Mission Update on Nate

This is a tale of two missionaries with two very different stories -- one home and one currently serving. 

Erik began his mission with 2 phone calls home a year and emails once a week. Four or five months in that changed to calling home weekly either through text, phone, video chat, messaging. I could count on Erik every Monday morning between 6:30 and 7am. And if a birthday or Mother's Day/Father's Day landed that week, we could get phone calls twice a week. Covid hit with all of it's quarantine restrictions and Erik was calling home as needed which was several times a week. He began his mission the traditional way with us dropping him off at the Provo MTC and three weeks later a flight to Orlando, Florida. He did the traditional missionary contact methods. Facebook was not one of them. And when Covid came swinging with all her punches, Erik still had 6 months left and missionary work came to a standstill as they struggled to figure out how to do missionary work in the nontraditional ways that didn't involve physically interacting with people. Erik was in a biking mission. We bought him a bike which he rarely used and sold at the end of his mission. His main mode of transportation was a car.

Nate is not quite like his brother. He calls home once in awhile and seems to write even less frequently. Although, he is good to call when I tell him too. I trust he is doing well and doesn't need the interaction with home as frequently has Erik might have. His original assignment is to Australia although he's beginning to believe he might never make it there and he is totally cool with it because he is where he needs to be in the Denver North Colorado Mission. He began his mission assignment right here at home. Home MTC. No dropping him off curbside and being whisked away. That came 3 weeks later at the airport. He began his missionary service using the nontraditional ways right from the start. Facebook has been a big part of his mission experience.

Erik had two mission presidents and I'm sure they were both great. I just didn't have very much involvement with them. Nate's mission president, President Blake, has been very much involved with parents, even creating a separate Facebook page just for parents where he can update us on things unbeknownst to our missionaries. He did a Zoom call with all missionary parents a few months back to let us know how the mission was doing and what their goals were. I was impressed. Nate tells me his career was to take struggling businesses and make them better, to take people in these businesses and make them better. He is a mission president at the right time as he tackles the process of being a missionary and making it better. He's inspired Nate enough that Nate is seriously rethinking his choice of schools post-mission. He was training a greenie who came out and struggled with headaches on the mission (never at home). After testing and moving apartments and other things, it was decided last week to send him home to figure things out. I hope he'll be back. Nate has been in a biking area on a bike we did not buy. Most of the time he bikes. Once in awhile he gets access to a car.

Tomorrow is p-day. Any bets on whether Nate calls tomorrow or sends an email?

He's happy sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and that's all I could ask for. These young people just radiate joy. You can see it in their faces. That is the spirit of God radiating goodness.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." --Galatians 5:22-23

More missionary emails

Having multiple missionaries out at the same time is such a rewarding experience. Grandma and Grandpa Seamons flew out last Saturday for the Cook Islands. I finally got an email that they made it and were still waiting for their luggage to catch up with them.

Disclaimer: This email was titled "naked and afraid." It came from Grandma's email so I was so confused why she would title it that way. Then I read it to discover that Grandpa wrote it, but I was still confused. My kids had to tell me that it is a TV show.

This morning I really was naked and afraid.  e got here yesterday (landed on a dirt runway) and this morning I knew I had to face the music and take a cold shower.  All we need to make hot water in the shower is a couple of D batteries but there are none on the island.  I WAS afraid but I learned when I was in Chile to rub yourself hard when the water hits you and it doesn't take your breath quite so bad.

We are stuck until our luggage gets here which could be tomorrow or who knows when.  Meanwhile we walked to a store and bought a loaf of bread, some hard rolls, a pound of butter, and some dry milk powder for $59.00.  There are no eggs or Spam or anything on this island so I really need to get out the fishing pole and go catch something. There is one thing in abundance here though and that is wonderful people. The branch president and his wife picked us up at the airport and she  had made these leighs for us.  I'll bet she spent 4 hours on each one of them. They bought new sheets for the bed with their own money and cleaned the place up.  Last night she brought over a cover for the bed so we would be warm.  (It got chilly last night) Yesterday someone dropped off a bunch of bananas and someone else gave us some donuts (not like you think of) and some mango. So far we have been treated like rock stars.    
     
This place is beautiful. It is as pretty as Christmas Island was ugly.  There are only 500 people on the whole island and it is very quiet except for these obnoxious roosters that start up at 3:30 and never let up.

Before I go I need to tell you one more story. On the way to the Salt Lake airport we stopped at a Subway for one last bite. Julie didn't want anything so I went in alone. I ordered a sandwich and tried to pay for it with a 50.  The young man asked if I had anything smaller and I didn't. I offered to go get some change and he hesitated a bit and then his co-worker, a 19 or 20 year old young lady stepped in and said to him, "Don't worry.  I'll cover it."  I said to her, "you can't do that. I have more money than you. Just let me go to the car and get some money from my wife." She insisted on paying and then I had the thought that I should let her do it. So I did. I thanked her profusely and then as I opened the door I turned to thank her one more time and the tears came out of nowhere. How often do you go into Subway and come out raining tears?  The thought later occurred to me that it was the missionary nametag I was wearing  with the name Jesus Christ on it...….It happened again when I offered to pay this dear sister for the new sheets for the bed. "NO NO NO, she said, pointing to heaven. Jesus will bless me more.  What a tremendous blessing to wear a missionary nametag. Those who never go will never know what they missed out on.  Miss, would you forward this to the rest of the bunch, especially our compadre Elder Erik? I hope he is having as much fun as we are.  Erik, you are the MAN!  I love you all.

