Picking Up The Pace

Zone Conference

As usual we returned from our Zone Conference full of enthusiasm and the desire to do better with what seem like unreachable goals.  Our mission president had us make lists and do a mini-call-a-thon right during the meeting.  He was trying to show the young Elders how much more they could be doing, and how many more people could learn about the Gospel, if we would use some good reaching techniques.  In just a few minutes, we were able to set many appointments, just from our own contact lists.  It really was amazing.

My place in the sunny kitchen.  I can stash all my books on the chair
by the window at meal times.

Our Christmas gift from the Mission Assistants was a new Book of Mormon to begin reading again as a mission and marking the scriptures that speak of Jesus and the atonement, the power of the Holy Ghost, and the promises of Eternal life.  These are the focus of what we present each and every lesson.  It is an interesting read, to do it with these particular things in mind.

  This is where we study every morning, and read together every evening before bed.

Note his study nibbles - nothing much changes in that department!
When we work together, we use his spot on the big table in the living room.

It is a little difficult to get back in a regular routine after the holidays.  When President Harding asked what I thought of the new expectations,  I was thinking, "It makes me feel incredibly tired," but I just told the President, he would probably have to increase the mileage budget.  I'm not sure he realizes the distance we travel in wards like ours.  It would be difficult to see that many people in a day (7), and do all the other things on a missionary list like meetings, study, lesson prep, service.  The Young Elders and Sisters are unperturbed by such thoughts.  They are just anxious to get out there, and make the miracle happen.

An Unforgettable Preparation Day

The sister who lost her grown son by suicide, has been trying to keep busy and think of others to get her through the Christmas season.  She (Deborah) made a little recommend holder for the sister who is losing her memory, and last week asked me if we could take her with us next time we visited Carolyn.  We set an appointment, but had to change it because she had forgotten a Dr. appointment.  Carolyn was really disappointed.

Carolyn meantime, is concerned that she can never remember the new members' names and asks that she ride with us sometimes so she can connect the people with where they live, so she can remember them better and perhaps drive herself for little visits.  We thought this might be a good idea at first, as she so wants to welcome the new people, but then we saw that her memory is slipping faster than we thought, and she will not be able to find their homes.  Deborah is one of the people she can't remember by name. 

Carolyn had missed a baby shower for Deborah's daughter, and has asked me many times who it is that is having the baby because she has the gift and does not want the baby to get too big for it. (She had to open the gift many times to remember what was in it, but she couldn't remember who it was for).  On P-day this week, she called me early in the morning worrying about the baby gift.  I assured her that the baby was scheduled for the 15th but that we could set up the visit again with Deborah so she could send the gift home with her for her daughter.

This is a long story for a small climax.  Doug chauffeured as we picked up Deborah and her little gift, and took her to Carolyn's for a visit; then he went to wash and service the car.  It was absolutely delightful to watch the two women.  Carolyn had a puzzle up.  Deborah loves puzzles but lives with preschool grandchildren so never has a chance to do them.  As they worked, they talked of their struggles to remember, and to forget;  memories of their children when they were young, worries and concerns about their families; and they laughed and giggled like girls.

It was one of those pictures that will stay in my memory forever.  When Doug returned for us, he could see the new sparkle in their eyes too.  We would have forgotten that precious baby gift if it had not been sitting directly in front of us.  (We had to ask for it).  Carolyn said she didn't even have a current recommend, to put in the holder, but it didn't matter.

Before we got home, Carolyn had called to say what a wonderful afternoon she had spent with us, and that she had made brownies especially for the visit, but had forgotten to serve them when we came.  We both laughed.  Though the memory loss is often frustrating, she is such a good sport about dealing with the inevitable.