Ode to Richard and Sharon

Hello again from Seattle!

First, a special “Keep Getting Better” shout-out to Mike’s sister Nancy Jackson. We love you!

We received a few emails from the Jeppesens over the past week. As most know, they are now making their way slowly Westwest. Can anybody say “Wagons Ho!” We know (as everybody knows) Richard & Sharon make everywhere they go a far better place for having had them in their midst. We are sure it was especially true where they were serving the Lord on a full-time basis. Well done!

Time is flying by far too fast. Where did their 18 months go? We knew (at least in our heads) that we would not be home for their homecoming, but now that reality is setting in that one of the two original couples from our ward – which we were so glad to follow their lead into the mission field - have now completed their service, it feels somewhat akin to having someone kick one of the legs out from under a three legged stool. We will just have to confer with the Wells, (the other remaining couple), on that. Although the Jeppesens are, of course, irreplaceable, perhaps we can claim the Hughes as an extended ward couple to prop us back up.

Anyway, we hope somebody takes copious notes at their homecoming and send the notes to us if possible. Likewise, we REALLY hope their westward travels take them farther than Utah. Perhaps a wrong turn in Colorado might take them to somewhere even farther west like Seattle?

As for us, this week kicked off the new school term. We planted a big pot of flowers, just under the Institute sign, to draw people’s attention to it. We went with flowers, since we think it is getting too late in the spring for Mike to be making snowmen to place under the sign (we hope!)

Spring is definitely here. Cherry blossoms are in bloom and the campus is getting really lovely – If it would just quit raining long enough for us to enjoy it. But, Mike’s camera battery died, so hopefully Mike will have it fixed about the same time it quits raining in Seattle. It does actually stop raining in Seattle sometime doesn’t it? Well, come what may, we will try to have some spring pictures in next week’s installment. Speaking of not getting to take a picture, Mike’s oxygen business partner, Brad, was in Seattle for an event and he dropped in to see us at the Institute during the break which was fun.

The Spring term has now officially started. The young adults are back and the Institute has gone overnight from ghost town to a jumping place. We just finished the normal Friday feast with about 80 people, so we are off to a good start in the meet and greet department.

We also took our “south” students, whom we go teach at the Tongan branch building, who are attending other colleges, like Seattle U to a “Pho” dinner. We also had a drink called “Bubble Tea.” Now, before someone reports us to the Bishop for breaking the word of wisdom – Bubble Tea – is not what it sounds. It really is just an ice/smoothie flavored drink (we got “honeydew”) with large tapioca beads in it – which look like “bubbles.” Anyway, it sounds a little strange, but it really is pretty good. The “Pho” is a Vietnamese soup which has rice noodles and what ever kind of meat you choose to have cooked in it – we chose brisket (but for the Dave Bruner types - you can choose any kind of meat – including “tripe.”) Anyway, the brisket “Pho” was really good. Especially on a cold, rainy day – which Seattle just happens to have a few. It was also really fun to just enjoy our students outside the normal classroom setting. They are just so great!

In the spiritual feeding portion of our calling, in addition our normal load, we started a new night class on Wednesdays. We were initially excited to be teaching a night class because traditionally they are better attended as compared to daytime classes. (They apparently are just a better fit for busy student schedules.)

However, we have found at times students can be brutally honest. For example, one student told us (just before we started the class), “missionary couples usually only get like 2 students to come and that is why they normally don’t get to teach in a valuable night class time slot.” Anyway, as you can imagine, it came as a relief to find 18 students had signed up for our evening class. Normally you add a few over the next few weeks, so hopefully we can retain about 20 or more students. The 18 students makes it the second largest class - so take that “brutally honest” opinionated people everywhere! (Okay, so you might be wondering, what is the #1 largest class? For some reason, it has always been the Tuesday 7:00p.m. class. It just seems to be the day & time of the week that best fits student schedules.) Anyway, for a Wednesday, 5:30pm slot, we feel we are off to a good start.

Speaking of classes, we have a special challenge in most of our classes. In that, in each of our classes we get a wide variety of students. Some are return missionaries who are normally well-grounded in the gospel. Some are doctoral candidate students. Some are freshmen. Also, there are a number of students who have joined the church only within the last year or so. For example, one of our students just got baptized this last Saturday. So the challenge is to be able to teach a broad-knowledge base of students attending the same class.

It is a good challenge though. Studies show that if young adult converts take institute within their first year of becoming a member, (or better yet, even before they become a member), there is about a 90% retention rate among them, which we are told is incredibly higher than the normal retention rate.

Well, try to stay warm and dry for us will ya?

Love,


Elder “Mike” & Sister “Jenny” Thornton


P.S. Whaa Hoo! Its Conference weekend!

Danger Zone 41 to 140 - Tax Man Walzes In

Being involved with the young adults has its little surprises. The latest surprise was how BIG the Gold and Green Ball is with the young adults in the Seattle area. Since we are involved with the institute, we were asked to chaperone the dance. If anyone knows Mike, let’s just say the only thing he has ever done on a crowded basketball floor is - play BASKETBALL. The thought of actually going out onto a wooden floor and do anything else – like dance – would never enter his mind. And of course, being on a mission, dancing is just not anything to be concerned about anyway, Right?
Mike insisted there was some kind of mission rule against them dancing. Yet, Jenny actually read the missionary “white bible” from front to back and found no such rule for Seniors – imagine that!

