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| Elder and Sister King serving in Bandon OR. Fun to see other senior couples at zone conferences as that is really the only time we get together. |
Tuesday our conference was held in Medford. It is a 3 hour drive, give or take, depending on traffic. So I arose a little earlier than usual to walk before leaving to get to the stake center in Medford by 11:00. The elders had already set up the tables and chairs so I helped Sister Barker, who organizes the meals, by putting the napkins and eating utensils on the tables. President and Sister Cornelius bring the main course of brisket, cheesy potatoes, coleslaw and another couple, the Hopkins, brought watermelon.
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| Elders Miller and Kynaston |
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| Elders Varty and Wellock |
While the missionaries were eating, I went into the cultural hall in disguise as an old lady sick with influenza. I coughed and cried and apologized for interrupting their lunch and warned them that if they don’t want to feel like they have been hit by a freight train, they should get a flu vaccination. I fooled them but by the time I left the room, some of them recognized who it was being so silly! President Hopkins and his wife served with me in NYC so they knew who the old lady was. President Hopkins had to hold President Cornelius down because he was on his way to help the old woman and to escort her out of the building. LOL
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| Me in my New York Mission presentation costume |
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| Me in my Oregon Mission costume (Same old person) |
I have done this “attention getting” act in every mission. No one has ever tried to come to my aid. This year it was different. On Thursday two sisters tried to come up and help me. On Friday it was two elders. I warned them off and told them they didn’t want to come near me as they might catch my illness. It was touching to have them want to help me.
After lunch, we went into the chapel where we heard from President and Sister Cornelius, President and Sister Hopkins, (he is the 1st counselor in the mission presidency) and a few missionaries. After a couple of hours, there was an ice cream break where everyone went into the cultural hall for ice cream sandwiches or cones.
After the break, I had a teaching opportunity. Then cleaned up and back to my regular self, I discussed the importance of getting vaccinated and explained to them how and where they could get this accomplished. I also discussed the importance of washing hands with soap and water as a way to stay healthier.
A school teacher in Idaho conducted an experiment with her students to teach them about hand washing. She brought a loaf of bread.
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| The first slice of bread she rubbed on their chromebooks or electronic pads. Put it in a plastic zip lock and sealed it up. This is what it looked like after 30 days. |
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| This slice was taken directly from the loaf untouched and placed in the zip lock. This is after 30 days. |
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| The teacher had her students run their unwashed hands over this slice, sealed it up and this is what you get after 30 days. |
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| Then the students washed their hands with soap and water, rubbed a slice of bread, sealed it up and ….. |
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| The students cleaned their hands with hand sanitizer before rubbing them across the last slice of bread. 30 days later. |
Hand sanitizer in a pinch, but if possible, I want to wash my hands with soap and water. How about you?
At the end of the conference before they can leave, each car has to be inspected for safety and cleanliness. It usually take about an hour for the inspection. Elder Barker manages the fleet and the inspections. The district leaders inspect the cars in their district and the zone leaders inspect the district leader’s cars.
Tuesday evening I had dinner with my niece and her husband, Kay and Harvey Bragg. So fun to visit with them. Then I drove an hour and a half north to Roseburg where our conference would be held on Wednesday. Tuesday was a VERY LONG day.
I stayed at a B & B, the Historic John Rast House.
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| I couldn’t get far enough away from the house to get a good picture so this is a picture from the internet. |
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| My bedroom in the house |
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| Other rooms in the house |
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| Garden pics |
Here is a little info about the house and it’s original owner:
This lovely Gothic Revival home was built circa 1875 by John George Rast. It was originally surrounded by acres of farmland. It was constructed in what was known as the Deer Creek District before becoming Roseburg, Oregon.
John Rast was born in Canton of Luzerne, Switzerland on May 10, 1838. In the 1840s, he immigrated to St. Louis, MO with his family. Living in St. Louis, until he was fifteen years old, John George Rast was educated in the public schools of that city.
In 1853, after his father’s death, he came to oregon with his mother and several other families, the Messers, the Renders and the Remplays, who settled in Scottsburg, Oregon, Douglas County.
Entering the employ of Mr. Remplay, he worked at general farming and also learned the trade of a brewer.
On attaining his majority, he bought an interest in a brewery. He ran it in partnership with Mr. Neel for several years. Selling out, he purchased a flour mill. As a senior member of the firm of Rast & Criteser, he carried on in a successful milling business for a long time.
If you are interested in reading more about this gentleman and the house, you can read about it HERE.
The conferences were each organized the same. Wednesday in Roseburg and Thursday and Friday in Eugene. I’m sure you already know that it is a great blessing for me to mingle and learn with and from the missionaries.
Even with the conferences, I managed to walk every day but Wednesday. I wasn’t familiar with the area where I stayed in Roseburg so I didn’t go out early to walk. Here are a few pics from other mornings.
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| White heron in the pond |
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| I was surprised to see young/baby turkeys this time of year. Saw a lot in the spring and early summer. |
Saturday after my walk, I went grocery shopping, did a little laundry and did something I rarely do. I was totally exhausted so I took an hour nap in the middle of the day.
Saturday evening I went to dinner with Elder and Sister Barker before attending a conference for youth, young adults and missionaries. Elder Gong and his wife were the main speakers although there were other general authorities who also spoke: Gerald Causse the presiding bishop of the church and Elder Sabin of the area presidency.
Sunday morning was Stake Conference and Elder Sabin was the general authority presiding there.
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| Sunday morning before conference began. At the Saturday evening meeting, every chair was filled and some people were standing. |
I went to dinner at my sister’s apartment and we were joined by Elder and Sister Crump.
It has been a good week.
This week in the conferences, much of the focus has been on how to reach out to others and to help them to know more of our Savior. I often think of my father, Rex Terry, when I think of missionary work and reaching out to people. He had no fear of speaking up. He invited everyone he met to learn more about the Church and the Savior. He would ask the waitress/waiter serving us if we were eating out. He would ask the man pumping the gas. He would ask the sales clerk in the store. He would speak to people waiting with him to cross the street at a light. It didn’t matter if they said yes or no, he never stopped asking.
I’ll admit that I am not quite that bold to speak out to all I encounter, nevertheless, I have a testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that the true Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to earth in this dispensation. I know that we are led by a prophet at this time, President Russell M. Nelson. I know that my Savior lives and that He died on the cross and was resurrected making it possible for all of us to return to live with Him and our Father in Heaven after our time on this earth. I know that through the covenants I’ve made at baptism and in the Temple, I can belong to an eternal family with my husband and children.
I love my Savior.
I love you my family and friends.
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