Hello Oregon!

This last week has been a week of mixed emotions.  I am excited to start my mission but at the same time, torn about leaving my family.  I have the most supportive and loving family.  I value all they do for me.  I love each of them beyond measure.  They bless my life!  I am so grateful for my eternal family.

I spent the week preparing and organizing my room and belongings to leave for my mission.  I did laundry and made decisions about what to take with me and what to leave behind. 

All of my family came for Sunday dinner and as many as could, came over every evening for dinner.  They took turns bringing the food so I could spend my time getting ready for departure early Friday morning.  I got as much family time as possible and I cherished every second.  

My brother, John Terry, came on Thursday.  He drove with me to Eugene and will fly home next Thursday.  We left about 7:30 Friday morning.  

We thought we would drive for 6-7 hours and stop for the night.  It was snowy and rainy through SLC, Ogden and past Brigham City but the weather improved and the roads were good.  We ended up driving clear to Bend, Oregon.  We had a nice dinner there and a good night’s rest.

I got up and walked along a path beside the Deschutes River.  There were some snow flurries but it cleared up and we left Bend with sunshine and partially cloudy but blue skies.  

Walking path along the river

Walking bridge across the river

Wall art

The weather forecast in Bend and in Eugene was for cloudy skies with possible rain.  Having never been on the road before, neither of us considered that we would need to cross the Cascade Mountains.

Countryside as we drove toward and into the Cascade Range

We got a BIG surprise as it began to snow as we drove deeper into the mountains.  Within just a few short minutes we were on a snow packed road.  John is an excellent driver and the other drivers were being cautious, never-the-less, it was a nail-biting hour drive over McKenzie Pass.

(McKenzie Pass, elevation 5,325 feet, is a mountain pass in the Cascade Range in central Oregon in the United States.  The pass is named for Donald McKenzie, a Scottish Canadian fur trader who explored parts of the Pacific Northwest for the Pacific Fur Company in the early 19th century.)

The road crossing the pass

We stopped at a country store and ran into Big Foot.

I liked this cool covered bridge across the river

We arrived in Eugene around 3:00 and after settling into our hotel, we went to Outback for dinner.

The daffodils, forsythia, and budding flowers/leaves are beautiful here in Eugene.
These pansies and other flowering plants were by the entrance to our hotel.

I enjoyed hearing and learning from our prophet and leaders during conference this weekend.  I was especially touched by President Nelson’s talk Sunday morning.  I loved the way he encouraged all of us to become more charitable (loving, forgiving and Christ-like) in our communications and interactions with EVERYONE in our lives.

I am going to endeavor to follow his words of admonition and to follow the example set by my Savior.  I love my Savior and I love my family and friends.

My New Journey Begins

I received my call to serve in the Oregon Eugene Mission way back in August.  At the time it seemed this day would never arrive but here I am ready to leave for Eugene this week on Friday, March 31st.

My official start date was March 13th.  That day I began 4 days of training with Missionary Medical in downtown Salt Lake City.  I have had this training prior to my previous missions but I always learn something new and I am reminded about the things I learned before.  There were doctors and nurses in the group going to all parts of the world.  I love meeting and interacting and learning from these fellow advisors.

This is a group picture of the health advisors in training with me.

We had several medical people from different fields such as dental, gastroenterology, dermatology, orthopedics, psychiatry, etc come to talk to us.  Each of them advised us on the illnesses or problems we could encounter in the mission field when helping the missionaries with their health and ways we might help alleviate these problems.  

We received instructions on insurance and various protocols to help us to be more efficient and knowledgeable in our work.

We had lunch together every day where we could visit and share thoughts and feelings.  I grew to love these people in just a few short days.

Each evening as I returned home from training, I was able to enjoy my family.  We had meals together and sat around and enjoyed each other’s company.  My youngest son, David, is a captain in the army reserves.  He is being deployed to Germany so we had “double” farewell evenings together.

Family time after dinner

David teaching the kids how to make straw flutes

Cody and his straw flute

Zolee and Rory showing their flutes

David decided to try making a straw flute bagpipe out of a latex glove.

 Don’t miss the spectacular finale!

The week following medical training, this last week, I commuted Monday through Friday to the MTC in Provo where I received education on how to reach out to people and to invite them to come unto Christ.  It was a spiritually enriched week.

The entire group of senior missionaries training at the MTC the same week as I was in training

I was in a district with four other single sisters.  Three of them were called to MLS (Member Leadership Support) and the fourth was going to do records preservation (a genealogical mission).

Our classroom at the MTC

We laughed and had fun along with sharing our thoughts and feelings about the Gospel and our Savior, and gaining strength through the companionship of each other and bearing our testimonies.

Our classroom instructors were the Monroe brothers.  So here are pictures of the morning class and the afternoon class.

Were had training and devotionals with the entire group of senior missionaries as well as our smaller group in training sessions.  

It was a constant learning process from 8 to 5 each day with an enjoyable lunch break where we got to be with the younger missionaries.  That is always a treat to talk to them and to feel their enthusiasm for what they have chosen to do.  I talked to senior and junior missionaries going to every part of the world and enjoyed snippets of various languages as the missionaries practiced their language skills.  

The cafeteria is a huge L- shaped room

In one of the buildings at the MTC, there are several large, wall-sized murals.  They are beautiful. 

The murals are back lit so they are spectacular.  These pictures do not do them justice.

The couple with me, Elder and Sister Watson,  are some new friends
who will be serving in St George.

These are only a few of the murals.  There are too many to post here. 

