Some more photos of our trip yesterday. We have 99 more photos to go.

JUNE 1, 2010 TUESDAY

Last night Diana cut up the onions and green peppers for the sloppy Joe mix so this morning was relatively unrushed as we got things ready for district meeting. Diana sauteed the onions and peppers and fried the hamburger then added all the other ingredients to make the S.J. mix while I cut up the honeydew melons. We always have to put a leaf in the table and rearrange things in the living room to accommodate all the elders, especially when we have nine of us here. Even though we were told again by Elder Bentley the meeting would start at 10:30, we knew some would be arriving at 10:00 and sure enough, Elders Bushnell and Sills did. Shortly after, Elders Talley and Anderson arrived followed by Elders Bentley, Dahneke and Neuffer. By 10:30 all were here and ready to start.

Elder Bentley has made it a district goal to have all of us spend a P-day together doing some kind of activity so after the announcements had been made, we presented the idea of going to Mt. Pilatus in two weeks. All of them said they’d like to do it, but we need to get the details worked out as to costs etc. Missionaries have to use their own personal money for anything they do outside of regular missionary work.

The official meeting began with Diana choosing the opening song and then saying the invocation. Elder Neuffer gave the missionary rule book tip about “study” (page 15) and using the scriptures found in D&C 11:21 and 84:85 which are about obtaining the word before trying to preach it and treasuring up the words of life continually and then we’ll be given what we need when we need it. He focused on using our alone and companion study time wisely. This was followed with a period of time allotted for whatever missionaries wanted to pass off on some of the requirements for the Master Missionary Program. We were divided into two groups and the missionaries who wanted presented what they had prepared. At the end those of us who were listeners gave positives and constructive criticism to help the missionaries better learn how to present and teach the lessons to investigators.

Next, Elders Tally and Anderson made a presentation on how we should make daily contact with our golden investigators to help them feel and keep the Spirit and prevent Satan from winning them back. They gave us many ideas on how we can do that without becoming pests. After their presentation came the closing song and the big prayer. I chose the song and in the prayer we prayed for investigators with whom the missionaries are working and said a blessing on the food. Then came lunch.

The sloppy Joes and chips were a hit and they all liked the honeydew melons although some didn’t want the vanilla ice cream on top and gave it to others who were more than willing to take it. Elder Talley only wanted the ice cream and not the fruit. After lunch while Diana did the dishes, I cut the hair of three elders, Sills, Neuffer and Talley. All of the missionaries are great men and we thoroughly enjoy associating with and serving them in any way that we can.

When they were gone, we called Paul Hunziker to see if we could visit him this afternoon. We make it a point to keep in contact with him at least a couple times a week even though we know he has a strong testimony. Today we read Moroni 4 and 5 regarding the sacrament and the prayers in preparation for him receiving the priesthood next Sunday. He has a very good understanding of the sacrament and what it means. He had a question about the water instead of wine, but after discussing it, he accepted the reasoning. When it was time to leave, he tried to give me another pair of shoes, but fortunately they were too small and I didn’t have to take them. He hates to see us leave empty handed and was successful in sending a half dozen slices of frozen bread with us. It’s very good bread and we wish we could make it as good as he does, but how much can we eat?

This afternoon we used some of the ideas Elders Talley and Anderson taught us and sent text messages to Cornelia Schaer in Schwamendingen who has had some hard times and also to Jasmine Hunziker that we missed her on Sunday and hoped she was getting better. We called Sylvain to check on him and give him some encouragement. He said his insurance has decided not to pay for the alcohol clinic program and he’ll have to go in tomorrow to talk with them to see if he can get it restored.

We’re done with our journal rather early today and for once maybe we can get to bed on time.

The tender mercy today was that the shoes Paul tried to give me wouldn’t fit.