Excuse Me

Dear Family and Friends,

Another week has flown by and we just received our schedule for October and November.  It seems like yesterday that we picked up our schedule for July, August and September and now September is half over.

We have had another wonderful week teaching, however, I had my first encounter with someone who really doesn't like Mormon's.  They were an older couple from Tennessee who wanted a tour of the Tabernacle.  I introduced myself and before I started the tour, I looked over at the woman and could see real animosity in her eyes(the death look).   Immediately I thought of Elder Holland's talk about the sweet sister missionary who encountered an angry man in the park who spit at her and threw mashed potatoes in her hair.  I began to wonder if this man and woman would spit at me or take a swing.  I started the tour and then the questions began (or accusations).   She and her husband questioned me about the Sacrament, missionaries who are barred from their families for two years, tithing etc.  By the time I had finished I was exhausted and wanted to do exactly what the sister missionary wanted to do to her attacker.  Grab them by the neck and say "Excuse Me" you come into our place of worship and belittle, mock and generally hate us.  But I didn't.  I offered them all the literature, maps and even a Book of Mormon.  You would have thought I had offered them poison.  She even refused the Family Search handout, which everyone takes.  I politely smiled and wished them a good afternoon and thanked them for coming.  No response:(  They were with another couple who sort of distanced themselves from us a little and at the end they did take the Family Search handout and very quietly in my ear, thanked me for the tour.  I'm not sure if they were embarrassed by their friends behavior or not, but I think they felt sorry for me. 

But, we had a fantastic day on Wednesday.  Bruce is always in rare form.  His mad sales skills are used to the fullest extent.  He can get almost anyone to take the literature and Book of Mormon.  He also has the ability to teach.  His tours usually last longer than most, but its because he is teaching the Apostasy, The plan of Salvation, or the Restoration.  I had the most lovely couple from St. Louis Missouri.  He was a dentist and she was a chef and both were Jewish.  I gave them a tour of Brigham's house and they asked questions about the martyr of Joseph Smith, the persecution of the Saints and lots about Brigham Young.  At the end they took a Book of Mormon, The Family Proclamation, and the Living Witness of Christ.  He asked me if they could could go on a mission and I told them sure, we would just have to baptize them first.  They laughed and gave me a hug and thanked me over and over again for a wonderful tour and more importantly for answering their questions.  I don't think they will convert, however, I pray they have better feelings about Mormon's and understand us a little better.

The other wonderful part of our week is our visitors from home.  We got to see & visit (and I got a hug) from Bryon Madsen.  Bruce gave him a tour of Brigham's and I was so busy with other tours that I didn't get to talk much.  We hope to visit with him more as he comes to work here a few days each month. (Bryon, so sorry I didn't get a picture of us!)  We love those who stop by and wonder how we are doing, or what are we doing, or are we doing anything!!  

Our other visitors were a complete surprise for me.  We watch for visitors from a Gazebo apart from Brigham's house.  On Wednesday afternoon two women walked up and sat on the porch of the house.  It was Bruce's turn to give a tour so he walked out to greet them.  He escorted them into the house and then came back to the Gazebo to tell me they wanted a tour from a woman.  I went "OH NO" this is going to be difficult.  I walked into the house and there were two sweet friends from high school.  Kathleen Thomas Murdock and Susan Christensen Fagen had just retired and decided it was time to take a girl trip. They were in St. George to see the productions at Tuacahn.  We visited and laughed for over an hour.  It was so fun to catch up, hear about their children and what is happening in good ole' AF.  It was like 1970 all over again (yes that's the year I graduated from HS, don't laugh, you'll be old someday).  

Last but not least, Bruce's sister Bev stopped by on her way back to Mesa.  We had dinner and a wonderful "catching up session".  We are glad she made it home safely after the huge rain & flooding trouble that AZ had.

Its time to get ready for Jacob's so better stop before I don't have enough time to make myself presentable (its getting harder every day and taking more putty and plaster).  We think of you often and pray all is well in your world.  "Keep on Truckin" & keep in touch.

Love to All,

Bruce and Dawna (Elder and Sister)

A Turtle??

