Re: Letter 9 of 3
Dear Riley,
Wow! can you believe it! February already. It's difficult to express what it's like having a missionary of your own. For me, at least, I can hardly wait for any news. I find myself going back and reading your weekly letter several times. Throughout the day I occasionally find myself adding 14 hours to the time and trying to envision what you might be doing. I don't worry about your safety, but pray for it several times every day. We pray for you to adjust well and be blessed with the gift of tongues. We felt a little bad that the video put together by your mission showing the arrival of the new missionaries as well as the transfers, only featured our Riley for a fraction of a second. How pleased we were when they put out a second video featuring the new arrivals where we could watch you on your first day in Thailand under a number of different circumstances. You looked so good, and I think I could tell what you were thinking..."I got this." (With all appropriate humility of course.) I wonder if the diarrhea hit you yet. I spoke with someone who was in Thailand when he was in the Air Force. He said that even the American food prepared by the natives, gave you diarrhea you simply couldn't get rid of. I'll let you hypothesize on the reason, but I suspect it has something to do with personal hygiene. Who knows? That Pepto Bismol may come in awfully handy.
You may remember the Gs. They had a boy leave on his mission around the same time you did. Well, last week someone stole all his whites while they were at the laundromat. Even with some extraordinary events which allowed his Mother to get new clothing on the way quickly, by the time he receives it, he will have been wearing some of the same clothing for 5 days. Sister G shared a sweet testimony today about how things all came together to witness that God was mindful of both His missionaries and their families.
On the domestic scene, I'm making progress on the garage shelves. It will be wonderful when completed, and long overdue. While working in the garage, I came across signs of termite damage. I pulled down a couple sections of dry wall and was able to determine the extent of the damage. Those insidious creatures!! Right now is a good time to go after them because they're all in the ground. Another project! Just what I needed! It's nearly time to be gardening and pruning, so I'm racing to finishing some of the inside projects that always take a back seat when driven by seasonal time constraints of outdoor projects. Business is going well, and we're making progress on the large equipment installation. I think it will look and work great. SOOO close to being able to use it for production related activities. I can taste it.
As far as the Ward news goes, Clyde Christensen passed away last Friday morning. He is an extraordinary man and will be missed by many. Happily, he is reunited with his dear wife. It's funny, I was just commenting to Leadelle the other day that I could feel mortal tension building to the snapping point. The day Clyde passed I was feeling that a funeral was soon forthcoming, though I had no one particular in mind. FB's cancer is back. They found a tumor in his pelvis and vertebra. They will just try to slow the growth and help him to live with it. GP has been quite sick for a number of weeks. Truly, he hasn't been very well since his several bouts with shingles last summer. He went in for an MRI of his lungs and there are nodules on both sides. They're waiting for test results to come in. Currently they're focused on Desert Valley fever. If this comes up negative, they will be looking at cancer. Just keep him and G in your prayers.
Well, time to sign off so this will be waiting for you on P day. Can't wait to hear how you're doing. The Gospel's true and I continue to see its miracles work slowly but surly in the lives of all those who embrace it. It seems to me that God is truly gathering his people. I see individuals who have fallen away for a season drawn back, feeling that divine tentacles and the Spirit are working on them to put their lives in order so they can enjoy the fullness of the blessings God has to offer. I suspect you will see much the same in Thailand, only many will be hearing it for the first time and it will be as a familiar voice crying from the dust. What a great time to be a missionary! Thank you for your faithful service. Shoulders back, chin up!
Love,
Dad
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