The work we do is very routine but I have adjusted to that with what I do while waiting for the next book and paperwork to arrive. Therefore I have had the time to do what I never have done in the past. I have read the Book of Mormon clear through and am about half way on my second time on my own. Bill and I are in Book of Mormon reading it together and we also read it as a morning devotional at the archives. I have listened to the New Testament once and General Conference, both April and October sessions, at least three times as I check the books. I have also read my Relief Society and Sunday School lessons so I would be prepared or at least know what they were on if I couldn’t understand all that was being talked about. Yes, it is like being in a foreign country with a different language. Their speaking speed and way some speak make it difficult to understand sometimes. They like to leave out a lot of their vowel sounds. I have also worked on my lessons that I gave. I have sent more birthday, anniversary, valentine, and Christmas cards than I ever have thanks to card service on the internet.
I hadn’t planned on serving as a counselor in Young Women or teaching with Bill the Teacher Development class. I have learned to love the Young Women in the branch. I have shared with them the advantage of going to BYUI so they can spend holidays with our family when they can’t go home. I am feeding the missionaries as well as having others feed me as a missionary.
We have touched the lives of those we work with and shared the gospel as much as you can in the work place. We have a collegue at work whose husband is in a coma. She is Hindu but asked us to pray for him and also allowed us to give him a blessing. We have helped her with seeking a full time job. She wanted help with her skills of searching for a job. I asked her if she would be interested in visiting with our senior couple who are the Employment Specialists. She wanted to do that. So far she hasn’t got a job though.
Bill has digitized 701 volumes, which is 203,919 images. I have paginated 71 books, or 11,859 pages and quality checked 907 books.
I wish I could say I have got lots done on our Family History but that hasn’t happened. I have done some work on it though. I know that will be my one regret that I didn’t do more while we were here if I don’t get busy with that. Missions do not change you over night.
I miss my family but am not overwhelmed with sadness. I probably speak to them as much as I did at home and since all but Amy were away from us it is only the holidays, births, and special events that bring the sadness. Then we get together with the other couples and celebrate together and it is ok. Other couples are wonderful and we have sure enjoyed many choice experiences with them sightseeing, visiting, pot lucking, attending conferences, and sharing family news.
We love the elders and sisters. Flat inspections are fun to do and bring a perspective of the differences between elders and sisters and even companionships. This last weekend brought the assignment of accompanying an elder home to Tennessee for medical reasons. How sad that was to experience with him and his parents his returning before his mission was over. We also were so close and yet so far from family and had Eric leaving on his mission and family gathered for his farewell. Scott and Natalie were going through the trauma of their daughter Emilee having just been born and not eating so she was in NICU. We would have loved to be there for those events. We were actually in the states but only there over night and then back on the plane to Scotland.
We love our Mission President and Sister Griffiths. They are such kind, wonderful, thoughtful and considerate leaders. We will truly miss them when they return home the first of July. Our new Mission President and his wife, Alan H. and Sylvia D. Brown, are natives of Scotland as announced last Friday. They are parents of six children, and currently attend the Kirkcaldy Ward, Dundee Scotland Stake. Brother Brown serves as an assistant area auditor, a ward mission leader, temple sealer, and temple ordinance worker. He is a former patriarch and bishop. He is a retired owner of Denholm & Brown, a financial advising firm. He was born in Methil, Fife, Scotland, to Henry and Sally Rae Brown. Sister Brown serves as an assistant area auditor, temple ordinance worker, and public affairs specialist. She is a former Relief Society president, Young Women president, and ward magazine editor and producer. She was born in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, to James Andrew Denholm and Frances Amy Roberts Leishman. President and Sister Brown will commence their missionary service in early July 2012.
Sister Wallace and Sister Query who are the office sisters will be going home the first part of May and so we will be moving into the office to replace them. We will leave the archives the middle of April so we can be trained by the sisters before they leave. I am excited for this assignment but know I will be giving up my time that I have been able to spend with my own personal growth. My testimony has grown. I feel more confident in trying new things, in telling others about the church, in praying sincerely, in seeking the influence of the Holy Ghost, in loving to read the scriptures and understand them, in loving other people, in knowing my Savior, and in loving my family and companion even more. I truly love being a member of this church and wish that everyone would come to know that it is the only true church upon the earth today. I have always had a strong testimony of eternal families and desired that for myself, but that knowledge and desire has grown even stronger. I truly love every member of my family and that extends on to aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins and beyond. I am so grateful to have been placed in this family that I have.
I know that Heavenly Father knows me and loves me and gives me the challenges that I need for my growth. It is amazing how we seem not to recognize the talents we have been given and are desirous of the talents of others. Things that seem easy for us we do not look on as talents we have been given and yet those same things are hard for others.
I am grateful for being born in America and having the privileges that I have. I have taken having a Church Distribution Center so close for granted. When I want something, I go get it for a lesson. That doesn’t happen here and the libraries are poorly equipped. I miss a drinking fountain in the hall of the church to stop and get a drink. That is unheard of here in any building I have been in. Why, I do not know? I appreciate the wealth we enjoy. I never realized how difficult some have it to have transportation to church. Lots can’t afford cars, and although they have a good bus system, they too cost money and cut services on Sundays. I miss attending the temple monthly. Little did I appreciate how wonderful a blessing that was in my life. Even though the temple is not that far away, they can’t afford to go often. One blessing they have though is that of taking the youth on a week trip to the temple. They leave on Monday. They do baptisms Tuesday-Saturday in the mornings and then there are activities for them in the afternoon and evenings. This will be the third summer they have done this. As a missionary, I will not get the opportunity of doing this with the youth this summer.
I love Scotland and its people, scenery, even its weather. I am looking forward to the next year and six months and the experiences and challenges that come.
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