Did your mother ever look at you with the look of exasperation and say "What in the name of Sam Hill were you doing?" Mine did. I wondered for years who Sam Hill was and what he had done to put him on my mother's wrath list. Then as I studied in school, I wondered if Sam Hill may be a location rather than a person--like Bunker's Hill. This week, with my mother long gone, I made the discovery that solved the mystery. I turned on my computer to assign referrals and there he was----Sam Hill. He is a real live person and he lives in Chicago. Won't he be surprised when two missionaries show up at his door!!! I also had Ray Charles show up on my referrals in Chicago. I live in a real happening city.
I had an Elder call in a panic this week. One of his members had a friend who needed a blessing from the missionaries in......you guessed it.....Colombia. I felt confident until I Google Earthed the country of Colombia. It looks smaller on a world map. It was a country full of jungle and mountains and people who live very close together in the cities. I called our resident Elder who is from Bogata,Colombia----one of my favorites. He calmed my troubled heart. He described the missions in his country and assured me the Cali Colombia Mission would be the one I needed. I put that name in the Church's search engine and voila--Elders assigned to give a Priesthood blessing in a different country that same day. The next day I was asked by a different Elder to do the same thing in Mexico--and I did. One year ago I would have told you that was impossible. Now I just go and do---creatively sometimes--but do nonetheless.
We need big squeegies in Chicago. We have had sunshine, rain, sunshine and things are a melted mess. Not to worry...another Polar Vortex in on it's way. A week of below 0, can hardly wait.
Valentine mail and packages are done. It never ceases to amaze me what mothers send and what they are willing to pay to send it. I have seen every love nickname in the book on the outside of envelopes and boxes. Please people--we are running a mission here, not a dating game. I let Jenna Cat go. I let the lip marks go. I let 100 "I love you" go. I got stumped on "Megan Bird." Why would you address it to Sister Megan Bird?? How am I supposed to know?? I researched our mission list of 212 missionaries. We have 5 Megan's so I started phoning them. The first one laughed and said no one would dare call her Megan Bird and she didn't know the Elder who sent it. #2 didn't know the sender either. #3 thought maybe her companion might have known that Elder in the MTC.(desperate for mail, I say. Your companion's name isn't Megan.)
The fourth Megan is spelled Meagan so she knew it wasn't for her. The 5th Megan laughed and said she thought it should be sent back to the sender. As a last resort, I called the Chicago West Mission. Yes, Megan Bird is one of theirs and that is her real name!! Don't I feel dumb???
An excited Elder called me. He had been teaching a girl on Facebook. She is from Arizona. She went to the Gilbert Temple open house and "felt something". Could I find missionaries in Tempe, Arizona to go teach her? That is what I do.....with pleasure.
Don't get me wrong. I have had my frustrations this week.
* We picked up the President's car from the auto repair shop. (He has had 2 accidents) I was following Elder Taggart out of Arlington Heights and he got lost in the fog and rain. Not a happy time for me.
* I called the Distribution Center to find out where my Large Print Scripture order from Nov. 6 was. Somebody back there had cancelled my order!!! Grrrrrrr
* I had 48 new referrals to assign on a day Elder Taggart needed me to help him pick up 4 new Toyotas. I stayed behind this time and the Abbotts and Crooks went with him.
* I only had 4 pair of slacks to mend on my p-day this week. That has gone down since they don't ride bikes in the winter.
* Elder Taggart has been fighting a cold all week.(Thanks Elder Crook for bringing it into the office and sharing.)
* We survived our first audit. My records for supplies weren't as bad as I felt they might be.
Mostly we are good. We reached Alma 42 in the Book of Mormon this week in our companion scripture study. (we steal time in the evenings for this) We are learning many new things. We attended the baptism for 2 new members in the 1st ward tonight. I had a nice visit with my sister, Annette on her birthday. We talked to Brian, Billie and family for FHE. Sadie refers to us as the "Grandpa and Grandma in the picture." We love hearing from our children and families and friends.
My faith is strong that we will out-live this winter! We drove past Beck Lake and our summer hiking trail...the lake is still frozen but our hope is bright that it will thaw eventually. We are grateful for this opportunity together. It has deepened our love of each other and our love of our Savior.
Have a great week. Make it even greater by serving someone outside your home.
Love,
Sister Taggart
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