You just never get enough of the beautiful flowers after the long winter we just endured in Utah!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

You just never get enough of the beautiful flowers after the long winter we just endured in Utah!

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12th September 2008 -Update

Where have the last 16 months gone?
Two months from today, and our Mission on Temple Square is over. We can't bear the thought. We are in no way ready to give this good life up yet - and yet we will have to, so that others may have this grand opportunity also.
For me, it has been the grandest time in my life, bar none. I think Ed feels the same way also, if not fully, then close to it.
I can only begin to explain what the mission has done for me personally - the blessings it has brought into my life, and the experiences it has afforded me that I would have never gotten in another place.
Heavenly Father always knew that I wanted to be in the "Heart of the Church", and he fully rewarded my by letting me come here for some wonderful reason. I am even further indebted to him than I was before. And here I was trying to "Pay Him back"! He's still way ahead of me, as usual. I am so very grateful to Him for my time here, and love he has shown me in this heavenly place. I shall never forget it..........ever.
Sister Velda Faye Reed Danielson

"Our New Personal Motto"

We are a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast - We have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. We are Disciples of Jesus Christ.
We won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. Our past is redeemed, our present makes sense, and our future secure.
We are finished and done with low living, small planning, colorless dreams, tinted visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.
We no longer need preeminence, positions, promotions, or popularity. We don't have to be right, first, rocognized, praised, regarded or rewarded.
We now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, are uplifted by prayer, and labor with power.
Our faces are set, our gait is fast, our goal is Heaven. Our road is narrow, our way is rough. Our companions are few, Our guide is reliable, our mission is clear.
We cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed.
We will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
We won't give up, shut up, or let up, until we have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for "The Cause of Christ".
We must go until he comes, give until we drop, preach until all we know, and work until He stops us, and when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing us.

Our banner will be clear!

Elder Ed Danielson - Sister Velda Danielson

News through May 27 - '08

Dear Family and Friends:
My beloved Ed has offered, to write the newsletter this month. I so appreciate, and thank him for that! I''ll add the pictutes.

----------Time is still slipping by quickly. We have been on this mission over one year now, and it just gets better all the time. Our Sundays have been even more full than before for the last 6 weeks.
For those tht may not know, in the mission there is what we call "Transfers " every six weeks. At the end of a transfer, the Sister Missionaries, young 21 + year olds make a change.
About 25 of then go "outbound", to some other part of the country for 12-18 weeks. About 25 come back from outbound, 25 go home, and about 25 come from the Missionary Training Center. All of the others get new companions and new leadership assignments. It is a very exciting time. There are close to 200 missionaries involved in this process.
The around 30 Senior couples, who also get new schedules and assignments. (But never new companions, Ha!)
Along with our regular missionary assignments, we get "special callings". There are opportunities like being the directors over the stations where we serve, and special assignments, like being in charge of materials, pagers, audio visuals, sunday school teachers, Sacrament preparation, etc., etc.
I have the opportunity to be theAudio Visual person on Temple Square. This just means that I work closely with the professional Audio Video people, and help reporting problems, and keeping all the equipment working. If you haven't ever been to Temple Square, believe me, there is allot of Audio Visual equipment, and there are daily problems with something all the time. I truly love being involved in this.
For the last 6 weeks , we also have had the privilege to teach the Gospel Doctrine lesson to the Sister Missionaries. This has been a real pleasure for us. It took allot of preparation of our free time, but so very worth it. We taught 3 one hour classes each Sunday. Taught the same thing each hour, but to a different group of sisters, so each would have the opportunity to get the lesson. Classes were about 50 sisters each hour.
This was another means for us to get even closer to all these wonderful young ladies. We have been here long enough now, that it gets harder and harder to see them leave when their 18 months are up. There are only 14 going home tomorrow, but we have been together for over one year now, and we have grown so very close to them.
It is a time of much joy and much tears to see them leave to return to their homes all over the world. What a remarkable difference we see in those just arriving, and those that are leaving. Especially in the foreign sisters. Some do not have much to go home to, except a loving family.

Through May 27 news con't.-- by Ed

Some were raised in orphanages, so they don't have a family to go home to. But, they all leave with an even stronger love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and more prepared to be strong leaders in their parts of the world.
It is amazing to see and witness the many talents of these special young people. Not only the amazing faith and love they have for our church and the Savior Jesus Christ, but their musical talents and sweet abilities to bear testimony of their Savior Jesus Christ. The Sunday night prior to the end of each 6 weeek transfer, they put on a "Come Unto Christ" program. This past Sunday night, over 250 attended in the Assembly Hall.
Each transfer 25 are called to be in the Temle Square Sister's Choir, with a director and a pianist. They sing each Sunday, after the Music and Spoken Word , and put on the performance at the end of the transfer. Each time I have said, "how will they ever be able to duplicate the last group", but they just seem to get better all the time.
Not only are the sisters amazing, the Senior Couples are also amazing. The longer we serve together, the closer we grow to appreciate what special people they really are. They are all wonderful examples to us. We really enjoy getting together socially from time to time, and have a good time together.
We have several golfers in the group, so am able to get out at least once a week. What great fun!!
I will let Velda tell about family and friends. There is good, like a beautiful new boy born into the family, and then on the other side of life, there are those struggling with health problems. God Bless you all - we love you all so much. ECD

The Prophet and His Counselors

This picture is hanging in the Relief Society Building, and we took a picture of it when we were touring the building the other day. It looks a little fuzzy, so I will change it for a better one when I get it. But for those of you who don't know it, this is the Prophet of our Church in the Middle. His name is Gordon B. Hinckley, and he just turned 97, and is sharp as a tack. On his left is Thomas S. Monson, who is his First Counselor, and on the right is James E. Faust, who is the Second Counselor.

From President Gordon B. Hinckley - Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

"What a therapeutic and wonderful thing it is for a man or woman to set aside all consideration of personal gain and reach out with strength and energy and purpose to help the unfortunate, to improve and beautify the community, to clean up the enviroment. . . . All of us need to learn that life is a mission and not simply a career. Tremendous happiness and peace of mind are the results of loving service to others. Nobody can live fully and happily who lives only unto himself or herself" (Standing for Something, p. 7-8).

"Squares - Still On The Square"

Tuesday, May 27, 2008