A Missionary Dinner Story

A few weeks ago we fed the missionaries—story a little ways down on this post. Now, in our Church we have young men and young woman missionaries who give up 2 years of their lives to go on missions—men age 19 and women age 21. They pay for it themselves usually, but if a family can't afford it, then the home ward of a missionary will help out. The wards feed them dinners to help out with their expenses but if hubs and I are out at a McDonalds or Jack in the Box, we'll pay for their lunch. They live very frugally during these missions. Some are sent to all of the U.S. states and some are sent all over the world. Today, I'm going to relate a few experiences we've been told about.

Two men we know personally went to Russia or Siberia for their missions. One man said when he arrived he thought he was in another world. Everyone smoked. Most of the members of our Church don't. But he got on a bus to go to a town far into the interior of Siberia. He said there would be hours and hours of nothing but frozen tundra. Then the rickety bus would stop for a smoke break. This was a bit puzzling as they smoked on the bus also, but he thought they'd never get to his destination. It took days on that bus and it was frigid cold. When they did arrive, he thought 'What town?!' There were just a few shacks and he was sent to try and convert them? Several times he asked to come home because he just couldn't get used to how cold it was and the vast cultural divide. But he stuck it out. 

Several year ago, a friend told us that sending a letter to the missionaries in Russia was about $40 per letter!

The other man said the differences were vast also. We have no idea how good we have it here in the U.S. The food was very different, as you would expect. They didn't have much meat. Food was scarce. The toilet paper was so bad it was indescribable. The missionaries would tear up catalogs/books/magazines to use; it was softer than the toilet paper. You have no idea.

Now, I'm going to tell you about our experience the last time we fed the missionaries.

I signed up at the last minute when they needed someone to fill up the calendar. I told hubs we would go to WM and get some orange chicken at their deli but when we got there that morning, they didn't have any so we got BBQ chicken nuggets instead. I took them home and stuck them in the fridge. Around dinner time I took them out, put them on a foil-covered pan in the oven. They arrived here as I was pulling the pan out of the oven. I forgot to spray the foil and the chicken stuck! I said a few mild expletives, told hubs to set the table with 4 wet washcloths and told them dinner was ready. I also told them they would have to pick the foil off each chicken nugget! I wasn't about to do all that work. As missionaries are sweet and kind, they agreed. What a dinner we had to talk about the next day. I told hubby he knew this was going to be a blog post, right? He just looked at me. I did not do this intentionally to blog about. I was in a hurry and simply did not think. :-) I'll remember to spray the foil next time...if they ever want to eat with us again.
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I think the owner just threw a tablecloth or huge pieces of lace over this chair, but it's gorgeous no matter how she did it.


Just cute little cottages.


I'd love to cover my garbage can in my kitchen like this but it's plastic and I'm not sure it would look this great after I did it. Isn't this adorable? Looks vintage.


White, red and pink bedroom. Lovin' it!


An exquisitely packaged gift.


Darling little coin purse someone made.


I love polka dots.


Exquisite portrayal of oranges.


Why don't we do this more often? Picnic in our back yards.


Another lovely bedroom for you. Notice the lace on the sheets.


A scrap bow for a gift package. Very creative.


I just wonder where people find these pretty outdoor rugs. All I can find are the generic beige/brown ones at WM and Home Depot. And we all know how I feel about beige!


I'm even picky about the pencils in my house. No, these aren't mine, but I only buy a certain brand of pencils and a certain lead in it. Picky, very picky. ;-)


Wow!!! What gorgeous colors adorn this home.


Oooooh, it truly is. I hope your day is lovely. Mine usually are and when they're not, they still are.
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Weighty Thoughts Are on My Mind Today.

Just a few thoughts on some things I've seen, heard or read lately.

