Apartment Inspections, Dryer Lint - and Inspiration from a Closet

*The Cawleys getting ready to set up a new apartment in CASRM with Elders Bracken & Wilson*

During missionary orientation this week, I told the new missionaries that there are some things they will learn on their missions that they may not have expected to learn such as simple car maintenance, how to play pickleball, and the art of apartment cleaning.

Our missionaries have apartment inspections every six weeks. It’s a very good thing. Recently, a giant dryer lint ball was discovered, one that the missionaries had been lovingly contributing to, apparently unaware that they were slowly building a fire hazard. In another apartment, some rats were beginning to consider the garage their new long-term residence. And in yet another, twelve garbage bags worth of clothing and “treasures” were removed that had been left behind by previous missionaries.

*The Cawleys with missionaries on moving day!*

Enter the Cawleys, our amazing housing coordinators. They lease apartments for our missionaries and help set them up, making sure they have the furniture and household supplies they need. They know that the Spirit dwells in clean, beautiful spaces and they work very hard to make that happen. They organize and facilitate the apartment inspections each transfer and help missionaries move in and out of apartments. They love missionaries (even after seeing what’s under some of the beds) and enjoy working together with them! They were delighted one day to open a closet door and find this…see below. Elder Hill you inspire us!

The Cawleys do a great job finding apartments all over our large mission area, often on very short notice. They help streamline and simplify things. Right now, they are replacing some of the older, smaller desks with larger desks that have (on purpose) no drawers. With missionaries moving every six weeks, fewer drawers means fewer mysterious items being stored and forgotten. The Cawleys love how grateful the missionaries are and smiled when they told me about receiving a heartfelt thank-you note for a toilet plunger.

President Quinn and I remind our missionaries to dejunk often, that it is okay to throw things out. It’s so easy to accumulate items that don’t seem to belong to anyone. Less is more, and having space gives you room to breathe. As I have mentioned before dejunking contributes to Feng Shui - a way of keeping balance and harmony which invites the Spirit into your life. President Quinn and I are grateful to the Cawleys for their service to our mission plus they’re fun to play pickle ball with!

We welcomed seven new missionaries this week. Speaking of new missionaries, the Millers are new in the office. We’re grateful to them for their willingness to serve there! They’ll do great. We said goodbye to the Nates— we will miss them! See you on the other side! ❤️ We also said goodbye to some wonderful missionaries. We love you so much! It is never good-bye, it is always “See you later!” ❤️

*Our new missionaries! Sister Thomas, Hermana Perez, Elder Hale, Eldler Reid, The Quinns, Sister Dalton, Hermana Riches, and Sister Tappana*

*Missionaries returning home - Quinns with Sister Wright, Hermana Richins and Sister Dyreng with Elders Wright and Shields*

We’re up in Eureka today at Stake Conference. We loved visiting some of the missionaries in their apartments this weekend.

*The Quinns with Elders Sellers and Griguhn - up in Eureka*

*Elders Braithwaite and Rondina with the Quinns up in Eureka. In the photo is a board that many missionaries have signed over the years. It was so fun to look at all the names*

This week President Quinn and I received the tender news that his sweet mother, Joan Donaldson Quinn, at the age of 96, passed away. We have been expecting this news, and yet it is still so hard to know that she is really gone. We have been reflecting on her beautiful and faithful life, devoted to family and God. We’ve been given permission to leave the mission for a few days next weekend to attend her funeral and the celebration of her life.

We are looking forward to a week of zone conferences and seeing all of our missionaries. Again thanks again for your love and support! ❤️ Here is our #29 Coming to Know Him Journal Prompt!

Here are some fun photos from transfer day!!

Apartment Inspections, Dryer Lint - and Inspiration from a Closet

Comp. Councils, Hmong Speaking Missionaries and - More Journal Prompts