Dec 26, 2021- Jan 1, 2022

 SUNDAY

We both spoke at the Christmas program at church today. Doug and I each had three minutes to speak about The Gift of Hope and The Gift of Love. The music was beautiful and all the speakers added to the spirit of the meeting. After church we met with Shari Rogers for a member lesson. She has an interesting story. She has been married three times, twice to her first husband who has since passed away. She is now single and lives with her sister. We have really enjoyed getting to know members of our ward and to give them a lesson with an invitation and promise.

Next we met with John and Emily Tanner and their daughter, Eloise for lunch and a lesson. More great people with very interesting stories. Emily was raised in the church but at age 19 asked to have her name removed because she "just wasn't living it". She went several years without religion, but one day when she had her daughter at church (she wanted them to have the Primary experience), the bishop asked her to accept a calling leading the music for sacrament meeting.  She said, "You know I'm not a member, right? Can you give me a calling?" He said he could and would she accept it? It was the spirit of the hymns that brought her back into activity ad she was rebaptized. Her husband joined the church a little later and the next year they were sealed in the San Diego Temple. They both have deep testimonies and are committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I LOVED her story! It reminds me that we cannot judge anyone or assume choices they (or we) make now are necessarily permanent. The Book of Mormon reminds us over and over and over again that we always have the opportunity to repent and come closer to Jesus Christ.

MONDAY

We went to the Giving Machines this morning and helped the missionaries set up for the day. Then went to  CVS for our appointment for a COVID booster. The booster is not yet required for Senior missionaries, but we wanted to get one anyway.

A member lesson with Marlene Allen was another delightful visit. We have enjoyed so much meeting with and sharing the message of the Restoration along with an invitation to find some ways to Gather Israel.

Karin and Bryan are in town for Jared Graff's wedding on Wednesday so we joined them and the Graff's for dinner at Kim and Jonathan's house. It was so good to see everyone! 

TUESDAY

The morning was spent trying to get information regarding our health insurance while we are in The Netherlands. Some was easy and some was not.... 

We were asked to present a training at our District Council today about Lifelong Conversion. We used Elder Renlund's BYU speech from Sept 2021. He teaches that the gospel of Christ - The Doctrine of Christ -  must be cycled repeatedly and iteratively throughout our lives. The doctrine of Christ is faith, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. All these elements must be repeated over and over in order for us to come closer to Christ. But how do we repeat our baptism? It is through the ordinance of the Sacrament. Partaking of the sacrament provides the link between repentance and the Holy Ghost. As we covenant each week to take upon us the name of Christ, always remember Him and keep His commandments, we are promised we can always have His Spirit to be with us. We loved the discussion of the Elders and Sisters. And Elders Iverson, Tano and Thaxton trained on focusing on commitment, the 'small and simple things' (Alma 37) and virtue (clean hands and a pure heart). Many  of our District will be transferred tomorrow. We have loved getting to know the good Elders and Sisters.

As we were leaving, Sister Toner asked Elder Glauser if he would be willing to give her a blessing. She has been worried that when she gets home she will get out of the good habits she has developed on her mission. It is no coincidence that the training we did today (assigned by our DL Elder Iverson) was an inspired topic. Elder Glauser gave her a spirit-filled blessing reminding her of her divine worth and the love Heavenly Father has for her. He blessed her to remember the times she has felt the Holy Ghost and the love of God.

On the way home, we decided to stop and visit some of our friends. Everyone was home! We talked with Dalia, Mike, and Raul and Noemi.

WEDNESDAY

We were graciously invited to Jonathan and Kim Graff's son Jared wedding to Tisha at the Mesa Temple. Somehow I thought it was at the Gilbert Temple and we were there with time to spare, but when we were checking in at the recommend desk, they couldn't find a 'Graff wedding'. When I looked at the invitation for Tisha's last name, I saw that it was actually at the Mesa Temple---25 minutes away! Doug used his driving skills and we made it there a little late but not the latest....others had thought it was Gilbert as well. Karin and Bryan and family drove from Texas to support their nephew and it was so good to spend some time with them!

THURSDAY

We spent a few minutes at the Giving Machines before going to an endowment session at the Mesa Temple.

FRIDAY

Early this morning we received an email from President Watson of the Belgium/Netherlands Mission requesting a Zoom call with us. So at 8:00am we zoomed with him and got updated on the situation there. The mission has gone from 16 missionaries 3 months ago to 70 in a couple weeks when 21 new missionaries arrive. Only 7 missionaries have been there longer than 3 months. Some of them have been serving other places but speaking the language is a big challenge and getting to know the areas when everyone is so new is also challenging. The Senior couple that were to work in the office have been there 2 1/2 months (we were with them at the MTC) are returning home Monday due to health issues. So President Watson asked us to work in the Office with finances and the fleet. And help with the medical issues that Sister Watson has been handling. Of course, we will happily do whatever he needs. We are excited to get there and help where we can but it is with mixed emotions! We really have grown to love the missionaries and the people here in Tempe.

We met up with Karin, Bryan, Austin, Isaac, Benjamin, Luke and Julia at the Giving Machines. We picked out several items to donate thanks to the generous gift from the Stewart kids. What a great gift for us since we have very little suitcase room to take things to Holland. Thank you!! 

At Zone Huddle we were asked to come with the Christlike Attribute that we want to work on this transfer. It is so good to be with the Elders and Sisters we have come to love. They really do want to 'Do Better and Be Better'. It is inspiring to feel of their enthusiasm and joy in the work.

We had a mission-wide Zoom call where President Goaslind reminded us to be vigilant about wearing masks and washing hands. Anything we can do to prevent getting sick and having to quarantine. He also introduced the Mission President that will be coming to the ATM in July. President and Sister Goaslind are certainly loved by the missionaries here...including us!

SATURDAY

We spent most of the day preparing for our new assignments as Finance and Vehicle Coordinators in the BNZ. Lots of phone calls, scheduling meetings for the next few days, talking with mentors, etc. We will be joining Monday through Thursday via Zoom the training at the MTC for those assignments. Technology is great! At least we will have a little background knowledge before we get to The Netherlands. There are many people (senior missionaries) that are coordinating all of this. We are so grateful for their efforts in facilitating this training.