I guess if you look closely, there are little tender mercies that come along with trials. First of all, we arent torn apart about it all. In fact, we have to laugh that so many trials hit us so close together. We have good friends who have offered to help us with money, others who are feeding us, we get a brand NEW fridge. A missionary couple is packing to go home on Friday and they offered us first dibs on what they are leaving behind. Among the things being left behind are an electronic keyboard (that I can keep in our apartment) and a piano student.
I have three piano students now, and could have about ten more if I had the time. The carrot is that if the students show real interest and progress, they get to take an electronic keyboard home to practice, and if they show responsibility they get to KEEP the keyboard.
The biting dog was at the bus stop again today. I was surprised to feel a little aprehensive around her. She was chasing people and barking, being quite aggressive. I have seen her chasing school kids (teens), but I thought they were playing with her. Now I know that she is defending her territory. My hand is beginning to heal. The tear is about 3/4 inch long, and for some reason, it doesnt hurt unless I accidentally put pressure on it.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Threes
I've heard it said that accidents happen because a rule was broken. I've also heard that bad things happen in threes. Well, it's most likely true.
Last week on our journey home from the office, the bus was rather crowded. Jay said there was a guy who kept bumping him, it seemed like he was having a hard time balancing. But what is new about that? The balancing act on a moving bus is having people bumping into you as the driver uses accelerator and brake at unpredictable intervals. I brag about how well I can balance on one foot now. When Jay got off the bus he said his pants "didnt fit right". He checked his front pants pocket and discovered that his wallet was missing. Yup! Pickpocketed by an "unbalanced" thief. We cancelled three credit cards, his Utah driver's license and temple recommend are gone, as well as about U$100 cash. The hardest thing about all this, besides feeling violated and foolish, is that we have no source of income till we get replacement cards in about three weeks. The rule is that you dont carry all that stuff around, and you keep your wallet in your suit jacket breast pocket and you dont open your wallet in public.
One of our missionary sisters was visiting in our apartment and made a comment, "Boy, your refrigerator sure is noisy!" We hadn't paid attention to the noise, but had noticed that the stuff in the freezer was rather slushy. And it got slushier and slushier over the next two days. We had it looked at, and it has died from lack of compression. The missionaries in the apartment building next door offered to let us use their fridge and we are grateful. Most of the food, however, was already beyond salvaging. I'm not sure how we broke a rule here. Maybe listen to what your appliances are trying to tell you, or when your popsicles arent sicles anymore, there is something wrong.
Today we took the bus home. At the second bus stop the usual dog who lives there was sitting by the bench. I reached down to pat her head and she bit me on the hand. I have a half-inch gash in my left hand just below the pointer finger on the soft pad of my palm. We went to the missionary doctor as soon as we reached Temple Square. He cleaned it, applied antibiotic cream and covered it with a bandaid. Then we started the rabies series. They dont hurt, and it is a series of four shots in the arm over a three week period. I broke the rule of never petting a strange dog.
Now, for the bonus. Today someone came to inspect the gas in our apartment. He says the stove is bad because if you turn the knob the wrong way, the fire goes out, but the gas continues to run. I guess now we will get a new stove AND a new fridge.
SOMEBODY TELL ME THIS IS ALL!!!!!!!!!!! I didnt have to travel all the way to Chile to get a dog to bite me...
Last week on our journey home from the office, the bus was rather crowded. Jay said there was a guy who kept bumping him, it seemed like he was having a hard time balancing. But what is new about that? The balancing act on a moving bus is having people bumping into you as the driver uses accelerator and brake at unpredictable intervals. I brag about how well I can balance on one foot now. When Jay got off the bus he said his pants "didnt fit right". He checked his front pants pocket and discovered that his wallet was missing. Yup! Pickpocketed by an "unbalanced" thief. We cancelled three credit cards, his Utah driver's license and temple recommend are gone, as well as about U$100 cash. The hardest thing about all this, besides feeling violated and foolish, is that we have no source of income till we get replacement cards in about three weeks. The rule is that you dont carry all that stuff around, and you keep your wallet in your suit jacket breast pocket and you dont open your wallet in public.
One of our missionary sisters was visiting in our apartment and made a comment, "Boy, your refrigerator sure is noisy!" We hadn't paid attention to the noise, but had noticed that the stuff in the freezer was rather slushy. And it got slushier and slushier over the next two days. We had it looked at, and it has died from lack of compression. The missionaries in the apartment building next door offered to let us use their fridge and we are grateful. Most of the food, however, was already beyond salvaging. I'm not sure how we broke a rule here. Maybe listen to what your appliances are trying to tell you, or when your popsicles arent sicles anymore, there is something wrong.
