MISSIONARY PREPARATION CLASS

One of our favorite 'assignments' here in Independence is training future missionaries. This week we had two young men who joined us for some intense training on our P-Day. We felt that they needed some real life missionary experiences and so we also scheduled a discussion with Sofia regarding the Plan of Salvation. Remembering the wonderful flannel board that I used in Argentina, we decided to create some visual aids that these two young missionaries in training could use. Robyn put together a great lesson plan for them and then they practiced and practiced until their presentation was flawless. Sofia was quite impressed with their knowledge and mastery of the subject matter. To ensure that she understood the material well, first Luke, then Josh gave the same lesson to Sofia. After hearing the lesson twice, Sofia was brave enough to try it herself. We were not disappointed. The boys promised her that they would be attending her baptism next week.

Ready for the flannel board

         
                                  Role playing

     Practice makes perfect

Lesson learned.

We also wanted the future missionaries to experience some real P-day fun. So we took them to a nearby wildlife sanctuary that had a number of huge buffaloes and elk that you could feed by hand. It seemed that carrots were the hot ticket. The boys had fun along with the training missionaries.

Helping the ZL make their favorite Monkey bread

WARD CALLINGS

We already feel a great attachment and connection to the ward. The members have been so wonderful to extend their love and fellowship to us. We have been blessed to receive two callings in the ward so far. Robyn and I were asked recently to teach the Marriage and Family Relations class during Sunday School. There are a dozen so far in the class with maybe more to come. Robyn is always good to point out to the class members all the boneheaded things I have done over the years. She said that she felt it would help the class not feel so self conscious about their own marriages and also be more willing to open up in class with questions and comments. What ever works, I guess.

And then the second counselor in the bishopric called me in for an interview today. He extended the call to serve as the assistant scout master. It took me all of a nano second to say yes. I am really looking forward to this. The fact that I told the bishop last week that I had brought my scout shirt with me from California probably had a little to do with it. 

I spoke to the scout master after the meeting.  He is a young man in his early twenties who has a great desire to serve, but little scouting experience. Hopefully I can help him figure out what he needs to do and help him get trained. He said that one of his biggest needs is help with campouts since he has to work a lot of weekends. This is going to be fun. 

Orrin is in a Spanish immersion class back home in California. It is amazing how fast these young brains soak up a new language. We also asked him to write a letter to Sofia, but this time in Spanish. He dictated the letter to his mom and mailed it off with his picture attached. Sofia was very excited to receive another letter from a pen pal, especially one that she could read without translation.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG ( fingers crossed)

CONFLUENCE OF THE MISSOURI AND KANSAS RIVERS BY DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY ONE MONTH AGO
JANUARY 2016

I feel that I need to thank any and all who have been praying that the winter here in Missouri would be short and mild and that I would not freeze to death. The weather has truly been wonderful. Everyone that we talk to here says that can't believe how nice it has been. Yesterday, the thermometer got all the way up to 72 degrees. It was amazing. We were out without coats on. People were driving with the tops down on their convertibles. The parks were full of people. I know that I am probably going to regret saying this because the weather here can turn in an instant.  But it appears that we are 'coming out of the ice' alive and well. There has been a few cold days, but not like in years past we are told. Right before our son James left to go to the Russia, Yekaterinburg mission, my father was 'kind' enough to give him the book, Coming out of the Ice. Yekaterinburg is pretty close to Siberia and as you can imagine, more than quite chilly in the winter. The book is the autobiography of Victor Herman, an American who was falsely imprisoned in Siberia for over 40 years. James' Grandpa Brown wanted him to be prepared for life in subzero permafrost weather, so he thought that this would be a good read before he left. The author talks about birds freezing solid in mid flight and falling like rocks to the ground. It also talks about trees exploding like they were packed with dynamite without any warning, due to the sap suddenly freezing. Needless to say, it got James' attention. I think Grandpa had a sick sense of humor. 

I have to admit that I also thought about the book when we received our call to the Midwest. Fortunately we have not seen any birds falling out of the sky or witnessed any trees exploding... so far.

Valentine gift from 3 special people

Robyn's sewing skills have also helped us become closer with some of the people we are working with. This dress needed some repair work and she volunteered to fix it. I believe that the young lady, whose dress was torn, will always remember the kind service that she received from a missionary. She and her mother did not know how to mend it and they did not have the money to take it to a tailor. 

THE GREAT PLAN OF HAPPINESS

February 14, 2016

JACOB KAWAA FREEBAIRN
1977 - 2016

We are so blessed to have a clear understanding of the plan of salvation, or as Alma calls it, the Great Plan of Happiness. On Wednesday, as we were traveling to visit the Angeles family and teach them about this wonderful plan, Robyn's cell phone rang.  It was her sister Becky with the tragic news that their son, Jacob, had been struck by a drunk driver and killed on the Big Island of Hawaii. The lesson that we were about to teach suddenly took on more meaning as we mourned the loss of our wonderful nephew. But at the same time, we were comforted by the knowledge that we will see Jacob again and that through the atonement of the Savior, families can be together forever. Robyn was overcome with emotion as her sister shared the news. I wondered if she would be able to go through with her part of the lesson we were to give.  As we sat down with the Angeles family, Robyn shared the sad news of Jacob's passing. But then bore her strong witness that she knew that Jacob was with his Father in Heaven and that through the Plan of Happiness, we can all be with our loved ones again. It made a very powerful impact on the Angeles family, and I know that the Holy Ghost conveyed the truthfulness of Robyn's testimony to them.

