To the desert and back

We had a fun and interesting day Saturday. Anette and I traveled to the West Desert with Jed, Cally, Harvey and Grey. We went all the way to Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, which is about 20 miles past the Dugway geode beds. So it is about 110 miles each way and most of that is on gravel and dirt roads. We left a 9 and got back after 7.

It was lots of driving with plenty of pretty scenery. The desert was quite green most of the way. When we got to the geode beds, Harvey and Grey did not have much interest in looking for rocks. Cally brought their kites so they flew them for awhile. Then I caught a lizard and that became the only thing they cared about. We released the first lizard, which turned out to be a mistake because they both cried. I caught another one, and then they spent a lot of time fighting over who could hold the lizard. I tried to catch one more so they could each have one, but that didn’t happen. Eventually the lizard escaped which prevented him form suffering a cruel death at the hands of two little boys who loved it too much.

Harvey and I took a walk and found a big gopher snake, but I couldn’t catch it before it went down a hole. There were some cool little squirrels, but they hid in the bushes and Harvey couldn’t see them. I got close enough to touch one. It tried to hide by sticking its head into a bush, but most of its body was still poking out.

We had a picnic and I found a few cool rocks and some geode chunks. Most of the best dig sites were filled with water.

Fish Springs was cool. I had never been there before. It is really just a big marsh out in the middle of the desert. There is an 11-mile drive along dikes through the refuge. We saw lots of birds including pelicans, comorants, herons, geese and ducks. We also saw four coyotes. While we were there the wind picked up and a storm moved in so we started the long drive home. It rained most of the way back.

After church on Sunday we played outside with Harvey and Grey. It is warm and sunny but very windy. Grey loved playing with the geese. He would herd them with a stick and try to feed them various stuff. We also took some tractor rides.

Verlins funeral

May 2011 Verlin was taken to a nursing home the last week of April. Shortly thereafter he was moved to Legacy House Assisted living facility and all his family was around him for a mini-family reunion on the 30 of April. Monday May 2^nd Verlin suffered a stroke that paralyzed his right side and he was no longer able to communicate. We visited with him and the family on Wednesday and was intending to visit him again the following Monday. We received a call from Nancy Lincoln about 10:30 Sunday morning telling us that Verlin had passed away a few minute earlier (8 May 2011). We couldn't go to Layton Sunday because I had to give a Patriarchal Blessing and give a talk to the young people in the 14 Ward. Monday Nancy called and had arranged the funeral. She ask me to speak at the funeral.

We did get an address for Kenneth as a result of Verlins stay at the nursing home. Kenneth is currently in a nursing home in Medford, Oregon. I sent a letter to him with a copy of Verlins obituary and funeral program.

One of the things Nancy commented in her talk was, Mark is an artist, Duane is an actor (with a very beautiful voice), Ileane was a politician (served as city Councilman).

Picture are: Honor guard, Marks family, Karmas family with Roma and a copy of the funeral program.

Uncle Verlin's funeral

Anette and I went to Uncle Verlin's funeral on Wednesday. It was a nice service and it was good to see cousins that I have not seen for several decades. I can't believe how old everyone else looks.

The two speakers were Nancy Lincoln and Dad. I was a little disappointed at the bishop's comments, especially when he pronounced the last name as Stephenson. Dad told about many of the kind things that Verlin did for various members of our family through the years. He and Aunt Roma attended all of our children's weddings and made it to many other important family events through the years.

Aunt Roma still seemed sharp. She has always been strong and kind.

The service was in Layton but the burial was in Brigham City so we did not make it to that portion. I did not take any pictures. Maybe Dad has one or two that he wants to post.

Tomorrow we are headed out to dig geodes in the West Desert for a story I am writing for the Deseret News. I'll give a report later. I trust everyone is well and gearing up for summer.

Creed's phone call and letter

We got to speak with Creed on the phone yesterday for the last time on his mission. He said he thinks he will be moved during the next transfer and then that will be the final area of his mission. He also said he has not been eating much lately because he is so tired of eating rice, beans and chicken.

He also said he is tired of mosquitoes. He said their apartment is full of them. They have netting over their beds and over the table where they eat and study but they still are tormented.

He sounded like Creed--calm, laid back and strong. I'm sure these remaining months will pass quickly and we will have him home with us again. Here is the letter he sent today.


