Dear
Family and Friends,
Last Sunday we started out with
rain, but then it stopped and was cloudy.
It was a nice Fast Sunday. We
took Sister Bowie to church with us, enjoyed the testimonies and lessons. Some people shared a few of their tough
experiences that they survived with the Lord’s help. Came home after, rested, did the blog, went
to dinner at the Hesses with the Sorensens.
We had a lovely time. Had good
Facetime visits later in the evening with Christi and Shelley. Nice day!
Monday I forwarded the President’s
email to all the Seniors, and The Leader to all the missionaries plus their
parents at home. They love to read what
has been going on in our mission and look for photos of their children! I also worked on the Mission Calendar and my
own desk calendar. In the afternoon we
had our Office Staff meeting with Pres. Wakolo there in the Office and Sister
Wakolo on the phone. Bed bugs are back
in the sister’s apt. near us, but they seem to be taking care of it well. Had a nice phone visit with Brent on the way
home, vacuumed and dusted the apartment since we didn’t get to do it on
Saturday. Had rain in the evening and
Jim did not sleep well Monday night as the emergency alarm radio kept going off
because of problems in counties near us.
We need to reset it to only cover our county, but we didn’t realize it
was set to extend so far away. We had
some sister missionaries in Memphis observe a shooting right across from their
apartment. It was rather traumatic for
them and they are now staying with the Sister Training Leaders until we can
move them. It was a little ironic
because they were moved to this new apartment complex because of how rough the
area was that they were in.
Tuesday it had rained all night but
gradually cleared up during the day. Worked
on emails, did a lot of shredding of old documents, printed up the baptismal
photos from February and changed out the baptismal photos on the board for
these new ones. The missionaries who
come in to the Office always look to see who has baptized. We had 17 in February!! Was alone in the Office for a while when Jim went
with the Sorensens to pick up some new cars for the Mission—Chevy Malibus. Talked to my sister, Lois, for a little
bit. Exercised and ate dinner when we
got home and had a quiet evening.
Wednesday was nice and sunny and
actually got up to the high 60’s. I
continued to do a lot of the same stuff I did on Monday and Tuesday, plus
worked on updating information for the White Binder that will be sent to
President Hansen for him to use. I still
don’t have all the information from the various stakes (one out of five). Lots of calls from the missionaries came in
for Sister Sorensen to order media.
Elder Sorensen was busy with car stuff, Jim with apartment issues, and
nothing new for me. We went shopping and
had a nice short visit with Larry while we were at the store. Went home, ate dinner, did two batches of
laundry, and had a quiet evening.
Thursday was a slow day for me. When I don’t have new missionary
recommendations come in on Tuesday, then there is not so much for me to do on
Wednesday and Thursday. And that has
been the case for the last two Tuesdays.
Pray for us to get some new Miss. Rec’s this Tuesday. I am still waiting for information to come
in, too. Exercised in the evening, and
did one more load of laundry.
Friday was cleaning day and Jim
& I did the bathrooms and collected the garbage. I got some letters out to the Departing
Missionaries, cleaned out some folders that we don’t use any more, had some
emails to take care of, sent letters to our missionaries who just went into the
MTC and will be coming on the 21st (the ASL sisters) and on the 28th. Sister Hugentobler came in to visit for about
an hour. It was so good to see her and
her health is very good!! She leaves for
home in Moab next Saturday (the 18th). We will miss her and hope to visit her when
we get home. Sister Hess was in the
Office most of the day working on her phone report. Got gas on the way home, fixed and ate
dinner, I worked on our budget and got it done for February. We are doing well.
Saturday it rained on and off all
day. We attended the baptism of an older
fellow named Richard Bellarose. His wife
Mary was baptized a year ago in Washington state. We ate lunch at Subway, then went to
MacArthur Park and the War Museum.
We
spent 2 hours there looking at lots of posters, pictures, letters, memorabilia
from WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, and General MacArthur. Lots of medals on display, plus a Jeep and
information about it. It was all very
interesting. General Douglas MacArthur
was born in Little Rock, hence the museum here that taught a lot about him and
his many accomplishments. And the building
was part of an old fort and armory. Then
went home, took naps, cleaned our own bathrooms and kitchen, exercised, ate,
cleaned up, and relaxed.
 |
| Jim in front of a civil war statue. Notice the interesting shape of the tree behind him |
This morning is rainy and cold—only 33
degrees!! However, during the course of
the day it grew sunny and warmed up to 50 degrees. We enjoyed church, came home and took naps,
and look forward to a peaceful evening.
Some quote from the missionaries’
letters to the President:
“Divine discontent means that we are
dissatisfied with ourselves, but in a way that we know we can become better
through Christ. It motivates us.”
“Bishop Wadell said in stake
conference—Believe enough to ask, trust enough to do.”
“One night this week, before the
baptism, we were at a member’s home with our investigator, teaching about
temples and eternal families. Her father
passed away when she was really young and so we were able to testify strongly
that we will be able to be with our family forever—that’s the whole purpose of
the plan! At the end of the lesson we
asked her what this means to her, and she sat there for a good minute
thinking. I was silently praying no one
would say anything, and would just let her process. Our investigator is really quiet, but when
she opens her mouth, she always has something profound to say. She sat quietly for a moment, and then
whispered, ‘I can be with him.’ Then she
started to cry. The Spirit was so
intense. Even writing his now, the
Spirit is reminding me of that powerful statement and its reality.”
“Studies are going great. I read Hebrews this week and really liked
what it said about faith, and I read a little bit more about the Atonement and
had some cool insights. One thing I like
from this week was a quote that said, ‘With any major decision there are
cautions and considerations to make, but once there has been illumination,
beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and
trusted it and lived for it, it is right now.
Don’t give up when the pressure mounts.
Certainly don’t give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of
your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears. ‘Cast not away therefore
your confidence.’ Stay the course and
see the beauty of life unfold for you.”
I really liked that verse in Hebrews about not casting away your
confidence.”
We love you and pray you are all
doing well. Thanks for sending us little
notes now and then.
Love, Elder & Sister Hartzell
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