The Taliban has threatened to stop their polio vaccines until the U.S. stops its drone attacks. Oooooh, really? Now, I ask you: Who in the world is that going to help? While I sit here in my home in the U.S. and dearly love children and hate seeing them hurt, who will suffer for this? Their children! I, hubby, my kids and grandkids have all had our vaccinations. We're in no danger. Seriously, who are these nut cases? I feel for their children who may contract polio. Oooh, sigh, sigh, sigh!
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Which also brings me to China? They have a one-child policy and don't particularly like girl babies. Well, if they destroy all the girl babies, who is going to birth females, as it is they—women— who have the babies? They have it all backwards in my estimation. In the Bible, men have been asked by the Lord to take multiple wives to propagate the world. So China will end up with no one if they continue on this stance. Just boggles my mind how some people think.
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A Canadian p*rn star's trans**ual lover reveals that she could have been the killer's victim. (I obliterate things so I won't be on some list when the p*rverts google some things. And yes, I can track this! So don't doubt me. I prefer to have legitimate surfers, not the weird kind.) How sick does a person have to be to want so much publicity that she makes this statement, which could happen to be false?! She is so desperate for her 15 minutes of fame that she'll make such ridiculous statements like that. Sigh...again! Read my blog post of fame here.
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I read where the USA Olympic basketball team beat the Nigerian team by 83 points and some criticized the USA coach for going on when the other team was so far behind. What are the idiots thinking?! It's a championship and if the Nigerians can't take it, then they should never have shown up. Would they have stopped the game if they were so far ahead of the USA? I don't think so! The game is timed. That's how it's played! They couldn't stop.
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I saw a video on the internet that a university is making. It's beyond my comprehension how some people can be so absolutely and utterly stupid. This video has white/Caucasian people of various ages on it with graffiti covering their faces saying: It's unfair to be white. Now, I don't know about you, but I didn't have any say in the matter when my parents conceived me. I doubt I cared one whit what color I came out. I would still be the happy chick I am, living in Idaho with my hubby and still loving every single person in this world no matter what color or ethnicity they are. After all, some of my grandchildren are Asian and some are Hispanic and they are gorgeous, let me tell you and this statement is absolutely prejudicial: I have absolutely beautiful grandchildren! What a pathetic attempt at dividing people this is.
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I'd prefer to think about more weighty matters like life, death, cellulite and donuts.
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Hubs asked me some time ago why I have to eat so many donuts when I buy them. I told him I have to sample a dozen because I don't want to miss one single culinary experience if I don't have to.
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Recently, a friend got the VOIP on her phone to save money. I hate VOIP and will probably never, ever have it. When talking with someone on that type of phone connection (phone through the internet) every second and third word is dropped. I'm not ever giving up my land line for that simple reason. I want everyone to hear me properly and I would like the same consideration but it isn't going to happen. I choose wisely where I spend my dollars. Also, VOIP is easily broken into and someone can make a call looking like it came from your phone and not theirs. Yes, this can happen. Just remember that when you get a phone bill from some Caribbean/off shore phone company with thousands of dollars in costs on your phone. You have absolutely no recourse but to pay the bill. Your local and/or long distance company cannot help you one bit and they warn and tell you that. You are absolutely stuck with those phone bills, not the person who made them. YOU!
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More on the book about Presidential Secret Service. Just a few tidbits today.

There are a few more on the President I mentioned here. Remember, I'm doing every single one in this book, no preferential treatment whatsoever. If you're interested in all the stories, buy the book. ;-)

An usher had helped the previous First Lady learn how to use a computer. One day he got a message from her to call him back requesting his assistance on her computer. He did return her call and was fired. He had worked as an usher for the WH for many years and had 4 children. He couldn't find work for a year after that. It was the sitting President that had it done; it wasn't a rule to be able to work there. What a mean man he was!

This President also refused to let the public area be re-carpeted. It was a shambles but he micro-managed so much he wouldn't let them do it. It was replaced immediately after he left office. He even had solar panels installed on the WH roof and they didn't generate enough hot water to run the dishwasher! They had to go out and order a new hot water system just to keep it going. That blew any savings it may have generated but it was a fiasco for the WH staff.

The book calls this family the biggest liars of all. If I tell you a story, it will give it away who it was but I'll just say their private persona was totally different from their public persona. They were not missed when they left.

He wanted to be known as a big fitness buff but he collapsed into the arms of a SS agent when running once, but he had them way off track. They had to find a pay phone to call a cab, but finally called 911 to call the WH to get a vehicle out to find them. Some of these stories are hilarious!

I think that's enough for today, don't you?
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I like this relaxed look of white and splashes of red. It would make a darling family room for me. I'd thrown in a lot of pink also.


Yes, I love white slipcovers. Mine on our family room sofa is a green and white stripe and I got it for a bit of $300 about 4 years ago. I've never seen another cover like it and have many compliments on it. I would like these in there also. Just crisp and clean and washable!


Cute lanterns for guiding your sailor home.


Sweet dining area with all pinks and reds.


One of the most inviting entries I've ever seen.


Now you know what to do with that old tree you're going to chop down in your yard. :-)


Is this pup guarding the home or is he just showing you how cool he looks perched there? ;-)


Aqua and red eye candy.


Little pink cottage with an eyebrow roof line. Looks like it's been neglected though.


Coffee filters covering a lamp shade. I think nothing has contributed to decorating like coffee filters. :-)


Just going in to a fabric store perks me up with all the beautiful and bright colors.


A very well organized kitchen area. Cute how the homeowner has pretty colors and decals on all her stuff.


A beautiful pink french château in a rose-strewn garden.


Another cottage in a flower garden with rock pathway.


Isn’t this cute?! I love the bright pinks mixed with apple green and white.


My window seat in this office isn't as big but I love it for the ambiance it gives this room.


Ooooooh, yeah. Burlap-looking covers with ruffles for femininity.


Another hammock strung between trees for you to relax and dream.
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