Taking a picture by this sign has been on our bucket list since we first arrived in Newberg. Today, along with the Larson's, we finally made it happen! We love the city of Newberg and the little valley it is nestled in. The sign says it is "The Camellia City" and it really is! They have been in bloom the last month or two and we have loved it! It also says "A great place to grow." We agree with this too. We have grown in our love for missionary work. We have grown in our love for each other. We have grown in our testimonies. We have grown in our love for the Savior and what he has done for each and every one of us.
We only have a little over (4) months left on our mission. Already I am starting to think of all the places we still want to visit before we leave and the things we want to do. Like taking a picture of that sign! We still need to go to Astoria (which we are doing in 2 weeks) and Coos Bay (in 4 weeks). Then there is the Rhododendron Festival, the Peony Farm, and the Kite Festival in Lincoln City to name a few. Then there is all the food in our apartment that we need to eat so we don't have to pack it home. I am starting now to plan my menus around what is in our cupboards.
Monday was a bad day for Elder Rowan. Instead of saying "I don't want to go home," he was saying "how soon can I go?" (haha). Actually what he was saying was that he didn't want to answer his phone. On Monday he took some Elders to Salem to pick up some new cars. On the way back one of the new cars got a rock chip in the windshield that is so big the whole windshield may need to be replaced. Then the Sisters over in Lincoln City called to say they had scraped the side of their brand new car on their carport pole when turning in to their parking space. Things didn't end there because later that night our local Sisters here in Newberg called to say their car had been sideswiped by a drunk driver while they were standing on the porch talking to someone. When it rains, it pours!!
Monday actually was a good day because it was our 48th wedding anniversary. We didn't celebrate big on Monday because it was a busy day but Elder Rowan did buy me a dozen red roses :). I should have taken a picture. Monday was also good because we finally saw the Orthodedic Surgeon about Elder Rowan's MRI results for his shoulden. Actually we saw the PA but same difference. She confirmed that the MRI showed that he did need a complete shoulder replacement. The good news was that she said he could wait to do the replacement until his range of motion was more impacted. She suggested a cortizone shot now to relieve the pain and if that worked he could get shots every 3-4 months indefinitely. So no surgery while we are on our mission! Hooray!!!
We continue to love District Council meetings and associating with the young missionaries. We never know when we are going to be asked to participate or be in charge of a portion of the meeting. For instance, last week I was aked to be in charge of our "real play." Real plays are similiar to role plays where the missionaries practice teaching a particular lesson, asking questions, knocking on doors, etc. So for my activity we practiced asking and answering the question, "Are you a Christian?" The missionaries get asked this alot and I wanted them to come up with better answers than "Yes, I believe in Jesus Christ." I found a Primary activity about ways we can answer the question so I passed those out and each companionship had to personalize their answer and share it with the group. Then we did a speed dating activity where they had 1 minute to practice with the person across from them before the bell rang and they had to move on to the next person. It was fun and the missionaries enjoyed it. Today the missionaries practiced learning to ask better questions. The Sr missionaries were the "friends" and they had to figure out what our problem was about something they taught us by only asking questions. It was good practice. Our District Leader closed the meeting by asking (3) missionaries to bear their testimonies. It brought the spirit back to the meeting. Elder Rowan was one of the (3) asked. I love the opportunity we have to share our testimonies with these young missionaries.
Normally the week after Zone Conference is a quiet week but for some reason this week was unusually busy. Elder Rowan had to pick up new cars in (3) different locations and then deliver bikes to missionaries on another day. I was busy processing rent and missionary payments while also training Sister Bready on some of my duties so she can do them when we leave. The Portland Temple is closing for (6) weeks so we were able to go there one evening for a session with the Larsons. We were also able to go see the movie "Escape from Germany," which was really, really good. It is about the missionaries being evacuated from Germany right before the start of World War II. In her newsletter Sister Larson talks about how sometimes it may seem like we are tourists and sometimes we probably look like regular office workers just doing a job--and many times it does feel like that. But I echo her feelings that pictures on a page or words in a newsletter can never really convey the real and deep spirit we feel on our mission or the love we have for our Savior Jesus Christ. It is hard in a blog to describe the amazing blessings we have experied or the miracles we have witnessed. Missions are just the best!!/p
When I said that we had to start doing things on our bucket list because our time was getting shorter, going to brunch again at Multnomah Falls was on the list. It will get busy during the summer months and we really wanted to go one more time. So on our "P" day we viewed the falls and had my favorite Hazelnut Crusted French Toast with Lemon Curd & Marionberries. Then we headed over to Starvation Creek Falls for a short hike in the beautiful forest. Oh how we are going to miss all these waterfalls and greenery!!
View of the Columbia Gorge - I never tire of this view!
Multnomah Falls!
Brunch at Multnomah Falls Lodge!
Starvation Creek Falls!
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