SHELTER IN PLACE

The weather this week has been a little interesting to say the least.  Tornadoes, hail and thunder storms have been the norm around here.  Thursday afternoon, we picked up a sister in the ward to take her to fill out a job application at Walmart.  All of a sudden it seemed that every siren in Kansas City was blaring and this message showed up on both our phones. The clouds looked a little ominous, but we did not see any funnels forming and so continued on to Walmart. As we walked up to the door, one of the employees told us that if we came inside, we would have to go to the back of the store and shelter in place with the rest of the customers. We decided to take our chances and drove back to drop the sister off at her home. Fortunately, as we headed home, the weatherman on the radio said that the real severe weather was a little north of us and the tornado warning was lifted. We did get a huge amount of rain and some hail back in Independence. Too bad this storm is headed east instead of west, where the rain could really be used in California.

Robyn sent me out to collect a few of these...
they are in the freezer right now -
Why, I don't know.

A few weeks ago, at our district meeting, our district leader reminded us that the mission president wanted all the missionaries to have a preset location to shelter in place in case of a tornado.  Being an obedient missionary, Robyn went straight to our apartment manager to ask where we should go in case the sirens started going off when we were home. She told Robyn that we should get in the bathtub and put a pillow over our heads. Wonderful, I was so relieved to hear that. Robyn thought that we should practice our shelter techniques, just in case.  It will be a little cramped in the tub, but we will survive.

FREDDY FAZBEAR

Gabriel

This is how Gabriel used to look when he would to come to church. He was baptized last year and never quite got the hang of wearing a shirt and tie to Sunday meetings. On top of that, even though he was recently ordained a deacon, he had never passed the sacrament - probably because of the t-shirt and sweat pants...  When he told me that his favorite video game was Freddy Fazbear's Pizzaria, we decided to try and bribe him with a t-shirt. I had never heard of Freddy Fazbear, but with a little help from my grandkids, I soon knew more about the game than I really cared to. I told Gabriel that if he would come to church with a white shirt and tie and pass the sacrament, he would be rewarded with an official Freddy Fazbear shirt as long as he didn't wear it on Sunday. He was pretty excited. Last Sunday was his first opportunity to pass the sacrament. He did a wonderful job and earned his shirt.  I know that this is not how priesthood service is normally rewarded, but for Gabriel it was a start. We hope to keep the momentum going in the weeks and months to come.

Looking good

LUNCH IS SERVED

Serving along side these young elders and sisters is so much fun.  This week, Robyn decided that she wanted to feed them all lunch following our district meeting. I think she ended up feeding about 20 hungry missionaries. They all loved her hot scones covered in butter and fresh pear guava-lilikoi jam that she had made last week.  It was perfect timing.  Thanks to Catherine Ghent who sent us the cool aprons with our names embroidered on them.
My official job title now is 'chief dish and bottle washer'. At least that is what my senior companion tells me.  After today, I think we will probably be serving lunch about once a month from here on out.

I think they liked the scones.
Elder Porter got down on one knee to ask for 2nds

BEST SHINED SHOES IN THE DISTRICT

Last week I instructed the district on the intricacies of polishing shoes.  This week we had a contest to see who had paid attention and applied the knowledge to their shoes. Elder Duerksen had by far and away the shiniest shoes.  The grand prize was a Kansas City Temple recommend holder.

Unbiased judges

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISTER ROMERO

Birthday Girl

Today was Sister Romero's birthday. From time to time it has been fun to spoil the young sisters and elders here in our ward just a little. Her birthday fell on their P-day, so we were able to take them to lunch and give Sister Romero a Barbie Doll coloring book for her birthday (Robyn's idea). She was so excited and even promised to color one for us before she leaves in a couple of weeks, so we can hang it up in our apartment with the rest of the grandkid's art work. 

