May 29, 2016 Memorial Day

All missionary work is founded on the doctrine of Christ.  As we come to understand that doctrine, then all other aspects of missionary work and of growth in the gospel take their proper places.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday was Idaho Boise Mission's Zone Conferences. The Doctrine of Christ was the overall theme and we feasted both spiritually and temporally.

 

Assistants to the President, Elder Bowler and Elder Bird, led the way as testimonies were born and counsel was given.

 Sister Woodruff taught us how to clean the nastiest room in the house, the bathroom.

Sister Winder-Shared laundry tips    Sister Smith, nurse, warned us 

                                                    about the Zica virus

             Elder Christensen-rewarded clean       Sister Christensen-Discussed Key Indicator

cars and safe drivers                                    and Baptismal Records

                 We presented a Power Point on being a guest in a member's home.

Missionary Housing Guideline for Missionaries:

Missionaries demonstrate gratitude to the members housing them by:

Properly protecting and caring for their homes.

•NEVER leave without making the beds and making sure the bedroom and bathroom are neat and clean.

•Clean the kitchen after EVERY use.

•Report damage or stains IMMEDIATELY to the member. Missionaries are to pay from their personal funds for any repairs because of their negligence.

•Turn off the lights, lock doors, and make sure the heat or air conditioning is set to the family’s instructions when leaving the house.

•If allowed to set the thermostat it is NEVER TO BE SET LOWER THAN 75 DEGREES IN THE SUMMER, OR HIGHER THAN 70 DEGREES IN THE WINTER.

•Closely follow the posted cleaning schedule and reminder of “House Rules”

•Neatly store personal belongings in designated locations.

Respecting their privacy and family life.

•Obtain the members permission BEFORE other missionaries visit.

•Use of areas in the home outside of the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom designated for missionary use is by invitation ONLY.

Acting as dignified obedient servants of the Lord.

•Be strictly obedient to the mission rules. Obedience brings blessings.

•Exact obedience brings miracles.

•Avoid loud and unruly activities.

•Share testimony and faith promoting experiences with members as appropriate.

•Express love, respect, and gratitude in word and actions. As appropriate, volunteer to assist with yard work on your preparation day.

 Sister Brown, Sister Anandan and President and Sister Winder. 

Sister Anandan presented the Winders with a special necklace from her parents in American Samoa to thank them for their service.

 

 Unfortunately everyone in our community knows someone who is battling cancer. It is a horrific disease that doesn’t play nice and spare even the littlest in our community — the children. Baldapalooza is a family friendly music festival organized to raise money to help Idaho’s children who are battling cancer.  On Saturday we had the opportunity to participate with our oldest daughter, Andi, and her family in one of their fund raisers, the Bubble Run.

 

 It wouldn't be Saturday without chores...

 On Saturday evening Dave and Janie Pollmann's oldest grandson, Connor Nelson,  received his Mission Call to the California, Sacramento Mission.  He reports to the Missionary Training Center on September 7th. We are so excited for him and look forward to hearing of his experiences as he hastens the Lord's work. 

Grandparent Corner

                     Dax at bat!                               Mason and Jill at the tide pools in 

                                 Santa Cruz

                   
                   The Bacchus family at the beach          Wade checking out his campsite
                    in Santa Cruz

                                             

Kahlen on her first Sunday at Church in Belmont, California

As we remember with gratitude and pride all those who served and died for our country and for our freedom let us also give thanks for the "good news" of Jesus Christ. 

"Simply put, the good news is that death is not the end of existence, and our separation from God is temporary.  We have a Savior, Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, who by His Atonement has overcome death and hell so that all will be resurrected and all who will repent and be baptized in His name may have place in the heavenly kingdom of God forever."

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

May 22, 2016 Faith Is Not by Chance, but by Choice

Welcome!