So don’t let that slow-moving couple with name tags in the right-hand photo fool you. That really is us, showing off our fancy foot work.

It kinda like a scene out of that cowboy Australia movie “Quigley Down Under.” You know the one at the end where Quigley is thought to only be able to shoot with a rifle. So the bad guy ruffs Quigley up a bit and takes away his rifle. Then he gives Quigley a pistol, thinking to beat Quigley in a quick draw. Quigley of course shoots the bad guy and says something to the effect, as the bad guy lay dying, “I didn’t say I wasn’t any good with a pistol. I just said I didn’t appreciate pistols.” Anyway, you get the picture.

In our case, both of us grew up in that wonderful enlightened era of hugely sophisticated dance steps. You know the one we are talking about. Instead of wasting all that time learning those old-fashioned steps (yet somehow, oh so beautiful and graceful steps to the waltz, fox trot, or tango), we grew up knowing the DISCO! As a result, at this stage of life, all we can do (without embarrassing ourselves too much) is one thing. Hold hands and slowly shuffle around the floor in a slow circle thingy. Okay, so that isn’t quite like the Quigley scenario. In fact, maybe it is the opposite. Maybe someone should have shot us and put us out of our misery. But, is was fun to be there with these great young adults. And that is more dance’in than Jenny has been able to get out of Mike in the past 20 years. Who would have thought all Jenny had to do was get Mike out on a mission and he would be such a willing dance partner? Will the miracles of mission life ever cease?

After recovering from the LATE night dancing with the living, we also went the past week with the young adults to the university wards’ temple night to do some work for the dead. We were able to do some WONDERFUL work. It was so great seeing many of the young adults we are working with all dressed in white in the celestial room. Kinda brought tears to some of the “Senior” eyes (this getting older thing, impacts the body more ways than one.) More perhaps on that subject in an upcoming email.

Anyway, we then had to do some planning for the upcoming term. We thought these things just magically happen. By the time we got our class outlines in shape and material ready for the upcoming term, somehow that WHOLE first week came and went. It sort of just flew by getting ready for the next term.

Speaking of flying, lest we forget, we had another SHORT, but wonderful “fly by” visit from some more wonderful friends, Anne and Rich Crosland. What we mean by “fly-by” is exactly that. On P-day morning, Rich and Anne just happened to be flying their way back from Hawaii, (where they and their parents and siblings celebrated Rich’s parent’s 50th wedding anniversary – Way to go Grandpa and Grandma Crosland!) Anyway, as luck would have it, on Saturday morning, they had a 1 ½ hour layover at the Seattle airport. They had e-mailed us earlier and wondered if we had the time to come and chat. We did:

It was so great to see them. Ann and Rich had been flying all night long and had a bit of a Hawaiian sunburn (ya, we felt really sorry for them too.) Seriously, it is so good just to be able to hug someone from home (sorry Elder Sean and Elder CJ – just one of the perks of serving state-side as “Senior” missionaries.)

Our attendance at our normal university Sacrament meetings over the past two weeks has been a little abnormal. It all started at one of the single wards. As you may have noted from previous emails, we have gotten to know the Bishop of this ward really well. He grew up in the same little town of Ucon, Idaho as Mike’s mom. Anyway, Sunday was High Council/speaker day. But, as luck would have it, the High Council speaker didn’t show. Guess who the Bishop called upon to fill the time? We hope to return the favor someday, but we are not sure quite how yet. Anyway, we then were asked to speak in another sacrament meeting the next week in south Seattle. Since the assigned topic didn’t exactly fit one of our already canned talks, we ended up taking more time during the week than anticipated preparing (Maybe just being asked to speak out of the audience wasn’t that bad after all – at least there is no time to prepare – and it’s over before you know it.) Anyway, we are a little slow, but between preparing and doing the next two tasks, somehow the week was gone.

What were the next two tasks you may ask? Well, the State of Washington has a problem with anyone who prepares meals for say 100+ people each week without getting a food handler’s permit. Since we hadn’t taken the test to get our permit, the Institute Director thought it might be a good idea to get one before the Institute got picked to be randomly inspected. After all, if we get someone sick because of our food, we certainly want to make sure we got them sick using Washington state approved rules.

So, we went and took the food handler’s course. For those who have never gotten a food handler’s permit lately, let’s just say you don’t have to be the sharpest knife in the drawer to pass the test. Basically they show you a movie that emphasizes over and over again how to wash your hands and how to keep food out of the danger zone where bacteria and other “bad” things can rapidly happen to food between the temperature range of 41̊ to 140̊. Then they give you a test of 36 questions which asks you 36 different ways of why it’s important to wash your hands and keep the food out of the danger temperature range. However, there is a VERY scary part. We made the mistake of actually looking around the room and seeing all the people who were taking the test. Not that we want to be rude, but if you want to enjoy eating out at any public food establishment in the future, don’t EVER, EVER, EVER visit a food handlers’ testing center and see generally who will be actually handling your food. Let’s just say their individual need to express themselves overshadows any rational thought concerning personal hygiene.

Okay, so the actual test didn’t take that long, but by the time we drove clear over to where you had to take the test and beforehand we foolishly thought that perhaps you needed to at least read the food handler’s material before going to take the test and then by the time we fought traffic there and back, our day was completely shot.

