Lessons Learned

                                         Lessons Learned

                                             Lesson 1

I always say there are lots of homeless people, squirrels and skunks here. 

The latter is not the case. 

We have learned that high grade Marjana has a lite skunk smell. 

The walks and trips through town when we thought a skunk must have passed by, we were wrong! 

If anyone says different then tell them they are NOT smoking the good stuff.

                                             

                                               Lesson 2 

The American Indians here in the valley may still hold a grudge against Brigham Young. 

We helped in another service project sponsored by the YMCA. It was to clean up and plant plants in a park owned by the American Indians.

The man in charge saw our name tags and began talking about Brigham sending the saints that came here and chased the Indians off their land. He soon settled down and mentioned others who came and the injustice that his people had suffered. 

He then put us to work. 

Look they grow their own stash of mushrooms!

                               

                                        Lesson 3

                        The homeless will drop anywhere!

It was a challenge getting our sign out and our people in because this man decided to camp out in the middle of the pathway.

A couple of times we saw him rinsing his mouth with peroxide to clean his teeth but then he would drink it!

                                                Lesson 4

                               They still come out in the rain.

     We were surprised that so many still came out with all the rain.

                       Avi our fearless YMCA leader is in this picture.

Another group came out and passed out slippers and sweaters. 
To the children they gave a basketball.

                                        Lesson 5

     You can decorate for Ward Parties and not go, but have fun anyway.

Amy West was trying to make the ward party special and something the Spanish members would love. She wasn't getting much help with all her work, so we made a couple of trips out to help.

Our second visit out we found Bart there helping her put up the lights and the colorful Christmas chain.

And in the "Bart Style" he had brought his blowup Manger scene as well.

              He brought this blow up for the last day of Seminary. 
                      Who buys a blowup for the last day of Seminary? 

                                     Yes, you're right; our Bart does!

Bart let me know that he felt robbed because the school year ended, and he hadn't got through Revelation in Seminary as he had planned. He came to my class, and we were able to team teach our class. It was a great experience even though he likes to call me the anti-Christ!

                                     Gotta love that man.

We didn't make the Ward Christmas party because we were in charge of the food for the Senior Missionaries Christmas party that same night.

                                              Lesson 6

                            Serving a mission and service can be hard work.

The Saturday before Christmas, we took all of the Christmas 

gifts out to the missionaries. Here is our schedule:

As you can see there are NO potty breaks. It was a very tight schedule. 

We did beg for a break and got to squeeze one in.

Missionaries of the Zones would meet at their Stake Centers, and we would meet them all there. We then served them hot chocolate and donuts. 

                     Then we brought out all the Christmas gifts!

Then came the best part! 

Some of our missionaries did not get their "Preach My Gospel Books" in the MTC. The new books came in this week, and they kept them to pass them out today. There were some very happy missionaries today.

                 

                                   Lesson 7

     Christmastime makes people perk up!

Our Johnny Mask got a haircut and put on his best suit to come to church on Sunday. We just had to take his picture because he was so proud. 

He has only worked on a few movies this year. Mostly he plays the town drunk. Once this year he was a judge, but he says in a lot of movies they just kill him off. The trouble is him falling down! At his age, which he refuses to tell us what it is, falling down can break a bone.

                                   Lesson 8

       Safety can be an issue as you serve a mission. 

When the landlord checked our balcony, they found a lot of termite damage. They worked hard to get it repaired but then the rain hit, and we have been a couple of weeks with this ledge. 

One worker came to check something in our apartment and said he had to go out on the balcony. I told him this was a lawsuit waiting to happen. 

It's a good thing Sister Snyder doesn't sleepwalk in her sleep.

                                   Lesson 9 

                                     Being "Despicable" is kind of cool.

                                                  Meet Cinco Paul 

(named Cinco because he was born on Cinco de Mayo Day)

Brother Paul spends half of the year in our ward and the other half of the year back East. He is a talented man who can really play the piano. If you look him up you will see that he wrote, "Despicable Me", as well as "Secret life of Pets" and "Horton Hears a Who" plus, many more.

He spoke a couple of weeks ago in Sacrament meeting and it was so good and down to earth.  He told how at one time he sought after things of the world and the Savior. As he is older and wiser now, he now only wants the things the Savior offers. He really was good and gave some wise counsel. 

                                                  Lesson 11

                                                   The past is sweet!

Today we received a phone call from Elder Powell. (as we know him) At one time he served in the office with us while we were in the Philippines. 

He made the most wonderful cinnamon rolls.

He called and let us know that he came from Arizona to attend a friend's wedding. He was now paying a visit to his aunt and uncle who just happened to be our Mission President the Egberts! Apparently, they asked if he knew us and so finding that we live just down the street we were able to meet up at the Visitors Center for a few minutes.  

It was a SWEET few minutes even without his cinnamon rolls.

                

  Lesson 12

    In July, "The Spoken Word" will come to us

Some of you may have already seen where Lloyd Newell will be leaving the Spoken Word. He has served there for 30 years and now is going to be a mission president! 

YES!   He will be OUR mission President staring in July!

                                    

                                 And Yes, we are very excited!

Take care.  

And until next time, 

Love the Sister Sisters