Whew!! A busy week!

I’m ready for zone conference

      

I spent Monday finalizing my talk and preparing for the four zone conferences that were held this week.  I joined Sisters Crump and Klaass in going over to the stake center where conference was to be held the next two days to make sure that things were there that we would need to have the lunch set up.  Also Sister Crump wanted to get pictures of the organ.

Beautiful burl inset.  Notice the mirror in the upper right corner.
That is so that the organist can see the conductor behind her.

Even the stop pulls and keys are ornate

I couldn’t resist admiring the organ too.  It is beautiful.  Each Sunday as I attend Sacrament Meeting, I get to listen to that organ.  I took advantage of an empty chapel to give it a try.  It was fun to be playing again after not having played for 8-10 years.  I don’t remember the last time actually.  Anyway, what a blessing to be at such a fine instrument!  (Sister Crump took pictures)

Each conference began with lunch prepared by President and Sister Cornelius.  President smoked beef brisket and President and Sister Cornelius together prepared cheesy potatoes.  I don’t know how they managed to do it so well, but the meat and potatoes were hot and delicious.  They also served coleslaw. 
 

The senior couples, including me, set up and prepared the tables (if younger elders were nearby, they helped with the tables and chairs), serving areas, got the potatoes into the ovens early and Elder Crump or Elder Klaass cut up the meat at each conference once it arrived at the church.  We prepared the coleslaw and got all the food to the serving table.

Elder Crump in his apron.  I got busy and didn’t get a pic of Elder Klaass.

There were two to three zones at each conference so we fed 50 to 70 people at each meal.  It was very nice and the missionaries ate well.  No leftovers!

After lunch, we went to the chapel where President and Sister Cornelius gave training and talks.  The lesson focused on the importance of the Sacrament in our lives and teaching others this lesson.

I talked for about 7-10 minutes about happiness and the relationship of good health to our attitude.

Then the missionaries broke into groups for about 45 minutes to discuss and role play the things learned in the training given by President and Sister Cornelius.

All joined back in the chapel for closing remarks.

After each conference the cars are inspected.  I helped with that by handing out the inspection sheets and collecting them once the vehicle had been inspected.

The conference on Thursday was in Roseburg which is about a 1 ½ hour drive from Eugene.   Friday, the conference was in Medford which is about a 3 hour drive from Eugene.  I opted not to return to Eugene Thursday night so I drove on down to Medford and stayed in a hotel.  

The cheesy potatoes were frozen in huge pans.  Sister Cornelius knew I was going to stay down there so she brought 2 pans of potatoes that I took to the chapel on Thursday evening where our conference was to be held the next day.  

Friday morning I went to the church and put the potatoes into the ovens at 8:15.  Then I met my niece and her husband, Kay and Harvey Bragg, for breakfast.  It was fun to visit with them and to get news of their family.  I got so busy talking to them that I didn’t get a picture.  Next time!

I went back to the chapel but the others had not arrived from Eugene to set up the tables and to get things ready for the day so I walked around the Temple grounds (which are next door to the chapel) and enjoyed the beautiful morning.

Notice the crow on Moroni’s trumpet

I like old barns.  This big barn is across the street from the stake center.

I arrived back in Eugene around 9:00 P.M. Friday evening.

Saturday morning, bright and early, Diana, my friend from my ward, picked me up to go to a blueberry farm about an hour away, where we could pick berries.  It was a fun experience and something I had never done before.  

Blueberry fields

This man gave us harnesses that attached to the bucket handle so we could use both hands to pic the berries.

The berries are easy to pick.  They come off the vine with little effort.

On our way back home, we stopped at a few garage and estate sales.  Saturday afternoon I went to a movie with Diana and then we went to dinner.  A fun day.

Since I walk early, I could walk each morning before conference.  I walked through the rose garden on Wednesday morning. 

I love the sun on the river and shining through the trees along the path

It has also been a busy week as the nurse.  We have had a couple of different viruses going through the mission.  Summer colds and nausea and vomiting.  It seems to be tapering off now thank goodness for those who have been ill.

