Willcox, Arizona

Friday, February 14, 2014

Well, Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone and Happy Birthday to our son-in-law Dusty. Wednesday, we drove to Willcox, Arizona to finish our vehicle inspections. The St David Zone was meeting together in Willcox so we felt it was a good opportunity to inspect all of  the vehicles in the zone. As we arrived in Willcox, we once again ran into our mission president. If you remember from last week’s  post, we bumped into he and Sister Killpack in the visitor center at the Mesa Temple. I guess they were at the Willcox meeting to conduct interviews with the missionaries. We completed our inspections and decided to take a little time to see the sights in Willcox. Now, if you are not familiar with this small town of about 3,900 residents, it seems that it is home to the oldest store in Arizona, or so they claim. 

Arizona's oldest store, open Thur, Fri, Saturday

Historic Downtown Willcox

It is also the birthplace of Rex Allen and they have a museum for him here. It started as a railroad town and I suppose it has not grown too much since then. It is named after a general named Wilcox, who stopped here for a short visit. The town council voted years later to change the spelling to Willcox,

Museum

Elder H and Rex Allen, forgot my mandolin

Huge Tree in Railroad Park, Historic Willcox (note railroad to right comes through town)

I do not know why. We did have lunch in a railroad car restaurant named the Big Tex BBQ. The food was really quite good and the atmosphere quaint.

The Restaurant

The Smoker next to Big Tex BBQ

Inside the Big Tex BBQ Retaurant

This trip was probably the highpoint of our week. It has been a slow week. We will be leaving for Utah on Monday to attend the wedding of our daughter Amy. Needless to say, we are really excited about that. We plan to try to drive all the way to Kim’s place on Monday, if the weather is good and if I can hold up to drive that far. We will then plan to travel to Logan to visit Grandma Jane and Linda on Tuesday. We will return to meet Christian’s parents on Wednesday. The wedding is on Saturday at 9:40AM in the Salt Lake Temple with a luncheon and reception to follow in the evening. After church on Sunday, we will start our journey back to Sierra Vista to resume our duties.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

We had a good day today. We got to meet a new soldier who has arrived. One of the soldiers who got engaged over the holidays had his fiance there today as she is visiting for the weekend. We also said goodbye to the wife and daughters that we were just getting to know. Their husband/father is graduating March 6 and we will be gone until just before graduation and the wife is driving to California to visit family this week. It is joyful and sad to see the soldiers that we have gotten to know and love graduate and leave. We are so happy for them, but we will miss them. Well, we are packing up tonight and plan to leave early tomorrow for Utah. Hope to see many of you soon. To the rest, we will post again when  we get time.

Busy, Busy

Saturday, February 08, 2014

We just returned from a trip to the Mesa temple today with the soldiers. It was a really long day as we left at 6:00AM and returned about 6:00PM this evening. We were hoping for a large group to travel with us, but, the army had other ideas and scheduled some training for most of the soldiers. We did have 4 soldiers who attended the temple and two come with us who are not members, so we still count it as a success. Those who could not attend the temple went to the visitor's center and seemed to enjoy themselves. As we were walking through the visitor’s center after the session, we bumped into our mission president and his wife. Glad I sent him a text to let him know we were leaving the mission today to take the troops to the temple.

Soldiers that went to temple. Two on outside front row are not members

This post will be short as we have another long day scheduled tomorrow. We have our normal meetings at the Huachuca Ward as well as the servicemen group in the afternoon. After we feed the soldiers, we will head to Tucson for an Addiction Recovery Training meeting. I expect we will not be home before 10:00PM. I think I am getting too old for this pace, but it is very rewarding.

This week we started inspecting vehicles again. We will try to finish up before we head to Utah on Monday, February 17. I think we are planning to drive to the wedding at this point. We are getting excited to see family and attend Amy’s wedding.

We had a good night at the Coffee house activity last night. We fed more than 300 soldiers. It was nice to mingle and chat with them. 

Sunday, February 9, 2014
We just returned from Tucson where we attended a regional training session for the Church's Addiction Recovery Program. We are considering starting a program on post for the military folks. It was really inspiring to listen to some of the success stories coming from folks who work the program in South Arizona. We had a long but enjoyable day today. The soldiers gave some great talks in Sacrament meeting and we had a really good attendance. I think I will keep it short and close for tonight. We understand that our hometown Vancouver has been experiencing some rather severe weather. In fact we heard that church was cancelled today so it really must be bad. We hope you are able to weather it OK. The forecast for Sierra Vista tomorrow is for clear skies and 75 Degrees.....Sorry.

