Sunday, March 29, 2009

Week of 23-29 of March 2009


Dear Family,
Yesterday we enjoyed a three zone Conference with an Area Authority, Elder Richardson. He is a gentle, spiritual and impressive man, who is a professor at the Pan American University. The talks were edifying as we learned more about how the Lord works with us and what we can do better. Elder Richardson presented “Mobilizing the Ward Mission”, which will better organize our efforts to contact and teach less actives, recent converts and non-members. This “mobilization” has been in the works for a few months and ready to be fully implemented. The local leaders and the missionaries are all enthusiastic and ready to go with it. Also, we got to visit several missionaries who formerly were in Corpus Christi.
Grandpa Corless is better and back home from the hospital, but is still struggling a bit trying to keep things straight in his mind and his memory. However, he said he is getting better each day. I am thankful for Joel and Geri and home teachers, who are keeping track of him everyday.
It is hard to believe that there is only a month left in our mission. One month from today is a zone conference and the next day we plan to journey home via Denver to see three little precious grand daughters namely Abby, Mia, and Sarah, and, of course, the parents Ryan & Rachel and Dan & Lara. The next leg of our journey will take us to Alton, Illinois to see Adam, Peter, David Jr., Jana and David, and to meet Mary Amelia. We plan to participate in the blessing of little Mary Amelia on Sunday the 10th of May. The final leg of our journey will take us to Michigan to see the rest of the grandbuddies and to have a big party, just like Joshy said. (We have missed them all so.)
We are so grateful for the phone calls, photos and Rachel's Easter package; they really help us feel “a part of” instead of “apart from” you. Thank you!!!
Congratulations to Rachel & Ryan for their “great expectation” due on the 11th of November. Mia will have a friend specially chosen by Heavenly Father. May all go well.
Love y'all,
Mom & Dad; Nonna & Papa;

Sunday, March 22, 2009

16th-22nd March 2009


Dear Family,
Last weeks cold rain was replaced with beautiful warm and sunny weather.
In the Tuesday morning New Testament class, Mom taught about the ancient temple ceremonies and how they related to the the Plan of Salvation, including the the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the High Priest, whose sacrifice was himself, in place of the ceremonial animals.
On Friday, all six of the Senior couples in the mission gathered for a dinner hosted by President & Sister Miller at the Mission Home. One couple, the Ott's are new so it was the first time we met them. He played Major League baseball for a few years. They were very excited to meet us because the other couples had been telling them, specially to Sis. Ott, ''we can't wait until you meet the Corless'es” because they figured she and Mom would have a 'blast” together. They were right. They both talked and laughed, and probably could have kept on doing it all night. Yet we all mingled and had a good time socializing and sharing stories, late into the evening. We stayed in McAllen overnight and got back to Corpus Christi, Saturday, in the afternoon.
Saturday, Grandpa Corless was admitted into the hospital in Rupert, Idaho, where they are trying to figure out why he became disoriented. He is not suffering from pain, but his mind is playing tricks on him. So far there is no official word as to why, but Geri and Joel suspect a new prescription medicine for his Parkinson's disease may be at the root of this problem. I think that makes sense since Parkinson's is neurological disease and the prescription medicine is likely to have some effect on his nervous system.
We hope all is well with everyone.
Love y'all, Mom & Dad

Monday, March 16, 2009

HubbleSite - Theater

Dear Family,
You got to try this one! It is awesome and in every way out of this world!
HubbleSite - Movie Theater

