July 2011

Beginnings and Changes, New Missionaries, Outgoing Missionaries –

It’s TRANSFERS

- Hours for the president in prayer, planning, considering the needs of the missionaries, for trainers, for the areas in which they serve

- The nervousness combined with tiredness of incoming missionaries, the buzz of excitement for those transferring to new areas and the anticipation combined with concern of those going home

- Hours of preparation for the office staff, the president and assistants who have to strategize all the travel arrangements in our large mission

- Can you guess the color of most of the cars in our fleet?!

TRAINING in EVERY ZONE –PLANNING!!!!

Maybe you’d call it, Preach My Gospel chapter 8 in technicolor or stereo or whatever term that magnifies, intensifies.. It was an 8:30 am till 5:30 pm day of workshops on vision to goals to desire to weekly and daily plans.

It included individual companionships –yes you see the Evans, one of our wonderful senior couples now serving in Portland, Maine—and groups working together to improve our planning and finding.

We don’t anticipate another long, long day like those five, but we do anticipate dramatic improvement in our vision of our potential, in setting goals and in fulfilling those goals. We hope the light shining on the Farmington elders Bennion and Slater is indicative our good things to come. We heard in Zone Leaders’ Council today positive reports.

Not to leave anyone thinking the day was not without variety, preparation—each companionships had to have area books updated and very presentable—and follow up. Each companionship was invited to make a visual of its vision from the planning chapter. The workshops were well presented by assistants and zone leaders. President and Sister Wilkey opened all the sessions and participated throughout the day.

No mistake, we mixed some action in with the brain work: a three legged race in which even our senior sisters and Sister Wilkey participated. We sure noticed the companions who could work in unity. In a couple zones there was a basketball shoot out at lunch time. A sister won in Concord Zone. She’s some kind of a dead eye shot at the free throw line.

TRAVEL SCENES

This is the land of lakes!!! (not to speak of the black flies & mosquitos!)

Notice in St. Albans, Vermont, the gas station, auto service center and maple syrup distribution market all in one tiny store. Only in Vermont!!

We got to visit our three senior sisters, not one of which is under 70. We LOVE senior missionaries!!! Well, okay, we love all our missionaries.

The two weeks of meetings also meant two weeks of travel. We started mid month in Farmington, Maine to attend Ward Council and participate in the three hour church block. Then we circled to Bangor, Maine, drove that night to Topsham, Maine, then on to Exeter, New Hampshire, stopping for a couple days at home before going north to Laconia, New Hampshire, west to Montpelier, Vermont, farther northwest to Burlington, Vermont, south to South Royalton and back to Oxford, Maine for another wonderful opportunity to visit in a ward. We work with individual companionships along with the training, go out with them as much as possible, include other meetings. In sum, we are tonight, July 31^st, completely ‘tuckered out.” But President is up in his office answering letters to the president.

Robert Frost loved Vermont’s Green Mountains. We enjoyed a short, very wet –it was pouring buckets—walk on the Robert Frost interpretive Trail. What do you think of the short couplet “The Secret Sits” posted near an open field surrounded by trees? We especially like the words from the poem “Two Roads divurged in a yellow wood and I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference.”

PHOTO MESSAGES

Do you have label for these photos taken during a short break at zone leaders’ council?

Bad B.O day? His wish is their command? See sheep run? What do you think???? Give your suggestions.

The presidency has asked every missionary to expect (with confidence in Christ and obedience to His commandments), observe (look for and keep) and remember miracles (evidences of God’s love and presence and the effect of faith.) We have seen the hand of God in the details of our lives from the sublime, a family who has united in their faith, to the small and simple, the elders who took hamburger buns home from zone training wondering why they needed them only to be given hamburger that very night.

Joys in June & July

Looking back on a year of service on a joyful preparation day walks in the woods, Hirundi Wildlife Preserve near Bangor, Maine. President Wilkey in a relaxed moment (Those are uncommon.) looks out on a pond reflecting the beauty of the rich vegetation of Maine and a fairly rare but gloriously sunny day. Likewise there have been days rich in miracles but nonetheless we recognize the clouds along with the sunshine. We have been humbled continuously in our need to receive constant revelation for the welfare of the missionaries. We feel the urgent the need to know what the Lord would have done in the New Hampshire Manchester Mission to invite others to the fullness of the gospel. There have been times of great disappointment and discouragement along with those of overwhelming gratitude that a source far above our own abilities and understanding who does direct the work.

Sister Wilkey thoroughly enjoying the quiet of the forest –well, almost, quiet. It was happily interrupted by choruses of frogs, choirs of birds and the splash of frogs jumping from the banks into the pond—and the joys of contemplating the upcoming year of service

Three cubs in a tree –sure enough, the calm of the walk was joyfully and a bit nervously ended when we heard commotion ahead on the trail—a football field distant—then saw the source, a big sow bear heading away, fortunately, from us aggressively. Then immediately in the some trees in our path up slid three black bear cubs. Needless to say, we ended the reverie and forward advance into quick backwards, quiet retreat.

