Significance of Little Words

This inspirational word art was found on an internet search listing

that offers "943 Three Little Word Quotes". 

Without thinking too deeply, anyone reading this can spout off

many very important "three little word" statements

that have huge significance. Such as:

I love you.

You are awesome.

I'm so sorry.

Please be safe.

I'll call soon.

Today's blog post aims to link together some recent events 

that associate in my mind because of the "little words" 

that led to good things.

But first, something with words that is just a little silly.

Somewhere in Maine there are these "attractions" surface

road signs that are interesting post-mates, in a photo

shared with us by Sister Johnson who has served there.

On top is a location indicator for a meeting house

for the local ward chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ

of Latter-Day Saints - the Church we are serving as

missionaries. Below it "advertises" for a local food

purveyor, touting "Best Damn Lobstah!

(Can't help thinking my Dad would enjoy this!) 

The first event I will describe centers around a project

of Sister Beck's, our Mission President's wife and "companion".

Toward the end of last year, she was enlisted to help a couple

of different companionships (one in Manchester and also

one farther afield in the Mission) obtain literacy materials.

A community need was being addressed with literacy classes

offered for free to members and friends of the Church.

Mention of Church-prepared materials - for both teacher's 

and student printed manuals - was made in

the December 2019 issue of the Ensign [Church] magazine.

Sis.  Beck had "gone down the rabbit hole" of the headquarters 

phone tree to find them. But when the materials she thought she

had arranged to be sent still hadn't arrived, she enlisted

my assistance to "try again". So I followed the same convoluted,

passed-along phone experience. Progress seemed possible

when I landed at the Genr'l Relief Society office [women's ministry]

and began talking with Bridget there. She later returned 

a call to me, relaying her discovery that the materials for

"Ye Shall Have My Words" had been discontinued.

During our friendly chat, in response to my frustration,

she casually said, "I know I have seen some for sale

on Amazon, of all places." I ended the call feeling thwarted.

Then the thought crossed my mind: "I don't even know what

we are hunting". So I decided I would go online and search.

Rapidly I had results, with the image above on my screen.

It was a Eureka moment. Just outside the mission office,

overlooked on a coat rack, I had seen a stack of abandoned

materials which eventually prompted a curiosity check. 

When I pulled down the spiral bound manual, 

I had been impressed by the artwork

of Jesus Christ in a synagog that I had never before seen.

These were NOT mission materials, so I left them where they were.

(Turns out, the Mission secretary Sister Matkin had also looked,

but likewise taken no actions.)

That incidental mention of Amazon, then a decision to follow the clue,

began a chain of events - hence the "Nothing Is Random" word art.

"Light" of inspirational promptings entered my mind, as I wondered

if these books may have ended up in the "materials center"

in the building, a.k.a library. I borrowed the "master key"

and there on a shelf the two manuals sat. We had found what

we needed - master books to copy from for the potential

students and instructors.

There was another "mystery" to be solved from my phone

encounter as well. As Bridget and I casually conversed, she

mentioned her interest in quilting. Because she was speaking

with me from the Relief Society Offices, another mental alert

was triggered, bringing forward "random" thoughts I have had

about a long-lost quilt of mine that had been "loaned" for a 1999

open-ended display in that downtown SLC building. So I mentioned it.

"This may be a long shot . . ." I began, explaining the loan,

that it hadn't been returned. Would anyone know if it was still there?

Bridget knew just the person on staff who would know, and she

assured me we could find it IF there was an image available.

Of course there was -- but clear back there in Lehi, UT,

packed away and irretrievable until we return in late November.

But the niggling voice in my head didn't want it to wait til then.

How could I find an image? I contacted the original publisher of 

the series for which it been completed -- 

and left a voice message.

Then I remembered Bridget's earlier words --

and recalled that EVERYTHING can be found online!

Only a few minutes later I found an eBay listing:

and this was forwarded along to Mimsi Harrison who was

the RS staffer who would complete the 'archive' hunt.

Early the next day, Mimsi responded with this email,

which reads "I'm happy to let you know we located your quilt"

with an offer to mail it wherever I instructed.

It had been a great day for my "inner sleuth".

And there was one other bit of "fall out" from this process.

Barb Sprunger from House of White Birches who published

the Creative Scrap Quilting series DID respond,

and we had a delightful phone conversation and email exchange.

She was "so happy", she said, to see my name come across,

and complimented the expertise and quality of my former work.

It filled my lamp in a most amazing way, and helped me look back

to my previous quilting obsession. Perhaps I still really AM a quilter.