Before leaving to go home, Sister Romero sketched the elders and sisters in our district

TEMPLE COVENANTS

Wednesday, we were privileged to accompany Adela to the temple to receive her endowments. She was baptized a year and a half ago and has made great progress since. Robyn and Patricia were her escorts. In the temple, during the temple matron's instruction, Adela shared a very special dream she had prior to being baptized. In her dream she found herself in a large beautiful building surrounded by people all dressed in white. At first she thought the dream was about her dying and going to heaven. It made such an impact on her that she shared it with her husband. Then as she entered into the temple, she recognized it as the building in her dream. Tears of joy were shed by all as we recognized the hand of the Lord in preparing her for this very special occasion. We are so grateful to have been able to share this day with her. 

Adela's experience in the temple

Adela and Patricia

Sister Missionaries

One of the great blessings of serving a senior mission is to be able to serve along side so many wonderful and talented young elders and sisters. The spirit these missionaries carry is truly remarkable.  On Tuesday, the sister missionaries in our ward asked us if we would take them to the temple. They are allowed to go to the temple every 3 months while serving. 
Sister Romero and Sister Rowley have an enthusiasm for the Gospel that is contagious. Both have amazing stories of over coming obstacles and trials to be able to serve.  Our faith and our testimonies grow every time we are with them. 

 DISTRICT TRAINING

Our district leader was a little concerned about the appearance of the elder's shoes in the district. I imagine that the current styles of casual shoes has something to do with it. Most young men have not had the opportunity to learn how to polish shoes prior to being called as missionaries.  He asked me to give a 5 minute lesson on how to 'spit shine' your shoes.  Instead of spit, I recommended a water spray bottle. :)
I appreciate my dad who served in the Army Air Corp and taught me the importance of always presenting a 'polished' appearance.

SCOUTING - EAGLE PROJECTS AND MERIT BADGES

I continue to enjoy working with the Kaw River ward scout troop. Zack's Eagle project went well. We painted and assembled benches for a local elementary school. The school principal wanted two brightly painted 'Buddy Benches'.  If someone felt sad or left out, they could come and sit on one of the benches. Then hopefully when other students saw someone sitting on the buddy bench, they would come over and sit with them and try and make them feel better. It's a new world. 

Last Tuesday we finished up the Medicine merit badge by visiting the chiropractic office of the scout master, followed by a visit to the Sonic Drive In for 1/2 price shakes after 8:00 pm. I think the boys enjoyed the shakes most of all. 

Painting pieces for school benches

Assembly

Playing Jinga while waiting for the paint to dry between coats

Finished product

 The Medicine merit badge

Dr. Dube

this will only hurt just a little

Gabriel can't wait for his shake

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Robyn's mother's day surprise was a fun train ride on our P-day. We boarded the train in nearby Baldwin, Kansas and headed to Ottawa, Kansas (12 miles) where the train turned around and made its way back.  The Kansas Belle dinner train has 4 refurbished diner cars that are about 70-80 years old. We invited James and Kaui to came along with us to enjoy the evening. It was fun to see the lush beautiful scenery pass by as the train slowly made its way through rural Kansas. The dinner was great, but the best part was the opportunity to visit with and spend some quality time with the kids.
It brought back some fun memories of the train trip our family took when I was a teenager.  Dad wanted us to see where he served his mission and also meet some of the wonderful members and converts he grew to love in the New England States Mission. So he decided to take the whole family cross country on the train. It was quite an adventure.  I'm still amazed that Mom and Dad and 6 of us kids made it all the way and back without anyone getting lost or 'thrown from the train'.
That trip really solidified my desire to also serve a mission.  The blessings of missionary service came to life for me.  Seeing and meeting some of the fruits of Dad's missionary labors increased my desire to follow in his footsteps.
.

4 WHEELING AT THE TEMPLE

Last Monday we got a call from the facilities management missionaries asking if we would come up and help with a gardening project here at the temple in Kansas City.  It took Robyn all of about a second to say, "Yes!" There are few things that she likes more than to work in the garden and get her hands dirty.
Every spring at the temple, all the old flowers and bulbs are removed to make way for the spring planting of new ones.
I thought the flowers looked just fine the way they were, but someone else was in charge. Our job was to pull out any weeds and all the flowers and bulbs from the tulips, daffodils and lilies.
Robyn also volunteered to drive the 4 wheeler back and forth from the mulch pile. I had to remind her that we were not up in Angle and that there was a speed limit on the temple grounds.
Robyn was not about to let any of these beautiful flowers go to waste, so we came home with 4 large trash bags full of salvaged bulbs that we plan on giving away so that others may enjoy 'temple flowers' in the years to come.