Memories of Memorial Day – we joyfully welcomed three sisters and two elders from the Mission Training Center. They are illustrating the gourmet breakfasts served at the Mission Home on the morning they meet, nervously, their trainers and leave for their first area of service. Sister Nelson and Sister Huntsman are enjoying Rutland, Vermont and Plymouth, New Hampshire.

Marvelously joyful moments with missionaries teaching in the Mission Home—Sisters Rankin and Walter organized a family home evening with the Shimmel family. Becca, a tall 10 year old is trying to negotiate “life” blindfolded and without a guide. She and her family then studied about prophets and the need for living prophets who guide us masterfully through the mazes of the present and safely into those of the future.

Meeting with ward and branch leaders!! Joy!! Do you recognize Bishop Caleb Franklin? He serves in Manchester, New Hampshire as the bishop. He and his wife Trina are living in a nearby town while Caleb works in a law firm here.

We enjoy meeting with ward leaders to explain the ‘oval’ chart-working with stake and ward leaders. Missionaries like Elders Kinyon and Kulberg who the President can trust establish and strengthen their area ward or branch. President’s two councilors do far more work with local ecclesiastical units.

Joyful celebration of those who have served and who do serve honorably our country in the military, in government office and in support of the constitution—The Joseph Smith Memorial hosts and organizes annually this event, The Hope of America. We were filled with gratitude for our heritage. The larger Vermont community is grateful for this celebration because –sadly—there are no other events honoring our country in this state of the Revolutionary War Green Mountain boys. The picture of the children singing is fuzzy but the day was clear. Of course, we wanted to stand with the navy flag, grateful for our Navy dentist, Jason. President is standing with Elders Barnes and Levie.

Joys of young men and women becoming Christlike leaders--

During Zone Leader Council lunch break, President challenged the leaders to work together in simulated break from prison. They had eight minutes to escape—scale a fence with three comrades with injuries including the one with broken legs and another blind. They made fabulous analogies afterwards to their responsibilities as missionaries and leaders to rescue others and to work to together .

Happily, the office couples, the Hymases and Franklins along with the two assistants insisted we have a 4^th of July lunch and game of Kubb. Notice Elder Franklin’s intensity! He served a mission in Sweden years ago and was excited for a game.

We are happy to know when an elder or sister is really vested in the culture of the area. And what English royalty do you think the elder below is often mistaken for? Sure enough, Prince Harry.Elder Ashby alias Prince Harry slipped and asked for the zone leaders’ “idears” and didn’t even know he had added the ‘r’ on the word. Elder Gelwix (no, not son, nephew of the rugby coach) is on the Franklin Kubb team.

Quick, joyful trip

Okay, so it doesn’t get too much more joyful than this!! Sister Wilkey did get a week’s reprieve from full time mission life to full time grandma life!!!! A glorious stop in Utah and then on to Las Vegas. So like it or not, here are the results—family photos. In her absence, President Wilkey traveled to northern Maine for what we call specialized training in individual districts and companionships of missionaries. Regardless of what he says, she says she left him well supplied with food, travel plans and pre-arranged visits. And he left her with a suitcase with love notes.

Now this is JOY! Being surrounded by the –all must agree—some of the most adorable children on the planet. We say in the mission. “Missionaries leave their families for two years so that others can be with their families for eternity.”

Joyful meeting the two grandsons born in our absence. Collin Wilkey (Devin and Janene’s son born the day before Thanksgiving) and Ryan Hatch (Jason and Erin’s son born on Memorial Day)

Joyfully getting reacquainted with Gracie and Megan—only 3 months and not yet one when we last saw them. Yes Gracie has the Morris talent of funny faces. Megan celebrated her 2^nd birthday.

Enjoying some Las Vegas sunshine and heat (but admittedly happy to leave 100 degrees for a cooler and much wetter New England. Double enjoying Katelyn and Logan’s enthusiasm for the water.

Joy mixed with parting—Jason’s departure for Navy boot camp. Erin and threesome will meet him again at their next home at LaJeune Base in North Carolina.

We have” no greater joy than … that our children walk in truth.”

We are joyfully grateful for their love and support, for caring for and supporting one another.

May in New Hampshire Manchester Mission

It’s blossom time. We thought autumn was gloriously colorful. Spring is fall’s rival, from daffodils and tulips to dozens of flowering trees as well as the thousands upon thousands of trees in myriads of shades of green leafing in the warming weather. Most unusual are the maples which leaf in red, then turn to green.

Plant identifier please! We have not identified the name of this shrub. Its huge blossoms come in reds, pinks and lavender. The fern below is a fiddlehead, edible, seasonal and part of our supper menu.

And it’s mud season. The heavy snow packs thaw and the rains come. Rain!! Vermont newspapers reported 2.74 inches in a two day period, 16 inches in a month. Thus, flooding and flooding combined with strong winds. Only two missionaries were stranded as they attempted to return to their apartment; roads in Montpelier were closed; however they returned the following day and found flooding in the basement of the apartment. We were grateful for no other emergencies and all missionaries safe and accounted for with fifteen minutes of the President’s plea to know all their whereabouts.