So I've recommitted to working on the "funeral quilt" patchwork

that I prepared and brought along. A few blocks are completed:

Other seemingly random words touched us during Valentine's week.

As I worked in the Exeter Ward building kitchen, preparing

 lunch fare, I listened remotely to the Zone Conference meeting 

going on in the chapel, with the kitchen audio turned up,

Elder Sears (from our flight group at the MTC) spoke.

He was offering a 'Mission miracle', and talked about some

appointments that he had been randomly involved with because of

'exchanges' (or splits). Meet-ups continually failed, including one 

with a friend being taught. Then, as they made a last-ditch

effort to deliver something to a fellow at the bottom of their list,

they pulled into a driveway, and right next door the young woman

whose appointment had fallen through pulled up in her van.

As he described her situation, I instantly knew it was

our new friend Andrea. Later, Elder Sears (below, left) confirmed it.

Thinking of these people we love - Elder Sears AND Andrea 

- filled that rather bleak stormy day with warmth and light.

 Later that afternoon, as we drove home to Goffstown,

our conversation turned to a personal event. Dental developments

will necessitate that I fly to Utah for oral surgery later in March.

It will be brief, and it turns out Missionary rules require that

we travel as companions (even as Senior Missionaries!). 

That overlooked detail had resulted in one-passenger air tickets 

that had to be cancelled to remain true to what we had agreed.

Furthermore, substitute flights booked with errors, needed correction.

Vince mentioned that "today" would have been the day we'd

be on the plane traveling west. I asked if he had been able

to get those tickets refunded. He said 'No'. My heart sank.

But Heaven pays attention to the desire for obedience.

When we returned to the Mission office the next day,

Elder Warner found an email from Delta Airlines indicating

that the flights to Utah and back had been cancelled, and we

would be receiving a FULL refund. Amazing blessing!

(This, below, is part of the reservations cancellation email.)

Here's my final "nothing random" incident.

Lovely Rebekah, my new sister-in-law, had us/me

in her mind when she had "extra", made-by-herself

Valentine's Day chocolates sent to New Hampshire.

How did she know I needed something sweet just NOW?

Many more drops of inspiring truth from these three little words:

God loves us!

Indeed, we matter in His scheme.

Hope your week is blessed, as well.

Asked vs. Told: Inspired Mission Leaders

This week I will describe something that happened

 two weeks ago that was quite inspirational.

But first, a preamble: we arrived back at the office

on Friday, Valentine's Day after a very busy

week full of planning and food prep and travel to three

zone conferences to find that we had been "bombed"

by the local pairs of Sisters.

It was quite remarkable how this small but thoughtful "prank"

raised our spirits and helped us feel like our work

is touching others who we love so much.

Every archway or doorway was streamer-ed.

And even the clock was tagged!

Thanks to the Bedford 2 Sisters

(Sisters Drollinger and Semadeni) and

the Manchester 4 Hermanas 

(Hermanas Throckmorton and Ladle).

Now for the remarkable decision-making process

of which we were part. Here's the situation:

A zone conference was scheduled Feb. 6th in lower middle

Vermont involving approx. one-third of the missionaries

(about 70) in surrounding areas.

The weather forecast included a major storm with

a significant amount of snow accumulation across

the mostly rural areas from which those missionaries

would be traveling. 

Pres. Beck had watched the changing forecasts, 

done his research, reached out to local folks for

opinions, waited as long as he considered prudent, then

called in to the office from his remote location to talk

to the office staff plus APs (Assistants to the Pres).

He asked that we gather for a conference call.

After explaining the dilemma and his concerns,

he ASKED us what we thought, and how we would

deal with various impacts of postponing the conference.

We talked through a couple of options, and it was

abundantly evident that he valued our comments.

Then he asked the Assistants, Elder White and

Elder Beckstrand what they thought.

Pausing only briefly, Elder Beckstrand (age 20) offered

a suggestion that had not been put forward previously.

Why not, he asked, reschedule for Monday, change

that regular 'Prep P' Day to Tuesday for those involved,

and hope for better weather? It would mean more work

for them, back to back presentation days with double

the travel instructions to relay with no recovery time.

It was an amazing, lamp-filling moment to see that

these young leaders would receive the key piece of

inspiration that was needed, as part of

the "collective revelation" that they often talk about

as the larger groups of missionaries brain-storm together.

And that is what we did.

After the fact, on site in Sharon, Vermont on the following

Monday, we asked local Church members there how the weather

had turned out, and they said it had been treacherous on the 6th

with many accidents along the area highways.

