So while I am at Winco shopping for some last minute things, I get this call from Mom that the Finches are in town but are lost, and to give them a call. I call them and ask where they are at, and, of course, they don't know. I ask for the cross roads, but they are still driving, so the crossroads change, and Sister Finch can't always read the street sign in time because they are in traffic and feel they can't slow down. In the mean time, I am heading over to the checkout stand to pay for my stuff. As you may know, at Winco you also have to bag your own groceries. All this time I am on the phone with them. They finally say the name of a street I recognize because I have paid the rent on a missionary apartment on that street. From that I realize they are still East of where they need to go, and I tell them turn around to get back to I-80 West, and take the next exit. By now I have made it home and am off loading the groceries, still giving them directions to our apartment complex. I met them at the gate, and they were sure happy to see me.
We have been here now 4 months, and I felt a little like the Elder in the movie, "The Best 2 Years of My Life". The movie takes place in Holland, and this Elder, the main character, struggles with the Dutch language. Anyway, the closing scene of the movie is at the train station where somebody asks him for directions, and he is able to spout off in fluent dutch the directions to this man, and is surprised when he realizes he just gave directions in Dutch. I felt pretty good being able to give directions to the Finches that got them here to the apartment. As they are taking "this leap of faith", leaving home, coming to a new area, being totally out of their comfort zone, I recognize how discouraging it can be to get lost in a strange area. I am glad Heavenly Father allowed me to help them.
Another cool thing happened on Monday. One of my tires on the Prius had a slow leak that I had been watching and refilling with air on Saturday and Sunday. So, Monday afternoon I took the car to Les Schwab to have the leak fixed. I had bought the tires at the Les Schwab store in Longview WA, and they will fix your flats for free. As I came back to the store to pick up the car, the counter man said that the tire could not be fixed because there was damage to the tire wall, but . . . . . . they had a free tire replacement program for tires affected by "road hazards". And so, they replaced the tire, and rotated the tires all for free. The way the counter guy and the manager at the desk were smiling at me , I can't help but think that my Missionary Badge had a lot to do with this "Free" tire.
I have decided that when I am home again that I will continue to wear my badge.
We love our missionaries. They are the best, but sometimes we forget that they are only 19. An accident report came in this week involving a mission car and a tree. The rules state that a companion assists behind the car in any backing up situation. The following is an excerpt from that report.
"We were leaving a referral. My companion was backing me up. My window was down and I couldn't see him because the sun was right on my mirror so I couldn't see on the driver side. He didn't scream STOP or anything. Just let me back right into the tree! He panicked and didn't say a word. It could have been avoided. No one else was involved but us and the tree! If I could have seen out the driver side mirror I would have been able to avoid the whole situation!"
You can be sure that we will have driver safety training at the next Zone Conference.
I have some pictures to share. Jeni's girls made a necklace for mom and a tie tac for me. They are pretty.
We also had collected some huge pine cones that would be great for a Christmas display. I can't remember ever seeing them this large. (That's Mom's hand).
We are grateful for our blessings to be able to serve here. We love you and pray the Lord will watch over you.
Love,
Mom and Dad
Nice bow, Dad! The girls were pretty excited to see you guys wearing their things!
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