We found out today that we will spend a few days in Samara before we go to Saratov which is fine with us. Sister Sartori, the mission presidents wife, was in town this week because her 97-year-old mother died and she flew home for the funeral. She is a great lady and it was nice to meet her for a few minutes. We are so impressed by the sacrifices these senior couples make so that they can serve the Lord. It is also incredible to see the wide variety of opportunities to serve...I think I may have already mentioned that.
One of the wives was unable to walk for ten years - she was on crutches and could barely stand to sit for an hour of church. She felt inspired to ask her doctor for another referral - which she had already done numerous times - and this surgeon looked at her MRI and said that he could take away 75% of her constant pain. She agreed and now takes very little pain medication and is one her way to New Zealand - at least her and her husband will be when they get their visas. New Zealand is one of the most difficult countries to get a visa for. They have government sponsored health care and are very careful who can come in to their country.
Numerous stories of new grandchildren, sick kids, aged parents, financial problems, etc. One of them quoted Elder Holland as saying "The Lord can take better care of your families than you can." As senior missionaries we lean heavily on our faith in the grace of our Savior as he blesses us and our families. We're counting on it!
Just found out today that next week 128 senior missionaries are arriving - our group was the largest until next week. Senior missionaries numbers have increased 27 per cent since the church started helping with housing costs a year or so ago. Even with that help some of the missions still cost close to $4,000 a month. What some of you reading this may not know is that all LDS missionaries pay their own way. The church pays the cost of travel to and from the various countries but the young missionaries as well as the senior couples pay the monthly costs.
This week we had training from S&I (Seminaries and Institutes). For those of you who don't know our church provide religious education opportunities for high school and college-age young people. High school kids have a chance to attend religion classes early in the morning before school and college young adults usually have an Institute of Religion at a college nearby. We will be working in that program which is what much of our previous experience has been. The church has excellent scripture based curriculum as well as classes such as marriage, leadership, how to study scriptures, etc. Our class received the first copies of a new Gospel Teaching and Learning manual. It is really an incredible instruction manual on how to teach scripture based classed. We spent four hours discussing and teaching Luke 5:1-11. I know those verses better than I ever have! I like to teach by asking questions and this new manual encourages that. We had two hours of training on how to ask questions to get students to think and dig deeper into the meaning of scripture. Some of you may not think this would be exciting but Sherry and I sure do!
One of the blessings of a mission is that you have the time and structure to study together. We have the scriptures and new manuals and techniques to study more in depth than we ever have. We're very excited about that chance. It was funny to watch some of the couples who have not worked together much in the past learn to do so - specifically in a teaching situation. Sherry and I have always been each others best friends so being together 24/7 is A-OK with us! I can think of no greater blessing than to be with my sweetheart all the time. We set a goal to listen to each other more. You know how one of us has a tendency to talk all the time...?
It's Thurday, it's my 63rd birthday and in less than a week we'll be in Russia. Life is good!
So, uh...you're gonna come back with all of this new-found knowledge & teach us here in HumCo again, right? :P
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