For me, the uplift of that previous communication lasted

for several days. I was inspired by our Mission President's

thoughtful and trusting approach to ASKING us our opinions

about how we should proceed, instead of TELLING us

what he had decided in a totally isolated process.

Part of our scripture study this morning was from 2 Nephi 10:

The verse talks about being free to choose - 

not forced, not commanded.

We regularly recite our Mission Purpose: to INVITE others

to "come unto Christ". That is the spirit of the business here.

These are eternal principles put into action by our leaders.

And then, it happened all over again later in the week,

though the details varied somewhat. Bad weather on

the horizon prompted another "should we re-schedule"

huddle regarding the Augusta/Bangor Zone Conference. 

A survey of our opinions led to proceeding

as originally planned. 
Here, below, is my view of the roads 
from my passenger seat as we traveled to Maine.

(This is the New Hampshire portion - it got better going north.)

So this marathon week involved THREE zone conferences

in THREE different New England states!

Here is another "Asked vs. Told" example.

 Three weeks ago, or longer, I had a privilege to be part of

another "working together" project with Sister Matkin,

the Mission Secretary. Mission leadership had a vision

to prepare and offer a printed "tool" to assist the teaching

missionaries to be more thoroughly prepared with

the principles, scripture references, and Gospel message

included in the Preach My Gospel handbook.

Could we help them, please, create this tri-panel, 

laminated page with topics on one side and a study "schedule" 

on the other, to be tucked into their mini spiral bound books, 

and referred to regularly? Could we put it together to be like one

they had seen available from other Missions' leaders? 

 Sister Matkin worked her magic using the text and graphics

software she has access to and her broad experience,

 creating the charts and column layouts, 

formatting for the correct size and to accommodate 

the folding, making corrections,

waiting for the final updates, keeping an eye on 

production deadlines prior to zone conferences.

Here below she is feeding the finished copies through

the laminator, which she also planned for and procured.

 My part of the team effort was to illustrate the cover

by interpreting the creative ideas of the leaders.

Then Sister Matkin plugged it into her layout.

Here below is my part of the actual final production:

trimming the laminated sheets, then . . . 

. . . using my 'bone folder' (something I am familiar

with from my paper crafting experience) to bend and

crease the rather heavy-duty lamination.

You can see the tri-panel finals stacked in the box

at the side of the photo. These were introduced

and handed around at the conferences this week.

Very enjoyable to be part of this team project

with my very capable and easy to work with 

office partner Sister Matkin.

And one final "lamp-filling" experience to document here:

We were invited last Sunday - before the whirlwind week

that was ahead - to drive up to Andover for dinner with

the Amy & Gregor Makechnie families, and their extended

Brendan & Jill, and Arthur Makechnie families, too -

our friends from the Canterbury Ward.

And of course, the Sister missionaries (Parry & Linford).

We had very exotic fare (for us) of Mediterranean food,

and very delightful company.

Such an enriched evening!

:

 Deeply valued, richly fed.

Nod to Valentines: Mission "Sweethearts"

We approach the middle of February and weather

has been on our minds. Severe storms caused a change

in Zone Conference plans and condensed three into one week - 

but more about that next week. 

Following the snow came cold winds and freezing rain.

This beautiful picture, below, of red berries with frozen branches

comes from our first-to-be-mentioned "sweetheart" who we know

as fellow members of the Canterbury Ward: Andrea Nelson.

She has given me permission to re-share something she posted

 elsewhere. Here are her inspiring words to accompany the image:

In my rush around this afternoon . . . this sight caught my eye.

I took [the picture] to remind us to slow down and see

the beauty, the successes in the small moments.

Life moves too fast.

 She also shared this image of the sparkle of frozen
rain that coated the bare tree branches, which in the wind
that followed was blown loose to embellish the snow-coat in
sounds of broken-glass tinkling and not-so-gentle crashing.
Very beautiful, though, as the bright sunshine 
reflected the next day.

Just a small pause before the "real" message to note a national

event that was "staged" just up the road from our Goffstown

apartment. The Democratic Party held their final presidential

candidate debate St. Anselm College, in advance of Tuesday's 

New Hampshire primary vote. The college campus is a destination

in my mild-weather neighborhood walking route, so it

was very close to us. We drove home through a channel of

picketing "protesters" and candidate supporters. One picture

I took the next morning shows the "corral" fencing that was thrown

up to keep those with signs safely off the roadway.

Blue police flashers were everywhere. Glad to get away home.

