On Thursday, December 2, 2010, I got the most amazing phone call. The caller id said "Mont Ringer". He is an oral surgeon who took out Deric's wisdom teeth almost 2 years ago. I didn't think much of it so I answered. The woman's voice said, "Sister Larkin, you probably don't know me but I have just returned from Honduras where I met your son." I nearly burst into tears. Even now, as I am reliving the experience, my eyes are tearing up. We visited on the phone for a few minutes then Sister Ringer told me that she had some photos and a note from Deric. She asked if she could bring them right over. Deric had given her our address and I gave her the directions.
As I was waiting for her, I hear the garage open and Conrad came in. He isn't usually home until 6:30, but a conference near the convention center was over early and he was home just after 5:00pm. Sister Ringer arrived and came in and we visited for about 30 minutes. She had a picture of her and Deric and another one with Dr. Ringer, his twin boys (seniors), and Deric. Sister Ringer told us that Deric looked healthy and happy and his Spanish is great. The Ringers were part of the medical brigade in my last post. They said that the whole experience was absolutely amazing for them. She said that she had a glimpse of Deric's badge and saw Larkin so she tracked him down and asked him if he was from Las Vegas. He was surprised until she introduced herself. The Ringers are in the Lakes Stake where Todd (Richard's cousin) had been the Stake President until about a year ago. That's why she knew the name.
Sister Ringer told us about a fireside where the area authority spoke of the miracles in Central America because of the medical brigades. The number of missionaries serving from those countries has nearly doubled since the brigades started. I thought that maybe Deric would come home from his mission and want to go into medicine instead of engineering, but Sister Ringer said that as he carried a dental chair out to the truck, he told her that the closest he would get to the medical field would be designing the equipment as an engineer. That's my son... Sister Ringer said that all of the missionaries who helped with the translation and such were amazing. They worked so hard moving equipment and assisting and working with the young people. She said that there is no way they could have done it without the Elders.
Deric told Sister Ringer to assure me that he is healthy and well. I've told him that he looked thin in the last photo we got. The ones from Sister Ringer have him still thinner than he was but looking good (except for that haircut). Sandra would die... I'll make sure to set up an appointment for the day after he gets home.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Missionary News
In chatting with Deric yesterday, he told Felycia that he had been on splits with the Mission President. We thought that sounded cool until he explained that President Viers needed to spend some time and the office and so did Deric so they went together. "Splits with the President" sounds more impressive.
Brother and Sister Tobler are from out stake. They have been serving in Guatemala. Brother Tobler is a dentist so they are part of a medical brigade in Central America. Deric got to see them this last week. Apparently, there have been many latin missionaries who have got into the field without proper medical checks so they do these checks a few times a year. Deric stood in as a translator. I guess the language has come along quite well. He said that there were of about 40 dentists, 4 oral surgeons, 3 doctors, a podiatrist, an all of their assistants. About 120 people in all. This time it was in Northern Honduras. Here is what Deric told us about the week.
"They change the country and place every time. It was really cool. There really isn´t much else to the story. There were tons of miracles that happened. Especially in pre-op. Everybody has a really bad fear about getting their wisdom teeth out. A ton asked for blessings before going in. There were other little things that made all the difference. Cleanliness was one of them. It really was sooo much fun to be there and be around a ton of gringos. There were also a ton of really hilarious things that happened. Almost all of the doctors that were there had their own style of music. Somebody was a little worried about it "because there were missionaries there". President Veirs´s response was that it was fine. "They won´t know the music anyway," is what he said. I got to use a ray gun. I felt like one of those really old cartoon characters. It was an x-ray gun. I spent some time translating in the room where they were doing the dental x-rays. One of the assistants went to dinner and I got asked to step in...and use a ray gun. Somebody was taking a video and I turned to the camera and said in the Arnold Schwarzeneger accent, "I am the x-ray taker." All of the doctors cracked up. It was perfect."
That last part is sooooooo 'Deric.'
Only 27 days until we get to talk to our missionary. Only 19 days until our college student is home for 3 weeks. Conrad and I both took off the week after Christmas so we can just hang out as a little family. Works great for us. Unfortunately, neither one of us get paid for the week either. Conrad's contract requires furlough days that week and I'm part time so no work = no pay. At least we're prepared.
Brother and Sister Tobler are from out stake. They have been serving in Guatemala. Brother Tobler is a dentist so they are part of a medical brigade in Central America. Deric got to see them this last week. Apparently, there have been many latin missionaries who have got into the field without proper medical checks so they do these checks a few times a year. Deric stood in as a translator. I guess the language has come along quite well. He said that there were of about 40 dentists, 4 oral surgeons, 3 doctors, a podiatrist, an all of their assistants. About 120 people in all. This time it was in Northern Honduras. Here is what Deric told us about the week.
