Jan. 10, 2011

Who would ever think that Swahili would be a language needed in New England?

Our two companionships of elders in Manchester, New Hampshire found two families who spoke only halting English but who wanted to be taught in their native language Swahili. In the next week, we were sent two sisters from Temple Square, both unexpectedly and without any prior information, Sister Han and Sister Amuli. Sister Han from Main Land China is going tomorrow to teach a couple in Burlington, Vermont who speaks little English and principally Mandarin and Sister Amuli from Kenya who incidentally is freezing in our weather speaks English fluently, two dialects and of course her native language, Swahili. She and her companion are now teaching the gospel in Swahili.

What is the common phrase here, the one that missionaries dread most? I’m all set aka Leave me alone. I’m good to go.

Who is this wonderful office couple? Yes, it’s Elder Nick and Sister Jean Franklin from Lehi. And without them, we are toast! They not only love missionaries, teach with them, look after them, they also manage all their mail, finance cards, apartment concerns, and multitudinous daily operations of the Mission Office. That’s only the tip of the iceberg of their responsibilities. Yes, they always smile, make the office a fun place (marshmallows projected by a pvc pipe gizmo included ) and are constantly helping us.

How cold is it in New England? Uncharacteristically warmer so we’re told. So far, that is. In Bedford, the snow hasn’t accumulated but in Dover Foxcroft, Maine in the far north near Moosehead Lake, there are piles of snow three feet high. It was 16 degrees Fahrenheit in St. Albans, Vermont which is on the Canadian border. Ice sculptures form as water trickles off the many rocky cliffs story. (P.S. 12 inches of snow today January 12, 2-4 inches an hour)

What was the theme of the December 28-29^th Leadership Training? Unifying with Members? Maybe this illustration of the rope ‘trick’ wasn’t exactly what the president had visualized as unifying but it sure did give the missionaries a good break from the intense day and a half of workshops, practices, panel discussion, more practices, DVD clips and more practices. We love the people of New England northeast!

What is a fluffer nutter sandwich? And why would anyone want to eat one when the branch president (That’s him, Pres. Harmon with the other ‘only perfect haircut,’ the owner and chief cook at Phil’s Fudge.) is offering some of his fudge that he has been making and successfully marketing for 24 years? A fluffer nutter is a peanut butter sandwich made with fluff which is much like marshmallow cream.

Does he still do magic tricks? The same ones? Yes. (At least Jackson thinks Grandpa’s magic tricks are great. Just ask Blain.) This time President Wilkey introduced a fireside for young men and women with yet another magic trick but emphasized that magic is not ‘real,’ just illusion but that miracles (a response to faith and prayer, the acts of One who is almighty, the natural results of the Messiah’s presence among men -see the Bible Dictionary, p. 732-3) are real and they happen daily in the mission, a consequence of the faith, prayers and hard work of missionaries and members who seek to bring the Messiah’s presence into the lives of others. (P.S. Have you been on Mormon.org? Have you given your ‘profile?’)

Who are these people with President? They are Bill and Judy Noury, mother and son. He baptized his mother on January 8^th just three months after his own baptism. She is in awe of the miraculous changes in him and in her outlook on life and hope for the future. Both reflect peace and joy the gospel brings.

What did we do on Christmas night? It was a happy evening with nine missionaries, two young men, these two sisters and a family. We ended the evening with the family who is investigating the Church, singing and reading from the Christmas story. Elders Urrietta (5 foot 4) and Dahl (6 foot 4) stand with two sisters on the stairway in our home. Notice the Christmas socks!

Big dog or small missionary? Both. Short missionary long on love for dogs as well as people.

Whose shoes? A missionary so busy, so completely dedicated to being the feet that bringeth glad tidings that he had no time to find new but less used shoes at Goodwill industries.

What Key ? Sister Wilkey accompanied the children in Primary singing time, no advanced notice, no practice. Why did she ever stop piano lessons from Janae?

How many ZZZZZZZZ ’s are there in LTPz?! An LTP is a letter to the president which is received and responded to via internet. President was reading them and responding while sitting on the bed. His head started to bob. He awakened and started to read again. He pressed the key to respond. Several moments later he woke up finger still pressed on the keyboard but this time he had 16 pages of response. Sixteen pages of ZZZZZ’s.

Five Gratitudes of November (besides those of home and family)

1. The sure witness of God the Eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ borne by the prophet Joseph.
2. The humble birthplace of Joseph in Vermont. This is the hearthstone where the baby Joseph was laid after his birth on December 23, 1805.
3. With stake conferences, zone conference and meetings, three day trainings, we have witnessed the amazing fruition of the promise that we will have words given us to speak in the very hour they are needed if we treasure up the words of life. (D.C. 84:85). Dad-Dave spoke or trained in over half the days of the month; L spoke and supported.
4. Missionaries! We were sad that two left last week due to illness. Nine departed early in November having completed their service. Missionaries come in every personality and devotion level possible.
5. The inspiration of living apostles evidenced in the Improving Teaching Effectiveness curriculum that helps missionaries to become better teachers.

So what was really the mission in November?

