JUNE 1st. In two days we will have been out one year. What a year of learning and growing, adventures and service.
Our week started with a Memorial Program in the park among our new ward family. We love this ward and by the way, the quartet pictured sounded like they had sung together for years. Elder Taggart had the solo verse, of course. We didn't know it at the time but two of our Sisters in Indiana were getting burned out of their apartment. Their upstairs neighbors had the fire in their apartment which necessitated evacuating the whole complex. The Sisters got out with their backpacks and the clothes they were wearing. Members and the Red Cross helped them out the first two days, then they moved in with some other Sister missionaries. (advantage to having multiple sets in each ward.) The fire department put enough water on the roof to cave it in and cave the floor and ceiling below in . The Sisters were able to get all their clothes out but their shoes, furniture and bedding were a total loss. They sent home photos prior to an explanation which freaked a couple of parents out. Oh, you young missionaries!!
I assigned Elders to give 3 Priesthood blessings this week. One was a Sister in Mexico Guadalajara East mission area. She is not a member but her relatives living in Chicago are. I said a prayer of gratitude as I realized the miracle of me being able to locate the e-mail address of the appropriate mission, send the request, and have someone so far away respond. The second blessing was here in Buffalo Grove....so easy to go on Google Earth , locate the hospital, then find the closest Elders in that area. That man has lupus. The third one was a request from Indiana wanting a brother in a hospital here in Chicago to receive a blessing. He caught the West Nile Virus while visiting the Philippines with his wife and was in pretty bad shape. So I was able to connect people to the Priesthood blessings they needed. Amazing, when you think about it. I always thank the Elders for being willing and worthy to use their Priesthood to bless the lives of others. One Elder replied, "Sister Taggart, that's just what we do." I love these Elders.
We had transfers this week. That makes 9 transfers I have survived. We did our training for the 3 new Elders we received on Memorial Day evening. One is from Chile. So I play Where's Waldo for a few days as I try to get mail to the right location.....re-stock the gutted supply shelves.....order a few more name tags....and watch the food we prepared disappear. We had about 100 come into the office after being assigned new companions and areas. As they leave the office it's hugs from the Sisters, a handshake from the Elders and "love you" as they walk out the door. We love them all as if they were our own grandchildren. I also brought home a pile of clothes to be mended. Keeping 200 clothed is a bigger challenge than I ever anticipated but what a blessing to be able to provide this simple service which is huge to those who can't do it for themselves.
I have a jar of colorful pom-poms on my desk (thanks, Ekins) otherwise known as "warm fuzzies." They take one when they pass my desk to put in their pocket to remind them each time they touch it that someone in the office loves them. One Elder said, "Sister Taggart, can I tell you what these mean to us? I took one of these and put it in my pocket and forgot all about it. I wore the pants a couple of times and then threw them in the washer. The next week I wore the pants again and went to a teaching appointment. It was a disaster. I came out of that appointment feeling awful. I stuck my hand in my pocket as we walked away and felt the warm fuzzy---still in the pants pocket. I smiled and immediately felt warm inside because Sister Taggart loved me. You might think they are silly but I'd like to take another one if I could."
We said goodbye to 5 departing Elders which is always bitter sweet. They have been valiant warriors here on the battlefront of good vs not so good. Two years changes them all. Maybe it's changing me too. What in our lives needs to be changed? Who in our lives needs to hear "I love you" and feel warm & fuzzy when they are near us? Reach out and find them this week. It doesn't subtract from who we are but adds so much to our lives.
Love to you all
Sister Taggart
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