Today we took the bus home. At the second bus stop the usual dog who lives there was sitting by the bench. I reached down to pat her head and she bit me on the hand. I have a half-inch gash in my left hand just below the pointer finger on the soft pad of my palm. We went to the missionary doctor as soon as we reached Temple Square. He cleaned it, applied antibiotic cream and covered it with a bandaid. Then we started the rabies series. They dont hurt, and it is a series of four shots in the arm over a three week period. I broke the rule of never petting a strange dog.
Now, for the bonus. Today someone came to inspect the gas in our apartment. He says the stove is bad because if you turn the knob the wrong way, the fire goes out, but the gas continues to run. I guess now we will get a new stove AND a new fridge.
SOMEBODY TELL ME THIS IS ALL!!!!!!!!!!! I didnt have to travel all the way to Chile to get a dog to bite me...
Saturday, May 12, 2012
More to the Story
Six of us senior missionary sisters took the bus to a Church in a part of town I have never been in before. After waiting for a taxi (which never came), we boarded the bus. The first bus took us about 15 blocks, then we had to switch to a bus going another direction. (We were headed south, but to finish the trip, we had to go as many blocks east). At the appropriate bus stop, two sisters got off, I was stepping down when the bus doors closed and the bus started moving. All six of us yelled, "STOP! STOP!" Some of the passengers were yelling, "PARE! PARE!" The bus stopped, the doors opened, my second half got off, followed by the other three sisters. Before that stop, I noticed another Chinese restaurant. Its name was Sam Sing. Some of you will recall the joke about Sam Sing. If you dont, ask a sibling, or ask me. In the joke, his last name was Wong. hahaha
Chinese Restaurants
While riding the bus we watch to see interesting places to eat in the future. There are quite a few of the Chinese variety. I have thought the names are rather amusing. The first one I saw was Wah Ching. Down the street a couple blocks is another called Hong Ree. These became two of our landmarks on the way to the feria. I ran these names over in my mind because phonetically they sounded familiar. Soon, I realized they sounded like Hungry and Watching. Too funny. A couple weeks ago we passed another Chinese restaurant called Japon Ya. No Way!!! Hop on ya????? Well, today the fourth one was called Ru Ning, So we have Watching, Hungry, Hop on Ya and Running! Of course in Spanish none of this is funny. Only in English phonics!!!!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Shakin' Hands or Shaken Hands
When I was 18 and working at Glacier National Park, there wasw a Governors' Convention being held at Many Glacier Hotel, my hotel. My friend, Virginia, and I were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to meet and shake hands with FBI director, J. Edgar Hoover. Boy did I think I was special!
Two years later I was a member of the Church in Missoula. My bishop was L. Edward Kimball. He was different only because he was quite crippled from polio. A few times a year, the ward people were all excited because Bishop Kimball's father was coming to visit the family. He always went to Primary when he visited. I peeked into the Primary room out of curiosity. All I saw was a little elderly gentleman, bald, roundish face, wearing glasses, and smiling. I learned a few years later that "Grandpa" was Spencer W. Kimball, an Apostle of the Church.
I was so new in the Church that I didnt know how things went. I just knew that every once in a while people would get excited, they would open the doors to the gym and set up lots of chairs. They talked about someone special who would be coming. I didnt catch the name. When it was his turn to speak, the whole audience was quiet, even the babies. This man would talk the whole time without a single note. He told wonderful stories. I didnt find out till years later that this man's name was LeGrande Richards. I wish I could hear more stories now that I know who he is!
When Jay and I were married and living in Provo, we attended Manavu Ward. In our Sunday School class were two people who seemed to get a lot of respect. One, Anna B ...... was a former General President of the Primary. The other, was a man, short and rather carelessly dressed. He always had an old book of some kind or other and would be reading during the lesson. It was not Scripture. It was in some other language, Greek or Hebrew or Latin or something equally odd. However, he would look up from his book every so often to make a very appropriate comment about the lesson. His name was Hugh B. Nibley. I only knew him as an eccentric member of the Ward.
A few years later, when Lori was a baby of about a year, we were living in Kansas. We traveled to Farr West, Missouri for a special dedication ceremony at that temple site. There was another Apostle there, Joseph Fielding Smith. I carried Lori and walked up with the rest of the crowd to shake his hand. I didnt really want to bother him, but wanted Lori to have the experience of being eye to eye with a General Authority of the Church. When it was our turn, Elder Smith looked into my eyes with his dark brown ones. I couldnt think of anything to say, but was thinking about Lori. I saw in his eyes the "Oh! I get it" moment, and then he put his hand on Lori's head and smiled tenderly at her.
