The leaves are gorgeous right now. With cooler temps this week, they have changed quickly and with the wind that is always present here, they will likely be gone soon. Mother Nature is an amazing artist. Some ares in Chicagoland saw the first snowflakes of the year yesterday. That is the 3rd earliest snow on record. Our high yesterday of 47 was the coldest temp on record for that date. I do hope this is not a sign of an even colder winter to come.
Last week, I had an Elder call me with car troubles. Here is the dialogue - Elder Taggart, our car is really have problems. The brakes are horrible and the steering just turns and turns but it won't turn the wheels. Me - how long has this been going on? Oh, for at least a month. Why didn't you say something weeks ago? Well, we knew you were planning to sell this car as soon as new ones come in. Yes Elders, but I can't sell a car until it is in good condition and more importantly, I always want to make sure the cars are safe for the missionaries. Oh, we'll now we can't drive it. What should we do. After having this car towed, we spent $2,750 to get it running again. I needed a new steering gear, new bushings and cambers, an SIR coil, an alignment, front brakes and a few other things due to them running over something. I do have 9 new cars coming, but I doubt that I will give these Elders one of the new ones.
We had transfers this week, so needless to say, it has been a very busy one. We had 13 new missionaries arrive on Monday but they came in on three different flights. So I was in the transfer fan going to and from the airport from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm just picking them up. And then as soon as I dropped all of the luggage off, I drove to the train station to pick up the first batch who were returning from being in the city. I picked the last group up at 5:30 and at 6:30 we were at the mission home to train the new missionaries. When my head hit the pillow that night, I was out like a light.
We were back up to the church by 7:30 the next morning so that I could set up iPads for the new missionaries and provide training on using Facebook, etc to share the gospel. We finished that day with dinner and a testimony meeting with the 13 missionaries who had completed their mission and would fly out the next day. I must say that it get more difficult with every group who goes home. Having served most of their mission with them, we have so grown to love them that it makes it really hard to say goodbye to them. We are blessed to rub shoulders with some truly amazing young people. We love them so.
Yesterday and today, we have the treat of being able to listen to prophets, seers and revelators share counsel, wisdom and instruction for us to focus on for the next 6 months. I love General Conference. The messages yesterday were Inspiring but they also caused pause to reflect on changes that we need to make to become better disciples of Christ. My personal favorite thing in 6 hours of conference was the MTC choir in the priesthood session last night. The medley of songs they sung touched my heart; seeing them reminded me of the many missionaries we are serving with as well as the many missionaries currently serving from our immediate and extended family. What a privilege and blessing it is to be part of the 88,000 missionaries serving now. Our lives are rich and greatly blessed as we give our hearts and souls to the Lords work.
May your week be filled with the love of Him whom we serve and love.
Brian's family on the carousel at the Lincoln Park zoo.
Beautiful autumn leaves looking out the office windows.
Elder Taggart
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