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Week of 9-15 of March 2009


Dear Family,
Spring in South Texas has brought 70-80 degree warm and sunny weather early in the week to rain and 40-50 degree cold for the later part of week. It has been very dry in Corpus Christi so the rain is a very welcome change.
We have had the opportunity to cross paths with few more South Texans this week. I hope our visits have left them better, at least in some small way, than we found them. It is amazing how many problems people can get themselves into by not following the Lord's plan, but it just as amazing how living the Lord's commandments can dissolve the seemingly insurmountable problems. For instance, we see the delight of a new convert as she gains a greater understanding from studying the scriptures in the light of the restored gospel. A sister, who is grieving from the death of her husband, is finding comfort and peace in her heart. Another sister, who has been clean from alcohol and drugs for several months, enjoys the missionary visits and wants to be baptized, but struggles with lack of support from her family. Another sister is finding clear direction with light and peace in a world full of darkness and confusion as she is accepting Jesus Christ into her life. However we are convinced we are being blessed more than we are blessing others.
We are truly the history hungry hounds. Our recent edification comes from the study of ancient temples through some Hugh Nibley book and CDs. It appears that most all of the activities of civilization has root in the ancient temples. At the time of Abraham, the Egyptians, in their preoccupation with the afterlife, had virtually a complete working model of the temple and ceremonies, but lacked the priesthood. There is no substitute for the real thing.
Today we had Bishop Smith and family for dinner. Both Bishop and sister Smith have Idaho roots. Mom thoroughly enjoyed their daughter as they set the table and seasoned the pasta together. We miss our little grandbuddies.
Thanks for your calls.
Love y'all, Mom & Dad

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Week of March 1st -7th 2009

Dear Family,
The top story for the week: Welcome to little Mary Amelia! Congratulations David & Jana on the fruits of their labor in bringing this 8 pound 3 ounce little angel to be with us. What a blessing she is to all of us. Mary is the 7th granddaughter and 18th grandchild that our family has been blessed with.
This week has been full of activity. We completed the inspection of the 14 missionary apartments in the two zones and emailed our “Matter Organized” report back to the Mission Office. We visited with 32 of the 38 total missionaries in the two zones. Mom filled a little cup with Easter candy for each missionary. It really is a blessing to us to be associated with such wonderful, high caliber, young people as these dedicated missionaries are.
Wednesday evening we received a call from a Brother and Sister in Idaho Falls where Michael and his companion had just taught a lesson to their niece. They were so impressed with them that they had to call and tells us how great missionaries they are. Needless to say we were so pleased that Michael has been working hard and using his talents to further the Lord's work. Once again, we were reminded how blessed we are to the parents of all you children. You inspire us!
Tuesday we taught the 8th of 15 New Testament Classes. We are in the last two months of our adventure in Corpus Christi and the time has kicked into hyper-drive and seems to be rocketing by at warp speed.
Love y'all. Mom & Dad

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Week of February 21-28

Dear Family,
Just as foretold, there is never a dull moment in this old world as we prepare for the Second Coming.
Wednesday evening, after interviews, (Mission) President and Sister Miller, invited (Stake) President and Sister Ratliffe, CES Administrator Brother and Sister King and us to dinner. We all had a great time. The men sat at one end of the table and the ladies sat at the other end; we did not interrupt eachother at all, but had a wonderful evening just getting to know one another better. The ladies in tune with their great taste, ordered the food, including the dessert, and it was great! We were specially pleased that sister King, who had been ill for a time, came. We had stopped by her house the day before to encourage her to come and Mom's hugs seemed to make the difference. She not only was there but it was obvious that it did her good to get out and socialize a little.

We went on several appointments with the Elders this week and met some very interesting people. Everyone has a story, complete with challenges and triumphs, and everyone of them could use the healing power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We enjoy working with these missionaries. The association with them in this great work is a real blessing to us.

Sunday, we attended the Conference Broadcast for Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Bishop Edgely of the presiding Bishopric, Brother Costa (2nd Counselor in SS Presidency), Elder Quentin L. Cook and President Uchtdorf - all edified us. We brought a less active member. Afterwards, we went to a few appointments with different sets of elders, visited two less active members and made a couple of future dinner appointments with them. We hurried home and made our "Sunday dinner" for 2 other Elders who needed a dinner appointment of their own. :)

It is like Mom says, "Our mission title is 'one hug at at time'."

I hope all is well with all of you, Thank you for the calls; we really enjoy hearing from you.

Love y'all, Mom & Dad