On to the next task. This one, we had been dreading for sometime now. It is that task that is not excused even if you are on a mission. The tax man cometh even after missionaries if he doesn’t get paid. So, as anyone who is “self-employed” can attest, getting everything ready and doing your taxes is not for the faint of heart. And when you have a few different, unrelated businesses, the fun can last for several days.

So went another big chunk of our “off-term” time. After doing our taxes, so went our thoughts of a higher spiritual plane.

So went our two weeks we had somehow thought we would get to use in SO many wonderful of ways.

The term starts again on Monday. Classes start Monday. Here we go again, ready or not.

Actually it is nice getting all the “non-missionary” things off our to-do list. We remember reading one of the Jeppesen’s “Musings” in which they noted once you are out in the mission field, you really do develop a stronge sense of not wanting to do things which would take your focus far away from your work. These past two weeks have driven that point home to us. We look anxiously forward to the students’ return this weekend.

We love our mission. We love the students whom we are called upon to serve.

We hope your Spring is going great!

Love,

Elder “Mike” & Sister “Jenny” Thornton

Potato Famine Hits U-Dub at Term End

Did someone say potato famine? Why it’s almost St. Patty’s day and what would this letter be without a few Irish sayings like:

This week marks the last week before finals at the U-dub. The University is on the quarter system and the first quarter will soon be in the books. Institute classes finished up on Thursday. The next two weeks are going to be really, really odd with no classes to teach and no Friday Friendship Feasts. But, this too shall pass and it will give us a little more time to go about and do some real visiting of the less active students (after finals.) Also the “young” missionaries have asked us if we could help them with some of their investigators, so that would be fun too.

As for Friday Friendship Feast and our classes, we are feeling pretty good how they ended for the quarter. As for the feasting part, as you may recall, it has been one of our goals to double attendance and turn it into a meal designed for students to invite their less-active and non-member friends. Of course, we weren’t just looking to double attendance to give us more work on Friday. The stories behind the numbers are what make it worth the while.

For example, as one of the “young” missionaries put it, he said, “Sister Thornton, did you know that we now have investigators who are inviting investigators to come to the Friday Friendship Feast?” What? Non-member investigators inviting other non-members to Institute? Of course, we can’t help but get just a little excited when we get news like that. This is exactly what a “Friendship” feast is all about.

Also, the “young” missionaries working on U-dub campus (3 sets of them) are having more baptisms than they can remember as of late. Of course, we know that is not because of us, but, to some extent it is because of the great member-students at the Institute who are really making a concerted effort to make the Institute a place where all, student or non-student, member or non-member alike, are all welcome. And we are just happy to support them anyway we can.

Several “less-active” students seem to also be giving Institute another try. One example this week was with a student named Roger, who says he has been “off the church radar” – (meaning he hasn’t done anything with church) - for over 5 years. Roger said he had been active in his youth, had even been a student EFY counselor and had served an honorable mission. But when he got home, somehow he drifted away and even became somewhat anti. Anyway, he said word had spread about the Friday Feasts and he decided to give it a try. Now he has attended a few times. In doing so, he has met a few of the students, made some friends and he now wants to give church another try.

Another young man, Richard, came into Institute this week and sat down and talked with us. He said he was a member, but didn’t know who the current prophet of the church was. He said he has a non-member friend who is sick in the hospital. He was wondering if he could just borrow some of the Institute material to read while sitting around at the hospital when he is visiting his friend. Of course, we loaded him up and told him to come back anytime he wanted. He then asked if we would call his parents and tell them he was doing okay and that he had actually dropped by the Institute. Of course we did. We hope to see him back soon. Anyway, these are just some of the reasons why we get a “lift” just by being here and serving these great students.

Also this week we had a special treat. Steven Harper, one of the Editors for the Joseph Smith Papers came and spoke at the lunch to the students (the Institute has also made arrangements for him to speak to a larger YSA group on Sunday.) Anyway, we wanted to make sure a lot of students came to lunch so as not to disappoint him. Since St. Patrick’s day is almost upon us, we went with an “Ode to the Potato” theme to celebrate Ireland. For dessert we served Tres leche cake. (Ya, we know that is a “Spanish” dessert, but if you put enough green food coloring in anything its turns “Irish” don’t ya know?) Anyway, Brother Harper came and his lecture on the Joseph Smith Papers was very fascinating. As a result of the speaker, or the cake, (we are not sure which was the MORE exciting draw) we hit an all-time record (at least for us) of 100+. Hence, we had a little potato famine. By the end of the lunch, there wasn’t one potato skin left, nor a crumb of cake. We ended up having to go out to lunch somewhere else in order to get a bite to eat.

We think we will try to serve Tres leche cake everytime we get a famous writer or editor come and speak. Speaking of which, does anybody know any FAMOUS writer, better yet, any former U-dub graduate / famous writer we could get to speak sometime before we go home next December? Not that we would want just any former U-dub graduate / famous writer / missionary. But does anyone know exactly when a certain Nauvoo PR missionary couple will be getting off their mission, hint, hint?