Dear Friends and Family,

First and foremost, thanks to all who sent Birthday wishes my way.  It is so wonderful to know you are thought of and remembered.  And thank you to my wonderful Kids and Grandchildren who surprised me by pulling up to the side of our car while we were driving down Bluff Street, honking their horn and leaning out the windows yelling Nema & Papa.  At first I thought Bruce had cut someone off, but when I saw those sweet faces, my heart leaped for joy.  My arms ache to hug all my grand kids, but having those three visit was pure joy.  They visited all the historical sites and wanted to know everything we are doing.  But best of all, they crawled in bed with us in the morning and snuggled.  (now that's a birthday present)  Thanks, Becky and Ryan.  And thanks to Kati for giving us the week off from blogging.  (Its really hard, this really isn't me but the kids insist)

Our other wonderful event this weekend was a visit from our friends, Karen and Steve Reeder. We had a fun filled 2 days.  We had tickets to Tuacahn and watched Wizard of Oz.  (So cute) They visited all the sites and heard all the stories about Brigham and Jacob and how the saints were able to build the Temple and Tabernacle.  We got up early Sunday morning and drove to Pine Valley to attend church at that beautiful and historical building.  It is the oldest working chapel in the church.  After church we drove up to Mountain Meadow to visit the monument.  It is a sobering experience, but the church has done a beautiful job of the memorial and the grounds.  Thanks to Karen and Steve for visiting, you made our weekend.

Two weeks ago on our P-day, we drove up scenic highway 12.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with Southern UT, this is the road that goes east from Bryce Canyon over to Escalante, Cannonville, Tropic, then across a road called "The Hog Back" to Boulder.  (Hog Back road, 1000 ft cliffs on both sides of the road with no guard rails on either side.)  This drive is one of 5 in the US that is highly recommended to be one of the most spectacular in the country, and the last highway improved and paved in the Southwest. We can now testify that it is truly one awesome road..  We continued on through Boulder to Torrey, then drove back to Escanlante to spend the night at a bed and breakfast. It was wonderful to experience this part of the State, it is incredibly beautiful, we hope to go back and take a couple of the hikes and roads that go to some spectacular slot canyons and water falls.

The work in the historical sites continues to amaze me.  On the Saturday of Labor Day we had more than 475 visitors at BY's home, 259 at Jacob Hamblin's home and well over 1500 at the Visitor Center.  Some of these visitors are members but a good number are not.  It is our privilege to introduce these people to the church and its doctrine, give them a Book of Mormon and invite them to read it, We then give them a post card that they can fill out with their email address or home address and then drop it in the mail.  This generates the teaching online that the missionaries do all over the world.  Bruce, met his German buddy, who knew exactly where his Great Great Grandfather had come from and how to pronounce "Borchert".  We practiced and practiced, but our German friend just laughed at us.  He had been given a B of M before and was bringing his son on a tour of the US.  He loved the VC and wanted his son to experience it.  His son took a B of M and he did give Bruce his email address.  Success, we can establish contact with him and continue our fellowship and invitation to read the Book of Mormon and have the missionary discussions.  (Who Knows)

Well, I am sort of excited that my server has been down for the past two days.  I typed this message on Sunday but couldn't send it.  However, yesterday and today we had terrific rain.  I am attaching a picture I took tonight that is about 1 1/2 miles up the road from where we live.  The stream filled so quickly that it jumped the road (Dixie Rd, for those who are familiar with St. George) and took out a huge storm drain that ran under the road.  They have heavy equipment there now trying to shore up the banks so hopefully they can save the road.  Pretty exciting.  Also, there is a State Park up by Snow Canyon which preserves Deseret Tortoise's and Gila Monsters.  We have been there numerous times to see the tortoise's or a Gila Monster, with no success.  But we saw one tonight.  Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Well, its time to clean our Condo so we can play tomorrow.  "Its P-Day"!  We send love to all and pray all is good in your lives.  If you are close to St. George, let us know.  We love visitors.

Health and Happiness,

Bruce and Dawna

Elder & Sister

Surprise!!!

This is a big birthday month for our family and we kick it off September 1st for my mom. No one wants to celebrate their birthday alone so this happened...

Awesome surprise Becky and Ryan!!! Happy Birthday mom...we love and miss you tons.  Next year we'll have a raging party with everyone.  AND since it is your birthday, we'll let you off the hook from writing a letter this week :)