January 23, 2022- IT'S 2022!!
Happy New Year to All!
It’s winter in New England! Surprise! We’ve had some gangbuster storms and too many mornings where the temperature and windchill take it down to the minus-minus range. I think we’ve been as low as -20, but who’s tracking. Now that we’ve got our car fixed up, we can hit the remote start and we don’t mind it so much when we head out in the morning.
Getting the car fixed was a must do—it was just not behaving, and while we are happy with the outcome, like all cars it’s a bit of a money-pit. We will be relying on it for a long time, so a needed investment. One downside of the fix was I borrowed a mission car for the week that ours was in the shop and didn’t get a parking pass for the apartment lot. Came out looking for it the next morning and ended up paying a pretty penny to get it out of a tow lot. Arrrggghh! Zero tolerance and a very aggressive tow company.
We continue to move through the rhythm of the mission cycle—only change this last month was that so many of our new missionaries came from the MTC positive for Covid that their Follow-up training at the Joseph Smith Birthplace was shifted to virtual. Not sure how the testing was done in Utah, but over a third of our newbies were sick, and that meant all who’d been near them were quarantined. Companionships can shift to Facebook work when locked in, but we saw some very Christ-like service done by district and zone leaders as they shopped for food and tended to the needs of their team. We were around them during on-board training but avoided the prolonged exposure that increases chances of our getting infected. We’re staying healthy!
We both agree that the colder and more humid winter is not at all good for our bones. We creak up and down the stairs and in and out of the car. But we are pretty consistent in getting over to our little gym a couple times a week for a walk and a workout. We bundle up, put on our walking boots, and try to remember to bring our track shoes (that’s my problem). It gets our heart pumping and helps us build stamina for the long days of transfers and Zone Conferences. But we long for the dry air of Utah.
We are now anticipating the transition of President and Sister Beck this summer with the announcement of our new Mission President and Companion—the Hayden’s. We don’t have any official details other than names, but that will come soon enough. The transition will be in July. We were also excited to see Bart and Anne Sloat, friends from the Quantico Ward, on the list. They are headed to Honolulu—not New England, but hey, somebody's got to go there. We enjoyed a breakfast with them last fall as they passed through enroute from Maine, his home, and we hope to see them again this spring if their plans to come back north pan out. They will be wonderful in their service.
My days are pretty much the same routine—swapping old cars for new, tracking repairs, warning missionaries to slow down or lose driving privileges. It’s aggravated by the adverse weather, and I must sound like a broken record when I talk at Zone Conference. I must also say one of my least favorite tasks is to clean out cars before they are sold; I need to wear gloves and decontaminate after tidying them up. Green French fries?! We also have our annual audit coming up in February. I hope I’m doing most things right.
On the spiritual side, my favorite Golden Truths this last month came from Elder Kelly—'there are lots of Laman’s and Lemuel’s out there—be a Nephi. Work, don’t whine. Come to know the Savior in a personal and perfect way. Be consecrated, not captive—put in the effort’.
Thanks again for the Christmas calls and gifts! Remember—Grandma Great’s 90th Birthday is 25 February. Send her a note! Even better, post to her new SkyLight at Grandma-henscheid@
Now off to Mom…..
Happy 2022!
Let me start by saying I hope your New Year is starting off in a good way! Thanks to each of you for your phone calls and gifts at Christmas time. It was a different kind of Christmas for us but hearing from each of you helped make things seem a little more normal. We love being able to connect with you and stay up to date with what is happening with each of you. Each of you have so many activities, adventures, challenges and excitement happening - we would never keep up with all of it unless you share!
2021 ended and 2022 began with - TRANSFERS!!
As Dad mentioned we had missionaries(I don't think it was quite as many as dad indicated) arrive from the MTC and immediately test positive for COVID 
and then they spread it to others they have been traveling with and their new companions. There have been more issues with COVID this month than any other time since COVID began. I'm so tired of talking about and dealing with COVID.......enough said!
Dad and I were talking about the cycle of mission activities the other day and saying how sometimes it feels a lot like the movie Groundhog Day! Although we do get new faces in our story. And we are grateful for the time we get to spend getting to know the missionaries a little better - even when we are helping them deal with problems. I think back to my setting apart when Pres. Bailey counseled me to never miss an opportunity to minister to these young missionaries. My favorite times are spent with them, not the computer and the records, supplies or food prep!! It is testimony building to me to watch them as they do all that is required of them and see their strengths and testimonies grow.
We continue to send missionaries to their original assignments as places around the world open up. It is fun to learn of their new experiences as they post FB updates and weekly emails. It's hard to see them go once they have spent several months here in this mission.
The mission office climate is a work based association- if that makes sense. I don't think any of us enjoy spending more time together than is necessary
I laugh but for the most part it is true. We get along (most of the time) and do what we need to do at work and then gladly go our separate ways at the end of the day and week.
The winter weather has curtailed our travel adventures for the time being. It is no fun to discover someplace new if it is too cold and stormy to even get out of the car to check it out. So I am compiling a list of possibilities for warmer weather. And all of our new findings can not be eating! We would need more exercise for that. I will be grateful when it is a little warmer and brighter at 6:30 in the AM so that I can go for a walk outside instead of on the treadmill. There is just something about that term - treadmill- that does not evoke something enjoyable. 
But until then we keep our happy lights on and drag ourselves to the gym and move!!
Although we aren't doing much exploring we are often treated to the most beautiful sunsets! So I've included a couple of pictures for you. One of these days I will remember to have my camera ready to take pictures of the amazing ice formations on the granite walls here. Watch for that in a future letter.
So our family is getting ready for the return of our young missionary! Ethan will be home soon! So exciting for the Hull family and the WHOLE family. I asked Ethan to share his Golden Truth with me. In his mission they call it Words of Wisdom. I was so excited to receive his response to my request. I did not ask him for permission to share with all of you, so I will not do that. But I am grateful to know that he has grown while on his mission - in his relationship with the Lord and in his love for the gospel and others. He will have much to offer as he returns home. A Big Exciting Transfer for him. Love you Ethan
Dad and I had the opportunity to sit in on a teaching lesson of a new member recently. It was inspiring to watch the young missionaries answer the concerns of this new member and try to help her know how to navigate the changes she is making to her life. We were able to answer some of her questions and teach her ways to recognize the guidance of the Spirit and the hand of the Lord in her life. To help her understand her worth to our Heavenly Father. She definitely understands that the adversary would like to be the guiding influence in her life and she wants the power to tell him-Not Today Satan!
Do we understand how much power the knowledge of the gospel gives us in our lives? The understanding of who we are and what we need to be? The blessings we receive as we live the gospel. My favorite scripture - and I share it with the missionaries as they leave to go home - Mosiah 2:41 - we ARE blessed as we strive to DO what we know, even when it is not always easy.
I love all of you very much! I miss being able to see you frequently and visit more often than we do currently. I love our family and pray for connections that will bring us closer together - we are much better together.
I think that is enough updates and rambling for now. All of you are in our prayers daily. We know you are busy - but we always enjoy the few short minutes we get to share with you in phone calls and texts, so please stay in touch.
Love,
Mom/Grandma
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