May 19, 2024

What an incredible week we have had!!! This week has been Mission Tour which means that we had a visiting General Authority come and tour the mission and give instruction to the missionaries. Our visiting General Authority was Elder Gary Sabin from the Seventy and his wife Valerie. He is also a counselor in the North America West area presidency. He was fantastic! We had another Mission Tour about 4 weeks after we arrived last year but we were so new that we didn't appreciate it nearly as much as we did this time. Elder Sabin gave so much instruction it would be impossible for me to write it all here. I especially enjoyed the stories he used to demonstrate what he was talking about. He talked about personal revelation, following the prophet, and trusting God. He told us a story about being on assignment with Elder Neil L. Andersen. They were instructing missionaries and he gave his talk and sat down. Then he remembered there was one more important thing he wanted to say. But he didn't feel he could interrupt an Apostle so he said a silent prayer asking that if what he had to say was important to the missionaries that Elder Andersen would somehow give him that opportunity. He had no sooner said the prayer when PING, Elder Andersen paused, looked at Elder Sabin, and said, "Is there something else you wanted to add, Elder Sabin?"

We also had the opportunity to have dinner with Elder & Sister Sabin, President & Sister Phillips, and the (3) other senior missionary couples. It was a small, intimate dinner at the President's home. After we ate, Elder Sabin asked if there were any questions we wanted to ask him. It is not every day you can ask a General Authority anything you want. I was not prepared with any questions but now of course I can think of some I would have liked to ask. Elder Sabin and his wife had (6) children, (3) of whom have Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease and after their 1st child had it they knew the other children stood a 50/50 chance of having it. Two of their children have died, one at birth and another of CF when they were 19. Two of the (4) living have CF, one whom has had a double lung transplant and another who is not quite so bad due to some modern advances in medicine. The Sabins are an amazing example of faith and trusting in our Heavenly Father. Elder Sabin talked to us freely about the health of President Nelson and Elder Holland and told us wonderful stories of their faith and dedication to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He talked about President Nelson's question, "Is it doctrine or is it tradition" when considering changes to make. It was a wonderful evening none of us wanted to end.

During this busy week of Mission Tour we were responsible for feeding the large groups of missionaries that gathered to hear Elder Sabin. We started our cooking on Tuesday with Spanish Zone Conference before Elder Sabin arrived. They are always a fun group! We made it easy on ourselves and had a sandwich bar, chips and fruit cups. Drumstick ice cream cones were for dessert.

Then we went home and between myself, Sister Larson, & Sister Bready we cooked 75lbs of pork for pulled pork sandwiches and also baked a total of 7 cakes. The next day we were very blessed to have the help of Sister Weed & Sister Stock to make 10 batches of mac-n-cheese to feed our crowd of 105. The menu was pulled pork sandwiches, mac-n-cheese, salad, and Butterfinger Poke Cake. It was the largest crowd we have ever fed but it worked out great. It turned out we didn't need 75 lbs of pork, 50 lbs would have been perfect but now we have 25 lbs of pork already cooked and in the freezer ready to use for Cafe Rio for the next MLC. :)

Mission Tour Group Day 1

The next day we only had to feed 90 and we made it easy on ourselves by ordering fried chicken from a local grocery store deli and then having baked potatoes, green beans, rolls, and Better Than cake.

Mission Tour Group Day 2

That meal was a success too but by now we were getting tired so we enlisted the help of Sister Weed and Sister Stock again for the next day. We only had to feed 45 for a special MLC meeting so we decided on chicken salad on croissants, chips, watermelon, and Haagen-Dazs ice cream bars. Sister Weed & Sister Stock made the chicken salad and stuffed the croissants! We could not have done it without them! They are our heroes!! We had a glitch Friday morning when we showed up at the church only to find out one of the Bishops had promised the building for use for a different activity that would last all day and involved 150 middle school choir students!! Oh no!!!! President Phillips remained calm and instructed us to be the "peacemakers" so with some quick thinking on our part we were able to make it all work out. MLC was held in a distant Primary room and the weather cooperated enough for us to have our lunch outside on the lawn! And the middle school students sang on without ever realizing the moments of panic we experienced.

As our mission winds down we are working hard to accomplish the things on our bucket list to see. One of the items on our calendar for a while now was the Rhododendron Festival in Florence, Oregon. It is an annual event where rhododendrons are featured in the Event Center and they have a carnival, parade, and other activities in town. Florence is out of our mission but down towards Coos Bay, which we have wanted to explore, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity. So even though we were tired from all the activities of the week before we left Saturday morning to explore the Oregon Coast between Newport & Coos Bay with the Larsons. It was a fabulous trip and we got to see and experience so many beautiful places.

First we explored the tide pools at Yachats State Recreation Area.

Then we visitied Cape Perpetua and Thor's Well. Cape Perpetua has the highest viewpoint on the Oregon Coast we are told. It was spectacular and we really loved it. It was a perfect spot for our picnic lunch.

Then we headed into Florence for the Rhododendron Festival and enjoyed walking around the beautiful flower exhibits. I think from now on I will always be able to identify a Rhododendron!

Our final destination was just past Coos Bay to the Shore Acres State Park and Cape Arago. There has a beautiful Botanical Garden and sweeping views of the ocean from the Observation Tower.

Thank you Oregon for being so beautiful!!!