"Preparation Day"

Every Saturday is our "P" Day or Preparation Day.  This is our day off, when we spend time with the kids and find fun places to visit here in Omaha. The Saturday before Sarah left we went to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge.  This great bridge connects Iowa and Nebraska, crossing over the Missouri River. We got there early to avoid the crowds and found ourselves alone with only the most committed joggers, skaters and bikers.  Just below the bridge on the Nebraska side is a beautiful monument dedicated to the working man, entitled "Labor."  Matthew had fun with a few of the statues but it really is a fantastic piece.

We also found a great visitor center devoted to the Missouri River and it's conservation.  Apparently people have done so much damage while using it as passage for so many years that much of the wild life and original vegetation has been lost.  Now they are trying to rebuild  the banks hoping to bring back some of the animals and plants.  We watched a great movie about the Lewis and Clark Expedition and got a little taste of what this magnificent river used to be.  No wonder the Lord used it in His revelation to Joseph Smith to illustrate the power of Deity: As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.  (D&C121:33)

"We love our "P" Days and plan each one carefully using our time to the MAX!  We'll probably see this area better than most of the natives.  

Bye, Sarah

After seven weeks in Nebraska, Sarah has gone back to Utah for fall semester at BYU.  I honestly don't think I could have made this transition so well without her love, help and support. She's a hard worker and her Dad and I really appreciated all her efforts.  She also had great experiences splitting almost every day with the Sister Missionaries here in Omaha.  She got to teach, tract and even GQ (golden question) a few times. She absolutely loves missionary work and has made some life long friends among the Sisters. Now it is back to the books. We miss her already.

Missionary Miracles!

We just got these great pictures from Scott of two wonderful families he has grown to love as he has shared the gospel with them.  It really is a miracle how the truths of the gospel can inspire such faith, love and an eternal perspective.  We know these relationships that Scott is building will last for eternity because of the special bond that forms between missionaries and their converts. Oh, and by the way, since they all look Mexican, Scott is the one on the far right in both pictures! 

Henry Doorly Zoo

Wow, what a zoo!  I have never seen such natural habitats for the animals.  They all seem pretty happy, except for maybe the big silver back gorilla who just appears bored.  The place is huge and there are many different exhibits that are so well done that you get a real feel for the country where the animals would live in the wild. For instance there is a desert habitat that sits under a huge dome and is filled with all kinds of cactus and sand.  The birds fly wild inside and all the animals native to this kind of area are housed in very natural settings.  Another great place is the aquarium where you actually walk past glass walls and underneath glass bridges.  It honestly feels like you are inside with the sharks!  It is huge too, we walked for ever it seemed and still didn't see it all.  I'm sure we will go many times and enjoy it just as much as the first time.  My sister, Stacey, worked here at the zoo when her husband was going to dental school and she used to rave about it, and now I can surely see why.  Sooooo, another reason to come visit Nebraska....the Henry Doorly Zoo!!  

Farewell To Ten Fantastic Missionaries!

 We had the traditional farewell dinner and testimony meeting with our ten returning missionaries.  Each one bore beautiful testimonies, expressing a deep love for the Savior and His work.  We wish them all well and the Lord's choicest blessings to be with them as they move forward in their lives.  Thanks for a job well done!!!!

New Missionaries

We welcomed our first group of new missionaries recently and they are wonderful young people.  It's amazing how much love you can feel for people you just met, but the Lord seems to keep expanding our hearts, and we honestly feel like our family keeps growing.  Our one Sister and twelve Elders come from Utah, Arizona, California, Idaho and Washington State.  They had a little bit of a crazy flight; having missed their connection to Omaha due to plane problems, they ended up coming in the middle of the night but were still very happy to see us!  We spent two great days with them and then sent them out to the field.  We will welcome another group in six weeks! 

We're Here!

It's hard to believe that we're in Omaha.  It is a beautiful little city; clean and nicely developed. Once you get out of the city it's rolling corn fields as far as the you can see.  I don't know why but I just love to see the fields, they are so green and seem to represent such industry and stability, which is very comforting to me.  We have been welcomed by the most open, generous, lovely people both from our ward, the mission and even our neighborhood.  This is that "midwest hospitality" that you hear so much about.  

Our first week was spent in mini Zone Conferences to introduce ourselves to all our missionaries.  Each of the kids spoke and told a little bit about themselves and I introduced the rest of the family.  Then Milan spent the remainder of the meeting talking about missionary work and his expectations and hopes for the work in Nebraska.  We then had a question and answer session followed by lunch. 

The second and third week we spent interviewing each of the 124 missionaries.  Milan actually interviewed them and I discussed their medical histories and health and safety recommendations.  These were long days but it was great to meet each one.  They are all wonderful young people and the Lord has really expanded our hearts to feel such love and concern for them already.

The fourth week was transfer week which means that we received 13 new missionaries and sent 10 missionaries home.  Wow, what a week.  I cooked three meals for 20+ and one for 40+.  We had training and testimony meetings and went to the Mormon Trail Center with both groups and the Temple with the returning missionaries.  It is a very busy schedule but the Spirit is so strong in this work and the Lord loves His young missionaries so much that it is a spiritual feast every day. 

Last Sunday our family was asked to speak at a small branch called Conestoga which is in downtown Omaha.  Each of the kids spoke again and then Milan and me.  This is actually Dan's third talk this month; he spoke in our sacrament meeting the week before.  What a good sport!!!!

We had some sadness too.  One of our Elders lost his sister in a car accident and went home for the funeral.  It was a difficult time for him but he is now back to finish the last 6 weeks of his mission with an even more powerful testimony of the Savior.  Even though we call them Elders and try to treat them like men, they are still very young in so many ways and we just hurt for them.

One of our senior sisters has been very sick too.  It seems that there is always something going on medically.  I get many calls a day with every kind of ailment you can imagine, from ingrown toenails to migraines.  I have such great support from the church to make sure everyone gets the best of care.

Poor Milan has been going non-stop.  He has much more to think about than I but he just keeps plugging away.  It seems that there is always much more to do then we can do in a day.  We go to bed so tired, but happy.

This week I have tried to focus on the kids.  They  have been such troopers and have really supported us in our work.  Today we went to the Omaha Zoo.  What a fantastic place!  I have never seen such incredible habitats for the animals and so many things to do.  We had a great time (but received about 10 phone calls while we were there!).

Well, that brings us up to today.  Tomorrow we go to the temple with one of the Zones and Friday we have another Temple session with the Zone Leaders and then Zone Leader Council.  I get to make lunch for them too. I have loved the book my friends gave me: "Cooking for Crowds - for Dummies"  (Thank you very much!).

Next week we have three Zone Conferences with lunch and activities.  It really is "non-stop" but we have felt such love and support in our callings.  It has been kind of hard being the "new kids on the block"  but we are getting the hang of it and even feeling that the missionaries are coming to love us as we love them.  What a privilege to be a part of this great work.  It truly is the Lord's work and He is extremely involved in it.  We feel His guidance every day and feel so grateful for it. 

We miss you all so much and you are all in our prayers!  Thank you for the cards.  We put them in our china cabinet so we can see them everyday.  Talk to you soon!