Dead Dog-Tired Question...

"Do you ever want to just sit down for a moment and like stop teaching the gospel because you are so tired? "

We laughed when we read your question my artist, piano player, singer, swimmer Hailey K!

and the answer is: YES!!!  Sometimes when we come home and I see the neighborhood dog sleeping, I think:  That's just how I feel!  (He always sleeps like this and always in the very middle of the road and I always think he's dead, but when we get closer, he just looks up, one eye at a time, and saunters slowly to the side.)  Being dead-dog-tired is one thing that missionaries really like and remember.  It feels so good to kneel down at night and after prayers just fall into bed. It takes about 3 seconds to fall asleep after those extra busy days! 

There must be a great reason why important things take time and require hard work.  I know all of your piano practicing makes you tired, but it is so much fun to learn a new piece and to become excellent!  (Your smile at your piano concert winked that to me!)  I know sometimes your Momma gets tired from getting up at night with little Lincoln man, but like most moms, she can't wait to go see that smile again in the morning! Your dad works so hard and he has to be tired too, but he loves to bless your family with food and clothes and a beautiful home from all of his work.  I can only imagine how tired you must be after a swim meet...when I was your age, I loved to dive over and over and do flips off the diving boards...and I loved to lay on the warm cement afterward near the pool and just close my eyes for a while...but then I was ready to climb back up and dive again!   Missions are like that. Every day is spanking brand new and I can't wait to see it unfold.  Staying  busy is great for me so I don't have time to think about missing you so much!!!  But there is time to rest and to eat and to exercise and study too.  I haven't put up photos of us sleeping...but we do...just not in the middle of the road...because that spot is already taken!!  ha!

I have to show you something that I never get tired of.  

A couple of months ago, we went to a branch on the other side of the island.  Grandpa had some interviews to do and I visited a Seminary class.  The teacher is a new member and thought she would fill the chairs by inviting all the children on the road in front of the church as well.  There was a five year old in Seminary, 2 eleven year olds, a 7  year old and some regular Seminary kids too.  The teacher was prepared and everyone of the kids just sat there listening quietly for the whole hour.  Two weeks later when we pulled up in front of the church, I saw these, 12 and 11 year old, boys just sitting on a wall studying from the New Testament Manuels that the teacher had given them. She didn't know that they had to wait until they are 14 to be in Seminary.  We invited them into the church to be more comfortable and asked how their day was coming and they were excited to quote some of the scriptures that they had memorized, then they forgot I was even there and continued studying.  Derlei was helping Meni fill out answers in the manuel.  I listened to them as they taught each other the scriptures.  I really love that.

A week later, we returned and Derlei brought me an orange.  It was his Baptism Day!  He loves the scriptures and can't hardly wait to be in Seminary when he is old enough.

I love to watch the Institute students teach each other as they study the scriptures too.  It is really interesting and inspiring for me to see these young men and a few young women...come twice a week to learn about the New Testament and some come back twice more a week to take Missionary Preparation classes.  They push half of the ping pong table up to another table, sit around it, and they just study the scriptures.  

The gospel is fairly new on this Island.  Many of these young people are the first members in their families.  They love to find out what it is all about.  I have a notebook full of their stories...many of them talk about how thankful they are to know about The Plan of Happiness because it has changed their lives so much.  They like to read a scripture and then talk about what it means.  So some days, I do get tired, but every morning it is fun to see if I can read my scriptures with new eyes, just like these pioneers.  I love to learn!  I love to see people smile when they understand a new truth... (and I love to sleep!)   Life is good!