HERDING CATS

One of our senior missionaries in the office said caring for the young missionaries is like herding cats...and after this week, I'm prone to agree with him!

The first couple of days were pretty calm and I got a lot of office work done.  We have several of the missionaries who are trying to eat healthier...on a budget of $120/month that's a bit tough.  So, I've started sending out monthly emails to all of them with medical tips that are applicable to the season. i.e. hydration, bugs (chiggers, mosquitoes, ticks), etc. and attaching some low cost, easy, healthy recipes to each email.  Anyway, on the quieter days, I can work on things like that.

Friday was a busy day for Don.  If you want to see excited missionaries...tell them you have a new car for them!  He had four companionship's bring their cars in to trade out for new ones.  In order to do that, the TIWI needs to be taken out of the old one and put into the new one. This has to be done by Inthinc installers. So all of the missionaries are there at 10:00, eager to get their new cars...and no installers.  They didn't show up until 11:15, so we have 8 missionaries roaming around the office for about 3 hours...the sisters finally went to lunch and came back.

My "quiet" week ended that day too!  One of the sisters had obviously been crying, and asked if I could talk with her.  Without going into anything too personal, let's just say she has two weeks left before the end of her mission and she is having trouble with her companion.  She has been through numerous companions...   Anyway, we talked for about 1/2 hour and I thought things were better until I get a call from her saying she is sitting on the curb in front of their apartment and her companion is sitting in the car.  I spoke with both of them and determined there was nothing I could do to make things better and I eventually had to go get them and bring them into the mission office until I could get through to Pres. Brough, who was conducting interviews 2 hours away.  About 6:30 pm, he did a comp assessment on speaker phone with them and ended up having one go with one sister trainer and the other with the other sister trainer for the weekend.  We got home and finished dinner about 8:15.  I didn't even think about being a referee out here...all I could think of was, "Where's Diane when I need her!"

Church was great today...small in numbers (56) but good.  In our Gospel Principles class, one of the investigators (from Africa) told his missionaries that he wants to be baptized next month.  He told Elder Jensen, "I want to shine like you".  Very cool...Don had gone with them to his home for a lesson once.  The Sister missionaries were giving the lesson and the spirit was really strong.

Just a couple of pictures this week...our neighborhood ducks haven't been around but we had two geese this week and the pitter patter of little dachshund feet above our head keep us entertained.

Next week...zone conferences, followed by transfers and new missionaries coming in, and others going home the following week.  It will be busy again!  Love to all...and thank you for your help and support.  We couldn't have this awesome experience without you all!

Spring has Sprung!

This last week was pretty busy.  We started by getting up on Monday to a cool, misty, damp day.  The Elders in Leitchfield had put their bikes in the racks on their car and then didn't have a key to get them out.  So...we drove 45 minutes south and they drove 45 minutes north and we met in Elizabethtown (E-town) with a key.  It was great to see them and glad we could help.  Plus there was a lot of cool scenery on the way.



Misty Monday @Bellarmine







                                                                                                                                                                                 Elders Parson and Smith

After we got back to the office and ate lunch, Don got a call from the Rolling Hills sisters who had locked their keys in their car...also their phone.  Luckily they were meeting with an investigator at the time so they could use his phone to call.  We loaded up again and took them the extra set of keys to get them back in their car.  That little jaunt took us about 90 minutes and we got back to spend an hour in the office before going home.

Tuesday we went to New Albany to be with Elder Lamoreaux while he got his insulin pump. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes on his pre-mission medical exam.   I am so glad we got to go!  It was interesting to learn about it and great      Elders Lamoreaux and Painter                                 to see how excited he was.  He was like a kid on                                                                                    Christmas morning and couldn't stop smiling!

Wednesday was an odd day.  We have an elder who has very poor eyesight in one eye and has a growth on his good eye that will eventually need surgery.  He called all upset about possibly having to go home for surgery.  Luckily, after seeing his physician's report, it was determined he could stay and we would get him in every 6 months to monitor for any changes.  That night we went to the Heddon's home.  They are members of our ward who had asked us over for dinner and to get to know us a bit better.  Br. Heddon made gumbo! Oh my...it was so good!  It wasn't spicy (hot), had sausage and shrimp in it and I've decided I like it...although it's a two day process to make it traditionally!

