A Special Farewell to Six Elders

This was a bitter-sweet farewell to six elders. From back to front, left to right: Elder Miller, Elder Lewis, Elder Harmon, Eder Wright, Elder Dickinson, and Elder Platero.  Elder Cox (our newest Assistant). Each of them had challenges on their mission, but grew in leaps and bounds and finished strong. As we were preparing for dinner, Elder Dickinson was playing the piano. He made a comment about getting some of the elders to sing. That idea became the highlight of the evening. Each of those missionaries have excellent voices. They sang the opening song. As they harmonized, the spirit was so strong in the room that it brought me to tears. It was just magical. It was truly a humbling feeling to be present, not only to hear them sing, but to be so privileged to witness the growth and triumph each of them made to complete their mission with honor.  

August 26 - plannng for Transfer Week

This Monday Sister Courtney Hess and her family visited us at the mission home. She was one of our wonderful STL's and did a wonderful job uplifting other missionaries. It was so great to see her again.

This week is our plan and prepare week. We have a big transfer coming up with 28 missionaries arriving. Five are coming in from the Mexico MTC on Monday. Then we pick up the rest at 11:00 on Tuesday. I can house 16 but had to find members that were willing to take the rest. This is the first time we won't be feeding them at our  home because we don't have enough room. I will still cook dinner for them.

Jack spent three days this week with his assistants, Elder Christofferson and Elder Strader, to plan the transfers, Mission Leadership Council, the November calendar, and next months district meetings. It was the hardest transfer since we have been here because we have so many to train. 

Friday we held the largest 3-6 week training we have ever done -  41. This is when we train the newest missionaries after they have been out for 6 weeks. I cooked the Million Dollar Casserole and made a huge salad the night before. It was well liked and I almost ran out!! There was just barely enough to feed everyone. 

Elder Lee, who was an assistant previously and is now a zone leader, finished his mission this morning. It was sad to see him go. He is from Turlock, California. He is going to BYU and left early to get to school before the semester begins. 

After seeing him off at the airport at 5:30 A.M. we took a short nap and then took off fo a 3-hour drive to Wausau for stake conference. The visiting area Seventy asked Elder Benson, one of the parting missionaries to share his testimony. It brought me to tears. He has been so hard working, right to the end.  The ward just love him. The bishop said he was a breath of fresh air! He goes home Thursday along with 15 other missionaries. 

Tomorrow we drive back just in time for me to make dinner for Kealey, a recent convert who is in the middle of dental school, and her friend, Jordan, and the assistants. I have plans to barbecue steak but there is a thunderstorm warning so we will see how it goes!  By the way, Wisconsin is beautiful this time of year! 

Elder Lee (left), Elder Christofferson, and Elder Strader at our favorite Chinese Restaurant in Neenah

All Mission Conference with President Russell M. Nelson - March 11, 2017

President Russell M. Nelson chose to visit Wisconsin in March, which was a great opportunity for our missionaries to be taught by the president of the Quorum of the Twelve.  He shook hands with all of our missionaries and spent two hours with them. We met at the Madison Stake Center. We were also taught by Elder Ulysses Soares and his wife Rosana as well as our area seventy Elder T. David Scott and his wife.


When I walked into the building and saw all our missionaries there it just filled my heart with so much love. They are such amazing young men and women. I can't describe how blessed we felt to be in the same room as them.

They had a busy schedule. I was so surprised at how fit and healthy President Nelson is. He conducted a meeting for the youth on Friday night, a missionary meeting Saturday morning, a leadership meeting Saturday afternoon for four hours with the stake presidents, bishoprics and Relief Society Presidents and their wives, and then a special conference on Sunday for the Madison Stake.

Jack and I were also speakers in the Leadership Meeting so that was quite an honor to be in the same program as President Nelson.  On Sunday Elder and Sister Soares went to our stake in South Milwaukee and held a special conference there. They are such humble wonderful people. We sure love them.

