Mission Week 48- The Stripling Warriors

Dear Friends and Family,

Happy springtime! Here at home the skies are blue and the trees are a luminescent green. Of course, spring here still feels like a war between winter and summer. We've all been trying to shake an exhausting virus, but hopefully this week is the last of it. Since I was home sick for several days, there's not much to tell you.

I did want to share one insight I had while studying the scriptures. I was reading in Spanish, which sometimes is frustrating, but also makes me slow down and think about things in a different way. This last week I was studying in Alma where Helaman talks about the 2,000+ stripling warriors. Of course, I've read hundreds of times how these young men were faithful and fought bravely, and even though all of them were wounded, not a single one died. Usually I focus on the miracle that not a single one of these boys died. And it is a miracle. But this time I noticed something else. Every single one of those boys was wounded, and many of them passed out from blood loss. Somehow in the past that was just the end of the story for me and they all went home happy. But that can't be what really happened. How many of those faithful young men lost limbs? How many had wounds that caused pain for the rest of their lives? It would be so easy to say, "But I was obedient and faithful, why do I have to suffer? Why do I have to have my dreams ripped away from me?" No doubt many of those young men struggled to adjust to new lives with limitations. It would be so easy to be bitter. But they were faithful. I'm sure that was not the end of their struggles. I'm sure they spent their lives adjusting to lost dreams and expectations. I'm sure they poured out their hearts to God, asking for healing and comfort. This story gives me hope. Even these most faithful of young men struggled with heartache and disappointment and pain. And God didn't take it away. Somehow, it makes me feel a bit more like it's okay when we feel these things. They are just a part of mortality. The thing to do is to focus on the amazing miracles. None of those boys died, and that was a miracle. Are there times when I'm so busy seeing the wounds and lost dreams that I forget to see the miracles that brought me there? It's certainly something for me to remember.

I've also been watching some of the "Gospel Solutions for Families" videos put out by the Mormon Channel. It's been fun watching these videos (mostly MC Studio) pop up because I get to see names that I recognize from my bishop clearances. I played such a tiny part in the whole thing, but it makes me really proud.

One of the videos I watched most recently was especially helpful for me. I know this video is longer, but it is worth taking the time to watch. They discuss meeting your own needs, valuing the different roles we play in our lives, and learning to say 'no,' among other things. The discussion mostly talks about mothers, but you can apply the skills and principles to anyone. I certainly felt it helpful for myself.

Thanks everyone!

Love,

Sister Ward

Week 47- Real Estate Miracles and a Missionary Photo Shoot

Happy Friday to all my friends and family:

This week was good, with few trip-ups. Really, the biggest problem was that the "how to change your location for dummies" that I wrote last week ended up being for the wrong webpage. A little embarrassing, but totally something I can live with.

Most of my work this week was normal too, with few strange questions. I submitted reimbursement requests, wrote articles, and overall had a nice, settled week. That is totally fine with me.

We also had a really neat zone conference this week. A gentleman, Tim B., who used to work in Church real estate came and talked about some of the miracles and blessings he experienced while purchasing property for the church. One of the things he said particularly stood out to me. He mentioned that he bought a piece of land in Idaho over twenty years ago, and nothing happened with this land. It just sat there, maybe they farmed it. Then, this last year, they announced the building of the Pocatello, Idaho temple. Sometimes we do things that don't seem like a big deal or that don't make sense, but the Lord has his own timing and his own way of doing things. He will use us for good if we let him, but we have to trust in him. It may take twenty years, but from small and simple things will great things come to pass.

Tim also shared a couple of really neat stories that I would like to share with you:

1. Palmyra- Tim was part of the team assigned to purchase the property for the Palmyra Temple. They decided to build the temple on the Smith Family property, which the Church already owned, but they would need to buy up another property to create an access road.

Tim was told that the family that lived on this property not only wasn't interested in selling, but that they hated the Church. However, when he arrived at the house, the couple was very kind and friendly--just not willing to sell. They were confident that the Church was not able to pay what they were asking. Tim told them that he would worry about the money, but could he see the house? They let him see every room but one. He asked to go in, but was told that the family's ten-year-old son did not respond well to strangers and was best left on his own. However, Tim felt like he needed to see the room.