As I mentioned, I gave a talk in each conference.  I would like to share it with you:

I am convinced that, more than anything else, our Heavenly Father wants His children to be happy.

Our prophets have taught that happiness is the purpose of our existence. Joseph Smith understood this principle. In spite of all his challenges, he chose to be happy, maintaining his cheerful disposition to the end of his life.

One who knew him well described the prophet as always wearing “an unconscious smile.” I have known people like that—¬individuals who are continually smiling ¬without even realizing it. Their faces reflect genuine inner peace.

What is the secret of inner happiness? The obvious answer is righteous living. But besides being “temple worthy,” what are some ways that you can increase the joy in your lives? Modern-day prophets have shared helpful insights.

For example, President Gordon B. Hinckley taught that the more often a person says thank you, the happier he will be. 

In the scriptures we are commanded to “thank the Lord thy God in all things” (D&C 59:7), and that means to thank Him for trials as well as for obvious blessings. If we look close enough, we discover that there is always something to be grateful for.

So what is the relationship between gratitude and health?

From Mayo clinic website:   Expressing gratitude is associated with a host of mental and physical benefits. Studies have shown that feeling thankful can improve sleep, mood and immunity. Gratitude can decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain and risk of disease.

Simply stated, gratitude should be practiced daily —Try starting your day by thinking of someone you're grateful for as soon as you wake up. Maybe your companion who has lifted and helped you or your parents or a friend who has reached out and texted you.  Then later send them a note to express your gratitude.  Not a text or an email, but an actual handwritten note sent in the mail to those far away.  

Remember that behavior changes biology. Positive gestures benefit you by releasing oxytocin, a hormone that helps connect people. Some people call it the love hormone.

You'll also benefit the person on the other end of the gesture. After all, who doesn't like to be thanked for their efforts or just for being who they are? Sharing kindness can make you healthier and happier.

If we truly want to emulate the Lord, we need to be looking for the good in others and then voicing it. If there is anything ¬virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy, we should be seeking after these things (see Articles of Faith 1:13). Praise is a precious gift that costs the giver nothing. So if you see something, say something.

Consider the unselfish life of the Savior. Think back to the night when He was arrested in Gethsemane. Even after suffering and bleeding from every pore, Jesus was not thinking just about Himself. He was sensitive to others. When He saw Peter smite off the ear of one of the guards, Jesus reached out, touched the fresh wound, and healed it. Keep in mind that this was a guard who had come to arrest Him. (See Luke 22:49–51; see also Matthew 26:51–52; Mark 14:47; John 18:10–11.)

When He was dying on the cross, our Lord showed more concern for His beloved mother than for His own suffering. The dying Christ used up His last bit of strength to arrange a home for Mary, asking John to care for her after He was gone. (See John 19:25–27.)

Try to imagine meeting the Savior in person. How would He greet you? Would He be slouched over, looking intently at His cell phone, or would He smile and look right into your eyes?

I believe He would call you by name and make the conversation about you. He would offer reassurance and help.

Today I have pointed out a few practices that can lead to greater happiness and better health: smiling more often, expressing gratitude, and looking for and praising the good in others

All of us need a little cheering up sometimes. Book of Mormon readers are often surprised when they come to the chapter in which Nephi was grieving over his imperfections. He expressed himself in these words: “O wretched man that I am!” (2 Nephi 4:17). Most of us on a good day wish we could be as “wretched” as Nephi. His sorrowful lament makes us wonder, “Why do good people—even prophets like Nephi—occasionally feel discouraged and unworthy?”

Let me tell you a fable about the devil that offers some perspective. The story goes that Satan went into his garage one day and noticed that everything was a complete mess. He couldn’t find what he was looking for because there were so many rusty tools lying around cluttering up the place.

Satan decided on a solution. He would have a garage sale. He cleaned up his old tools and offered them at a discount price for other devils to purchase. Some tools sold right away—for example, the hammer of hatred, the wrench of fear, and the clamp of addiction. They were very popular items.

