We Are Creators

“You might say, “I’m not creative.” I’m here to tell you, you are. You are creators. Have you ever coaxed a smile from a baby? Have you ever taught someone to forgive? Have you helped someone learn to read or tie their shoes? Organized a family reunion or birthday party? Possibly you were prompted to do something for a person you go visit that made a great difference in their lives. If you have done some of these things, you have been creative.” Mary Ellen Smoot

I am sure I have said this before but this week has been FILLED with the unexpected! With only 6 missionaries coming in and 3 leaving this transfer we thought the ripple effect would not be much but the Lord had different plans. After much pondering, prayers and inspiration transfers effected 82 companionships! Spanish speaking Sisters up north and Spanish speaking Elders south swapped areas just to name 2 companionships effected. The Lord is creative!!

I LOVE this picture of Sister Matheson with some of the Sisters who came to the Mission Office.💗Each unique, each with gifts and talents, each a blessing in so many lives❣️

There was a buzz of excitement as new companionships found each other and gathered their suitcases to transfer to different areas. Some having a 2 hr drive back to their areas. They show great faith in the Lord as they embark on these next 6 weeks.

Elder Davis had his work cut out to get bikes, cars and Tiwi cards for new drivers figured out and get everyone on their way!

A question was asked What happens to the older cars? Or when do you release a car to live it’s life somewhere else and how is that done?

Elder Davis- After making sure the car is clean I contact the fleet department and they have a company come and pick them up, they are taken to a detail shop where they are cleaned and then off to auction. In the old days I would have had to sell them. In a perfect world the vehicles would be rotated out at 20,000 miles. This gives the highest resale value. The missionaries in the field are expanding so getting enough cars to all the missions is a challenge. The cars I am replacing are between 30-40 thousand mile’s.

The Unexpected 💗

Each year the Fishers Stake puts on a Spring Formal dance for the youth. The youth committee decides the theme and many hands made it happen. This year’s was Arabian night. A full week of set up to prepare.

Having it in the same building as the mission office gave us a chance to pop in often and you know me I could not help but volunteer to help in the evenings when Elder Davis was programming mission software.

Painting flames and YES that is an elephant behind me!!

Someone saw an elephant on line and said we can do that! Cardboard, chicken wire, paper-mâché, paint, patience and time!

Halls decorated with sand dunes and camels made by the youth.

A grand entrance into the gym.

Team effort, stunning results that created a weekend of memories for over 300 youth and the next evening for the adults in the area including Elder Davis and I. 💕

Some people might ask why go to all that effort on just one event?

Sister Smoot continues “Creation isn’t drudgery. Creation flows from love. When we do what we love, we rejoice along the way.”

I would add when we lift and bring joy to another it is worth all the effort. Both the giver and receiver are edified in the process❣️

This week is zone conference again. Costco chickens cut in 1/4ths ( Bought a total of 64 chickens over 3 days). Coleslaw and Homemade Mac and Cheese. A sweet couple the Overmyers from our Fishers ward brought to the church their food processor and helped grate up 32lbs of cheese!

It wasn’t until we were 2/3rds of the way done that we learned she was allergic to cheese! We said you should not be helping and she said I’ll be OK I’ll just wash my hands lots of times.💗 Her very first job was in a cheese factory in California where she broke out in hives and learned about her allergy to cheese 😂. GRATEFUL for helping hands even when allergic!

Dessert time..,

…pudding cups with gummy worms and Oreo dirt🥰. It was fun to fill these sweet missionaries and make them smile!

Finding Joy in Life
By Elder Richard G. Scott

“We have so much freedom, so many opportunities to develop our unique personalities and talents, our individual memories, our personalized contributions.

Being creative will help you enjoy life. It engenders a spirit of gratitude. It develops latent talent, sharpens your capacity to reason, to act, and to find purpose in life. It dispels loneliness and heartache. It gives a renewal, a spark of enthusiasm, and zest for life.

You will learn that sadness and disappointment are temporary. Happiness is everlastingly eternal because of Jesus Christ.”

We each have to say to ourselves, “What will I create of my life? My time? My future?”

We LOVE YOU and pray you can find joy as you use your talents and gifts to create and bless others the Lord’s way.

❣️Skittles❣️ Elder Scott and Sister Kristy Davis

A GREAT DOSE OF JOY this week! Rick and Tanya Powell DEAR friends from back home stopped by on their way to Ohio❣️