Steve should submit this to the skeptics and see what they say.
Inspirational Thought
12 years ago
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
the reunion
I talked to Soon and she said that she would get off a letter to all of you with more details but this is what I know now. We are planning to get together by lunch time on Friday the 17th and plan to stay until early afternoon on Saturday. I wish that it was longer but due to everyone's busy schedule that is the best we could do. Soon will take care of planning and buying the food with the rest of us reimbursing her for the cost. Each of you plan to bring a game or activity for the kids and if you have some white elephant gifts for prizes for games bring them along too. We are planning a talent show for Friday night and Soon suggesting and I think that it is a good idea that the head of each family also take a short time to tell what has been going on with their family for the past year, catch us up on the latest news. I think that we are planning on going swimming so bring your suits and towels. You might want to bring any extra pillows, that you might want. I think it would be nice to bring a little kleenex and toilet paper. I remember how fast it went last year. And of course bring yourself we are planning on lots of fun together.
See you soon
See you soon
Monday, July 6, 2009
Caribou Head
This is some really good news I learned the other day. Marci's sister in law from her first marriage is married to a guy who hunts all the time. He has all kinds of his kills stuffed and mounted in their house. Marci told me that someday they are going to give us a stuffed Caribou head to put in our house. I really want a warthog but those are too valuable. I guess I will just have to be satisfied with the caribou head.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
the 4th in Laos
JULY 5TH, 2009
DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS,
I HOPE YOU HAD AN ENJOYABLE 4TH OF JULY. WE DID. I WISH I COULD VIDEO TAPE MY MIND AND PLAY IT BACK TO YOU OVER THE INTERNET. WE STARTED THE DAY BY GOING OUT TO OUR FRIEND TEH’S HOUSE. TEH IS OUR FRIEND AT AAR. THEY MAKE WHEELCHAIRS. WHEN I CALLED HIM, HE TOLD ME HE HAD A SURPRISE FOR ME. HE WAS GOING TO INTRODUCE TO US HIS WIFE AND THREE MONTH OLD BABY GIRL. IT TOOK A FEW EXTRA CELL PHONE CALLS TO FIND HIS HOUSE, BUT FINALLY WE SAW HIM. HE HAD QUICKLY LEFT HIS HOUSE AND COME ALONG A MUDDY ROADWAY TO THE SMALL INTERSECTION WHERE WE COULD SEE HIM. TEH IS A POLIO VICTIM, HAS A SMALL WITHERED LEFT LEG AND GOES EVERYWHERE WITH A WOODEN CRUTCH. WE PICKED HIM UP AND WENT TO HIS HOUSE WHERE WE MET HIS WIFE AND LITTLE GIRL. WE REALIZED THEN THAT HIS WIFE HAD A CRIPPLED LEG ALSO BUT SHE CAN WALK ON BOTH LEGS. THE BABY IS NORMAL AND BEAUTIFUL. THEY CLIMBED IN, AND OFF WE WENT TO VISIT HIS FAMILY AND SOME SCHOOLS IN HIS AREA TO SEE IF WE COULD HELP HIS VILLAGE WITH SOME WELLS.
HIS PARENTS’ HOME WAS A TYPICAL LAO FARMER’S DWELLIN, NOT AS NICE AS TEH’S PRESENT HOME. I HOPE SOME OF THE PICTURES WE SEND WILL HELP YOU FEEL THE AWE I FELT. AS I WAS GOING THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE I THOUGHT OF WHAT JESUS MIGHT HAVE MEANT WHEN HE REFERRED TO THE “SALT OF THE EARTH” HUMBLE, HARD WORKING PEOPLE, DOING THE BEST THEY CAN WITH WHAT THEY HAVE. WE VISITED AWHILE, SEEING THEIR RICE FIELD AND HOW THE WHOLE PROCESS OF GROWING RICE IS DONE, MOSTLY BY HAND. WE SAW THE WELL, HOME, HAY LOFT, FISH POND, AND REALIZED HOW DIFFERENT IT WAS FOR THEM TO RAISE A FAMILY AS BIG AS OURS. (ONLY FOUR CHILDREN AT HOME NOW)
WE SAID OUR GOOD BYES AND OFF WE WENT TO SEE TWO SCHOOLS. TEH SAID HE AND HIS WIFE TRY TO GO TO SEE THEIR FAMILY ONCE A MONTH, RIDING IN THE BACK OF A TRUCK BOTH WAYS. TEH’S FATHER HAD MADE THEM A SWINGING BABY BED AND WE BROUGHT IT HOME FOR THEM. I WISH YOU COULD FEEL WHAT I AM FEELING. AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, WE HAVE SO MUCH, AND HAVE SO LITTLE REALIZATION OF WHAT WE HAVE AND SO LITTLE GRATITUDE IN PROPORTION TO WHAT WE HAVE.
