Hydrated with Kindness - Thank You!
Elders Cheal and Branson drinking their water!
(FYI - Prompt #2 for “Coming to Know Him” journal is below. So happy you're looking for it!)
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are no joke—says our watchful mission health advisor, Sister Ritchie, who reminds us often as temperatures rise to stay hydrated, please! So, on a recent visit with some missionaries, I gently suggested they carry a cooler of water in the back of their car.
“Oh don’t worry, Sister Quinn,” they said cheerfully, “We carry water. AND we’re offered water all the time.”
“Wait—you’re offered water?”
“Yes! When we’re out walking (or biking), people see us and go back into their homes and come out with water bottles—and just give them to us!”
“Wow, that’s great, and how kind!” I learned one companionship was given Gatorade, and another even got ice cream.
Elders Braithwaite and Hunt on bikes
Elder Allen proudly told me they once received seven bottles of water in a single day. He even sent me a photo of the back seat of their car—lined with bottles like little trophies. I love how missionaries can turn anything into a game or competition: “Let’s see how many bottles we can get today!” or “We’ll keep knocking until someone offers us water!”
It’s all good fun, I love it! But seriously, I told them please drink all the water you’re offered and make sure you thank those kind people who share it. Hopefully, you can share a message of love and the Savior with them.
Elders Allen and Wiseman’s car - stocking up on water bottles.
I’m deeply grateful to Sister Ritchie and also to our generous team of doctors—Elder Robert Taylor, Dr. Rachel Mitchell, Dr. Greg Ellis and Dr. Richard Ferre—who’ve given so much of their time and expertise to help a few of our missionaries this week with health concerns. President Quinn and I have been in texting mode—pinging doctors, coordinating care, medication scripts, visiting with parents, and saying extra prayers. These good providers are heaven-sent. They have made it possible for three of our missionaries (just this week) to continue their service here on their missions. That makes it a good week for sure!
Sister Ritchie - our Mission Health Advisor/Nurse and Elder Ritchie serves as a Member, Leader, Support Missionary.
On a personal note, we had a wonderful visit with our daughter Natalie and three of our amazing grandchildren—Hailey, Margo, and Clayton. Sadly, husband Johnny couldn’t join us. We missed him, but he did send Crumbl cookies as a proxy. Cookies are always a good idea!
Natalie, Clayton, Margo, and Hailey Boswell
The missionaries will be glad we made it to the Jelly Belly Factory as we purchased “belly flops” to share during the next zone conference and interviews.We even managed to tour Alcatraz! A little gloomy and very fascinating, and that windy ferry ride back makes it very clear why The Rock wasn’t exactly escapable.
Hailey, Clayton, and Margo in a cell block at Alcatraz.
The kids also loved the Charles Schulz Museum—who knew Snoopy would be making such a strong comeback? But my favorite thing? Playing tennis with Natalie and the girls. I haven’t really played since starting our mission, so it was a treat for me. Hailey’s playing is coming into her own—she’s got style, great form, and she’s winning matches back home in Bentonville, Arkansas!
Hailey, Margo and Grammy (Sister Quinn) at the Charles Shultz Museum
Clayton, Natalie, Hailey and Margo Boswell playing games.
Tennis fun. Grampy and Grammy (Pres. & Sis., Quinn) with Hailey and Margo.
Thanks for reading. Stay cool. Stay kind. And maybe keep a cooler in your trunk—just in case someone needs liquid kindness from you.
With love, Sister Quinn
AND NOW DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!! 🥁 🥁 🥁Here is the next drop of oil, prompt #2 for your "Coming to Know Him” journal, If you do not know what this is all about please click here to read about it. We’d love to have YOU join us in this endeavor!!
Below here are more photos from the week. The last two photos tell a great story!
Elders Witt and Fullmer
Sisters Hankins and Thueson
Elders Valle and Giron
Elders Chandler and Yacktman
Elders Bracken and Oh
Elders Rondina and Hart - These Elders look like they could use some water. ha ha
Elder Swenson’s Father as a young missionary in Petaluma
The above photo is a picture of Elder Swenson’s father as a young missionary teaching a woman in Petaluma. The photo below is Elder Swenson with companion Elder Hsu teaching this young girl, now as a grown mother and her children in Clear Lake. They called for the missionaries to come and teach them and it just happened to be Elder Swenson. What a fun reunion. No coincidences here!
Elder Hsu, the Clear Lake family and Elder Swenson
