A Cold Morning

Missionaries on their way to Worldwide Broadcast. I love this time.

Worldwide Missionary Broadcast

Watching from the VC. The room was full. The missionaries in the mission were watching at stake centers in their area. We added over 230 missionaries to the count of 75,0000 worldwide. Not bad.

A Busy Spot

Mission office on transfer day. Pick up their mail, take care of business, and get on the road. The Lord is counting on you.

Ice on the Missouri

Saints crossed this river as they were driven out of MO. How did they survive?

A COLD TRANSFER

A COLD TRANSFER

January 24, 2016

     The Lord was busy in Missouri Independence Mission this week. I have come to love and dread Transfers at the same time. Love because I get to see the excitement that change brings. Dread because we "lose" some of our friends for a short while. Five of our friends were released to go home. Eleven new missionaries arrived. On the Thursday morning when missionaries meet and greet their new companions is when the fun begins. Our new car czar, Elder Fuller, is giving driving tests to new drivers as quickly as he can. His wife, Sister Fuller, is collecting and dispensing phones to new companionships if needed. Elder Schlager is answering money questions while his wife is checking mail and baptism referrals. Sister Arnold, our nurse, is holed up in the back calmly listening to missionaries medical problems while her phone is ringing off the hook from doctors' offices scheduling appointments for everything from skin rashes to headaches. My elder is usually down at the Batcave handing out bedding, spatulas, blenders, and bikes. Or he is on the road delivering beds to those apartments that need an extra mattress after an emergency transfer has been made at the last minute. As for me....I try to stay in my designated office and act busy.
     I could write a book about the things I hear in there....."I'm up for this.....I can go to the end of nowhere and open a new area"......"I've been praying for a transfer!"......."My companion has been praying for a transfer"......."I am not ready to go home!"......"It's time. I'm ready to go home and get on with Life."....."Will you take a picture and send to my mom so she doesn't freak out when she doesn't hear from me this week?"....."Can I schedule a appointment with President Vest?"....."President Vest wants me to schedule an appointment so He can see me."......."WHERE is your husband? I need .......and I can't find him."......."Sister Seaman, I can't find Elder Seaman anywhere and I just want to thank him for all he has done for me."
     I have learned that my elder tries to stay clear of the office because he does not like Good-byes. He will return to find all kinds of sticky notes plastered on his desk for requests and, also, little handwritten Thank You notes.
      So, to Elders Stallings, Cluster, Sanger and  Sisters Pistorius and Hansen. See you around the bend.  There are eleven new ones right on your tail. They will adjust to missionary life and the Lord will turn them into wonderful missionaries just like all of you have been. My grandkids....did you read this? When you go on your missions there will be lots of people out there supporting you. More importantly, The Lord will be on your side. You will learn to love and dread Transfers just like this old sister missionary does.

My Love to my grandkids,
Sister Seaman....aka Grams to Cash, Sailor, Avy, Max, Zane, Macy, Noah, Ezra, Mikael, Elijah, Kyson, Brookie, Teag, Ellie, Livi, Chloe, Mattie, Kenzie, Jett, Ethan, Kortney AND Cody....

