A Wonderful Week

It’s been another busy week, but a good one. Last Sunday was our ward conference. As President Batt started speaking, he said, “What would ward conference be without calling people up from the audience to bear their testimonies.” I had the impression that I might be called. When I wasn’t I just dismissed it. Well, today, President Fulks of the stake presidency was the concluding speaker in our sacrament meeting. He asked that I bear my testimony. I did have about 20 minutes notice to think about it. He said I was to bear my testimony regarding our calling as missionaries in the Family History Center. I was impressed that I was to tell the experiences I’ve had over the last few months concerning the finding and doing the work for Johannes Rufener. So that’s what I did. I spoke probably seven or eight minutes. I asked him later if I took too long and he told me know that it was just right and what I told them he didn’t have to tell them. His talk was also on Family History which I didn’t know while I was giving my talk. It was a good experience for me. I also told them that my sweet husband was not only baptized for Johannes Rufener and his son but went thro’ for his endowments last Friday. Now I feel like that chapter is completed. He still needs to do the endowments for Johannes, the son and Samuel another son.

Last week was our last training class as missionaries at FHC. Elder Killian taught the last class of three that day and told us about Rootsweb.com which is another website where people post genealogy. After wards he asked to just say a few words concerning our missions there. There were six of us completing our training that day. He told us that our work there was very important and was part of God’s work and His plan. He also told us that the General Authorities have told him that people who work at family history centers will have a special role in the here after. He said that people will be lined up by the hundreds to have us help them get connected to their families. He got quite emotional while he was telling us this and I got emotional also. I felt a great thrill go thro’ me to think that I am part of this great work. I have had a witness many times in the last six weeks that this is what we are supposed to be doing at this time. I am so thankful that my health has improved to the point I can do this. I know that I can be instrumental in finding Johannes Rufener’s parents and his ancestors. I believe that I can also be instrumental in finding Nathaniel Bowen’s parents and ancestors on my mother’s side of the family. The people who have been researching that side of the family have hit a brick wall and can find nothing on him beyond his birth. It may take many years, but, hey, I’ve got time!

That evening at 5:00 we had our second zone conference since we started our mission. We were asked if we would take care of the music. At first Elder Killian tho’t it was Brother & Sister Carl & Kerry Robbins who was taking care of the music. We both of us over lap on Wednesdays from 1-5 so there is some confusion there since our names are so close. Sister LaRita Hendricks gave her conversion story. She was 21 years old when she joined the church. She had been raised as a catholic. She was very religious as was her husband. When he was in danger of being drafted to go to Vietnam, he joined the Navy. They both were raised in Blackfoot. The young missionary who found her in Ventura, California, was raised in Moorland, just west of Blackfoot. They were both home sick and had an immediate bonding. She wanted to learn more about her husband’s faith even tho’ she had no intension of joining the church at the time. Of course once she found out it was true, she could do nothing else. She also had Lane Harker, who was the young missionary come and speak to us for a few minutes as well. I had stayed there at the center and continued working on my PAF program, while Karl ran errands and went home and got me a half of sandwich. I was very hungry by the time he got back. We got home about 6:15. So I was there at the center for approximately 10 ½ hours. It was a long day and altho’ I was very tired, it was a good feeling. I was very glad to have been there. I also had the confirmation that by my being Relief Society pianist again, I can be practiced up and can play most any song they can pick without any advanced notice. That is a good feeling also. That is a case where preparation many years ago makes it possible to fulfill those callings now. When Brother Paul Chugg, first counselor in our bishopric, set me apart as the RS pianist, he told me that I would have the health and ability to play and do my best. That blessing has certainly come to pass already. I have thoroughly enjoyed playing this time and altho’ a play a few minutes almost every day, I don’t have to spend hours practicing before I could play well like I did when I was called to be RS pianist before when I hadn’t played the piano for many years. I’m am so thankful that my parents allowed me to and provided a way for me to learn the piano when I was young.

