Elder and Sister Williams' Nevada Reno Mission: Hot August Nights . . . and Days

So here’s Sister Williams finally writing a blog entry. Things are starting to pick up a bit. Or maybe we are just getting adjusted to the pace here. We are officially moved into our new digs. The other couple, the Gigueres left on Monday to go home. We have mixed feelings. We now have more to do but we grew sort of close to them in the 2 months we were here. There are far fewer couples here for us to get to know. We think it hasn’t been a tradition for senior couples to do things together much, so we are trying to change that.

Tuesdays are District Council meetings. We don’t always feel they relate to our mission but last week’s topic was activation. We enjoyed it more since that is what we have been called to do and we felt we could contribute more. The Gigueres told us they feel that one of the main contributions of senior couples is to mentor and to be there for the young missionaries and we feel that way too.

Last week for P-day, Elder Williams and I went to scope out Virginia City. It’s a fun little western mining town up in the mountains. We thought the Gowen grandkids might like to see it when they came. However, we realized they have never even seen a Western and wouldn’t be able to relate. (Angie said maybe they’ll have the kids watch Young Riders before they come next month.) It’s a fun place for adults though and I was able to find some jewelry stores.

Jay and Stephanie and the kids came to visit this week and we had a great time. They chose a good week because this was Hot August Nights week in Reno. It’s an annual event where about 3000 classic cars come to town. Just 4 blocks from our Sparks apartment they had a nightly “cruise” where they close off a street and people line the streets and watch the cars parade by. The kids loved it. Although we think it may have had more to do with the candy being tossed to the crowd than it did to the actual cars themselves. It was great to see the grandkids! We worry about them forgetting us.

We are loving the Peavine Valley Ward. They have all been so welcoming and loving to us. It’s a very talented ward and we are wondering if maybe we were sent here for what they can teach us rather than for what we can teach them. We are happiest when we are working and love it when we can teach less active members or those who are not of our faith.

Things are going OK at the memory care center which we visit once a week. We generally show them pictures and sing old timey songs with them. The Gigueres told us that we could show the same pictures over and over and they the people wouldn’t remember but last time we showed some pictures the Gigueres had shown them and one woman said, “You already showed us these”. Oh well, they still seem to like it. One woman who can’t talk even smiled as we were singing. They remember many of the songs and often sing along. We try to sing songs they would have learned when they were young. Those are the ones they remember. We are grateful to provide this service and in some way try to brighten their days and we are getting to know the care-givers there. A new man, Paul, came last week. He is from France and fancies himself a ladies man. He has stories he likes to tell of his conquests with Egyptian women (fortunately PG rated). We’re not sure how many of his stories are fact and how many are false memories of his past fantasy life. At any rate he was entertaining and the women enjoyed having him there.

Life is good and I feel like I am reaching the stage in mission life where I no longer want to be transferred to another place. I know the Lord is constantly there for us and He wants His missionaries to be successful. We have felt His love and help many times.