"The Field is White": June 16, 2014

On June 2nd we passed our half way mark. It's hard to believe because it seems like we just arrived. It feels like home here and we love the good people in the Brooklyn Park Branch. Some days we are tired and feel like we are not doing enough, but then we will be uplifted and revitalized by the kindness and gratitude of others.

I read in 2 Cor. 9:6-7 today:

But this I say, He which soweth

sparingly shall reap also sparingly;

and he which soweth bountifully

shall reap also bountifully.

Every man according as he pur-

poseth in his heart, so let him give;

not grudgingly, or of necessity: for

God loveth a cheerful giver.

We are having such a good time and I can truly say that we are cheerful in our work of serving others, but the rewards far outweigh the time we spend in doing so.

A sad thing happened this past week. Our dear friend Gladys passed away. We had come to know and love her through these past months of visiting her often in the nursing home and the hospital. She was always so happy to see us and her face lit up every time we came. She called us "her missionaries." We loved sharing scriptures with her and the three of us would hold hands when we prayed. I still feel like crying when I think about her. I wish we could have seen her just one more time. We hope she had a wonderful reunion with her husband who passed away several years ago.

I still really enjoy teaching the youth in Sunday School. Some times I have two or three and at times seven. They keep me young. I also teach Relief Society on the fourth Sunday. Ken stays very busy with his callings and Sunday is always a very busy day for us, usually from 7:00 to about 3:00.

Our Family Fun Nights have been changed to only every other Friday. It was becoming too much for all of us. Lots of kids attend, but not as many adults as we had hoped. I have crafts for them to do and we have had fun making wall hangings, necklaces, cards, and other things.

On June 6th, we went to the temple with all the other senior couples and President and Sister Richards. It was a wonderful experience as I am sure you can imagine. Afterwards we all went to a restaurant for lunch and had so much fun chatting and eating together. One sad thing is that one of the couples is leaving early because she has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will start treatment as soon as she gets home. We will miss them.

Tonight the Dotimas family had a FHE farewell cook-out for Elder Yardley and Elder Latu, who are being transferred. We will miss them so much and they will always be in our hearts.