Sunday, January 31, 2016

January 31, 2014 And so it begins...


Image result for january 25, 2016
Our first official day as full time missionaries in the Idaho Boise Mission (IBM) Office!
 Tebow is patiently waiting as we prepare to head out on our 12 mile drive to the office.
 The Idaho Boise Mission Office is located in a Stake Center, (large church meetinghouse), right next door to the Boise Temple.  If you look closely you can actually see the angel Moroni statue high in the sky just behind the pitch of the roof.
                                        
It is scary being the "new kids on the block" once again, so we take comfort in knowing, that if we are humble and teachable, the Holy Ghost will prompt us to improve and lead us, but we need to ask the Lord for directions along the way.
 Our Mission President John Q. Winder and his wife, Sister Arliss Winder, 
from South Jordan, Utah
 Office couple, Sister Heidi and Elder Glenn Hodgkin-Amazing!
Sister Sheri and Elder Von Soresnson, the office couple we will be replacing,
 if that were even possible!

The journey of discipleship is not an easy one. It has been called a “course of steady improvement.”As we travel along that strait and narrow path, the Spirit continually challenges us to be better and to climb higher. The Holy Ghost makes an ideal traveling companion.
Tebow, always willing to lend a hand, has discovered as we have, that many of the processes in the office are much the same as they were in the Florida Orlando Mission Office, and many are very, very different :0

We have to admit that when we first arrived we were feeling very confident,
Image result for opposite of confident
but by the end of the day we were humbled and filled with questions.



When we face challenges we need to ask the Lord for directions along the way. We have to ask some difficult questions, like “What do I need to change?” “How can I improve?” “What weakness needs strengthening?”

 Elder Busath, with his trusty carpet cleaner, ready to work his magic 
on a missionary home in need.
As we stated previously, some things never change.  
Like receiving a frantic phone call stating that the Elders had accidentally spilled milk on their carpet and they needed our assistance.
Obviously we all have much to learn.

The Holy Ghost doesn’t tell us to improve everything at once. If He did, we would become discouraged and give up. The Spirit works with us at our own speed, one step at a time, or as the Lord has taught, “line upon line, precept upon precept, … and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, … for unto him that receiveth I will give more.

 We got mail! Forwarded to the Mission Office from the MTC!
It's nice to know that our grandkids are still thinking about us 
even while on a fun family vacation.
Thanks Bacchus family!!!
 Speaking of grandkids...one of the best things about serving a local mission is that we sometimes get the opportunity to attend sports events of our Idaho grandkids. While Dax and Jett were up skiing with their Dad we got to spend the afternoon with our daughter, Andi, and watch Cale,show off some fancy foot work playing fusbol, and then shoot some hoops playing basketball on crazy sock day, all in the same afternoon.
Life is good!
As Elder David A. Bednar, an Apostle of the Lord, once observed: “Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement (the sacrifice the Savior, Jesus Christ, made to pay for our sins so that we may all be reconciled to God) is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement is also for saints—for good men and women who are obedient, worthy, and conscientious and who are striving to become better." 

Once in a while, we all need to, 
Humbly ask the Lord the following question: “What is keeping me from progressing?” 
Then wait quietly for a response. If you are sincere, the answer will soon become clear. It will be revelation intended just for you.

Our Bainbridge Ward church building in Meridian, Idaho early this morning.  
It was 25 degrees outside, foggy, with a sprinkling of snow. Steve was home sick with a bad cold and I had to drive the truck, because the Sonata was in the shop for repairs. (Opposition in all things) Plenty of reasons to be grumpy. Yet when I entered the warm building and was greeted by more than one friendly and familiar face I felt peace. 
I knew I was where I was supposed to be. 

The Spirit can show us our weaknesses, but He is also able to show us our strengths. Sometimes we need to ask what we are doing right so that the Lord can lift and encourage us. 

Sunday, January 24, 2016

January 24, 2016 Tender Mercies

As missionaries we are called to represent the Savior. Our voice to testify becomes the same as His voice, our hands to lift the same as His hands. So, our calling is to bless lives. We have been promised that the Lord will guide us by revelation just as He called us. We must ask in faith for revelation to know what you are to do. It can be an overwhelming responsibility, but we have been blessed to be able to recognize the tender mercies in our lives that have lifted us and given us courage to...GO AND DO!


 
Tebow all ready to start a new day at the Missionary Training Center, MTC.
Not wanting to be left alone in the apartment all day Tebow  decided to stow away 
and attend our Mission Office Training class.
 
Brother Barham, one of our morning instructors and one of his "problem" students.
 Our Mission Office Training Class
Elder and Sister Busath, Elder and Sister Wells, called to serve in the Africa, Johannesburg Mission Office; Sister and Elder Record, called to serve in the London South Mission Office and Sister and Elder Sorenson called to serve in the Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission Office.
What Are the Tender Mercies of the Lord?  
Mail from our kids expressing their love and support.
Tracy, Charles, Thomas and William Bacchus sent us an envelope full of love.  
Sienna and Shelby Hudson sent beautiful pictures to cheer us and offer support.

Enrique Falabella of the First Quorum of the Seventy at our Tuesday Devotional 
taught us not to be foolish men. 

Russell M. Nelson
                
  Neil L. Andersen                         Dallin H. Oaks                   David A. Bednar

                    

 Bonnie L. Oscarson                       L. Whitney Clayton           W. Christopher Waddell
        
On Wednesday January 20, 2016 we had the privilege, along with 75,000 other missionaries from all over the world, to receive instruction via a special Missionary Satellite Broadcast to "Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts", by coming to understand that the doctrine of Christ can only be received through revelation. We must ask for ourselves.
                                                 
                    We ran into Sister Tayla Salveson, one of our Florida Orlando Mission                                  adopted "kids", now teaching at the MTC. 

We also took the opportunity to visit and catch up with Patrick and Erica Pitts Flood and Megan Jackson Jolley and her new husband at Smashburger, but I guess we were all too busy eating to stop and take a picture :(

The Lord’s tender mercies do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Faithfulness,obedience, and humility invite tender mercies into our lives, and it is often the Lord’s timing that enables us to recognize and treasure these important blessings.
With over 2,000 missionaries in attendance at any given time
you will rarely see the MTC walk way empty.  It must be lunchtime!
                
             
 Elder Taylor, from Highland, Utah, was our MTC Senior Missionary District Leader, and he and his sweet wife did everything possible to make us feel loved and appreciated. 
                  
  A view of the Provo Temple from the MTC.       A view of the MTC from the Provo Temple

              
 The Wyview apartments were our home away from home while at the MTC.
 The time passed so quickly these past eleven days that before we knew it, 
it was time to depart and put into practice all that we had learned.
Our first welcome back to the real world.
 The emergency brake on the truck broke while at the MTC.  Fortunately even with all the snow and ice we never had to use it and are grateful that "Mr. Goodwrench" knew just what to do when we arrived home.


We should never underestimate or overlook the power of the Lord’s tender mercies. 




We know that He lives and that His tender mercies are available to all of us. Each of us can have eyes to see clearly and ears to hear distinctly the tender mercies of the Lord as they strengthen and assist us. May our hearts always be filled with gratitude for His abundant and tender mercies.

We can't wait to start our first official day in the Idaho Boise Mission Office bright and early tomorrow morning!

Stay tuned!