At the last transfer meeting with all 172 of our missionaries, the missionaries held a "drawing", where they gave away the "prizes" of spending a day working with the Mission President ( to a companionship of Elders), and a day working with the Mission President's Wife (to a companionship of Sisters). So, President Benton and I recently hit the road to work for a day with missionaries.
Sister Hansen and Sister Gurr won me (whether they liked it or not) and I traveled 4 hours to Junin (pronounced "Whoneen") and worked with them for a day. President Benton went with Elders Frost and Lloyd in our "25 De Mayo District", but he didn't take the camera with him.
Sister Hansen (a mountain hiker in her former life) warned me that she and Sister Gurr walk about 15 miles a day, so I was ready for them, jogging shoes and all, but they went easy on me and we only walked about 8 miles that day, and visited a number of people (church members and investigators) around the town.
The top photo of the three of us was taken by an elderly sister who didn't quite know how to frame the picture (left to right, Sister Hansen, Me, and Sister Gurr), and I took the photo at the bottom of Sister Hansen (on the right) and Sister Gurr, on a dirt road (enlarge the picture and you can see from their shoes how hard they work). Then they took the middle photo of me.
I know I look like a woman from Southern California, who is going out for a jog with her Church clothes on, but I was trying!
President Benton and I can now testify that missionaries work extremely hard, beginning early in the morning and ending around 10 p.m. at night.
Thanks Sister Hansen and Sister Gurr for being such good examples to me of strong, dedicated, hard working women.
I slept like a rock that night!
6 comments:
8 miles?!!!!! I can't remember the last time I walked 8 miles.. I get out of breath walking the stairs to my office at work....
I wanted to let Cheryl and Evrett that I love and admire you for your service - thinking back on my mission, that experience has blessed my life in so many ways. It has helped me spiritually, mentally, professionally, in marriage, in parenthood.... It is wonderful to think that your ministry not only blesses the wonderful people in Argentina now, but your influence will be felt in the many families of those missionaries you tutor and watch over for years to come.
Evrett - I was watching the last round of the Tour Championship today (Villegas beat Sergio Garcia in a playoff), but it just wasn't the same without you....
With love-
Ray
You look cute with your running shoes Mom! Love you!
so i guess the answer for my sleepless nights is to go serve people. it makes sense!
love you!
That's lots of walking! That's awesome all the work you guys are doing!
The sister missionaries have got to be so thankful to be sent to your mission to be with you!
I'm Elder Kurt Thomson's mom. I served in Junin as a missionary in 1975. I love that city and miss the few members there were in the little branch of Junin. Thank you for your service to my son and all those dear missionary serving in one of the greatest missions in the world. (I served in the Argentina Buenos Aires North mission serving under Presidents Anderson and Harris)
love,
Julia Erickson Thomson
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