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Elder Nelson - Roses and Housewares

Dear Family,

Mission NewsMonday evening we had a dinner and gift exchange with the other Senior Missionaries in our Mission plus the doctor and his wife who serve 6 other missions. One couple, Jim and Evelyn Taylor, were released as Self Reliance missionaries. The more we were around them the more we liked them and admired them. They are just wonderful Christians with love in their hearts and a willingness to help and build the Kingdom in any simple way they can. They have a wonderful peace in their lives that comes from living the Gospel. They have helped us tending the office while we are in mission meetings. We gave them a key to the office. On Monday they said that they would like to keep the key so they can help us when we needed them.

We had our Senior (mostly) office council and I presented the first lesson of the Inviting Class that I am planning to present to the Wakefield Ward. I asked for feedback and got some good ideas. When I prepared the lesson I was so focused on the content, I did not plan for questions and discussions.

Mail coming to the mission has really gotten heavier this last week. We normally make one delivery to the missionaries per week, but we did two big deliveries this last week.
From Left to Right: Zabriskie, Larsen, Sister Chesbrough, Gowan, Taylor, Cook, Tobler, Nelson, Caplin, Vennard
Friday we had dinner at David’s restaurant. Two senior couples, Larsen and Zabriskie, and President and Sister Caplin were part of the dinner party. David spoiled us as usual with extra entrees and as we left the restaurant he gave the sisters a red rose.

During the dinner President Caplin tried to engage the 3 people sitting next to us in conversation and introduced us as missionaries. They were friendly but not too interested.

Mom’s rose in the 2 quart jar that had raw milk in it from the Seely family
Fun StuffSaint Stevens Methodist Church each month gives food, clothing and other items to the poor. Some of our ward members help out. They feed them breakfast and offer them men’s, women’s and kid’s clothes. They also had toys for the children. They also offer them food. I helped out giving “housewares”. The items were all second hand and looked like they were from Goodwill. The people however appreciated having these items and most of the items gone by the end. This started at 6:30 AM and went to 9:30. I was tired.

Housewares at St. Steven’s
More housewares

More housewares
Mom stayed home and mended some suit pants that a missionary ripped on his bike chain. She also mended some of my pants and pajamas.

Mom and I were both tired and we took naps. We did not go to the ward Christmas party. We just stayed home and rested.

WES NewsWe closed down our 401k program and now our former employees should get a distribution.

We visited with RaNae Colby, our bookkeeper/accountant, to see what else we need to do. We came up with about 8-9 little things. The end is in sight.

We talked with our financial adviser and discussed what we are going to do with our “vast fortune”. He wants to sell us an annuity. I am not sure that is the right thing to do. In any case he thinks we will have enough money to last. We might even have a little play money.

Family NewsAunt Jane is recovering nicely from here back surgery she had on Nov 4. When she went to the doctor for a check-up recently they asked if she how she was doing with the pain medication. She told them she doesn’t take any. They said most people are the pain medication for a couple of months. My sister is tough. She has to be very careful for a couple more months until the vertebra fuse. Tuesday she is off to Moscow Idaho to spend Christmas with Devon and family.

Chelsea is enjoying her last week with her student teacher. Then she is off to California to spend Christmas with Lance.

After the bowl game McKay, Keri and the girls will spend Christmas in Logan with McKay’s family. McKay’s mother is going to help out while McKay is away. This will be a big help for Keri.

Kent and Lindsey will be Cedar City and Panguitch with Lindsey’s family.

I think that after several trips to the west for the sibling reunion, Kent and Lindsey’s wedding and Jessica’s sister new baby, Derek and family will be spending Christmas in Florida. I have been told they have some great adventure planned in their neck of the woods.

Love you all,
Dad

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