December 21, 2014
We are in Chicago, murder capitol of America. What
comes next shouldn't surprise me. My reaction to it should. Last Sunday
we had gone to bed at 10:15, normal for us. Elder Taggart is asleep in 3
minutes--normal for him. (He says it's because he has a clear
conscience) I lay awake and process--the day, the week, the
conversations, the upcoming day. It can take hours. Our window is open
because everyone around us has heat set at 80 degrees and we are like an
oven. (we close our window between 6:15 & 6:30 A.M. when the
marijuana smoker comes on the deck above to smoke her first doobie for
the day) I hear 5 "pops" in a row.
"That's a gun shot."
"No. Probably something else. If it is a gun it's low caliber....probably a 22."
POP...a bit louder.
"That was a gun."
"Maybe that was a gun."
POP....even louder and closer.
Elder Taggart,:Now that was a gun. We will wait a minute and hear sirens."
Me, "No we won't. We are in unincorporated Glenview. The police never come here. Besides who will call them?"
"Somebody will. Go to sleep."
And he does. I lay awake thinking it was really close, our window is open, and WE HAVE BECOME CHICAGOANS!!!!!
In
Relief Society the president matter-of-factly asks if anyone can feed
Sister _________'s birds and cats while she is in the recovery center
after surgery. "The birds are her last connection to her son who was
shot awhile back so we need to keep them alive." I will never get used
to the violence here. Ho-hum, it's just part of their lives.
This week has tested me in many ways.
#
1 The quilt will not be done before Christmas. My body gave out. After
70 hours of appliquéing hands and skyline and words, then putting it
together and trying to tie and bind a king-sized quilt in 2 12 hour
days, my hands,shoulders,neck and back screamed--ENOUGH!!! The President
was amazed I just stopped before it was done but I can hardly lift my
arm to use the mouse of the computer. 50 hours a week at the office,
then 70 hours in 3 weeks (after hours) on this quilt were too much. And
guess what.....life goes on. I will finish it before I go home, at my
pace. The panic, "Transfers are tomorrow, can you fit 8 more hands on?"
let me know the President just doesn't "get it." Once it is bound and
tied and full of 224 hands, you can't keep appliquéing on more hands
each transfer. The quilt is full. Enough is enough.
# 2 Transfers
on top of the quilt on top of all my sub-for-Santa on top of my day job
have nearly buried me this week. Packages at Christmas bury me 94 on
Mon--36 on Tues--20 on Wed--40 on Thurs--43 on Friday. We have to log
them, label them by zone, then shelve them. We mingled our 49 boxes for
missionaries who never get anything and voila--it's Christmas. Two
Elders, different days, literally grabbed the box with their name on it,
jumped up and down, and whooped "I GOT A BOX. IT HAS MY NAME ON IT."
That made it all worth it. Inside they would find candy, a gift card,
fleece scarf, popcorn ball, chapstick, 2 ties, 2 pr. of dress socks, a
journal, a nice pen, snacks and a flashlight. Not extravagant but a box
full of surprizes just for them, thanks to many donors.
So when
two moms call and say, "did my son get his box?" I want to laugh. Their
son gets a box monthly and like I know, once I leave the office, who got
a box that day. We got 233 boxes in the mail this week and literally
hundreds of letters to be readdressed. I just process and shelve (with
help from my companion and the Abbotts this week) I don't memorize who
got what. So transfers add a luncheon and training on Tues, Elder
Taggart picking up luggage at the airport and picking up missionaries
from the train station. Dinner and testimony meeting Tues. night for the
outgoing 11, with tears. We have loved these missionaries for over a
year and a half now and we hate to see them go. (the Utah ones plan
parties at our new house when we get home!)
# 3 Thursday and
Friday of this same exhausting transfer week we have Zone Christmas
lunches, party, and temple trip. Sister Abbott and I are at the mission
home setting up, cooking, doing dishes, then a fast turn around when the
first group of 24 leaves for the temple and the group of 24 comes from
the temple for lunch. So we clear off tables fast, set up fast, and fix
and feed the next 24. We do this two days in a row for 4 Zones--2 hours
in the office--3 hours at the mission home--4 hours at the office. (And
why isn't the quilt done?) I have felt tired before but now I understand
complete exhaustion. But we have p-day on Saturday....right???
#
4 We go to a baptism on our p-day for a referral. She is a mother of 3,
dared to put her name into the referral system for a Book of Mormon and
now she is a Mormon. She looked so radiant and beautiful as she came
out of the baptismal font. We were there with 10 other missionaries who
serve in Westchester. We met Annette Bowen's (Bellevue South Stake)
brother who lives there but will soon move back to Issaquah. He bought a
log house on a river there....our dream.
We hurry from there to the office so I can get a jump start on the week next week. Why am I working on my p-day??
#
5 How many missionaries who love us and give us thank you notes amazes
me. Many moms trained their sons and daughters to express gratitude and
some days that is the only thing that keeps us going. These young
missionaries are amazing. They are fearless. But they express a need for
the hugs and encouragement we give. They express gratitude for our long
hours of service to them. They thank us for our sacrifice. Their
encouragement reminds me I too can do hard things and though I don't
have their youth, I still have the promise: Matt. 11:28-30 "Come unto
me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in
heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and
my burden is light."
So we keep on keeping on. We hope each of
you have a Merry Christmas with family. Remember the reason for the
season. We love each of you and pray for you daily.
Sister Taggart
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