Blog time!  I told myself I needed to study first, so I did!  Amazing! 

 

President Gelwix gave the mission a reading assignment.  He called it “The Easter Project”.  We are to read all of the scripture references in the Topical Guide about Jesus Christ – there are one or two (hundred) – and we are to read all the references in each reference!  But – to learn about Jesus Christ like that is pretty amazing.  I remember Janene Phillips did that one year - and not just about Jesus Christ, but through all of the scriptures!  Pretty cool, eh? 

The younger Elders and Sisters are to have it done by a specific date – thank goodness we don’t have to!  I’d be late getting done – but it is a goal of mine to accomplish, so I’m working slowly at it.  I like how it says in 2 Corinthians 5:18, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”.  Then, verse 20 reads, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us:  we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” 

Reconcile = to restore to friendship or harmony; settle, resolve; to make consistent or congruous

Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught: “Reconciliation is the process of ransoming man from his state of sin and spiritual darkness and of restoring him to a state of harmony and unity with Deity. … Man, who was once carnal and evil, who lived after the manner of the flesh, becomes a new creature of the Holy Ghost; he is born again; and, even as a little child, he is alive in Christ”

Heavenly Father has already done His part – now we need to do ours.  I have been hard of heart enough to know this isn’t always easy!  But I know that when we strive to live God’s will, we have that peace which comes only from Jesus Christ.  And!  Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are the only ones we really need to make happy!  J 

 Happy Birthday to Cindy, Kari, Melissa, Jackson, Logan, Cess, Rick, Jonathan, Nicole, Scott, Lisa, Monica, Brianne, Janene, Parker, Colter, Rosie, Callie, Kurt, and Happy Anniversary to Steve and Leslie!   Birthday and Anniversary wishes to those before June and those after June, if I don’t get that done again!

So many things have been done since my last entry, but do you think I can remember one right now?

We had our first dinner party at our new apartment that we’ve been in for 1 month!  We had the Danley’s and the Aldrich’s over who are both Senior Missionary Couples.  The Aldrichs live in our same complex, and the Danley’s live way over on the other side of town – probably about ½ hour away.   We were able to sit around afterwards and just talk.   

We are having our former landlady (Britta) and her home teacher and his wife, (Patty and Paul Betts) and some friends, the Rasmussens, from the Fresno 7^th Ward in the Fresno East Stake come on Tuesday night.  I miss that ward!  There are the very best of people there!  So accepting, and loving – it is amazing! 

Our new ward, the Orchard View ward in the Fresno North Stake, seems to be a good ward as well!  There are several of the people that serve in the Temple on Thursday nights in the Orchard View Ward.  The Zone Leaders of the Fresno North Zone are in the Orchard View ward.  We are known to the Bishop as the ones who had their cars broken into.   Oh – yes!  Sister Ball and I made the mistake of parking out on the street, and not in the gated area, and our cars were broken into!  The windows were fine.  The doors were locked when we went in for the night, but when we went to go to church the next morning – they were still locked, but!  They had taken almost everything that can be taken out.  Tom’s tool kit (that made me most sad), my first aid kits (I really didn’t appreciate that), my 2 emergency food kits, jumper cables, umbrellas, my trailer hitch and ball, my little shovel, straps for my bike rack, my blanket from the Blundells, other stuff I’m not remembering right now, and my sun shade!  My sun shade – really?  They couldn’t get their own? 

I was ticked – but after a lesson on Sunday about consecration – I’ve decided I consecrated everything that was in my car to those people who obviously must have needed it more than I!  My sun shade?!?!?! 

For Mother’s Day, we went to Jeremy and Laura Jensen’s home – they had invited us special as we, and they, are away from our families.  They treated us really well – their children made each of us a bracelet and a necklace!  Here's mine -

 

Here are some pictures of our new place.  My camera is not working, and I bought it for my birthday last year, so it’s not that old.  These were the last pictures I could get it to take ~

 

 

Sister Ball on the couch talking on her phone!  To the left in the apartment is the door.

 

Found this saying at Dollar Tree ~

 

This is the cooking area of the kitchen!  Pretty nice!

You just turn around from the cooking area to the seating area.  There's a sliding door to the patio on the right behind the blinds.

 

oops - fuzzy photo of the SLC Temple

 

This is the hall from the front room - The door open in the background is to my room.

 

This is my room!  I have things differently now - I like it a lot better!

 

 

Not any less messy, but hey!  not bad.

 

 

In closet washer and dryer - it's own closet - wouldn't fit in my closet!

 

My closet with 10 million things packed in there!  Whoever's coming to get me when it's time for me to come home - be prepared!

 

This is my dresser - but I have my Grandkids pictures on it now. 

 

 

That's better!

 

 

 

 

This is the outside of our place - ours is the bottom door, #160!

 

We had 30 new missionaries come into the mission on transfer day - 19 went home!  It was sad to have them leave, but great to have new ones come in!  We come with a little amount of time to do the Lord's work - our days are numbered!  I want to make sure my remaining days are such that I have No Regrets!  But if we use the Atonement in our lives, we do have No Regrets because of our Saviors infinite and eternal sacrifice!  I am so grateful my sins, sorrows, weaknesses are "covered" by the Atonement.

It’s always a lot of work when the new missionaries arrive, especially entering information on the computer, trying to come up with a list of who needs what bedding, but also, a list of all medications needed, who has food allergies, and if there is anything physically, mentally, or spiritually they would like to talk about.  We have several who have emotional needs this transfer.

 

We have an Elder who has spiritual needs, but he's not a newbee.  It is so sad to see the light go out of someone’s eyes.  It is so noticeable though – it really is!  We need to pray for him, and for each other, always ~

We have an Elder with a melanoma – scary stuff!   A prayer call out went through the mission, and this Elder will be able to have the rest of the excision done here, without radiation treatments, and the lot!  It is certainly a miracle!!!  I was jumping up and down and yelling woohoo! when I heard the better news!   I set several Richter scales off doing that…

Memorial Day we went to a movie – we saw Epic.  I think we all 3 liked it!

My future “replacement”, but for the time being, my co-worker, was set apart today as a Service Missionary.  Her name is Sister Besser.  She will be at the Mission Office tomorrow in the afternoon to receive some training.  I don’t know what I can train her on – she’s a surgical RN with over 35 years of experience!  I can teach her the program, but I’m hoping to learn from her!

After next transfer at Zone Meetings there will be a nutrition presentation, and yes, Sister Gelwix, Sister Besser and I will be giving it.   We are looking for information about eating nutritional vs going out, and also about how much more it costs to go out.  We are looking for ideas as well – I want to do some sort of “The Price Is Right” game so the Elders and Sisters are really adding things up with their budgets, and getting things in line with their diets.  A game just sounds more fun!
I have been sick again!  I don’t know if it’s pneumonia, but it’s not fun!  I had a really nice blessing pronounced by Elder McClung, who was voice, and Elder Bolton.  I am so impressed with the Elders and Sisters in this mission!  They have such great testimonies, and such great faith.  They are a lot of fun too!  We have one Elder, and I won’t say who, but I call him “Pharoah” because he has had so many things happen to him!  It’s like one plague after another with him!

I have to go to bed – not only am I late, but I am very tired.  I hope all is well with everyone there – It was only 102 degrees here today, and yesterday, and the day before ---------  ugh!  Summer!  The area is so beautiful though – orchards, crops, strawberries, and vineyards everywhere – blue, blue sky, and sunshine!  Great place to be!

I love you all – you who send your faith and prayers – thank you – they are needed, and they certainly are felt!  Love, Sister Ure