Week of August 14, 2016

Sunday my foot/ankle was hurting so I stayed home from the Tabernacle Choir broadcast. I got some sources attached and enjoyed the time. Church was good. I was able to walk slowly to church so I was OK. We did Preach My Gospel with the young elders and I found some more sources during Sunday School. After church we invited a couple over for dinner. They work with us on the Swap Meet and the husband does a lot maintaining things around the apartments for the missionaries. We really enjoyed the visit.

Monday we had a staff meeting to review everything for Capstone this week. Capstone is the set of classes for missionaries getting ready to go home. I felt the program would be much better this time around. A large part of it is dependent on my teaching so it puts a heavy burden on me, but I think it will work out. This is the Lord’s program and I’m hoping He will help me. I worked a little in the afternoon, reviewing my presentation for Wednesday and preparing more for Thursday.

Tuesday we had a full room for Capstone—48 students on 40 computers. Several were sharing and some brought laptops to use at a table in the back. I think it went well. I spent most of my time loading files on flash drives for the students to take with them. The students didn’t need much help, but I did a little of that as well.

In the afternoon we attended Mission Conference. One of the counselors in the mission presidency is going home so he and his wife spoke. His wife always wears a flower on her suit jacket so the women and some of the men were encouraged to wear flowers. I had made one out of green wrapping paper with a FamilySearch pin in the center. Pres. Tate also spoke to us about the Book of Mormon. He is a great man with wonderful insights. In the evening we walked to the concert in the part. It was really a good group and I loved being in the outdoor air. It was a good day.

Wednesday was a big day at Capstone. It was my opportunity to teach how to do Descendancy Research. It gets a little involved explaining it, so I was thrilled when the majority of the students got it and told me they really thought this was great. We kept busy helping the students when we set them free to research on their own family tree. I felt the Spirit guiding me and it was a good experience. I was so grateful for the opportunity to do this.

Thursday my class went well in the morning. We helped the students go from a completed worksheet they had done on Wednesday to writing a lesson plan to teach someone to find a name to take to the temple. There were some very favorable comments. One lady said she was so excited she was going to write some plans for her grandchildren to present to them so they could get excited. Another man commented on how easy it was and he was excited to be able to do it. I felt really good about the whole thing.

We have felt so blessed to be here on this mission. We have learned so many new things and so many different ways to approach the work of family history and ways to share it with others. We feel strongly that we are where the Lord wants us to be and we feel His hand in our lives. This week we have been so grateful for the many tender mercies He shows to us.

Week of August 7, 2016

Sunday Ted and I were fasting for help making a decision about ending our mission. It has been a challenging process. In the morning we had a good discussion. We didn’t make a decision, but we felt we had some good direction. After dinner we discussed our decision again and feel that we should extend our mission. For some reason, it hasn’t felt like it was time to go home. We weren’t sure of the length of time to extend, but that will be next. I’m glad the decision is made and we both feel good about it.

Monday we went to talk with our leaders to see how they would feel if we extended. I thought it would be OK with them, but they were ecstatic. They have been concerned about how to handle some of the issues coming up. I’m not sure we are the solution, but at least we reduce the stress of part of their concerns. We told them we were still not definite, but it was good to know they would welcome the idea.

I spent some time with a Finnish missionary looking at Finnish records for one of the families that came from Finland to Sweden. I hadn’t been able to make the transition for them. We found a couple of household records that recorded the wedding had taken place and indicated that the wife had moved to Sweden and gave the date. That was the missing piece for the family. We also found some good indications of where to go next with the family. In the afternoon I worked on my class for Descendancy Research then did some more Swedish research.

Tuesday we attended Big Picture. This is a seminar put on by the Family History Department to help tie everything together for staff and missionaries. I was really impressed with the presentations. I was very touched by the Spirit and the attitude I felt there. I had somewhat viewed the organization as “just another company,” but it was obvious that the men that spoke to us were guided by the Spirit and felt that it was important to let the Spirit guide in the work. I know everyone doesn’t share that viewpoint, but it impressed me that many did and that so many of the employees that attended had been “led” to their positions in a variety of ways.

Wednesday I taught Historical Records. We also talked with Pres. Larson and told him our decision to extend. He indicated that we will probably stay where we are right now, but we may be reassigned after the computer training is in place. That’s a little disarming, but I’m sure we can be OK with that.

In the evening I walked with my French friend. My ankle had been hurting a little, but it seemed OK. We walked to the grocery store at 6^th Ave and E St. I needed to be back in about 1 ½ hours so we had to really hurry. The uphill climb was strenuous and by the time we got home I knew I was going to be sore.

