WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: UNPACKING THE EASY WAY

Monday, July 20, 2009

UNPACKING THE EASY WAY

The morning after we arrived we were up at 6:00 because the Assistants were going to be at the house at 7:30. The Zone leaders (16 of them) were coming for interviews with Mark and to help me unpack. The first 8 came at 8:00 and the other 8 at 12:00. I had the most amazing day. I visited with all these incredible young men in the living room while Mark interviewed them in the office. They were very personable and easy to visit with and I enjoyed so much getting to know them and finding out about their families and hearing them talk about how much they love the mission. Two of the Elders we met this day were Elder Brunstadt and Elder Robbins. They are the office elders. They are truly amazing. There is really nothing they can't do and we have come to really love them and our assistants. We call them day and night and all 4 of them would do anything for us.

The 20 Elders at the house that day were all given assignments to help carry in the 60 boxes from the garage. I had been a little worried about the thought of 16 young men doing this. What a surprise. They were like professional movers: very careful and meticulous with our things. They carried boxes upstairs and downstairs and opened boxes and crates. They hung up all the pictures with great care and accuracy, even measuring to do so, and by the early afternoon everything looked wonderful. It feels like our home now. We have our pictures on the walls and pictures of our children and grandchildren all over the place. There's no place like home, and home is where your heart is. So now I feel like I have 2 homes--Northern Virginia and Las Vegas.

1 comment:

3 boys and a ladyJuly 20, 2009 at 6:09 PM
mom, I am so happy you are doing this blog! I will be checking in all the time, so update often pleease! It sounds like you are loving every ounce of it. I miss you, Markie misses you, and so does Grahamers. love me

P.S. we painted 2 walls down stairs, i will put pics on my blog.

Just kidding! ha ha
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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.