of work in the office to complete.  He has all the housing now for the new transfers except two, so he's made a lot of progress.  He is also training Elder Sudweeks, which takes a lot of his time, and also has to answer questions and provide assistance to missionaries all the time.  I've also been busy preparing files and notebooks for the incoming missionaries and a notebook for the new mission president and the usual many things going on, plus training Sister Sudweeks.  

We heard this week one of the many wonderful stories we hear about our missionaries.  Elder Zachary was teaching a man in need and he has accepted baptism. He had challenged him to attend church more regularly when the man said, "I just don't have any shoes that I can wear to church."  Elder Zachary asked him what size he wore, and on finding that they wore the same size, he took his own shoes off and gave them to the man.  It was a tender moment.  Elder Zachary went out into the 105 degree heat without any shoes, but was rejoicing nevertheless.  These are the kinds of missionaries that are serving in the Army of the Lord!

On Monday night we had dinner with Wendy, Jamie, Christian, Elder Vieira and Elder Mavromatis.  Afterward, Elder Vieira and Elder Mavromatis taught them the three pillars of forming the foundation of a testimony:  prayer, scripture study, and attending church.  They used an awesome object lesson using three cups and three knives, which held a lot of weight, as shown in the picture.  It was so great!  The Spirit was strong as they taught Wendy and Jamie, and we are praying for them to be able to strengthen their testimonies and for Jamie to be baptized.

On Tuesday, several elders came in and while they were waiting for some things to get done, they sang "Ye Elders of Israel" for us.  Oh, it was just amazing!  The harmony they used was just beautiful and they blended so well.  I love moments like these!  What great, dedicated elders we have and what a treat it was! They are, from left, Elders Fugate, Gaytan, Jett, Walker, Jarman, and Reel.

On Wednesday, Michae Garcia (formerly Sis. Garcia) came to the office with her parents to introduce them to us.  She was released just a few months ago, and was on her way to Provo for school.  She was an awesome missionary, and it was so fun to see her as a released missionary!

Bishop and Sister Evans also stopped in to see us from Logandale and brought us this whole box full of goodies:  homegrown tomatoes, zucchini, three kinds of peppers, and onions, plus homemade apricot jam, homemade tomato basil soup, with croutons and cheese to go on top!  It was incredible! (Half of it is gone in this picture.) They are truly the salt of the earth and a very choice couple.

On Wednesday, Randy, my friend from high school, also stopped by to bring us some home grown figs to try. They were quite interesting and pretty good! Can you believe how nice that was?  What a kind, good person he is.

On Wednesday night, we went over to Sis. Splain's and Sis. Houseman's for dinner and games.  We played chickenfoot dominoes and had so much fun.  How I love these senior missionaries!  Sister Macdonald gave me a sweet card and homemade loaf of wheat bread and Sis. Clark gave me this hotpad.  

On Thursday night, we went to the Sudweeks apartment and had dinner and played games.  We played games that we've never played before--Quirkle, and Sadoku.  They were so much fun!  The apartment looks so different and we had a great time with them.  The mission is very blessed to have them come here.

On Friday night, Dianne Christensen planned a girls night out to say goodbye to Teresa Wilhelmsen  and me--can you believe that?  She had invited several others to come, and I couldn't believe all the work she had put into it.  We drove to Spring Mountain Ranch where they have outdoor community plays that run during the summer.  On the way there, we passed these burros on the side of the road--burros that I have wanted to see since we got here, but they have never been there when we have passed by!  And to see a little family together was such a bonus!  Dianne pulled over so that I could take a picture, and as I was getting the camera ready, a coyote also trotted by.  I was so excited!

We spread out our blankets on the grass and all the ladies had brought things for a picnic for us.  There were hoagie sandwiches, fresh fruit, potato salad, chips, drinks, and brownies.  It was incredible!  Then they presented us with a book that they had all signed.  I was just stunned with their kindness and caring.  It meant so much!  From left, Teresa Wilhelmsen, me, Dianne Christensen, Joni Robison, Leslie Thomas, Kara Matthews, Kaylene Chambers, Melissa Smith, and Bethany Jones.  Awesome ladies.

Teresa, Dianne, and me before the play started.  It was "The Music Man" and it was so well done and fun!  The stage is behind us.  We had so much fun!

Glen and I got up early Saturday morning and went to Beatty (110 miles away) to check out our missionaries who were just sent there at the last transfer.  It's a tiny little town, but so charming, and Elder Hart and Elder Wrathall just love it there.  This is the apartment building they live in.  Pretty nice for such a tiny town!

We took them to eat breakfast at the local diner and had a great time talking to them.  They are the first elders to serve in this area exclusively and they love the distinction and the opportunity to lay the foundation.

This is the small church that they meet at.  It is a branch and only about 20 members are attending now, so they are excited to build up the branch.  They're great elders.

From there we headed to the northern area of Death Valley. Beatty is kind of the Nevada gateway to this part of Death Valley.

We went on a tour to see Scotty's Castle, a huge and beautiful castle built in Death Valley in the 1930's   There is a fascinating story surrounding it's history and we loved hearing about it.  It really is out in the middle of nowhere!

We hurried home (a three hour drive) and then went to dinner with the Larkins, our wonderful friends.  We had so much fun with them!  They are adorable.  It's been a busy busy week, a very full week, and we loved it.