 Also of note, this morning the cardinal couple stayed
on Elder Warner's hanging deck feeder long enough
to be captured in a photo. The female is the one we can see;
the brighter red male was on the outside.

Next is my second mission "sweetheart",

Sister Lydia Stephenson, who acted as service

missionary in the NHM Mission office for a year,

ending last late summer, as a special office duties helper

for mission nurse Sister Larsen. Since I "inherited"

many of those clerical duties, Sister Stephenson

was very useful in training me and setting me up for success.

Due to some particular challenges, she did not serve a full-time

mission, but instead helped one or more days a week in

the Manchester chapel building where the office is located

(in addition to her regular service at the Boston Temple).

She drove down from her home northward in Plymouth to serve.

Her duties: logging print supply requests, ordering replacement 

nametags, preparing baptismal packets to be sent to 

new members, assembling and composing the "monthly" 

electronic newsletter, assisting with on-site luncheon functions,

organizing the history, and more. 

This image was taken on February 2 with Sister Christiansen

and Sister E. Smith. (The reason for their broad smiles:

their Plymouth "Branch" became a "Ward" that Sunday! Hooray!)

My third mission sweetheart is Sister Anita Nickulas.

She is a regular visitor to the office, bringing love

and encouragement for us office seniors but more

particularly for the young Elders and Sisters that 

serve in the Manchester and Bedford areas

at any given time. She has a wealth of local knowledge,

a big heart for sharing, smart opinions, helping hands,

and a heart-warming conversion story that begins

with a search for Gospel of Jesus Christ truth that

she felt lacking in her life-long Catholic Church activity.

This image of the fresh bread items in the Manchester church

kitchen represents her weekly stop at the "outlet" store

that lies on the way from her Auburn home base

to purchase gift-food to bless and simplify the lives of missionaries.

 In recent years, she has greeted each new senior office
couple with this wonderful local gift of CampMix seasonings.
Sister Nickulas is a developing quiltmaker and an oral hygenist.
We've learned many things from her, and missed her regular
visits in December and January while she recovered from surgery.
Her smile and sunny disposition cheer us.

My fourth mission "sweetheart" is Sister Iris Langley,

another member of the Manchester Ward. Having served

as an office senior in Alabama, and then as a Washington D.C

Temple missionary, Sister Langley offered herself for weekly

service because she wants to help and knows there is need.

She is a New Hampshire native and I love to listen to

her local knowledge and fascinating life story.

(It was Iris who first taught me how to say "Boscawen"

and Peabody - more about that in a later post.)

That's why I am excited when I see her come through

the mission office door. But the REAL reasons she is

a sweetheart is the help she offers to the Elders in the office.

Here, below, she is assisting Elder Warner in the tedium of

filing the monthly automobile report forms and receipts.

(Hallelujah - if she didn't help, it might have to be ME!)

 Of particular benefit to the mission function is the help
she gives to Elder Matkin, who is really filling the roles
and assignments of TWO office missionaries.
Sister Langley files apartment utility billings, notices, leases,
rent agreements, etc., which is what she is doing here.
And perhaps also helps with the missionaries' telephones
paperwork and other financial officer clerical filing tasks.
There is a lot to love in Sister Langley, including her local
knowledge and way of speaking, her cheery commitment
to Gospel living, her twinkly smile, her encouragement to us.
But one fun fact I appreciate particularly is that she has "kept"
her maiden name. Though married to three fellows (now a widow)
with different surnames, she reverted back to her family name
at the request of her father - that's family loyalty!

My fifth selection for a mission "sweetheart" is

Sister Judy Johonnette-Young, who is a member

of the Canterbury Ward where we attend.

Shown here with Sister Parry (who might represent

all of the other mission "sweethearts" - 'cause we love

them ALL), Sister Judy listens to the church meetings

as her human transcription "translators" serve

her by typing what is said into a small laptop keyboard device.

Sister Judy's story put "oil in my lamp" last autumn when she

expressed on FB her frustration at the challenge of receiving

the messages in our meetings. It was inspiring and 

heart-warming to read and see how quickly her fellow Saints

put forward offers to help, and expressed her value to

the entire congregation and their love for her.

Recently, she is looking to supplement her income by

producing crocheted products for sale.

 This day, Judy had handed off the first "batch" of scrubbers

that I had arranged for, and am sending as Valentines.

At the end of this week, we will celebrate Valentine's Day.
Though admittedly a pagan holiday, it easily morphs into
a reason to recognize and commemorate
the abundance of love with which we are surrounded.
My lamp is very full with all the "sweethearts" here.
Happy Holiday!