THE SECOND PART OF THE DAY WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WORLD. WE WENT TO THE VIENTIANE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL FOR THE AMERICAN 4TH OF JULY PICNIC. THE SCHOOL HAS THE BEST OF EVERYTHING. WE STARTED SELLING TICKETS AROUND 3:15 AND WENT TO ABOUT 6:00 BEFORE WE TRADED OFF WITH SOME OTHER PEOPLE. IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE SEEING THE PEOPLE COME. TRULY A MELTING POT OF AMERICANS COMING TO CELEBRATE THE 4TH OF JULY. AS I WATCHED AND EXPERIENCED ALL OF THIS I COULDN’T HELP REALIZE THAT MOST OF THEM, LIVING HERE, DIDN’T REALIZE WHAT THEY HAVE. AMERICANS, LIVING AN AMERICAN LIFE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY. I BELIEVE SISTER RISER AND I ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME WAY. ANYWAY, WE MET A LOT OF PEOPLE. HOPEFULLY MADE SOME GOOD FRIENDS.
DOWN STAIRS IN THE LIBRARY-OFFICE AREA THERE ARE SOME OLD MOVIE-VIDEOS. WE HAVE WATCHED A FEW OF THEM DURING THIS PAST YEAR. SINCE I LIKE HISTORY, TWO OF THEM WERE ABOUT WORLD WAR II. ONE WAS ON THE ATTACK OF PEARL HARBOR AND THE OTHER ONE WAS ON THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY, SIX MONTHS AFTER PEARL HARBOR. A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THOSE TWO BATTLES. THERE WERE A LOT OF MISTAKES AND ERRORS ON BOTH SIDES, BUT I HAD WITNESSED TO ME THAT OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN WAS DIRECTING, IN HIS WAY, WHAT THE FINAL OUTCOME WAS GOING TO BE. WE HAVE OUR AGENCY, BUT IF WE ARE WILLING TO BE LED, AND TRYING TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, HE WILL, IN HIS WAY, DIRECT THE FINAL OUTCOME OF WHAT HE WHATS US TO BECOME AND WHAT HE WANTS US TO DO. TRYING TO GET OUR VISA’S HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING. COPING WITH OTHER THINGS HERE AND AT HOME, AS WELL AS WATCHING YOU DEAL WITH YOUR PROBLEMS FROM ACROSS THE MILES HAS BEEN SOMETIMES DIFFICULT. BUT, I AM SURE THAT IF WE ARE WILLING TO BE LED AND ARE TRYING OUR BEST, THINGS WILL WORK OUT THE WAY THE LORD WANTS THEM TO WORK OUT.
TEH REALIZED EARLY IN LIFE THAT WITH A WITHERED LEG HE WASN’T GOING TO BE VERY HELPFUL PLANTING RICE IN A MUDDY FIELD. THERE IS QUITE A STIGMA ABOUT CRIPPLED PEOPLE HERE. HIS OWN GRANDFATHER WON’T LET TEH EAT IN THE SAME ROOM AS HE DOES. TEH SEEMS TO MEET CHALLENGE AFTER CHALLENGE AND HE WON’T GIVE UP.
I FOUND OUT TODAY IN FAST AND TESTIMONY MEETING THAT BOUMA, THE 2ND COUNCILOR IN THE BRANCH PRESIDENCY WAS AN ORPHAN AND HAD A DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD. REMEMBER, WHAT THIS PLACE WAS LIKE 35 TO 100 YEARS AGO. NONE OF US HAS FACED THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS. WE DO HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS, EACH OF US, AND THEY CAN BE OVERCOME THE SAME WAY--- BY BEING STEADFAST AND IMMOVEABLE IN DOING WHAT IS RIGHT. HAVE A GOOD WEEK.
LOVE,
DAD AND MOM, ELDER AND SISTER Riser
Friday, July 3, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
from south of the border
26 June 2008
Dear Family and Friends,
We are writing tonight from the beautiful but very warm (95 to 100 degrees each day) city of Monterrey located in Northern Mexico about 150 miles for Laredo, Texas. This is a beautiful industrial city that supplied a large amount of steel to the United States during World War II. The city is surrounded by majestic mountains that are spectacular in view. We took a picture or two from the freeway and we will post them on the bog.
