March 30 – April 5

This was a beautiful Holy Week! Eric and I were asked by our group leader to be in charge of a Good Friday Easter Activity and dinner  for our group and any friends. It took us the whole week to shop and get ready for it. Initially I really wanted to do a Holy walk, with different scenes of Holy Week represented in each room but I didn’t think we could pull it off without all my decor/greenery/etc. from home. Could we still create the scene, environment and Spirit of 6 rooms and the “lobby?” I did order a few small things from Amazon and we bought food/items from Costco and Coles but most of it just came from the church building along with some borrowed greenery (Thank you, Lyle Elisara) and tablecloths (Thank you, Brydie and Manda). Truthfully, it turned out better than I imagined. Heavenly Father totally guided and provided for us as we created 6 simple rooms, with the missionaries narrating each room with an activity to be done. We had a wonderful activity with many attendees as the groups “toured” the rooms then we concluded with a delicious meal – ham, baked potato, salads, pasta, rolls and desserts! Easter Sunday was even more beautiful – with short narrations and various musical numbers! Shasha and Icce did a fabulous job narrating (Thank you, Sister Sandi Westover, for putting the narration and songs together!) then the RS, EQ, Missionaries, Primary, YW, and a solo by one of our primary cuties (Believe) and a trumpet solo by Elder Sorenson. The spirit was so strong and the chapel was packed! He is Risen! Hallelujah!

Here’s how the week went:

Monday –

This is our planning for the week day, calling our grandkiddes (and kids 😉) day. We also had an electrician come over to fix our A/C and an overhead light. Every Monday we have “district council” at the church from about 6:00 to 7:30 PM where we discuss the people being taught and how we can love and serve them. Last week we received some bad news that my step dad had been in the hospital for a few days for internal bleeding. Thankfully my sister, Jennifer, had driven from Texas to NM to be with my mom and Dave. I’m so grateful she was able to be there to talk to the doctors, drive my mom back and forth, and help advocate for Dave. After about 5 days in the hospital, not being able to determine where he was bleeding from and being given constant blood transfusions, they finally did surgery. What an enormous blessing and miracle that Jen was able to drive that distance and be such a help to everyone! Love and appreciate you, Jen!

Tuesday –

This morning we made our list of everything we need for the Easter activity and dinner on Friday night and our menu Easter dinner on Sunday with the missionaries. Then we went about purchasing what we needed – which is a timely effort here in downtown Sydney! We found out that Dave had surgery to try to stop the bleeding. That evening we taught the Book of Mormon study class at the church. We love reading the scriptures together with group members, young missionaries, and friends. Just reading the scriptures aloud brings the spirit so strongly! 

Wednesday –

This morning we taught the Helaman zone the Emotional Literacy class. What an amazing bunch of missionaries! I feel SOOO blessed to know them, interact with them and learn from them!!! After the lesson we finished shopping, took some items to the church, and were planning to work at the temple but heard my step dad took a turn for the worse and was bleeding profusely. We weren’t sure if he’d make it through the night. We decided to stay home from the temple and receive updates from Jennifer. Jen stayed all night with Dave. 

Thursday –

We woke up this morning eagerly awaiting to hear how Dave had gotten through the night. Praise the Lord, he made it through the night! The surgeon finally found an ulcerated hiatal hernia that was bleeding. Apparently, they couldn’t find the bleed earlier because it was “hidden” behind his heart. Thankfully, Dave can finally start to mend and recover from two weeks of internal bleeding, tests, surgery, etc. I’m so grateful my mom and sister could be there with Dave through this terrible difficulty. We’ve all been praying for Dave and my mom through this and know that it’s a miracle that Dave is still with us! The rest of the day we spent at the church setting up for the Good Friday Easter Activity. In the evening Ella and Manda came to help, as part of our YW activity, filling the eggs for the primary kids and hiding them for our Easter egg hunt.

Friday –

We spent the day at the church again, finishing the set up, baking the hams and potatoes for the dinner. The missionaries came at 3:00 PM to help us get the church ready for the activity and practiced their narrations for each room. At 5:30 we had a primary Easter activity downstairs, where the kids colored easter bags, had an easter egg hunt, then opened “resurrection eggs,” discussing items contained inside that represented symbols of Holy week and the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. At 6:15 we met on the second floor (the chapel floor) to start giving the Holy Week tours. We ended up having three tours before dinner but it would have been better to have smaller groups, with more space in each room. But, either way, it turned out great! We had a fabulous turn out and the Holy Walk turned out to be a spiritual event for all. A HUGE thanks to our district missionaries for their beautiful narrations in each room, totally brining the Spirit of the Lord.

Room 1 – The Triumphal Entry – Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem to fulfill His final, sacred mission. The crowd welcomed Him with palm leaves and cried, “Hosanna in the highest,” or “Please save us.” For generations, the people in Jerusalem had been waiting for the Messiah to come and save them from oppression. Imagine the joy of being in the crowd, welcoming the Savior with palm leaves. What would you do to welcome someone who could free you? What can you do this week to joyfully welcome the Savior into your life? Please take a paper palm leaf and write on it ONE thing you can do. Cast it before the Lord and shout “Hosana” 

Room 2 – Cleansing of the Temple – Have you ever struggled to feel peace because of the chaos and noise around you? When Jesus Christ entered the temple, it was full of confusion and noise instead of peace and holiness. He cleared the merchants and noise, and cleansed the temple because it was a holy place. He can do the same for us. Because of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, we can find peace and holiness as we strive to remove distraction and sin from our lives. What distractions are keeping you from finding time to focus more on Jesus Christ? Think of a change you can make today to clear away the confusion and noise around you. Write it down, crumple it up and leave it in the basket. Pray for help to make that change in your life.

