It's a Small, Small World!

During dinner last night we sat across from a lovely couple who have been called to the MTC in England, where he will serve as a counselor to the President. The usual questions were asked . . . "where are you going?" "Where are you from?" "Where did you work." He looked familiar, but I couldn't figure out why. Turns out, this nice Elder Jim Williams has a younger brother named John in St. George who retired a couple of years ago as the Executive Director of the Five County Association of Governments!!!

It’s a small world, after all . . . It’s a small world, after all . . . It’s a small world, after all . . . It’s a small, small world!

Saying Goodbye (Again)

It is an interesting agenda here at the MTC. For the first week, all of us studied together and learned the lessons of "Preach My Gospel" . . . then a portion of the senior missionaries left for their assignments. In the second week, those of us still left in our large class, learned about the Church Education System, and in our case, the Perpetual Education Fund . . . then most of the remaining senior missionaries left for their assignments, leaving behind . . . well, US! It seems we were the only senior couple in our class of 24 here at the MTC for a 3rd week when we traveled to Salt Lake City to tour Welfare Square and learn what we need to know to help those living in poverty in our mission field. Since we are not the only senior couple serving in a 3rd world country, we were a bit mystified why we were the only couple staying for an additional week.

The senior missionaries are amazing . . . and in a matter of a few days, we became friends through sharing the experience of being in the MTC together. Elder and Sister Moon left on Friday of the first week for Rumania - their fourth mission for the church. Elder and Sister Tamo'ua (top right) are serving in their homeland of Tonga. He and his patient, loving wife have been married for 40 years, but he joined the church only five years ago. . . and wept openly as he testified of his love for the gospel and how sorry he was that he had wasted 4 decades being resistant to his sweet wife's encouragement to listen to the missionaries. Elder and Sister Montgomery (top left)are serving at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Honolulu where she will wear muumuu's and he will wear Hawaiian shirts and sandals while helping to design new buildings. Sister Lewis (green shirt) lost her husband two years ago, so decided to submit her papers. She was called to serve in South Carolina. Sister Beesley (blue shirt), who immigrated from Germany as a teenager, has now returned to her homeland where she is serving in the mission office in Frankfurt. Elder and Sister Wright (learning the computer) left their beautiful big home in Mesa to travel halfway around the world to serve the people of Micronesia / Guam.

Our testimonies have been strengthened and our hearts touched through our brief association with these wonderful couples.

One sad statistic we have heard numerous times since entering the MTC is that, worldwide, only 20% of the requests for missionary couples, are actually fulfilled. To paraphrase President Thomas S. Monson in the October 2010 General Conference, "we need many . . . MANY more senior couples." Please join us in this important work of the Lord providing those skills and talents only YOU can give!!!

Get Ready, West Indies . . . Here We Come!

We were just finishing up two days of training at the MTC on the Church’s employment centers / Career Workshops. The whole time we were next door to several classes of missionaries learning to speak French in preparation for their service around the world.

During a break in our training, we had the opportunity to visit with them and to answer the “standard” question around here . . . “where are you going, Sister Sappington?”

My answer evoked a whoop and a big smile from these four young men . . . (from left) Elder Garlick from Alpine, Utah; Elder Makanani from Long Beach, California – both who entered the MTC yesterday; Elder Yockey from Tullahoma, Tennessee and Elder Harris from Reno, Nevada (the great-grandson of Glenn Judd, a former member of our ward in Bloomington) – both who have been language learners for more than 5 weeks. (Note . . . Elder Sappington served in Tullahoma, Tennessee at the very same age as these four elders).

They will all be serving in Martinique, but we promised these young elders we would be waiting for them in the West Indies.

This is My Church

On Monday, we toured Welfare Square as part of our Welfare and Humanitarian Service training. I am so very proud to be a member of a church which - through the inspiration of the Lord - has re-enthroned work as a ruling principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Church’s welfare program - a model of efficiency throughout the world which has been viewed by kings and presidents - was implemented in 1936, during the Great Depression, when unemployment rates nationwide ranged from 50 - 70% with a guiding principle which allows men and women the opportunity to earn - by the sweat of their brow - what they need for themselves and their families.

Today, the 13-acre Welfare Square includes a dairy, wet pack cannery, home storage center, bakery, employment center, Deseret Industries store and a testing laboratory to guarantee quality and safety - and they ship millions of pounds annually of clothing, household goods and other materials to meet the needs of those in poverty or distress all over the world.

Here are some of the statistics surrounding these amazing programs:

* The Bishops’ Storehouse produces - in-house - 60% of the products needed “to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide for the widow, dry the tear of the orphan, and to comfort the afflicted, whether in this church, or in any other - or in no church at all - wherever he finds them" (Joseph Smith, 1842).

* The other 40% of all that is needed for this purpose is purchased with tithing and fast offering funds.