It has been another busy week as we prepare for the coming changes to the boundaries in the Idaho Boise Mission. We still don't have all the details, but we have been advised to expect approximately 100 new missionaries from the Twin Falls area.  Of course that means that we will probably be losing some of our awesome IBM missionaries to the Idaho Nampa Mission.  It is bittersweet, but exciting to see the Lord's work move forward. 

With all the mixed emotions about the coming changes and life in general it has been a week filled with blessings too numerous to count and disappointments in peoples choices, places and things, that has caused us some sleepless nights.

 When life gets hard the best place to find relief is in the scriptures 

or in the words of His prophets.

Knowing that we were probably not alone in our frustrations, the article found in the November 2015 Ensign, titled, "Faith Is Not By Chance, but by Choice", 

by Elder Neil L. Andersen, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is one article that helped us to gain perspective and we hope it might help you.

"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is not something ethereal, floating loosely in the air. 

Faith does not fall upon us by chance or stay with us by birthright. 

It is, as the scriptures say, “substance … , the evidence of things not seen.”  Faith emits a spiritual light, and that light is discernible.  Faith in Jesus Christ is a gift from heaven that comes as we choose to believe and as we seek it and hold on to it. Your faith is either growing stronger or becoming weaker. Faith is a principle of power, important not only in this life but also in our progression beyond the veil. 

By the grace of Christ, we will one day be saved through faith on His name.

 The future of your faith is not by chance, but by choice."

 We ran into four missionaries at Sonic's after 8:00 pm to purchase a half price milkshake. Well if we had arrived just a few minutes sooner we would have happily paid for their milkshakes.  But as it turned out they beat us to the punch . Someone had given them an extra milkshake and they decided to pass along the kind act. Since we had already ordered two milkshakes we now had three.  

The missionaries simply would not take no for an answer so we shared a sweet treat the next evening, thanks to four thoughtful missionaries.

Kind acts come with no calories, right?

 We are happy to report that the random inspections are now complete. 

Zone Conferences are scheduled next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday where the winners will be announced. 

We won't spoil the surprise, (stay tuned until next week) but the winners won by a landslide.

 

Our side yard just seemed to be missing something.  

A Christmas tree! 

Well after a long discouraging search we were finally informed that Douglas Firs and Silver Tips simply do not survive well in Idaho.  The next best idea was a Colorado spruce. 

Fun Fact-The interesting thing about a spruce we learned is that it is green in color when planted at sea level, but turns a bluish tint when planted at a higher elevation.  

Our little tree is currently in the process of turning blue from its originally green color.

It reminds us a little of Cinderella's dress.

 

 Introducing the newest member to our family, Cirby. 

He can't wait to get all dressed up for Christmas.

Sister Morehouse, Elder Edralin, from Hawaii and Elder Carter, a city boy from Texas, carefully supervising the weed feeding of the horses.

The Bainbridge Ward's first service project!

We weren't really sure how many would participate, but we had faith and were thrilled at the numbers.  As a result we were able to complete both projects, tree removal and preparing gardens in record time! 

Grandparent Corner

 

 Wade, in his "woot woo's, trying to beat the Sacramento heat.

 

                    Kahlen following her first bath.                Kahlen and her Daddy

"How we live our lives increases or diminishes our faith. Prayer, obedience, honesty, purity of thought and deed, and unselfishness increase faith. Without these, faith diminishes. Why did the Savior say to Peter, “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not”? Because there is an adversary who delights in destroying our faith! 

Be relentless in protecting your faith."

"Although your beginning fire of faith may be small, righteous choices bring greater confidence in God, and your faith grows. 

The difficulties of mortality blow against you, and evil forces lurk in the darkness, hoping to extinguish your faith. But as you continue to make good choices, trust in God, and follow His Son, the Lord sends increased light and knowledge, and your faith becomes settled and unwavering. 

President Thomas S. Monson said: “Fear not. … The future is as bright as your faith.”

Faith in Jesus Christ is a gift from heaven that comes as we choose to believe and a we seek it and hold on to it.  

Hang on tight, this life will only get harder, but will be worth it in the end.