Elder & Sister Knowles

                Week B38   Mar. 14-20

Being a missionary is like being a catcher. We have to handle what every is thrown at         you

Preaching:  The introduction to the Book of Mormon states that a person can get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than any other book.  Here is our question for you.  What are some of the precepts you have been taught from the Book of Mormon?   Let us know.

Monday p-day:  Lara left last night and Jake and Mariah left this morning so our place is quiet and boring now.  We left when Jake did only we didn’t head home.  We picked up Estrella, Eldrex, and Reymark and drove to the Settle Children's Hospital.  Eldrex had an appointment for physical therapy.  Art stayed in the pickup and listened to a book while they all went into the hospital.  Art wasn’t sure if he would be able find a place to park and that he would just have to drive around until they were done, but he found one close by.  They had some good news for Eldrex, he gets a better wheelchair and a new walker.  They measured and ordered both for him, but will take three months to bet here.  With the new wheel chair, they are putting some things on the wheels to get him to try to use his left arm more, but he was doing a great job compensating by dragging his arm to get the wheel chair to go straight.  He was very cute with the walker and was really trying to kick a ball.  Next week on p-day we take him back for an MRI and a neuro evaluation.  On the way home we stopped and had lunch at our favorite fish place and again the man we wanted to talk to wasn’t there.  The rain and cold are back today plus a few personal colds.  In the evening we made our usual pickups for FHE. We drop off one load of ladies, and then go get Margarita when she gets off work.  Not much excitement there, except for a little questionable preaching, but not a real big turnout. 

Tuesday:   Our district meeting was the first thing in the morning.  They did change our time so it wouldn’t conflict with English.  This is the last week before transfers, so we took a picture of our district after doing role plays.  Sister Goodman goes home on Monday so we know that our district will have some changes. The Literary Council wants us to teach in the mornings or evenings for the next semester and we are busy in the mornings and evenings.  We can’t change, so we guess we are done with English for a while.  This is the last week for English class this semester.  The English class went well.  Joyce taught Sarah and Art played “Don’t Eat Pete” with her kids, (thanks Rachel for the idea).  Sara thought they were eating too much candy so we played “Go Fish”.  Sara’s husband, Abraham, stopped by so we were able to meet him.  After English we came home and ate lunch and Art got ready to go Home Teaching with one of the members who needed a companion.  They went to three widow ladies and he didn’t get home until after ten.  In between visits he was getting calls from Skyway B and the Benson Hill Elders because they needed him to go with them.  Sometimes you just can’t cover everything.  Joyce rode Karens bike to the Acosta’s to give Eldrex a birthday present and have a little party and then helped Karen with her Orca card so we were both busy. 

Wednesday:  Instead of Northwest Harvest we went to a special training meeting about companion study.  We are still not very good at this, but will keep trying. The Elder Sisters rode with us to the Federal Way Stake Center.  The four north Zones met together so we were able to see a lot of the missionaries that we have gotten to know. Elder Tavo goes home on Monday so it was fun to get to say good-by and take a picture with him.  The meeting was excellent.  Scripture study, especially, the Book of Mormon, is a passion of the Eaton’s.  They got a commitment from all there that we would study everyday for ever.  It was pretty special to sing “Scripture Power” with a room full of missionaries.  One of those tender mercy of being here.  After the meeting we all met Diane Nardi and took her to lunch.  On the way home we passed a bunch of police cars and a Swat Team walking down the road all armed and with dogs. It is a fairly common site in Skyway.  We will have to check the news to see what was going on.   It was in the area we never go into at night if we can avoid it.  Rex is sick so he is not flying here so we cancelled the plane tickets and filled out all the forms for the refund.  Art is also sick.  Renee Smith came over and Joyce ran her to the store for a few things.  She is sick, too.  The Skyway B Elders came over to use the computer and check for referrals.  They have permission to do that everyday with Easter coming up and the new #Hallelujah program.  #Hallelujah is a great video for you to watch.  We highly recommend it!  We also needed to coordinate some times for a few appointments they need us for.  

