I got my mission call. I'm so happy and feel so priviledged to have this opportunity. What an awesome experience this will be to share the good news of the gospel in such a beautiful place! I report to the MTC on December 9th, so it's 52
more days. Whahoo!
But what a temptation for Gina! Oh well, it'll feel good to know that someone I love is near.
More adventure from Alaska!
I like to call him that cause he has a little monkey backpack he has to wear when they go places and cause he's so cute when we ask him, "What does a monkey say?" He'll make the cutest monkey sounds with a facial expression that is priceless!
We went to a place in Pennsylvania called Longwood Gardens. It was beautiful! We walked around all day looking at the MANY trees and flowers. What really made the day was when we stayed for the fireworks overlooking their big water fountains. They postponed the show because it was threatening to rain. Finally around 1030, they decided to go on with the show but just as it began, it started to rain. They had surround-sound music to match the show, and it seemed that it matched the rain too. As soon as the music picked up in tempo, it began to poor! We were all soaked. Why did we stay you ask? Because Dad paid darn good money to get in!
Silver
Malachi 3:3 says; 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.' This verse puzzled some women in a bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.' If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you. Pass this on right now. This very moment, someone needs to know that God is watching over them.
Christmas Eve we had the opportunity to talk to Reed. He sounds so grown up! I can't believe how big my baby brother's gotten.
He's doing very well. He was just transfered a few days before Christmas, to a place called Bethel, or "the bush". He says there aren't any other elders for 400 miles.
He's living in a church building which was turned over to the missionaries. Haha! He joked that they have to re-dedicate it every Saturday before the Sabbath the next morning. (I thought he was serious.)
A bunch of us were able to go to temple square last monday to enjoy the beautiful lights there. I enjoyed seeing the kids play together. I was alittle nervous about all the kids and thought one might get lost, so i took it upon myself to kept tract of at least one, so i got to hold Garrett's hand. Haha! Surprisingly he let me. ;) It was a cold evening but it was alot of fun!
Quick update on our favorite missionary!
Reed is really enjoying working and teaching through service. Not many people are willing to listen to his message....yet. But he's happy to help people, until they change their mind. He's reminded of how Dad has always been example of service, so he wants to be like his Dad when he grows up. :)
"Come what may, and love it!" Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin was an extraordinary man! He will truly be missed. (His latest Conference talk is linked to his picture. Please check it out.)
The other day, Dad and I were at work while Mom, Gina and Benjamin went out to play at Grandma Mac's house. They left at 1 and came back at around 4. When they arrived back home, they noticed that the front door was open. They went through that door and found the drawers in the front room were turned over with it's contents spilt out on the floor.
After a little more observation, they called the police. The police came to investigate it further. The detective, checked for fingerprints all over, but mainly in my parents room because their room was a complete wreck! Apparently, the burglar was wearing gloves because the detective couldn't get a fingerprint on anything!
We believe that this burglar must've known how to get in, because my Dad's bike was stolen 3 months prior to this. He/She went through the garage door from the back porch, by kicking back the door. (Which needs to be replaced!) And went through the kitchen door, which unfortunately was unlocked.
As I said, he spent most of his time in my parents room and found a stash of emergency money and some coins my dad was collecting in a jar. Luckily, they didn't take any personal information or credit cards.The police said that there had been other burglaries within a mile radius!
I hope anyone who reads this will take this as an example and be careful! Lock things up that you don't want to have stolen. There are alot of desperate people out there who are more than willing to take advantage of you.
Kyndra was so proud when she lost her front tooth! Now she could look like Grandpa!
Reed loves his companion, Elder Maddox. Apparently he is pretty new as well, so they've been learning alot from one another. Elder Maddox, is just as hard working as Reed is and they've been doing some great things in Silverton.
They were able to help convert a sister to the gospel. She wanted Reed to baptise her, but Reed wouldn't do it. He knew from listening to dad that it's better for ward members to get involved early, so when "their" missionary leaves, they don't become inactive. Pretty fart smeller eh?
Recently they've had some strange happenings. They had an emergency transfer, so one elder was left without a comp, so this elder joined Reed and elder Maddox. "When we all go tracting, I feel like we're the three Nephites" Reed says.
Everything's going well here. Mom returned to work after a short sick leave. Dad is doing well, getting used to the partial in his mouth.
Reed says, "It's crazy how close you get to these people!"
Elder Terry left for Alaska January 23. Let's hope he adapts to the extreme weather change.
