29 September 2019
This is a photo I took at Joe's Farm Grill, a restaurant in Gilbert.  It's a Tamarind tree.  The main trunks (2) lie on their sides and then new shoots grow straight up.  There are signs posted saying Do Not Climb.  The first reason stated is because you may fall.  The 2nd reason, a more compelling reason from my perspective, is you may be stung by scorpions.  I've never seen a tree grow like that and it is massive.

The zinnia seeds I planted a week ago yesterday afternoon are now about 2 inches high.  I've never seen a seed germinate that quickly.  My tomato plants look healthy and may have grown a bit, but no blossoms yet.  There are two large pecan trees out my kitchen window (the back yard of the "big" house) and I learned yesterday that they will soon be ripe.  How nice to have fresh pecans for the picking.

One of the perks of my mission, is living 20 minutes away from my oldest son and his wife.  Julie threw Scott a surprise retirement party on Friday evening and I was able to be a part of that.  I went over ahead of time and helped Julie and her friend decorate and prepare.  The look on Scott's face when he saw his friends in the kitchen and heard them shout "Congratulations" confirmed that he had no idea Julie had planned the party.  It was such an enjoyable evening that I would have missed, but for my mission.

I am enjoying my scripture study time each morning.  I've just finished reading in the Book of Mormon, 3rd and 4th Nephi which tell of the events on this continent following the crucifixion and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He taught the people the things he had taught in the Old World.  The people believed him, were baptized and became a righteous people and, for more than 200 years, they enjoyed peace.  Little by little pride crept in and they became a wicked people.  There were terrible wars with thousands being killed on both sides.  I thought how similar the world is today.  People came to America for religious freedom and for a few hundred years we were known as a Christian nation.  It is sad to see that changing, and so dramatically in relatively few years.   Christians are now persecuted.  Anti-semitism is rearing it's ugly head again.   Until we accept and live the teachings of Jesus Christ, things will not get better.  I can see clearly why the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints encourage it's members to read in the Book of Mormon each day for it is another, a 2nd witness of Jesus Christ.  It gives hope and teaches of His power and love.

September 21, 2019

Yay!  Success, finally.  To the left is my living room with the pictures of my great grands on the shelves and a picture I found that says "Then Sings My Soul."  That's how I feel about this mission.  "How Great Thou Art" is one of my favorite hymns and the words "then sings my soul" seem to crescendo in each verse.  To the right is my kitchen table where I eat my meals and where I do my scripture study.  I found 3 things to frame:  The top one says "Be Still and Know That I Am God."  Below, a picture of the Savior with outstretched arms and to the right "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." 

The landlord had very short notice that I would be the tenant in the casita, and not more young elders.  There are some things that need repairing and painting.  He's committed to do some of them.  He's happy to have me as the tenant and, since I'll be here for 23 months, I think he's more willing to do the work.

So, little by little it is feeling more like home, a missionary home, that is.  All of the furniture is furnished by the mission.  I even bought a tomato plant and a cherry tomato plant this afternoon.  At home, I would be cleaning up the garden and yard for winter.  Here, it is just now planting season.  I planted the tomatoes, a geranium and a packet of zinnia seeds. 


This is the view from my front door--I am blessed to be able to use the carport that is attached to the "big" house.  The patch of dirt outside my front door is where I planted.  There are times of the day that it is in full sun so I hope things will grow.  Ripe tomatoes all winter, right outside of my door would be so great.

Our theme for devotionals at the ROC this month is "Did you Think To Pray?"  I have been inspired and uplifted by each of the devotionals this week.  This theme has invited, it seems, the sharing of a lot of personal experiences, which I enjoy very much.  I feel I have learned much about praying and I feel my prayers have improved, as a result.  We are so blessed to know our Father in Heaven , to know that He wants us to pray and that He hears each sincere, heartfelt prayer.  As I look back on my life, I see how He has been watching over me, guiding me, and blessing me.

Reading in 3 Nephi this past couple of weeks has touched me deeply.  I don't remember ever being aware of how often Jesus spoke of being commanded of the Father to say or do specific things.  It is abundantly clear that they are two separate Beings who are One in Spirit and desires for each of us.

Sister Tolman and I have been invited to the home of one of the sisters in the Ward, tomorrow evening.  This is the first time we've been invited into the home of a member of the ward.  The homes I've seen in this area are, for the most part, very humble.  This sister actually lives in an apartment on a street I haven't heard of before.

I'm trying to share photos this week.

L: My desk and "closet."  The window looks out on a neighbors backyard.

R: My bed, nightstand and dresser. 

This is all in my bedroom.

