First Week in Iowa Mission Home

We were blessed in our travels from the MTC to Des Moines, IA.  Our worst weather was in Wyoming where the snow blew across the roads.  It was swirling around making it hard to see the lanes and the big semi’s were a blessing.  We could just follow them.  Nebraska was clear as could be, but stinging cold!  My cheeks burned when I got out of the car at a gas station!  At the second night hotel where we stayed, we ate breakfast in their restaurant.  Our waiter was a young man and there were just a few customers at that time.  He noticed our Missionary Name Badges and told us he was just starting to go back to church.  He joined while in the Military Service, but stopped going after he got out.  We chatted for awhile and he told us his story.  He decided he wanted to go back to college, finish his degree and do something good with his life!  We encouraged him to find the church in his college town and he was determined to do that.  I think he just wanted to talk and we were there! 

Our trip through Wyoming

When we arrived in Des Moines we easily found our apartment. The other Senior Missionaries and the Mission AP’s helped us unload.  It only took 2 trips…..guess we didn’t bring that much.  We were anxious to run to the store since the next day was Sunday and we had nothing to eat in our apartment.  Then we learned we were invited to the Mission President’s home for dinner and get-together.  We were grungy dirty, but they insisted we come any way…..so we did!  Glad we did.  We really got to know the President, his wife, the AP’s and the other Senior Missionary couples in a relaxed setting!  This Mission President is very casual in Senior Missionary rules.  He seems to encourage family/friends to visit us and even offered any of their nearly 30+ beds…….huge home!!  (Any time that is except transfer week (every 6 weeks)).  Mostly he just wants us to get our work done.  We had to leave early so we could get some shopping done.  While we were in the store it started snowing a lot and by the time we got out all the roads were covered and we were totally unfamiliar with the area and how to get home…..our trusty gps got us home eventually!  The next day, church was cancelled because of the snow and ice. 

Our first day at the office was overwhelming, but also sweet.  I am learning how to do soooo many reports.  The computer is different from what I have ever worked on…..just learning how to enter things has been interesting!  I am replacing Sis. Gardner and she is the most patient, most detailed, encouraging person to be trained by.  So I actually think I am getting the hang of some of the things I need to do.  They are of course impressed with Mark's computer skills and he always was detailed when he came to money!!!

 

We met lots of young missionaries coming in to do their reports,  chat, eat cookies, pick up their Christmas boxes and mail.  These are the such upbeat, happy, fun young men to be around!   They obviously love the Gardners and will miss them when they leave!

Our first Christmas away from home was sweet and sad.  We were able to facetime our Washington kids/grandkids.  It was just how I remember each Christmas Eve….lots of noise, chaotic and kids playing everywhere.  It was fun…..when we went back to our tables (we used the internet at another couple’s apartment where we had been invited for dinner) we realized that we had left the bedroom door open and they had heard pretty much our whole conversation since we weren’t exactly quiet about it.  They just laughed! Christmas Day was a little lonely for me.  We turned on all of our computer Christmas music and I was on the cell phone keeping in touch with family via email, facebook and phone.  Jason and his family called that day and brightened up our day.

One funny thing…..Mark took out the trash one day without locking our door and brought back the box (we hadn’t bought a trash can yet) and put it back into the apartment under the sink and left again to check out the exercise room.  He wondered why I had left some pans out on the counter.  He was locking the door and it wasn’t working.  He happened to look at the apartment number and realized that he was one floor below where we lived.  He didn’t know whether to go back into the apartment and risk getting shot…..after all he had spent a couple of minutes jiggling the key.  So he just left the box under their sink and came back upstairs….kind of laughing to himself.  We chuckled about it all day. 

Today was our first Sunday in our new ward.  What an interesting ward.  Such a mixture of cultures.  Lots of young college families!  They all seem to have anywhere from 1 to 4 kids. The Bishopric is made up of 3 college students….I think med school.  Like they don’t have enough to do.  The turnover rate is high because they all get jobs somewhere else and leave. We also have 3 sets of young missionaries and 2-3 sets of senior missionaries attending regularly.   Then the boundaries take in a part of downtown Des Moines and we have a lot of black families.  They are quite cheerful and happy people!  The Primary President is a black woman with the warmest personality and such a friendliness about her.  She obviously loves kids!  I spotted a few youth, but not many.  But there were sisters, just out of YW who were getting ready to serve a mission.  They attended the Gospel Essentials class and sat by each of the class members to help them find their way in the scriptures.  Our responsibilities to this Ward is to help with whatever we are asked to do on Sundays.  They pretty much have MLS Missionaries who help with other Ward needs throughout the mission. 

We ended up working Saturday and a little Sunday at the Mission Office to get ready for the transfers that happen on Wednesday of this week.  That will be one of my busiest weeks of each month.  Mark gets to see everything financial which interesting.  If missionaries lose/break/damage their phones, cars, lose their debit cards, have problems with their apartments, etc. he takes care of financial end of it. He finds new apartments or closes apartments when needed.  One incident this week happened quickly when the missionaries suddenly needed to move that very day! 

We are happy to be here and are hoping to be able to learn and remember everything we are to do.  We know there are many ways to help in this missionary work that is going forth so quickly at this time.  We are encouraged to be a part of the community when there is time…..acts of service, volunteering with charities, participating in their community events, fairs, etc.  And we always proudly wear our Missionary Name Badges!

Grateful that the Lord trusts us to help in His work!  We love and miss you all!