As for our Institute classes, we have seen a small increase in the number of students attending over the term. This has caused us to breathe a big sigh of relief. Why? You have to remember, unlike BYU students, students attending a non-BYU school do not have any requirement to take a religion class. Attendance is completely voluntary. As a result, if they don’t like the class, they just quit attending (and can you really blame them with all the other pressures they have in their “accredited” classes?) Anyway, since we had never taught before, visions of empty classrooms at the end of the term made us a little nervous. So to see an increase, even a small one, is a very good thing. But now the pressure is on, because the Institute Director is actually giving us an additional class to teach next term.

Well, as they say, no good deed goes unpunished. If you recall, we had a great visit a few weeks back at the Institute by our good friends Ken & Carol Milburn - who we put right to work. Carol then asked Jenny if she would speak at their Relief Society Birthday celebration this last Thursday. Of course, after the Milburns slaved at the Institute, how could we say “No?” Okay, it actually wasn’t that hard for Mike to say “Yes” since all he had to do was go and hang out with Ken while Jenny went and spoke. Of course, Carol is a sweetheart and Jenny was happy to return a favor. But, since neither of us have had our haircut since arriving here in Seattle, Jenny thought it best to get at least a cut before going down to speak. Of course, we are very particular about our appearances, (LOL), so we went to see Jacque. Okay, so we had a coupon for ½ price haircuts at Jacque C. Penney. And guess what? We got our ½ money’s worth. Mike came out the best, but just how bad can you mess up a man’s short haircut? As for Jenny? After Jenny went to extreme lengths on telling her beautician just how she wanted it cut and then have the beautician say, “No problem, I can do exactly that,” she then went and cut Jenny’s hair. And guess what? Jenny’s new Do, looked, well, exactly like the Do worn by the beautician - NOT Jenny. We have one more speaking engagement in a south Seattle Ward this upcoming week. Let us just say Jenny may be looking for another ½ price coupon to perhaps a different salon in the very near future.

And now it’s almost time to relax a little on Sunday during Easter and General Conference. Isn’t it funny how out in the mission field, no matter where you are serving, you tend to look forward, almost to the point of craving, the next General Conference? Or maybe it is just because we ran out of potatoes before we had a chance to eat. Or maybe there really is such a thing as spiritual cravings and maybe, just maybe, we have reached an age where we are getting to know the difference between the promptings from our stomach and those from a higher place.

May we leave you with a final Irish saying:

Love,
Elder “Mike” & Sister “Jenny”

Bible Bumps? Wholly Frijoles!

We are celebrating the taco this week at Institute.

That is really the only reason we can think of why we included this old family photo of us in Mexico:

Big Shout Out to Willow Larson for her recipe on “Fried Ice Cream!” Thanks Willow!

Onto a different subject, a recent event that has given us reason to ponder our missionary experience in the following way:

Even though your spirit may be strong and willing, is there a point when the flesh starts to weaken – even to revolt when you are on a mission?

Apparently so, because we think Mike’s body tried to stage a coup.

We aren’t sure the exact date, but somewhere about the time we made it to Seattle, we noticed a small lump on Mike’s left wrist. Over the past few months, the lump increased in size.

What such a lump does to your otherwise rational thought processes and spiritual well-being is probably as unique as the individual. So you probably can’t guess what such a lump caused Mike to ponder – or maybe you can.

Mike’s thought process went something like this, “Hey, we are on a mission. I don’t have time to be bothered with this. If it gets too bad, they can just take my hand off at the wrist and fit me with a hook, right?”

This of course, led to even BETTER reasoning as he exclaimed, “Hey, maybe they can fit me with an eye patch too and I can go around saying great one-liners like –
‘ARRGH!!! You’d best be read’in me book about Capt’n Moroni or you’ll be tast’in the broadside of me sword!’”

Which caused Jenny to ponder and exclaim,
“WRONG!!! You are SO wrong. I will NOT be first-mate to any Elder Pirate! This mate will lead a mutiny if you don’t go to the doctor and get that thing checked out!”

To which Mike responded, “All right, but only if you can tell me what has 8 legs and 8 eyes?”

After an all too brief of a pause, he then blurts out, “8 Pirates! I guess I don’t have to go today do I?”

This goes on and on for a couple of months, until finally Jenny overpowered Mike and takes him to the doctor – peg arm and all.

Just how does a 5’2” Sister missionary overpower a 6’2” Elder? Answer: Fairly easily. That is why we are still happily married after 24 years!

So, after THREE hours in the doctor’s office, the doctor sallied forth into the room, takes one look at Mike’s wrist and says, “Yep, I know exactly what that is. You have (drum roll please) a ganglion cyst!”

Pausing for even more dramatic effect, he then blurts out, “You have a Bible Bump man!”

The doctor then explained, “Overtime they can swell up and can grow quite large.”

Mike responds, “That doesn’t sound so bad, UGLY perhaps, but not so bad. Can I get a hook?”

The doctor, not sure what to do with that information continued, “The reason it’s called a Bible bump, is because in the ‘old days’ doctors tried to cure the bump by smacking it with something hard like a Bible.”

Mike then responded, “Hey, we’re missionaries. We just happen to have a Bible if you don’t. How much would you charge me to take a smack at it? If it is too much, we are on a budget, and I’ll just take smack it myself.”

The doctor’s eyebrows then start doing funny things as he responds, “I wouldn’t advise doing that. The smack method only works about 50% of the time and if you hit too hard, you could break your wrist or do some other damage. I would simply advise you to leave it alone until you get home and see your family physician in Utah. They usually correct it by surgery nowadays.”