During the Missionary Meeting President Nelson shared how he was raised by less-active parents. He tried often to encourage them to be active but they did not change. Then, when they were in their up in years, President Nelson and his parents were invited to a birthday party for President Kimball at the Hotel Utah. When President Kimball entered the room he walked straight to President Nelson's mother and kissed her and said, "Thank you for raising such a wonderful son. He saved my life!" referring to the difficult but successful heart surgery that he had performed on President Kimball. President Kimball then turned to Brother Nelson and said, "Thank you for raising a son with so much integrity."  Then he walked back to the head table.  The next day President Nelson's father called him up and said, "I'm ready."  President Nelson said, "Ready for what?" and he replied, "I'm ready to come back to church." And he did and so did his wife. Not too long after they were sealed in the temple in their 80's. He emphasized that we should never give up!

Lisa's Birthday!

This is the second time I have celebrated a birthday in the mission field. The first time was when I turned 22. I was serving in Berlin and our zone had organized a missionary choir to sing Christmas Carols as a way to get people introduced to the church. On my birthday we were in front of Gedåchnis Kirche (Memorial Church) and the entire choir sang Happy Birthday to me.

Today was just as wonderful. Around 12:00 the Muskigo Lakes District (10 missionaries) showed up at my doorstep and sang Happy Birthday to me! Fun Day!

FIRST SNOW! SHARING MY MOST SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE THUS FAR

Here it was November 19 and I had not seen any inkling of snow. As a matter of fact, we have been having cool but beautiful weather. Well, this morning as I was doing my exercises and looking out the picture window of our den, I saw white flurries floating down! It was so great to see our first snow. 

I had told the missionaries yesterday that I thought it was all a big hoax about these bad winters and they said, "Just you wait!"

We had amazing zone conferences this week. Each one was better than the last, but I think we just got better each time sharing our thoughts. We have been to the north-west in Wausau, then Green Bay, then Oshkosh, and yesterday Madison. The best experience of all just snuck up on us. During one zone conference the Sister Training Leaders had asked a missionary to share how a senior companion had changed his life. He was so humble and sincere. He talked about how tough and proud he had been but how this companion had shown true Christ-like love and had humbled him to his knees. After each zone conference President Williams has a meeting with the zone leaders, district leaders and STLs. He asks one question. "What did the Holy Ghost teach you that we didn't teach you?" One elder said his favorite part of the zone conference was this elder's comments. Then President Williams shared how this missionary was so close to going home because no one could get along with him, he was so abusive verbally and sometimes physically. In a last attempt to save him he assigned a past zone leader to be his senior companion. That senior companion called the president almost daily telling him he couldn't take it anymore. He shared how this elder would put him down and just get up during a discussion and wander around. There was little teaching going on.  The president kept telling him to see him through the eyes of the savior. Keep showing him love no matter what he said or did. It was so hard to watch this great missionary spend the last weeks of his mission going through such a tough situation. Then very gradually his comments about this trouble elder started to soften. Then one day President Williams got his weekly email from this junior companion. He said he and his companion were at a doorstep sharing their message with a woman who had no interest in their message. A thought just came to his mind. He asked her, "Is there something in you life that is missing?"  Her whole countenance changed. Tears started to stream down her face. She said there was. They listened. He said this was the first time in a very long time that he felt the spirit. It was the turning point in that young elder's life. There was a total change. After President Williams shared this experience other missionaries opened up about challenges they had or were having with their companions and how they would try to be like that senior companion that changed this elder's life. I think that meeting was the best experience of my mission so far. The atonement of Jesus Christ truly changes lives, especially that of the missionaries.

September Transfer Week

Its Transfer Week! Lots to do to prepare for our five new incoming missionaries. We had a great spaghetti dinner and testimony meeting.  Our new senior couple arrived, the Johnsons. They are ready to go to work!

Two zone leaders, Elder Andreason and Elder Palacios, in Wausua asked President Williams to visit an investigator. He visited Debbie and she made the decision to be baptized! She is a wonderful sweet person. The ward is blessed to have her as their newest member. Her son also came to the baptism.

A Family of Five Baptism!

Elder Davis and Elder Stokes baptized a wonder Hmong family last Saturday. What a great day and what a wonderful spirit. The room was so full of members and non-members we had to keep setting up more chairs. This family had investigated the church for several years but weren't quite ready. This year they decided they were ready and actually got in their car looking for the missionaries!

August Mission Leadership Council

One of the most rewarding meetings of the month is Mission Leadership Council. At this meeting the Assistants, Zone Leaders, and Sister Training Leaders discuss how to improve and set goals for the mission. This is where we are train our future leaders. President Williams and I team teach as part of this meeting, which is a lot of fun.

