Week 4

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What a wonderful day it has been! We went out to our branch again and they are such sweet people!! The Spirit was so strong in all of their meetings! At one point during Sacrament meeting, I thought of the scripture that says in part, "where two or three are gathered together in my name...behold, there will I be in the midst of them." A sister who has only been a member of the church for 3 months spoke and did a wonderful job. I thought she had probably been a member for a few years. She and her sweet family are just brand new members. Her husband blessed the Sacrament for the second time. The other speaker was a sister missionary who is going home in two days....she is soooo sad to leave the branch but excited to go home. I know we will feel the same way in 6 months!! We had three investigators there today. Relief Society was wonderful!! Afterward the meetings we had a "Linger Longer" put on by the brethren for the wives and mothers. I was chatting with one of the full-time elders and found out that I know his family well....he is the youngest son of Mark and Lynn Richardson from Spanish Fork (although Lynn lives in Salem now - Mark passed away several years ago). Such a small world!!!! He is a delightful young man!!! Tonight we had a potluck with all of the Site missionaries and the Temple missionaries so we could get to know one another. It was a wonderful evening.

I was thinking in the temple this week what a difference it is here in the Palmyra temple...well, obviously....but often we will be serving as ordinance workers one half hour and then serve as patrons the next, all on the same shift. We might be sealing patrons, then serve as ordinance workers somewhere and then as an initiatory leader and then go to the baptistry, then the laundry and then clean the locker room.....all on the same shift. Then, twice a week we have two back-to-back shifts, Friday and Saturday, so we get to do that twice. What I reflected about was that ALL of this is the work of the Lord. I no longer think, "Now I'm a patron," and then "Now I'm a worker," or "Now I'm cleaning," or "Now I'm working in the office". Every single thing we do there is furthering the work of saving souls in some way. It has really opened my mind to the services I perform. It is a lesson to all of us. It does not matter where or how the Lord asks us to serve if we do it with love and full purpose of heart, thinking always of His work and glory!! At one point this week a group of us were eating lunch together and someone said how incredibly blessed they felt to be able to serve here at this time in this way. I feel that so much!! It is hard work and I am very tired when I finish my shifts but it feels soooooo good!!! Then, the next day I am renewed and ready to start it all again!!


This week, besides working in the temple we went to a Seneca Culture and Art Museum at Gonandaga. We had a lot of fun. Dad told you about it in his blog so here are the pics.












These are all pictures taken at the replica of the Seneca longhouse.



The trees are amazing around here especially the flowering ones. The apple and cherry trees are in full bloom right now but I have no idea what the beautiful purple flowered trees are here. This is a picture of one. The lighting wasn't very good but they are so pretty! If anyone knows what they are I could love to know!!








Well, dear ones, I love you all!!! I have been thinking of all of my children and grandchildren today...who made me a mother and grandmother!!...and of my dear daughters....those I bore and those I didn't....and of my precious sisters and my mother....and all of the other amazing mothers in my life. Thank you for enriching my life!!!
Mom/Grandma/Sandy oxoxoxoxoxox

Comments

  1. Mechel AllredMay 14, 2017 at 6:04 PM

    Oh thank you for sending me your blog info! I've been wondering how you're doing! We have talked of your often and are so excited about your service! We just love you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. CathyMay 21, 2017 at 4:48 PM

    It looks like a redbud. We have them here, we love them. Thank you for your example of service! Love, the Hicken's.

    ReplyDelete
  3. momcoxsonMay 21, 2017 at 7:13 PM

    Thanks, Cathy!! I found that out on Thursday....and that a variety can be grown in Utah....I will definitely have to think about it!!

    ReplyDelete

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