Letter #53
February 23, 2008
Dear Elder Roper,
Here it is Saturday again – life’s busy, exciting, and the same but different. It really shows me that life
is to be enjoyed more than consumed, meaning that joy comes from relationships, experiences, and memories
and not from achieving, accomplishing, and amassing “things”. Your work in Mexico brings joy because of the
eternal truths you teach and the relationships you make. So, how’s your new abode? Living in the mission
home now? How are your investigators doing? Every soul you help in recognizing truth and bringing into the
Lord’s fold, helps strengthen and build the kingdom for everyone involved – families, extended families,
missionaries, ward members, and the church as a whole. Although testimonies are individual, I believe most
joy comes from being with people you love who share the same ideology and perspective that is centered
around the gospel of Jesus Christ. Your mission experiences will enable you to withstand Satan’s relentless
attacks that all of us do and will encounter throughout our lives. What a blessing it is for you to be in Mexico as
a missionary for the only true and living church of Jesus Christ on the earth today!
Well, last Saturday, BYU
played UNLV at the Marriott center
and won quite handily. That not
only gave BYU a 2 game lead in the
Mountain West, but extended their
home court winning streak to 44
games. Wednesday night, Utah
journeyed into the Marriott center to
try and break that streak – BYU
prevailed, but it was a much closer
game than with UNLV. BYU is
doing really well right now – the
conference tournament should be
pretty interesting in two weeks.
At Sunday’s sacrament
meeting, President Kennison
announced that all the ward
boundaries in the stake were going
rd
to be changed in two weeks and that the old 3 ward designation was going to be brought back – boy, what a
stir! I’m surprised they would announce a change two weeks ahead – effectively, we’re all lame ducks. I guess
they figure it will allow enough
time for everyone to adjust and
console themselves with the change.
He then announced that only the
Stake Presidency and the bishops
knew the new boundaries and asked
everyone not to hound them for
information – ya, right?!!!
Everyone (including me) listens to
every word Bishop Radebaugh
speaks, looking for clues, like, he
said, “The scout trailer is going to
stay with the 5th ward.” That
means, he will remain the 5th ward
bishop and that Trent Taylor would
be in a new ward, right? So, you
may be coming home to a different
ward someday.
Last Monday was a holiday – Jess and Golden wanted us to go hiking, tubing, or something outside, but
I ended up painting the laundry room all day. I used a brush (up, down, up, down,…) I was sure sore by the
end of the day! With Monday being a day off at BYU, it meant that Tuesday would be a Monday instruction
day. That also meant that I had to teach two days in a row – not that that is bad, just different. Wednesday
evening, Linda went with the young women ice skating. I would have gone with them, but the skates really hurt
my ankles and I really wanted to listen to the BYU/Utah game.
Thursday evening, we (Bishop, Trevor Willardson, Bruce Riddle, and I) took the priests swimming in
the Lehi pool. Many have poo-pooed the Lehi “kiddy” pool, but we had a great time! The boys especially
enjoyed taking us old men on in water basketball in the lap pool. (I paid for that exercise the next day as well –
can you say “really sore”?) Afterwards, we stopped at Arctic Circle for topper cones and then at Micky Dee’s
for 99 cent hamburgers. The boys were all really bummed over the coming split. We just don’t know how they
are going to handle our Havasupai reservations, scout and Harmon’s accounts, flags, let alone activity nights.
Last night, Linda and I went country dancing at BYU! Can you believe it?! We had a great time.
James Gille was one of the instructors – he knows Marie really well and kept us informed on Maries upcoming
events. We hope to take the family to some of them. Anyway, the two step was even good exercise for Linda
and me – we’re planning on doing it again soon! Afterwards, we came home for a late supper and a movie. It
looks like HD DVD has lost the HD video race to BluRay. Bishop had a HD DVD video he had mistakenly
purchased and I thought Christina’s XBOX 360 would play that format – wrong! Actually, that made me a little
happier as I was really disappointed that BluRay had won out. (HD DVD players would play the older DVD’s
as well – BluRay not!) I think consumers have gotten a bum rap, but, that’s free enterprise.
This morning was a priest’s basketball game. We ended up losing by 2, but it was fun and everyone left
as good friends. We are having the ward youth over tomorrow night for a fireside – it’s been a long time since
we’ve had an event upstairs. I guess the rest of my day is going to be used cleaning things up upstairs. (I told
TruAnn that I guessed I would have to finally take down the Christmas tree – she laughed!) I’m reading the
“Bourne Identity” – what a thriller! My senior project groups are making progress – I’m have a blast and it’s
like Christmas with boxes of fun gismos arriving almost everyday. I really enjoy work – what a blessing! Kim,
Rhonda, Linda, and I are going out to dinner tonight and then to Gina’s concert at BYU. Afterwards, we might
even get a little Rock Band practice in our front room.
So, what did you decide about your camera? I still think you should go buy yourself a new Sony DSCW80 camera. I watch your AmBank account and keep it in the black, so don’t worry about that. And, if you
need some new pants, get some! Well, I’ll end and get this emailed off. We remember you and your
companion and investigators in all our prayers. We can’t wait each Saturday to hear about your week. Little
Ross continues to put on some weight. Gina is in demand at BYU – violist’s are worth their weight in gold! I
heard from Evan this week – he’s doing well and thinking of changing jobs. Nila’s family is putting on a
surprise birthday party for her birthday next week. Reed and Diane have a buyer for their home and are
thinking of moving out by Vaughn. Everyone’s lives go on and if fun to hear from everyone now and then. I’m
so proud of you and love you very much.
Love, Dad