It's Apartment Inspection Time Again...

 every transfer, of course. So on Wednesday, Jena was busying making the cards for each apartment to go along with the treat we bring.

In honor of Valentine's Day---we love our missionaries!!!

Of course, she continues to make birthday cards for the whole mission and also for any of her friends' birthdays.  She recently saw it was Sister Susan Parker's birthday (friends from our first mission) and made a card for her...so we sent it off to Hawaii where they are serving their mission currently.  Jena got a sweet text from her yesterday thank her for the card.  Jena also send get well cards.  I hope this habit will extend after our mission as well.  It is always fun to get a sweet card in the mail from Jena.

Ft Smith sisters and Hermanas

Ft. Smith elders and Spanish-speaking elders

And from the Prairie Grove apartment--

They said that they have no room to store their Christmas tree in the apartment so they are decorating it for every holiday.  Here are their darling Valentine's decorations.

Although it is February now and clearly in the winter season, there are still lots of red and brown leaves clinging to the trees especially as you travel further north.  It was rainy yesterday so not a great picture but you can get the idea.

It is fun to enjoy the seasons in a different place--so far similar to Plano, Texas.

Two more apartments to do before we are done with this transfer cycle of inspections!

Wednesday P-day

With the weather and illness, we haven't gone to p-day at the Church this transfer either, so on Wednesday we headed over to bring them some ice cream treats and spend some time checking in with them.

Jena played volleyball with the missionaries and some of their friends which she loved....

...and we cheered them on from the stage as we chatted with other missionaries.

Nice break from lesson planning and other stuff!!!

Institute: Find Joy and Purpose in the Lord's Creations

In Ft Smith, we are studying "Jesus Christ and His Everlasting Gospel."  This past week the lessons were about the pre-mortal role of our Savior and His assignment to create the earth. As part of the assignment, the students had the opportunity to "create" something that reminded them of the lesson and cue them to remember their purpose and find joy in nature.

About half the class participate in the art project while the other half engaged in good conversation.  I think they both picked the right thing for them to do...although no pictures of the talking group. :)

The setup of supplies

Getting to work on their creations

Lizzy, Karina, Candy

Jena

Esther

Esther just recently had ear surgery to help enhance the hearing in one of her ears.  She is so happy with the results.

This is Lizzy's snowman which we all loved....

Esther's rainbow

Candy's flowers

Karina's butterfly

Jena's sunset--She pulled up one of her sunset pictures--which is why the trees are black, because that is how they appear in those photos.

The rest of us as I mentioned enjoyed a great conversation.  We had a new student, Sage, who just moved into Alma so it was fun to get to know her a bit better.

I made a Chicken-Cheese-Broccoli soup for dinner that turned out great.  Gary loved it! My cooking skills are being forced to be upgraded while serving here.  That is not a bad thing!  They could use some improvement.  My options for potlucks have certainly expanded. My friends in Syracuse will appreciate that too. Growth happens in many ways on a mission.

Monday: District Meeting, Mena, and More Missionaries

We finally were able to meet for our Monday morning district meeting IN PERSON after two Mondays in a row with icy weather.  Unfortunately, Elder Thacker, our district leader, was sick with bronchitis and was stuck at home with his companion.  Elder Smythe, our zone leader, did an excellent job leading our council and training time.  It was fun to be with the missionaries in person.  This past transfer cycle which ends at the end of this coming week as been an odd one as we have spent very little in person time with the missionaries.  Between us having Covid and the weather, our times together have been limited.  That means the six new missionaries we hardly know. 

After having lunch together, we drove the Mena elders back to their car in Waldron (to help save their miles) and then we headed to finish photographing a cemetery we had started before in Greenwood.  The weather has been beautiful here most of the week with temps in the 50s and low 60s.

It is often a reality check when you see a stone for someone born the same year that Gary and I were.  He  at least lived until almost 60--better than those who died as infants or teenagers.  But even 60 isn't very old anymore--that was around the age of my brother-in-law Lance and he certainly could have enjoyed much more of this earthly life--in my opinion.  It makes me appreciate these days that I have here on this earth.  Not that I don't understand the plan and I know that we are made for another Heavenly place---but to continue to share earth's journeys with our loved ones and friends is a rich blessing.

We had invited the YSA missionaries to dinner--which usually means a set of sisters and a set of elders.  Jena thought it meant all of the FT. Smith missionaries and invited the Hermanas to dinner, too.  They called to check on the invitation and we decided the more the merrier!  As always it is fun to have them in our home!

Elder Bigelow and Elder Hess (they were on splits--Elder Hess is a Spanish-speaking elders)

                  Jena, Sister Holding and Sister Anderson, Hermana Madden and Hermana Savage

Busy day because we had to throw in some house cleaning and cooking into the mix, but it all worked out and it was a good day.

For us, any day with the young missionaries is a great day!