So...the Spring weather here is just like anywhere else...unpredictable!  Monday was overcast, cool, damp, by Wednesday and Thursday it was in the mid 80's and "slight" humidity. And...the office air conditioner isn't working.  Which...doesn't bother the couple from Arizona but the rest of us are sweating like pigs!!!

                                                        The view out my office window

Friday was glorious!  It was cool (58), with a breeze and occasional showers.  Loved it.
Saturday was Thunder over Louisville.  It begins two weeks of festivities leading up to the Kentucky Derby. There are people here from all over and all of the restaurants and motels have hiked their prices for the occasion.  So Saturday is an all day event on the waterfront.  There is a carnival-like atmosphere, with rides and food and all sorts of things going on.  The afternoon and evening is the air show and then at 9:30 the "worlds largest fireworks show" begins.  So...to be honest...we didn't go to any of it.  But we'll be here next year so maybe then.  We did watch the fireworks on TV and it is a 30 minute show that is unbelievable!  About 5:00 pm, we got a call from the AP's asking us what we were doing.  On a Saturday evening??  Resting from the week!  Anyway they were at Thunder and wanted some boxes of Books of Mormon as we got out of our sweats and went to the office and took them some!  Which made us even more glad we weren't there for the long haul!

Sunday, we went to church as usual at 9:30.  I had a hard time staying awake because I took a pain pill Saturday afternoon and at bedtime (my "good" knee has now become my bad knee).  Anyway, after we got home, and changed out of our Sunday clothes, and were just thinking about dinner, the Sisters texted and wanted to know if we wanted to go to the new member and investigator fireside. Now...knowing me, I'm sure it won't surprise you...I really didn't!  I was comfy, in my robe, and that meant I'd have to get dressed...leave my nest...and put myself out there.  So...okay...we went!  And I am so glad we did.  We sat in on the Sisters lesson with an investigator before the fireside.  He is having a hard time quitting smoking so Don was able to offer him some great advice.  I was even able to testify about the power of the Holy Ghost.  Made us feel like "real" missionaries.  The Fireside was great. There were talks from two recent converts, testimonies from others who had joined or are investigating, and some of the missionaries.  All in all...I'm glad we put ourselves out there and I doubt we'll miss the next one!

                                                            Elders Patten and Muir

                             
                                                                                           
                                                                                             Sisters Moore & Wilde

 

                    Elders Hernandez & Fields           Sisters Wilde & Moore, Kansas & John

                                                                  Sister Linares




                                   Elder Parks


                                                               


Sister Gittins
                   

                                                                          

So...just as proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks!  Believe it or not, Don is now driving us back and forth to work.  On the freeway.  In rush hour.  We started out slowly...driving in on Sundays when the freeway is relatively quiet.  Now it's full time and he's doing great.  We're working really hard (both of us) on our driving language.  Jerk, Stupid and Idiot are on the do not use list!  It's hard...the drivers here are CRAZY!!!  But we're trying!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                               
                           







Love to all...have a great week

EASTER FLOWERS

This week was pretty good.  I have been working with insurance companies, parents, doctors, and an Elder to get him approved for an insulin pump.  He was diagnosed with diabetes when he had his mission physical so it is considered  a pre-mission diagnosis.  We finally got the okay from his fathers insurance company and next Tuesday he gets his pump.  I will be going to his 3 hour training with him in New Albany, IN so I can learn about it too.  Sister Boettcher started the process but I'm so excited and glad I was able to play a part in helping to get it.