The floors throughout are the same tile.  I've tried to move the photos around and don't know why they won't go where I want them to.
 There are just two rooms, plus the bathroom: the living/kitchen and the bedroom/office.   The table serves as the place to eat as well as my study area.  It's been interesting to realize how well I can get along in so little space.

I'm very thankful to have a washer and dryer inside.  The original apartment I was to move into had the washer and dryer outside and was shared with two other apartments.  This is so much nicer.  It is a stackable, as you can see, but I just wash once a week and it works well  The fridge and stove are old, but work well.  I have pictures of my kids and their families, as they were at the time they were taken, on the fridge.  (It's hard to get everyone together for pictures, when some live on the East coast and in various places.)

Last evening, Scott and Julie came and hung pictures in my living room area.  I've tried everything I know how to post the pictures of that area.   They hung shelves on which I have photos of my great grandchildren. 

To the right is my workspace at the ROC.  There are 4 offices, plus the main office and a gathering room where we have our twice-daily devotionals, as well as where we have lunch.  I'll try to remember to take a picture of that area.  Each of the four offices are shared, with each person having a computer and a 2nd monitor.  Everything we do is on computer.  The space where the chair is turned toward the camera is my desk.  Sister Tolman's is the one closest to the camera.    There are 2 couples and 4 single people who share the other desks.  They come in different days and/or just morning or just afternoon.  It may look small but it doesn't feel that way.  And, again, everything we do is on the computer.

This week the priority was for the Ohio births, deaths and marriages and that required us to help each other decipher writing.  They are from the 1700s and 1800s and the writing can be beautiful but difficult to discern the way they wrote some letters.  And, it appears that they are pages filmed from family Bibles, in some instances, so different people writing and then adding information.  Sadly, there are children listed by name, but no birth, death or marriage information.

I was standing at the kitchen sink Friday morning and something caught my attention on the floor to my left.  At first glance I saw a huge, orange-ish bug and panicked for a minute.  When I looked more closely, I was relieved to see that it was on it's back, legs up--dead!!!.  My hand vacuum took care of him.  I have no idea how he got into the kitchen, nor how he died.  Just thankful he did--die, that is.

Sister Tolman received a phone call from a young man who had served a mission in California when she and her family lived there, 30 years ago.  Brian and his wife, Callie, and two children live in Mesa and they invited us to dinner this week.  What a treat.  They are a delightful couple with
a sweet 6 year old daughter and a bright and charming 9 year old son.  When we walked into the kitchen and met Callie, she asked which one of us was from Bountiful  She took me into a hallway and asked if I recognized a couple in a photo.  Her parents are Ron and Shirlee Knighton, who served in the Bountiful Temple presidency a few years ago.  Sister Knighton and I both go to the same person for haircuts and have happened to be there a few times at the same time and it's been fun to chat with her.  What a small world.

So, while Sister Tolman and Brian reminisced about their time in California, Callie brought me up to date on her parents and family.   Brian smoked a filet mignon and a rib steak.  I have never had filet mignon before and it was the most tender, delicious meat I've ever had.    Brian is a pilot with Sky West Airlines.  It's always interesting how lives are interconnected.

Last evening we visited a woman we met in Church.  She lives in an assisted living center.  She is legally blind--can see shadows, and is in a wheelchair because her balance is not good.  She is 68 years old and has had a lot of challenges in her life.  She is lonely and in an hour's visit we learned all about her life.  We will visit her again.

I

Sunday, 8 September 2019

It's been another good week at the ROC.  On Friday, I worked on a new project--Maine births, death and marriages.  It looks to me like it's scanned from a family Bible.  The handwriting takes some serious pondering to recognize just what is written.  The information is very sketchy. We index what we can decipher, asking each other to help decipher words.  The Lord is helping us to begin recognizing how letters were written (this is in the 1700s-1800s) and to make sense of what was written. We can't make assumptions, such as whether a child is male or female by the name.  We just index what is written to the best of our ability.

I'm hearing of the coming of Fall at home and realizing that Fall (meaning cooler temps) will come in November some time.  And things are backwards:  looking forward to walking to the ROC and for exercise, in the winter months.  My mind still forgets, as I am leaving an air conditioned building, that it's hot outside.  We went to a program a week or so ago, in the evening.  As I was getting ready to  leave, I wondered if I should take a sweater, and then remembered where I am--no sweater needed.

I'm thankful I have some deciduous trees outside my windows, so I will be able to enjoy the Fall colors.  Or do they turn here, with no cold temps?

