After 40 years of owning a washing machine and almost that long for a dryer.....going to do laundry in a public place is challenging. It hurts to have to stay dressed instead of laundering ALL the dirty clothes except the PJs you have on. It hurts to have to unlock 4 doors to and four doors from the laundry. ( yes, we are safe....not on lockdown). It hurts to feed quarters into machines to the tune of $10 per week....white load, dark load, towels and sheets. But the biggest kicker is what you come home with. We were folding laundry one night and Elder Taggart holds up a pair of scanty panties and asks, "when did you start wearing these?" We both laughed and laughed. I said he had to take them back and he said I had to take them back and after three rounds, I dropped them in the trash. Our office mate said that was dishonest. I should have taken them back and left them on the counter. Now we are back to the unlocking all the doors and the embarrassment of taking only them back and my feeling no one should be wearing that kind of underwear anyway. So judge me. I don't care. I dropped them in the trash. Now we are keeping score. So far it is two pair of scanty panties, one sock, and a pair of PINK sweats. We return now.....maybe a week later but we return. We have only lost one sock....and no one returned it. Go figure.
A couple of missionary stories.....the mailman came into our office this week and ask me what we did with all of these boxes and letters. I had a chance to tell him about our missionaries, 200 strong by Dec. and how their parents lovingly send boxes regularly. I then redirect them from the office to their Zones. If we don't deliver them in meetings, their Zone leaders pick them up and deliver them. I readdress every letter and sent it on its way. He said that must be a daunting task. I then explained that every six weeks, all the missionaries trade apartments, companions, areas, and it is then my task to try to figure out where they all are. I told him this is my mission and I do it out of love for these young people. He thought we all came from Utah. I assured him we had come from Seattle and the Crooks came from Wyoming. He wanted to know how many hours we worked. I explained it is usually 40-50 hours per week and we work for free and we pay all of our expenses while we live here. His mouth dropped open. I showed him our supply room, told him more about our missionaries, and some about our church. He had once tried to deliver mail in the Chicago Temple and got in the front door but no farther. I told him he could go there if he met a few requirements like baptism, etc. his wife attended a temple open house while he was in the Navy. 15 minutes later, we parted friends. He thinks our system is amazing for getting the mail through. All in a days work.
We are going to a car wash tomorrow to deliver Popsicles , ice cream bars and snacks. Our missionaries in this area have a free car wash once a month. While they wash cars, they invite the owners to come into the cool church building for a tour. There they give them pamphlets, a Book of Mormon, and a discussion. Last month they did 50 and had several referrals from that. I love our mission president and how he allows missionaries to think outside the box and go and do. We think they deserve a cold treat this month so we will go support them.
Home teaching this week Elder Taggart was asked to give a Priesthood blessing. She was amazed at some of the things he said. She had them in other blessings but he told her to refer to those other blessings and "claim the blessings that were hers". A single sister and her mom, both righteous women without Priesthood in their home. What a blessing to have a husband who shares that gift so freely.
I love a husband who has always magnified his callings. When he was a Bishop, he gave his all and tried to be the best Bishop and he was a good one. When he was a Seminary teacher, he threw himself into the study and scriptures and tried to be the best seminary teacher....and he was. When he became a Stake President he realized what a gift it was to love and serve others and he magnified that calling over and over....until he was an amazing Stake President. Today, I helped him buy Windex (50 bottles) and dish soap (50 bottles) and Amoral and rags and buckets. We had 4 loaded baskets at the Dollar Tree and another one at Walmart. Then we put together car cleaning kits for our missionaries who drive "so there is no excuse when I expect their car to be clean." But he also had his secretary mail a box of goodies. Those will be rewards for the cleanest cars. But what about those on bikes? There will be rewards for wearing helmets and the most miles put on a bike. There will also be rewards for those who are using buses.....for the most contacts in a week. Everyone can win. And thus we see, even the missionaries over cars magnifies his calling to bless the lives of others and help them succeed. ( one missionary when asked what the grand prize should be said, " dinner at your house". They are always hungry but they crave home cooked meals.
I love Chicago storms....within reason. Tonight when we left work, clouds began to roll in and soon the sky was black. Angry clouds. We got into our condo just in time. The heavens opened and huge drops of rain pounded for 15 minutes, complete with rolls of thunder and punctuations of lightening. Then for 10 minutes it was a soothing rain. Then it stopped. Humidity gone. Air clean. Bugs chirping their gratitude for a nice bath.
The loaves and the fishes is real. I had a notebook with cards and addresses before I left Utah. I had put a couple of $10 dollar bills in it so I would be prepared until we got settled. We have had 16 birthdays and there are 2 bills left. Bruce didn't even know I had this notebook until this week. We are counting it a mission miracle. Not such a big deal to some but how does the money get there each month when I go to make out the cards for my family? Another tender mercy....we have been retired 6 months and have not touched our retirement account yet. This mission costs more than we planned on but The Lord is helping us to stretch our dollars. We are grateful.
Well, must go. I must clean the bathroom tonight so we can go to a car wash on our p-day. The Church is true. Prayers concerning the missionaries are felt by us every day. You learn to love those you serve. Don't just keep the faith.....share it. One of our frustrations is working with ward leaders who want to do things the way they have always been done. Think outside the box. The Lord rewards those who take chances on people who are "becoming". Be a blessing to the work and not a roadblock. We love you and miss you.
Love,
Sister Taggart
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