"by small and simple things..."

Dad's mission photo - 1946

I thought you might like to know the ‘rest of the story’. In Dad’s autobiography, he talks about the Lawson family that he met while serving in the New England States mission in 1948. The family welcomed Dad and the many other missionaries who followed, into their home. Even though the Lawsons never joined the church, they were extremely impressed with Dad and his companion. Their son, Laurie, was only about 3 when Dad and his companion knocked on their door while tracting. Years later, when Laurie was considering where to attend college, his parents encouraged him to go to BYU because of their love and admiration for Dad and the other Mormon elders that they had met over the years. In 1971 Mom and Dad received this letter from Laurie.

July 1, 1971 

Dear Brother and Sister Brown

A number of years ago, I don’t know exactly when, but I’d guess about twenty, an Elder Brown came to our home in Orange, Mass. He and his companion had a lasting effect on our family even though none of us were baptized. Ever since then the Mormon elders were always welcome in our home and still are. It was many years later that I found myself in Provo, Utah as a freshman at BYU. I was a non-member when I entered BYU, but I was baptized before I graduated in 1967.  Now I am preparing to enter the temple of the Lord in Salt Lake City to be married for time and all eternity.

I believe that I could almost say with absolute surety that if Elder Brown had not knocked on our door those many years ago that none of this would have happened…

I just wanted to thank you for influencing my parents the way that you did and I also wanted to let you know that your missionary efforts weren’t wasted on our family.

With love and appreciation,

Laurie Lawson

I had always wanted to know what ever happened to Laurie and his family. I was curious to know if Dad’s influence almost 75 years ago was still bearing fruit today.  For some reason, I felt prompted to bring Laurie’s letter with us on our mission.  As I was re-reading it the other day I again had the impression to try and get a hold of him. With a little luck, I was able to get in contact with Laurie, who by the way is now living in Columbia, Missouri, not too far from Independence. I asked him what he had been doing since he joined the church and how had Dad’s influence, so many years ago, changed his life. I told him that I wanted my family, especially our future missionaries to know that we can bless the lives of others, and sometimes not even know it. This is the email that he sent me this week.

Dear Elder Brown,

I’m amazed that you found me after all these years.  I must have written that letter about 45 years ago while attending BYU as a graduate student.    

I’m not positive of the exact year your dad and companion knocked on our door in our small and provincial town of Orange, Massachusetts.  It may have been 1948 when I was 4 years old.  

For approximately the next 50 years we had dozens of elders staying in our home in Massachusetts while they tracted our area.  We had a large New England type house and my mother always had a spare bedroom for the elders.  She loved them all and treated them as if they were her boys.  Mom was an excellent cook and so the elders were well fed during their stay with us.

My parents never joined the Church, but all the years I was growing up in their home they frequently reminded me that they wanted me to be like the elders.  By coincidence, during the time I was sending out applications for college admission, we had two Elders staying with us.  One of them had attended BYU his freshman year before going on his mission and he was preparing to return and had a BYU catalog that he gave to me and suggested I send in an application.  I did and was accepted. That was 1962.  I joined the Church during my junior year and graduated in 1967.  I returned to BYU 3 years later as a graduate student and married my wife in the Salt Lake City Temple.  I graduated with an M.S. degree in Botany and Zoology in 1974.

We have three children and ten grandchildren.  My oldest son (Bjorn), served a mission in Switzerland.  My oldest grandson (Bjorn’s son) just received his mission call to England/Scotland.  He will leave in January and go into the mission home in England.

During our 5 year stay in North Carolina I served as a counselor in the Kannapolis Ward Bishopric. During our 8 year stay in Germany I also served in the serviceman’s ward bishopric.  

Bjorn and his family live in Niceville, Florida.   Bjorn is a Podiatrist serving the Military at the Air Force base there.  He and his family are very active in the church having held numerous positions in the many wards they’ve attended.

My daughter (Pirijo) and her husband (Donny) graduated from BYU.  They have two girls.  Both are active in our ward.

My youngest son (Pehr) is now living in Tucson with his wife and three children.  He is no longer active in the Church, but he was taught gospel principles in our home and he is a wonderful person; a good son, a good husband, a good father, and a good provider for his family.  We are very proud of him.

I hope I’ve met your expectations in my letter and I think it would be fun to meet while you are still in Missouri.

Laurie

Laurie Lawson

We just never know what influence we have on others. What is interesting to me is that Dad wrote in his missionary journal that they tracted out the Lawson family only about one month before he left to return home. He must have made an amazing impact on that family in just a few short weeks. I guess I should not be surprised.

Sometimes, serving here, I have wondered if I really am making a difference in the lives of some of the people we work with. I am grateful for reminders like this, that sometimes the seeds we plant, are not harvested until years or decades have passed. Dad’s influence on me and others is eternal. For that, I am so grateful.

THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB

THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB

President and Sister Cato were asked to speak to the senior missionary family home evening group this week here in Independence. President Cato is the Independence Missouri stake president. He shared his conversion story with us and the journey that he and his family have made since they were baptized. President Cato was a fourth generation member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He grew up loving the prophet Joseph and the Book of Mormon. His father was a minister in the church and the whole family was very active. Back in the 80's he began to become increasingly concerned about the direction that the RLDS church was headed - ordaining women to the priesthood, condoning same sex marriage and embracing other Protestant beliefs such as the 3 in 1 Trinity and the spirit nature of God. He and about 60 families left the RLDS church and started a Restoration Branch of the RLDS church. After about 3 years, even this 'restoration branch' began to start distancing itself from the basic doctrines found in the Book of Mormon and taught by Joseph Smith. He said that he was spirituality and emotionally lost. Finally, he called the mission president and asked that he send the elders to talk to him. It was a life changing experience and he said that finally after 30 years he felt that he was home. He and his wife and children were baptized. He has since served as a bishop and was recently called as the stake president here. He has been able to reach out to many that have come from the RLDS church, the Community of Christ church and many of the members of the restoration branches that are in the area. It was evident to Robyn and I that the Lord raised up President Cato and others like him to serve here at this important time in the history of Independence, the center place of Zion.

Sister and President Cato

TEMPLE GARDENING

Monday morning, we went to the temple to help with removing all the summer flowers to get the grounds ready for the fall and winter plants. The church spares no expense to beautify the House of the Lord. They do this twice a year and Robyn loves to get her hands dirty. 

We managed to bring home 3 'elephant ears' plants and two beautiful hibiscus plants that were going to be mulched. They now adorn James' and Kaui's front yard. We will see if they survive the winter. Maybe there is a reason why they want them all pulled out before the first freeze...

Getting ready to pull out the elephant ear and hibiscus

A lot of moms brought their kids up to help.
I think most of them are home schooled and this was a great activity.

A mamma cat and her 5 newborns were 'rescued' by the cat whisperer.
They were in a flower bed by the back door. 

A member who had just bought a farm in the country came and picked them up.
Everyone was happy except the mice that live at their new house...

GENERAL WOMAN'S BROADCAST 

 BISHOP'S STOREHOUSE

The Relief Society president called us this week and asked if we could pick up a food order for a family in the ward. When we arrived, the Bishop's Storehouse manager told us that they were really hurting for help because a lot of their volunteers had called in sick. We decided to stay for a couple of hours and helped out with their inventorying in the back. They told us that they needed me to start in the freezer. It was above 90 degrees outside with 85% humidity, so I thought that this was an answer to prayers. After about 20 seconds, I realized why I like the weather in California. It reminded me of the time we picked up James in Russia in the middle of December. Robyn on the other hand was assigned to inventory the dry goods. 90 degrees never felt so good when we were done.

1^o Fahrenheit

the meat locker

OVERLAND PARK FIRST WARD

FATHERS AND SONS OUTING

This weekend was the Overland Park First ward's fathers and sons outing at Lake Jacomo. James asked if I would pick up the twins in the afternoon since he was going to have to wait for Noah who had a high school football game he needed to be at. After picking up Luke and Josh, we went and picked up Disney for his first real campout. Setting up the tents by myself with 3 experienced and focused campers was somewhat of a challenge. ;-) 

Noah and James arrived about midnight and I was finally able to get some sleep...

Luke made the mistake of chasing a raccoon after dark 

'COMPLETE DAY'

There are some days when a single event can make it a complete day, irregardless of what else happens or does not happen. One of those 'single events' occurred last week. My son James called, and asked if I would give him a father's blessing prior to him leaving on an extended trip. It brought back so many wonderful memories of the times that I was given father's blessings by my Dad. I think that one of the things I miss the most, since my father passed away, was the opportunity I had to receive father’s blessings from him. Sometimes, just having him place his hands on my head was all that I needed. His warm, loving and calming spirit immediately made things better even before he pronounced the blessing.

I am grateful that the Lord has allowed us to serve here where I can be reminded of, and participate in, father's blessings. 

                                                             TEMPLE TRIPS

Saturday we had the privilege of bringing Karol Gamez to the temple for the first time to do temple baptisms. Karol is a single mom from Honduras and supports herself and her young 4 children working at McDonalds. She just finished up the temple preparation class with us and hopes to receive her endowments in the near future.                                                                                                        
The temple is usually not too busy Saturday afternoons which is why we like that time so much. They were a little shorthanded at the temple so not only was I was able to baptize and confirm Robyn and Karol for family file names, but also help out with some other young people who had come. This was another 'complete day'.

Gabriel Almaraz

A Spanish language temple session is held on the second Wednesday of each month. We try and take a new or returning member with us when we go. This past Wednesday, we picked up Gabriel Almaraz and enjoyed the session. This was his first time to be in the Kansas City temple, but it won't be his last. The ward was well represented as usual. 

