A little more spare time this week so we’re shooting off another
communication. Christmas is always a good place to start.
We were invited to go caroling on Christmas Eve (afternoon) with
the young missionaries at a rest home here in the neighborhood. I hadn't
done this in several years and it was fun. The people in the rest home
appreciated the singing and we helped make good friends for the Church.
On Christmas day, we invited all the young missionaries in our district over for our traditional Christmas morning breakfast at 7:00 AM - some of us had church at 9:00. We had the usual good stuff, including sticky buns, oranges, sausage & eggs, etc. They all expressed appreciation, and we think it helped ease the pains of Christmas away from family. For many of these young people, it was their first Christmas away from home. It helped get the day off to a good start. Our apartment is pretty small for 10 people, but we made it work.
We also did some non-traditional (for us, anyway) things this
year. Since one of our jobs is to be an interface with the military
community, we do a lot with/through the post chaplain’s office. This year
we were invited to attend to attend a Hanukkah celebration and watch the
traditional lighting of the menorah - that is the 8-candle candlestick
you have probably seen at some point. The lighting was scheduled to be done
outside, but due to the snow and rain it was done inside. The service was
conducted by an orthodox Jewish Rabbi. According to his faith tradition,
he couldn’t shake Mom/Sister Phippen’s hand. He is not a military chaplain, but
he was invited to lead this ceremony since there is not a Jewish chaplain at
this installation. He chanted some things in Hebrew so we have no idea
what he said. But he also explained the reasons for the menorah and how
it is connected to when the Jews returning from Babylonian captivity and beginning
to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. You learn about this in the Old
Testament. They had found some oil to
light the temple and figured it would only last 1 day, but a miracle occurred
and the oil lasted for 8 days; thus, the 8 candles on the menorah. We also got to eat some traditional Jewish
Hanukkah foods. Those people really have something going - Chocolate and
jelly donuts have significant religious meaning for them. The latke -
traditional kosher potato pancakes - were not as good, but we had fun and met
some interesting people.
After breakfast, we
went to sacrament meeting in our local ward. The soldiers were all gone
for the holidays, so we didn’t meet on post with the serviceman’s group.
After that meeting, we attended a contemporary protestant
service on post. Since we know all most all the chaplains, it was fun to
see them in this environment. Two of
them provided the main music for carol singing - Chaplain Pan on bass and
Chaplain Perez on acoustical guitar. Very unique and enjoyable, and I
think it meant a lot to these men who we work with during the week.
Unfortunately, since it was in the chapel, we didn’t get any pictures.
Now we know all of you in the West won’t be very impressed
by our snowstorm, but we did have a white Christmas. There was only about
a 3-inch accumulation, but it was enough - and we didn’t have to shovel it.
Here’s what it looked like on our car outside our apartment. Some of the kids on post made a snowman,
although it likely took most of the snow in the yard to do this (only about 2.5
feet tall here).
New Year’s Eve was pretty uneventful. We spent part of the
evening with our friends putting together a puzzle and then went home. We
actually stayed up to see the ball drop and then went to bed. We
participated in Zone “sports” with the young missionaries on Monday. Our participation
was limited to Sister Phippen observing from the sidelines and Elder Phippen
mostly standing and watching the young men run by me like I wasn’t there.
Here is an action photo of the activity. Video would not have
improved the coverage one iota.
One of the real benefits of having a temple in the mission is
that about 3 times a year each zone gets to attend an endowment session.
Some of the young missionaries have researched family names and have been
able to do the work for their ancestors. Here is the zone outside the
Gila Valley Temple - about 2 hours from Sierra Vista. Lunch and visiting
is a nice added benefit. We even had the opportunity to assist in the
sealing of one of the sister missionary’s ancestors.
One more faith
promoting. As you know, members feed the missionaries
on a daily basis - usually supper. But sometimes family schedules get
hectic and supper is delayed for 30–45 minutes. The missionaries only
have 1 hour and the meal is supposed to be at 5:00 PM. This frees them up
for work in prime proselyting time. So
delayed dinner can have an adverse impact on the work. These two elders
decided that they would ask their ward members to not provide meals except on
Saturday and Sunday so they could be where they needed to be to share the
gospel. Nobody asked them or suggested they do this. But they were
willing to make the sacrifice so that the work could progress. I don’t
think they have even told the Mission President. And it has been growing
in their area. It is humbling to see such faith and devotion. We
are in awe of how they do this. They are the Zone Leaders in Sierra
Vista. Unfortunately, transfers are this next week and one of them will
be leaving. We will hate to see them go. But if we’re lucky,
perhaps they will go to BYU-I and we will get to see them again. Elder
Dustin from Montana and Elder Beebe from Spanish Fork, Utah.
We have also become good friends with other senior couples in
the mission. A few days ago, Elder Anderson had to deliver a car to the sisters
in Douglas - about an hour south of us and about 15 yards from the Mexican
border. They invited us to ride down with them, and we went to lunch as well.
Elder Anderson was a civil engineer who does work on dam certification -
his wife called it being a “dirt engineer.” On our return, we stopped at
the open pit mine in Bisbee so they could do some looking at another hole in
the ground. Apparently, this is what “dirt engineers” do - look at holes
in the ground. Elder and Sister Anderson are from Logan so we will likely
continue this relationship after our mission is complete.
One of the blessings - and at the same time hazards/sadness - of
our assignment is getting to see your soldiers complete their training and move
on to their next assignment. This couple graduated last week and have
departed for Ft. Meade, MD. They mostly
attended the regular ward, since there was nursery and primary for the kids. As is often the case with our LDS soldiers,
this young man was a distinguished graduate of his training course. These soldiers, often returned missionaries,
are not only good people but are good soldiers. I would not hesitate to
go to combat with any of them.
Now a picture of Elder Phippen with his favorite missionary.
And Thanks to JD & his family (Lori actually deserves most of the
credit) for the cool T-shirts. Not a flattering picture of either of us-
auto timers on phones are no one’s friend.
Well, I think that is about it for this time. The Gospel
is true and the work is moving forward at an ever-increasing pace. Joseph
Smith is a prophet, as is Thomas S. Monson.
The Savior lives. We love you all.
Earl
& Marie/Granny & Gramps/Elder & Sister Phippen
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