Thursday I taught the class on Partners and I thought it went well. After lunch one of the men came to tell me he appreciated my teaching and thought I did a good job. That is always nice to have someone compliment my work. I spent most of the time in the afternoon reviewing a document for one of the classes. We are trying to make our handouts more of a resource to use later and less just a class activity.

Friday afternoon some missionaries from our other mission came to the library to get help with their family history. I got them both started until Ted came then Ted worked with the husband for a while. I helped the wife fix some records so they were ready for temple work. We set a time for another work session. We need to help them figure out what to do so they can do it without us. I think they are doing well.

Saturday we took our turn at the Swap Meet sheds. I put away the stuff that had been brought during the week then we spent the rest of the time sorting and organizing the linens and blankets. It looks much better but it took two hours and I’m not sure it will stay the way it is very long.

Week of July 31, 2016

Monday we spent some time with Sister Aromaa, a Finnish missionary who has given us a great deal of help with both Finnish and Swedish research. We had asked her to help us know the best way to do Finnish research and also how to use one of the Swedish research sites. She gave us some good information. She showed some things using Ted’s family. It didn’t work as smoothly as hoped because we uncovered a situation where there were multiple spouses in the picture that needed to be sorted out. I think I need to have another go at it to figure out how to find the people I’m looking for. Several of the Swedish families I’ve found have roots in Finland and I’m not sure how to find them to get started.

In the evening our branch held their annual picnic, a dinner held at the church in the cultural hall. We had J-dogs, hotdogs with slits cut into them so they absorb more of a special sauce. We enjoyed the dinner and the visiting. Afterward we played a couple of games that were fun. When they got to the game where we would actually have to get up and move, we decided to leave. One of the couples told us at dinner that the Church is no longer calling missionaries from outside the USA to come into the country due to visa issues. I’m not sure what that will do to the international floor at the library. Many of the missionaries are returned missionaries from various countries, but many are natives that are here from foreign countries. Big change.

Tuesday we went to the temple in the morning after devotional and after getting more information on workings of the Swap Meet. In the evening we attended the concert in the park. I really enjoy the fresh air and the entertainers. There are so many things to do here so near to us and it has been fun to be able to participate in these events.

Wednesday we had an Enrichment class on Land Records. I felt a little disconnected most of the day. I went walking in the evening with my French friend. She is always interesting to visit with and it lifted my spirits. She was concerned about some friends that are waiting for a mission call and whether they would be able to come from France now with this new direction.

Thursday I taught the Enrichment class on Sources. I thought it went well. There were only eight people in attendance so I wondered if we should offer it again, but they all said they felt it was a valuable resource. We have it scheduled again in October. After my class I did some Swedish research for most of the afternoon. I feel like there is so much to do but I am at a loss as to which direction I need to go with it. It is easy to get off onto sidelines that aren’t our family. Part of the time it is necessary to find a spouse or to find a family again when they are lost. I need to build a large pedigree chart to show how everyone fits in so I can also see the holes that need to be filled.

Friday we went on a tour of Welfare Square. It was interesting, but none of the machinery was running so it took some visualization of what they do. We then visited the Humanitarian Center. The big thing there was the large number of people they had sorting the clothing that has been donated. Many people come there to get help and to get job training so they can find work. It was interesting. They have some beautiful quilts on display that gave me some ideas of what I can do with my fabrics at home. I had hoped to do some research at the library, but it was nearly 5 pm before I was able to get there. We went to the concert in the park and enjoyed the singing.

Swap Meet Extravaganza!

Saturday we were out early for the Swap Meet. We had good help getting set up and got everything out on the tables and ready in time to start. Usually some of the clothes are left in the shed and I think some of them have been there quite a while. We got everything out. There were tons of dishes as well. We had a good turnout, but they didn’t take nearly enough. When it was done, we went through everything and kept only things that were really worth hanging onto. We ended up with the clothing rack full and one bin full but not the second bin we usually have. We ended up with more hangers than we need so we need to let some of those go soon. We only kept a few dishes—none of the onesies that have been hanging on for a while. Everything else went. We did keep the sheets and towels and blankets. They need to be sorted, but there is less than there has been in the past. Right now there is a lot more room in the sheds. I feel like our maiden voyage as Swap Meet Chairmen was successful!