* The Church has been one of the first on-the-scene to more than 200 disasters in 84 countries in the past decade - providing food, funds and volunteers - to help in the recovery of nations

* The Church owns - and 3 times a day milks - more than 4800 head of cows

* The Church provides most of the food used by Salt Lake Catholic Services in their soup kitchen

* The Church Bakery creates almost 3000 loaves of bread a day for distribution to 30 non-profit organizations around the Salt Lake Valley

* The Church, in partnership with BYU, created Atmit, a creamy food supplement used to fight famine and severe malnourishment in children and adults in Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan, South Africa, Haiti, Gaza, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Niger. Made from rolled oats, powdered milk, powdered sugar, vitamins and minerals, it is easily digestible, high in protein and calorie content - and has saved the lives of MILLIONS of children around the world.

* The Church currently has 16 million pounds of wheat in a grain silo on Welfare Square, which is refreshed every five years

According to D&C 82:18, “And all this for the benefit of the church of the living God, that every man may improve upon his talent, that every man may gain other talents, yea, even an hundred fold” that each may learn, grow and reach the full measure of their creation.

I am so pleased to be able to say, “this is my church!!!”

Change, Change and More Change

It is said, "the joy of life consists in the exercise of one's energies, continual growth, the enjoyment of every new experience . . . and constant change!"

When talking to senior couples who have served missions before us, we have been counseled to learn - quickly and above everything else - to “go with the flow,” “roll with the punches,” and accept change as inevitable. They were not wrong because change has, so far, been the operative word!!!!

In the beginning, we were called to the Jamaica Kingston Mission . . . then 4 days later, we received a phone call from the Missionary Department saying there had been a mistake and we were actually being called to the West Indies.

We were told we would be at the MTC for a total of two weeks before we flew out to our mission field. We have now been at the MTC for three weeks. Thankfully, the training has been absolutely WONDERFUL.

We were told we would fly out of Salt Lake City to New York on Monday, January 17 . . . catch a “red eye” arriving in Georgetown, Guyana on Tuesday, January 18. One of the PEF trainers told us on Thursday our plans had been changed. We are still leaving from Salt Lake on Monday, January 17 . . . but we are flying to Dallas, then on to the Dominican Republic for 4 more days of PEF training (now a total of nearly 4 weeks of training).

We have been telling everyone for weeks we would be living in Linden, Guyana . . . but as of Thursday, it appears we are being reassigned to Trinidad where we will be working in the mission office for what we hope will be a short time. In addition, we will also be traveling to Guyana from time-to-time to make contact with local leaders to help establish the PEF program (unless, of course, the brethren - who we have been told have their eyes focused on the future of Guyana - change our assignment again).

But D&C 31:11 states . . . "it shall be given you by the Comforter what you shall do and whither you shall go" so despite all these changes, we are confident we are in good hands!!!

NOTE: Ed took the picture of the Salt Lake Temple during one of our meetings on the 8th floor of the Church Office Building.

Behold, the Army of Helaman (Alma 53:20-21)

The Provo Missionary Training Center is a world unto itself! The largest of 16 MTC’s around the globe, the facility houses a mix of 2500 young and senior missionaries. They are tall and short, black and white (and every color in between), even some who are blind, deaf or in wheelchairs, but all are handsome young men and beautiful young women, eager to “invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.”

Our class of 24 senior missionary couples and 3 single sisters are from everywhere in the United States and will soon be traveling to all parts of the world - Cambodia, Tonga, South Korea, Micronesia, Samoa, Canada, Hawaii, Argentina, Rumania, California, Virginia, South Carolina and of course, the West Indies. They are retired bankers, nurses, accountants; state, federal or church employees; business people, school teachers - even a sheep herder - all who have left family, homes and other interests behind for at least a year to serve the Lord.

The winter weather is bitter cold and our apartment is small - probably less than 400 square feet - but we are pleased to be here and housed in the Jacob Hamblin Building (an appropriate choice since we are from St. George), one of 19 buildings on the MTC campus with another large addition currently under construction. It is a "total immersion" experience, with classes all day, devotionals and various training meetings in the evenings. We are falling into bed every night grateful for the experience, but exhausted.

Our travel plans are in limbo at the moment, but last we heard, we are flying to the Dominican Republic for another 4 days of training on PEF on Monday, January 17. When we finally arrive in the West Indies, we will be weary but eager for the opportunity to serve the Lord.

Home is Where the Heart ... and the Snow ... Is!!!

On Monday, January 3, residents of Bloomington and all the other communities around St. George awoke to 2-inches of snow. People in Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York and other more northern communities will ask "so what?" but in St. George "white stuff" is rare (the last time was in 2008 . . . but before that, it was probably 5-7 years) and there is no snow removal equipment in any local municipalities or in the county. It has been snowing and freeeeeeeeezing all the time we have been here at the MTC, but snow in St. George has occurred only 3-4 times in the entire 32 years we have lived there. Although I am suffering from the cold, perhaps snow in St. George is the Lord’s way of reminding me just to stop complaining and “bloom where I am planted.”

