10 January 2022

 This week one of my supervisors got covid. At that location, she really knows what goes on, so things have been a little slower without her around. Some volunteers have been looking to others who have experience as leaders... one of them being me. One of the things I like to say to other volunteers is: "If I`m the one who knows the most, then we`re in big trouble". Service there has been a bit interesting, but I think I got called to the leadership spotlight only once.

I took some days to do indexing just in case I had a covid exposure while there. I didn`t actually remember how long I was around her, but I just played it safe.

There`s a mission activity coming up this Saturday, where all the missionaries get to go to the Temple together and enjoy some activities afterwards. I think it sounds nice.

Just something kind of funny I had to learn at the Humane Society, was a new way to walk. I work with soap sprayers to clean kennels, and it is very slippery if not diluted first. It`s never supposed to end up on the floor if it`s not diluted, but that didn`t stop me. Made a nice big mess and had to waddle-shuffle in a weird way to stay on my feet till I got the floor cleaner.

3 January 2022

 Yeah, I realize after mom told me to send out emails again that I had been slacking on that a bit.

Recently things have been fun, with Tom, Sam, and Makenzie visiting us for a little, though not at the same time. Tom came for Christmas but Sam and Makenzie didn`t. We played some games together and got to enjoy family time. Once, I even got Matt to come to some service with me. I also got offered a position at the Bishop`s Storehouse, which I plan on looking into soon. I heard I would be working on sorting, stocking, and helping on a truck. Teaching in the Primary is going well, but I am terrible with names and faces, and just got a whole new set to memorize... but it is nice to know the previous children are hearing to Young Men and Young Women`s. Sometimes I think it is great to see their bright spirits shine in different ways!

I also realize now that I haven`t been taking many pictures... maybe during this new year that will be different.

1 November 2021

 The past little bit has been going well. I got to celebrate my birthday, my year mark, and Halloween over the past week! Lots of things happening... many of the teaching missionaries I have served around are being transferred around, so things are getting shaken up again. Mom and another ward member had an idea I could try for some service around the community, come spring, for people around the area. With my botanical interests, they directed me to growing tomatoes, onions, and other plants for small gifts to people, like canned salsa or fresh veggies. I was thrilled.

Another mission activity is coming up, and I was put on the planning committee. I hope it turns out well, and all the other members of the committee (though it wasn`t really my idea) were in favor of doing a laid-back game day. Board games, social games, and physical games were discussed.

So far that`s most of the new stuff!

11 October 2021

 This week has been going good, where I got to help with a cross country meet and gather with a couple other missionaries on Preparation Day. I also got to do my first shift at the Temple as an ordinance worker. The missionary gathering was fun, with just me and two other service missionaries hanging out on Pday. The first shift as an ordinance worker also went well, and some at the Temple still ask about Tom after he served. Just yesterday, I was informed that me and two other missionaries were being put in charge of putting together our next district activity. Not much else going on, but this time, I am remembering to put in a couple pictures. Here are some cats from the Humane Society, along with the herbs I tried to rescue from Second Helpings.

 

4 October 2021

 The past little bit has been going well. Most things at service assignments are good, and recently, I`ve been able to invite people to view General Conference. I hope it goes well with those people accepting. At one place, Second Helpings, there were several house herbs about to be thrown away, so I volunteered to rescue them. They were getting too big for the potting material they were in, and it didn`t look like anyone was going to claim them. Many of them were nearly dead, so I brought them home, got potting material, and did a bit of research on growing herbs. Though many of them still aren`t doing well, and some have gotten worse, others have perked up. I wasn`t too concerned with having empty pots for the ones that won`t make it, I heard that some herbs propagate very quickly, so there, hopefully, should be some new seeds to fill any pots that don`t make it.

General Conference was great, I really liked the talks about 1% increase each day and President Nelson`s introduction at the beginning. It was a very uplifting General Conference.

20 September 2021

 Not much different happening this week in my normal service, but we have had some fun family activities with Tom visiting. Also, there was a mission activity on Saturday where we gathered as a district and went through the Indiana war museum. It was interesting, and had a section where it featured exhibits going chronologically through the wars of the U.S., which I thought was neat. Tom came along for that one, too, and we ended it with a nice mission lasagna dinner. There are some things looking exciting up ahead, and looks like things are looking alright.

13 September 2021

 The past little bit has been going alright. I tried to get some little brothers involved with a service project with limited success. Tom also got leave from the navy recently, so we`re hanging out with him and doing some family activities. Recently, we visited an apple orchard and went through a corn maze (or blundered through it...) and spent the morning at the farm. Tom is willing to come along with some service projects, so I`m looking forward to that. One of the places I volunteer at is under quarantine for two weeks because someone got covid. Prayers would be appreciated!

Recently, the Temple has been closed, but is now reopening. Our district got to help with some reopening service and ended with an endowment session. We have a district activity coming up this week and I`m looking forward to it.