WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: HELLO FROM BEAUTIFUL NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Monday, July 20, 2009

HELLO FROM BEAUTIFUL NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Hello from beautiful Northern Virginia. I am quite sure the Garden of Eden could not have been more beautiful than this place. We feel as if we have gone to Heaven. We have been in the mission field for 3 weeks now and we finally have the internet connected to our home. There was a 3 week wait for an appointment. Our blog is up and running now and I will try to catch up on the whirlwind that has been our life for these 3 weeks.

We arrived on Monday, June 29. We were met at the airport by Pres. and Sis Wixom, 2 of the most loving and incredible people ever. They were so kind and warm and had prepared this mission so well for the transition of having a new President. We will be eternally grateful to them for all they did for us. We were also met by the Assistants to the president, Elders Gifford and Elder Ganaway. Incredible is not a strong enough word to describe them. They are so capable and have taken such good care of us. They have been teaching us day by day how the mission is run, the schedule, and all about each and everything we question. Thank you to them for accepting and loving us so readily. The Wixoms then took us to a nice dinner on the bay while we waited for the evening traffic to end. Visiting with them was a special treat and one we will always treasure. They took us to our new Home in Fairfax Station. It is in the most lovely neighborhood; winding tree-lined streets and stately brick homes. The mission home is set in a caldesac and surrounded by hugh trees and meadows. The inside is so peaceful and has a special spirit of contentment in it. I visited with Sis. Wixom and she showed me all about running the home and the other jobs I get to do, like Medical and scheduling, and meals, and firesides, etc. Mark went with Pres. Wixom to the office and got a 2 hour quick course on the mission. And then they were gone and it was now our turn. We went to bed overwhelmed at the coming day

2 comments:

UnknownJuly 29, 2009 at 8:24 PM
What a wonderful idea to have this blog! I am just loving reading all about your mission!We miss you!
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UnknownJuly 29, 2009 at 8:24 PM
by the way, bandte is Tracy Ence!
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Stephanie Smith Fireside

Last Sunday evening we were privileged to attend a fireside in the mission. It was held at a beautiful old chapel in McLean. One of the pictures shows the inside of the chapel and the wood beams on the very steep-pitched ceiling of the room. The gym is under the chapel in the basement. I have never seen a floorplan like this one. Very unique. This fireside hosted Sister Stephanie Smith. Her story was in the Ensign sometime in the last year. She has a remarkable conversion story. She has held very high government positions and at one time was 5th in command at the CIA. She said something at the first of her talk that I wrote down: she said, "I've been on some remarkable adventures. But no adventure in my lifetime has been as extraordinary and life-changing as my path to conversion and baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. She then told about her introduction to the church. She was at a time in her life with tremendous worldly success achieved after clawing her way to the top without any regard for others, and she felt her life was shattering into a million pieces. At this time she turned to a colleague she admired who was a member of the church. He told her two things. That her Heavenly Father knew her by name and loved her and that Heavenly Father had a plan for her success. The next day he sent her a map to the temple visitor center. She told how when the missionary sisters came to her door, she didn't think she could relate to these young women. The first thing they did was ask if they could sing to her. They sang,"I am a Child of God." That was the beginning of her conversion, a long a beautiful story. You can read it on the web at Meridian Magazine. Her testimony was a real inspiration to me. There were over 350 people there and she does a great missionary work speaking to investigators. What a blessing to have heard her and felt her spirit.

Chelsea Our recent Convert

We have met the sweetest young sister. Chelsea is amazing. She joined the church during the last year and has an incredible testimony also. She never misses any missionary function and we were able to take her with us to the Stephanie Smith Fireside. She also came to the mission home a few weeks ago and we had family night. She gave the lesson and is was unbelievable. She is hoping to go on a mission next year. What a great young woman. This is a picture of her with Elders Ganaway and Gifford.