Called to Serve

Earlier today we received a large white envelope from the Office of the First Presidency (haven't received one of those for years). It contained our call to serve as missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are assigned to the El Salvador San Salvador East Mission. Our primary assignment is to labor in the El Salvador Perpetual Education Fund Country Office. We will report to the Provo MTC on Monday, June 6, 2011 and will serve for 23 months.

We are very grateful for this opportunity to serve, and are extremely excited to be working in the great Perpetual Education Fund program.

The Dog Park Eagle Project

Here's another way I've been spending my time these days. One of my Priests is finishing up his Eagle requirements, meaning his Eagle Project. He is a great young man who came up with this project on his own, and has done a tremendous amount of work to pull it off. It is, in my opinion, a true and worthy example of an Eagle Project. He contacted the local non-profit that operates a dog park in Yuba City and suggested some improvements to their site, leased from Caltrans. The project is to install two dog wash decks, one for the small dog area and one in the large dog area, and to install seven permanent benches. A small group of us did some prep work a couple of Saturdays ago, then last Saturday was the main work day. I did not do an exact count, but estimate at least a dozen people out there for four hours. The prospective Eagle did just what he was supposed to do, lead the workers. He did marvelously as can be seen in these first two photos where he was dealing with problems and making decisions.

Actually, in this one he was congratulating the workers on a job well done. Look kinda like a chain gang don't they?

These two workers pitched right in as soon as they showed up and got the one deck completed.

This was my contribution to the cause. Having watched, and helped, Brother Thompson, the on-site expert, mostly put in the other deck, I used the youth-power available to put in the other deck. Here we (they) are clearing the ground in preparation for laying the cement foundation stones and the supporting cross timbers. My crew consisted of three Young Women, three Young Men, and a couple of youth advisors.

This is Uncle Peter's contribution - a really nice generator to operate the power tools we used to cut the decking and screw them to the cross pieces. Note the pizza boxes on the 1/2 completed deck. The non-profit was nice enough to feed us.

Another shot of the deck, close to completed.

A bunch of the youth taking a well-deserved break with pizza.

Greg, Amy, Paige, Deborah, John, & Brigham.

Follow the Prophets

A couple of weeks ago we participated in the biennial stake conference broadcast along with all of the rest of Northern California. It was, as one would always anticipate, great. We were counseled with love and inspiration by Elder Rasband, Sister Wixom, President Packer, and President Eyring.

My understanding of the purpose of President Eyring's remarks was to increase our faith in the teachings and priesthood authority of the living prophet. This obviously resonated with me, as following the prophets has been a guiding star in my life since my conversion in 1970. Revelation, the kinds spoken of by Elder Oaks in this last general conference, has always been the foundation of my testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I have often cited that commercial from the 1960's that proclaimed that, "those who do not read have no advantage over those who cannot read", and related it to the living prophet. Thus, those who do not listen to and follow the living prophet have no advantage over those who have no idea that there is a living prophet of the Creator on the earth at this time. So although we should be cautious about quoting the brethren when they speak in stake conference, I think I got this one right, so here goes:

The most striking thing I got from his talk was that, "Our happiness is dependent upon our willingness and ability to follow the living prophet." Although he did not expressly articulate it, I am sure he meant both temporary happiness in mortality and our eternal happiness. This, I know from my own experience, is true. Recently in fact, I have been reflecting upon my life and found that my willingness to follow the prophet over the years (sometimes related to seemingly "little" things) has resulted in an increased ability to follow the prophet (in some major things) in the immediate present. I suppose that it is obvious that one's ability to do anything is enhanced by one's willingness to do it. But what I am expressing is more the concept that willingness to follow the living prophet, exercised independent of any other effort, over time yields dividends at crucial times that are unexpected and gratefully received.

The other point that hit home with me was President Eyring's discussion of what it means that a living prophet signs the assignment letter sent to each full time missionary called to serve. We still have nothing to report on that front, but when we do, I am certain that we will take some time to reflect upon the blessing it is that "there are prophets again in the land."

Valentine's Day Thought

SONNET 116

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Window Treatments

One of us in this house has been really busy. Look at how great a little window treatments make our place look. I have such a talented and creative sweetheart.

The Family Room:

The Spare Room:

The Kitchen:

Her Office: