Half Way Done

Dear Friends and Family,

It is January 9th, 2015 and we are over the half way mark of our mission.  It's crazy.  It seems like we just got here.  Time is flying by way to fast.  It seems like we start out on Monday and then I blink and its Sunday.

There really is a thing called "The Mission Bubble".  If you live within the "Mission Bubble" you don't hear how bad things are in the world, you don't hear how many murders have happened, how many new wars have begun, how bad or good the economy is, how much a barrel of oil is, or who is running for what office.  In fact you don't hear any politics at all.  (not a bad thing, I've decided) Our schedules are packed each day and we just don't have time to watch TV or listen to the radio.  I just realized that we haven't seen "Unbroken".  In the real world we would have been there opening day.  But what we do see and hear is pretty amazing.  

I'm not sure if I told everyone that George Durrant and Susan Easton Black Durrant are serving a mission with us. Their collateral assignment is to present a lecture in the Tabernacle every Saturday.  For those of you who don't know who they are, both were religion teachers at BYU.  She was the first woman religion professor at BYU and is the "Church History Guru" of all Guru's.  She has written over 140 books.  One you may recognize is "The Lion of The Lord".   He was a permanent fixture at Education Week for years, plus has written several books as well.  They are wonderful new friends and fountains of knowledge that we get to drink from.

Last Monday night for family night Sister Durrant did a lesson on the Masonic connection with Joseph Smith.  It was so fascinating.  She maintains that if any one is questioning Joseph Smith and his prophetic calling, doesn't know enough about Joseph Smith.  How fortunate we are to be able to sit at her feet and be taught.  Her Saturday lectures have covered Joseph Smith & Brigham Young.  This week is John Taylor and next week is Wilford Woodruff.  During the two weeks before Christmas, she taught on the life of Jesus Christ.  We don't always get to attend the Saturday lectures because we are on shift at one of the sites, but when we can we don't miss.  I asked her if she had a syllabus or notes she would share, but she does not use one note.  Apparently she has a photographic memory so she just stands up and teaches from memory.  AAAAAAAAmazing Maybe in the next life I'll be able to remember my password at Costco that I set up yesterday.

P-day, wow what a day.  Elder and Sister Watkins, our directors, are leaving this week so as a final adventure we took our jeep and drove to Toroweep. (Google it, you won't believe it)  This is a road that is 123 miles of mud, ruts, rocks, hills and just pretty nasty.  Really, only the last 5-8 miles are really tough.  They warn you that if you get stuck out there, it is $2000 to rescue you and its not guaranteed they will come.  It cost Bruce $25.00 to get the mud off the jeep before he could take it to Fabulous Freddy's car wash.  But you literally drive up to the edge of the Grand Canyon.  You look over the edge and can see the Colorado River, with rapids and all.  Sister Watkins is fearless.  She got on her belly and crawled out on the edge to look over.  She is a tiny thing and the wind was blowing, her husband, Elder Watkins, thought a good gust would blow her over.  God's creations never cease to dazzle me.  I could sit out there and enjoy it for days.

We stopped in Colorado City for breakfast and in Hurricane for dinner.  We will miss the Watkins but what an example of Mission service.  This is their 3rd Mission.  They served in Argentina for a year and was called to go to Guadalajara as Mission President, then returned home and was called as the Directors of the VC.  They have been away from home for 6 years.  I won't be complaining about 12 months any time soon.

We had our BYE party for the Dabbs and the Watkins on Thursday night.  Very bitter sweet.  The Dabbs have been another example of service beyond the call of duty.  Elder Dabb has had cancer and had to go home every 6 months for a procedure.  But they served faithfully for 23 months.  They were our first trainers and did a great job.  We will miss them greatly.  Elder Dabb was the authority of great meal deals.  "Free Cherry Pie on Tuesdays at Village Inn."

This week will be very interesting.  Our new directors arrive next Thursday and I'm sure they are as anxious as we are.  Change is good, but always scary.  We know they are wonderful people and we will love them as much as we do the Watkins.

We hope your new year is going well and you haven't given up on your goals quite yet.  We are working on a few things, so hopefully we will be able to stick to our guns.  But you know me, I'm not very sticky.  

We love you, be safe and make "2015" the best year yet.

Bruce and Dawna

Elder and Sister