The walls of this room were covered in posters of NBA basketball players, including one of Michael Jordan dunking over Stockton and Malone. Tim struck up a conversation with this wide-eyed boy. Tim told the boy how his wife was a nurse and had helped deliver Stockton and Malone's children and that he had met them once. Of course, the boy was all ears. He said he wanted more than anything to have something signed by an NBA player (you see where this story is going, don't you). Tim thanked the boy, but was surprised to see the mother in tears. She explained to him that her son did not talk to strangers. Yet he had been delighted to chat with Tim. Well, that was miracle enough, but the story gets better.

Tim flew home, with no contract, and called a friend at the Jazz office. He explained that he needed something signed by Stockton or Malone. Of course, his friend resisted, reminding Tim that these men hate signing autographs and were downright ornery about it. Well, Tim insisted that there was a boy in Palmyra who needed an autograph and the Palmyra temple might depend on it, so you certainly will ask about that autograph! And right then, Stockton walked by. He wasn't happy, and there was some language, but six weeks later, a little boy in Palmyra got the autograph of an NBA player.

And so this family's heart was softened toward the Church and the Utah Jazz contributed to the building of the Palmyra temple. And in case you were wondering, this sweet family got a special tour of the temple that they sacrificed to build.

2. Nauvoo- Apparently we Mormons gossip too much or something, because when the Church inquires about buying land, rumors start flying, which no doubt drives our leadership crazy. A Catholic monastery in Nauvoo notified our Church that they had property to sell across the street from where the first temple had been built. However, when Tim went to talk to the nuns, they weren't willing to agree to any contract that was drawn up. He went home discouraged.

Not long later, Tim got word from President Hinkley that he needed to go back to Nauvoo and not come back until he had a contract for the monastery--and nobody could know why he was there (weird, right, but I guess if you want to avoid gossip). So Tim flew in late at night to avoid people. However, surveying the property the Church already owned, he ran into a missionary. Sadly, this is not the loving missionary story you wanted to read. When Tim vaguely explained that he just checked on Church properties, this missionary commanded Tim to "get rid of" the Catholics across the street. I, personally, was horrified to hear this. I don't know what this guy had against them, but I can think of no one less deserving of hatred that women who sacrifice their whole lives to serve the Lord and his children. Tim was disappointed too, to say the least. How heartbreaking.

Well, Tim prayed and prayed about getting this contract, and he kept getting a strong impression from the Lord that money wasn't the issue. When he met with the nuns, the Mother offered to let him walk around the property. Then, away from the ears of her Sisters, she explained, in tears, why she could not sign the contract. They needed to sell the property, which was too big for a monastery that was no longer running a school. However, if they sold it, there would be nowhere for her Sisters to go. They had given up all their earthly possessions to serve the Lord. The Sisters she loved and watched over would become homeless. Immediately Tim understood what the Lord meant when he said that the issue was not the money. Tim looked at this sweet Sister, so concerned for her flock, and promised that if the contract was signed, the Sisters could continue to live there, rent free, until their new monastery was built. As the crying Mother told Tim, "I think your God and my God must live in the same neighborhood." But I agree with Tim when he said, "I think they live in the same house."

Leaving with the signed contract that morning, Tim saw the missionary he had spoken to earlier. And he was heartbroken. This man would get what he wanted, but not for the right reasons. Here a miracle had occurred. The Lord had seen the needs of his daughters who served him in a monastery, and arranged for them to be taken care of and their needs met while also providing for the needs of our Church. This missionary would never recognize the miracle of the Lord's love for all His sons and daughters. Someday, I hope he will come to see that the Lord loves all of us, no matter how we serve him, and that we should be united as disciples of Christ.

Well, as Tim went home that day, he felt the original builders of the Nauvoo Temple rejoicing. Four years later, after the new monastery was built, President Hinckley made a historic announcement: The Nauvoo temple, abandoned and destroyed during the persecution of the Saints, would be rebuilt.

I love the Nauvoo temple, but to me, the best part of this story was the story of God's love for his daughters.

