TWO MORE FULL MOONS

As I was walking looking at the moon the other night it came to my mind that only two more full moons & I'll be heading back towards Utah & some dearly missed mountains & people. Then a sad feeling came over me that I might never see some of these dearly loved people in TX again. This is going to be another very hard thing to do, leaving Tx but then I've already learned over the past two years that I can do some very hard things for me anyway. I guess if we all look back over our lives everyone has overcome hard things it's a good thing we can't see in front of us cause I'm sure there's some hard things waiting for us. I guess we all just better enjoy today & I certainly have. It has finally warmed up a bit here in Tx to 55 however I'm not sending my long johns home yet.  The missionary work is going good for us we are teaching lots of people in different things such as temple prep classes, investigators lessons & today we hunted people down who the ward has not been able to find yet. It's pretty hard to find people that don't want to be found.  There's been 6 of us senior missionaries with the same calling I have, two left last Tuesday for Florida & Riverdale, Ut, two more leave this coming Tuesday for Canada & Australia & we leave in March for CA & good old Randolph UTAH.  I met a lady yesterday who ask where I was from? I told her a small town in Utah (Randolph) she said I knew an elder in Bermuda over 45 yrs ago who was from out there. She was visiting her sister who lived there & these two elders were there  working on their bikes, it just happened it was my brother. Now this has happened many times while I've been out here, there is always someone that knows someone I know. It truly is a small world. Life is good & I'm truly thankful to be in Tx on a mission for The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints. I can't remember if I thanked everyone for the many Christmas cards, money & letters I received but I truly appreciate all of them. I'm so sorry I just don't have time to send thank you cards I'm really thrilled if I can just get a few hours of sleep.  My thought: Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls & looks like work---Thomas Edison. My scripture is found in D&C 33: 12-18. I love ya all & pray all is well with your families & yourselves. May the Dear Lord continue to bless us & keep us all in His care. Sister Putnam

A little down time

Well we have survived a tornado, gushing rain fall & it was cloudy on Christmas Eve so I couldn't see the moon. I've been told there will not be another full moon on Christmas for 19 years, my chances of being around for that one isn't too great or I just might not know what the moon is at that time. Things are great here in the big state of Texas & time is marching right along. We've been teaching some more investigators & I think barring any unforeseen complications we will have another baptism on the 17th. Transfers came & went with some of our great elders getting transferred, I missed this one oh ya there's no one to be transferred with because 2 leave the 28th & 2 more the 4th of Feb so that just leaves my companion & I till March. It's sad to think we'll probably never see some of them again unless of course I go to Australia, Canada, CA, FL or UT. We had some cancelations today so that's how come I get a little down time, I must say if feels pretty good. I can't understand why when you could have a little rest ya can't but on a normal day sometimes I get so sleepy I'd give anything to lay down. I walked this morning in a mist you couldn't see very far in front of you & now tonight it's clouding up I heard someone say it's supposed to snow on Sunday or Monday. I've got my long johns on so I'm ready except they said ICE, now that's a whole different story. My thought: I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year. "Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown." And he replied, go out into the darkness & put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light & safer than a known way." Author unknown.  The scripture is found in Alma 38: 9-15.

This couple worked in the Ogden Temple with my sister, brother-in-law & two of my nieces & their husbands. It truly is a small world.