Monday, February 23, 2009

Week of 16th - 22nd of February 2009


Dear Family,
We are doing well. The South Texas winter weather has been very pleasant and good to us.

We have been on the go this week trying to make a difference for someone . We taught the 6th of 15 New Testament classes (Romans 1-8). We got on to the subject of accountability and the importance of keeping our “matter organized” and how it relates to our physical, mental and spiritual well being. We enjoy the students and the class discussion and the discovery and or rediscovery of the true & powerful doctrine contained therein.

We made a picture album for Brother Flores, a member of the branch, who is under going experimental cancer treatments. It has 50 photos from his birthday party last week and we made an 8X10 photo with a nice frame of him and his wife. We have been so excited to give it to him today at church.

We went on several visits with the Elders this week. One was an emergency visit to a recent convert who is struggling with tobacco. We were able to visit and help her avert the crisis and left her better than we found her. Another visit was to a less active member who has been studying with Jehovah's Witnesses. We found her in such an agitated and confused state of mind she could hardly express herself. However, after an hour of sharing our testimony of how study and prayer can lead us to truth, reading part of the Book of Mormon to her and asking her to study, ponder and pray to know the truth, she also was better than when we found her.

We went on a little side trip to Alice, Texas to escort our musically talented District Leader, Elder Walker, to play the organ and piano for a wedding of a member groom to a non-member bride. It was a very interesting cultural observation as to the level of dress standard of the attendees (guys vs. gals). The ladies, with few exceptions, were all dressed up and looked real nice. White shirts with Levis and boots and Hawaiian shirts, suits and ties were all well represented attire for the guys. The father of the bride wore a western styled tuxedo with a black cowboy hat and a toothless grin. Everybody seemed to be happy so it was a success for them.

Once again we recognize the Lord's hand in our lives and the lives of others. As we do the best we can, He fills in the huge gap left by our inadequacy and makes all the difference in our lives.

We sure love you all, Mom & Dad

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Week of 9th - 15th of February 2009


Dear Family,
We hope everyone had a happy Valentines Day. We went with the Elders on two appointments before we attended a birthday celebration dinner for Brother Flores of the Spanish Branch. It was his 72nd birthday. He has been under going treatments for cancer. There were a lot of friends & family in attendance to celebrate and he was so happy to see everyone; we took pictures of the attendees to make a book for him as a remembrance. Mom had fun learning some Mexican music dance moves and everyone seemed very peasantly surprised so see an "Anglo" missionary so enjoying their music.
Friday evening, after going to two teaching appointments with the missionaries, we attended a Valentine activity sponsored by the 2nd & 3rd wards and got to visit with a number of people. Afterwards, we went to the Weatherston's and played a game of Greed. Thursday, we had some teaching appointments with the Elders,and then had our own celebration with a Texas Roadhouse steak dinner.
Tuesday after the New Testament class we went to Giron's (the Brazilian family), to help them load the truck for their move to Florida. Four Elders joined us so the work went quickly. In spite of moving, Sister Giron made us a home cooked lunch. Yumm!!! They left on Wednesday morning. We will miss them. Tuesday evening we went to an appointment with the Elders and then took them to dinner, where we met a member of the church who owns a construction business. He told me his Ford Trucks outlast the Chevrolets by 3.4 to 1 i.e. he has to buy 3.4 Chevy trucks to last as long as 1 Ford truck. Dad was PROUD and had a grin that went from ear to ear. Mom asked him to send us his data so we can forward it to those interested.

We are doing well and enjoying the warm weather but also we miss the family.