Quote found on a church chalkboard. It says it all!

Do you recognize these wonderful friends? Yes, it’s Elder and Sister Excell serving their mission as employment specialists in the northeast area. They help members and non-members alike to access employment, education and self-employment opportunities. They came to the mission home to talk with the zone leaders and encourage missionaries to share with those they meet the resources of the specialists, the employment center and the website ldsjobs.org. They have done much to strengthen members and non members alike and have helped to 'grow' the employment center. They exude the joy of missionary service.

We are also encouraging missionaries in some areas to extend to those they find the joys of searching our family roots not only the family history libraries in their areas as well as through the familysearch.org website.

Building a foundation. Elders Maxfield and Lowe serving in Bangor, Maine spent

couple hours of a preparation day devising an object lesson for zone conference. They built the foundation of their tower on first faith in Jesus Christ and personal prayer and study, companion unity and a dedicated, obedient “set apart” heart. Down the center of the tower is what you see sticking out at the bottom, a pvc pipe stabilizer which they called the constant guidance and influence of the Holy Ghost. They illustrated that each of those blocks is essential for the conversion and ultimate temple blessings of individuals.

Heavenly Majesty, Images of Creation. President is immersed in one of the spectacular images of the Hubble Telescope display now showing at the Joseph Smith Memorial Historical Site.

Parables and Parallels for Fishers of Men

We love being with the missionaries, with the members in their home wards or branches. Sunday, the 29^th, May we traveled to Wolfeboro having scheduled that day months ago with the branch president. A beautiful drive in the early morning! As we entered the town, we saw people everywhere, walking the streets bordering shimmering Lake Winnipausaukee. It then occurred to us that this was Memorial Day weekend. Offhandedly, President commented,” This is the vacation home of Mitt Romney.” Sure enough, as we stood to speak, we noticed not only Mitt Romney and his family, but Bill Marriott and his. No fanfare. Same focus on the Savior. And for us, the same joys of interactions with the ‘year around’ Saints in Wolfeboro. (PS Mitt Romney and family stayed all three hours of the meeting block and stayed awake.)

On May 17 and 19, we held zone conferences in South Royalton, Vermont and in Augusta, Maine. Wonderful times to renew faith, to be instructed and to build unity in the mission. President Wilkey—with the help of his ‘ghost writer’ –sent the message below for the mission newsletter published once every transfer cycle—every six weeks. These glimpses summarize the fishing theme which he used to capture the interest of the missionaries and to point them to our call to leave our nets and become fishers of men.

PARABLES AND PARALLELS for FISHERS of MEN

A clinch knot if used by a fly fisherman will slip apart with little tension. However the improved clinch knot with one more loop in the knot binds the line to withstand any weight or tension placed upon it. Likewise it is the small and simple things lived that help us withstand the weight or tension of missionary work. Conversely we will slip apart under tension if we fail to do those small and simple things. Alma counseled his son Helaman, “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass…by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of souls.” (Alma 37: 6-7) What is moral of the parallel? We write our own conclusions as we examine ourselves: Are we living the little things? As we do live the small and simple, do we expect to withstand the “tension” of missionary labors and to assist the Lord in bringing about the salvation of souls?

A fly fisherman who knows where to fish and how to approach the stream –not slap cast but gently float the fly onto the water surface—will have fishing success. A missionary who approaches his divine calling and authority, his daily schedule, his study, his area as well as planning, finding and teaching with casualness will become a fishing “casualty.” In short, casualness equals casualties. On the other hand, a missionary who has reverence and respect for his or her calling, a willingness to live the daily schedule, to study with a desire to be taught and to prepare to teach and to follow with exactness the standards of missionary appearance and conduct will invite the Spirit to be a divine and constant companion. Reverence invites revelation.

“…Jesus walking by the sea,” invited two fishermen, Peter and Andrew, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.” (Matthew 4:18-20) Likewise we have committed to a prophet of God as we signed our call letter to leave all worldly concerns behind...(See Missionary Handbook p. 4) We follow our Master Jesus Christ as did the apostles “who forsook all and followed him.” (Luke 5:11) As Elder Holland passionately said, “Elder or Sister, you can’t go back. You’re in this for the long haul, all the way to the end.” The moral of the story? I quote the admonition and promise of an apostle who himself an avid fisherman. “As a special witness of him, I testify to you this day that the time will come when every man, woman and child will look into the Savior’s loving eyes. On that day, we will know with a surety the worth of our decision to straightway follow Him. That each of us may hear the call of the Master and straightway leave our entangling nets and follow Him is my earnest prayer…” (Joseph B. Wirthlin, General Conference, April 2002)

I testify of the love and compassion of our Savior. I know that His love manifested in the great Atonement defy description. What remains then for each one of us is to answer with conviction the same question that the Savior asked Peter who had gone “a fishing” (John 21) , “lovest thou me?” (John 21: 15-17) Do we love Him? Do we love Him enough to feed His sheep? As we do so, we can become like Peter who was filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 3:8) We can become even as our Savior the ultimate ‘fisher of men.”