• Prayer – lots of. Pleading for inspiration and strength to know what to do and help to do it
• Illnesses- of missionaries. 9 hours in an emergency room. Sadly putting a sister on the plane after 2 months of health struggles (She has surgery this day in fact. We are hoping she will return soon.) Trying to find doctors who don’t want to take short-term patients.
• Meetings- zone leaders’ council, zone specialized training, three day specialized training for 40 elders and sisters, one by one interviews (Dad), zone conference with Elder Walker of the Seventy; Speaking - three stake conferences, one ward Sacrament meeting, fireside
• Transfers and transfer planning.
• Three gallons taco soup inhaled at zone leaders’ council, café rio salad, the all-time missionary favorite, 16 sets of sheets in the laundry, enumerable phone calls all day long (Dad)
• Missionaries in and out of the home. Singing around the piano with the departing elders
• Feeling overwhelmed that we can look back at the steps of inspiration we took, had sought with real intent and only realized in retrospect

• Laughter and tears.
  
  
• Dad’s constant message: Have a set apart heart, a consecrated heart.
• Blustery, cold days with the sun down at 4:30 pm
• Beautiful Christmas crèches (over 1000 of them) in two crèche exhibits
• Three trips to Vermont, one to Bangor Maine.
• Two poopy experiences with food poisoning
• Missionary concerns, challenges, crises, joys, successes and growth.
• Miracle of knowing that when we are doing the will and the work of the Lord, we are never alone.

These are a few of our favorite things...

These are few of our favorite things…

Enjoying the beauty of the area of the office building where the New Hampshire Manchester mission office is located.

Walking and talking together in morning exercise

Teaching, tracting with missionaries—a highlight!!

Dinner in an Amish home

Meeting people from all over the area, the world for that matter

Transfer week every 6 weeks, meeting new missionaries, sadly sending some home Sadder, ones who left because of sickness.

Traveling together to meetings, teaching appointments, stake conferences, zone conferences, interviews and seeing the beautiful autumn colors of New England

Having to overcome lots of hard things with faith in Christ and confidence that we can become equal to the challenges

Hearing “Called to Serve” sung by a group of missionaries any size who can harmonize “Chosen e’er to witness for his name, Far and wide we tell the Father’s story…” with conviction

Having missionaries who enhaled café rio salad clean up after themselves

New front yard residents

View out our back window

Our medical doctor and his wife. Pictured here (Last week we had everything from a sprained ankle –common-to a collapsed lung. He gives hours, countless hours of consultation and service. She not only supports him but us.

Listening to a young father’s first spoken prayer for his family

Having no time to prepare for a talk and having words put into our hearts and minds

Collapsing into bed happy but exhausted.

October Update

Oct. 27-30 Kirtland, Ohio Mission Presidents and wives seminar

Taught by the example of the Saints who sacrificed their lives to build the kingdom of God and by two members of the quorum of the seventies including President Jensen and their wives.

Sat where the prophet and others received witness of the reality and divinity of God the Father and the Savior. Pondered in awe in the 14 by 14 foot room where the great vision of the eternal worlds was given and Joseph Smith proclaimed: “And now after all the testimonies that have been given of him, this is the testimony…which we give of him: that he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God” (Doctrine & Covenants 76:22-23)

Were also crowded into the room in the John Johnson home where the Word of Wisdom was received…

Felt deep appreciation for the men and women and families who consecrated their time and resources for the building of the temple. Partook of the Sacrament in the very room where the keys of gathering, receiving all the blessings of Abraham and the sealing of families were given.

Felt reverence in the white, original but restored Whitney store wherein the small upstairs room, again in longer than 14 by 14, Saints were taught to “to study and learn, and become acquainted with all books, and with languages, tongues, and people.” (D.C. 90:15)

Visited the saw mill and ashes refinery where townspeople brought their ashes from their home cooking fires. The refining process then converted the ash into lye for soap, potash for fertilizer than pearl ash for the making of ceramics and glass, each progressively more refined and more valuable. We feel grateful for this refining experience. Newell K Whitney and his wife consecrated the mill and refinery to the building of the temple. Yes, it’s Sister Shaylyn Schumann our neighbor from Lehi who has been serving in Ohio for 17 months. An amazing missionary.

Changes...

· The leaves from green to golds, red, oranges, the weather, to chilly nights and lots of rain

· Bedding...from 1 to 12 missionaries staying for 1 to 2 nights

· A new office couple joining the Franklins, both so welcome and wonderful

· From a month of training and principally Bedford based work to a month going to all edges of the mission for interviews, teaching with the missionaries and visiting with members

· Learning to follow the promptings of the Spirit and to seek revelation rather than to practice skills and techniques in teaching

· New handbooks and renewed by visitors from Salt Lake to help us with training and vehicle safety, health and nutrition

· A day of missionaries to a day of General Conference and visits with all of you—the BEST!!

---Unchanging…the love of our Father, our Savior, His son and our love for each of you!---

Blain & Heidi visit

Blain & Heidi Wilkey visit!

Blain was out on business, so their children stayed at home with a couple of our other children.

Here are pictures and entries as told by Heidi on their blog: bnhwilkey.blogspot.com

"It was so nice to spend some time with Pres. and Sister Wilkey.

Surprisingly, they didn't have one phone call that night which is unheard of they said. Sometimes they get 50+ calls a night! "

"While there we enjoyed the beautiful scenery, a hike to Patriarch Hill, and the Spirit that was so strong on the grounds. President Wilkey is definitely on fire out there, can't you tell?"

"There are also places for the elderly to sit and rest. This is the Senior Missionary Bench."

"This is patriarch tree, believed to be older than Joseph Smith and has been struck by lightening twice."

"Here is the monument erected in honor of Joseph Smith. It is one of the largest solid pieces of granite in the world. The total monument weights 60,000 tons. How did they do that back then?"

"This is the original "porch step" to the home that Joseph Smith was born in."

Mom & Dad at work: