Bathroom Friends

Dear Friends and Family,

Where to begin?  In the movies they always say "the beginning", but I'm not sure the bathroom at Costco is appropriate for a mission story, however, it is where my story starts this week.

 

While at Costco on Wednesday, I ran into the cutest lady in the Ladies room.  We were giggling over a very disgusting potty which we both avoided.  We then went our separate ways only to meet up again at the check out stand.  By then she had met up with her two sisters and two nieces, one who was in a wheelchair.  We started giggling again and she asked where we were serving and where were we from.  She wanted to know where we would be in the morning so I told her Brigham Young's.  She told me her two nieces had contracted Polio when they were tiny and that her sister (BTW, the sister is 88 yrs old) still took her daughters everywhere and wanted to know if Brigham Young's was wheelchair accessible.  It's not, but they still wanted to come and see it.  I said I would be happy to give them a tour if they made it.  Sure enough the next morning I rounded a corner of the house, finishing up a tour, to see the 5 darling women I had talked to at Costco.  We did the tour and finished outside on the back porch and then they told me the story of their sweet sister who had cared for her two daughters with polio and a son who had passed away from cancer.  The sacrifice of this sweet mother and the thousands of hours of care that was necessary to take care of these children was remarkable.  They told me nothing ever stopped her, she just kept going, never feeling sorry for herself and not letting polio stop her girls.  Then they bore testimonies of how much Heavenly Father loved them and how grateful they were for his love and each other. 

Now I know you are asking yourselves, isn't Dawna supposed to be teaching the tourists?  The answer is a resounding yes, however, it was my turn to be taught.  I pray that I will remember these sweet ladies and the example of faith, enduring, and the love that they share with everyone.

On Wednesday morning we decided to take the city tour "Saint George Live".  What a fun morning.  They have volunteers who portray Jacob Hamblin, Orson Pratt, Judge McFarland, Erastus Snow, Brigham Young and Margaret Harrison Parker. (she was a pioneer woman in the Martin/Willie Handcart Company)  They did a wonderful job telling stories and experiences that took place in the early settling of Saint George with no religious overtones.  It was fun to hear different stories that we don't get to tell.  Especially, Judge McFarland.  He did a mock trail of two neighbors who were disputing water rights.  Sister Jones was accused of putting a rock under her water gate, letting a little water into her garden all the time.  Her neighbor had witnessed her doing this 3 times and he was flaming mad.  Sister Jones was found guilty but was given community service because she had eleven children to feed.  Judge McFarland told her if she did it again, she would be put in jail. Don't make Judge McFarland mad.  Here comes da Judge, Here comes da Judge.

Thursday night we had a "Hi Goodbye" party for the Young's who left today.  As you can see by the pictures, old people can have a bunch of fun if you give them hula hoops, bubble gum and jump ropes.  It was a fifties theme and we had it catered by Iceburg.  Hamburgers, fries, root beer floats,what more can you ask for.  What a great group of Sr. Missionaries that we have the opportunity to associate with.  Hope we can keep up with them. 

Also, we were so excited that Kristi, Dave and family stopped by on their way to Lake Powell and on their way home to CA.  They showed us lots of pictures of 45 people, two house boats, four ski boats, 6 jet skies, 5 paddle boards, 1 kayak, a zip line from one house boat to the other and 1 slip and slide down the hill of the shore, cliff jumping, tubing and wake boarding.  Bruce and I were just grateful there were no disasters or injuries.  The best part of a Lake Powell trip is returning home with smiles on faces and great memories. 

We were also fortunate my sister Julie & her husband Ken stopped by to attend their grandson's ordination to a priest. We had a wonderful visit but I'm so sad I forgot to take a picture. This journaling thing is really hard. Trying to remember what happened during the week & taking pictures is a new for me & frankly maybe teaching new tricks to an old dog is true.

Last but not least, we again had friends come visit.  We hiked, laughed, ate, went to Tuachan, gave them tours of the historical sites, ate some more and laughed a lot more.  We love our friends the Watts and Hanceys.  

We love all of you and pray all is well. We continue to love what we are doing and just hope we are doing it right.  Have a wonderful week.

Love Bruce and Dawna