MULTI-TALENTED

At Relief Society this week, all the sisters were given the opportunity to learn the basics of water color painting by a member of the ward who is a very talented artist. Mike Albrechtsen is a world famous painter who has painted a couple of murals in temples here in the Midwest. He periodically teaches a class for Enrichment Night. The women were taught how to paint a sunflower, or at least that was the plan. Robyn's creation is now hanging in a place of honor behind the coat rack in our closet. ;-)

The Professor

 THREE WITNESSES MONUMENT

This past week we drove to another of the many church historical sites here in Missouri - the Three Witnesses Monument. It is about an hour drive north of Independence in the small town of Richmond, in the old cemetery. Oliver Cowdery is the only one of the three witnesses that is buried here - David Whitmer is buried a few miles away in the new Richmond cemetery and Martin Harris is buried in Clarkston, Utah.
It was a beautiful summer day and we were all alone to contemplate the significance of what these three men had seen and testified of.

HAPPY SISTERS

Last Saturday, Sister Rowley and Sister Littell asked us to go with them to a teaching appointment. They taught a wonderful lesson on the Restoration to Rudy and Julie Peralta. They both accepted the sister's challenge to be baptized on the 24th of this month.
As a reward for inviting us to accompany them, we treated them to lunch. :-)
And then Friday we were able to visit the Sanchez family with the elders serving in our ward and encourage them to prepare to go to the temple. It is always such a treat to be with these great missionaries, who are such wonderful examples and representatives of the Savior.
Alan and Sharon Treasure from Washington state, were recently assigned to our ward. They are here for 18 months serving a records preservation mission at the National Archives in Kansas City. At ward council last week, Bishop Miller asked Elder Treasure and I to team teach a ward missionary preparation class. We will be starting the week after conference. I can't wait.

"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

NOCHE DE HOGAR

NOCHE DE HOGAR CON LA FAMILIA GAMEZ 

Robyn was asked by Disney to explain about the Savior's resurrection

This week we have been trying to concentrate on encouraging and helping the members of our temple preparation class stay focused on the temple by visiting each of them in their home. We also have a trip planned to do temple baptisms on Saturday with about half the class. Karol is really excited to go. Although she was baptized when she was 8 in Honduras, this will be the first time that she will be able to go to a temple and do baptisms.
We wanted to do another family home evening with her and the kids. Instead of teaching the FHE lesson ourselves, this time we brought the materials and gave assignments to Karol and the kids after we arrived. We asked Disney to conduct. He called on Zoe to say the opening prayer and then announced that we would sing 'I am a Child of God'. He did a great job and we also gave him the assignment to talk about the last few days of the Savior's life. Ashley was in charge of the activity and Karol explained what happened at the Last Supper. Kenner offered the closing prayer. It was great to see how well they all did.
We left some ideas for their next FHE and told Karol that she needs to prepare the lesson. We plan on returning in two weeks to see how she does. She was nervous about the assignment, because she has never done one by herself, but we know that this is the best way for her to learn. She will do just fine.

Ashley's activity: prepare a picture of the Savior
with the words - 'I will remember Jesus'

Zoe talking about the Savior's burial

GREG NIELSON

We were able to be with Greg as he received his endowments Saturday morning. His mom and dad are among those faithful members who have been called from other wards to serve in Kaw River for a 'season'. His dad is the 1st counselor in the YM presidency and his mom was just released 2 weeks ago as the primary president. She is now the primary activity day leader for the primary girls. We recently taught Greg the temple prep class in their home - I should say, Robyn taught the course. The previous classes we have taught have all been in Spanish, so Robyn's participation has been limited. So when it came time to teach Greg, I told Robyn that this was time it was going to be her's. She did a great job, even letting me be in charge of all the audiovisual materials. Greg was very well prepared to enter the Lord's house.

Paul, Greg and Cindy Nielson

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LACY

Lacy and Robyn really hit it off when we first met her during our hospice visits. She really looks forward to seeing us (especially Robyn) and this week invited us to her birthday party. Sharing lunch with her in the cafeteria and then giving her the little girl that Robyn had embroidered really made her day and ours.
Many of these dear individuals have far too little contact with family or friends. They have all had an amazing influence on us and continue to help us to be grateful for our own health and the love and companionship of family and friends.

REINA AND CINDY PERALTA

The Peralta family joined the church last year in Fillmore, California. They recently moved to Kansas to be closer to some of their family who had moved out here. On Saturday, we brought them to the temple so that they could do baptisms for the first time. There is no better place, than the temple, to solidify and anchor a recent convert's testimony. They loved the peace and spirit they felt.
Every time we visit with them, Sister Peralta rewards us with some delicious mangos that she loves. We are so grateful to have the opportunity to get to know so many wonderful members of the church who have opened up their homes and hearts to us.