Sister Chamberlain, Knowles, Elder Knowles, Rodarte and Tavo

Thursday:  Art is still under the weather so we tried to stay in as much as we could.  We had our last English class with Sara today and she wasn’t very happy about that.  They have booked the room for something else so the English class will be in the morning or evening, which we can’t teach.  Sara was not to happy at all.  She wants Joyce to be her teacher.  Sara’s birthday is next week so we took a cake with lots of fruit on it and had a little party.  Her twins were there so Art entertains them while Joyce teaches, then we sang “Happy Birthday” and ate the cake.  We had a teaching appointment at our place at 5:30 but they never showed up.  We were on our way to a baptism when the Elders called to see if we could take the no show family with us.  We picked them up and made it just in time to see the baptism.  The R.S. room was packed so we waited out in the hall.  The Tiffany Park Ward always has a good turn out for baptisms and the investigator has been taking the lessons for a long time so she is well know in the ward.  She has been waiting for her mom to give her permission to be baptized.  We couldn’t attend the missionary meeting since we needed to take the family home after the baptism. (so sad) 

Friday institute:  We had our last class until April.  We needed to go do service at the Salvation Army after class so we didn’t dress up for institute, or get to go to lunch with the Bensons.  The Salvation Army always calls the missionaries when they need something done well.  The major in charge paid a nice compliment to us today.  He told Joyce that he trusts the missionaries to do anything and it will be well done.  He said he could leave if he had to, and the job would be completed and everything would still be there.  The service was with the Sister Missionaries packing up the toys left over from Christmas.  The Elders worked last week and we were just doing the final clean up.  About three hours worth total.  Sister Beck needed to get something to eat after two hours, so Joyce took the Elder Sisters to eat and Art stayed with the younger sisters until Joyce came back, which was just as we were done.  Our 4:30 appointment with Skyway B cancelled so we stayed home the rest of the day.  Joyce wrapped up some toys, blankets, and clothes that the man in charge of the Salvation Army let her have.  They are for the Acostas.

Saturday:  We had kept today open so when Dale Johansen offered to take us to see some sites we jumped at the chance.  Dale is a member of the ward that Art likes to discuss politics and church doctrine with.  He is a liberal Democrat, along with most of Seattle and he has a great knowledge of Seattle history.  We had a great time with Bro. Johansen.  We drove along Lake Washington Blvd to the UW campus.  The  cherry trees are all in bloom on the Quad and lots of people we there walking around.  We even saw a wedding.  It really is a beautiful campus with lots of old buildings.  He wanted to show us the library but it was closed.  Out next stop was at the Ballard Locks.  Joyce really loved them.  We stopped for lunch and had a good visit. Bro. Johansen never married and lives alone so we’re sure he enjoyed the day.   All good things must end as we had a 6:00 appointment we needed to get ready for plus we were just a bit north of I90.  We made a phone call and a text to remind Angel and her kids of the appointment but got no response and they were a no show.  This is the third time so the Elders are getting discouraged.  Art is still sick or getting sicker so we stayed in the rest of the night.

Salvation Army Service

Sunday:  The big debate was if Art should go to church or stay home.  He just doesn’t want to get anyone else sick.  We compromised, Joyce went to church and Art went to an urgent care.   The doctor said it wasn’t pick eye or a cold, just allergies.  Not too sure about this but at least Art went.  He did say the treatment is the same, wait a week or so and it will clear up.  Church was good.  Karen was the only one riding with us. No green house Acostas, even though they got home from the Philippines Saturday, and just a few Holly house Acostas.  There is a lot of sickness going around.  Karen came over and fixed us lunch then Art rested (doctors orders) and Joyce took Karen to an urgent care/ER for some help with her feet and something to help her stop smoking.  Allison, AnJanell and Jake face timed from Allison’s house and Josh face timed us just as Joyce was getting home. We don’t know what Jared’s problem was. We did send the kids money for postage thinking maybe the expense of postage is why we haven't gotten a package in a long time.

Elder Fuller and Brice

Love Joyce and Art