I can't believe it's that time again!

I can’t believe that 6 weeks have passed and it has been transfer week again already!

Monday morning after my walk, Sisters Barker and Crump came to my apartment and we put together bags for the 29 incoming missionaries.  I think I have mentioned it before but each missionary gets a blanket, mattress cover, pillow, and pillow cover and a large blue bag to use at each transfer to carry their bedding.  We also give them a smaller orange/red bag in which they are to keep a change of clothes and necessities for an emergency “grab and go” bag.

The office was being painted and the carpets cleaned this week so I kept everything here until needed on Friday when the new missionaries arrived.  

I worked from home Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  I did go to the church for our weekly planning meeting Tuesday morning.  In the afternoon, I prepared for interviews and orientation of the new missionaries.

Wednesday evening I went to dinner with Sisters Duncan and Tripp.  Sister Tripp did get transferred so it was a “farewell” dinner. Love being with the missionaries.

The painters weren’t finished on Tuesday, so the carpets weren’t cleaned until Wednesday.  Sister Corneluis sent me this picture of my office.   With a wink and a smile in the text, she advised me that the President sent a message that I needed to be less messy in my office and get it cleaned up.  LOL   (We have been working with the missionaries to keep their apartments more clean and organized in order to invite the Spirit into their homes, so I need to be clean and organized too.   President and Sister Cornelius have great senses of humor.  I love them!) 

When I got to the office Thursday morning, I discovered that a cleaning fairy must have come into the night before as this was the condition of my office.   I later learned that the assistants to the President had been there.  Great young men.  They are so busy it made it even more impressive that they took the time to help with my office.

Thursday morning I was at the church parking lot to observe and talk to the transferring missionaries.  There were quite a few moves due to the number of incoming and departing missionaries.

Loading the trailer to take belonging and missionaries south to Medford with stops along the way.

Elder Wager gave me a silly face when I asked him where he was going.

Sister Cannon off to another adventure.  She finishes her mission now.

President Cornelius giving some last words of love and advice before prayer and heading out

Thursday evening was the departing missionary dinner at the mission home.  There were 10 departing missionaries who had completed their missions.  I love to be with them at these dinners but it is difficult to say “adios”.  I always hope to see them again along the path of life.

Sisters Adams, Cannon, Jimenez, Wood, Ware

Smiling Elder Thornton

Elders Robison, Kynaston, Keetch, Peterson

Elders Varty and Wilson

Friday Sisters Barker and Crump came to my apartment to finish up the bags.  We ran out of a few pillows and blankets on Monday, so we finished putting them together and loaded up our vehicles with bags and supplies and headed off to the church to get everything set up for the lunch and interviews.  

We set up tables and chairs for 80.   

While we were waiting for the missionaries to arrive from the airport, a few sisters waiting for their new companions and I took a walk around the church parking lot. Sisters Withers, O'Farrel, Lunt, Eastman, Linares, Chaddock, Richins

One of the sisters that finished her mission was Sister Jimenez.   I met her early in my mission and we became friends.  I am trying to re-learn the Spanish I took in high school (those many years ago) so I am studying Duolingo.  Sister Jimenez and I always tried to converse in Spanish when we were together.  She was kind and helpful in reminding me of words I couldn’t recall.  Her home state is Washington so her father came to pick her up on Saturday.  She wanted me to meet her father so I met them at the office. What a delight! I will miss my Spanish teacher.

Saturday late afternoon, the office missionaries were invited by Elder and Sister Talanoa who serve at Camp Alpine, along with Elder and Sister Asay, to come to a luau they put on for their ward. Just as a reminder, I told about Camp Alpine in a previous blog post, but the camp is owned by the Church. Two senior couples are called to serve there and manage the camp. The site is used for young women and men camps, family reunions, weddings, or any other stake or ward functions.   

There was a good sized turn out from the Junction City Ward, great food, and entertainment.

Elder Talanoa putting out the fire in the pit where he roasted the pig

My plate FULL of yumminess

Elder Talanoa and some relatives and daughters of friends

Young women of the Junction City Ward

A traditional Tongan dance

This week was really hectic so I squeezed in my walks whenever I could.  I did walk by the river 3-4 of the days.  Just have to share some of the good views I enjoyed. 
 

Sunrise and a white heron on the log

Fall foliage – I love it!!

Large river rat. I think the mother to the smaller river rat in pictures below. Difficult to get an accurate perspective as to size. It was still fairly dark so the light is a little weird.

Misty morning

In preparation for zone conferences next week, I have been studying some specific assigned chapters in Preach My Gospel:  A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In chapter 4, I studied the importance of seeking the guidance of the Holy Ghost. It reads: 

“The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the greatest gifts that God has given His children.  It is vital in your work as a missionary.  You need the guiding, revelatory power of the Holy Ghost as you help people be baptized, confirmed, and converted.”  

Going on: “You face different needs and circumstances every day.  Promptings from the Spirit will help you know what to do and say.  As you seek and act on these promptings, the Holy Ghost will magnify your abilities and service to far exceed what you can do on your own.  He will help you in every aspect of your missionary service and your personal life.”

President Russell M Nelson said in April Conference 2018:  

“In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”

I know that in my work as the health advisor, I am guided often by the Holy Ghost in knowing how to help the missionaries as they call with physical and mental illness and challenges.  I know and recognize the blessing of this gift I have been given.   I know that my Savior lives and that I can rely on Him in every way.  