At this point, a voice of reason in the corner of the room echoes out as Jenny rises to her feet and calmly says, “Thank you doctor. We will certainly take your advice.”

Well, believe it or not, Mike lasted over TWO weeks before – you guessed it – WHACK! And believe it or not, it’s gone! No broken wrist, no hook, nothing! (For the brave, if you want more info on Bible bumps, just Wikipedia “bible bump,” and you will get to see pictures of what we are talking about – but we warn you – it’s not for the squeamish, non-pirate type.)

On to more important things, as for this week, we have a double-double. That is basketball lingo for doing two HUGE tasks at the same time. Like John Stockton getting double-digit assists and scoring in double-digits all in one game – a Double – Double. Okay, maybe we did sit through too many of our kids’ games – 600+ we figure collectively. (Speaking of basketball, Provo is on the edge of turning their back-to-back state titles today into a three-peat as they once again are privileged to make it to the big dance – This time against WEST. Thanks to everyone for the updates! Go Dawgs!!)

So, the double-double for us is this: After teaching our normal teaching load and then coming to the end of the week and preparing the normal Friday feast (viva MEXICO!) For a second week, the Institute is having a “Meet & Greet.” This time with 100 high school juniors and seniors. Between workshops and a meal for 100+, we are wondering if we can get it all done. We are also going to a double baptism (Yeh!!) and also trying to squeek in a violin concert on campus, being performed by one of our favorite U-dub students. Lucky it is our P-day! Or we don’t think we would be able to pull it off. Our spirits are truly willing, but our flesh is weak. However, our faith remains strong that the Lord once again will somehow make us equal to the task.

In the words of Skippy Jon Jones, “Wholly Frijoles!”

Elder “Mike” & Sister “Jenny”

Whew Review

They say you can tell the tourists. They’re the ones packing umbrellas.

Normally that’s not so much to talk about. After all this is Seattle, but lets just say this tourist’s umbrella is getting a little bent out of shape as many times as we have had to use it as a snow scraper in February.

As you can see, our building’s little mascot is basking in the sunshine - just after a rain storm - just after a snow storm -which gave us enough of the white stuff to build him.

You might be pondering, “Do Senior Missionaries do things like build snowmen?” Answer: Absolutely! If done with Public Relations in mind.

What does “PR” have to do with a Seattle snowman? Well, you should have seen all the people just walking down the sidewalk who would glance up and smile at the CUTE snowman – which just so happened to be strategically placed just under the sign reading “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – Institute of Religion” - thank you very much.

Of course all good things must come to an end. Someone late in the day came by, and apparently didn’t believe in snowmen, because they SQUASHED him. Sorry Frosty, we simply did NOT know that atheists also deny the existence of snowmen.

Okay, just in case you think we didn’t have anything else to do this week besides build a snowman, this is what we did in a nutshell:

SATURDAY: Just after we wrote the last email, we ran off to have a “meet & greet” with a bunch of high school juniors and seniors who are checking out the institute as future U-DUB students. Of course, we fed them and afterwards the Institute had rented out Husky Football Stadium to play frisby games. The potential future students had a blast and let’s just say the faculty woke up Sunday morning a LITTLE sore.

SUNDAY: We talked in one of the University Wards. Deon Turley surprised us by being there to visit her daughter Carol. (Sorry Deon for having to listen to us twice in a very short period of time.)

MONDAY: We taught our classes and then the University wards had a “Tri-ward” film festival - which was really fun, and kept us going until about 10:00pm.

TUESDAY: Fairly normal teaching day and we finished up our teaching at around 9:00pm. Not all of the Church’s institute locations celebrate Mardi Gras, but the one in Seattle did. We only made crepes for the students in honor of Sister Thornton’s mission experience in France. When the students asked what Mardi Gras was she preferred to be a little vague.

WEDNESDAY: We taught in the morning and then we had another out-of-state wonderful visitor, Rex Barzee. Rex is a BYU Idaho professor (and Jenny’s nephew.) He dropped by with two of his students for an Institute looksie - His students are here on an internship finding trip. We really enjoyed his all-too-brief visit and we said our good-byes with the hopes of the Institute seeing him and even more students next year.

THURSDAY: We taught our last class of the week and then shopped until we dropped for the normal Friday Feast. That evening the Institute sponsored an on-campus forum to field questions from non-member U-Dub students which finished up about 10:00pm.

FRIDAY: The normal cooking and feasting with a western theme. We had barbequed beef and the fixin’s and root beer floats.

The feast was followed by a CES satellite training seminar with Elder Cook. The faculty then went out to dinner as a group.

AND there you have it. Another week has FLOWN by. That pretty much takes us up to this very moment where we are typing out this email.

Whew.

Elder “Mike” & Sister “Jenny” Thornton

Kerfuffled

Last week, we skipped sending out our weekly email and just LOOK what you missed:

First, we teach a class on Mondays/Wednesdays at Edmonds Community College. We just happened to be teaching in 3 Nephi during that week. In particular we covered verses in chapter 8 like; “And behold, the rocks were rent in twain; they were broken up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that they were found in broken fragments, and in seams and in cracks, upon all the face of the land.”