Saturday is P-Day and Baptism Day

Dad and I decided to make Saturday our Preparation Day or P-Day as we lovingly call it.  For the last two weeks it has also been Baptism day.  We attended a baptism two Saturdays ago in Sheboygan (I love to say that word. It bounces out of your mouth). A 16-year-old Hmong boy was baptized and now his mother is taking the discussions. She is so happy her son has become a Christian.  Hmong love to cook so they had the most food I have seen at a baptism. Love their fried egg rolls.

This past Saturday we drove for 90 minutes to another baptism of a very sweet woman.  At the baptism we met a man that had been baptized four months ago. We saw him at the bus stop afterwards and offered to give him a ride home. During the 15 minute drive we asked him about his family and he shared a wonderful experience. We learned that his mother is now deceased but years ago she had a dream and in that dream she saw that her son had become a priest but that he wasn't Catholic. For years he wondered what that meant. Then in April he was contacted by the sister missionaries while taking a ride on the bus. As soon as they gave the first discussion he knew it was true. Then after his baptism he received the Aaronic Priesthood and he now understood his mother's dream!

I don't know if I mentioned I pulled some ligaments in my left foot. This was from wearing heels for four days all day long. Not something my feet are used to. The top of my foot hurt so much and began to swell.  I went to Urgent Care to get an X-ray because I thought it might be a stress fracture, but thankfully it wasn't.  Its getting better. Needless to say Flats are my friends now.

Our First Week in the Mission Field

This has been an amazing first week in Wisconsin! We arrived Thursday, June 30 and spent two or three hours with President Raymond and Laurie Cutler. They were wonderful and so gracious. That night Jack accompanied the Assistants to a discussion and I went with the YSA sisters to visit two recent converts. They were so fun!

The next morning we visited the Milwaukee South Stake Center, which is a short distance from our home. We shook hands and talked briefly with missionaries from two zones. Then without a break we hurried over to the Madison Stake Center, which is a 90 minute drive where we met the two Madison Zone and the Wausau Zone.  Then we quickly drove up to Appleton and had dinner with President and Sister (Heidi) Pleshek, the stake President. We had a delightful two and a half hour dinner sharing experiences. The next morning we were up early and drove to the Green Bay building to meet the Appleton and Green Bay Zones.  We were able to meet all 180 missionaries and senior couples.

Sunday we had church and meetings with the Assistants, Elder Christian and Elder Lavering. Monday was the Fourth of July. We picked up our first missionary, Elder Velasquez at the airport and brought him to the office for a short orientation and then to meet his temporary companion until transfers on Wednesday. Then we went home to finish work at home before heading to a barbecue with an part member family. That was fun to relax for a little bit!

Tuesday Jack spend the day reading 180 email letters from all the missionaries while I cleaned, unpacked a couple boxes, did laundry, and grocery shopped for the upcoming transfer and Mission Leadership Council.

Wednesday at 7:45 am Elder Wilcock arrived for Trainer Training. Elder Velasquez arrived and we trained them both. I ran to Subway and we had a nice lunch before Elder Wilcock and Elder Velasquez went on their way. We said goodbye to Elder Lavering, who is now a district leader and met Elder DeSantes, the new assistant.  Elder McDermott, a home-bound missionary came over for his exit interview. He, the assistants, Jack and I enjoyed a pesto pasta dinner. Elder McDermott spent the night at our home.

The next morning, we rose at 4:00 to take Elder McDermott to the airport. His two suitcases were both a few pounds overweight. The first Delta associate told him it would cost an extra $100 per suitcase so we went over to a scale to rearrange some weight. He took out a pair of heavy boots and we returned to a different Delta associate. Jack was very nice to her and even though he was still a little overweight she said he was fine. Jack asked if he could possibly put one boot in each suitcase and she said Yes! She said it was because we had been so nice. I called the two associates Miss Justice and Miss Mercy.  As we were driving home I began to feel so sad.  Even though we had only known Elder McDermott a couple days I missed having him in our mission. He was known for his uplifting spirit. He will be missed.

