Week 16: Drawing a Blank, Playing an Ace

I'm really late with the blog. To be honest, I just didn't feel like it!  So ... I'm going to just post a couple of pictures this time -- and a short story.

We are able to get together about every six weeks for this.The video, if it works, is of the Senior Missionary Elders singing at our FHE last Monday. -- Actually, it's not going to work, and I don't want to figure it out or fix it. So ... just enjoy the pictures.

I will mention a bit about the activity we had that night.  Everyone was given 25 beans. Then each person took a turn telling something that they've never done. For instance, someone said (to my amazement), "I've never been to Disneyland or Disney World". Then all who HAD done what that person said they had never done, had to give up a bean. The idea was to say something that you thought most people had done, but you hadn't, so you could make as many as possible give up a bean. One of the sisters said, "I've never been ordained to the Priesthood." -- That meant all the men had to give up a bean. An Elder said, "I've never had a baby." Sisters were giving up beans that time.

Van's turn came up and he smugly said, "I've never turned 60." --You should have heard the "roar" of disgust. All the other senior missionaries had to give up a bean (except me, of course.) My turn was next. I'm afraid I took advantage of the situation as well. I said, "I've never turned, 56."  More beans tossed!  Kind of a fun game. Van and I felt a little guilty later. Didn't want folks to think we were bragging or anything like that. We were just "Playing our Ace!"

Sister Jenkins, Sister Hadlock, Sister Brady

A photo of a couple of my favorite Sisters. And last, but not least, a tender mercy from home -- drawings from our grandson Jackson Wright.

From our grandson, Jackson.

Week 15: Always Learning

I am posting a bit early this week because tomorrow (Sunday) will be a very full day. We’ll be participating in another missionary fireside – this time in Gig Harbor – and probably won’t get home until late Sunday night. I’ll report on that next week.

Sister & President Weaver

We have an office meeting with President and Sister Weaver each Monday morning. We look forward to them sharing mission miracles -- I'll share some of those another time. Other than our Monday meeting, we really don’t see them much during the week-- just briefly here and there. But we've grown to love and admire them very much. 

This month they will interview each missionary. They also try to go out with missionaries to teach or knock doors several times during the week. They have lots of meetings with local Priesthood leaders in addition to the Zone & District meetings. President Weaver also finds time to read and respond to each missionary’s weekly letter. Sister Weaver handles all the medical issues with missionaries. I honestly don’t know how they have the stamina to do what they do. They truly LOVE each missionary. They give their all to helping these young missionaries hasten the work.

 Now on a lighter note -- for  P-Day we took off for a little adventure about 45 miles north of Tacoma. We and three other couples went to the Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, WA. It was interesting – and free! One of the senior missionaries, Elder Clarke, served on a submarine so it was of particular interest to him.  

They had lots of interesting displays about ocean geography, underwater exploration, diving, and of course navy submarines. 

I took a picture of this fish on the wall because I knew Sam would appreciate it. It's made out of old CD's.

Then we went over to Poulsbo, another city on the Kitsap Peninsula. Poulsbo is known as “Little Norway” because its early settlers were Scandinavian The water front village shops exude a Scandinavian and Viking spirit and, of course, attract a lot of tourists. We enjoyed a nice lunch and a little shopping. We had heard a lot about Sluys Bakery in Poulsbo so we had to make a stop there. I’ve never seen so many beautiful pastries. We enjoyed the few we bought. 

Harwoods, Hadlocks, Petersens, Clarkes in Poulsbo

Good day, good week. I'll end with a couple of photos I took on this excursion that give good "food for thought."  

Be Astonishing!

Which reminds me of a quote by Marianne Williamson: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

And of utmost importance is remembering: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." -- Phillipians 4:13

Week 14: R & R and more R

Van had a lot going on with cars this week. On Monday, he was asked by President Weaver to help “Relocate” five or six elders. It was a bit tricky, and took nearly all day (he didn’t get home until about 8 p.m.), but he got to see some pretty country. During the week he had a couple of cars come out of the shop that he delivered back to missionaries. 

Friday night he got a call from some Elders saying their car had been stolen. They had called the police, but couldn’t remember the license plate number. So we had to go to the office to look up that information. While at the office, we got another call – “Oh, Elder Hadlock, never mind. We found the car. It was down the street.” – They’d actually just forgotten where they had actually parked the car. Car Recovered.

They were embarrassed and quite apologetic. We just laughed. Oh … and the Elder said: “We’re past curfew now. Do you think we should call the President?”. Van laughed and replied, “No, just get home.” We love these missionaries.

