NMFM Week 9: May 14-20, 2012

Hello Family!  We have had another busy, fun, productive week.  We've done round #2 of inspections in the Farmington area and are pleased that the places are looking MUCH better than the last time we visited.  The missionaries seem glad to have us come and thank us for helping them.  We love to be around them and appreciate their desire to do good and to be good.  Today we were in the same Gospel Essentials SS class with a couple of them and it was enjoyable to hear their comments and explanations of basic gospel principles.  We are extremely pleased with the news of my brother John's forthcoming marriage plans.  GOOOO UNCLE JOHN!!!!  I just ran over to visit with the Paynes for a few minutes -- I asked Jared to put the Apr. conference talks on my ipod so I can listen to them whenever I want.  He said he would be happy to do that for me!  I guess he is my substitute grandson for now -- and he is a good one.   We hope to hear from you this week.  Love, Elder and Sister Hunt 

Monday:  Elder L. wasn’t feeling well so he asked us to make a trip back over to Shiprock to put a key under the doormat for McBrides, the senior couple coming in that evening from Logan, UT.  As we drove into the trailer yard (which is behind the seminary building) we commented that the McBrides would have somewhat of a culture shock as there was nothing growing is the yard besides foxtailes.  We haven’t met or talked to them yet, but hope to be able to do so this week sometime.  After we got back from Shiprock we went to the hospital ER to visit the Langkildes, he was there trying to pass a kidney stone!

Tuesday:  Elder and Sister James were gone to the Zone Conference in Gallup so we worked at their desks and used their computers to take care of some of our assignments.  They work together on the mission vehicles so use zone conference time to check out the fleet.  This week our mission got 9 new Chevy Colorado trucks in to replace those that had 50,000 miles on them. 

Wednesday:  It was apartment inspection day in the morning as we visited the following in Bloomfield:  Spanish speaking Elders Smith and Stephenson; Elders O’Connor and Baugh; Sisters Thomas and Sipherd.  We drove to Aztec from Bloomfield and visited Elders Awbrey and Burgin and also Sisters Miller and Real.  During the afternoon we worked on reports in the office.

Thursday:  We did an inspection in Farmington in the basement of a members’ home, the Ivies, as we visited Elders Marple and Gardner.  We made it to the office in time to give our devotional at 9 am.  Our theme this week was courage.  After lunch we went with the Langkildes on another “clean it up, fix it up” adventure to Pueblo Pintado.  To get there you have to turn off the highway from Bloomfield heading to Albuquerque.  It is the same turn-off that will take you to the east entrance of Chaco Canyon.  I’ve been wanting to visit Chaco Canyon, but Thursday was NOT the day for that field trip.  The last 15 miles were dirt road and we were thankful that it hadn’t been raining recently!   We were in the Silverado pulling a trailer again as we needed to take a queen size bed and bring back the two twin beds. The McNeils, a senior couple from Milan NM, will be staying in that trailer and working with the Escrito Branch there.  The trailer is right behind the chapel there.  That ups the number of senior missionaries in our mission to 89 this week!  It was 10:30 before we got home and we fell into bed tired. 

Friday:  I’ve been having kitchen “withdrawal” so got up early and fired up my Bosch and mixed up a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough.  We were scheduled to do apt. inspections here in Farmington so I divided it up into 4 qt. size ziplock bags and we took it to the missionaries we visited:  Elders Meers and Sypher; Sisters Pendelton and Stewart; Elders Ott and Nielsen; and Elders Lindsey and Sanchez (Spanish speaking elders).  This week was no exception to our routine – we left each place “BTIW” and also left cleaning supplies for them to use.  We got a lot of cheerful smiles and “thank yous” on our rounds. 

Saturday:  After taking care of laundry and chores around our apt. we went to Bloomfield and Aztec to do some finishing up there:  hung new window blinds, new shower curtain rod, light fixture, traded out a chair, fixed a sagging curtain rod.  We stopped and had dinner at the Panda Garden in Bloomfield and they heaped up our plates high enough that we had enough take-home for Sunday dinner.

            My mom called to say that my brother John is engaged and hoping to be married before the big June 30 birthday party.  Wendy is a cute lady and we like her a lot.  She and John both deserve companionship and happiness!

Sunday:  We decided to go to Kirtland 2^nd Ward at 9 and were glad we did – Cory Thellmann was there with his cute little fiancé.  Their wedding date is only a couple of weeks off – June 1 and we are looking forward to going to their reception on June 9.  We stayed for Sunday School and then went to visit our non-member friends, the Snows.  We headed back to the chapel and attended the Kirtland 1^st ward meeting block.  It was their ward conference and we really enjoyed their meetings.  President DeWayne Whipple gave an especially good talk, one that I especially needed on being steadfast and immovable.