Our Setting Apart

On Wednesday, June 22 Jack, Jason's family and I drove to the Church Administration Building for our 11:30 am appointment with the church's newest apostle, Elder Dale G. Renlund.  We waited downstairs in the beautiful lobby until he was ready to accept us. We went up the elevator and were greeted by his receptionist. Elder Renlund was so kind and asked us about our family. The one thing I remember was that he said we can be assured the Lord want us in the Wisconsin Milwaukee Mission. The apostles prayed over each mission president individually.  Elder Renlund set Jack apart and then Elder Wilford W. Andersen set me apart. As he did so, everything that I had been concerned about or had been praying about was addressed. I could not keep the tears from falling. What a blessed day.

Blessings of Temple Service

We received this letter yesterday from the Sacramento Temple President, President Papa, thanking us for our service as ordinance workers in the temple this past year. It was not always easy or convenient, but we feel so blessed. We had a wonderful year and made good friends. 

We learned how to be quiet servants, trying to help without bringing attention to ourselves. We learned to see others as what they can become. We were constantly reminded of the blessings promised us through our temple covenants. It is there that the past, present and future become as one.

What a wonderful way to prepare for our mission.

We are called to the Wisconsin Milwaukee Mission

The letter arrived today with our mission assignment.  We wanted all our children to be around so we decided to meet at Jared's home.  Jared's family and Ashley was there. Christian was at work but on the phone, Jason and his family skyped in, Allison was also on the phone from work and Gary was at home on the phone.  We were so surprised. That wasn't even on our radar.  We got to see what the mission home looked like and where we would live.  I learned that Wisconsin has a heavy German influence.  We also learned they have very cold winters. What an adventure we are about to begin.

Our First Letter Arrives

What a unique day.  We rose early to attend the Court and Clergy Conference at the Congregation B'nai Israel in downtown Sacramento. This conference brings together many religions together to discuss conflicts between religious beliefs and the law.  The reason we were invited was that they needed monitors and Jack was asked to help.  The best part was that the afternoon speaker was Elder Dallin Oaks. He spoke and answered some difficult questions posed to him. He was wonderful!

After the conference we hurried home so that I could get dinner ready for the missionaries, Elder Wingard and Elder Miller.  Just before they arrived I opened the door to let out our cat, Bebe.  On our doorstep was a box and a FedEx envelope. I prayed it was from Salt Lake City, which it was.  Jack arrived home soon and we opened the envelope. It was the official letter from the First Presidency calling us to serve. In the box were two mission president handbooks, 2 Preach My Gospel manuals, General Handbook #1 and #2, and two missionary handbooks (the little white books). We were not to tell family, until this official letter arrived.

Our Mission Call

Exactly three weeks after our call from Elder Cook's secretary, another call came on Jack's phone.  He had left his phone in the house while he went out to the back yard to pick pomegranates from our tree.  I was visiting with Ashley in the kitchen when I heard Jack's phone and looked to see who had called. Recognizing the area code, I quickly told Jack and he went upstairs to return the phone call.  Later Ashley told me she knew something was going on because of the way were were acting but didn't know what.  This call was from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's secretary.  A teleconference appointment was arranged for Wednesday, October 14th.  At 9:50 President Uchtdorf appeared on our computer. He was in his office and we were at Jack's business office so that we wouldn't be interrupted.  President Uchtdorf was very cordial. He officially extended the call of mission president to Jack and to me as his companion.  He also told us there were no German speaking missions open and that it would be in an English speaking mission. When Jack shared some cities in Germany where he had served, President Uchtdorf remarked that his accent was very good.  He also said to not share the call with family for two weeks and no one else until the current mission president was informed

.  He advised us to begin studying Preach My Gospel.  Then study it again because things that weren't apparent will surface as we study it again. He asked Jack to close in prayer. It was such a wonderful experience.

How it began..

It all began on a Monday. The morning of September 21, 2015. A call came in on Jack's cell phone from Elder Quentin L. Cook's secretary, Donna. She arranged for us to receive a call from Elder Cook the next day. After some technical support on setting up a teleconference we met with this wonderful apostle at 11:30 am.  He was very friendly and explained that this was an exploratory interview to see if we would be a candidate for a position such as a mission president. After several questions regarding our family, our finances and work obligations, he explained that we would be placed on a list of possible candidates but that it wasn't a certainty and to go about our lives as if nothing had happened.  Elder Cook explained that the church leaders were busy getting ready for General Conference so if we were contacted it would not happen until the middle of October.