Babies and gunfighters

Thursday, January 30, 2014

We had a wonderful Group Conference last Sunday. There were several visitors from the stake, including the entire stake presidency. They sustained a new assistance group leader to serve with Brother Kovacs. His name is Brother Gonzales. He is still active in the Army Reserves and serves as a full time civilian working for the army. I think he is going to be great. His wife is really sweet and is from Columbia.

New Assistant Group Leader and his wife

I noticed the soldiers already making a connection with him on Sunday. Outside of Sunday meetings, the soldiers really cannot associate with permanent party military folks other than their instructors or those in their chain of command. We hosted a baked potato bar after the meeting and the stake presidency all stayed along with our young FT missionaries. All in all, it was a great day.

Stake Presidency enjoying Lunch with the Soldiers

This week has been about as routine as a week could be for us. We had no inspections scheduled but we did stop and visit the new mother and baby on Tuesday. RoLayne got to be a grandma for a little while and hold a new born baby. That was probably one of her highlights of the week. 

Sister Heninger with Baby Isla (pronounced eyela)

Yesterday, President and Sister Killpack attended our district meeting. I think they had some interviews to conduct. It was nice to have them there. The new District Leader, Elder Chamberlain did a nice job of conducting the training session.

Today, we had some free time so we took a quick drive over to Tombstone to check it out for a future visit with family or friends. It is only about 18 miles from Sierra Vista. It was the first time we have gone there since we have been down here. It was kind of funny, this burly gentleman with a big bushy beard stopped us on the street to talk. I wasn't sure if he was a homeless person looking for a handout or one of  the locals. As it turns out,  he is the blacksmith in town and is a member of the church. He said that he is a ward missionary and often accompanies the Sister missionaries at night in Tombstone as they are not allowed out alone after dark. I wouldn't mess with him. We also talked to a couple of other folks who stopped us on the street. Just as we were headed back to the car, we spotted the sister missionaries from St David. They were headed to an appointment with a member of their ward, a sister Judd. They cover Tombstone as part of their area. It was interesting to bump into them. If any of you come to visit us, we will take you to Tombstone. It is worth an afternoon to check out the shops, see all the period dressed folks, and take in the shootout at the OK corral.

Stagecoach is more than 150 years old, or so they say. And I thought I drove an old vehicle

Not sure if the mules are 150 years old, though they acted like it.

 RoLayne had an interesting experience last Sunday. There is a family that moved into the ward named Pettijohn (not sure about the spelling). Anyway, the wife is from the Tri-Cities area so RoLayne thought that she might know our daughter-in-law's family. As it turns out, she did not. She asked how long we have lived in Vancouver. When RoLayne told her, she asked if we knew Jeff and Terri Johnson. She also said, Heninger, that name sounds familiar. Before RoLayne could tell her that our daughter used to baby sit for the Johnsons and was very good friends with them, she said, “Lisa Heninger” You're Lisa’s parents! As it turns out, she is Terri Johnson’s younger sister and said she was their kid’s favorite aunt, except that they liked Lisa better. It was amazing that she knew Lisa and again shows how small the world of the church is. Even with 16 million members, we are always bumping into someone we know or who knows someone we know.

Sunday, February 02, 2014

Well, today was another good day spent with the soldiers at the Fort. This weekend we are headed back to the Mesa Temple with the soldiers. We will try to give you a report next time. We hope that you are all well and enjoying your lives.

Transfer week

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Last week I posted a special message from my sister. I hope all of you had a chance to read it. She is really an incredible person.

Last week we did our second round of apartment inspections as this week was transfer week. It was good to see the old adage affirmed that “When performance is measured, performance improves.” We were so pleased to see that every apartment that we inspected was sparkling clean. We were amazed at the transformation we saw between last transfer and this one.

Last week we attended graduation for 6 of our LDS soldiers. We will really miss them, but I think they were very happy to be moving on. Their time here was not always enjoyable.

Soldier with wife and parents

Soldier with his father who came from Iowa to see him graduate

As I mentioned, this week was missionary transfers. I think President Killpack felt that a shakeup was in order for our zone. Of the 10 companionships of young missionaries in the zone, only one remained untouched by the transfer. We had our first zone and district meetings this week with the new companionships and I think it was a good move. The new leaders seem very focused and dedicated to keeping the districts and zone on task. 

