Hard to believe we have enter into the final month of service here in the Great THSM. I had some packing boxes delivered and in two weeks’ time they’ll be here to pick up all our stuff and send it on its way. We’ll be leaving the mission home a couple of days after and staying in a hotel for the last 10 days as they get the home ready for the Guthrie’s to arrive. There is really no time for us to prepare to get everything ready as the mission activities don’t slow down for us, but we’re sprinting to the finish and enjoying the time we have left. I started some basic packing and the house is already starting to lose any feeling like we’ve lived in it.
This week we started the final round of interviews. While Aaron is interviewing, I am having each companionship teach me via video chat to help them get more comfortable doing it, see if they are teaching to needs and if they are helping those they teach to prepare to learn and continue learning after the call with follow up activities. I gave them a scenario and they need start the video chat, teach a brief lesson (5 min or less) and then invite her to act. It’s been a lot of fun and a great teaching opportunity. I have sent them a text the next day of all the good things I have experienced and suggested ways to improve. Aaron’s focus with them has be reviewing their obedience, the technology safeguards, their progress in the First 12 Weeks, and having them teach him how to feel peace through repentance. An emotional interview for some missionaries knowing this is the last formal one I’ll have with them. We will both miss these opportunities to be with our missionaries learning and growing along with them. Priceless experiences.
We had two Temple Square sisters return to Salt Lake this week and our two new Temple Square sisters arrive, off and running in their new assigned areas. One of the new sisters is the daughter of one of Aaron’s companion from Chile. We learned he is now an orthopedic surgeon (that was always his plan) and that his daughter is one of 11 kids. ☺ Great sister and her counterpart is a wonderful sister from Munich, Germany. We have loved the opportunity to have visitor center sisters come to our mission. It’s a great experience for them and they never want to leave when it comes time for them to return.
We joined the other two Houston mission presidents and wives for a final dinner together for our date night. I have really come to love these dinners, where we have a chance to share best practices, discuss common challenges, and simply talk to others that know what we experience. We always come away from these opportunities feeling like we go above and beyond with everything we do. We wish we could see more success and help more desire to enter the waters of baptism, but we’ve given our best. They’ll be a great help to the Guthrie’s now that they’re battle scarred and well tested.
The kids wrapped up school this week and they’re free for the summer. They wish they could return home now, but it will be soon enough. Zac has done very well with the academic rigors here at Clements and we hope that his grades will translate well at home. Bode has taken the have fun and just get by route, he’s not his father’s son, but his social skills will endear him to any future employer. Jess had her awards assembly, talent show, beach day (I planned and ran it for the 5th grade), and she’s been at a party seemingly every day. They’ll miss some of the good friends they’ve made and school at home may seem less challenging (per previous mission pres kids), but they’re excited to get back with their friends.
Aaron interviewed with the Missionary Department at the Church this week and they’ll let me know next week on next steps. It went well, once we know it is an option we will need to decide between the Missionary Department, the offer in St. George and the U of U. Big decisions ahead. All is well here in Zion South, only a few more emails home, where did the time go... Have a great week!