I love my Savior.

I love you my family and friends.  Have a blessed week! 

Rainy, busy week but I love it!

 

Sister Barker and Sisters Crouch and Palmer after lunch and apartment inspection

It has rained almost every day but I have still walked.  Most days it was misty, drizzly in the early morning so we didn’t get too wet but a couple of days it was out right raining so I arrived home rather damp.  I should wear rain gear but it makes me too hot so I prefer to be wet and cool than dry and hot.

One of the dry mornings at sunrise

Always watching! Someone has a good sense of humor

I love seeing the growth on the trees.  I thought this was lichen growing on the trees but thought I would Google it and make sure.

From Canadian Museum of Nature 

Moss and Lichen: Wait, what’s the difference? 

I love talking to the public about mosses and lichens. The two are intricate, fascinating, and underappreciated. But a common question I get is: Wait… what’s the difference between moss and lichen?

It’s no wonder that people confuse the two groups. Historically, the term “moss” has often also been applied to lichens. After all, they are both small things that grow in shaded places and resemble neither a mushroom nor a vascular plant. They are both also cryptogams, meaning they reproduce without seeds or flowers.

So, what’s the difference? In short, a moss is a simple plant, and a lichen is a fungi-algae sandwich.

I love talking to the public about mosses and lichens. The two are intricate, fascinating, and underappreciated. But a common question I get is: Wait… what’s the difference between moss and lichen?

It’s no wonder that people confuse the two groups. Historically, the term “moss” has often also been applied to lichens. After all, they are both small things that grow in shaded places and resemble neither a mushroom nor a vascular plant. They are both also cryptogams, meaning they reproduce without seeds or flowers.

Mosses are multicellular organisms with leaflets made of photosynthetic cells, just as with trees, ferns and wildflowers.

But unlike these vascular plants, mosses don’t have specialized tissues that actively transport water and nutrients, such as sap, from the ground to the leaf tips, and vice-versa.

Instead, like a leafy, green sponge, mosses simply absorb water and nutrients. This means they can’t grow too tall or they risk drying out at the top.

Lichens, conversely, are a mix of at least two different organisms, a fungus and alga, living together as one.

In the simplest case, a fungus surrounds a colony of algae. The algal cells provide food for the fungus via photosynthesis, while the fungal partner protects the algae from drying out and sun damage.

When wet, the algae become visible through the top fungal layer, giving the lichen a green colour that can resemble moss. But when dry, lichens are rarely green, and instead come in many vibrant colours. Lichens also have diverse growth forms, but lack leaves of any kind, which helps to tell them apart from mosses.

This is a picture from the website:

 Can you see the difference between the lichen and the moss on this branch?

These pictures below are from my walk.   I believe that it is lichen you see in these pictures.

One day this week we walked at the wetlands.

Amazon Creek has been so low that it hasn’t been going over the overflow. This week there has been enough rain that it is now flowing higher.

If you look closely, you can see a blue heron in about the middle of the picture at creek side

Clouds and rainbow at sunrise

Monday I took my friend, Jeri, to the airport in the afternoon. It was a fun week end we had and I hated to see her go but…

This week Sister Barker and I inspected 3 apartments. It was fun to be with the sisters. Their apartments were in good condition. One had some repairs that needed to be made (not of their making). Sister Barker contacted the owners/landlords and got the work going right away.

The best part is going to lunch with them after the inspection. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a picture of one of the lunches but I will get one next time for sure!

Sisters Crouch and Wood lunch after the inspection of their apartment

Off the Waffle serves sweet and savory waffles

Gorgeous spider web with rain drops

One of the apartments had beautiful flower beds in the yard

I also spent time this week getting prepared for next week’s transfers and arrivals of new missionaries.  At this point in time we will be expecting 29 new arrivals.  10 of them will be with us as “visa waiters”.  They are assigned to foreign missions but have not yet received their visas. I go through all of the new missionaries’ health records to make sure I have the information I need to interview them when they arrive.  I need to make sure they have the medications (ADHA and diabetic medications are most common) and appointments set up so that they can get going immediately on being the best missionaries they can be.  I often communicate with parents before the missionaries arrive so that appointments with doctors can be arranged by the parents to fit with their insurance needs.

Conference this weekend has been most enjoyable.  I love hearing from the prophet and apostles and other church leaders.  I can never choose a favorite as each talk brings a spirit with it and help in navigating life. So many talked of increasing our faith, temple attendance, finding hope in our Savior, listening to the guidance of the Spirit, and the list goes on.  I loved each talk and found something in each that touched my heart.

I enjoyed the talk by Elder Ian Ardern.  He had a hand in bringing me to the New Zealand Auckland Mission in 2019.  He was a member of the area presidency when I first arrived and then was made the area president while I served there.  I was able to learn so much from him and his wife Paula.  Wonderful people with a knowledge of the Gospel and such a great desire to serve.  His message of showing love to our neighbors no matter where we are in the world was wonderful.

I am grateful for our prophet President Russell M Nelson and for the apostles and leaders of the church.  I know that Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ, direct the work here on earth through these leaders and through the local leaders around the world.  

I love my Savior.

I love you, my family and friends. May the Lord bless you in all you do throughout this coming week and always.