One of our soldiers brought his wife and 18 month old daughter down with him after the holidays. She was 9 months pregnant and last week had a baby girl. 

Baby Isla Grace

The father was able to be with them during the delivery and over the weekend but is back on post in training and has very limited time to spend with his family. The ward has stepped up and is providing meals and we are going to stop by to visit next week. We talked with her today and she is doing very well. She has an 18 month old child in addition to the newborn so everyone is trying to keep close tabs on her. The members down here are very service oriented and very compassionate, kind of a trait of good saints.

 Monday, we enjoyed our last luncheon with the old zone missionaries. We all met in Bisbee and went to a historic old hotel for lunch called the Copper Queen Hotel. It is owned by a member family. It is a beautiful hotel and the lunch was wonderful. It was fun to enjoy some time with 20 young missionaries. We really love these missionaries and are so honored to serve with them. They have wonderful testimonies and it is a joy to hear them bear them. 

Sign for Hotel located on Main Street, mining equipment in background

Copper Queen Hotel in Bisbee

Shopper in Old Bisbee

Main Street, Old Bisbee

Some of the local architecture in Old Bisbee

Closed copper mine in Bisbee

Open pit mine in Bisbee

We have one missionary in the zone that we work quite closely with who has struggled. I don’t think he comes from a very supportive environment and was in and out of trouble a lot when he was a teen. A couple of transfers ago, they transferred him down here and placed him with a missionary that has some physical challenges. He is a sweet missionary, but I believe is not easy to deal with or live with sometimes. He is very black and white about things and does not understand sarcasm, subtlety, or any kind of joking. He may be autistic. He takes things very seriously and pretty much says what is on his mind. He is universally loved by all the missionaries, but I think it is difficult to work with him sometimes. Anyway these two missionaries were paired together. About two weeks into their time together, I thought that the troubled missionary was going to leave us and go home. It was obvious that he was having a very difficult time. When the next transfer came up, there was no change in this companionship. Neither of these missionaries was pleased about that. However, during the past 6 weeks I have observed a significant change in the troubled missionary. He has really grown to love his companion and while he still has his moments, when he speaks from the heart and bears his testimony, it is one of the sweetest testimonies I have heard. Someone asked him once, how he ended up on a mission. He said, “I have no idea”. I believe him.  In the past few weeks, I have seen him experience a mighty change of heart similar to that spoken of in Alma chapter 5 of the Book of Mormon. It is a great blessing to see changes wrought, not only in new converts, members returning to activity, but also in the very missionaries who are assisting these individuals to experience these changes.

RoLayne and I took a trip to Tucson today so that Sister Heninger could find a dress for Amy’s wedding. There is not much dress shopping in Sierra Vista.

 This Sunday is our Group Conference, (similar to ward conference). We will have several stake visitors. We may have more stake visitors than soldiers but we are looking forward to it. I had the opportunity to teach priesthood/Relief Society again last Sunday. It is such a fun group to teach. They are very engaged and love to participate. We have a great spirit during our meetings.

Life in Arizona continues to be delightful. I hate to rub it in, but today was sunny and about 75 degrees. One could get used to this.

My Hero

I would like to dedicate this posting to someone who is very special to me and has taught me much during the past few years about how to live and enjoy life.

Many of you know that about three years ago my sister was diagnosed with a very rare and deadly disease called Amyloidosis. She has been fighting this terrible disease and has had many ups and downs. Through it all there has been one thing that has never faltered, her unflappable spirit to live every day the best she can and to serve others. She has started a local support group and works with doctors and patients in her area to educate and support them as well as to find a cure for this disease. I have posted an email below that she recently sent trying to raise awareness about rare diseases. I hope you will take the time to read it. If you do and are interested, I also invite you to read the blog she kept during a good part of her journey through treatments. If you read it, you will be inspired!

Thank you for your attention and support.

Elder and Sister Heninger

Linda's blog-  lindadanielson.blogspot.com

My Sister Linda

 
Hello to all of you. I warn you this is a LONG email but I ask that you please take the time to read it. There are pictures at the end. :)

I have never sent an email to a group before. I am sorry that I didn't sent it personally to each of you.