Ditto

     Sister Seaman and I were just saying that it must be time to go home because there is nothing new to talk about.  It is becoming harder and harder to come up with something new to write about.  Our duties here in the mission field have been the same for 15 months now.  The missionaries come and go every 6 weeks.  The successes and trials are much the same.  I can say ditto to what my companion has written above.  Heart-ache and joy. Heart-ache and joy. Repeat.
     Every now and then I find myself slipping into the self-pity mode and wonder why I was called to deliver the furniture and the beds and the vacuum cleaners.  Other senior missionaries seem to have better assignments (ie, visitor center, FM, etc.)  My assignment seems rather low on the totem pole.  I find myself wanting to shirk my duties.  Weird, huh?
     But then something happens and everything changes, again.  The mission opened up a new area to elders down in Chanute, KS.  A two hour drive from the mission office.  I drove down there 3 times this month.  Once to find an apartment, once to sign the lease for the apartment and then to deliver the furniture for the new apartment.  These are some long days by myself.  As I drive, I find myself whistling or singing to the music (often Piano Guys, or Celtic Women or Enya.)  I watch the scenery around me change from rolling hills to straight-out flat.  But even in winter there is something very beautiful about this country.  I love it.
     On the last trip to Chanute, I have two missionaries with me to help unload the heavy furniture items.  The apartment is upstairs.  I am so glad to have them with me.  On the way back, the missionaries are asking me some life questions.  One of them asks me what I thought he ought to say in his homecoming report (he went home this week.)  What would be the most important thing he could say.  He had been thinking about it, and couldn't find anything to say. He said that he really wasn't sure why he came out and wondered whether it was worth it.  This young man was a great missionary.  He had been a Zone leader, District Leader, and Trainer.  I thought about it for a few seconds and told him that no matter what he thought of his success as a missionary, he should remember that the Lord will love him forever because of his sacrifice.  Because no matter what else happens, he did what he was ask to do with no thought of reward, he was obedient and he gave his all to the work for two years.  I told him that at some point in the near future, the Lord would let him know how much that sacrifice meant.  And that he should never forget what the Lord thought of him.
     My cup was running over at the conclusion of that conversation.  He left me a note as he went home that said thanks.  I say you are the one that needs to hear it from me.  Thanks Elder Stallings, thanks for being a very good young man and a friend forever. 

Sincerely,
Elder Seaman

The Ducks are Confused

The geese flew in and act like they own the place this week. The poor ducks are so confused. This is just a sample of what we have walking, honking, and pooping all over the apt grounds. I love them.

MY AZ Gals

This was before Christmas. SISTERS ( l-r) Hunt and Oldroyd are both from Mesa. Just another fine example of what the Lord has to work with.

Elders Beyeler and Papworth

Obedient missionaries praying for Irma. Beyeler is from ID and Papworth hales from CA.

Where is Irma?

Where is Irma?

January 17, 2016

     Today, my mind is reliving the birth of our youngest daughter 30 years ago.  Where did the time go? How can she even think to be that old? Caitlin has grown into a beautiful wife and mother with three way above average children living in her home. It has been a real adventure to birth, know, like, and love her this many years.
     Speaking of time......we had two of our elders come in the office on Monday with a referral. They had met and taught a lesson to a lady from Mexico. She was going back there, but wanted to continue with her teaching, and had actually committed to a baptism date on February 28, 2016. She wrote her name and address for the missionaries, and when they deciphered it back into English, the Church Referral system would not take it. It stated it needed a clearer address. She did not leave a phone number for them. She did tell them she knew she lived close to the Mexico City Temple and had seen it.
     So, on a whim, Sister Schlager, our new referral secretary, sent the following address down to the mission office that the Mexico Guadalajara Temple is in:

Irma ________   ___________
5036 Federico Ibariea Zapopan Jalisco Infonauit Elocolli Muniai Guadalajara Mexico

She stated "Please try to find her--and it may take a miracle, but we believe in them, right?"

The next day she received this reply: " We have received your email and it is actually in our area. We have located her address and will contact her as soon as possible. Thanks, Elder Fuentes"

     So, hopefully, by now Irma has at least one more lesson down. You may credit this to good timing; good map skills; etc. I say Elders Beyeler and Papworth are obedient young missionaries that are trying their best to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They reported back to us that they had enlisted their whole district in praying for the missionaries to find Irma. Isn't this a sweet little miracle? My grandchildren, remember this little story. There are Irmas out there waiting for you to find them