One might say our lesson was a bit TOO powerful - perhaps, just a tad over the top. Why? Because the very next day, the Edmonds area was hit with an earthquake. As you can imagine, once we were released from the hospital, we were very busy just cleaning up the mess. As a result, we really didn’t have any time to write the weekly email.

So that MIGHT be a little bit of an overstatement. We haven’t personally met anyone who really felt the earthquake (it was only a 4.2 magnitude.) Also, we know our lesson had nothing to do with it. But that is the best excuse we could come up with for not writing. And since NOBODY emailed us to say, “HEY? What happened to last week’s exciting senior missionary installment?” OR “Gee, I wonder if Elder & Sister Thornton are all right?” We realize you might have other things going on in your life, things more important than worrying about an Edmonds earthquake. You really need not worry. We are still here serving as full-time missionaries. How exactly did the Apostle Paul put it? Something about “Bereft” being his middle name? (Trivia fact: Did you know Jenny doesn’t really have a middle name?)

Okay, so the earthquake’s only impact was to reinforce what we were discussing with our students that week – but that was great in and of itself.

And that would have been about that for the week - except, for one other interesting thing. Which might not be that interesting to those living in snowbound Utah or Idaho. But on our first day in Seattle, we were told several times, “Oh, it NEVER snows in Seattle, , ,”

Now, we know what you are thinking – looking at this picture – What a crazy, huge amount of snow, huh? Okay, this might not qualify even as snowflake (plural) in Utah or Idaho, but here in SEATTLE, this much snow in February cripples the entire city. And this was after it already snowed in January - twice. However, since we have yet to teach ANY lessons related to snow, we feel pretty confident they can’t blame us for it. We should be able to finish this week’s email without further delay.

Actually, we could have finished last week’s email, yet for another kerfuffle. Earthquakes, snow storms, all this we took in stride, but the next surprise surpassed both the tremors and the snowdrifts combined.

On Thursday, as normal, we drove to the Institute and went downstairs to teach our morning BoM class. Earlier that morning, just as we were leaving our apartment, Mike casually remarked to Jenny, “Aren’t you excited for today?” Jenny responded, “What? It’s Thursday, I guess I’m excited because its – Thursday?” To which Mike responded, “Now you got it. It’s Thursday, the most exciting day of the week! In fact, it is so exciting, I am going to take the camera with us to Institute today to catch all the Thursday excitement!”

Now, such comments might seem a bit peculiar to the casual email reader. But, remember, Jenny has been married to Mike for well over 20 years, so she just responded, “Okay then. Thursday, it is!” And off they went.

Meanwhile, back at the Institute, our morning class just finished. Both students and instructors head for the exits. Since our class in held downstairs, we made our way back to climb the steps up to the student-lounge area. Jenny (of course) beats Mike to the top of the stairs. At the top, she finds the study-lounge filled to the brim with both students and Institute faculty alike. Jenny thinks to herself, “Am I being overly paranoid? Why does it seem like everyone is staring at me? Everyone, that is EXCEPT that one student sitting in a chair with her back to me. WAIT A MINUTE, [as the student stands and twirls quickly around so Jenny meets her face to face] Its MY KATIE!!!! Its MY KATIE!!!”

We think those lines are still echoing around somewhere in space. Anyway,

Click, goes Mike’s camera and there it is:

Actually, Katie and Elder Thornton, had been in cahoots for sometime planning this little surprise for Sister Thornton. You see, as many of you know, Elder & Sister Thornton left for the MTC only 9 days after Katie got home from Spain. As a result, Sister Thornton has been just a tiny-bit anxious about their little Hermana. So Katie’s arrival for a 5-day visit was just what the doctor ordered – (Just one of the many benefits of serving as a “Senior” couple – you can have visitors from time to time!) And since we had a long President-day weekend ahead of us, we got permission to take an extra day off – for good behavior of course – (we hadn’t started an earthquake or snowstorm in at least a few days or so.)

Of course, the first thing we did, was put Katie to work at our weekly Friday Feast:

And lucky we were to have her. You see, we had to prepare a “Valentines” day feast and then get everything taken down and put away in time for us to go and help out at the Tri-stake “Sweetmeet” that very evening.

What’s a Sweetmeet you ask? Well, it is where all the single “guys” build a dessert. The desserts are then auctioned off to the girls. The girls “buy” the desserts with Institute “cash” they earn by going to Institute things. The catch - the girls don’t know which guy made which dessert. It was actually quite interesting (and a little intense – since Jenny & Mike were supposed to judge the desserts.) Below are just some of the interesting desserts:


Can you see the “bird-cage” dessert with two marshmallow peep “lovebirds” on the middle perch? Quite ingenious, eh?

We were proud of Katie. Fresh off the mission, we weren’t sure she would be to willing to participate. However, she did, and she got to know a few of these great Institute-age, young-adults in the Seattle area.

The next day, we went and took in a Temple session:


Afterwards, we took a little time to take in the “Pikes Market” waterfront:


And to go see a few boats raised in the locks:

See how the boats are down about 15 feet, then they raise, up, up up.

And of course, what is Seattle without a few overcast skies?

Or how about a ferry boat ride to picturesque Port Townsend?

Or a lighthouse or two?



And a few Port Townsend “Victorian” houses to dream about:

And there you have it. A nice, well-spent visit. We then took Katie to the airport and said our “see you laters” to our little BYU “Hermana.”

