Elder DeCoria and myself have had some opportunities in September and October to drive across Colorado to the west side to help transport missionaries, to check on the cleanliness of their apartments and to help move a couple of Senior couples.
On September 12, 2014, we left early in the morning and it was cold and snowing lightly. We drove to Gypsum and picked up a couple of sisters and they followed us to Rifle to drop off their apartment keys to the zone leaders and then we all headed to Grand Junction, CO. I thought this trip would be easy and fast but we were checking apartments as we went and no one had clean apartments. Some were better than others and we were rather disappointed in our sisters and elders.
After we arrived in Grand Junction, we loaded up the van from the top to the bottom and brought back to Denver Metro 4 elders. One elder unfortunately was going home (his choice) and the other 3 were getting reassigned to different companions. It was an enjoyable trip back but we didn't get back to the mission office until after 9 p.m. We were both pretty exhausted.
In our Barnum Park Branch, we have been asked to teach lessons in Relief Society, High Priests and the Gospel Essentials class. It is so different in our Branch from our ward back in Kennewick and sometimes we only have 4 or 5 people in our class. However, we are growing to really love this Branch. On Saturday nights @ 8:00 p.m., we have our missionary correlation meeting with our ward mission leader who is David Jensen. There are 6 full time missionaries serving in our branch so we love getting together with these elders frequently during the week.
The months of September and October 2014 here in Lakewood have been unseasonably warm and we have set some records for heat. I have seen some deer and coyotes on my daily walks @ Bear Creek Trail and the Fall colors are amazing. Fred and I did a service project @ the Bear Creek Trail on September 27th, wore ourselves out (me because of the heat) but we so enjoyed getting to know others and planting trees and shrubs.
The end of September, we headed across the state again to Baggs, Wyoming and then to Cedaredge to help move 2 senior couples, We stayed the night in Delta and then left the next day, loaded with furniture and boxes to drive back to Lakewood. We helped the Kneelands move into their new apartment and now we have a senior couple who is only about 5 minutes away from us.
A very cool thing about being here in Lakewood is that my sister Diane lives only 2 hours south of us. She and sometimes her husband Ralph come to the Denver Temple on a weekly basis and we get to get together with them, This opportunity is truly a blessing to us because we have never lived around the Downey family before and I love getting to know my sister better. They are such wonderful examples of true Christians.
I loved General Conference that was held October 4th and 5th. We watched the Saturday sessions @ the Jewell building and then the Sunday sessions we watched from our computer hooked to the TV. I was inspired and fed by the good word of God.
For our 38th anniversary on October 8th, we headed to Estes Park for the day and had an amazing time checking out all the elk and deer. We also drove to the top of the Rocky Mountain National Forest, an elevation of about 11,000 ft. At the top of this amazing drive, we saw mostly tundra and a little snow but we felt like we were at the top of the world.
My days are frequently spent on the phone with elders and sisters who are sick, need some questions answered or maybe just want to hear a mother's voice and I pray daily to have the wisdom and knowledge to help these young men and women. I have dealt with problems that I personally don't know much about but the Lord has always inspired me to know what to do for them. That doesn't mean that I am not tired @ the end of the day because most days I can't wait to go to bed.
