Missouri Independence Mission Oct. 2022-April 2024

I've been fighting a head cold all week. So far, I haven't taken any days off or missed any appointments but I sure haven't felt "with it." Yesterday, we got home from the temple about 1:30. We had a dinner appointment at 3:00 and I laid back in my chair for a few minutes. Bad mistake. Colleen started shaking my leg at 2:45 and I had no idea what was going on. I was totally out of it. I've done that same thing two or three times this week and it is not a good feeling. I think I'm about on top of things today although I'm still feeling drugged and weak. transfers Thursday morning was transfers and, as I have not witnessed one, I made a point of going down to the stake center to watch. It was a big let down. I thought there would be some kind of drama to the pairing up of companionships but, no, no drama. When all the missionaries had gathered in the parking lot, the assistants opened up an app for viewing and then the missionaries wandered around to fin

Keegan (L) and Eric The big news this week was Keegan opening his mission call. We were able to download Teams and watch via the internet. Keegan and his friend Eric decided to announce their calls at the same time, so they had a gathering at Eric's home to read their calls. Keegan will be going to the Czech/Slovak Mission and enters the MTC on August 16. He will learn to speak Slovak which, I think, is somewhat akin to Russian and Czech. We are proud of him and know he will make a great missionary. Eric was called to Argentina. Training Mom mentioned our release date is coming on quickly. I have started training Elder Healy on the finances. He will have a big job for about five weeks while waiting for our replacements, the Parkers, to arrive. Elder Healy will get some help as a couple of other senior missionaries have been asked to come into the office three days at the start of each month to help out. That is the busy time for vehicles. Elder Healy plans on taking over finances p

Sister Creer and the  Sommerfeldt's  Last week was a good week for senior missionaries arriving in the mission. Sister Creer will be in the office as mission secretary. She is learning from Sister Welbern who was so good to come in and take over when Sister Kearns had to have surgery. We would have been in a world of hurts without her.  Sister Welbern heads out on a trip next week. Sister Ramirez, who speaks no English, came to us from Mexico and is excited to be here. The Hall's arrived to take the place of the Bradford's in our Riverview branch. They fit right in and hit the ground running. All will be a great blessing to the mission. Our replacements, the Parker's, will be here the first week in June. Sister Welbern It's been an interesting week for the weather. We had tornado warnings one day this week and I guess the wind and rain and hail were bad up north and west of us. A couple of the missionary cars had hail damage. Then Friday there was a 3.5 earthquake i

This might even be shorter than mom's letter. We are both tired after a short night and a long day. I keep thinking each daylight savings change that it might be my last one. I've been hoping for such for many years. Just watch. The politicians will get their act together just after I die and fix things. But until then, I'll keep hoping. We taught Sister Silva the first temple prep lesson before church this morning. Her husband, who received his endowment a few months ago, sat in with us. Sister Silva sat in on his lessons so most of this will be a review for her. Both have had a hard life but are progressing well in the Church. Minus the Sisters Saturday evening we were to have all six missionaries from the Branch over for dinner. In the afternoon, Elder Healy called and said we had a problem. The Sisters from our Branch had called and said their car was stolen. They were asked if it could have been towed. "Oh,no. We were parked in our assigned parking place." Th

Even colder after a warm day Gas prices and temperatures were in fluxuation all week. The gas had been going down a couple of cents every week or so and got down to $2.62. Then bam. In just one day it was up to $2.99. It seems to me the fuel in the tanks at the station would still have been worth the $2.62 but then I don't understand high finance.  The temperature has been about as crazy as gas prices. The days have been fairly pleasant with temps around 60 degrees. One afternoon, it was 76 degrees and that night it dropped to 17. That was a rude awakening that winter is officially still here. But that only lasted a day or so and today it is 81 as I write. inspection team Mom told you that I've been skipping out of zone conference meetings. Shame on me but I can't hear much so thought it was a better use of my time to help Elder Healy with the cars. It was a cold morning but not as cold as the other two zone conference days so I lucked out with that. My job was to check the