Room 3 – Teaching and Miracles – Love in Action – At times, it can feel like the world is full of hate, despair, and loneliness. But Jesus Christ taught that we can make a difference when we keep the two great commandments—loving God and loving our neighbors. Christ’s life was the perfect example of how to show love for God and others. And then Christ showed the greatest love of all through His Atonement, which included His suffering for our sins, His death on the cross, and His Resurrection from the grave. He taught, “When ye have done it unto the least of these…ye have done it unto me,” On this parchment, please write one way you will serve someone in need this week.

Room 4 – Passover/The Last Supper –  During the Passover, the people remembered how they had been saved by the blood of the lamb, sacrificed for them. On the night of the Passover, Jesus gathered His disciples for the Last Supper. He gave them bread and wine as sacred symbols of His body and blood, which would be sacrificed for them. He taught them to always remember Him. He then went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He began His suffering for our sins. What sins are you willing to repent of and overcome to help you remember the Savior’s suffering for you? Take a moment to ponder on those things. I invite you to take them to the Lord. He is always there for you. He loves you.

Room #5 – Gethsemane and Calvary – We have all made mistakes that hurt our relationship with God. But Jesus suffered in Gethsemane and on the cross so that we could repent, be forgiven of our mistakes, and restore our harmonious relationship with God. Even in His agony on the cross, the Savior prayed that those who mocked and persecuted Him would be forgiven. He did this because He loves us – each one of us. He wants us to be able to repent and live with He and God again. This greatest of all sacrifices, greatest of all gifts was for ALL mankind – everyone who has ever lived on the earth and who WILL ever live on the earth. The atonement was also for each of us individually and personally. Write your name on the paper and clip it on the board. Because Jesus Christ atoned for YOU.

Room 6 – The Empty Tomb – On the third day, the tomb was empty. Jesus Christ rose from the dead, completing His Atonement and breaking the bonds of sin and death. He was resurrected, meaning His spirit body was reunited with His physical body after death and He became immortal. His Resurrection means that we too will live again and be resurrected. We can find joy and hope in Him every day. What does Christ’s Resurrection mean for your future, your family, and your daily life? Reflect on that and finish the sentence, Because of Him, I_______________________. Keep this paper as a reminder for you.

Dinner Fun:

Saturday –

This was a SLEEP IN day – after a long, busy, and stressful week! In the afternoon we met two other senior missionaries for lunch by the temple. It was great to eat and visit with the Woolfs and Bennets!

Easter Sunday –

As I stated at the beginning, we had a fabulous sacrament meeting! The service included beautiful narration with musical numbers throughout. The Spirit was so strong and the chapel was packed! It truly was a glorious Easter! Later that day, the missionaries and two friends joined us for dinner – pork tenderloin, garlic parmesan mashed potatoes, green beans with mushrooms and almonds, rolls, veggie trays and a strawberry shortcake cake for dessert. I forgot to take pics! It was a great dinner with our Aussie family and new friends!

Things I learned this week:

1. Miracles NEVER cease! I really wanted to have a Holy Walk for our Easter Activity but wasn’t sure we could accomplish it with our limited supplies and resources. It was an answer to prayer and even a miracle to see the chapel transform into Holy spaces, where we could feel the Spirit and draw closer to Christ. To see how many people showed up – with so many friends – we all experienced a miracle! There is NOTHING that God cannot do! It was a beautiful reminder to me to NEVER lack faith in Him!

2. Easter Season is the GREATEST Season! In the United States, and many other countries around the world, people go all out celebrating Christmas – the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. While I LOVE the Christmas season – the extra love and kindness that is seen and felt, the increased family time, the lights and decor, and the stronger focus on our Savior, it seems that an even bigger celebration should be for the Easter season! The week leading up to Easter, Holy Week, encompasses the Triumphal entry, the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, the hill on Calvary, and ending with the Empty Tomb. Only through our Savior’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane – taking upon Him and paying the price for each of our sins – all of our sins – we are able to repent, be clean again, and be able to return to live with our Heavenly Father and Savior again. Not only did the Savior suffer for our sins, but He also took upon Himself every sadness, grief, discouragement, trial, and tribulation we (EVERY person) will ever experience. Why did He do this? So He can succor us exactly as we need! He HAS felt exactly as we have and will feel. He, only He, truly understands the depth of our sorrows and He is always ready with outstretched hands ready to comfort, guide and heal us. What a wonderful blessing! Our Savior, the only perfect person who ever walked the earth, allowed himself to be taken, to be beaten, tried and crucified. He allowed this to happen because of His perfect love for His Father, our Heavenly Father, and because He loves all of God’s children, each one of us! On the 3rd day, He rose from the dead, a resurrected being. And because of this wondrous and miraculous gift, we too can and will be resurrected someday. We WILL live again. We can live with our families FOREVER. All because of Him. Easter is a time to remember, recommit, and revere our Savior! To praise Him and our Heavenly Father for these matchless SAVING and REDEMPTIVE gifts. We, like those of old, can shout “Hosanna, blessed by the name of the Most High God!”

Eric’s interesting aussie info:

March madness ended in April! Im very impressed with my grandchildren. After U Conn. defeated Duke on a miraculous ending, Blair was eliminated. Then Michigan defeated the U of A, taking out Macoy. That lrft it to 3 people who had picked Michigan to win it all. Camry and I could not defeat Owen who predicted Michigan defeating U Conn. in the championship game. Which is exactly what happened. Way to go Owen! Champion of the family bracket this year. i just want to point out that my family completly dominated my brothers family this year. the top seven finisher were all from my side of the family.

In other basketball news my beloved LOBOS fell short of winning this year NIT tournament. Next year NCAA tournament I hope?