Six weeks goes by so quickly! We are beginning to understand that our schedule repeats it's self so quickly. Its a six week long revolving door. After Zone Conferences, we are back to doing interviews. These our our missionaries from the North Zone. As you can see this zone has had more than it's fair share of injuries and illnesses lately.
This looks a little worse than it is. One of our elders, sliced his finger while putting a hole in his belt. It sliced his finger pretty deep and required minor out patient surgery. He has to keep it immobilized while it heals but only his finger is injured. When he said he cut his finger, everyone's first response was, "Do you need a bandaide? I have some. " But on seeing the wound their next remark was, "Dude, you need to go to the ER for that!"
The next thing everyone ask is how it happened. He explained that he's lost weight so his belt was too loose. And cut it while trying to make the hole...everybody had the same response, "You should have asked, I have a leather punch." He has a great sense of humor about it and now knows you make holes in leather with a leather punch and pretty much everybody in his ward owns one. President Stevenson and I said next time we'll just buy you a new belt. His companion is taking great care of him.
One of these Elders injured his foot playing Volley Ball in a sand pit with the Young Adults. He was in a boot for a few days while his broken toe healed. He accidentally kicked the edge of the court running for the ball. He's finally back in a shoe.
Happy and healthy...
...as are these two sisters.
On Thursday we had interviews in the Fountain Zone...Happily they are all healthy and Happy! This is their best buds pose.
And "the President Pose"
our sweet sisters. = )
I really enjoy visiting with the sisters and elders. We had a great discussion about things we've learned while pondering the scriptures. Sometimes it's just noticing a few words and searching for their meaning that changes the whole meaning of the verses and gives us greater understanding.
I shared one of my favorites. John 9:1-7 I wondered how many times had this man heard himself and his parents called sinners because he was born without sight. In the verses that follow, first the Savior speaks healing to his ears and then to his heart by uttering the words that neither had sinned. Christ could have returned his sight right there in the streets and the first thing he would have seen is the face of his Lord. But the Savior, ever humble and honoring the Father who truly is the one who heals, sent him to the pool of Siloam or Siloah by the King's Garden...one of the most private, beautiful and quiet spots in the the city... How the Savior knows and loves us and knows perfectly how to sucre and heal His children. Without questions and pondering and searching, the true beauty, knowledge, and understanding of the scriptures would be lost. ...
Our Housing and Referral Elders who are such a great help to us. We would be lost without them. They found us so many new apartments and deliver the furniture before the next missionaries arrive.
The Assistants and our Sister Training Leaders
Friday, we had interviews in the High Plains Zone...
We talked about the investigators they are teaching, and finishing strong. Elder Lloyd is working hard to the end.
They asked me about what are my favorite things about serving a Mission in the Colorado Colorado Springs mission thus far...my answer??? Meeting and getting to know them and trips to the temple! I learned more about their homes and families. How blessed are we, to get to serve with them???
Is there anything better than Baptisms?
Our Zone Leader for the Fountain Zone...
Saturday we had New Missionary follow up training... it went well. It was wonderful to hear the experiences of our missionaries, who are about half way through their 12 weeks of training, to learn what is going well and to learn from each other.
After the training meeting, We got to go to Castle Rock to speak in our second Stake Conference. While President Stevenson was in Priesthood Leadership Meeting... I met up with our friends, the Giengers, we had a wonderful dinner and an amazing time catching up and learning about their children and grandchildren. It felt like no time had passed. It was so fun to be out with them. And to see some of their children and grandchildren. They are adorable and funny just like Ardel and Jerome.
We thought we were speaking on Saturday evening but discovered we were speaking on Sunday... so a few more hours of nervousness. What a missionary minded Stake. I really enjoyed hearing Brother and Sister Forbes speak. They just returned from serving as Mission President and wife in Minneapolis Minnesota. We were in the same training group with President and Sr. Barney who replaced the Forbes. I loved hearing about their experiences and love for the missionaries.
On Monday, We had a much needed P-Day. We drove up to Cheyenne Mountain and hiked to 7 Falls. Its an easy 1 mile hike, then you climb 224 stairs to the top of the Falls.
This is a photo from the website. Taken from the Eagles' Nest.
The whole mile was absolutely beautiful...a stream flows beside it, there are lots of rock formations, with zip lines overhead.
at the top of the falls...those 224 stairs were steep! ...and no signs of altitude sickness which means we're ready to try more hikes!
Wildflowers were everywhere...
1858, the restaurant at the base of the Falls.
...and their wedge salad was delicious.
The three amigos.
On Tueday, we had interviews in Alamosa and we got to deliver packages! Her companions were as excited as she was. Open! Open! Open!
We enjoyed looking at the photos and were amazed with her mom's invention...dripsticks, what a clever mom she has!
The Sister Training Leaders, (ok all the sisters) played a joke on the Zone Leaders.
I love their reaction listening to the recorded conversation...
they were roaring with laughter...
Love the looks on their faces!
Well done sisters!
We love them so much. Never a dull moment.
The next day we had interviews in Manassa.... We stayed the night in Alamosa because its about 3 1/2 hours home to Colorado Springs...
Can't stand too close to the sisters...
They wanted to do a casual photo...they decided to Dab....all except for one. He refused. He doesn't follow the crowd.
Love these hard working Elders....
We're going to miss Elder Davies when he returns home in a few more days.
For our drive up to Pueblo we decided to take a different route. We went through the San Luis Valley...and found wild horses standing in the road. What an amazing sight. 💕🐴
We got to deliver another package this time for an Elder's birthday.
He thought the photo would be more impressive with the flag in the background.
This is Bishop Castle, I think the Elders said it's near Rye...this was their P-Day adventure. Another outing to add to our ever growing list of things to see and do. It was built stone by stone for over 60 years.
another great group of missionaries...
and Elder and Sister Story, our senior couple serving in Walsenburg branch.
They missionaries asked me what our family is going to do this weekend... 😔 I wasn't feeling homesick until that question...most of them will be in Nevada for our granddaughter's baptism... They had a solution...a top secret flight to Nevada without anybody else knowing...they'll fly me in for the baptism and back before I'm missed...They always know what to say to make me laugh and wipe away the home sickness. 💕their kind 💖 hearts.
