Before we left, occasionally someone with a smile would call me Elder Center and that was fine.  Now having been in the mission field for almost 4 weeks, whenever someone calls me that I feel a burst of pride, I feel uplifted.  Especially when it’s a stranger on the street, in a store, etc.  I just love hearing that term.  And actually, I feel a bit sorry for Loralee cause she’s still “Sister Center.”  (Has it really been only 4 weeks—seems much longer as we’re really “into” the work.)

Last summer when we knew we were going to submit our papers, we began studying the Gospel nearly every day—an hour together and an hour separately.  Because I am a convert and never learned The Articles of Faith and because Loralee’s memory is beginning to fade  (Just kidding my beloved!), we decided we’d begin where the Primary kids do so we memorized them.  Wow!  Awesome!  They provide just about all the answers—nearly the entire Gospel is contained in those few statements.

At the MTC (Mission Training Center), our president told Loralee and I that if we worked every day as hard as we could, than every night when we went to bed together, we could gratefully look each other in the eyes and simultaneously softly say, “I’m so tired!”  He was right!!!

Loralee's lasagna (and my garlic bread) blew them away at yesterday's luncheon!

OUR TYPICAL WEEK

Monday…..10:30 am Teach Institute—Doctrine & Covenants—at Pacific Lutheran University*                        7:00 pm YSA Family Home Evening**

Tuesday……6:00 pm Institute Correlation Meeting       7:00 pm Institute*

Wednesday..10:00 am Teach Institute—Doctrine & Covenants—at Pacific Lutheran University*

                        7:00 pm Institute*

Thursday……7:00 pm Teach 90 minute Institute class*—a 60 minute Pathways class follows*          

Friday………Noon Friday Forum—w/complete meal*       7:00 pm Ward, YSA, or Stake Activity**

Saturday……Daytime “p” day (preparation)—laundry, cleaning, ironing, shopping, and so forth       Evenings occasional ward, YSA, or stake activity**

Sunday……..9:45 PEC or Ward Council—11:00-2:00 block meeting       Fast Sunday potluck dinner**

Other………At least one other meeting a week—mission, YSA, etc.

*We supply (shop, cook, bake, serve, set-up & take-down) treats, etc. for 6-60 YSA depending on the event (and can they eat!).

**We assist with whatever needs are required.

-Our charge is to get acquainted with every YSA—over 200—so we can assist in counseling them in a one-on-one setting.

-We also are given specific assignments from getting cars for the young missionaries to other confidential things we’re not suppose to talk about.  It may seem we have a lot of free time but what with preparing lessons, food, and such—we’re kept pretty busy. 

(Our mission president told us one of our most important functions is to show these young people what a truly happy marriage is—no problem there as Loralee and I have been holding hands since the day we met!)

{Everyone is so friendly—YSA are great although remembering names is a bid difficult.  We have some students, a few military but mostly just working YSA’s.  We attend the YSA ward—probably 75 in sacrament each week.  We know we’re supposed to be in this very assignment in this very place at this very time!}

Ah, The Sweet Spirit whispered to me in conference that this was mission was definitely where I should be. I am delighted.

For several years I kept a sign on the wall of my office that read:  Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has made me a better person—not better than anyone else—but so much better than I was without it.