Exactly one week ago this time (8:30 p.m.) we two were in bed and sound asleep. Dead tired. After a frightful day of travel we just hauled in our gear, made up our bed, brushed our teeth, and "crashed" (into bed). But truthfully, to re-count the hours of this past week would require lots of pages. And words. The week has been not only busy, but oh, so fulfilling. And rich. Lots and lots of wonderful people we've met; lots of places we've been; and lots and lots of merchandise we've purchased. It's a good thing we brought extra money or we'd be skimping like paupers. Our first visit to the grocery store cost plenty--just buying the basics! And as you can expect, we skipped over quite a few things so went back and got them the next trip.
But in terms of living quarters we hit a bonanza. The living quarters here consist of two separate apartment houses, placed end-to-end. One is for the boys; one is for the girls. We live in the girls' house, in a spacious two-bedroom apartment that is well-painted, and well-furnished. On one side of our apartment is a balcony; on the other side is a narrow back yard behind which is a dense hardwood forest that extends northward maybe one-half mile. And through "our" forest runs the smallish (maybe 30-feet wide) Red Cedar River that is apparently not chock-full of fish. "Drats!" Utilities here, are free to us and so too are the laundry facilities, and the rent is sub-par. Best yet, our apartment complex hires a maintenance man who clears the snow and keeps the place up.
As for wildlife we have not seen much. We hear there are raccoons that raid our dumpster, and tree squirrels too. Today we saw our first-ever-in-our-lifetime Great Snowy Owl, but aside from some of the humans walking the streets, all else seems pretty tame. I forget to whom I offered, but I suggested I might catch him a wolverine so he could keep it for a pet. I may reneg.
Right across the street is Michigan State University, home of the famed "Spartans." But lest that impress you, keep in mind that with a campus as physically huge as this one is, "across the street" probably applies to many, many, many residences. During our preparation for the move to the snowy north, we heard horror stories about the "balmy" Michigan winters. And while it does get cold here, so far we've not seen anything too outrageous. I think tomorrow's "high" will be about 10 degrees, but shucks, that's not so bad--especially when you get to spend most of the day indoors.
This past week has not been horribly filled with "must do" obligations. A few mandatory commitments, for sure, but at the end of each day it is astonishing how many incidental "things" and/or visitors pop in and gobble up the time. Example: I thought there would be plenty of time for planning lessons, but others deceive themselves too. Accordingly, all day long I have been scrambling to prepare my lesson for tomorrow night at seven. Luckily I've got all day tomorrow (Wednesday) or I might be embarrassed. Luckily, I have but one lesson to give during each week.
Such an entry as this "rambler" is could rave on ad-infinitum, but why let it? If you have questions, ask and I will answer. Otherwise, I will wrap this up and let you sleep--so that I can go and do likewise. Love, John
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
January 12, 2009--Note from John
(1-12-2009) In all the world there are few more adept computerers than my brother Glenn. Do you know what he told me? "I don't even know what a blog is!" Thank you, Glenn! Neither do I! But I plan to find out!
Life can be cruel. Example: yesterday into Sunday school bursts a young lady, her forehead crinkled for crying. Looking for her friend, she was. Then outside the door we could hear the two sobbing. Later we learned that she, a new convert since last September, had just been text-messaged by her two-years-duration boyfriend saying that "since she was in church again he was through." I was consoled later in seeing her standing beside that same girlfriend, and the two were talking with two very viril and handsome young men. I hope that compensates somewhat. Such are the dynamics of young campus life. And us two crinkled CESers get to be stand-off-and-watch participants.
Life can be cruel. Example: yesterday into Sunday school bursts a young lady, her forehead crinkled for crying. Looking for her friend, she was. Then outside the door we could hear the two sobbing. Later we learned that she, a new convert since last September, had just been text-messaged by her two-years-duration boyfriend saying that "since she was in church again he was through." I was consoled later in seeing her standing beside that same girlfriend, and the two were talking with two very viril and handsome young men. I hope that compensates somewhat. Such are the dynamics of young campus life. And us two crinkled CESers get to be stand-off-and-watch participants.
Friday, January 9, 2009
The O'Dells are "at home" in East Lansing, Michigan
We're here. Tired, frazzeled, confused, but here. For much of the last day, we ran on snow and ice, but for the rest of the traveling, the roads were clear, and mostly dry. By now, we have all our gear inside and stowed away. Our computer is now set up. Nice country here--we expected that. Maybe fifty feet from where I sit is a thick woods, and through the trees is a small river. We are happy we came, but will be even happier when we get some experience behind us. John
Yes, we arrived about 5:30 Tuesday evening and with the help of some residents and employees of the Student Living Center, the car and car-top carrier were unloaded in record time. The young sister missionaries who live directly below us brought us dinner (and fixed breakfast for us Wednesday morning), we made up the beds, and unpacked nearly everything before collapsing for the night. Wednesday and Thursday was full of meeting people, shopping, and organizing our living quarters.
