"The gift of the Holy Ghost... quickens all the intellectual faculties"

Parley P. Pratt taught this divine principle. We have gained a greater testimony of this truth as we have served here. My ability to communicate in Spanish has been improving little by little over the past 9 months. However, I still struggle with words or phrases that used to come easily to my mind. I also know that my pronunciation leaves a lot to be desired. It has been almost 45 years since I really felt comfortable speaking the language on my mission in Argentina.
Recently as we have been going to the temple with new members to do baptisms, I have had the opportunity to either perform the baptisms or do the confirmations in Spanish. I have felt the 'quickening' influence of the Spirit in those moments. I know that I was helped beyond my natural ability to be able to communicate with and to be able to be understood by those dear members whose native language is Spanish.The words seemed to flow and I did not struggle with the pronunciation. 
But then as we left the temple, I found that my ability to speak and recall words and phrases in Spanish returned to its previous nominal level of proficiency. It was a dramatic change. I know that this small miracle - my temporary improved ability to speak, was due to the quickening influence of the Holy Ghost which can be felt in such a dramatic and powerful way in the House of the Lord. 
I am grateful for that influence. I am also grateful that the Lord continues to show me my weaknesses and at the same time, shows me what is possible through the influence and power of the Holy Ghost. I pray that I will always be worthy of that influence no matter where we are. 
I am also so grateful for the temple. Over the years, I have come to recognize it as my personal 'spiritual barometer'. When I 'long' to be in the House of the Lord, I know that I am making progress. And conversely, when temple worship seems difficult or burdensome for me, I know that I have work to do. 

TRUCK TRANSPORTATION MERIT BADGE

The last few weeks the troop has been working on the Truck Transportation merit badge. One of the requirements is to visit a truck terminal. Brother Nielson is the manager of the regional Ford parts warehouse in Kansas City which services about 8 Midwestern states. He arranged for us to visit the freight terminal through which all his parts and merchandise are shipped. Learning about careers, through earning merit badges, is one of the highlights and strengths of the scouting program. 

Brother Paul Nielson
explaining where everything came from
and where it is all going

Checking when the next truck is due to arrive

The young men were given the opportunity to scan some packages into the system

LDS EMPLOYMENT CENTER

Rodolfo Peralta

Elder Holdaway with Rodolfo

Brother Peralta and his wife moved here from Ventura, California about 6 months ago. He had been the foreman of a small farm there for 25 years. When the owner passed away, the farm was sold brother Peralta lost his job. The family moved out here to be closer to some of their children. He is extremely honest and hardworking, but because of his limited work experience, has only been able to find menial jobs that usually require him to work on Sundays. This week, we went with him to the regional employment center here in Kansas City, where they were able to get him registered on ldsjobs.org and work with him to come up with a employment plan and goals to be able to support his family and be more active in the church.
We are so blessed to belong to a church that not only helps us to become spiritually self reliant, but also economically self reliant at the same time.

HICKORY HILLS DISTRICT

Some of the faces and names change each transfer,
but the spirit stays the same.

MAKING THE MOST OF THE COMMUTE

Our apartment is in Independence, Missouri and our assigned area is in NW Kansas City, Kansas, almost 30 miles away. Sometimes we make 2-3 trips out there in a day, depending on our schedule. We are on pace to put about 50,000 miles on our vehicle by the time we return home. Good thing it is a hybrid and that gas here is more than $1.50 cheaper than back home. 
This has meant that we have had a lot of time, as we travel, to solve the world's problems or discuss the meaning of life. Robyn also has been enjoying doing some embroidery as we have driven back and forth. 
For her birthday this his past Sunday, she presented Kelehua with one of her very special custom creations - a cute little Hawaiian hula dancer, that reminded Robyn of Kelehua. 

The sign on the wall says:
'1 DAY UNTIL SHE'S ELEVEN'

Kelehua's bedroom wall
both gifts from Grandma