A Wonderful Day

I called Shonda Queen last Tuesday and found out that they have “walk-in” baptisms for the dead every day from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm and then the wards in the area do them every day from 4:30 to 6:30. We went to the temple Friday and went thro’ the 2:00 pm session. Before going to get ready for the session I took the temple submission disk to Shonda and she printed up the cards that needed work done. We had submitted Johannes Rufener’s whole family. It turns out that some of his children were done and some were not. There were two baptisms that needed to be done and three initiatory and endowments that needed to be done. All were men. It was a very nice session. My allergies are bothering me more now than they have since I was 16 years old! My eyes have been itching more this year than since then. They feel better especially in bright light when they are closed. So I closed my eyes a lot during the session but did keep awake. After the session we went down to the cafeteria and ate. While we were eating I told my sweetheart that I tho’t we should get the cards out of my suitcase and check out the baptistery and see if there were someone there who could be baptized for Johannes Rufener, my great-great- great grandfather and his son, Johannes Rufener. He said he would go with me. We didn’t know where the baptistery was or how to get there. I asked Sister Barzee whom I know from the FHC and she told me the women get there thro’ the women’s dressing room and it’s down the long hall before the cafeteria in the basement. I told Karl he’d have to find his own way, but it would probably be thro’ the men’s dressing room. I went down there looking for it. I went thro’ the door at the end of the hallway and entered another hallway with many doors on each side. I saw the baptistery but no one was in it. I went out and went up stairs and looked for Karl. I could not see him anywhere. I went downstairs again and headed down that hallway again. I saw Walt Mickelson who lived next door to us more than 30 years ago. He noted that his wife Donna was going into the women officiators changing room at the other side of a sitting area up the hallway. He told me to go in there and talk to her while she was changing. I hadn’t seen her for more than 20 years as close as I can figure. Karl has seen her a few times there at the temple but I hadn’t. I had to introduce myself to both Walt and Donna. It was sooo good to see her. We caught up on each other children and how many grandchildren we all had. Then I knew I needed to go find Karl for sure. I went back down the long hallway, saw the entryway into the women’s dressing room and peeked in but couldn’t see anyone to question. I tried the door that was next to it but the door knob was stiff and appeared to be locked. I peered into the baptistery but there still wasn’t anyone there. So I went back upstairs to see if Karl had gone back up there. I still couldn’t see him anywhere. I went back to the reception desk and told Sister Nield that there was no one down there. She said she had just talked to someone down there so she knew someone was there. She said she would walk me down. When we got down there she pointed to the door that I tho’t was locked and said to go in there. I opened the door and there sat Karl patiently waiting for me. Dorine and David Adams were the officiators who were over the baptistery. They are very good friends of Karen & Kent and were instrumental in helping Kent to becoming active in the church and going thro’ the temple. The ward who was assigned to that time slot hadn’t shown up. David said that any time he could help with baptisms there he jumped at the chance because he just loved to do them. I told him that Sister Nield had suggested that maybe they could get some of the other officiators to witness the baptism etc. and Karl could be baptized for them. Karl wasn’t too happy about getting completely undressed again but he knew how important it was to me and since Dave said that he would be glad to do the baptizing he consented to do it. Kim had volunteered to baptize Nathaniel for them but I wanted to be there and witness it so I chose to do it this way. If we end up with many names sometime then we can go that route. Anyway, it was a wonderful experience. I’m sure Johannes Rufener, born December 22, 1780 was there. I felt so emotional when Karl was being both baptized and confirmed for him and had such a warm feeling again. I didn’t feel as much as when his son was done. I tho’t maybe his work had already been done so maybe that was why. I checked on the IIGI when I got home (It had been down all week long so I couldn’t check before; I had tried that morning and couldn’t get it.)….and there was no record of the son’s work having been done. Samuel Rufener’s baptism & confirmation had been done but not the initiatory or endowment. I felt sooo good afterwards. It is such a wonderful feeling to know that his work is finely being completed. And it is sooo neat being instrumental in it. It is wonderful being part of this important work. While Karl was in getting his clothes changed, President DeMordant of the temple presidency came down to see how they were doing there in the baptistery. I introduced myself to him and told him I am an RN (I didn't explain that RN now stood for Retired Nurse instead of Registerd Nurse) and had worked with him at the hospital a few times. (He was a radiologist there at EIRMC when I was there.) He asked if I were still working. I told him no that I hadn’t worked for 6 ½ years but my husband and I were now serving as service missionaries at the Regional Family History Center here in IF. He asked me how I liked it. I told him I loved it and am learning so much. He told me that the work we are doing is a very important work and that we were serving where the Lord wanted us to serve. It was wonderful to have that confirmation again. I know that this work is very important and I know that the Church is true. I’m so thankful to be alive in this day and age.