We flew to Monterrey last Thursday and had two very productive meetings with the couples in the two missions here in Monterrey. One of our meetings involved some training for the two couples that have been called to work with Young Single Adults. We were impressed with the great abilities of these couples and their organizational skills. They are all enthused with the chance to serve young people in one way or another. We also met several young women who will be helping with the Young Convention next month. They are on top of their game and we feel so comfortable with their plans and all of the logistics necessary to make the plans work. 250 to 300 people at Sun Valley are no comparison to the logistical problems with housing and taking care of 1,500 teenagers for three days. An exciting program with lots of activities and fun things to do is the answer and we see that happening in each of our visits.
Yesterday we rented a car and drove to the city of Torreon for two meetings we had scheduled there. Torreon is a four hour drive west and north of Monterrey. The drive was spectacular as we crossed very dry desert, drove into a mountain valley where we experience rain both coming and going in the same place and finally arrived in Torreon located in a fertile agricultural area but also a very dry area at this time of year. We saw a lot of well cultivate melon and watermelon fields with plenty of large corn operations along with alfalfa hay and lots of cattle and goats. We were told this arid part of the country does have a good deep well water supply allowing for what we perceived to be an expansive area of intensive agriculture production. All the modern farm equipment we see at home was being used in these production areas.
When we travel we stay at a hotel chain called “Fiesta Inn.” Every one of these hotels has met our expectations and we have been treated very well. They also operate the larger upscale hotels called Fiesta American and have another new business travel chain called “One Hotels.” If anyone is planning travel at all in Mexico, this is a good chain to work with. The prices are very reasonable ($75.00 to $95.00) per night which includes at least one continental breakfast. We say one breakfast because sometimes we get two, sometimes only one…we never know.
Following our visits in Torreon where we attended church and Dad was asked to speak for 10 minutes about two minutes before the meeting began, we returned by car to Monterrey. Tomorrow morning early we will be traveling to Chihuahua by airplane and then we will drive to the Mormon Colonies located north of Chihuahua. These two historical colonies populated by many members of the Church have been in existence since the days of early migration west. Many great leaders in the church have their roots in Colonia Juarez and Colonia Dublan. The Church operates a high school in Colonia Juarez and most of the church members are involved with growing fruits and vegetable as well as cattle operations.
We are looking forward to our visit there with the Dalene’s who are managing the Excellence in Leadership for Youth program. As well, we are excited to be able to visit with John and Ellen Robinson. John was dad’s missionary companion many years ago and Ellen was one of mom’s roommates at BYU. The Robinsons have lived their entire married life in the colonies where John was born and raised. John has been a mission president in Mexico City and is the serving as the President of the Colonia Juarez Temple. We have not see these good friends for many years and look forward to the visit with them as well with the Dalene’s.
Following our work in Chihuahua we will visit the cities of Tijuana, Hermosillo, and Culiacan along the west coast of Mexico. We head back to Mexico City on Thursday; spend Friday getting the washing and ironing done and then we drive to Tampico for meetings on Saturday and Sunday. By the time we get back to the city we hope to have visited all twenty one of our missions prior to the beginning of the first conference in early July.
We want all to know how much we enjoy working with and training these wonderful people. They are so anxious to do the right thing for the right reason. They are dedicated servants of Heavenly Father and we feel so blessed to be able to help were we can to lift them and help them have success experience working with young people.
We send you all our love and very best wishes. Have a great week and we will continue to keep you posted regarding our adventures.
Mom and Dad
Grandma and Grandpa
Dave and Elaine
Elder and Sister Smith
Dear Family and Friends,
We are writing tonight from the beautiful but very warm (95 to 100 degrees each day) city of Monterrey located in Northern Mexico about 150 miles for Laredo, Texas. This is a beautiful industrial city that supplied a large amount of steel to the United States during World War II. The city is surrounded by majestic mountains that are spectacular in view. We took a picture or two from the freeway and we will post them on the bog.
We flew to Monterrey last Thursday and had two very productive meetings with the couples in the two missions here in Monterrey. One of our meetings involved some training for the two couples that have been called to work with Young Single Adults. We were impressed with the great abilities of these couples and their organizational skills. They are all enthused with the chance to serve young people in one way or another. We also met several young women who will be helping with the Young Convention next month. They are on top of their game and we feel so comfortable with their plans and all of the logistics necessary to make the plans work. 250 to 300 people at Sun Valley are no comparison to the logistical problems with housing and taking care of 1,500 teenagers for three days. An exciting program with lots of activities and fun things to do is the answer and we see that happening in each of our visits.
