Dear Family,
Today is Elizabeth Jayne Perry’s 3rd Birthday
Mission News New Year’s Eve Mom and I got up at 6:00 did our “Come Follow Me” study, cleaned the apartment, had breakfast, went for a walk and then went into the office to do a couple of quick things. When we got there, the other senior missionaries were there in their normal missionary attire doing their normal work. We thought the office was “closed” on New Year’s Eve, but it wasn’t. We felt a little foolish, but we got over it.
Departure dates: President Caplin noticed that two sisters that came out together, were not going home together. He asked me to look into it. The is a report in iMOS (Internet Missionary Operating System) that shows missionary start dates and release dates. There were several irregularities. For sister missionaries about half of the sisters serve 18 months plus 3 weeks and about half 18 months minus three weeks. Part of this is caused by the fact that 18 months fall right in the middle of the transfer. But why do some serve 6 weeks longer that others?
Foreign language speaking sisters, serve 18 months. Foreign language speaking elders serve 2 years minus 3 weeks. English speaking elders serve 2 years. less that English speaking elders. Foreign language speaking missionaries typically spend 3 weeks longer in the MTC for language training.
President Caplin is looking into the possibility of changing the release date of our missionaries so they can stay in the field the maximum amount of time. The last 6 weeks for most missionaries is the most productive. For foreign language missionaries, their language is the best of their mission. For all missionaries, their teaching and finding skills are the best at the end of their missions. We will see what happens.
Friday, we took a missionary to the airport who was sent home early. For the three months we have been in Virginia, we have had 2 missionaries sent home early because of testimony issues. One or two were sent home for “behavioral” issues. Two went home with medical problems. Most of the missionaries are striving to be the best missionaries they can be. The work is challenging and demanding, and they do their best. Many of the missionaries are incredibly strong, capable and happy in the work. They are amazing. Of the 180 young missionaries there are a small handful that chose not to be completely obedient to the rigorous mission life.
Saturday, we went to the baptism of the sister I interviewed last week. There were about 60+ people at the baptism. Our experience is that the wards really support the new converts and welcome them into the ward with open arms.
Mom and I are enjoying our Come Follow Me study. We seem to get through about a half a page in about a half hour study period. It is nice to take things slowly and ask a lot questions.
Fun Stuff On New Year’s Eve the President wanted the missionaries home early and off the streets. The missionaries we invited to get together as district and have a little party from 5 to 8 PM. The seniors were invited to attend. Our Wakefield District has 3 sister companionships and 1 set of elders. They played several games. The sisters brought two basketballs and they played “know-out”. The sisters played well and enthusiastically, but a 6’4” elder won most of the time. They played “Spike Ball”. Mom and I brought Costco Pizza and a salad. Sister Rossberg brought a delicious salad with lots of fruit with the lettuce. There were chip and dip and lots of chocolate. After dinner Mom and I broke out the Pictionary board. We carried on the tradition. Then the missionaries played another game while Mom and I cleaned up.
Our missionaries almost never get together on their P Day. They cannot leave their area. For many this was the first “social” event with other missionaries in their mission. They were a bit self-conscious, but they had a good time as did we.
Tuesday evening, I arranged a senior missionary party. It was a pot luck and games. The food was terrific. After dinner we used the Pictionary board again and we also played Taboo. We really, really had fun. Many of the seniors said afterwards that they had not laughed so hard in years.
Pictionary went just like home: the boys cheated, and the girls won anyway. I just about fell over when one of the elders wrote the word. Unfortunately, I could not cover up the paper before Mom saw it.
There is a grocery story here that is really fun. It is big. The vegetable and fruit portion of the store is about 4 times bigger than a regular large grocery store. It is almost a farmer’s market. It has hundreds of cheeses and a nice lady gave us a sample of some exotic cheese and it was wonderful. We bought a half a pound. There pastry section is very nice and they have cupcakes that Elizabeth might enjoy when she comes in February. It is a little pricy, but not too bad. We learned about this store in the MTC and finally went to Wegman’s yesterday. Fun.
WES
Carlos left Thursday afternoon for a vacation to Mexico and will come back this Saturday. Who is minding the shop???
Profit for December was very good, and January and February will be OK. March - well who knows.
We are still negotiating with the software company. They are not being very nice.
Family News Chelsea has a new car – Nissan Kicks
Derek is now a Floridian
Elizabeth’s birthday is today
Although Horace Ferrante is not family, he was a great neighbor for 40 years. Horace died November 23 of sepsis. He was in his late 80s. Wanda has severe dementia. Andrea wants her to move to Oakland and live with her, but she wants to live at home.