Immediately ahead are meetings, lesson preparation for each of us, meeting students--as well as breakfast with the mission president, his wife and the office staff on Saturday morning. Next week we will get to work with teaching assignments for Wednesday and Thursday, "munch 'n mingle" preparation for Tuesday and Thursday, plus many miscellaneous assignments. We've also been invited to have dinner and FHE (family home evening) with the institute director's family on Monday evening.
We still have only our limited-use cell phone--(801-319-2410 if you urgently need to reach us), but hope to have phone service set up soon. Our address is:
4912 South Hagadorn, #21
East Lansing MI 48823
We'll write again soon and send pictures when we are able.
Ranelle
Yes, we arrived about 5:30 Tuesday evening and with the help of some residents and employees of the Student Living Center, the car and car-top carrier were unloaded in record time. The young sister missionaries who live directly below us brought us dinner (and fixed breakfast for us Wednesday morning), we made up the beds, and unpacked nearly everything before collapsing for the night. Wednesday and Thursday was full of meeting people, shopping, and organizing our living quarters.
Immediately ahead are meetings, lesson preparation for each of us, meeting students--as well as breakfast with the mission president, his wife and the office staff on Saturday morning. Next week we will get to work with teaching assignments for Wednesday and Thursday, "munch 'n mingle" preparation for Tuesday and Thursday, plus many miscellaneous assignments. We've also been invited to have dinner and FHE (family home evening) with the institute director's family on Monday evening.
We still have only our limited-use cell phone--(801-319-2410 if you urgently need to reach us), but hope to have phone service set up soon. Our address is:
4912 South Hagadorn, #21
East Lansing MI 48823
We'll write again soon and send pictures when we are able.
Ranelle
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2009
This is New Year's Eve, 2008. No celebrating for us. We are busy with final packing and John is attempting to put order to his garage.
We are having intensive training at the MTC(Missionary Training Center) which is here in Provo just two miles north of us. We have chosen to stay at home and eat some of our meals there. Ummm - what delicious food and what a great selection! All the "young" missionaries treat us with such consideration, holding doors open and stepping back for us to select our food before them. Our teachers, most of them young men and women who have served missions, are so knowledgeable and are such effective teachers. Of the 70+ senior missionaries in our training group, at least half of them are going to places like Mongolia, Czech Republic, Romania, Kiev, Croatia, Armenia, Stockholm, Ireland, India, various places in South and Central America, Guam, Samoa, Tonga--John was quite envious as they told of the exotic places he has always wanted to see. Still, we are very happy to be serving in Michigan.
We had a wonderful time learning from the couple who just completed their year's service at the Institute of Religion at Michigan State University. They were having a hard time "letting go" and I am sure we are in for a wonderful experience.
On the health front: John spent 4 hours at the dentist office Monday. We left feeling satisfied that things were finally "right." (Still, he finds his mouth is too tender to eat normally.) The next morning, one of his permanent teeth broke so it was back to the dentist yesterday. We deferred the preferred treatment which would have interferred with the remainder of our training and cost another $2500. He is having a fake tooth made to fill the gap and we will deal with the necessary procedure at a later time.
We have two more days at the MTC and weather permitting will leave Provo Saturday morning. We'll post again as soon as we are settled in East Lansing.
John and Ranelle - "Dad & Mom" - "Grandpa and Grandma"
We are having intensive training at the MTC(Missionary Training Center) which is here in Provo just two miles north of us. We have chosen to stay at home and eat some of our meals there. Ummm - what delicious food and what a great selection! All the "young" missionaries treat us with such consideration, holding doors open and stepping back for us to select our food before them. Our teachers, most of them young men and women who have served missions, are so knowledgeable and are such effective teachers. Of the 70+ senior missionaries in our training group, at least half of them are going to places like Mongolia, Czech Republic, Romania, Kiev, Croatia, Armenia, Stockholm, Ireland, India, various places in South and Central America, Guam, Samoa, Tonga--John was quite envious as they told of the exotic places he has always wanted to see. Still, we are very happy to be serving in Michigan.
We had a wonderful time learning from the couple who just completed their year's service at the Institute of Religion at Michigan State University. They were having a hard time "letting go" and I am sure we are in for a wonderful experience.
