We woke up bright and early today to take the kids to the airport. I almost missed seeing them off because I couldn’t find a parking spot. I dropped them off with Aaron so he could start the process due to the kids traveling on their own. The process includes Aaron walking them (Bode and Jessie) all the way to the gate. Once Allie is 18 she can be the adult for the two of them. At this point only Allie and Zac can travel on their own. The kids are so excited to see family and be in Utah. Not going to lie…I’m a wee bit jealous. Family is everything!!
I will be busy while they are gone. I have a dinner tonight for our missionaries leaving tomorrow. We have four sisters and one elder departing. The sisters will be staying in our home overnight since we have available beds with the kids in Utah. The elder will stay with the AP’s. We will have breakfast in the morning and head to the airport to see them off. Yet again it is tough to say goodbye but we know they have bright futures ahead of them. We are thrilled for them!
The kids are now in Island Park at the cabin. I’m being told it is very cold and snowy. While at the cabin they will be playing in the snow, going sledding at the big hill by Jacob’s Ranch, sitting by a warm fire and enjoying delicious food prepared by their aunts.
I went to the Bearing building on Tuesday morning for a district meeting. District meetings are an opportunity for companionships to get some insights about their investigators in a council with the rest of the district. They receive training from a fellow missionary and then role-play scenarios related what they were trained on. It was a well done meeting.
Today was a very hard goodbye for us because we took Elder Tittle to the airport. Elder Tittle has been one of the AP’s since we arrived. I relied on him a lot when we arrived. He and the other AP helped me so much during transfers. I couldn’t have done the first two transfer without them. They were by my side making food for the dinners. He was a great leader among the missionaries and loved the people he served with in Houston 4. He will be greatly missed.
So hands have been busy while sitting by the fire at the cabin. Allie made a knit hat with a pom-pom. It turned out very cute! Megan has made several knit hats for the little girls. Check out their smiles and hats below.
I did a companionship study today with two sisters. I really like to do these because I feel the energy for sharing the gospel with the people in THSM. I ask them how what they have study can bless the lives of their investigators. We talk about specific things they can do to help their investigators along the path to come unto Christ. At this particular study, I challenged the companionship to plan some time to OYM after an appointment. They needed to talk to ten people and get one new investigator from it. Well they reported back to me of the ten people they talked to they were able to get two follow up appointments and three potentials for the English missionaries in their area. It was awesome!
The kids drove home from the cabin today. Their plan is to visit with Kathi’s family. They will celebrate New Year’s Eve with them tonight and then tomorrow they (Kathi’s family and the kids) will go to Jeremiah’s with the Meyers in honor of our Christmas Eve Eve tradition. They are excited for that. Zac ended up going Noah’s house for New Year’s Eve. He was really looking forward to seeing his friends since he didn’t get to spend time with them the last time he was in Utah. I think he will have a hard time coming back to us in Texas. He has some really good friends in Utah.
We kicked off the New Year in Texas with a Mission Leadership Council. I felt like it was a great meeting to help our missionaries with the vision to baptize. This vision can be achieved as we focus on making a plan to find new investigators and teach more lessons that focus on the investigators needs to help them come unto Christ. The missions standards of excellence will be 3-2-1 Vision to Baptize. Find 3 new investigators each week, teach 20 people lessons and for each companionship to baptize each transfer. I think our sister training leaders and our zone leaders understand the vision and will help create a mission culture that reflects that.
We are eager to pick up the kids later today. The house has been way too quiet. I think I need a little chaos (kids) in my life. I know that have had a wonderful time. Thank you to everyone that has made the kids time back home Amazing!