My tender love to all my family,
Sister Seaman .....aka Grandma and Mom

Change

     Today our Bishop Talimatasi was released after serving for 6 years and 1 month.  He has been a great Bishop to his people.  He was so well trained I could hardly believe what I was hearing some of the time.  He was bold to the point of hurting feelings.  He was loving to the point of excess. 
     He spoke a very broken English.  His native tongue being Samoan.  He was always saying how very much appreciated everything was.  I just love the man and his wife.  They have been so kind to us.  They like the senior and junior missionaries in their ward.  There are two senior couples, one set of sisters and one set of elders.  They throw special parties to honor them.  They ask them to eat first at ward parties.  It is a little embarrassing but you do feel appreciated.   So Bishop, I say thanks for your loyalty to the Lord and your great service to his people.
     Bishop Taviuni was called as the new Bishop.  He was the High Councilman to the Blue Mills Ward.  I am sure he is also a good man.
     Change is always with us.  What a great thing it is to be able to have the confidence in the changing of a Bishop, that everything will be essentially the same.  Especially the doctrine.
     It was a busy week this week for me and I am tired.  I have slept about 11 hours out of the last 24.  We either moved or loaded 3 apartments this week. One of the Apartments was in Chanute, Kansas, about two hours south on the southern border of the mission. I have prepared 4 apartments for the upcoming transfer this next week.  We will have 12 new missionaries coming in on Wednesday and 5 going home on Friday.  More change.
     Change will always be with us, but the gospel will always be the same.  I am grateful for that principal.  Stay the course.  I love you all.

Sincerely,
Elder Seaman


    
     

We got Doored.

A happy surprise when we got back from Kortney's wedding.

Back in the Saddle

Back in the Saddle

January 10, 2016

 

     We are back in the saddle again. The  transition was easy to make. We flew into town Tuesday afternoon and drove straight to the office. When it was quitting time, we headed home to see that our little apartment had been "doored" while we were away. (see picture above)  It was a Welcome sight. A missionary or two must have missed us. Not one of the locals will take responsibility for it.
    In the time we were away, two emergency transfers took place due to illnesses. I am always in awe that these young missionaries seem to be so flexible. When a call comes from President
Vest, they can pack their bags and be out the door to a new area in nothing flat, as long as they have a ride. They wake up in new surroundings and immediately get to work. I love that about them. And always, they seem to be so happy and thankful. For everything. I want to be more like that. So, this year, I want to say.....

                      "It is not happy people who are thankful.....
                        It is thankful people who are happy...."

    
     I have been working on the mission history in order to send it in to Salt Lake. I was ordering the New Arrival pictures for the year late Thursday afternoon when a herd of missionaries came stomping into the office. The monthly Mission Leadership Council was over. They had been in training all day with President Vest. In my mind, I was reviewing pictures of young elders and sisters who had arrived in the mission in the course of this past year and now, some of them are here and they are part of the leadership. Sister Baggett, a newly called Sister Training Leader, exclaimed to me how much she had loved her day. She threw out her arms and said, "How could I not love it? Sitting in that room with such good people who are all united to the same cause?"
     That is how I have to sum up my simple week. Nothing earth shattering or even newsworthy. Oh wait, I take that back. I am here to report that I am happy. I am thankful to be out here patting these missionaries on the back. We are all united in the same cause. That is to help spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Isn't that the most happy thing anyone can think of?