The Kansas City Stake Relief Society was invited to sing at a session of General Conference. We practiced often, even though we had to drive an hour each way for every practice. As the time drew near to leave for Salt Lake, the General president of the Relief Society, Belle Spafford, came to listen to us and to offer encouragement. One of the members of the Stake Presidency was Rex Reeve, his wife was Marjorie. They moved to Salt Lake city. Then we began seeing his name as a General Authority
A few more years found us living in Radford, Virginia. Our stake center was in Roanoke, about an hour's drive from home.. We attended a Saturday Stake Conference where another Apostle was visiting. It was the custom for everyone to stay for lunch between sessions. This Elder sat right across from us at the table. He told us about his grandson, Jody Whitaker, who played Buffy's twin brother on a TV series. I cant think of his name right now, but I do know that it started with a B. I was thinking this was a wonderful life.
When we moved to Smithfield, I had a wonderful friend across the street. Her name was Melinda Hilden. One of her daughters became engaged to a young man from Salt Lake City, and I was invited to the sealing/marriage in the Salt Lake Temple. The man coming to do the sealing was a little late, but it was a friend of the groom's family, so we waited. We learned that he had just flown in from a visit to Samoa. In walked a very tall man, smiling and apologizing for holding us up. It was another Apostle, Thomas S. Monson.
The Cook family had an extended family reunion a few years ago. This included five generations. Jay left early, and Lisa and I arrived after having my birthday lunch at the Hotel Utah. As we walked into the church, there was a tall man, being led around by his pinkie by a little girl of about 18 months. He looked up, smiled, and said,"I dont know who she is, but she seems to know where she is going." He looked a lot like Jay's Cook uncles, and we just smiled and went on our way to the chapel. Soon, as the meeting was called to order, it was announced that there would be an extra speaker. Yep! It was this man. He was L. Tom. Perry, another Apostle!
At the MTC, there is a devotional every week. The one we attended just before we flew to Chile was going to be a live visit. The other one was a broadcast talk by Jeffery R Holland. We wondered who the speaker was going to be. As we listened to the prelude music, the door opened and in walked Elder Russell M. Nelson. How can I be so lucky?
Now, today, it happened again. We went to work, waited past the appointed hour, and wondered if we would be going home before Sister Burton came. At last they came and we had a very nice time showing them around. There were lots of pictures taken. She held me around the waist for a picture. I told her that I considered this a visiting teaching visit. She said, "And it isnt even the 30th!" I mentioned something about getting used to people with cameras, and she admitted that it is going to take some getting used to.
I have been so blessed. How lucky am I to get to be in the presence of all these specially called people!!!!!
Two years later I was a member of the Church in Missoula. My bishop was L. Edward Kimball. He was different only because he was quite crippled from polio. A few times a year, the ward people were all excited because Bishop Kimball's father was coming to visit the family. He always went to Primary when he visited. I peeked into the Primary room out of curiosity. All I saw was a little elderly gentleman, bald, roundish face, wearing glasses, and smiling. I learned a few years later that "Grandpa" was Spencer W. Kimball, an Apostle of the Church.
I was so new in the Church that I didnt know how things went. I just knew that every once in a while people would get excited, they would open the doors to the gym and set up lots of chairs. They talked about someone special who would be coming. I didnt catch the name. When it was his turn to speak, the whole audience was quiet, even the babies. This man would talk the whole time without a single note. He told wonderful stories. I didnt find out till years later that this man's name was LeGrande Richards. I wish I could hear more stories now that I know who he is!
When Jay and I were married and living in Provo, we attended Manavu Ward. In our Sunday School class were two people who seemed to get a lot of respect. One, Anna B ...... was a former General President of the Primary. The other, was a man, short and rather carelessly dressed. He always had an old book of some kind or other and would be reading during the lesson. It was not Scripture. It was in some other language, Greek or Hebrew or Latin or something equally odd. However, he would look up from his book every so often to make a very appropriate comment about the lesson. His name was Hugh B. Nibley. I only knew him as an eccentric member of the Ward.
A few years later, when Lori was a baby of about a year, we were living in Kansas. We traveled to Farr West, Missouri for a special dedication ceremony at that temple site. There was another Apostle there, Joseph Fielding Smith. I carried Lori and walked up with the rest of the crowd to shake his hand. I didnt really want to bother him, but wanted Lori to have the experience of being eye to eye with a General Authority of the Church. When it was our turn, Elder Smith looked into my eyes with his dark brown ones. I couldnt think of anything to say, but was thinking about Lori. I saw in his eyes the "Oh! I get it" moment, and then he put his hand on Lori's head and smiled tenderly at her.
