Looks like we’ve been here awhile now. We discovered we had become well enough
acquainted with one of the missionaries that we felt some pangs when he
finished his mission and left for home.
He had many plans that he was anxious to set in motion upon his return,
which doubtless made his departure less painful from his perspective. Looking forward as well as back helps. He also noted that being a missionary is an
experience filled with goodbyes – every time your companion is transferred,
even more so when you are transferred and leave the people you got to know and
worked with, prayed for in addition to the loss of your companion with whom
you’ve shared so much. I guess you get at
least partly used to it. We’ll see.
Tonight we made three batches of cookies to bring tomorrow when we visit missionaries
north of Fresno – eleven companionships.
We only spend a few minutes at each stop, to see if there are any issues
with the apartments and encourage the missionaries. We can see that these visits make a big
difference in getting to know the missionaries and improving their apartment
situations in some cases.
Later in the week we’ll start emptying the
shelves of Walmart again in preparation for the next zone conference. We want to get most of the buying done early
so we have a lighter Thanksgiving week. We’ll be sharing the day with our
office companions, the Bradshaws, and some missionaries to Young Single Adult
wards. Other missionaries are usually
invited by ward families.
Love for now,
Len and Kit
The November roses are amazing! I’m seeing why they have the Rose Bowl during CA
winter.
And look at that white iris blooming its heart out. I did some “drive-by shooting” this week —
just through the open window while Len drove us our usual places. I love this rose garden in the
morning light, at a corner on our way to the office.
People also plant roses on either side of a walk so passersby can enjoy the
fragrance. I have seen groups of bushes
with large bold red roses that seriously remind me of the ones that were being
painted red in “Alice in Wonderland”.
The trees at dusk are cypresses and Norfolk Island
Pines. I have never cared much for
cypress trees, but in Fresno they are spectacular mixed among all the other
varieties. I don’t remember seeing the
Norfolk Island Pines (though I must have) except as potted plants. Here, they are huge trees.