Lest we forget, on the Sunday before Katie left (on a Tuesday), we took it “easy” on Katie. We only went to “two” university wards. At the first ward of the day, it was ward conference. The ward Bishop - Bishop Dale Jenkins - was one of the speakers. He spoke of days gone by and how he grew up in Ucon, Idaho. His dad had been Bishop there. He recalled how the old Ucon church had a pot-belly stove and how he used to stoke it in the winter-time and watch the mice run in and out of the wood pile next to the stove. He recalled how excited they were when it was announced they were going to get to build a new church in Ucon. He then mentioned he remembered a man by the name of Lloy Prater. Lloy owned a local lumber yard. He said Lloy provided the materials to build the church in Ucon at a very low price – He suspected even at a zero profit price. He thought this was remarkable since Lloy wasn’t even a member. He then mentioned this good man, Lloy Prater, was in fact the great-grandpa of Katie Thornton and the grandpa to Elder Thornton. Well, of course, that got us a little choked up.

After taking President’s day off, it was a SHORT week to get everything done. But as they say, time waits for no man. Classes came and went. Once again, we found ourselves trying to prepare another Friday Friendship Feast. What had we promised this week? Oh that’s right, it was “Africa” week and we had promised 200 shiskabobs, 100 twice-baked potatoes (we didn’t have any squash), 100 “Zulu” desserts (don’t ask – we were making it up as we went.)

Of course to set the right “ambiance” we combined a slide show out of young Elder Thornton’s Tanzania pictures and Elder & Sister Wells’ Africa pictures (the ones, the Wells had provided for our Provo High Priest party, so that part was easy.) But just how were 2 missionaries going to grill 200 kabobs and do all the dessert plating AND baking AND have it all done in time? Well, we hadn’t thought that out.

Fortunately for us, even though our memories were short, Thursday night it dawned on us we were going to be blessed with another set of visitors. Over a month ago, Brother Fowler, our area director (over the Washington, Alaska, etc. areas), had gone down south to Bonnie Lake, Washington to teach at a workshop for that stake. In that stake, we just happened to have some wonderful friends from our ole’ college days. They are Ken & Carol Milburn. Carol has taught seminary for many years. As luck would have it, Carol just happened to give a workshop at that same stake meeting Brother Fowler attended. He saw her workshop and he loved her teaching (no surprise to us.) They conversed afterwards and both found out they, of course, had common ties - Elder & Sister Thornton. Brother Fowler then “invited” the Milburns to come see us - Which they did.

Unfortunately for them (LUCKY for us), Brother Fowler had invited them to come this past “Friday.” They came. We put them right to work:

Brother Fowler couldn’t believe we would treat our friends like that – LOL! But we fully know – What goes around – Comes around! So we are prepared to return the favor.

We just hope the Milburns get called to Hawaii on a mission and we will GLADLY go help them for a Friday or two!

Well, it has been another GREAT week!!!!

Hey, maybe no one will notice if we take another 2 weeks off before we write again.

We hope all is well in Zion.

Love,
Elder Mike & Sister Jenny

P.S. Institute teacher, Brother White, gives a Shout-out to his former student Melissa Elmer!

P.S.S. Carol Turley and her roommates were Ingenious in their bidding at the SweetMeet!

Jaw Drop

WAIT: Attached is an audio file – Happy New Year.mpa. To get this week’s FULL email effect WHILE reading, double click on it beforehand – [unless your Mission doesn’t allow you to listen to Chinese music.]

Okay, , , aaaahhh, now doesn’t that music set the tone for cook’in some good Asian stir fry?

“Sister” Thornton sure knows how to WOK and ROLL doesn’t she?

Quit shaking your head. We can’t believe it either. But, trying to top last week’s Italian Friday Feast kept us up a few nights. We are getting a little STIR fry crazy – egg/drum roll please – LOL.

Seriously though, with all of your GREAT help it actually did turn into quite the Chinese Celebration. (Yes, “technically” Chinese New Year is past, but we are serving Chinese, so WOK with us a little.)

When we finally opened up the feast, the look on this U-dub student’s face said it all:

Okay, so “dragon man” isn’t exactly a U-dub student. But the picture really does capture the FESTIVE ambiance we were trying to go for. However, Mike wouldn’t put on the Dragon suit either to help set the Chinese ambiance. But, fortunately with all your help, we did set a great-festive tone anyway.

We received some great decorations made by some students at Bonney Lake (THANKS Milburns!!!):

And (as you can hear IF you are listening to the audio file) we received some great audio files from many of you (THANKS!!!):

Of course the Big Screen slide show presentation also was wonderful with all the pictures we were able to download on China (THANKS Warren BINGHAM!!!):

We can’t print all the Cookie Fortunes we received (THANKS Jeppesens, Wises!!!), but they were great too!

Anyway, we served STIR FRY, EGG ROLLS, LETTUCE WRAPS & THE GREAT WALL OF CHOCOLATE & FORTUNE COOKIES (Thanks for all the great recipes from one and all!!!)

All for 2 bucks! Try getting that much food for your $$$ anywhere! (Okay, we MIGHT have overspent the budget a little – and now we will have some explaining to do to with the Institute Director. If we get released early, just remember Walt Disney use to spend double and triple what he was supposed to and look where Disneyland is now!)

