Dear Family,
This hasn't been an amazing day but included some things that are
needed to make some progress in a couple areas. We spent several hours in
a very hot clerk's office trying to sort, organize and discard very old
manuals, old letters from the 1st presidency, old VT/HT messages, etc.
Opened old tithing envelopes that were there too – and never opened -
which was particularly disturbing. All was very dirty and we went all
dressed and clean in ignorance. We're not done yet but the garbage men
came by and took 7 boxes for us. We also met with the former bishop's
wife (her husband died while serving) to get her input on the very out of date
MLS records. If it wasn't so important it would
be humorous... "oh, he's Methodist now", "he's dead",
"she's moved but I think her cousin's mother might know where she
lives", "he's 7th day Adventist because the church is nearer to
him", etc. Unfortunately, many are not known to her either.
At this point we are feeling like we need to help get things going
at the church for those who attend and then keep on the search for more.
Sunday was pretty sad last week, nothing was prepared and it lasted from
9:30am -about 1:30pm when dad told the bishop that our bottoms were tired and
our heads had quit working. Conference was on for 1 1/2 sessions but only
the missionaries and one family stayed after the sacrament was passed following
the first session. Some sort of a potluck was going on and people were
milling around. There was no leadership and we couldn't understand just
what was happening.
Tuesday night dad met with the bishop and his only counselor to
try to get some planning in place. Planning is a foreign thought here and
there is evidence of it's lack everywhere. Yes, there is LOTS to do and we know
it will come in very small steps.
Tonight we had 1st discussion set up with a referral. Once
again her neighbor's children greeted us with the fact that she was gone.
Last time we thought we heard a another neighbor refer to us as the
"mormon devils". We'll give it another try. I think she liked
our 1st visit a couple weeks ago, perhaps her being gone was legitimate or
perhaps her neighbors have influenced her. After leaving there we went to
a member who is recently taking care of her sick aging mother-in-law who is
Hindu. She had asked for a blessing which dad gave and it was more of
comfort since he felt that she will not live long. Yesterday we had
"tea" with a man we met some weeks ago when we were out for our
morning walk. For some reason he felt impressed to tell us how dismal the care
is in a Fijian hospital and that we should avoid going to one at all costs
(another has told us you provide the nursing care and food for a family member)
and that ambulances are nonexistent. Makes us feel real secure.
Guess not all days are golden for missionaries. Time for #2 shower
of the day.
love,
mom and dad
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