On the health front: John spent 4 hours at the dentist office Monday. We left feeling satisfied that things were finally "right." (Still, he finds his mouth is too tender to eat normally.) The next morning, one of his permanent teeth broke so it was back to the dentist yesterday. We deferred the preferred treatment which would have interferred with the remainder of our training and cost another $2500. He is having a fake tooth made to fill the gap and we will deal with the necessary procedure at a later time.
We have two more days at the MTC and weather permitting will leave Provo Saturday morning. We'll post again as soon as we are settled in East Lansing.
John and Ranelle - "Dad & Mom" - "Grandpa and Grandma"
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Hi Everyone,
Today we had an email from Elder and Sister Porcaro whom we will be replacing. He was so enthusiastic.
"You will absolutely LOVE your mission assignment. You will have most of what you do right here in the Student Center, the Institute, and the University Ward. And that is a wonderful assignment. You can do it just by being you, and being a grandma and grandpa to students that are for the most part far from home and need you as an adult they can look up to.
Your teaching assignment, at this time , will be Mission Preparation and The Gospel and the Productive Life, along with other Institute assignments. However, we saw a change in assigned classes and you will have input later on for courses you would like to teach. Your classes will be small, from 2 to 12 students.
We have a long list of things we will leave for you or you can borrow from the Institute kitchen so you will not have to overload your vehicle.
We will get back with you and hopefully meet with you before you enter the MTC.
I do remember your daughter Erin when I was at Timpview between 1980 and 1990. Tell her hello for me.
Best from Beautiful Downtown East Lansing, The best mission ever!!!
Elder and Sister Porcaro"
We are getting excited.
Ranelle & John
Today we had an email from Elder and Sister Porcaro whom we will be replacing. He was so enthusiastic.
"You will absolutely LOVE your mission assignment. You will have most of what you do right here in the Student Center, the Institute, and the University Ward. And that is a wonderful assignment. You can do it just by being you, and being a grandma and grandpa to students that are for the most part far from home and need you as an adult they can look up to.
Your teaching assignment, at this time , will be Mission Preparation and The Gospel and the Productive Life, along with other Institute assignments. However, we saw a change in assigned classes and you will have input later on for courses you would like to teach. Your classes will be small, from 2 to 12 students.
We have a long list of things we will leave for you or you can borrow from the Institute kitchen so you will not have to overload your vehicle.
We will get back with you and hopefully meet with you before you enter the MTC.
I do remember your daughter Erin when I was at Timpview between 1980 and 1990. Tell her hello for me.
Best from Beautiful Downtown East Lansing, The best mission ever!!!
Elder and Sister Porcaro"
We are getting excited.
Ranelle & John
CES MTC
Hi Erin, Dale, Jesse, Calista, and Dylan
April, Leland, Tiffany, and Sarah,
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of last week we attended the training for Church Education missionaries. We chose to do this training with the group of missionaries who entered the MTC on November 17 rather than with those who enter the MTC on December 29. It will allow us to leave five days earlier for Michigan--traveling in the winter to Michigan needs more than four days and the semester at Michigan State University begins on January 12.
There were 20 couples in our training group. They came from all over the United States and were going all over the world: Wales, Tonga, Berlin, Brazil, Ireland, Finland, Honolulu, South Africa, Cambodia, and 8 or 9 places in the United States.
We were taught ways to improve our ability to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the classroom--in a nutshell, find the principle and the application in the scripture block. If we can develop that skill, we will certainly be better students or the gospel and better teachers to the students in East Lansing, Michigan.
I can't figure out how to add the picture of us at the MTC so I'll have to have help or write later.
Love,
Dad & Mom
Grandpa and Grandma O'Dell
April, Leland, Tiffany, and Sarah,
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of last week we attended the training for Church Education missionaries. We chose to do this training with the group of missionaries who entered the MTC on November 17 rather than with those who enter the MTC on December 29. It will allow us to leave five days earlier for Michigan--traveling in the winter to Michigan needs more than four days and the semester at Michigan State University begins on January 12.
There were 20 couples in our training group. They came from all over the United States and were going all over the world: Wales, Tonga, Berlin, Brazil, Ireland, Finland, Honolulu, South Africa, Cambodia, and 8 or 9 places in the United States.
We were taught ways to improve our ability to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the classroom--in a nutshell, find the principle and the application in the scripture block. If we can develop that skill, we will certainly be better students or the gospel and better teachers to the students in East Lansing, Michigan.
I can't figure out how to add the picture of us at the MTC so I'll have to have help or write later.
Love,
Dad & Mom
Grandpa and Grandma O'Dell
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