Just Working

One of the things I worked on this past week was to update and distribute our Mission's Emergency Plan. You can imagine the responsibility of a Mission President.  Everything is fine if all goes well, but when something goes wrong . . . . . .

In our home Stake, the Longview, Washington Stake, there is a Brother and Sister Broomhead.  He was the Mission President in Samoa several years ago.  At one point, the Mission Van with 7 Elders was swept away in a flash flood, and one Elder was missing.  Search parties were formed and searched for days and weeks.  They found a shoe and a backpack belonging to this Elder. He said that you call a number in Salt Lake, and "they take over".  They contact the Elder's Stake President who goes and informs the parents. It was not until 3 weeks later that he was allowed to call the parents.  He said the call went well.  The Parents were consoling HIM. As he related this story in a Stake High Priest Fireside, the agony of this experience just exuded from his being.  We were all in tears as we could empathise with this Mission President.

Some of the risks here in this Mission is, of course, earthquakes.  We are in California, after all.  Wildfires is another big one. All missionaries have an individual 72 hour kit in their apartment.  (We have two kits in our closet too).
The plan also details how to be safe and to get word, or a "status report" to the Mission President as quickly as possible.

As we have gotten to know the Missionaries we see more frequently because of their proximity around us, we have come to really love and care for them.  They have wonderful spirits that are true and real.  They are just amazing.

We are enjoying our "status" as missionaries.  People smile at us and say "Hi".  2 separate couples in Costco had to find out where we were from and which area we "worked" in.  They are having us do more in the Ward too.  Mom plays the piano in Relief Society.  I have had to give the Spiritual Thought in Priesthood Meeting.

As we were about to enter the Chapel for Sacrament Meeting last week, we overheard this "nice old lady" greeting this mother with her 5 year old son, saying to the boy that he could either shake her hand, or he would have to give her a hug.  The boy didn't want to do either.  
As we got to the doorway, my hand shot out to shake hers.. . . . . . . I was not going to risk it!

Love,
Dad