We had our first missionary go home early since I've been here.  It's always hard to send them home but it was what he wanted.  He had some major things happening at home that he felt he couldn't handle while in the field. I am amazed at all of the young people who come out on a mission and end up on some sort of ant-depressant or anti-anxiety medication.  A mission effects everyone in a different way.   If I could say one thing to my children and grandchildren, it would be...There is no shame in not going on a mission if you are not ready.  Being ready comes at different ages for everyone.  And...it may not come at all.  And if/when you decide to go, it is an individual decision. You parents can't make it for them.  And if the decision is that it's not for them, that's okay too. We all are called to serve and there are so many other ways to be of service.

We had "our" sister missionaries over for dinner on Thursday.  Sister Moore and Sister Wilde.  They are in our ward and we love them.  Unfortunately, I didn't get pictures...next time.

Don has been working so hard on all of the computer work with the cars.  He's got spreadsheets, charts, lists, etc.  Does that surprise anyone?  He's doing such a great job.

I got a fun surprise on Friday...Our AP's came into the office and said, "Sister Breinholt, we just got off the phone with your grandson, Elder Caldwell."  Evidently AJ had called them from Rhode Island about a referral here, in Kentucky!   Such a blessing, as the day before had been a little melancholy for me!

So...Saturday we stayed home!  I set up the sewing machine.  Don needs some short sleeve white shirts and we decided to cut the sleeves off some of his long sleeve ones. And I baked bread...I know!  They didn't raise as much as usual so I think I may need to adjust for the change in elevation.  It was a good day...just staying in.  The weather got up to 83 yesterday which was a record for that date.  It's bearable now...I'm dreading the humid days to come.

Easter today!!  It has had so much more meaning...spiritually...this year.  We had 100 people in attendance and the missionaries...us, the sisters, the elders, and Pres & Sis Brough sang.  We found out when we got there!

One of the things I like about Kentucky is, they do all of their road work at night.  So  they tear the top layer off the roads one night and pave it, stripe it, the next and wala!!  It's done.  So cool.  The trees have been beautiful.  Plenty of pictures of them included.

                                                  Sisters  Swapp, Moore, Heil, Wilde

                                             The neighborhood ducks!  Don has named them

                                          Duke & Duchess...they are loving the rain!

                                                                                Bread

                                                        On the way to church

                                                           

                                                     Tree lined streets in our neighborhood

                                            Love all the dogwood trees...beautiful

                                                  The route we take to the office & church

                                                                  Mission Home

                                                Church at Bellarmine University

                                                  It is a private Catholic University

                                                 Schreck..Kentucky Liquor Drive In

                                                 Flowering trees at the church

                                         On the way home...I love these small older houses

I know there's a lot of pictures...but I'm planning to print these all off and add to our Mission Scrapbook!  Love to all...Have a great week.

Hellos and Goodbyes

This week was another busy one!    Monday we had staff meeting then went in the evening to have dinner at the Mission Home with Pres. and Sis.Brough.  They had just picked up our 5 new missionaries so we got to help welcome them to the mission.  Some looked shell-shocked but some just worn out!

Tuesday was transfer day.  The office and church parking lots were crowded with missionaries, members transporting them, cars to be traded and lots of good-bye to old companions and meeting new ones!

That afternoon we closed the office early and went to the Louisville Temple,  We had our own session and had the Mission President and a member of the Temple presidency speak to us before the session. This is the second smallest temple in the church.  There were about 38 seats in the endowment room.  We had the office missionaries (3 couples), Pres & Sis Brough, three of her sisters who were visiting, and the 8 missionaries who were leaving for home the next day.  Then dinner again at the mission home.

By Friday, Don was miserable.  Allergies hit him HARD!  We're still not sure what it was but after some Zyrtec and a couple of days later, he's doing good.  Yesterday (Sat) after our weekly grocery shopping and laundry, we went for a drive over the river to The Falls of Ohio State Park in Indiana.  So...Indiana is about 15 minutes from home.  I think I was expecting really big falls.  Nope but the day was beautiful and we enjoyed it.  After a bit of driving around Kentucky too...trying to get our bearings...we went to a cool bbq place called Marks Feed Store.  Excellent!

Then there was this guy...rolling a big globe down the sidewalk

                                               Ducks in a puddle in front of our apartment

  

Missionaries for dinner