Yesterday we rented a car and drove to the city of Torreon for two meetings we had scheduled there. Torreon is a four hour drive west and north of Monterrey. The drive was spectacular as we crossed very dry desert, drove into a mountain valley where we experience rain both coming and going in the same place and finally arrived in Torreon located in a fertile agricultural area but also a very dry area at this time of year. We saw a lot of well cultivate melon and watermelon fields with plenty of large corn operations along with alfalfa hay and lots of cattle and goats. We were told this arid part of the country does have a good deep well water supply allowing for what we perceived to be an expansive area of intensive agriculture production. All the modern farm equipment we see at home was being used in these production areas.
When we travel we stay at a hotel chain called “Fiesta Inn.” Every one of these hotels has met our expectations and we have been treated very well. They also operate the larger upscale hotels called Fiesta American and have another new business travel chain called “One Hotels.” If anyone is planning travel at all in Mexico, this is a good chain to work with. The prices are very reasonable ($75.00 to $95.00) per night which includes at least one continental breakfast. We say one breakfast because sometimes we get two, sometimes only one…we never know.
Following our visits in Torreon where we attended church and Dad was asked to speak for 10 minutes about two minutes before the meeting began, we returned by car to Monterrey. Tomorrow morning early we will be traveling to Chihuahua by airplane and then we will drive to the Mormon Colonies located north of Chihuahua. These two historical colonies populated by many members of the Church have been in existence since the days of early migration west. Many great leaders in the church have their roots in Colonia Juarez and Colonia Dublan. The Church operates a high school in Colonia Juarez and most of the church members are involved with growing fruits and vegetable as well as cattle operations.
We are looking forward to our visit there with the Dalene’s who are managing the Excellence in Leadership for Youth program. As well, we are excited to be able to visit with John and Ellen Robinson. John was dad’s missionary companion many years ago and Ellen was one of mom’s roommates at BYU. The Robinsons have lived their entire married life in the colonies where John was born and raised. John has been a mission president in Mexico City and is the serving as the President of the Colonia Juarez Temple. We have not see these good friends for many years and look forward to the visit with them as well with the Dalene’s.
Following our work in Chihuahua we will visit the cities of Tijuana, Hermosillo, and Culiacan along the west coast of Mexico. We head back to Mexico City on Thursday; spend Friday getting the washing and ironing done and then we drive to Tampico for meetings on Saturday and Sunday. By the time we get back to the city we hope to have visited all twenty one of our missions prior to the beginning of the first conference in early July.
We want all to know how much we enjoy working with and training these wonderful people. They are so anxious to do the right thing for the right reason. They are dedicated servants of Heavenly Father and we feel so blessed to be able to help were we can to lift them and help them have success experience working with young people.
We send you all our love and very best wishes. Have a great week and we will continue to keep you posted regarding our adventures.
Mom and Dad
Grandma and Grandpa
Dave and Elaine
Elder and Sister Smith
the lastest from Loas
June 28, 2009
Dear Ones,
Another week! The end of another month! It’s hard to believe how fast time is flying by….
This week has been a busy one. In brief: We checked several times on visa progress; still nothing finalized because, after all, our visas don’t expire until Tuesday! We made the final payment to AAR for the wheelchair portion of the project with the National Rehabilitation Center. While we were there, we also visited COPE. It was the first time Elder and Sister Fountaine had been there; it’s always such a touching experience--still, even for us. We met with Dr. Ornella, the neonatalogist in country with WHO. She made us dizzy with statistics, strategies, programs, and problems with mother and child health in Laos. Dr. Ornella is intelligent, impressive, and influential in coordinating much of what goes on in the Ministry of Health in her field. It was enjoyable to experience her passion for her work. We met briefly with the director of the English Language Resource Center, Mr. Khamphan, where the Fountaine’s will be teaching. He seems like a kind, easy-going man, and readily agreed to have classes begin there on July 13--already 30 have signed up to take English classes. We finalized our 1st term program with a very nice graduation ceremony on Friday, followed by lunch at Chanthanom’s family resort. We love these students--many will not return to study with us again--it’s possible we may never see them again--we told them they will always be in our hearts, and they will! Our next term will also begin July 13. Mixed with the above were registering Elder and Sister Fountaine at the U.S. Embassy, trying to get their internet service up and running, a 4th of July picnic meeting, haircuts, a visit to the National Museum, and getting all the Church records updated and prepared for the 3rd quarter. The most frustrating event of the week for Elder Riser was the Church financial report on his own for the first time--took about a day and a half!!! The most satisfying event was completing the preparation of President Khamphee’s family history for temple ordinances. Today there were four visitors from the United States in our Branch meetings, all fluent in Lao; they are here on business. One boy, who was baptized on June 14th, became our only deacon. The second boy will, hopefully, be ordained next week. That’s it--our week in Laos.