Week of July 24, 2016

Sunday the choir was amazing again. We were on the third row in the Conference Center so we could see really well. The King Singers were there as well and the group sang selections from the concert they’d done. They were recording afterward so the concert may be on CD soon. Ted spent the evening rearranging the rides for the Goshen trip so there wouldn’t be a conflict of people going two different places afterward. It was fairly frustrating for him.

Getting Ready for the Parade

Monday morning we attended a community breakfast sponsored by one of the stakes on the Avenues. From there we went to the staging area for the parade. We had seats in the shade and saw everything that went out. The bands couldn’t play until the starting point, but it was nice not being in the sun for hours. Afterward we hiked to the DUP museum for their open house only to find it wasn’t happening until noon so we went home.

Family History Float

After lunch we again walked up to the DUP museum. We watched a blacksmith make a lid lifter for a Dutch oven. It had a ram’s head on one end and a steer on the other end. It was really beautiful. It was also really hot. Inside I went to where you can get biographies of ancestors and found they didn’t have anything on John or Sarah Rodwell, my ancestors that were in the Martin Handcart Company. There was a painting on the wall of a tree showing the descendants of Samuel Rose Parkinson. I found Vivian, my Grandpa Hales’ second wife. She would have been about 20 at the time of the painting and probably hadn’t married Lester Taylor yet. She was the youngest of 33 children from 3 polygamous wives. We had some cold lemonade and water then we walked home.

Tuesday we started with devotional at the JSMB with the training zone. This was the week we were double booked, so the zone moved downstairs for their inservice and we held the enrichment class in their lab. After lunch I taught IrfanView to the new missionaries. It was the most unusual class I have ever taught. It took every bit of concentration to get through it. They asked so many questions, not all pertinent to the class. We managed to get almost everything covered, but it was strange.

In the evening we walked toward the park for the concert. About half way there we found it had been moved to the Assembly Hall because it was so hot. The heat is much more oppressive than Las Vegas, probably because it is more humid. All week it was hot.

Wednesday Ted taught one of the three classes. Two of the other teachers were teaching in two other locations at the same time in the morning, so we didn’t have much support in any location. The classes really didn’t need a lot of help, so I was surprised when one of the men told me he had been really frustrated by the first two classes and was having trouble catching the information. In the evening my legs were hurting me, probably from the steep walking up and down to the DUP Museum on Monday, so I couldn’t walk with my friend.

Thursday I taught Searching Historical Records. My friend that had trouble with the previous classes told me he got it—mostly—so that made me feel good. I felt like I related well to the students and it was a good class. I was surprised when one of the new missionaries later told me she had zero results on the exercise we did at the end of class. We had worked on it for about half an hour, so I’m not sure why she didn’t say anything during class. We’ve never had anyone get zero results. It is truly an unusual class.

Our daughter and family stopped on their way to a family reunion. It was really fun to see them and hold the baby.

The Swap Meet sheds are a bit of a frustration. People bring things all the time and leave them outside. Whoever puts the stuff into the sheds is usually in a hurry so they don’t have time to do much with it. By the end of the week it is a jumble and needs to be reorganized. To me it is a bit of a puzzle to organize.

Friday I taught the enrichment class on Beginning IrfanView. Elder Barber was the only one available to help me so it got a little crazy at times. I thought it went really well though and several people told me how much they’d learned. That always feels good. The other trainers were doing another class so again we were pretty thin.

In the evening we attended the concert at the Assembly Hall. It was the Jenny Oaks Baker String Workshop performing. Jenny did a couple of numbers by herself and she did a couple more with just her kids. The entire program was really good. Her daughter who played the piano was amazing. They played a Copeland number and she really pounded it out. At one point she was playing standing up. It was intense.

Saturday we drove to the Church Motion Picture Studio at Elberta, near Goshen. It was really a good experience. We did sweeping in the Court of the Women. My French friend didn’t have a broom, so we traded off with me sweeping a step then her sweeping a step. We worked for about half an hour then we had a tour. The guide told us about what was filmed where and some of the stories of special experiences showing the hand of the Lord in building the set and making the movies. It was really a good experience. The blocks of the wall were made of Styrofoam, very high density, painted to look like stone. It was quite hot, but they had plenty of water and tried to keep us in the shade as much as possible.

After the tour we went to a barbeque at a senior couple’s home in the area. We were nearly two hours late, but there were people still eating and they had kept the food out for us. It was really nice and we had a good visit. They are part of our group from the MTC and they already have a call to go to Guatemala in December to be the Area Medical Advisor. We were hot and tired by the time we got home, but it was really a good day.