Now, for the less serious stuff:

This week I met with a Church photographer because they needed photos to go with the article about my Young Church Service Mission. I met with Sister Lisa Chriss, who is a professional photographer, but is currently using her talents to serve a mission for the Church. I thought she would just take a photo or two, but she took a ton, all trying to capture my job, and they turned out amazing. She was super nice, too. Since the pictures were taken for the Church, I get to share them with you:

You can kind of envision my enormous cubicle here. And in the background, there are a couple of Bethany's drawings: a hedgehog and a fox.

When I saw these pictures I was both amused and embarrassed. I'm amazed anybody has ever had the courage to interrupt me while studying if this is what I look like just copying and pasting data. =)

Dropping off paperwork. Which I had forgotten to sign. I had to go back later that day.

Here you can sort of see Trina. Trina was a good sport even though she had no prior notice.

Lisa wanted a picture showing the C.O.B. in the background. I enthusiastically support any photo that has flowers in it, so it worked out great. =)

Here is my supervisor, Trina, the lady who actually-knows-everything that is going on in Publishing Services, and sometimes even the rest of the Church. She would have liked to have had her hair back like she usually does, but she looks lovely anyway.

This is us pretending to have a serious conversation while I sit on her desk. I do sit on her desk when I come to talk, but usually the topic of conversation is, "Trina, I have a problem! What do I do about this!?"

I love this photo. And in case you were wondering, we were not working. This is what it looks like when you are supposed to look like you are collaborating with your supervisor and instead she shows you a video of a hedgehog in a bathtub. 

Love,

Sister Ward

Week 46- Including a Scavenger Hunt

Happy Weekend! This week's activities involved:

• More EAFs. They've slowed back down to a trickle though, so hopefully that means the department audit is over.
• Writing "How to change your address on the intra-net for dummies," enhanced with pictures and big red arrows. Okay, I didn't name it that, but I don't know why people struggle so much to just click buttons until they figure it out. That's how I learned. Maybe they're afraid of messing things up.
• Getting a good laugh out of the sign Alan put up: "Andrew is out gallivanting until ___. If you need help, talk to Alan." We may be slightly jealous that Andrew, the other member of our HR team, is out of town on vacation.
• Passing more interpreter names to the access office. I seriously thought we'd be done by now!
• Assigning lots of building access.
• Processing lots of education reimbursements. Too bad I'm not into business. I could work for the Church and they'd pay for part of my education if it would improve my work. But somehow I don't think they'd find a degree in English Literature essential to business management. Bummer.
• Mail delivery. You know how I feel about this.
• Working on a couple of articles. This is really hard for me since my brain struggles to switch between data processing and creative thinking. It's like trying to pat your head and rub your tummy and jump on one foot all at once. Your brain does not like it.
• Creating slides and a program for the meeting I don't attend.
• Attempting to write up instructions for my administrative assistant job to help my successor. It was not very successful. A lot of that job is figuring out the odds and ends that fall in between the cracks. I also don't think I could write instructions on how to calendar meetings without double booking people or rooms unless I could show them in person. Maybe if I took five pages. Easier just to show them.
• Getting last minute bishop's clearance for a Mormon Channel video. I was not delighted by the producer's choice to spring something on me just the day before filming. Thankfully, the bishop answers his e-mail, which is very lucky, since he was in Europe at the time.

The other fun thing that happened this week was that I started a Temple Square Scavenger Hunt. Now, before you get jealous that my mission is more fun than yours, I should explain that I am supposed to write an article on it to encourage employees to check out the wellness program. But hey, if I'm going to write an article on it, I have to actually try it out, right? I haven't finished, because the Joseph Smith Memorial Building is way bigger than I thought. It was really fun though, and I saw a lot of things that I want to go back and check out if I ever get a moment.

While working on the scavenger hunt I also met a really sweet little family. They asked if I knew where they could get a band-aid for their daughter. Luckily, I happened to have band-aids and stickers in my purse, just for this kind of thing. Can I have a mission where I hand out stickers and band-aids? Because I think that would be great for the Church and for me. I felt like a fantastic missionary after that.