My Love to my Darling Grandchildren!
Sister Seaman

Stay in the Saddle

     It must be "Saddle Sunday."  Both Sister Seaman and I have saddles on our minds.  When we were home last week, we saw President Williams, Show Low Arizona Stake President.  For some reason he ask me to think about any advice that I might give him.  It was a very open-ended assignment.  I thought about it a couple of times trying to figure out what he wanted from me.  I got to see him before we left to go home and he ask me again what I thought.  The only thing that came to my mind was to say "Stay in the saddle."
    I had thought how lame that little bit of old western advise was.  But I thought about it all the way home on the plane and I now think maybe it wasn't so lame. 
    The saying, "Stay in the Saddle," means exactly that.  It was and is a term to express to the rider of a horse that it is safer to stay in the saddle than to be thrown off.  Being thrown off can bring on some excruciating pain.  So no matter what the horse is doing (i.e., bucking, running out of control, jumping fences, etc.) it is safer to stay in the saddle if at all possible.  I have known some cowboys who have not stayed in the saddle (one Quinn Smith) and have been broken up, scraped up and stepped on.
    So President, Stay in the Saddle, even when the going gets tough and the interviews pile up, and the Saints don't do right, and you're wondering how it will all get done, just Stay in the Saddle.  In fact, we pray that you will stay in the saddle until the Lord releases you and then you can swing down from the horse you've been riding and say, whew! I'm glad that ride is over.
    To the my children and friends, I also say Stay in the Saddle.  Don't get bucked off and land on your head and go off crazy.  Don't leave the God that loves you, don't get hurt feelings, don't leave your testimony on the horse, listen to the Prophet's voice, read your scriptures, say your prayers, teach your kids the gospel, have family home evening. Do your calling.  Make some sacrifices.
     So when you hear me say, Stay in the Saddle, you know what I mean. Stay safe.
     I love you all.

Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
    

 

We Worked Hard. We Partied Hard.

We Worked Hard. We Partied Hard.

January 3, 2016

     Our week Home in Show Low, AZ is ending. We have worked hard. We have partied hard. It has been a week we will never forget. How can we be old enough to have a married granddaughter? It seems so surreal. She was a beautiful bride. Cody was a handsome, worthy groom that hit the jackpot.
So many dear friends and relatives came to wish them well at their reception. The decorations and food were outstanding.  All of our children and grandchildren looked topnotch. And, can they all cut a rug......It has been pure joy.
    Certainly, the highlight was Tuesday morning in the Snowflake Temple as our old bishop, LaVell Owens, sealed this young couple for all eternity, depending on their worthiness. We woke that morning to gentle snow falling down outside our window. The forest around our little house in Sierra Pines was still. It was as if Heavenly Father was blessing the day and sending word from the heavens that this marriage was approved.  Did he know of each person's feelings involved in this marriage? Did He understand the bittersweet thoughts of Jerry and Mauriah? Dave and Gaye Tenney? The happy feelings of Kortney's two brothers, Ethan and Jett? And, of course, the thoughts of the bride and groom, Kortney and Cody?
     I have faith that He did and He does. I have faith that He approved of two old missionaries leaving their line of work to return Home to celebrate for a short while. It was an occasion to remember. We are both so thankful to have been here. But now the time has come to say "So Long" for a few more short months, get back on that plane, and get back where we belong. In the Independence Missouri Mission office. Hope they left the lights on for us.

"God has infinite attention, infinite time to spare for each of us. He doesn't have to take us in line. You're as much alone with Him as if you were the only thing He'd ever created."
                                                                                                                             C. S. Lewis

My Love,
Sister Seaman

How Could this Happen to us???

     Just a note tonight to express my gratitude to Heavenly Father, family, friends and especially Mauriah and Jerry Walker and Dave and Gay Tenney.  Maybe Cody and Kortney came good but often times it is what the parents and everyone else, that had an influence on these two, put in to it. Thank you.  The week could not have been better.  We are so grateful that we were given permission to come home.  We couldn't be happier.
     Just one thing.  This event could make us GREAT-GRANDPARENTS within the next year.  How could that happen to us so soon.  Time marches on.
     Now back to work.  We have felt a little weird being here in Show Low as full-time missionaries and not doing our assignments.  We will try to catch up starting Tuesday.  See you back in Show Low in 3.5 months.

Love you all,
Elder Seaman

Our Boys

The Girls

Our 6 Girls and their Girls. It has been one big party.

How can this be?

Our oldest daughter, Mauriah with her oldest daughter, Kortney. Two beautiful girls right there.

Best Reason Ever to go MIA

On December 29, 2015, it snowed  ferociously as Cody and Kortney Tenney walked out of the Snowflake AZ Temple. It made this wonderful day even more memorable. Here they are with Kortney ' s family, the Walkers.