January 14, 2018

We are well into the month and the new year now.  It hardly seems possible!

We just have one more week before the temple is closed for winter maintenance.  We are still up in the air about what we will do during the closure, but it will be nice to sleep more and have a break.

It has been another beautiful week of service in an international temple.  I helped three sisters this week who were from Brazil and spoke Portuguese, but they understood my Spanish without a problem.  :-)  It always makes you feel good inside when you can bless the lives of others in some small way.  I guess I shouldn't be so surprised with the diversity, but it continues to amaze me and touches my heart.

During this week I witnessed an ASL sealing and helped with a Mandarin Branch with baptisms.  Some of them do not speak English, so it was a little challenging giving them clothing and instructions.  But shortly a bilingual Sister appeared and helped facilitate everything.  The Lord always sends help at just the right time--after all--it is His house and His work.

The weather has been crazy!!  We went thru a 14 day stretch where we didn't get above freezing and we were mostly single digit and low teens.  That is when Chad's family was here.  Then one day the temperature jumped 30 degrees and the next day 30 degrees more.  It was 63 on Friday.  There was concern in some communities about flooding because of the melting snow.  We have had rain and now the forecast is for it to be back in the 20-30s until next weekend when it warms up again.  That said, it is cold this morning.  It is 18 degrees outside and feels like 11.  We head out to church in that in just a little while.

Last Sunday it was only 16 degrees outside when we went to church and there was no heat in the chapel!  I don't know how cold it was inside, but it was so cold that by the time sacrament meeting was over you could hardly feel your feet.  Everyone kept winter coats, scarves, etc on during the meeting.  The counselor in the bishopric kept his beanie on his bald head until the meeting officially started.  Fortunately there was limited heat in the classroom for SS and the RS had full heat; so the rest of the meetings were much better.  I hope it is better today--but just in case it isn't, I'm wearing my winter boots. Last week I took off my coat, gloves and scarf to lead the music.  I quickly bundled up again.  But after the opening song, I kept my scarf on even while leading the music.  It was just too cold on my neck and shoulders.  People were faithful and stayed for the whole block.  That wouldn't have happened everywhere.  I was touched by their fortitude.

I bore my testimony and shared my experience about my almost tragedy when my clothes caught on fire during the week before.  I know that I was protected.  Many people commented and shared similar experiences of protection--not necessarily fire, but other types of challenges as well.  It was good to share with them and visit one on one.  I can understand them one on one, but the meetings are still a little challenging when the Dominicans start talking really, really fast.

We have appreciated your prayers.  We have prayed mightily for those we know are facing particular challenges.  We do grow when we face and overcome hardships.  It is just especially hard when we feel like we don't have any control.  We may not have control, but we always can make choices.  There is strength in staying close and listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

I only have one picture from this week.  Last night I went with Fusako Miyashiro (who doesn't ever want to be in a picture) and Kathy Nabors to see Shen Yun--a traditional Chinese Dance program.  There was a lot about the history and the variety of cultures.  They narrated before each number, and they helped us understand it better.

I love you all!  Please write to me at jeanine.spencer@gmail.com

Love,
Jeanine/Grandma