The Winds of Change

Isn't it amazing how life can turn on a dime.  For the past week, every day has brought the same expression to our lips...WOW!  No time to catch one's breath...just one WOW after another.  The constant through all the bumps, turns, turmoil and anxiety has been the sure knowledge holding us on the path that we have a living prophet who guides this church according to the will of our Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ through divine revelation. 

As word came first of changes to our Sunday worship, the assurance from the Spirit rested on my mind and heart that we've been preparing for this for some time.  Then as the whirlwind of adjustments directly affecting early morning Seminary and Institute, it felt like our mission assignment was slipping through our fingers.  We still had released time Seminary which we taught on Monday afternoon, then found out Monday evening that the school was closing so that would end as well. 

Then official word came Monday night from our Mission President that the Area Presidency had determined that seniors in our mission were invited to return home!  We would have loved to stay and teach remote seminary (which I think will be an awesome experience for the youth who will be engaged in it) but because of the lack of internet access where we live, our S&I coordinator gently advised us to "pack your things and get out of Dodge!"  A whirlwind of emotions to process!  But I've powerfully felt these words,  "Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side, With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.  Leave to thy God to order and provide, in every change He faithful will remain." 

On the heels of all those WOW's, we had a freaky wind storm and blizzard Friday night with white out conditions.  The unusual high winds took down so many trees and power lines and transformers with them that there was a massive power outage that lasted nearly 2 days in some places.  It was widespread from the Spokane area to Bonner's Ferry, with something like 15,000 homes without power.  And here in our trailer park, that meant no water for everyone and no heat for those like us without wood-burning stoves.  We went to bed when the power went out Friday night and woke up Saturday to a freezing house...38 degrees.  Brrr!

The winter gear helped but we soon realized we had to get someplace warm.  Living in a refrigerator was not in our job description.  Wind chill temp outside was -5 degrees.  More brrrr!  Most gas stations and stores were closed.  Thankfully Walmart was open so we were able to buy water to flush our toilets and we wandered around keeping our distance from others til our feet and hands thawed out.  Our friends the Harris's invited us to their cabin.  They have a wood-burning stove to keep warm.  We headed there in the blizzard only to find downed power lines across their driveway so we turned back toward home. 

Still freezing there so next was the library with other "storm refugees" grateful for warmth and power to charge up our phones.  When the library closed we decided to either spend money on a propane heater or get a hotel room...whichever was less if our power was still out.  What a welcome sight to see this when we turned the corner of our little lane!

Let there be light!  Oh, did our heated mattress cover feel good Saturday night!  Sunday was such a sweet blessing to have Sacrament Meeting, with just the two of us in our cozy doublewide.  We felt so grateful for light and warmth and the Spirit!  Such a feelings of peace in the midst of turmoil.

Monday we viewed some of the storm's damage nearby.

This was a big tree...coming down!

The unsuspecting truck was in it's path.

Notice it's now in pieces...the truck and the tree!

And it immediately fulfilled one of it's measure of creation... lots of firewood!

That must have been a rude awakening!  Yikes!

l went on a little hike near our chapel with 2 of our favorite YSA's, Nicole and Brandon.  We like to think played a part in matching them up, but I'm sure Someone else did that.  It's been so fun to watch their courtship.  They've been a great part of our Institute and YSA branch.  Heading to tie the knot in the Temple soon!  

More evidence of Natures Power!

What a glorious view.  Notice the tree going off toward fishers.  Hmmm....when is it going to fall.  Please not on me on the way down!

                  Oh, how we'll miss this lovely land!  It will all be a memory very soon.

Here's what I won't miss.  After power outages and randomly whenever...we get surges of rusty water through our ancient pipes in our trailer park.

Nice cold drink anyone?  The natives say they've been drinking it for years...hmm...I always suspected such.

When this comes out of the faucet, I have to run the water for 20 minutes til it clears up.

I've learned to run the water BEFORE I put the clothes in the wash.  This started clear...but then...the laundry gods were against me!  I had put Bill's white shirts in, of course.  Quickly got them out soaking wet with rusty water.  Rinsed the in the sink.  Ran several cycles of this water til it was clear again.  The pioneers might have had it better in a clear stream of water!

I refuse to bathe in it!








But we've learned to cope.  And now it's going to be over in a a few days.  Feeling a little like we're abandoning our ship, mid-voyage.
But the Lord knows best and we will obey our leaders.

What a privilege it has been to work with these fabulous Young Single Adults!  Dear to our hearts forever!







So we're homeward bound...to shelter in place, self-quaranteen and earthquakes??!!  What's up with that?  I guess the Lord really wants us to wake up!  No more spiritual snooziness!  President Nelson's admonition rings in my ears.  "In coming days it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."  When we heard that angel Moroni's trumpet fell, I thought of the words to my favorite hymn.  "Oh Lord, haste the day when my faith may be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, even so it is well with my soul!" 

And so it is well with our souls.  Hope to see you soon...as we soldier through this together!

Elder and Sister P.