Elder Papa Bear

First official address

I haven't got a whole lot from Erik this week which he warned me about. His mission was nice enough to send Tyler a couple of photos . . . one of Erik with his companion, Elder Squires, and one with the mission president and his wife, President and Sister Clark.

Technology allowed us to look up where he's living for the next little while which is not too far from the beach and my Grandma Seamons's brother who lives 10 miles away. Wouldn't that be cool if they connected some way?

I can't wait for that letter tomorrow to FINALLY find out how this week has been. He wasn't really in the path of the hurricane but I imagine they had some wind and rain.

Elder Leary
Florida Orlando Mission
1117 Malabar Lakes Drive NE
Palm Bay, FL 32905

AND . . . 

My missionary parents flew out to the Cook Islands last night. I can't wait to hear from them that they made it safely. I don't know what to make of my parents and their little islands. You can't even really find the Cook Islands on a map. I'll just be praying that this time they won't have any medical concerns and they'll be able to finish their mission in its entirety.

First missionary email

Well, the past crazy nine months quietly slipped into oblivion today when we dropped Erik off at the MTC. 

I'm not an the emotional type. I did get teary-eyed as we hopped out of the car to quickly give him our hugs and goodbyes. That last scene of him walking in his gray suit with luggage in tow following his escort through the doors to the stairs will always be etched in my heart.

He's been nervous and apprehensive about this day for about a week when the reality of it finally hit him.

Is he going to be a good missionary? I hope so.

We all took the day off and met Kiersten and Jason for breakfast this morning in smoky Orem, and then captured some last minute photos before all piling in the van to turn Erik over to mighty fortress of the MTC.

The ride home was rather subdued as we each contemplated life without Erik for two years.

Who's going to teach Alex how to comb his hair?

But I got that first email shortly after getting home. I was overjoyed that they allowed him to email home so quickly. We can expect more on Tuesdays which is his P-Day.

Anxiously waiting . . . 

Mission call

Did I leave you  hanging?

Orlando Florida!

He was pretty excited. Especially to be going somewhere warm. Here's a link to the video we recorded. His first question to me was "Do you think I can bring my tennis racket?"

Um . . . 

No.

Scott, Kaleb, Erik, Matt

Josiah, Erik

But maybe he might find some people who like to play tennis and who might be interested in learning more about Jesus Christ. I'm sure he could find a way to make it work to his advantage.

Erik's home teaching companion stopped by to congratulate him. James McConnell has been instrumental in getting that kid to where he is today. And another is our awesome bishop who is sadly getting released next Sunday.

James McConnell, Erik

Bishop Steinagel in the suit

My heart was extremely full last week as I bore testimony in our ward to the power that comes from serving faithfully in the temple and upholding those covenants I made with God many, many years ago. There is tremendous priesthood power with great saving promises to those who consecrate their life to a God who loves us all beyond comprehension.

The other great truth I bore witness to was the goodness of our ward in helping me raise children to know a Father in Heaven who loves them. I knew many years ago when nothing seemed to work out with buying a lot in Stansbury that Lake Point was where our family needed to be. The way things fell into place was a sure witness of that fact. My family has been the recipients of so many good things. We have been blessed immeasurably by the goodness of others, by their sacrifice of time and resources and have been so loved and cared for. I can't help but want to do the same and pay it forward to others.

A beautiful chaos

I don't know how else to describe this month of June other than it's been a beautiful chaos. I knew when I started classes in January that June would be a bit busier than usual. Originally I was supposed to take four week-long classes commuting to Weber State every day (a 50 minute drive).

Then we threw in a wedding.

And moving a daughter into her married apartment.

And getting wedding invitations mailed out.

And a son receiving the Melchezedek priesthood

and patiently waiting for mission call (that we thought we'd be opening at the wedding breakfast but instead came home to find it in the mail).

And a birthday for an 8-year-old boy

that included a birthday party because that's been the tradition when the kids turn 8

and learning to ride a bike.

And a first cub scout camp.

And an end-of-season tennis banquet honoring the seniors.

And a sealing for a sister.

And several own endowment sessions at the temple

a week a part.

And a 21st wedding anniversary.

And inheriting a van full of 2nd grade stuff that really just needs most of it thrown away.

And wisdom teeth pulled for another child.

And a braces consultation for yet another.

Add to all of that trying to keep a yard looking immaculate for a wedding open house which entails weeding and pruning and planting and watering.

And try to get some homework done in there somewhere like

Creating a math lesson plan.

Creating a grammar lesson plan.

Integrating art into those lesson plans.

Student interviews.

Reflective journal.

A literacy project (labeling and leveling all my classroom books).

A math final.

And reading . . . lots of it.

Oh and don't forget all the other "mom" stuff like laundry and bills and grocery shopping and cleaning and meals. Actually Ash has stepped up nicely to take care of what she can with making dinner and keeping on top of laundry.

The Lord has given me many tender mercies throughout this month. One class canceled. Another had very little homework. The other two classes allowed me to stay in Tooele rather than commute to Weber County every day. Classes were only scheduled through Thursday rather than Friday. Some classes were online so I finished assignments as my own pace. The weather has been very temperate with no high temperatures helping me keep plants alive and green.

The tender mercy of having two children endowed in a temple, receiving some of God's greatest blessings for faithful obedience, made my heart extremely full the day Erik went to the temple. Kiersten was able to be there and Ash tagged along to do baptisms. I testify the priesthood blessings of the temple are very real. God does watch over his children. Everything we do in the temple is meant to increase our faith in Jesus Christ and where we go to feel God's love he has for his children. Four temples in three weeks!