Elder Elwood, our AZ friend is going home to Florence this week. He made these for the office to thank us! He made them, I say. Left: Sister Crow, our elder, Sister Carlson, me, Sister Arnold. Sister Black was out of the office.
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Monday, June 15, 2015
VISITS FROM LOVED ONES
Visits from loved ones
June 14, 2015
It has been a fun week! We have had visits from loved ones! Julie Genet and her mom, Buena Hepler, are on a whirlwind tour of church history sites in the Midwest and they made a pitstop at the Independence Visitor Center. My elder and I raced up there from the office to see them. When she came walking out of the VC, I was Home again. What is it about familiarity and comforts of Home? We talked hard and fast for almost an hour while the tour meandered over to Temple Lot. I am at peace. Show Low is still standing. The gospel is still true there. I can carry on here on this wonderful experience with my elder.This weekend, Mike's brother, Rich is here along with his wife, Carla. We are beginning to feel like tour guides. We have developed a love for this area and the meaning of what will take place here. How can we not haul all our loved ones to Adam-Ondi-Ahman and Liberty Jail with stops coming and going along the way? We have been so proud to introduce all our visitors to any missionary within sight and sound. After all, they are all our favorites and we are in awe of the
commitment and sacrifice they have all made to come preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. When Sister Gunter gave a beautiful presentation at Liberty Jail to us, I was as proud as if she were my own child. I will never quit looking at these young missionaries and be reminded that I have 21 grandchildren at home who will be given the opportunity to do this in their young lives. I hope and pray some old Senior Missionary will love and care for them as much as I do for all of these Missouri Independence missionaries.
So, like the classic Field of Dreams movie where he built it and they came, I say to all our friends and loved ones....it is already built. Come see it. We will sneak out of the office for a bit, share a tear or two with you, and then haul you as hard and fast as we can to some significant location. I believe Darlene and Jess Hitchcock are next in the lineup this week. Our Thursday evening is booked already, the rest of you. Call us. We will work you in.
My love to all of you,
Sister Seaman
The Simple Life
Of late, I have thought about the life Sister Seaman and I are living. It is the simplest version of any form of life we have ever lived. We live in a small apartment, our furniture is the mission variety, which means that nothing matches, it is old (usually bought at an estate sale or Salvation Army), and has scratches and dings, so no worries there. We don't have any obligations other than show up at the Mission Office at 8:30 or there abouts to do our duty (volunteer work) for the day and then go home. No kids or grandkids around. We eat what we want, when we want. The only bills we pay are the contribution to the church for the mission and a few utility and insurance bills at home. I doubt that it could be much simpler.The reason I even bring it up is that I like it. Very little stress. No one cares too much if you're late. Do what you want after hours. We go to the Temple twice a month. No huge church commitments every night or weekends. The Missionaries really seem to like us (especially Sister Seaman.) It is kind of growing on us. Another mission in the future now looks good. We like the boss (the Lord) and He is very kind to us. He blesses us and our family in our absence and will for eternity. The only real drawback is seeing the kids and grandkids more often and that is a big one, but it is worth it.
We are changing slowly. We are different people than when we left Show Low almost 8 months ago. We are getting a good taste of what is really important and it is not "things." We already knew that but not to the degree that we know it now.
Maybe at the end of 18 months things will look different than they do today. Maybe we will go back to Show Low and pick-up where we left off. I doubt it. Things are good.
Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Monday, June 8, 2015
Welcome to the Ward
Welcome to the Ward
June 7, 2015
We were late coming from our Temple Prep Sunday School class to Relief Society today. I ran into our young sisters who were talking to an older lady in the hall. She noticed my nametag and wondered how many missionaries there could be in the building. Our ward has a total of 5 young missionaries and 2 senior couples, us being one of them. As we visited with her, we found out she was a member of the "RLDS church, now known as the Community of Christ". (her words) Her husband and her are disillusioned about the changes that have been made in their church. Namely, the acceptance of gays, or anyone not living the laws of God as stated in the Bible that marriage is between a man and a woman. She has three sons with families who too are wondering what went wrong in their church. One daughter-in-law is a direct descendent of Joseph Smith, Jr. so she feels a pull of allegiance to her family to stick with it.I pulled out my faithful Book of Mormon and turned to The Family Proclamation I have glued in the back. I started tearing it out for her to take home and read. Our young sisters remembered they had one in their arsenal of teaching materials so she got a clean copy to study. We told her President Gordon B. Hinckley, a late prophet gave that to the world from the Lord 20 years ago or so. It should answer any questions about Marriage and Family. She got excited and told us she used to love to watch "Brother Hinckley" on BYU channel give talks. She thought he was "marvelous".
During this time, the sisters left to escort a young Haitian family to the chapel. This was their first time and the young missionaries from that ward had invited them to come check out our meetings. While they were gone, she wondered what type of a mission I was on. I told her office work. A different type of work but we were willing to do that because we loved the Lord.
At the end of the meeting, she told me and the young sisters that she will be back. But first, her and her husband have a list of other churches in the area to visit. I say we will meet again. What do you think, my dear Blog readers? I hope this is not the end of a wonderful story.....
If were a visitor in our ward today, I would have heard a congregation singing loud and clear "I Believe in Christ"; watched the name and blessing of the newest member of the ward done by his worthy priesthood holder father; partaken of the sacrament blessed and passed by young priesthood holders all wearing suits; heard four Samoan testimonies, a testimony from Brother Mulanozzi, a new convert with his wife and five children, and many others proclaiming that this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Becky Adair could not have left that building today without some kind of a feeling that we may have something she is missing in her life. One highlight today for her was to hear it from our mouth that, "No, we do not practice polygamy in any way, shape, or form today." Isn't that funny? So, Becky, welcome to the ward. Hope we meet again.
All my love,
Sister Seaman
Somebody's got to do it...
When I left the Sierra Pines Ward, in Show Low Arizona, for this Mission 7 months ago, I was probably the best ward restroom cleaner in the Stake. I could make it shine and smell nice. I was proud of the job I did. You know, shiney urinals, sparkling toilets. Anyway, somebody's got to do it. Here in Missouri, I deliver furniture and pick-up furniture 5 days a week. The only thing that changes is the location. I am getting pretty good at it. The church sent the mission a new Chevy pick-up and so now I drive the pick-up and pull the trailer instead of the 12 passenger van and the trailer. So much better. I drive all over the place. It amazes me how many miles I am putting on that new truck. I am also getting to know eastern Kansas and western Missouri pretty well.Just a note about the geography. Most of Kansas is flat plains and most of Missouri is flat plains except for our mission. It is rolling hills with ponds and trees along the rivers and streams. We have been getting lots of rain of late. The Liberty area got about 6 inches the other day. But this country sucks up the water. It disappears real quick. The corn is growing about 2 inches per day (slight exaggeration.) Everything is so green and lush.
I digress. I hope that the Lord is ok with the job I am doing. I am trying to do it to the best of my ability. But it is a lot like cleaning restrooms. Somebody's got to do it and that somebody is me.
Did you know that only 10 percent of senior couples in the church serve missions. That is way too low as far as I am concerned. There are lots of things that keep them from serving but I think the Lord is disappointed. If you commit when you're younger to serve, it will probably happen, but if you wait and decide when your old, you won't be prepared. Do it now. Elder Clark was here for a mission training last week. He said that the Lord loves his senior missionaries. That they are receiving blessings for their families that will last through the eternities. I believe him.
So it doesn't matter what I am doing, as long as I am serving this mission. I feel joy about it most days. Remember, there is lots to do in the kingdom, and somebody's got to do it.
Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
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| New Chevy Truck |
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| Sister Reeves and Sister Jones want to be my personal assistants. |
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| Love letters from Chloe and Livi. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHLOE! |
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