June 7, 2015
Re: Letter 27of 3
Dear Riley:
One week of summer vacation behind us and one major summer event already in the bag. Friday and Saturday I was at Stake Youth Conference. It was held up at Heber Valley Camp and was well organized and executed. The weather was a little cold, and this was the first time I can remember in a long while that I was shaking with cold. (Granted, I had loaned my jacket to be chivalrous.), but the wind was bitter and cut through all my layers. What a camp! Every time I visit Heber Valley Camp I’m impressed with the facilities and vision behind it. I had been wondering how much money went into its construction and one of the missionaries started talking about it He said they don’t have an exact number, but that it is second only to the Conference Center and in excess of $100,000,000. The construction is top notch and way over engineered for Seismic and meteorological events. It made me feel pleased to be part of such an organization.
Parker has been working for me a week now and seems to be settling in well. It’s good to have him and I already notice a difference in the projects I’ve not had time to get to yet. I’ve decided to use him in fabricating some useful tools for production, which is something he’s quite excited about. However, first things first, and he hasn’t been able to the exciting projects yet. I have him working on less exciting menial tasks which we would need to address whether he was there or not. This is good experience for him and I’m sure will prepare him for missionary service as he does important things which aren’t particularly enjoyable or exciting. He IS excited over earning money and should have a good sum at the end of summer.
The Cs are back in town for the summer and it’s good to have them. J is back from Arkansas and has matured both physically and spiritually. There’s a new confidence and brightness in his countenance which comes only from being a good missionary. He looks great and we look forward to his report within a couple weeks.
The quorums are slowly growing and for the first time in Parker’s Aaronic Priesthood experience they had more people than were needed for the fast offering routes. We had combined Priesthood today, and didn’t have a class room big enough for the AP to meet. Every other week it seems we are getting another deacon or advancement within the Aaronic Priesthood.
I’m tired and zoning even as I type, but it has been a good Sunday Being Bishop has been the best, busiest, and most extraordinary calling I’ve ever had. I’m continually amazed by the fruits of the gospel and the blessings being poured out upon us. I’m puzzled from time to time by those who aren’t experiencing the fullness of the gospel fruits in their lives and who struggle with testimony and faith. If people could just believe enough to do, open their eyes to see, and give credit to God as His hand is manifest in their lives, amazing things would happen in their lives. Sadly, or at least understandably I can’t pour what I feel so deeply into their hearts and minds. This is truly spiritual oil which cannot be shared. It warms my heart to hear how people’s lives are being changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ, for the better, half way around the world in Thailand and I’m grateful for your faithful service.
The garden is looking good and we’ll be eating our first crop of peas and lettuce by the end of the week. Frustratingly I beat back the snails, only to end up battling the baby grasshoppers and they’re having a fiesta with my lettuce leaves. Four garden boxes are completed with one more slated to be finished by midsummer. The apples are large and abundant and ready for thinning and your Mother just made rhubarb pie with our first pick of rhubarb. The jury is still out on whether my bees are out of the woods yet. For me, at least, it’s been much more difficult to establish a stable bee colony than I ever imagined. Still, life’s quite good and I love the bounty of the earth as well as the law of the harvest.
Our table in the front room is covered with brochures for home décor ideas and you Mother and I have been looking at wood flooring and carpet options. Our next project is the front room complete with new paint, texture, trim, flooring, and window dressing. We’ve elected to resurface the kitchen and extend it all the way into the front room. This has a few of the kids distressed, but I think it will be beautiful. Hopefully this won’t take as long as some of the other projects. Little by little we’ll knock out the almost endless list of home improvements. I can’t help but wonder if this is typical for most households.
Well, it’s time to head over to Grandma’s. Great Grandpa will be staying with them for the next couple weeks and the rest of the family is already over there visiting. Stay the course, run the race and reap the eternal reward. We love you and pray for your safety and success daily.
Love,
Dad
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