Lessons learned and relearned:
People matter. Relationships are important. We are all related--children of the same perfect and perfectly loving Father.
Losing your cool only adds heat to the situation. It doesn’t help anything. Most things can be worked out or worked through given enough time and/or effort.
Love is the most effective element of change. Love is a choice. We choose to give love--we choose to feel love given to us--in direct proportion to our personal purity.
C.S. Lewis said, “Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” (If this is true, every day is a new day, a fresh start in faith and relying on God for all of us.)
Computers are aggravating and amazing. How did we ever live without them?
It is essential to be firm and fixed and focused so we will not be distracted from what is most important.
We are blessed beyond measure. Dozens of things every day remind us of this--but we just received two Liahonas after not getting a new one for 2 months. We relearned what a blessing it is to have the inspiration and “lift” we receive from them and look forward to reading every word. One Liahona is the Conference edition, talks from April General Conference. We are so blessed to have revelation and guidance for our day, for our lives, for our unique situations and challenges in life to read and reread over and over again.
Thank you for your love and support through prayers and letters and the way you are living your lives. We love you!
Dad and Mom
Grandpa and Grandma
Elder and Sister Riser
Dear Ones,
Another week! The end of another month! It’s hard to believe how fast time is flying by….
This week has been a busy one. In brief: We checked several times on visa progress; still nothing finalized because, after all, our visas don’t expire until Tuesday! We made the final payment to AAR for the wheelchair portion of the project with the National Rehabilitation Center. While we were there, we also visited COPE. It was the first time Elder and Sister Fountaine had been there; it’s always such a touching experience--still, even for us. We met with Dr. Ornella, the neonatalogist in country with WHO. She made us dizzy with statistics, strategies, programs, and problems with mother and child health in Laos. Dr. Ornella is intelligent, impressive, and influential in coordinating much of what goes on in the Ministry of Health in her field. It was enjoyable to experience her passion for her work. We met briefly with the director of the English Language Resource Center, Mr. Khamphan, where the Fountaine’s will be teaching. He seems like a kind, easy-going man, and readily agreed to have classes begin there on July 13--already 30 have signed up to take English classes. We finalized our 1st term program with a very nice graduation ceremony on Friday, followed by lunch at Chanthanom’s family resort. We love these students--many will not return to study with us again--it’s possible we may never see them again--we told them they will always be in our hearts, and they will! Our next term will also begin July 13. Mixed with the above were registering Elder and Sister Fountaine at the U.S. Embassy, trying to get their internet service up and running, a 4th of July picnic meeting, haircuts, a visit to the National Museum, and getting all the Church records updated and prepared for the 3rd quarter. The most frustrating event of the week for Elder Riser was the Church financial report on his own for the first time--took about a day and a half!!! The most satisfying event was completing the preparation of President Khamphee’s family history for temple ordinances. Today there were four visitors from the United States in our Branch meetings, all fluent in Lao; they are here on business. One boy, who was baptized on June 14th, became our only deacon. The second boy will, hopefully, be ordained next week. That’s it--our week in Laos.
Lessons learned and relearned:
People matter. Relationships are important. We are all related--children of the same perfect and perfectly loving Father.
Losing your cool only adds heat to the situation. It doesn’t help anything. Most things can be worked out or worked through given enough time and/or effort.
Love is the most effective element of change. Love is a choice. We choose to give love--we choose to feel love given to us--in direct proportion to our personal purity.
C.S. Lewis said, “Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” (If this is true, every day is a new day, a fresh start in faith and relying on God for all of us.)
Computers are aggravating and amazing. How did we ever live without them?
It is essential to be firm and fixed and focused so we will not be distracted from what is most important.
We are blessed beyond measure. Dozens of things every day remind us of this--but we just received two Liahonas after not getting a new one for 2 months. We relearned what a blessing it is to have the inspiration and “lift” we receive from them and look forward to reading every word. One Liahona is the Conference edition, talks from April General Conference. We are so blessed to have revelation and guidance for our day, for our lives, for our unique situations and challenges in life to read and reread over and over again.
Thank you for your love and support through prayers and letters and the way you are living your lives. We love you!
Dad and Mom
Grandpa and Grandma
Elder and Sister Riser
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