Happy Birthday, Elder Ed

It is New Years Eve 2010 . . . and, Elder Ed’s 70^th birthday, the first of two he will celebrate as a senior missionary in the West Indies. Elder and Sister Moon, Elder and Sister Montgomery and Elder and Sister Tamo'ua provided cookies, candy and a veggie tray . . . a complete and happy surprise to Elder Ed, who admitted to his class mates, "when I was on my first mission in Kentucky, I never could have imagined living 70 years!"

On Saturday - still celebrating on our first Preparation Day - we left the MTC to do laundry and run errands . . . then ended the day at dinner with Michael and Tara, Kelly and Gary, Whitney, my friend Jan Gardner, and my cousin Kathy Owen Beeder.

Speaking of senior missionaries, in a welcome letter our MTC President noted: "Of you, Elder and Sister Sappington, President Ezra Taft Benson has said, 'You are able to perform missionary service in ways our younger missionaries cannot. What an example and a blessing it is to a family's posterity when grandparents serve missions. Most senior missionaries who go are strengthened and revitalized by missionary service; many are sanctified and feel the joy of bringing others to the knowledge of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ'."

Everyone seemed to enjoy our time together . . . at least until we went outside after dinner where it was freeeeeeezing!!! In fact, it was so cold, everyone ran for their cars, taking no time for hugs and kisses.

Although Elder Ed complains of the cold and how it affects his "poor old body" he is enthused about the next 18 months when we will be serving the Lord in the tropical heat of the West Indies.

Saying Goodbye

The week before Christmas was a very emotional seven days of saying goodbye to friends and family members. We enjoyed dinner with Merrill and Melinda Barney, as well as with Rex and Vicki Lewis. We also had many people stop by the house to wish us the best. Kaytee was with us when we spoke in Sacrament meeting on Sunday, December 19 and wept openly as people shared their feelings about us leaving. Allysa and Stacy stopped by - along with their kids and boyfriends - to give us hugs and kisses and to collect food from our pantry and freezer.

A day or so before Christmas we drove to Ogden for two delightful nights with Kelly, Gary and Whitney. We ate, played games and enjoyed our time together before traveling to Pleasant Grove for an evening with Michael, Tara and Lilly. David, Jan’L, Kaler, Kole and Kyle, Kris, Zac and EJ arrived on Sunday to see us off. Every available inch of floor space was occupied with blow up mattresses and bed roles - to the point it looked to an uninformed observer - like a refugee camp!!! There was a great deal of laughter as four of our six offspring caught up with their siblings - some who hadn’t seen each other in a very long time.

Then came the morning of Monday, December 27, the day scheduled for our arrival at the MTC. Our two strong sons laid their hands on our heads and pronounced a sons' blessing asking for our safe keeping and return in 18 months. There was a torrent of tears from everyone and Kris hugged us both and sobbed, “you’d better come back!!!” We look forward to being able to hug our precious loved ones again on or about June 27, 2012.

Missionary Checklist

1. Submit a grundle of paperwork to the Missionary Department . . . then watch the mailbox every day for five weeks for a letter from President Thomas S. Monson issuing our call to the West Indies Mission

2. Tell the boss, my staff and my volunteers I am leaving (while weeping uncontrollably) then help find my replacement at the Volunteer Center of Washington County

3. Find an unsuspecting Rotarian willing to serve as secretary of St. George Rotary Club

4. Raise my hand to sustain someone new as ward blogger / information specialist / historian

5. Find a home for Sophie, our adorable and much loved Yorkie

6. Sell our cars

7. Shop for the lightest possible summer clothing in the dead of winter

8. Order sandals from Zappos (yeah!!! open-toed and which do NOT have to be worn with pantyhose)

9. Get an assortment of shots for every kind of disease and fever known to the medical world

10. Clean every drawer, closet, cabinet, “nook and cranny” in the house

11. Take a load or two to the Deseret Industries / city dump

12. Finish Roy Nisson’s book

13. Get a new drivers license and temple recommend (because they will expire before we get back) and change the name of my blog to http://sappingtonmission.blogspot.com/

14. Speak in Sacrament meeting

15. Have lunch / dinner with many friends wanting to say "goodbye"

16. Enjoy my very last nail appointment and pedicure by Michelle Graham, my wonderful friend and longtime nail lady, who weeps during the entire process.

17. Turn off the utilities, cancel the newspaper and forward our mail to Kaytee

18. Pack a maximum of 100 lbs. of my earthly belongings to take on our Caribbean adventure

19. Say goodbye to our precious kids and grandkids

20. Enter the MTC