JACOB & MATTHEW

Jacob was close in age to our son, Matthew. Although Jacob grew up in Hawaii with his family, Matthew and Jacob were very close. We got to see Jacob a little more as he was called to serve in the California Los Angeles Mission. He even served in our stake for a few months and we were able to have Jake and his companion over for a Thanksgiving dinner. He will be missed.

 SOFIA

Sofia's baptism is scheduled for the 27th. We have found that often the key to success with an investigator is to find the right member to be their friend. Someone with whom they can relate to, and that will fellowship and encourage them. Since Sofia is 9, we felt that our grandsons, Luke and Josh, who were baptized just last year, would be a good match. We asked the twins to write a letter to Sofia, encouraging her to be baptized.  They did their very missionary best as you can see. They will be great missionaries someday just like their folks. Sofia was so happy to receive the notes. She was smiling from ear to ear as her dad translated the notes into Spanish.  Hopefully Luke and Josh will be able to attend her baptism in a couple of weeks.

Kelehua did not want to be left out.

Sofia's response to the kids

Dear Kelehua, Josh and Luke

Thank you so much for your letters and sharing with me how you felt when you were baptized. I also know that I will feel very happy when I am baptized.

I know that Heavenly Father will be happy with my decision to be baptized because I will be a little bit closer to be able to return to His presence.

With love, Sofia

Dinner Appointment

We had our first official dinner appointment with a member family this week. We as senior missionaries are not on the official ward 'dinner calendar', so the invite was unexpected but very much appreciated. Sister Balza is from Venezuela and cooked a very delicious traditional meal. She even taught Robyn how to make and prepare arepas. What a treat! Our son, Matthew, served his mission in Venezuela. When he heard about what was on the menu, he asked if we could send him some of the arepas and the traditional drink, Malta. We told him that he is just going to have to come visit us so we can take him over to visit the Balzas.

Healthy food and exercise

Robyn is determined to keep us healthy. Every morning she drags me over to the weight room here at the apartment to exercise. On top of that, our refrigerator is beginning to look like the produce department at the local organic market. Her juicer is really getting a work out - almost as much as I am. I am feeling soooooo much better already. At least that is what I tell her every day.

After only 2 hours on the treadmill  :)

 District meeting surprise

Sister Vest, the wife of our mission president made a surprise visit to our district meeting. I think her husband had an interview with another missionary in the building and so she decided to drop in on us. All the elders and sisters just love her. She really brightens up the room when she comes in.

'WHITHER THOU GOEST, I WILL GO'

February 7, 2016

We found this beautiful statue in downtown Kansas City to honor all the brave pioneer women that followed their husbands to Missouri.  Robyn said that it absolutely had to be in our journal, as it is the story of her life... 
I reminded her that it is the husband who is walking and it is the wife who is riding. The inscription at the base of the statue was from the book of Ruth. 

"And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: they people shall be my people, and thy God, my God."

Sofia

We are continuing to work with Sofia to prepare her for baptism on the 27th. Once again, a great CTR 7 teacher back home suggested we use the primary manual to assist us in our lesson preparation. Sofia and Robyn have really hit it off. This week the lesson was on the Restoration.  So Robyn prepared a wonderful lesson complete with some puppets to be able to teach the story of the First Vision. As you can tell, Sofia loves her missionary.

LIBERTY MEMORIAL AND WORLD WAR I MUSEUM

Our P-day was very interesting. We spent a couple of hours in an amazing museum in downtown Kansas City dedicated to World War I.  My kids were taught so little about the history of this country and the events that shaped her history. My grand kids probably less. It makes me sad to think of some of the cultural gibberish that is taught to our children in the name of political correctness and inclusiveness. A great deal of today's events can trace their roots and history back to the 'war to end all wars'. The memorial and museum was dedicated in 1926 just a few years after the war ended. There were some amazing displays and artifacts, but at the same time we came away with a feeling of sadness at the loss of so many lives and the terrible destruction that war brings about. I have to admit that the best part of the visit was the trip up to the top of the memorial to see a 360 degree unobstructed view of Kansas City. 

I thought about my grandfather, Preston Lyman Redd, who enlisted in Canada during World War I and joined the Royal Air Force. He had to travel half way across Canada by train to get to where he was assigned. On that train ride, he and his brother saw a plane for the first time in their lives. Prior to that, they had never seen an actual plane flying in the air.  Their recruiter must have been very good.

Grandpa Redd with his brother Paul 

LIBERTY MEMORIAL

DOWN TOWN KANSAS CITY

9000 POPPIES
EACH POPPY REPRESENTS 1000 INDIVIDUALS KILLED IN THE WAR 

Just a little of the artwork that is filling up our walls