Love y'all, Mom & Dad.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Dear Family,
We have enjoyed the warmer 70+ degree weather this week.
This is what we did this week.
Monday. After cleaning the apartment and shopping, we were invited over to Elder Walker and Valentine's apartment for a fun District wiener roast in their fireplace.
Tuesday. We taught the New Testament Class and learned how to better prepare for partaking of the sacrament. Later, we went with Elders Walker & Valentine to visit Pamela and share the "Hope" talk given by Pres. Uchtdorf. Later, we went Elders Johnson & Bailey to give a lesson to Arthur and Diana (new parents and new investigators). We were able to bear our testimony about the church and its effect on raising our children.
Wednesday. We attended the Zone Conference. Afterwards President and Sister Miller and us went for some Ice Cream. Then President and Dad had a meeting with the Stake Presidency about revitalizing the Ward mission to bring back less active members, share the Gospel and retain new members. They are planning to call some service missionaries to replace some of our functions when we leave in May, since it doesn't seem like there will be a couple coming to replace us.
Thursday, Dad made a form for the Zone Leaders to track post baptism lessons, We took Elder Johnson and Bailey to lunch to get to know them better, including post mission plans and future careers. Later that evening, the missionaries invited several investigators to a showing of "Testaments" at the Stake Center. Dad and Elder Bodily went to pick up a couple of investigators that needed a ride, so it started a little late, but it was effective in bringing the Spirit to them.
Friday. We went with Elders Walker & Valentine to teach Pamela, a long time investigator who is preparing to be baptized on the 15th. Pamela has been reading and studying more of the scriptures than any investigator we know of.
Saturday. We went to a wonderful Brazilian dinner prepared by Sister Giron, who had been cooking almost all day for us. Mom & I stayed a little longer and washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen, while Sister Giron sat down and rested her aching back. They are moving to Naples, Florida on Wednesday. We will miss them.
Sunday, we went to the branch meetings. Thankfully, Ricardo, the one young man, was there and I got to teach him, which means I did not have to sit through the priesthood meeting and listen to the lesson being read in Spanish. We also, attended Sunday School and Relief Society and Priesthood meetings of the 1st Ward. The Priesthood and Relief Society Lesson today was on the sealing power restored by Elijah. Dad thought it was interesting how Moses, Elias and Elijah appeared and restored keys to the bringing of all of us together, or unifying us, to return to Heavenly Father. We decided it is a good idea to be unified with Heavenly Father. After Church Elders Walker and Valentine came over for dinner.

We hope is well with you all.

Love Y'all, Mom & Dad

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Texas State Aquarium


Dear Grand buddies,


I wish I could bring you guys to see this and many other animals here.


I sure miss you! Papa


This cat from Africa can jump 12 feet vertically and catch a bird in flight 50% of his tries!

Teeth!

Week of 25th through 31st January 2009

Dear Family,
Greetings from the land southward by the sea. It has been a bit cooler this week but it is much better than the bitter cold of the northern half of the country. We hope everyone has been able to stay warm and healthy through such cold weather conditions. It looks like Grandma Sparks has the right idea about wintering in Yuma! We have 3 months to enjoy this weather before it really gets too hot, but then we will be on our way to the "land northward".

On Monday, we took four missionaries to the Texas State Aquarium . Lucky for us the weather was nice so we could be outside and see four shows/demonstrations. We all enjoyed the sights and taking photos.

We survived another missionary transfer week and, of course, we are still in Corpus Christi. We miss the missionaries that left to other parts of the Lord's vineyard but enjoy getting to know the new ones that came into this area. In the far "land northward", Elder Michael was transferred to Taylor Mountain Stake in Idaho Falls. The inside story based on the phone call from Sister Humphries the "missionary mom", Elder Michael is now serving as a Zone Leader . She told us that the four Sister Missionaries in his district said Elder Corless was the best District Leader they ever had. It must have been all that good training from his Mother and Sisters that he learned how to respect and properly treat the ladies. Go Elder Corless! (urawsum). She said all the way home after taking them to transfers she kept thinking how to tell us how she felt about Elder Corless and then it came to her: "he is a stripling warrior; you raised a son of Helaman!" Needless to say it made Mom's day!!!

Thursday we were invited to lunch by Elder Van Orden, who just finished his mission, and his parents who came to take him home. They are from Decatur. Illinois and know where Alton is. Bro. Van Orden, retired manufacturing engineer from Caterpiller, knows Corey Wurtzbachler, who Jim, Daniel and I know from working at Visteon. Corey is still working for CAT, but is in India now. Small world. We enjoyed meeting them.

We all is well with everyone.

We love y'all, Mom & Dad