Other than that, the week was fairly Routine. We get home from the office, fix dinner, clean up, study for a while, maybe do some laundry, read a book and fall asleep watching an episode of The Andy Griffith Show (via Netflix.). Aahhh -- Relaxation.

Study time includes Reading from the New Testament, Ensign—Conference Talks, and Preach My Gospel. In addition, we’ve each been reading a “novel”. Van just finished "The Seventeen Second Miracle" by Jason F. Wright. I just finished "Two From Galilee" by Marjorie Holmes. We both liked our books so I guess we’ll switch now.

(Did throw in a couple of BYU Basketball games this week that were broadcast live on the BYUTV website.)

Rain, Rain, Rain, was the weather story this week. Rainy Saturday made for a great time to go to the temple. We made the trip to the Seattle Temple in Bellevue and enjoyed Remembering eternal covenants, blessings, and promises. Renewal for the soul for sure.

Helaman 5:12

 The letter "P" has always been a favorite of mine. I'll save that explanation for another day. But, perhaps "R" takes a close second -- good Routines, Relaxing, Reading, Rain, Renewal, and of course, Remembering  our Redeemer.  

"Oh, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of god, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you, to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon when ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fail." -- Helaman 5:12.   Any other favorite "Rs" out there?

Week 13: Solution Resolution

Elder Webster and Elder Hadlock

Ben indicated in his email on Monday that he was going to get to stay in Lakeland, TN. We think his companion is still Elder Webster. They have worked hard and finally have some promising investigators. They had seven come to church a couple of weeks ago. We are praying that Ben gets to see the fruits of his labors. This is a photo taken by Christine Caldwell Thomas (her father was raised in Vernal) who is a member of the ward where Elder Hadlock is serving. His address is: 9345 Triumph Circle #203, Lakeland, TN 38002. I know he loves letters.

Our week started off with a baptism. Monday after work, we attended the baptism of Israel Jesus Blancos, Jr. His wife, Cheyenne, was baptized the first week we were here. They both serve in the military. Israel has been in Korea, but has been home on leave for a couple of weeks. He was also confirmed on Monday because he had to return to his post in Korea before Sunday. They have a daughter who is about 7 months old. Cute family. It will be fun to watch them grow and progress. I think this is the fourth baptism in our ward since we’ve been here. We are grateful to be a part of these events. We love our service in the mission office, but don’t often see the “fruits” of missionary work

On New Year’s Eve we invited four other senior missionary couples over for dinner and games. Our neighbors, Elder & Sister Quillon loaned us their dining table and chairs and we had room for all. Our apartment is small, but certainly big enough to gather, eat, and laugh. We even made it to midnight.

 A trip to the temple fell through on Saturday so we spent the day catching up around here, but we did make a memory in the Sears store at the mall. As we spoke to a salesman there, he noticed our badges and recognized us as missionaries. Then he snidely said: “Well, I hope you get over it.” Well, that set Van off. Welcome to a scene from “Van Meets the Anti-Christ.”  It’s usually me who gets “fired up” and ready to pounce, and Van has to calm me down. Different story today.  One thing led to another and we soon found ourselves in a rather heated discussion – going nowhere. What this fellow was trying to tell us we believed was so off the wall and ludicrous. I’ve not seen Van this upset in a long time. Well, of course, this was a battle that no one would win, so we made our exit, but we didn’t like leaving mad and upset. A learning experience for sure.

 On a more pleasant note, I just couldn’t let the holidays pass without indulging in a jigsaw puzzle. This one was special. It is titled “Pioneer Trek” -- an Eric Dowdle depiction of the Martin’s Cove area. Martin’s Cove has been the setting for some wonderful memories and experiences with youth and people we love. This puzzle is a “keeper” for sure. Only problem is that the puzzle was completed all too quickly. 

Then, Van and I, have also been indulging in Word Searches and Crossword Puzzles each evening. – thanks to Christmas gifts from our daughter Heather who is concerned about keeping our minds sharp. We started with the “very easy” crosswords, but …. we’ve had to sneak several peaks at the solutions in the back. Ah .. there’s a lesson here:

 I supposed navigating life can be “puzzling”, but we are given solutions They are found in holy writ and the words of modern day prophets. And it’s OK, even recommended, that we peak at the solutions--often. Though it may take a lifetime to put all the pieces together, there is greater progress and more joy in the journey by following the plan of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. 

So ... one of my resolutions is to seek for solutions -- in the scriptures, through words of living prophets, and by listening more carefully to the Holy Spirit.  Can't go wrong there.