I love serving.  As I pondered my service as a missionary this week, I re-read a talk given by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf in October 2018 General Conference titled Believe, Love, Do.  He states:  "We achieve the abundant life by becoming true disciples of Jesus Christ—by following in His ways and engaging in His work."

He goes on to say: "Those who dedicate themselves to Christ’s cause discover the truth of the Savior’s promise:  ‘Whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.’"

I love serving but sometimes it can be a little daunting.  I worry if I can do what I am called to do.  I sometimes fear "opening" my mouth that I won’t be prepared to say what I need to say.  When I have these feelings of self-doubt and fear, I always fall back on a favorite scripture in 1 Nephi 3.   

Lehi instructs Nephi and his brothers to go back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates which contain the record of the Jews and genealogy of Lehi’s family.  His brothers are murmuring.  Nephi worries because he knows how difficult it will be to get those records from Laban.  But he has great faith.  

Before leaving, he tells his father in verse 7:  I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

I know this is true.  I have comfort in knowing that when I am asked to do something, I will have the help of the Lord and He will prepare the way for me as well.  

I want to become more like my Savior in every way.  I love my Savior.   

I love you my dearest family and friends.

My last New Zealand Auckland Mission blog.

It is 06 April in New Zealand and the last day of my mission.

My walk on the beach this morning.

I have had a tearful, joyful, blessed last week.  I have been able to be with missionaries I love and serve.  I have enjoyed daily beach walks.  I have admired the beauty of the earth.  I got up at 4:00 A.M.  Sunday and Monday mornings so that I could watch General Conference live.  I have been spiritually fed.  And I have “wrapped” myself in memories that I will cherish forever.  

I am adding pictures taken through this week in no particular order as to days of the week, but I want to share my last few experiences so that I can review this blog in the years to come.

Easter Sunday, I was invited to dinner at the home of Sister Jackie and Elder Craig Poll.  There I joined most of the Pacific Area Office missionaries for a delicious dinner and wonderful company.

I have helped some missionaries who are departing this week to get COVID tests so I also got to be with them and their companions.

Sisters Iobi, Sione, Beia and Elder Sila.  Sister Iobi and Elder Sila are returning to their homes.

Sisters McQueen, Escabarte, Iobi

I have been blessed to have lunch with some great young men who have served with me.  What fun!

Elders Bracken, Kendall, Martin, Tu’akalau

Elders Orozco, Uili, Tipene, Sila, Karaitiana, Downs

We ate at Mexico Takapuna.  My beef and chicken tacos

I was able to spend some quality time with former missionaries Georgia Hall and Isaac Smith. 

We ate at Panpan Kitchen and enjoyed Chinese food

Georgia and Isaac brought me some fresh eggs and some feijoa.  I had tried feijoa before but these were much tastier than the one I tried earlier.  Interesting fruit!

The feijoa is the fruit of Acca sellowiana, an evergreen shrub or small tree, 1–7 m in height. It comes from the highlands of southern Brazil, parts of Colombia, Uruguay, Paraguay and northern Argentina. They are also grown throughout Azerbaijan , Iran (Ramsar), Georgia, Russia (Sochi), New Zealand and Tasmania Australia . 

The fruit is also called the 'pineapple guava' or 'guavasteen'. 

The fruit matures in autumn and is green, and about the size and shape of an egg. It has a sweet, aromatic flavour. The flesh is juicy. The fruit drops when ripe, but can be picked from the tree before to prevent bruising. Feijoa fruit have a distinctive smell. The chemical methyl benzoate smells strongly of feijoas and the aroma of the fruit is caused mostly by this and other closely related chemicals.

Sister Lucas and I also enjoyed lunch with a friend, Sameela.   We met her several months ago as we walked on the beach.  She is a lovely young woman.  It has been such a pleasure to talk to her and to share ideas and life experiences.  I believe that she is studying law but she is also an advocate for children.  

I have enjoyed beach walks and with the time change this last weekend, we can now walk in the light.

Beech walk before time change

This message was sent out to all missionaries so I guess this is FINAL.

My mission has been a learning experience.  COVID made this a unique mission.  So different from my experience in New York City.   When the missionaries were sent home last year, our numbers dropped from about 180 missionaries to around 50-60.  We are now back up to 82-83 missionaries with more coming next cycle.  

I was not very busy during the lock down we had and it has not been too hectic since but it has nevertheless, been an experience I would not have wanted to miss.  I have already told you of the spiritual blessings I have received and continue to receive.  The vitality and resilience of the youth is amazing.  The Lord truly works in mysterious ways sometimes, but COVID has brought good things as well as inconvenient and sometimes frightening things. 

I have been blessed to be in an area with little COVID and at this point, no restrictions.  I have learned a lot and value the time I have been here.

My heart overflows with love and appreciation for the support I have felt from my family and friends.  I am a blessed woman.   I look forward to being with my family in just a few more days.  I can’t quit saying “I am so blessed!”

Tomorrow, Sister Lucas and I will fly to South Island for 10 days of adventure.  This will be my last mission blog but I will post my South Island experiences on FaceBook to share with my family and friends.

I want you to know that I know that our Savior lives and loves us. I know He sacrificed and suffered for me and for you. He Atoned for our sins. He was resurrected and made it possible for us to live again and to be with our loved ones after this life. I’m grateful beyond measure for His mercy and that I feel His love and His guidance in my daily life and activities.

I know that the Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ and that by reading, studying and pondering the message of this great book, we can know our Savior and learn what we must do to return to His presence.  

This is a living church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, led by a living prophet, President Russell M Nelson.  

I love my Savior.  I love you my family and friends.