We are so excited! Conference today has been so wonderful! And now 18 year old young men and 19 year old young women can go in missions if they want! Yeah!
Tuesday Oct 9 twenty-five new missionaries arrive from the MTC and 11 - our first to leave - go home. We will miss those who leave so much. I have learned to love them. They will do so well at home.
I want to tell you about one young man leaving - he will return to California with no one waiting for him, no home to go to, no job, no car. Nothing. His parents abandoned him a long time ago and he has survived on his own. He said to me, "I am scared." He is taking his bike because it will be the only way he has to get around. His branch president is 'his dad'. Some young people leave all to go on a mission and when they get here they work so hard.
One missionary arriving on Wed. has 2 bachelor's degrees - no father - his mother doesn't want him to go on a mission - he is a convert but he has prayed and knows this is what he is supposed to do. He is 24.
There are other stories like these. I'll share more later.
Love, love, love conference..
Our son-in-law - Larry Chipman, husband of our daughter who died, is spending the night with us on his way to Oregon. He is by himself - all kids are on their own and is on this first long trip alone - to take photos of all the waterfalls he can find - and anything else that is beautiful. He does beautiful photography. He is a wonderful man. I wish we could find him some 50 yr or so old woman with no children at home (which is what he is looking for) to marry. He has so much potential and is SUCH a WONDERFUL man. He is one of the kindest most angelic men I've ever met - cared for our daughter for 15 years as she was sicker and sicker until she passed away 2 years ago. And worked full time, took care of the family, house, food and everything else by himself for the last several years plus was busy with church callings the entire time. I have so much respect for him. If anyone has any ideas about a good woman - please let me know. We love him so and our daughter wanted him to remarry and so do we. If the woman is good to him, our entire family will welcome her with open and loving arms.
More later...
