Jena's Notes and Signs

Elder and Sister Blasnek (new missionaries to our zone from Snowflake, AZ.) asked me to take a picture of them with Jena for their journal.  Jena had made them a welcome sign for their cubicle.

Later, Sister Blasnek told me that she had thought that Jena had drawn a flower and a rainbow on their poster, but when she asked Jena, Jena told her it was a flower and a bridge, because "my mom loves bridges." Sister Blasnek then said that Gary (Elder Hall) told her later that was true and that we have to "always stop and let Judy walk across the bridges."

It made me smile to think that Jena added a bridge for me on this little sign.  That is how Jena is--she remembers little details about people and what is important to them.

It is hard to see because she used pencil, but there is the bridge next to a flower.

Jena made another sign a couple of weeks ago

in honor of St. Patrick's Day coming up-

There is a place on Jena's desk for staff and missionaries to drop off

boxes to be mailed.  She decided it needed a green sign for the month

and a Happy Shamrock Day!!!

She makes the members of our zone and the staff in the Church History Library smile everyday!  How lucky are we!

Mission Moments-#??

I think I have used the title Mission Moments before.  I should have numbered them along the way, but oh, well.

Again, back on March 6, we had a "Break the Fast," with the other missionaries who live in Brigham Apartments.  We gathered at 4:30 pm in one of the social rooms in our apartment complex.  It was so great to share a meal of yummy food and spend time talking with each other.  We mostly work in different part of the mission and don't see each other often in a social setting but we really enjoy each other when we do.  

We took pictures this time to remember each other and these moments during our full-time missions.

The Sisters:  back: me, Sister ?, Sister ?, Sister Miller, Sister Nield, Sister Dixon (in our zone), Sister Scardino, Sister Sorenson, and Sister Sister ?

                     front:  Sister Pulham, Sister Bousley, Sister Bowers, Sister Susong, Sister ?, and Jena

The Elders:  E. Bousley, E.  ? , E. Pulham, E. Nield, E. Susong, and Gary

The Pulhams. the? , the Bousleys, us, the Susongs, the Nields

I will come back and fill in the other names as I figure out who is who!

It was a great time of being together.  We did one in October, but had to stop because of a Covid surge.  Hopefully we will be able to do them monthly on Fast Sundays.

More Snow Pictures from Sunday Two Weeks Ago

Today is March 20 and we are expecting another snow storm in a couple of hours.  I posted about the snow storm two weeks ago in "What a Difference A Day Makes" but in taking Jena to Church, we got to see more of the impact of the heavy, wet snow that fell that day.

Jena's Chapel...

had some broken limbs on the ground by most of the trees along the parkway strip.

I am not a big fan of snow--or being cold--but it is very beautiful!

especially with some blue sky peeking out here and there.

These tree limbs were down across the road which made traveling a bit of an adventure.

Passing around the downed limbs.

These pictures were all taken in the Avenues area of Salt Lake City--to the east of where we live.

A Sweet Moment

 A bit out of order, however.  Perhaps there is a way to slip this back to the date that it happened (or at least the correct order) but I haven't figure out how to do that yet.

On Wednesday, February 23rd, we were having our typical prayer meeting, back in person this week for the first time since the beginning of the year.  Like I mentioned, Jena leads the music and for the past few months, she also selects the hymns that we sing.  She does a great job and chooses a wide variety of hymns to sing. 

This day she had chosen "Do What Is Right."

Imagine being in a room with 25-30 senior missionaries--except for Jena --ranging in age from 65- 88 or so years old and singing these words:

1. Do what is right; the day-dawn is breaking,

   Hailing a future of freedom and light.

   Angels above us are silent notes taking

   Of ev’ry action; then do what is right!

2. [Chorus]Do what is right; let the consequence follow.

   Battle for freedom in spirit and might;

   And with stout hearts look ye forth till tomorrow.

   God will protect you; then do what is right!

3. 2. Do what is right; the shackles are falling.

   Chains of the bondsmen no longer are bright;

   Lightened by hope, soon they’ll cease to be galling.

   Truth goeth onward; then do what is right!

It started during the second chorus.  As I heard the variety of voices singing around me, my heart became full and I began to cry.  I was surrounded by women and men who loved their Savior and were serving Him.  As a group, they have lost spouses and/or children, faced cancer and other serious illnesses including Covid, they have traveled the world, they have served in the Church and in their communities, they have loved and been loved, and had probably a pretty wide cross section of mortal life's difficulties--yet they can sing: 

1. 1. [Chorus]Do what is right; let the consequence follow.

      Battle for freedom in spirit and might;

      And with stout hearts look ye forth till tomorrow.

      God will protect you; then do what is right!

   2. 3. Do what is right; be faithful and fearless .Onward, press onward, the goal is in sight .Eyes that are wet now, ere long will be tearless .Blessings await you in doing what’s right!

   3. 1. [Chorus]Do what is right; let the consequence follow.

         Battle for freedom in spirit and might;

         And with stout hearts look ye forth till tomorrow.

         God will protect you; then do what is right!

Hymn #237  Hymns     Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

As a group they have chosen to do what is right in the best ways that they can.  We are honored to be with them. The spirit of their testimonies as they sung filled by heart and I wept.....