This week is transfer week, and Chris will be remaining in Sedro-Woolley for another 6 weeks. His companion is being transferred, so he will get a new companion on November 19. We'll learn more about who that is next Monday.
With the holidays coming up, several of the moms of missionaries were talking about what they are sending their kids for Thanksgiving. Well, in our home, Chanukah is a much bigger deal than Thanksgiving. I sent the email below to my immediate family and a few close friends, but felt impressed to share it on Chris's blog:
November 11, 2013
Hi! As you know, I have been a bit down and out having had two surgeries in 10 days. Physically, I am improving a little bit each day, and I'm grateful for that. Mentally, I still have good days and rough ones. I'm not one to lay around so it's challenging, but most days are good ones. I have honestly felt uplifted and truly felt prayers by my friends of many different faiths.
On Saturday, I was feeling pretty down. I spent a good part of the day crying at different times. Had my own personal pity party, if you will. Tom was super busy, Katy was off with a friend, the pain was less than optimal, and I missed Chris. One of the moms in our Everett Mission Mom group posted a question and asked what we were sending our missionaries for thanksgiving. I replied that while we love spending time with family, we don't have a specific thanksgiving food or tradition that I would send him. We bounce year over year to different places (or people come here) but that Chanukah is a big deal in our family. We love celebrating Chanukah. We have friends over, eat lots of Jew food, we tell the story and spin the dreidel and it's a GREAT time!
So in my pity party, and in writing through tears to the moms group, I simply stated that I wish Chris had a family he was close to up in this area so they could make some Chanukah stuff.
Today, Monday (11/11/13), I received the email below from a lady in Chris's area in WA. This is such a simply testimony that God knows us and he hears our prayers.
Karen
Hello, Sister Udall
My name is Dee Brignone, as a family we have had the joy of having your son in our home many of times. In one of his times here we told them that we do Passover and Hanukkah as a family, he was shocked and asked if he could come to our house since that is something his family does. So we are having them over on the 27th for dinner and to start Hanukkah he is going to do it for us. I was hoping that I could make some food that will make him feel like home. Our Hanukkah has always just been lighting the menorah so I would love to hear what your family does. Thank you for your time.
My son who just turned 13 loves your son and looks up to him, Thank you for the spirit that you raised into a rightness young man he is.
I have pictures I will be sending you as soon as I can get them on here.
Dee Brignone
Since exchanging this email, we have since exchanged others. The Brignone family has been amazing for the missionaries, and for Chris. They feed them and welcome them into their home often. And, on the 27th, they will celebrate Chanukah!
Chris's letters from November 12 and November 18
November 12, 2013
My week has been alright. Lots of less active work. We had a lesson/ dinner with two new investigators Jocie and Seth. They are a younger couple with two kids. Lots of fun at their house that night. Seth's stepdad is actually an inactive member of the church. So, a crazy miracle that happened: On Saturday (at our dinner with them) they asked us about a previous Bishop in the ward and asked if he was still there. He is, and they told us that they had been married by him. We thought that was cool and of course knew that they would be awesome fellowshippers. Well we talked to Sis. Haddock (the former bishop's wife) and she told us that she and her husband had been talking about them a few days ago...Coincidence? I THINK NOT!! I don't understand how some think its possible that God's hand isn't in EVERYONE'S life. He is preparing ways and things in our life even when we don't know it. And all he asks in return is that we are obedient to Him and his Son and keep the commandments. Other than that, we had a lot of good dinners. We had our last dinner with the Actons on Sunday night before the dinner calendar split. (there are two sets of missionaries in the ward, and they split the calendar so the missionaries are in two geographic areas)
I also taught the 12-14 yr old class again. VERY fun! I got a picture of all of them. This week I will try to set one up with all of us in a photo. Elder Walker came with me this week. People were more focused and we got more done. :) I think, and hope, they got a lot out of it. :)
Service this week: Cleaned out the Chamber's gutters. That was also fun! Digging bird poop and mud and leaves out of a metal gutter....yummy.
November 18, 2013
So this week has been amazing! We had 2 lessons with the McCaleb
family (PMF). They both really have an AWESOME response to the gospel and
have decided to read this week. Had a CRAZY sweet lesson with the Askvig
family. I told you about the miracle that happened with the prev. bishop. Well
his (prev. bishops) wife came to the dinner and lesson. They are sooo prepared
to hear the gospel. She (askvig wife) had questions on the fact that God would
just leave us empty handed after Christ came. No new prophet or no more new
word from God. They have two kids as well. A 5yr old and a 3yr old. The 3 yr
old before we left grabbed on to my ankle and her mom kneeled down and told her
that we have to go so we can come back later. She then looked up and said
"But I love them.".....It was definitely hard to say goodbye to that
haha. They both have a HUGE desire to learn and also to come to church. They
weren't able to come today but they are planning to come next week. Not much
else other than that. Taught class again. It was a REALLY good class. Probably
because the kid who talks the most wasn't there. Now I know how the teachers
felt sometimes when I wasn't there! hahaha! ;) We did get a lot done and had a
really fun class. I did a demonstration. Took some tooth paste and brush and
one of the kids came up and brushed his teeth. Then I said, "So if we just
don't brush our teeth for a week and then brush them are they as clean or as
good as we could have got them if we brushed everyday like we are suppose to.
Well I took the tooth paste (travel size) and put it ALL on the brush. I
applied and had the kids apply it to things in the gospel. We cant read our
scriptures once a week or once a month and still get a good spiritual life. It
will not be one what the Lord has asked OR two will help our spiritual life.
You can say that with church and prayer and lots of other things. One kid
brought up scouts or mutual or callings and lots of other stuff. It was a TON
of fun! Then we talked about who should be in that classroom every sunday. So I
had each kid find or choose a friend to invite to church the next week. Hope to
have more kids in that class next week.
