Another week has flown by. We seem to be settled and when the heated days come, it's hot and humid but it doesn't phase me like it did last year.
I had a missionary call this week. He needed supplies. "I need 1/2 case of Books of Mormon, a large print Book of in Spanish, some pass-along cards and a large pizza with pepperoni." I think the missionaries are comfortable with us.
I sent a referral to Gary, Indiana---the industrial section. He wanted the Elders to come to his place of work. When I went on Google Earth and saw the area---I said a prayer. The uneasiness went away and I assigned the Elders in that area to visit Jonathan. I always follow up with a phone call when it is a phoned in referral. One Elder called me later. "Sister Taggart, thanks for that referral. He is awesome. He just finished reading the Koran and is excited to read the Book of Mormon. He thought Moroni's promise was cool. (Moroni 10:4-5) He wants to meet with us next week. Thanks so much." I just deliver the message or make the assignment.
Our water aerobics each evening seem to be working. A year ago we were too tired to do anything but stare at the wall after office hours.
I have polled more than 50 missionaries this past week about the advantages of having Senior missionaries to serve with. They unanimously love all of the 22 old missionaries. The top 3 reasons are #1 we have experience #2 we can reach people they can't and #3 they love the safety net of "grandparent figures" close who love them and are here to help them. Many of these missionaries have grandparents who served missions and helped, by example, them want to serve too. So although we missed Kalayna's baptism in Texas yesterday, we are where we need to be. She had loving parents, Grandma Marsha, an aunt and uncle, cousins, and friends to support her.
My miracle this week was an irritant at first. I got a call from one of our Sister missionaries, "Could you find the mission for this address in Virginia so when our investigator and her 2 kids arrive this evening, the missionaries there can help her unload her truck?" I was irritated because it was 3:30 in Chicago which means it's 4:30 in Virginia. Why do they always wait until the last minute for these requests??? There are 2 Virginia missions. I tell her I'll try. Only a 19 year old thinks an hour's notice allows plenty of time to arrange a moving crew. I call the Richmond Mission office and get an answering machine....meaning they are gone for the day. I call the Chesapeake Mission, they assure me it is not in their mission but is in the Wash. DC South mission. By the time I locate their number (online) and call, the Wash DC office has closed too.l call the Sister back and apologize. Too little too late. She is still in phone contact with her investigator. The next morning I get a phone call from this Sister missionary again. There had been a horrible accident on the Interstate highway and her investigator had to pull off and get a hotel. Did I still have the Wash DC South phone number? When this young mother pulled into her apartment in Fredericksburg, VA, there were 4 Elders there who unloaded her truck in no time. Then 2 Sister missionaries came to tell her they lived in that same complex and they would be happy to help her continue teaching her. Again, Sister _____ thanked me, like I had done something special. God is in the details and knows the needs of each one of His children.
My referral maps were down all week. I talked back and forth with the referral center in Provo at least 10 times. They know me by name. I hate being a pioneer on this new system. Trail blazing on a computer and Ipads is not my idea of a good time! Someday my grandchildren will be able to say, "My grandma was one of 30 to pioneer this program for missionary work." Or not. We just finished doing a Skype fireside for the Renton Washington Stake that was interactive and fun. So good to see so many of the people we love and miss. Who thought we would be sitting in Chicago speaking to a congregation in Seattle? I never did.
Advice for the week...write a thank you note for someone who was a pioneer for you. A friend, a teacher, a parent, a sibling.....usually the eldest sibling. It is hard being a pioneer but there is still such a need in so many areas. Have a great week and know you are loved by your Heavenly Father.
Sister Taggart
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