When he was asked why he was selling off so many of his tools, Satan explained that he had decided to concentrate all of his personal efforts on bringing down the Latter-day Saints. He preferred to use his favorite tool on them. What do you think it was?

It was the wedge of discouragement. Satan boasted about it, saying, “With this one tool I can inflict major damage on the faithful. Discouragement works wonders every time—even when nothing else will. It can bring misery to the most conscientious souls—those who are striving to keep the commandments.”

Then Satan, using his favorite tool, went about whispering lies. To the humble followers of Christ he said, “You are worthless,” “You never do anything right,” “Give up,” “No one cares about you,” and “You can never change.” Sadly, many good people believed him.

There is a lesson to be learned from this fable. The devil specializes in discouraging the faithful and those who are trying to repent. For that very reason, we as missionaries must continually lift and encourage each other.

Don’t forget that Satan wants all men to be “in misery, like unto himself” (2 Nephi 9:9). Jesus, on the other hand, wants men and women to “receive a fulness of joy” (D&C 138:17).

In summary, Jesus votes for us, Satan votes against us, and we cast the deciding vote. It is my prayer that each of us will use our agency to choose happiness.

A thoughtful soul left this note for me.  I love it!!

I love my Savior.

I love you my family and friends.

I was able to meet more of the missionaries in person.

Sisters Chaddock and Cummings in Roseburg

I’ll just run through the week for an overview.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get a lot of pictures to document the experiences of the week.   Monday President and Sister Cornelius invited me to go with them to meet and have lunch with the counselors at Family Services who help our missionaries with mental health issues.  It was a nice lunch they offered us (You know I love food!) and we were able to discuss and learn ways that we can help each other to better help our missionaries.

Tuesday I was in the office all day with a weekly planning meeting in the morning to go over the meetings and conferences to be held during the week and to work out any logistical problems in doing the work.

Wednesday was leadership training for the sister training leaders, the zone leaders and some of the district leaders.  I helped with the luncheon set up and some prep prior to the training.  Sister Cornelius made gallons of white bean chicken chili and we had toasted Italian bread, chips, and ice cream.  

Missionaries in the office after training

Thursday, I had a missionary in Roseburg (1 ½ hour drive) whom I felt I needed to see.  President and Sister Cornelius were there for interviews so I got in my car and drove down.  It was nice to see the missionary in person and to help with the needs there.  It was also good to visit with the other missionaries in that zone while they waited for their interview with the president.

At the end of the interviews, Elder and Sister Hopkins came to discuss some things with President.  The Hopkins live near Roseburg.  They oversee the young service missionaries in the area.  I served with the Hopkins in my New York Mission.  I had seen them week before last in the office but it was fun to see them again.

They invited us to dinner at a Mexican Restaurant so the assistants to the president took their vehicle back to Eugene and President and Sister Cornelius rode back with me.  

It was such a great experience for me and Sister Cornelius to visit with the missionaries that I was invited on Friday to go with them to interviews in Coos Bay District in North Bend which is on the Coast about 2 hours from Eugene. It is a beautiful drive over the coastal mountains to the ocean.  I rode in the mission van with President and Sister Cornelius and the assistants to the president.

Ocean views from the van window

A lot of lumber mills and stacks of logs in North Bend

Even though it was late afternoon and summer, it was still misty in some areas along the coastal range

President pulled the van to the side of the road to capture this view

Loved the flowers!

And the big black bees flying all around the blossoms

The bushes were loaded with berries about to ripen

Suislaw River along the highway going through the coastal range

Saturday I attended a three ward pioneer day celebration.

Dinner in the park

Evidence of the brownie that was really tasty  LOL

I have had some beautiful morning walks and the blessing of seeing the sunrise and the wonderful world in which we live.

Dancing sticks along the river bank

Friday morning I walked with Sister and Elder Crump through the wetlands

Amazon Creek

Sunday dinner - Chicken, cranberry sauce, yam, wild rice mix and green beans.