The Kansas City Stake Relief Society was invited to sing at a session of General Conference. We practiced often, even though we had to drive an hour each way for every practice. As the time drew near to leave for Salt Lake, the General president of the Relief Society, Belle Spafford, came to listen to us and to offer encouragement. One of the members of the Stake Presidency was Rex Reeve, his wife was Marjorie. They moved to Salt Lake city. Then we began seeing his name as a General Authority
A few more years found us living in Radford, Virginia. Our stake center was in Roanoke, about an hour's drive from home.. We attended a Saturday Stake Conference where another Apostle was visiting. It was the custom for everyone to stay for lunch between sessions. This Elder sat right across from us at the table. He told us about his grandson, Jody Whitaker, who played Buffy's twin brother on a TV series. I cant think of his name right now, but I do know that it started with a B. I was thinking this was a wonderful life.
When we moved to Smithfield, I had a wonderful friend across the street. Her name was Melinda Hilden. One of her daughters became engaged to a young man from Salt Lake City, and I was invited to the sealing/marriage in the Salt Lake Temple. The man coming to do the sealing was a little late, but it was a friend of the groom's family, so we waited. We learned that he had just flown in from a visit to Samoa. In walked a very tall man, smiling and apologizing for holding us up. It was another Apostle, Thomas S. Monson.
The Cook family had an extended family reunion a few years ago. This included five generations. Jay left early, and Lisa and I arrived after having my birthday lunch at the Hotel Utah. As we walked into the church, there was a tall man, being led around by his pinkie by a little girl of about 18 months. He looked up, smiled, and said,"I dont know who she is, but she seems to know where she is going." He looked a lot like Jay's Cook uncles, and we just smiled and went on our way to the chapel. Soon, as the meeting was called to order, it was announced that there would be an extra speaker. Yep! It was this man. He was L. Tom. Perry, another Apostle!
At the MTC, there is a devotional every week. The one we attended just before we flew to Chile was going to be a live visit. The other one was a broadcast talk by Jeffery R Holland. We wondered who the speaker was going to be. As we listened to the prelude music, the door opened and in walked Elder Russell M. Nelson. How can I be so lucky?
Now, today, it happened again. We went to work, waited past the appointed hour, and wondered if we would be going home before Sister Burton came. At last they came and we had a very nice time showing them around. There were lots of pictures taken. She held me around the waist for a picture. I told her that I considered this a visiting teaching visit. She said, "And it isnt even the 30th!" I mentioned something about getting used to people with cameras, and she admitted that it is going to take some getting used to.
I have been so blessed. How lucky am I to get to be in the presence of all these specially called people!!!!!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Lunch with Dignitaries
We didnt go into work today. There is a special visitor in town this week. Instead of the usual monthly Area devotional, we had a big one today with the special visitor giving the key address. She doesnt speak Spanish, so there was an interpreter for her (female) and her husband (male). It was Sister Linda Burton, General President of the Relief Society. Yeah, we knew who it was last week. In fact, she will be visiting in OUR employment office tomorrow at 2:00 for about an hour. Her husband's name is Craig. Anyway, she told us that even though we think we are small and insignificant, that is only in our eyes. The Lord sees as stretchable and capable of growing into His expectations. She told of how she was in Australia for three years and thought that was the hard thing in her life, and now things would be just fine now. Then she got married and thought that was the hardest thing. Then she had a baby and that had to be the hardest thing. Then she had five more. Then they were teenagers. Then they got married. Then they had children. Then she was wife of the mission president in Korea. That must be the hardest thing. BUT now she has this calling, and it is by far harder than anything. She feels our prayers and asked for them to continue. She was overwhelmed till Pres. Monson laid his hands on her heads to set her apart, and only then did she feel calm. Her husband said that she has four secretaries waiting to help her. She had been a stay-at-home-mom for all but three months of her married life, and was very independent. She did everything herself. Now she has four secretaries to direct, and all the stuff that goes with her calling. She has changed - stretched - by accepting the challenge (calling). I felt great relief just hearing her say this. I can stop thinking of myself as a small, insignificant human being who just happens to be a member of the Church, and hand over my smallness to the Lord Who will stretch me to what my potential really is. I can welcome hard things in my life because they will help me become who I really am. She mentioned scriptural references to men and women who had challenges: Moses, Lehi, Nephi, etc. Did they have hard things to do? What about Peter when he wanted to walk on the water? Did he have a hard thing to do? With faith, all things are possible, and with faith I can stretch as big as the Lord has in mind for me to stretch. I felt that she definitely has been called of God to lead the Relief Society. She is sensitive ,humble, kind, genuinely interested in us, and has a knowledge that we have great potential. She will lead us as the Lord wants us led. Her husband is very supportive. He loves her very much and asks that our prayers for her will continue.
