26 May 2014 Mission Letter

26 May Mission Letter

It has been kind of quiet and relaxed the last 10 days or so.  Elder Stringham and I were able to take a “real” Pday.  That means on Saturday we had time to travel a little and see Iowa.  The first spot we went to see was Pella, Iowa.  It is known for its’ Tulip Festival, Dutch windmill, streets lined with tulips, Pella Windows Company and Wyatt Earps home.  The residents plant tulips between the sidewalk and the curb.  It is very pretty.  Here is a picture of the Windmill.  It is the biggest Dutch windmill in the United States.  The tour takes us to the top to see the actual vanes close up.    On the way down we stopped at different floors where they show how to grind different grains into flour.  On another floor we saw where the miller lives.  It is one room that includes the kitchen, a table, a chair and a bed that is 4 feet long and has doors.  We really enjoyed our visit there.

Dutch Windmill Pella Iowa

The grain mill

The miller's bed - just 4 feet long.

Miller's living quarters

Eating area

 

This past weekend we went to Living History Farms.  It is right close in Urbandale.  Our son and daughter-in- law, Jason & Jenn got us a gift certificate to this Museum for Christmas.  It consists of a 1700 Ioway Indian Farm, 1850 Pioneer Farm and a 1875 Town of Walnut Hills, complete with a Blacksmith, General Store, Print Shop, Chapel, Millenary, Lawyer, Doctor’s Office and Machine Shop.  It was fascinating.  Loved it all!

Nice-sized chapel in Walnut Hills

View of the street from the Chapel

The old farm machinery was fun for me.  Remember the disc from my dad's farm. We used both a team of horses and a tractor to pull the disc.

All the children there loved this...sow with 9 piglets,  There was a runt who kept being pushed away and he would keep climbing on top trying hard to find his dinner.  He didn't have much success so he will probably always be the runt. 

It is summer and therefore we are getting a more than usual number of missionaries assigned to our mission to come the end of July and middle of September.  If we get more than we send home, we need to open new areas.  That will keep Elder Stringham busy, because he needs to open new apartments, take care of the leases, see that they are decent enough for missionaries and then see that they are furnished. 

Last Sunday the missionaries serving in our ward had some converts visiting.  I seem to notice the reverence or lack thereof more when we have visitors.  There were at least 3 babies who were just having a hard time.  I said a quiet little prayer that they might be calmed and the visitors could enjoy the meeting.  Not to be!   So I prayed that the speakers would bring a spirit that could be felt even above the noise.  Yep!  That one got answered.  A sister talked about her family’s conversion.  The mother joined first.  Some of the older children were then baptized.  The dad was noted for being a real challenge for the missionaries.  For several years he teased and questioned almost everything.  He eventually was baptized.  The Sister speaking said when she was older she asked him why he joined.  His answer:  “I knew it would make your mom happy”.   She asked him when did he know it was true.  He answered, “I became converted by living the commandments!”  The speaker said soon after her mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and in time was unable to care for herself.  The dad became the caretaker of the children and his wife and continues to this day.  He tells his daughter that it is his love for his wife, the knowledge of the Gospel, knowing his purpose here on the earth and that families can be together forever that sustain him.   

Sorry I am a week behind.  I get started and then the computer decides to act up. 

Love you all very much!