Dear Family,

It was really nice to be able to talk to you yesterday. I´m not sure what more I have to say in this letter but I guess I will try. Sounds like dad is a bit sick. I hope you get better soon and I hope everyone's health is good. My health is good and has been for a long time. I hope it stays that way. I can't believe that is the last time I will get to talk to you all on the phone! I feel bad because the relief society president has a phone that we could have used that gets free calls to the states and it would have been better reception. Is it super expensive to call for you guys?

So like I told you on the phone this week was pretty good we had lots of people in church. I forgot to tell you about some of my favorite investigators that we are teaching right now. We are teaching a couple that have some twins girls that are super fat coming up on 1 year old so they are just like little black baby balls that walk around with crazy afro hair. They make it hard to teach sometimes though. The couple is funny too the husband reminds me a lot of Uncle Bart. He is a mechanic and his humor reminds me a lot of Bart he makes me laugh a lot. They didn't make it to church for the past 2 weeks which makes it really hard for them to progress but they have come once before so I think we are still going to continue forward and get them married and baptized.

We also ran into this family that went to our last baptism the baptism of Ivan but they left before we could talk to them and haven't come back to church. So we have a day to go visit them and i´m really hoping they will have interest in the message and be able to come to church. Our numbers are super good lately but we haven't seen any baptism this transfer. A couple people are being pretty stubborn when it comes to setting a baptism date maybe you could pray especially for Ronny and Massiel so they can accept a date.

I don't know much else to say really. I read a pretty cool scripture in Romans 5 I think that talks about patience and trials and how our trials work patience and our patience brings hope. I liked it a lot it says it really clear and super true. I feel like the mission is like that a bit sometimes just a giant cycle of patience, trials and faith but in the end it all is for my benefit and helps me grow. I really love this opportunity to learn and to gain experience and I know that we are changing the world missionary power is awesome!
love you all tons
--
E. Creed Stephens

The first photo was from yesterday when Lynette got to go to the state capitol and get hands-on experience with the legislature and lobbying. It was a long day. They left Plano at 4:30 in the morning and got back at 10:30, but she had a great time.

Another Air show photo. The cool thing about this field trip was that Brother Fujisaka from our ward was able to take the kids around to parts of the air field where the other kids didn't get to go.

I don't think I like this new blogger. It won't let me put my comments under each photo.

Dalley news

The Three older kids got to go to an airshow. The Blue Angels were supposed to fly, but they were last on the schedule, and by then the wind was blowing too hard.
Elaine's birthday has come and gone! Sweet Sixteen and already been on a couple of dates!

Creed's letter

Happy Mothers Day in 6 days!

So we played some basket ball today at this awesome court right next to the ocean side. It was really awesome and beautiful I have some cool pictures. The bad part was that it began to pour while we were playing. I guess I wouldn't say that was bad though because it felt amazing to play in. We played for a good bit in the rain but then it started getting pretty bad and we hid under the bleachers for a bit. It was pretty awesome though but I sucked it up and hardly scored any. Basket ball is really cool but I did not grow up playing it so sometimes I don't like it. After the rain stopped I was so wet and soaked I thought the sun was going to evaporate me up into the clouds, I think that's actually what happens when people get translated.

The work is going really good here. We got a ton of new investigators this week. We have also been teaching a lot of couples and families which is cool but sometimes I feel like a lot of them don't really have interest they just tell us they will listen to our message just to be nice. Only one of the new families we found came to church this week and it was just the mom. She is way cool though we talked to her a couple weeks ago and she didn't come to church and we couldn't get in contact with her for a while but some how she came in contact with 2 members of the church and they invited her. Finally we got a hold of her on Saturday and she came to church. She is way cool but super shy. We will get rid of that though. We 2 freakin awesome American missionaries of the Lord no one can deny this!

Also a couple came with some members to church this week so we will teach them and see how they are. We taught a couple this week and it was really cool they asked us what were some of the rules in the church so we decided to explain Law of chastity and find out if they were married and of course their not but they both said they are willing and told each other they love each other. I think that is the first time I have seen that in this country. Sadly the wife is an illegal Haitian so it makes marriage super hard and expensive but they say they want to be a part of the church.

Our old couple missionaries finished a while ago so I think the mail system is getting backed up without their help so I haven't seen a letter from Kate yet but I will write her. And yes you may change anything in my room if you want I don't mind.

Cant wait to talk to you all on Sunday! I think we are going to do it later at night so probably about 6 o clock your time.
Sorry my letter is so boring I cant remember anything cool that went on really

--
E. Creed Stephens