Dear Family and fellow travelers on life's amazing journey,
So, the question of the day is: What do we do on days like today, when it is 9 degrees and the 25 mph wind makes it feel like minus 9? Well, today is p-day, so we do laundry, we do our shopping, we do our cleaning, etc., and we make some visits to members, like any other p-day. We also write our weekly letter to the mission president. There is absolutely no snow to be seen. One of my amusements here is to watch the private snowplows drive about. There are quite a lot of them. They are like sheepherders looking for their sheep. The winter months ahead will yet likely provide opportune moments for them, but at this moment I just have to smile, and wonder what the driver is dreaming about. I don't have to wonder . . . . snowplow drivers must dream about ferocious snow storms, blizzards, ice on the highways . . . . and coming to the rescue of humanity. I am glad we have them, every one.
We have to say that one of the most used gifts from Christmas is the GPS. In these early days here it has been like our Liahona! My sense of direction is fair if I can see the sun, which some days I cannot. Where are the geographical landmarks from which I have been able to orientate myself in the past??? There aren't many here. It is just rolling hills. Vicki has become very adept at entering addresses on the GPS and navigating us to our destinations. After we have been to an address a couple of times, my male sense of where I am comes through pretty well, even though doubts may be expressed by my companion at times. The GPS has not failed us at critical times of searching for such locations as Starbucks, Kohls, JC Penneys, Target, Regency Mall. It has been equally faithful in directing us to Elkhorn to meet with the Hernandez family to teach temple prep lessons. That was our Friday mission.
Elkhorn is a community that lies 50 miles out west of Kenosha. As we left town, we were entertained by the farms, with mostly well-kept barns and silos. Lots of bare trees are in the landscape. Come spring and summer they will be a beautiful sight. Everything is dormant at the moment. Cultivated fields are being spread with natural fertilizer from the animals. In early spring it will be plowed into the dark brown soil. We did not see irrigation pivots anywhere. Maybe the rainfall is sufficient for the crops in this area. In Elkhorn we met Jose and Natalia Hernandez, converts of 6 years, but inactive most of that time. The last year they have re-engaged in their activity. Jose is an elder. They have three children, Alexsandra - 9, Jose - 5, and Eric - 2 1/2. The wind was blowing fiercely as we arrived. It has been most days this past week. They live in a large apartment complex, which they manage. Natalia invited us into their apt. We took off our shoes (seems to be a usual practice here) and began to visit. She speaks very little English. The children were introduced, all of which speak English. Jose joined us after a few minutes. He speaks quite a lot of English. Although many of the members and investigators we meet do speak some English, they are most comfortable in their own language. In the scriptures the Lord has made it clear that His children will hear the gospel in their own tongue. Thus we need to be prepared to assist with that. Jose works at a factory in Elkhorn also. There are lots of factories of various types in this area. Many of the less skilled/educated members work in them. After having them tell us about their lives and conversion, we reviewed with them the first three lessons in the temple prep manual. We will resume next week with lesson 4. Lesson 3 is about worthiness to enter the House of the Lord. We showed them our recommends and talked about what it represents. There were specific questions relating to the Word of Wisdom and the law of chastity. We talked about how sensitive the Holy Ghost is to worthy thoughts and actions. The damaging effects of pornography were discussed. The law of tithing was discussed. Both were very open with us about the past, but seemed to have a great attitude and outlook for the future. They are sincere people who desire the greater blessings Heavenly Father has for his children available only in the temple. We will enjoy working with them. They are sweet people. They committed to be at church meetings on Sunday, and fulfilled that commitment. Pretty impressive when 50 miles of travel one way is required. Interestingly there is a ward in Elkhorn. La familia Hernandez desires to be at the Spanish-speaking branch in Kenosha and makes the drive to do so. :30
There was time Friday evening to continue the search for the "perfect boots." Vicki has been looking for them since before leaving Mesa. She has endured cold feet awaiting them. We can now pronounce the search "completed." We were directed to a mall in Racine, some 12 miles from Kenosha where the boots might be found. Lo and behold, The Boston Store, and upscale department store, had them. Vicki is very content. Having been her shopping companion for the past three weeks, I am profoundly grateful to say the least.
Each day the elders have asked us to accompany them on their teaches of single ladies. We have had multiple sweet experiences, being able to lend our testimony to theirs, or to give an older person's perspective to what has been taught. We have excellent elders serving here.
I decided that we should share a church video with Bud and Pam, our neighbor in the complex. It ended up being returned without being watched. They said their DVD player did not work properly to watch it. We will keep reaching out to them. They probably needed more brownies first.
6:30
Vicki has already become known as "the brownie lady." She makes multiple batches of brownies to take to those we visit. If not brownies, kettle corn. They look forward to her visits. I am the Spanish-speaking "driver" for "the brownie lady."
Tomorrow is our first zone conference experience. We leave for Milwaukee at 6:30, so we can be there in our seats at 8:00 am, for a meeting that begins at 8:30 am. This is the missionary way. Milwaukee is only about 50 minutes away, but we will be going in the go to work traffic. We have our elders riding with us, so we need to support them in the missionary way. I'm not sure senior missionaries need to be there at 8 am for an 8:30 meeting, but we will comply. Do I sound a little like Laman??? Hope not. I don't want to be like Laman. So I will cease such talk!
Enough for this episode. There are always more tales to tell, and they do get better with time. Love to each of you. Thank you for praying for the missionaries, including the old ones serving where it is cold tonight.
Elder & Sister Skinner (Charles & Vicki)
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