Mission News New Year’s Eve Mom and I got up at 6:00 did our “Come Follow Me” study, cleaned the apartment, had breakfast, went for a walk and then went into the office to do a couple of quick things. When we got there, the other senior missionaries were there in their normal missionary attire doing their normal work. We thought the office was “closed” on New Year’s Eve, but it wasn’t. We felt a little foolish, but we got over it.
Departure dates: President Caplin noticed that two sisters that came out together, were not going home together. He asked me to look into it. The is a report in iMOS (Internet Missionary Operating System) that shows missionary start dates and release dates. There were several irregularities. For sister missionaries about half of the sisters serve 18 months plus 3 weeks and about half 18 months minus three weeks. Part of this is caused by the fact that 18 months fall right in the middle of the transfer. But why do some serve 6 weeks longer that others?
Foreign language speaking sisters, serve 18 months. Foreign language speaking elders serve 2 years minus 3 weeks. English speaking elders serve 2 years. less that English speaking elders. Foreign language speaking missionaries typically spend 3 weeks longer in the MTC for language training.
President Caplin is looking into the possibility of changing the release date of our missionaries so they can stay in the field the maximum amount of time. The last 6 weeks for most missionaries is the most productive. For foreign language missionaries, their language is the best of their mission. For all missionaries, their teaching and finding skills are the best at the end of their missions. We will see what happens.
Friday, we took a missionary to the airport who was sent home early. For the three months we have been in Virginia, we have had 2 missionaries sent home early because of testimony issues. One or two were sent home for “behavioral” issues. Two went home with medical problems. Most of the missionaries are striving to be the best missionaries they can be. The work is challenging and demanding, and they do their best. Many of the missionaries are incredibly strong, capable and happy in the work. They are amazing. Of the 180 young missionaries there are a small handful that chose not to be completely obedient to the rigorous mission life.
Saturday, we went to the baptism of the sister I interviewed last week. There were about 60+ people at the baptism. Our experience is that the wards really support the new converts and welcome them into the ward with open arms.
Mom and I are enjoying our Come Follow Me study. We seem to get through about a half a page in about a half hour study period. It is nice to take things slowly and ask a lot questions.
Fun Stuff On New Year’s Eve the President wanted the missionaries home early and off the streets. The missionaries we invited to get together as district and have a little party from 5 to 8 PM. The seniors were invited to attend. Our Wakefield District has 3 sister companionships and 1 set of elders. They played several games. The sisters brought two basketballs and they played “know-out”. The sisters played well and enthusiastically, but a 6’4” elder won most of the time. They played “Spike Ball”. Mom and I brought Costco Pizza and a salad. Sister Rossberg brought a delicious salad with lots of fruit with the lettuce. There were chip and dip and lots of chocolate. After dinner Mom and I broke out the Pictionary board. We carried on the tradition. Then the missionaries played another game while Mom and I cleaned up.
Our missionaries almost never get together on their P Day. They cannot leave their area. For many this was the first “social” event with other missionaries in their mission. They were a bit self-conscious, but they had a good time as did we.
 |
| Elder Sawyer (computer guru, office elder), Elder Johnson (office elder) me, Banluta, Mom, Rossberg, Bristol (in front), Carroll, Clare, Belnap in the cultural hall at the Ox Road building. |
Pictionary went just like home: the boys cheated, and the girls won anyway. I just about fell over when one of the elders wrote the word. Unfortunately, I could not cover up the paper before Mom saw it.
 |
| This picture is at a Christmas party 2018 at the mission home. Sisters sitting down, left to right: Taylor, Chesbrough, Cook, Mom, Myers. Sisters Standing: Bloomfield, Brandenburg, Sister Caplin, Gowans, far right Nielson. Brethren standing, left to right, Bloomfield, Taylor, Brandenburg, President Caplin, Cook, me, Myers, Gowans, Nielson. |
WES
Carlos left Thursday afternoon for a vacation to Mexico and will come back this Saturday. Who is minding the shop???
Profit for December was very good, and January and February will be OK. March - well who knows.
We are still negotiating with the software company. They are not being very nice.
Family News Chelsea has a new car – Nissan Kicks
Derek is now a Floridian
Elizabeth’s birthday is today
Although Horace Ferrante is not family, he was a great neighbor for 40 years. Horace died November 23 of sepsis. He was in his late 80s. Wanda has severe dementia. Andrea wants her to move to Oakland and live with her, but she wants to live at home.
The family renting our house is enjoying orange juice most every day.
Love,
Dad
Dad
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