Update for February 8, 2020
I have been remiss in my effort to keep my blog up to date. We have experienced some interesting and thought provoking events over the past few weeks.
About 2 weeks ago, Sister Black had an up-close-and-personal meeting with the sidewalk outside our apartment. It caused her already bad knees to provide her even more discomfort. It is difficult for her to stand up from a sitting position these days.
On a positive note, though, Sister Black has been working hard to reduce her pain medicine with the hope in mind that her own body's defenses can assist. She has been taking some pretty heavy doses of pain medicines because of her back issues, but it causes her to be drowsy for much of the day. She hates that, so she is working to reduce dosage in order to stay awake and alert.
I am still working on getting teeth in my mouth. It has been nearly a month since I broke two teeth that support a bridge. One of those teeth can be saved, and we will complete the process next week by putting a permanent crown on it. The other tooth, the only lower molar in my mouth, can't be saved and will have to be removed surgically. We intend to install an implant in the space where the bridge covered a gap. At the same time, I will undergo a bone graft where the broken tooth will be removed and may, at some future date, have an implant installed there too.
In other news, Sister Black's piano lessons are going well. She has 11 progressing students. Most of them are adults who want to be able to help the 2 Wards with whom we work. They are beginning to understand that we only have 10 months left and they need to be prepared to fulfill the music roles that we have been providing them.
We enjoy working with the young missionaries. We love to see their progress as they arrive from the MTC and mature in their understanding of missionary work and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Occasionally, however, one of our tender young missionaries needs to return home earlier than planned. Our experience is that the need to return home is not through any disobedience, but more that the rigors of what they do overpowers their ability to adapt. Our Ward sent out a young man to serve in South America.just a few months ago. He enjoyed the MTC, and he loved the people in the mission where he served. But, he came home last week.
I had the opportunity to visit with him a little. I asked him what his next plans are. He said he will go to school and mature more and then will attempt return to his missionary labors. He will spend time in the temple and spend time working with our young Elders who serve in this ward. The San Jacinto Ward is very loving and inclusive. This little set-back will likely be a positive experience for him.
We all need to be aware that missionaries that return early do so for a variety of reasons. For some of them it is caused by unresolved issues before leaving to serve, but not necessarily because of any worthiness issues. It is not necessary for us to inquire as to the reason for early return. It IS required of all of us to love and support these young people as they strive to overcome whatever issues have arisen.
On the first Friday of each month we do what we call "Faith meets Family". It is when new members and returning members are able to enter the temple and do work for their own ancestors. Last evening we had the pleasure to attend Faith Meets Family Temple baptisms for the dead by individuals who have recently received their own baptism. It was an awesome experience. I was asked to be in charge of one of the Confirmation rooms. We had newly arrived missionaries, newly endowed brethren and mature members participate in those ordinances.
In the baptistry, two newly ordained Priests performed the ordinance of baptism for members who came to do work for their own kindred dead. What a wonderful way to exercise newly conferred authority.
I testify that God lives. That His son, Jesus Christ, the Jehova of the Old Testament, lives and directs His work on the earth. I testify that he still calls prophets just as he did in Old Testament and New Testament times. I testify that through fasting and prayer each of us can enjoy a testimony of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ along with all priesthood keys needed to organize His authorized church for the purpose of bring all into the Kingdom of God. I testify that the missionary effort in which we serve is created to assist all of our brothers and sisters throughout the world to understand just how loving and concerned our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ are for us. I testify that the saving and exalting ordinances are found in the Temples of our God. We gladly invite all to work and gain worthiness to enter the temples and receive these sacred ordinances.
I testify of all these things in the glorious Name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
Our most recent Channelview District photo:
About 2 weeks ago, Sister Black had an up-close-and-personal meeting with the sidewalk outside our apartment. It caused her already bad knees to provide her even more discomfort. It is difficult for her to stand up from a sitting position these days.
On a positive note, though, Sister Black has been working hard to reduce her pain medicine with the hope in mind that her own body's defenses can assist. She has been taking some pretty heavy doses of pain medicines because of her back issues, but it causes her to be drowsy for much of the day. She hates that, so she is working to reduce dosage in order to stay awake and alert.
I am still working on getting teeth in my mouth. It has been nearly a month since I broke two teeth that support a bridge. One of those teeth can be saved, and we will complete the process next week by putting a permanent crown on it. The other tooth, the only lower molar in my mouth, can't be saved and will have to be removed surgically. We intend to install an implant in the space where the bridge covered a gap. At the same time, I will undergo a bone graft where the broken tooth will be removed and may, at some future date, have an implant installed there too.
In other news, Sister Black's piano lessons are going well. She has 11 progressing students. Most of them are adults who want to be able to help the 2 Wards with whom we work. They are beginning to understand that we only have 10 months left and they need to be prepared to fulfill the music roles that we have been providing them.
We enjoy working with the young missionaries. We love to see their progress as they arrive from the MTC and mature in their understanding of missionary work and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Occasionally, however, one of our tender young missionaries needs to return home earlier than planned. Our experience is that the need to return home is not through any disobedience, but more that the rigors of what they do overpowers their ability to adapt. Our Ward sent out a young man to serve in South America.just a few months ago. He enjoyed the MTC, and he loved the people in the mission where he served. But, he came home last week.
I had the opportunity to visit with him a little. I asked him what his next plans are. He said he will go to school and mature more and then will attempt return to his missionary labors. He will spend time in the temple and spend time working with our young Elders who serve in this ward. The San Jacinto Ward is very loving and inclusive. This little set-back will likely be a positive experience for him.
We all need to be aware that missionaries that return early do so for a variety of reasons. For some of them it is caused by unresolved issues before leaving to serve, but not necessarily because of any worthiness issues. It is not necessary for us to inquire as to the reason for early return. It IS required of all of us to love and support these young people as they strive to overcome whatever issues have arisen.
On the first Friday of each month we do what we call "Faith meets Family". It is when new members and returning members are able to enter the temple and do work for their own ancestors. Last evening we had the pleasure to attend Faith Meets Family Temple baptisms for the dead by individuals who have recently received their own baptism. It was an awesome experience. I was asked to be in charge of one of the Confirmation rooms. We had newly arrived missionaries, newly endowed brethren and mature members participate in those ordinances.
In the baptistry, two newly ordained Priests performed the ordinance of baptism for members who came to do work for their own kindred dead. What a wonderful way to exercise newly conferred authority.
I testify that God lives. That His son, Jesus Christ, the Jehova of the Old Testament, lives and directs His work on the earth. I testify that he still calls prophets just as he did in Old Testament and New Testament times. I testify that through fasting and prayer each of us can enjoy a testimony of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ along with all priesthood keys needed to organize His authorized church for the purpose of bring all into the Kingdom of God. I testify that the missionary effort in which we serve is created to assist all of our brothers and sisters throughout the world to understand just how loving and concerned our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ are for us. I testify that the saving and exalting ordinances are found in the Temples of our God. We gladly invite all to work and gain worthiness to enter the temples and receive these sacred ordinances.
I testify of all these things in the glorious Name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
Our most recent Channelview District photo:
Comments
Post a Comment