I've been asked to give a devotional thought on Wednesday--9/11.  The theme at the ROC this month is "Did You Think To Pray?"  It's been inspiring to hear the thoughts others have shared thus far this month.  I have chosen to talk about the importance of recognizing and acknowledging how our Heavenly Father blesses us each day.  The blessings can be very small, or large.   I am thankful to be able to find my way around, and for protection from the fire, of my family and home two weeks ago, and so many things in between.  

I have enjoyed reading Paul's writings in the New Testament and have been able to understand them this time through better than ever before.  His writings used to seem so confusing to me but now they are very clear.  He was a powerful Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I'm also gaining an ever deeper understanding of the Book of Mormon as I study it each day.  Helaman 14 and 15 this morning were particularly powerful.

Sunday, 18 August 2019

I haven't been able to add to my blog because I couldn't figure out how to add to it.  Thankfully, my son and daughter-in-law knew how and showed me this evening.

Tuesday will mark 3 weeks since my arrival in Mesa.  It's been an adventure and a blessing--more than I could ever have imagined.  The Lord knew exactly what I needed and has provided it.  The ROC (Remote Operations Center) is a wonderful community of 60-70 people who are dedicated to serving the Lord in a variety of ways, all related to family history.   I am humbled to serve with them and to be a part of such a loving and supportive group.  Some come a couple of mornings a week; some a couple of afternoons, some a couple of full days, etc.  So, it's a different group each day.  The only constants are the lead missionaries, Elder and Sister Biggs, who have been there since January.  They had to learn quickly because their predecessors had to leave early because of a health problem of the husband.  Elder and Sister Johnson are the assistant leads and they were in the MTC with Sister Tolman and me.  So, the four of us are learning together.

Sunday, 1 September 2019

Thursday marked 1 month since I arrived in Mesa.  It's been wonderful!  I see the Lord's hand in my life each day.  I continue to feel safe and comfortable in my little home.  It's interesting to realize how little I really need in my life by way of creature comforts.  I do miss the sounds of my young neighbor children playing and laughing outside and, from time to time, knocking on my door to share to just to visit.

When I awoke on Friday morning, I had a message from my friend Lynda McCarver, letting me know that the mountain above my home in Bountiful was one fire and that everyone in the ward boundaries had been evacuated.  My granddaughter, Rachel, later told me that they were awakened about 1:30 a.m. to the police knocking on the door and ringing the doorbell, telling them to evacuate.

Lynda and Susan Cheney kept me informed throughout that day and yesterday.  I was so sad to learn that two homes in the Ward and a third home were destroyed.  Dan and Cherilyn Fisher lost their home and everything in it.  While there house was burning, they evacuated.  As they pulled out of their long driveway in the thick smoke, they noticed Jolene Pace holding a flashlight.  They wouldn't have been able to see her if she hadn't had the flashlight.  They evacuated her, too.

The neighbor in between the Fishers and Jolene belongs to a young family, the Youngbloods.  Their home was destroyed but their chicken coop and the chickens in it were spared.  Also, a large fish tank containing fish was spared.

The members of the Bountiful 13th Ward went to work on Saturday helping the Fishers and the Youngbloods in whatever way they could.  They are such good people.

Everyone was able to return to their homes Saturday.  Rachel and Travis reported no damage to the house and they didn't even have the smell of smoke.  That wasn't the case in homes to the north.

Miracles reported, and gratitude expressed for the firefighters who worked so hard to save the other homes.  It was a scary thing for everyone and I'm thankful that no one was injured and that more damage wasn't done.

I succeeded in finding my way home from Scott's & Julie's on Thursday evening and from the grocery store on Friday evening--without the help of the GPS!!  I sure do miss the mountains to let me know where East is.

Yesterday, Scott and Julie picked me up and we drove to Prescott to visit my granddaughter, Ashley, her husband, Jason, and adorable 6 1/2 month old Emma.  Ashley's birthday is today so we celebrated it with her yesterday.  This is definitely one of the perks of my mission, without which I would not be able to watch little Emma grow up, at least for her first couple of years.

This was transfer week in the Mission and I have 4 new Elders living in the house now.  Two are assigned to Spanish-speaking wards and 2 to English-speaking.  They are sharp young men.  One is from Bountiful, Elder Oliphant.  He said there is a Sister Gibson, also from Bountiful, serving here.

Being Labor Day tomorrow, the ROC is closed.  Sister Tolman has been sick this weekend but if she is well enough, we will visit a couple of sisters in care centers.

After so many years serving as an ordinance worker in the Bountiful Temple, I miss that blessing and miss the sisters with whom I served.  Sister Tolman and I attend the Gilbert Temple each Tuesday afternoon.  It's a beautiful temple and a blessing to be able to serve there.