As I’ve walked and with drive time this week I have had a lot of time to ponder why it seems that some people have trials and problems more than others and yet they often hold their heads high and trudge through without complaint.  It makes me admire those who have this ability.

With his permission, I want to tell you about my son-in-law, Jeremy.  He has a rare and recently recognized neurological illness that causes him constant pain. His body temperature regulating system doesn’t function properly.  He is always hot. This has been going on for 5-6 years.  It is difficult for him to work. It is difficult for him to see an end to this trial.  He has been to Mayo Clinic and sees a specialist at the University of Utah but because the disease is relatively new, there are few known treatments.  His doctors are at a standstill in knowing how to help him.

But because of his faith and trust in the Lord, he does not complain.  He has told me at times he is afraid and worried but he never gives up.  He is a true hero in my book.  I know that whatever Jeremy has to face, he will be able to do so because of his faith and trust in the Lord.

I have faith and trust in the Lord.  I have felt and seen the hand of the Lord in my life in so many ways.  Please, if you are struggling with health, a trial or a weakness of any kind, pray and find comfort and strength in the Savior.

On the Church website, I found this information about adversity:

“As part of Heavenly Father’s plan of redemption, you experience adversity during mortality. Trials, disappointments, sadness, sickness, and heartache are a difficult part of life, but they can lead to spiritual growth, refinement, and progress as you turn to the Lord.

Adversity comes from different sources. Adversity may sometimes come because of others’ poor choices and hurtful words and actions. You may at times face trials as a consequence of your own pride and disobedience. These trials can be avoided through righteous living. Other trials are simply a natural part of life and may come at times when you are living righteously. For example, you may experience trials in times of sickness or uncertainty or at the deaths of loved ones. 

Your success and happiness, both now and in the eternities, depend largely on your responses to the difficulties of life.

An account in the Book of Mormon illustrates different responses to adversity. The prophet Lehi and his family had been traveling in the wilderness for several days, using their bows and arrows to hunt for food. The family encountered difficulties when Lehi’s sons lost the use of their bows. Laman and Lemuel’s bows lost their spring, and Nephi’s broke. Hungry and tired, Laman and Lemuel began to complain against the Lord. Even Lehi began to murmur. Nephi, on the other hand, refused to be discouraged. He went to work. He recounted: “I, Nephi, did make out of wood a bow, and out of a straight stick, an arrow; wherefore, I did arm myself with a bow and an arrow, with a sling and with stones. And I said unto my father: Whither shall I go to obtain food?” Humbled because of Nephi’s words, Lehi asked the Lord where they should go for food. The Lord answered his prayers and led Nephi to a place where he could obtain food. (See 1 Nephi 16:15–31.)

When some people face adversity, they are like Laman and Lemuel. They complain and become bitter. They ask questions like “Why does this have to happen to me? Why do I have to suffer this now? What have I done to deserve this?” But these questions have the power to dominate their thoughts. Such questions can overtake their vision, absorb their energy, and deprive them of the experiences the Lord wants them to receive. Rather than responding in this way, you should follow Nephi’s example. Consider asking questions such as, “What am I to do? What am I to learn from this experience? What am I to change? Whom am I to help? How can I remember my many blessings in times of trial?”

Different kinds of adversity require different responses. For example, if you are stricken with illness, you may simply need to be patient and faithful. If you suffer because of others’ words or actions, you should work toward forgiving those who have offended you. If you are a victim of abuse, you should seek help immediately. If trials come because of your own disobedience, you should correct your behavior and humbly seek forgiveness.

Although some of your responses to adversity will vary, one response should be constant—your trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The prophet Alma taught, “Whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day” (Alma 36:3).”

I testify that the Lord loves each of us.  He wants us to be happy.  I know that the trials and hard things I have experienced in my life have brought me closer to my Savior.  Were they easy??  No.  But I love my Savior more than ever.  I have grown closer to my family.  I try every day to be grateful for the experiences I have been blessed to have in my life.  I know my Savior lives and that he loves me. 

I love you my family and friends.