Breinholt's...Mission to Kentucky: CHANGES ARE GOOD???

This is the beginning of another busy week of new missionaries, transfers, temple, and goodbyes. We have 15 new missionaries coming in this afternoon and then we have dinner at the mission home with them tonight. Tomorrow is more "organized" chaos while tons of missionaries, and/or members bringing them, converge on the mission office to be transferred to new companions and areas. One of the sad moves (for us seniors) is Elder Bettridge. He has been an AP for the last 9 months so we have really gotten to know this amazing young man. He is being transferred to the Evanston Zone as a zone leader and Elder Morrow is replacing him as AP. He's having a hard time leaving because he's gotten used to being around all of the senior missionaries. I reminded him that change is good and he will be making some new, amazing friends in his new area. And when we are called to a position in the church, the one thing you can count on is being released...at some point. He goes home a month before we do. I wish we could go to his homecoming!

Well...the week has started off very different than last week. It was 56 on our way into the office this morning and has been drizzling all day. It won't last but is a welcome change. On our way in today, we went around the park boundary. As we got to the top of a little hill, the car in front of us had their vehicle in reverse and the one coming the other direction was doing the same. Once they left we could see that a tree had blown over and was across both lanes. Elder Breinholt said, "I can get that" so he got out of the car, walked over to the tree and bent to lift it! Lucky for him a motorist coming the other way also decided to help. He was considerably younger and taller. It took the two of them to push and tug the tree to the side of the road. When he got back into the car, Don said, "I forgot hardwood would be heavier than the pine I'm used to". Another one of those reminders that we're getting older!! Oh...and then we had to stop for a possum crossing the road!

Our cute granddaughter, Raven Breinholt, has finished her MTC training and has gone to the Las Vegas mission for the next 18 months. We are so proud of her...as we have been of all our other grands who have served. It is such a blessing to the whole family to have a relative serve. It blesses all our lives. I'm sure she'll have many interesting adventures and can't wait to hear about them.

Wow!!! I got away from writing for a little while. Our nice 50+ degree weather has retreated again. The high yesterday was 25. I've got my space heater on under my desk again. Tonight and tomorrow is supposed to be freezing rain and sleet.

Our Zone conferences were all last week. I love them. I always learn something new and I love seeing the AP's, Zone Leaders, and STL's teaching. They are talented and have an amazing amount of insight for their age. One of the AP's loves and works with draft horses. He gave a power point presentation on how much weight a draft horse can pull by itself (8,000 lbs) and how much it can pull when yoked with another (up to 24,000 lbs). If it is yoked to the same horse for awhile, and they work together, they get used to each other and can pull 36,000 lb. The point being that if the missionaries are "yoked" with their companion, they can do so much more good than alone, or working against each other.

Elder Breinholt made and gave a power point presentation on safety near and on railroad tracks. This was prompted by the number of selfie pictures we've had of missionaries taken on the tracks. He wanted them to know not only that it's illegal but how dangerous that is. He did a wonderful job and all of the missionaries loved it!

Another lesson I learned is that goal setting is beginning with the end in mind. It reminded me of a talk by President Uchtdorf. He said we can't see the end from the beginning. It's only when we look back at our life, can we see the Lord's hand in our lives during various times. I've really though a lot about that lately. As I look back on my life, I can see specific times when I know my life was saved, or when I was led to certain decisions, and places that put me "in the right place, at the right time" for something that would bring me to this point in my life. Our lives are not a series of happy coincidences...our Heavenly Father leads and directs our comings and goings, if we will ask Him.

I am definitely grateful for how my life has turned out...if you had asked me when going through some of my experiences, the answer probably wouldn't be the same. But looking back...and where I am now...I can see how blessed I have been during all phases of my life! I am truly grateful.

Lexington and Lexington North Zones