I had to take photographic proof for part of the scavenger hunt, so at least this post will have some color! The gardens are as lovely as ever:

Sorry, lion. One of us was going to be cut off and I was already sitting down. They'll just have to accept half a lion-head as proof. What's with the lion heads anyways? Don't get me wrong, I love them, but they don't make all that much sense. The old Hotel Utah having eagles and the state symbol, that part makes sense, but lions?

I look a little concerned in this picture... Not sure why. Maybe just struggling with the camera. It really isn't built for selfies.

Some of the pretty stained glass ceilings in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

I sure get to work in some cool places!

I hope you all have a fantastic week and that your spring weather is the kind that puts a spring in your step.

I wish an especially happy Mothers' Day to all the wonderful women in the world. You don't know the good you do. You are more loved than you know.

All my love,

Sister Ward

Week 45- 7 Reams of Stickers

The post conference lull is officially over. This week's activities included:

• Processing a blue-whale load of EAFs. This stands for Electronic Action Form, but should really stand for Endlessly Abhorrent Forms. They are very tedious. A new division is being made, one is taking on a different team, and managers are moving, so my inbox has been crammed with these work requests all week, and they are disgusting. Nobody wants to open their inbox and see that. It should come with a green screen before you open it: "The following inbox has been approved by Outlook for appropriate audiences. The e-mails listed have been rated R- Revolting. Contains boredom, minute details and some busy work. Not appropriate for audiences with a working brain."
• Summarizing a business proposal for the Presiding Bishopric to approve. Changes are coming, but I'm pretty (100%) sure that I'm not supposed to say what I learn. It's still pretty cool to write something that I know will be read by the Presiding Bishopric, even if business proposals aren't exactly inspiring.
• Processing Educational re-imbursements and reassuring people that, yes, their money is coming.
• Getting interviewed about my mission-there will be an article about me in the future. How cool is that?
• Cleaning out some of the stuff in the crawl-space. Since there isn't enough room to stand up straight, we don't find the motivation to clean it out very often. Among the items, I found an entire box full of my shoes from when I was about seven...I don't think we need to hold on to those.
• Delivering office supplies. Did you know that Expo stopped making Expo markers? What is their purpose in life if not to provide Expo markers!? My teacher's heart is slightly broken. I was looking forward to buying my own box of pristine markers and getting to twist that squeaky cap off to set bright, sharp ink to the whiteboard. I might have to hunt some down and save them, because other dry-erase brands just aren't as satisfying.
• I also finished organizing the storage space near my office. Someone must have had a grand idea that required a lot of labels, because among all the other strange things I cleaned out (plastic paperclips, enormous stamps, and brass fasteners long enough to kill someone with), I found 7 reams worth of brightly-colored single-page sticky-back card-stock. That's right. Giant stickers. Pages of red, green, orange, pink, yellow and blue in multiple shades. Of course, when I asked Trina how often it gets used, she admitted that the answer was never, but she felt bad throwing it all away. We decided we would feel grand about it if we could donate it to an elementary school (what kid doesn't want to make their own stickers?), so I packed it in a box to take home. It didn't seem that heavy when I put it on my own desk, but coming home was another story. It didn't take as far as the lobby for me to realize that maybe this was a bad idea. I was leaning back and bracing it on my hips to take some of the weight off my arms, which made me waddle in little baby steps. The conference center never seemed so far away. Correction. The front door never seemed so far away. By the time I crossed the street I was ready to grab the next able-bodied person and command them to hold the box for me. So, naturally, I saw nobody the whole way to the car. I was even about to set the box on a railing when I saw the sign "wet paint." Honestly. Stopping on the way home, I barely got the box into the school. I shoved it up onto the receptionists' counter and told them quite firmly that I didn't care if they tossed the whole box, I was NOT taking it back. Thankfully, they wanted it. I hope those kids really enjoy making those stickers.
• Picking up a few writing assignments. They are all for the Church intranet though, so none of you will get to see them, even if they did apply outside of our workforce.
• I also worked in the garden with Mom this morning. The weather has been so nice and warm all week and the sky has been a brilliant, clear blue. It makes me feel wonderfully energetic. I think humans ought to hibernate like bears. Winter is beautiful, but it saps my energy.