"They change the country and place every time. It was really cool. There really isn´t much else to the story. There were tons of miracles that happened. Especially in pre-op. Everybody has a really bad fear about getting their wisdom teeth out. A ton asked for blessings before going in. There were other little things that made all the difference. Cleanliness was one of them. It really was sooo much fun to be there and be around a ton of gringos. There were also a ton of really hilarious things that happened. Almost all of the doctors that were there had their own style of music. Somebody was a little worried about it "because there were missionaries there". President Veirs´s response was that it was fine. "They won´t know the music anyway," is what he said. I got to use a ray gun. I felt like one of those really old cartoon characters. It was an x-ray gun. I spent some time translating in the room where they were doing the dental x-rays. One of the assistants went to dinner and I got asked to step in...and use a ray gun. Somebody was taking a video and I turned to the camera and said in the Arnold Schwarzeneger accent, "I am the x-ray taker." All of the doctors cracked up. It was perfect."
That last part is sooooooo 'Deric.'
Only 27 days until we get to talk to our missionary. Only 19 days until our college student is home for 3 weeks. Conrad and I both took off the week after Christmas so we can just hang out as a little family. Works great for us. Unfortunately, neither one of us get paid for the week either. Conrad's contract requires furlough days that week and I'm part time so no work = no pay. At least we're prepared.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Update on our Missionary
So, last Saturday when we were e-mailing with Deric, Conrad asked if we should call the mission president to see about going to pick Deric up. Deric's reply was, "No, Dad, because I'm the one who answers the phone." Then, Deric promised to visit with the mission president about the possibility of our trip next summer. It makes me proud to know that Deric is trying in every way to follow the rules.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Youth Conference - The Benson & Call Handcart Companies
Last weekend was Youth Conference in the Sandstone Stake. We did a handcart trek up near Zion Canyon in Southern Utah. It was amazing. Great experiences for all the kids who participated. The leaders were strengthened by the the faith of the youth. It was a trek so it was hard. There were times when the kids didn't think they could go on, But someone would step up and help.
During the hardest hill at the end of the first day, "angels" came out of the trees to help get the carts to the top. After eating just broth for dinner, they were told of a "rescue" coming to help them. Chicken stew, hot chocolate, and apple crisp arrived just in time.
At one time, some of the kids said, "I wish Deric Larkin was our age. He would have just taken the cart up the hill all by himself." Deric is strong, but the carts weighed close to 600 lbs fully loaded.
As the Mormon Battalion left and the girls pushed on by themselves, they were promised miracles. Some of the girls reported that their carts were moving but they weren't really pushing and pulling them. Miracles did happen.
The testimony meeting on Sunday was great. The bishops passed the sacrament to a huge turnout. They had to open the overflow and then they had to set up chairs in the gym and open those doors, too. I couldn't believe it. We haven't had that kind of turn out for a Youth Conference testimony meeting for a long time.
The fireside on Sunday night was fun, too. The slide show was really good, too. Brother Marelli, Brother Whiting and others contributed photos. Brother Marelli has posted all of his on the internet. I've looked through them and have found some that I'm going to try to download and post. I will make sure to give credit where credit is due. I also have video and photos that I did. They will be posted later.
All in all, it was a really fun weekend. It was cold and we were all tired, and hungry at times. I didn't do the whole trek because of a previous injury, but I walked the last 3 miles or so. I understand it was the easiest part of the whole 2 days, but it was all I could do.
During the hardest hill at the end of the first day, "angels" came out of the trees to help get the carts to the top. After eating just broth for dinner, they were told of a "rescue" coming to help them. Chicken stew, hot chocolate, and apple crisp arrived just in time.
At one time, some of the kids said, "I wish Deric Larkin was our age. He would have just taken the cart up the hill all by himself." Deric is strong, but the carts weighed close to 600 lbs fully loaded.
As the Mormon Battalion left and the girls pushed on by themselves, they were promised miracles. Some of the girls reported that their carts were moving but they weren't really pushing and pulling them. Miracles did happen.
The testimony meeting on Sunday was great. The bishops passed the sacrament to a huge turnout. They had to open the overflow and then they had to set up chairs in the gym and open those doors, too. I couldn't believe it. We haven't had that kind of turn out for a Youth Conference testimony meeting for a long time.
The fireside on Sunday night was fun, too. The slide show was really good, too. Brother Marelli, Brother Whiting and others contributed photos. Brother Marelli has posted all of his on the internet. I've looked through them and have found some that I'm going to try to download and post. I will make sure to give credit where credit is due. I also have video and photos that I did. They will be posted later.
All in all, it was a really fun weekend. It was cold and we were all tired, and hungry at times. I didn't do the whole trek because of a previous injury, but I walked the last 3 miles or so. I understand it was the easiest part of the whole 2 days, but it was all I could do.
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