Before

After

HOME REPAIRS MERIT BADGE

Robyn and I have been extremely impressed with the quality of the young missionaries that we are able to work with. They are hardworking, motivated and spiritual young adults. We feel blessed to have the opportunity to serve with such great representatives of the Savior. This past week we accompanied the elders in our ward a couple of times to visit less actives and teach investigators. We also had the opportunity to go to a service project with the sisters that they had arranged with a neighbor. I was also privileged to give one of the sisters a blessing.
In spite of being faithful missionaries of the Church, they are still just kids and most haven't a clue about home repairs. We are finding that most 19 year old young women do not know what a screw driver or hammer is. Before the service project with the sisters, Robyn and I repaired their front door (knob was falling off), replaced the hand rail in the stairway of their apartment, tightened all of their kitchen cabinet door knobs, opened a window that had been painted shut a while ago, and showed them how to turn on the ceiling fan. They will learn.

Lenexa Zone

Zone Leader

Sister 'Zone Leaders'

FAMILY HOME EVENING 

Usually every Monday night, all the elders and sisters that live close by in Independence gather for a family home evening at someone's apartment. Elder and Sister Tefteler (the mission doctor and his wife) coordinate the time and place and ask one of the senior couples to be in charge. It has been a wonderful way to get to know these great missionaries who are here serving with us. Each has an amazing story to tell.

We've had pot luck dinners, a trip to the museum, discussed church history topics and enjoyed spiritual lessons. The recent trip to Adam Ondi Ahman was arranged by our FHE group. We don't often see each other during the week, as all of us have different assignments, so these FHE's have allowed us to spend time together and share experiences and get to know each other better.

This past Monday, the Boyers were in charge. Elder Boyer played a short video clip of Elder Bednar talking about how we receive answers to our prayers. Then he asked anyone that would like to share an occasion when a prayer of theirs was answered. Robyn and my testimony of prayer was strengthened listening to their experiences of faith and prayer.

TEMPLE TRIP

Patricia Houtchens

GALLATIN, MISSOURI - 1838

John Lowe Butler defending his friends

We recently drove through Gallatin, Missouri where my great great grandfather, John Lowe Butler, made quite a name for himself. John was one of the prophet's body guards and not afraid to mix it up. On election day in 1838, a large group of mobbers attacked the Mormons who had came to vote. Seeing some of his friends being beaten, John decided to take action. The following is from his journal:

...I saw an oak stick lying in the road; it was split, one of those sticks that they have to build chimneys with and just as the fellow struck Stuart, I struck him and as I struck him there had been another fellow running after me with a loaded horsewhip and struck me right between the shoulders, but it did not seem to hurt me much only I felt that I could take them all if they would come along. Just as the fellow struck me, I turned around and struck an underhanded lick and just fetched it under his chin and broke his jaw in two places and down he came; we had no more trouble with him. ...I know that I knocked them right and left, every one that came in my reach and I know that there were over eight or ten...

John Lowe Butler

 Center of Gallatin 
where fight took place 180 years ago

John's biography is entitled: My Best for the Kingdom, which is a quote taken from his journal and the theme of his life once he joined the church. We hope and pray that we can also do our best here in Missouri.
There is a beautiful new chapel in Gallatin. A lot has changed in the the years since Governor Boggs issued the extermination order and the Saints were forced to flee. I think that John would be pleased with the progress and the changes that have been made and would feel right at home in Gallatin.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Robyn was asked to speak today on Mothers. Because of her growing fluency in Spanish, she decided to alternate speaking in Spanish and then in English. She started out by saying: "Feliz Dia de la Madre." Then she finished up in English. ;-)  She did a great job.

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my

angel mother." - Abraham Lincoln

I could not agree more with Lincoln.