As a result, we topped 90+ students!!! They say it is a NEW Institute record for Friday Feast (at least a good one for a very long time.) We think we could top our intermediate goal of 100+ within the next two or three weeks.

Of course, next week might be a bit interesting. It will be Valentines AND Friday the 13th. We are trying to think of a food theme that meets both criteria. Maybe something set to a Greek tragedy or perhaps Madame Butterfly. What do you think?

On another subject, when we first got here, it was common for us to hear innocent student comments like, “The couples before you had a lot more white hair.” “Do you guys know how to cook or teach or something?” You see, the SENIOR missionaries, who have come and served here, apparently have been the REAL grandma and grandpa type. Since we have no grandchildren yet, although the students have been VERY nice, we could tell they really wanted someone closer to the age of their grandparents, rather than just their parents (they already have “parents” telling them what to do, , ,.) [Those at home with “white” hair – you are desperately wanted!]

Since we don’t have white hair (just don’t look too close at Jenny’s “hair highlighting”) we have been trying especially hard to do our best to spice up the “teach a little” and the “cook a little” parts of our mission life. (Lest we forget, Note to Audrie, [Jenny’s Nice & hairdresser] Are you coming to Seattle anytime soon?),

As a result of ALL your extra help, we think we reached a pivotal moment with many of the U-dub resident students. Student comments at the end of the week, like one made by Nancy, (the U-dub long-time office assistant) says a lot.

(Picture of Brother White, Nancy and Brian)

Nancy’s comment, “Elder & Sister Thornton, you just can’t possibly go home in a year. You will just have to tell your 2 sons and your daughter, we need you more. So when they return [from their missions], instead of you going back to Provo, they, and your daughter, will just have to come and live here.”

Comments like that made us choke up just a little as we ended our week. Noteably, we would have to say Nancy was probably one the toughest to convert to the new/younger “senior” missionaries. Anyway, all you Senior/White hair types, just know, you have a GREAT advantage over us younger “senior” missionaries when you first start your mission - especially in the instant love & respect department.

Last, we wanted to catch you up with Ma’aki. If you recall, Ma’aki is the young man who joined our New Testament class last week. If you remember, we weren’t sure whether we were getting through to him at all until at the very end of class when he prayed for the first time. That was on Tuesday.

On Sunday, we went to three different Fast & Testimony meetings. The last of the day was at the Tongan ward. When we arrived, they were just about to start singing the opening hymn (in Tongan of course.) We quickly sat down in the back and grabbed a hymn book. Of course, their hymns are all written in the Tongan language and many of the melodies are uniquely Tongan as well. We did our best to join in anyway. As Sister Thornton’s dad says, “If you can’t sing well, sing loud.” Unfortunately, did you know the letter “e” in Tongan sounds like the capital “A?” We didn’t either. They also go UP and DOWN on some notes that don’t appear to go UP or DOWN. Some of the younger Tongan kids were giggling a little as we got a little Tongan-tongue-tied on words we didn’t have a clue on what they meant. Yet the spirit was strong. The Tongan branch members LOVE to sing and they sing so BEAUTIFULLY (despite two Provo missionaries.) It was a real treat.

Then it was time for testimonies. Once again, we didn’t understand a word they were saying. Yet, as we looked around the room at their beautiful faces, the spirit definitely bore testimony of their kindness and commitment to the gospel.

Testimony meeting there was somewhat like a BYU student ward, in that, it was a race and “non-stop” testimony event at the pulpit. Yet the race didn’t always go to the swift. When it was time for some of the more “mature” sisters of the branch to bear their testimony, you could feel the great respect the younger generation had, as they would yield and allow these wonderful sisters the opportunity to bear their testimony. Of course the meeting went a “little” over, but it was still a treat.

Somewhere towards the end of the meeting a tall, young man stood up. It was Ma’aki. He looked a little different in a white shirt and tie and without his Hoodie. He then walked up to the pulpit. Though you could tell that Ma’aki was not very comfortable, he bore his testimony in English (which was even more interesting, because afterwards, we talked to him and he hadn’t realized we were there.) Anyway, towards the end of his testimony something incredible happened. As we listened, all of a sudden he quoted two verses (not just read - he quoted two verses) right out of our discussions of 1 Corinthians. Then he stated, he had decided to go on a mission. What? Praying just a few days ago, then apparently memorizing scriptures, bearing testimony and committing to go on a mission? It was truly one of those jaw-dropping experiences that come all too infrequently in life.

Of course, we know it wasn’t us. But being there to see Ma’aki catch hold and see how the Spirit was teaching Ma’aki was truly a wonderful experience. We are so grateful to be able to serve the Lord full-time. We are so thankful for experiences like these. The gospel is truly the “good news.” Its message of Christ’s atonement, as born witness by the Holy Ghost, can and does change lives.

Reflecting back over this week and all of the GREAT help we received, it has once again made two little missionaries from Provo so thankful. Maybe a kind and loving Heavenly Father does send more of these experiences quietly to us than we ever imagine possible if we just take the time to reflect upon them.

For all you do for us - for all you do for those all around you - you make our jaws drop too!

Malo ‘aupite!
(Tongan – THANK YOU VERY MUCH.)

We love ALL your wonderful commentary.

MISSIONS ARE SIMPLY GREAT!!!


Well, we’d best blast off,

Love,
Elder “Mike” & Sister “Jenny” Thornton