I am trying to increase awareness of Rare Disease Day this year. This day is organized by Eurodis( countries within Europe) There are countries worldwide honoring this day. I would love each of the states we live in to be a part.
Theme: Care - Slogan: Join Together for Better Care

Caring for people living with a rare disease has many facets. Some patients have access to medicines while others have no treatment available. Some patients are fairly independent while others require intensive physical assistance and equipment. Care can consist of special equipment, expert medical consultation, physical therapy, social services, medicines, respite for family members, and much more. For most children and adults living with a rare disease, primary care is provided by family members.

Rare Disease Day 2014 focuses on care and encourages everyone in the rare disease community to Join Together for Better Care.

Patients and their families who feel isolated by the rarity of their disease should know that there are more than 6000 different rare diseases affecting over 60 million people across Europe and North America alone and millions and millions more throughout the world. Most of these diseases are genetic, serious, chronic and debilitating. Each disease is different, but they affect people in similar ways. Joining together can help patients and their families find common solutions for care and remind them they are not alone.

Healthcare professionals, researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and policy makers also frequently feel isolated in their struggle to find and provide care for rare diseases. Experience shows that bringing together scattered knowledge and resources for people living with rare diseases is the most efficient and effective way to mobilize the care patients and families need and deserve.

As you know I have a rare disease. To qualify as a rare disease 1 person out of 200,000 is affected by the disease. My disease is 1 in 3 million people in the United States  get it. I also have relatives who have children with rare diseases whose disease is even more rare. In my disease 40% of people with my diagnosis, die within 6 months of diagnosis. Where the disease is multi-organ it quietly, but quickly damages the organs, often irreversibly, then only about 20% of people qualify for stem cell transplants. The guidelines are much stricter now than when I was diagnosed. They actually were changed within a couple of months after my stem cell transplant. It was the "perfect time" for me to get sick, (if there is a perfect time to get this) for treatment, as well for insurance coverage. I truly know I am extremely blessed. Has it been easy...NO! But I want you all to know, that I wouldn't trade what I have experienced and learned (and hopefully can share and help others) to go back where I was. I have a firm testimony Heavenly Father lives, and knows each and every one of us. Christ was beside me every single day for over a year. At a few times, He literally totally carried my load. Most of the time allowing me to participant in the load so I would appreciate and know when He carried me. Because of this trial, hopefully I am becoming more of the person, Heavenly Father knows I can be.

I have set a goal to spread awareness of rare diseases, to hopefully remind people and their physicians to consider rare diseases as an option when dealing with patients, to increase awareness in hope more research could be funded in learning more about these diseases and finding treatment for them. The government just cut funding for research of treatment for rare diseases along with limiting what treatment options will be covered.

I have sent a request to the governor of Utah asking for a "request for proclamation" to proclaim February 28 as Rare Disease Day in Utah in hopes of also getting some press coverage.

I am inviting each of you, wherever you are to be a part of this awareness; even if it's only to google Primary Amyloidosis (on either Mayo or Boston University) and learn about it. Remember the list of symptoms. Perhaps a neighbor, friend or loved one may someday experience several of those without being diagnosed. Your memory may then recall this disease. Remember early detection is so important. If you would like copy the banner off my email and send it to others please do so. Share the information and about rare disease day with your employment.

 On Feb.  28  8 pm Utah time, I am suggesting lighting a candle for those with or who have passed away from a rare disease. The other thing I would ask, if you are interested or wiling, take a picture of your group of friends, family or whoever holding hands, holding them up in the air (representing coming together for better care). Send an email with a copy of the photo to me. I would like to collect and submit them to the National Organization of Rare Diseases( NORD) showing how we honored Rare Disease Day and possibly even submit some to the Utah newspapers, again increasing awareness.

Here is the logo 


Another idea for a picture. Israel did this.


Whether you are with your family at home, 10 people in an office, 100 people at a conference or 1000 people at a public gathering: RAISE AND JOIN YOUR HANDS to show your solidarity with rare disease patients around the world! Help us show we are all mobilised for people living with rare diseases and driven by the same objectives.

This symbolic gesture can be done before the Day or part of the activities you have already planned on the Day. Remember to send the picture email to me.
                 You get the idea..


You could use either of these logos for facebook or whatever social media you use.

               




If you would like to learn more about this search for  rare disease day. There is a bunch of information about it even a map showing which countries around the world have patient groups preparing to honor this day. Only 2 places in North America.  I would like to be able to list a few from a representation of this group. Pass it along, let's join hands together!!

Thank you for reading this.  Thank you most of all because every single one of you who are receiving this supported me through my most difficult time. I love and appreciate you.

Love,
Linda