After this great devotional hour, we were treated to a luncheon that was as large as a full dinner meal. It was a typical Chilean lunch. We started out with the traditional Chilean empanada, then were served a plate of three kinds of meat (chicken, pork and beef), three potatoes, a corn/tomato salad, lettuce/celery/walnut salad, green bean/grain salad, salsa. We were served three different desserts, one was mousse over meringue cookie bits, the second was cubed peaches topped with a dollop of whipped cream, the third was rice pudding with raisins and toasted almond slivers. I asked if everything came in threes, and was told, "Yes, and you must have three servings of the juice, too." The juice was fresh pineapple juice - so sweet. There was entertainment, too. Three guys performed a few songs, and then we watched three couples dance. Luckily I happened to have my camera in my bag, so took some nice pictures. I also took pix of our lunch.
So now we are back at the apartment and will just bask in the left-over spirit that we have with us. We DO have a purpose for being in Chile. We may not know exactly what it is, or when we will have accomplished that, and may not know for a long time, but we know we are here for something that only we can do. It may have nothing to do with our assignment, it may have nothing to do with learning Spanish. It may have nothing to do with the people of Chile. It may be for us, or for our family, or for someone here with another assignment. But we ARE here to be stretched.
After this great devotional hour, we were treated to a luncheon that was as large as a full dinner meal. It was a typical Chilean lunch. We started out with the traditional Chilean empanada, then were served a plate of three kinds of meat (chicken, pork and beef), three potatoes, a corn/tomato salad, lettuce/celery/walnut salad, green bean/grain salad, salsa. We were served three different desserts, one was mousse over meringue cookie bits, the second was cubed peaches topped with a dollop of whipped cream, the third was rice pudding with raisins and toasted almond slivers. I asked if everything came in threes, and was told, "Yes, and you must have three servings of the juice, too." The juice was fresh pineapple juice - so sweet. There was entertainment, too. Three guys performed a few songs, and then we watched three couples dance. Luckily I happened to have my camera in my bag, so took some nice pictures. I also took pix of our lunch.
So now we are back at the apartment and will just bask in the left-over spirit that we have with us. We DO have a purpose for being in Chile. We may not know exactly what it is, or when we will have accomplished that, and may not know for a long time, but we know we are here for something that only we can do. It may have nothing to do with our assignment, it may have nothing to do with learning Spanish. It may have nothing to do with the people of Chile. It may be for us, or for our family, or for someone here with another assignment. But we ARE here to be stretched.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Soloing the Planet
I feel like I am one of very few left on the planet. There are only the predictable few who ever comment on my blogs. I think everyone has gone to Pluto or something. I thought by blogging, I might generate some conversation of sorts, but this isnt happening. I am told that this is a good way to write my memories. But if there is no one interested in reading (or commenting) on my blogs, then what reason is there to write them? I can remember them without writing them. And when I forget them, then who will care? There's nobody out there except for us few.Or are they so boring that there is nothing worth saying?
Friday, May 4, 2012
Clowning Around on the Bus
Today was the last day that we will take Flat Adele with us. She will now go back to school and tell her classmates about her trip to Santiago, Chile. When we arrived at the second bus stop, there were two men dressed as clowns. They boarded the bus behind us and proceeded to entertain us. Thye made us laugh, then gave a little speech about how special mothers are. They posed for a couple photos with Adele, then roamed the bus for tips. She gave them a nice tip and said thanks. One of the clowns came up to her and told her that he was also a member of our church. We find members in many places because we wear name tags that identify us as missionaries for the church. Flat Adele was very busy at the office today. She helped enter client data into the computer. She filled out job offers from six companies. She helped people print their resumes. She greeted new clients and gave them a little piece of candy. Flat Adele ate lunch with us. She had a ham and cheese sandwich, grapes, blueberries, grapes, a clementine, and an apple. We had to eat in Grandpa's office, because some clients were using the lunchroom. We had to leave early because we had an appointment with a man who was coming to fix our hot water in our apartment. She watched for a little while, then helped Grandma empty the trash and wash the dishes and make chicken soup for dinner. We have loved having Flat Adele visit with us this week. Wouldnt it be fun if some others came sliding flatly through the copy machine in the office!!!
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