The week started off with an wonderful opportunity to help clean the Kansas City, Missouri temple. We had not had been to this temple yet, so it was a great experience to see the inside of this beautiful building and be of service.
Every Monday morning, members in the Kansas City temple district are assigned to come and help clean. It felt wonderful to be able to assist in a small way to maintain the House of the Lord. The marble baseboards in the celestial room have never been cleaner. :) I was reminded of the nickname that a missionary companion gave me in Argentina almost 45 years ago. He was quite a bit taller than I, and was always kidding me about my height. He gave me the nickname 'Inspector de Zocalos' (baseboard inspector). I guess I finally got to really earn the title.
What added to our experience was the time we spent talking with the artist who painted the beautiful mural in the instruction room. Michael Albrechtsen happens to be a member of our ward here, and was also assigned to help clean on Monday. Brother Albrechtsen has also painted murals in the Indianapolis, Indiana temple and the Helsinki, Finland temple. He shared with us the very sacred and spiritual experience he had painting the mural. Another of Brother Albrechtsen's paintings depicts Adam-ondi-ahman. It is hanging near the recommend desk here. We look forward to spring next year when everything in Kansas and Missouri will be green and lovely like it is in his mural and painting.
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Instruction room of the Kansas City, Missouri temple
Adam-ondi-ahman by Michael Albrechtsen
Most of our week was spent visiting less actives. At our weekly district meeting, each companionship is invited to share the names of investigators or members that they are working with that need extra help. The members of the district are encouraged to remember them by name in their prayers that week. We are also asked to share any small miracles that we experienced during our missionary labors during the previous week.
When it was our turn, we listed the Amayo and the Bravo families. The Amayo family is from Nigeria. Sister Amayo and their three children are active, but Brother Amayo had not been to church in a long while. We dropped in unannounced with some Christmas goodies last week. After visiting with the family for a few minutes, I invited Brother Amayo to come to church with his family that Sunday. He was very non-committal and said, "Maybe, we'll see." Robyn was not going to accept that answer and looked Brother Amayo in the eye and said, "Brother Amayo, will you come to church this Sunday with your family?" He could feel her concern and love and responded positively. Seeing Brother Amayo and his whole family seated in the chapel the following Sunday, made me realize that sister missionaries have special gifts and abilities that missionary elders sometimes lack.
The small miracle we shared in our district meeting involved the Bravo family. We visited with them later in the week. We didn't have a phone number so we dropped in on them also. They had just sat down to eat and so I didn't want to stay long. After getting their phone number, I hurriedly asked them if we could come back at a more convenient time and then we would be on our way. It was about that time that I felt Robyn give me a gentle elbow in the ribs. Over the years, she has quietly gotten my attention when she knew that I needed a reminder about something. She was standing next to me, so the Bravo family was unaware of her trying to get my attention. I immediately knew that she wanted me also to invite them to come to church on Sunday. So I turned to Brother Bravo and said, "Will you come to church this Sunday with your family?" Like Brother Amayo, he said that they would be there. As we were driving away, I turned to Robyn and said that I appreciated her being receptive to the spirit and giving me an elbow to make sure we invited the family to church. She had no idea what I was talking about and said that she had not touched me at all during our visit. We talked about it all the way home, knowing that promptings from the Spirit come in different ways. Sometimes I need an elbow to the ribs to really get my attention.
I almost feel guilty sharing what we did for Christmas. Missionaries are allowed to call home on Christmas, not go and visit their family. We got to do both. James and Kaui and the kids live about 30 miles away. With the mission president's permission, we went over Christmas eve for dinner and then spent the night so we could be with the kids in the morning as they opened up their gifts from Santa. What a treat. It was a tender mercy extended to us by the Lord. We spent Christmas day visiting, eating, watching 'A Christmas Story' and putting together the twins' LEGOS. I am just starting to get the knack of LEGO assembly. These are nothing like the Lincoln Logs I got for Christmas when I was a kid. Kelehua just about passed out from excitement when she opened up the gift from her folks... a phone she can text and call people with. I bet that she and grandma have exchanged 500 texts in the last couple of days. Noah's favorite gift was a ticket to go see the Piano Guys perform next spring. Unlike his father and grandfather, he is a very talented musician. In fact, he has been called as the priesthood pianist in his ward.
 
Luke and BB-8
More LEGOS
Died and gone to heaven
Joshua, the LEGO master, and his faithful apprentice
P.S.
Some friends of James and Kaui secretly placed this sign on their lawn after James put up his first one and only string of outside Christmas lights.
Filling up the car no longer is as depressing.
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