It's Mother's Day

It’s Mother’s Day. We had a very nice sacrament meeting with two youth speakers, a returned missionary and a one-time grandpa speak. All about mothers. It was all very interesting. I need to call my mother in a bit and I hope all of my children call me. That is one very nice thing about Mother’s Day is being able to talk to all of my children. Karen came Friday afternoon and gave me a beautiful card with a heart felt message in it. And a WillowTree figurine entitled “Chrysalis…protect and cherish and give wings to fly.” It’s a mother standing with her arm around a daughter who is almost as tall as she is. It is beautiful. We had a lovely visit. It had been a long time since she was here.

We were in our fourth week of our mission last week. I am learning so much! Good hints and becoming more confident with the PAF program so I will be able to help others. In a class Wednesday I learned that I could make a temple submission file for just Johannes Rufener (my third great-grandfather on my fahter’s side) and have his work done. I need to call Shonda Queen who works at the temple and see when baptisms are being done then I can go watch it done and then have Karl complete his work. I feel a thrill that it is getting close. We tho’t it was done toward the end of last year but, it was the wrong Johannes Rufener. I found that that is a very common name in Switzerland especially in the 1700-1800’s. I’ve been cleaning up my PAF file that we down loaded from the Ancestral File and am just about ready to go into PAF insight and get any of the ordinances that have been done since the Ancestral File hasn’t been added to anymore, I think that is 1990 or 2000 or something like that. My sweetheart spent all day yesterday formatting floppy disks. They got a big box from the temple and if they are reformatted, then they can be used again and not have to charge the patrons for them. The reformatting will also show up any bad disks. It’s something he can remember how to do and he doesn’t mind doing it. After a while I think I would be bored stiff. My first two hours yesterday were on the computers or the floor as they call it. The second of those first two hours was a PAF class. Then I was on #5 which is books, maps and death records. With the books, a section about a yard wide and ten shelves high need to be checked and made sure they are all in the right order. They all have ascension numbers, which is the order in which they were receive by the library (in a given topic). We also replace all of the books on the shelves that patrons have used. The maps there are 15 long metal drawers that have maps of the different states and countries in different eras. That took forever to count and my back was killing me by the time I finished. There were quite a few out of order; I could tell it had been awhile since they had been checked. On the books and microfilm and microfische, there are just sections that need to be done and you sign a sheet to see where the last one finished and you sign it so the next one will know where to start. I think I will make a suggestion that they divide up the map drawers that way too because it is too hard to do all 15 at once and if they don’t have a signup sheet then just the first four or five will be done all the time and the lower ones won’t be done. I had to ask my sweetheart to come and help me on the loser drawers. Altho’ I was sitting down, it was so hard to bend over to count the ones just above the floor. He helped me with the last four drawers. Some of those maps are very large…five feet by five feet or so. My next assignment was #3 which is microfilm. You are supposed to check at least one drawer, the average is four per person, and return any microfilm to the drawer that the patrons have used and put in the basket. After doing those other assigned tasks you can then go to the floor and be there available to help the patrons or work on your own line. The last two hours I was at the desk. When you are there, you have to stay close by to answer the phone, empty the printer, greet the patrons as they come in, etc. I was tired by the time I got home. I don’t feel like doing much of anything for a while. I just warmed up some leftover macaroni/tomato soup that I had made the day before and sat in my chair and rested after that for a few hours before doing anything else. I think I will have leftovers to heat up for every Saturday. It is so much better. I was tired but it was a good kind of tired. I sleep very well lately. I’ve officially caught the “Spirit of Elijah”! I feel the spirit while there at the center and even here at home when I’m working on my program. I know we are doing the Lord’s work and doing what He wants us to do. I know that the Family History Program is a very important part of the three-fold mission of the Church. It is so neat being a part of it. I’ve decided that I might as well take over the roll that Aunt Pearl had before she died of keeping track of all of the people and ordinance work in my siblings families and my children’s and grandchildren’s families. With the computer it won’t be that difficult. I learned how to make a GED.com file and send it by e-mail yesterday so now I need to write up the directions and send them to my brother and sisters and have them send me the dates and ordinances on their children and grandchildren. That will be much faster to do it that way than typing all of the data and sending it via e-mail. I love this work!