September 30, 2013
Episode #1: Innocence of youth
We are dressed in our Sunday best and we are leaving the apartment to go do what missionaries do. As we are going out to the car, four young boys are playing as we walk by. The conversation goes something like this.
Mister, how old are you?
I respond without breaking stride "a 100 years old".
"Wow!"
To Sherrie he says "Are you really both 100?"
"No, we are both just 68 years old."
"Wow! That's still old!
"Were you both born on the same day, too!"
Then he says "Where are you going?"
"We are helping Jesus".
Then he says "Is Jesus here on Greenhaven Dr. right now!!"
"Yes, He's everywhere."
"Oh, Okay", as one of them starts to sing a song about Jesus.
As we say good by to get into our car, the oldest is heard to say "Their married you know!"
Episode #2: Hearing problems
Today we went to Travis AFB for me to get fitted for my new fangled hearing enabler (hearing aid). Coming back to Sacramento I'm looking for the switch it has for me to use for "selective hearing" when I don't want to hear "certain conversations". At the same time Sherrie is asking me where the switch is to turn it up so she can make sure I can hear those "certain conversations". Hmmmm. I wonder how this is going to work out. Now Sherrie is saying "John, why are you talking so softly?", and I'm saying "Sherrie, you are talking too loud" and "Stop making so much noise with the candy wrappers!" Maybe we can take turns wearing the device.
Episode #3: Unfinished sentences
Sherrie and I take turns going to a Physical Therapist up the street for "old people" ailments. Today she went for treatment on an old reoccurring "war injury" called a Frozen Shoulder. Sherrie comes back to the apartment and is telling me about the treatment, how the therapist is doing in her life, etc. My hearing aid must still be in the "selective hearing" mode because I hear her talking about
"....had knee surgery, has to take medicine regularly, needs exercise, etc." I'm thinking the young therapist is in bad shape, and then I realize she is talking about Missy who is the therapist's English bull dog who is quite overweight, low to the ground, slobbers, ugly at best with it's protruding teeth and rules the office. The therapist says Missy's slobber is known to heal certain patients ailments!
Such is the life of Sherrie and I here in Sacramento. Happy times, struggles and challenges, spiritual highs. Wouldn't want it any other way!
We've just completed the last of the two 6 week marriage courses that we have been teaching. Now we are waiting to see if the two Bishops want us to start teaching another set of courses. We are in various stages of teaching "new member" lessons to about ten recent converts.
Last Saturday night we went to one of our favorite outdoor theaters to watch a musical production called "Best of Broadway". Good performance. (This is the outdoor theatre that has chickens roosting in the trees around the neighborhood. It was getting dark when we got there so they were already asleep.)
Looking forward to General Conference broadcasts from Salt Lake this coming weekend. Always a spiritual high.
Take care,
Elder John
"When you feel that there is only a thin thread of hope, it is really not a thread
but a massive connecting link." -- Richard G. Scott
Both you continue to remind us "We're only getting started." Now the question is what wonderful delight awaits for those who are willing to put in the spiritual, emotional, physical and financial investment for a more productive today and even better tomorrow."
ReplyDeleteWhatever you do, don't forget to forget an extra set of batteries for your selective hearing enhancement devices. Two excuses are always better than one:) With the way tech keeps improving I'll be very disappointed if your ear bling's don't include a USB port so we can download the astounding things you've learned. Thank goodness there's Google till we're linked up once again. Meanwhile you're perspiring while we're inspired. You keep learning while we're still looking for the book. This mission of yours has made all of us sit back and reflect upon where we'd still like to go. It's an honor to call you part of our lives.