Nov 28, 2005
Dear Family and Friends, A letter of Thanksgiving.
We missed Thanksgiving with you, but we aren’t short on thanks giving.
Mondays sure come around quickly when you are having fun. Next Monday will be 3 months since we left the early fall weather of Salt Lake. 1/5th of our mission is spent. Though it has taken some time to become accustomed to the differences-and there are so many they are without number-we are now very comfortable with the lifestyle here. All of the missionary couples met for thanksgiving on Friday and spent Saturday Christmas shopping in Victoria Island where all the ex-patriots live. On our way to the island, some of the couples were pointing out some unusual aspects of Nigerian life. I thought to myself that I’m sure they wouldn’t live like they do if they had any alternative. Almost everyone I’ve met would have it differently…but they can only change a small-small. They can better themselves in the conditions they live to a point. They can lift their neighbors only a little because they don’t have much themselves. They do the best they can with their circumstances. They put the rest in the hands of God. It was difficult for me to move from the world of missionary work-where we forget about ourselves-into the world of shopping where we think mostly about ourselves but I made myself. We had gone with a list of must haves and found almost everything on our list-miraculously! A yoga mat for each of us to exercise on was the top priority and we found them-they were in the first shop window when we walked into this posh mall! I was positive that we just wouldn’t be able to find such a decadent thing.
We just received 3 letters from Frank, Heidi and the boys. We love to get them-a special thank you so much for the beautiful drawings by Ethan and Miles. We are wallpapering our bedroom with the grandchildren’s drawings. We received a large packet from my ward primary-thank you Merrily. I will be writing them back to answer their questions. We receive a letter a week from my mother. Thank you for being so newsy mom. We really do not know what is happening in the world. We get the BBC EU news but almost nothing is said about American news makers. Your one page letters keep us informed on the biggest events. Thanks Aunt Feetie for the weekly postcard. We appreciate your support and the beautiful postcards adorn our kitchen wall. Thank you Kylie for being grandma to the grandkids for me and for visiting Grandma Kay. I know that you will be abundantly blessed for this service you render in our behalf and you will find joy in doing it. Thank you and bless you Heather for your help with Grandpa Gilmore. He writes that he sure does miss Ava every morning for breakfast. He wishes it could have lasted longer but he told us that your new home is wonderful but too far away from him! We heard from Red this week that his health is improving to even surprise the doctors. We aren’t surprised…he told us he would do just fine while we are gone. Heavenly Father is helping him keep that promise. May God continue to bless you Red. We are looking forward to the arrival of the goodies that Ian has arranged to get to us via delivery by a Church authority that is coming to Lagos tomorrow night. It will be Christmas early this year…and no we won’t wait until Christmas to open them! Thanks so much Ian, and anyone who helped, for all the work in gathering, preparing, and delivering the things we needed. Grant, we have prayed and prayed that you would find a good job. We hope that your new job just fits you! We will take your job hunt off our prayer list of needs for our family and move it to the list of prayers answered that we are grateful for. Lissa, thanks for your contribution to my piano class. Because of your help I can teach more effectively. I will take a picture of the class with our new piano next to the one I brought. It is a blessing to these Nigerian Church members who never dreamed they would be able to do such a thing as learn to play the piano. (And believe me, I never dreamed I would do such a thing as teach piano!) When we leave, I will leave the piano for the branch so that those students can play during church services. I’m hoping to have them give a recital for one of the Friday night activities when we get far enough along. To everyone, thanks for all of your notes to us. I really wish we could answer them individually but it is impossible. We do receive them and cherish your messages and encouragement. Thanks to all for your prayers in our behalf. I want to testify that we feel the influence and blessings for your prayers. We have been protected in a country that isn’t known for safety. We have never felt in danger. Ideas to resolve problems come at our bidding. There is joy beyond measure in doing such a thing with my husband ...I would not believe it if I didn’t experience it. Everything we have ever experienced and learned is put into practice on our mission. It is like our whole life experience has been in preparation for this work in which we are now engaged. We are truly grateful and blessed by your love and support. Love Elder and Sister Gilmore
We missed Thanksgiving with you, but we aren’t short on thanks giving.
Mondays sure come around quickly when you are having fun. Next Monday will be 3 months since we left the early fall weather of Salt Lake. 1/5th of our mission is spent. Though it has taken some time to become accustomed to the differences-and there are so many they are without number-we are now very comfortable with the lifestyle here. All of the missionary couples met for thanksgiving on Friday and spent Saturday Christmas shopping in Victoria Island where all the ex-patriots live. On our way to the island, some of the couples were pointing out some unusual aspects of Nigerian life. I thought to myself that I’m sure they wouldn’t live like they do if they had any alternative. Almost everyone I’ve met would have it differently…but they can only change a small-small. They can better themselves in the conditions they live to a point. They can lift their neighbors only a little because they don’t have much themselves. They do the best they can with their circumstances. They put the rest in the hands of God. It was difficult for me to move from the world of missionary work-where we forget about ourselves-into the world of shopping where we think mostly about ourselves but I made myself. We had gone with a list of must haves and found almost everything on our list-miraculously! A yoga mat for each of us to exercise on was the top priority and we found them-they were in the first shop window when we walked into this posh mall! I was positive that we just wouldn’t be able to find such a decadent thing.
We just received 3 letters from Frank, Heidi and the boys. We love to get them-a special thank you so much for the beautiful drawings by Ethan and Miles. We are wallpapering our bedroom with the grandchildren’s drawings. We received a large packet from my ward primary-thank you Merrily. I will be writing them back to answer their questions. We receive a letter a week from my mother. Thank you for being so newsy mom. We really do not know what is happening in the world. We get the BBC EU news but almost nothing is said about American news makers. Your one page letters keep us informed on the biggest events. Thanks Aunt Feetie for the weekly postcard. We appreciate your support and the beautiful postcards adorn our kitchen wall. Thank you Kylie for being grandma to the grandkids for me and for visiting Grandma Kay. I know that you will be abundantly blessed for this service you render in our behalf and you will find joy in doing it. Thank you and bless you Heather for your help with Grandpa Gilmore. He writes that he sure does miss Ava every morning for breakfast. He wishes it could have lasted longer but he told us that your new home is wonderful but too far away from him! We heard from Red this week that his health is improving to even surprise the doctors. We aren’t surprised…he told us he would do just fine while we are gone. Heavenly Father is helping him keep that promise. May God continue to bless you Red. We are looking forward to the arrival of the goodies that Ian has arranged to get to us via delivery by a Church authority that is coming to Lagos tomorrow night. It will be Christmas early this year…and no we won’t wait until Christmas to open them! Thanks so much Ian, and anyone who helped, for all the work in gathering, preparing, and delivering the things we needed. Grant, we have prayed and prayed that you would find a good job. We hope that your new job just fits you! We will take your job hunt off our prayer list of needs for our family and move it to the list of prayers answered that we are grateful for. Lissa, thanks for your contribution to my piano class. Because of your help I can teach more effectively. I will take a picture of the class with our new piano next to the one I brought. It is a blessing to these Nigerian Church members who never dreamed they would be able to do such a thing as learn to play the piano. (And believe me, I never dreamed I would do such a thing as teach piano!) When we leave, I will leave the piano for the branch so that those students can play during church services. I’m hoping to have them give a recital for one of the Friday night activities when we get far enough along. To everyone, thanks for all of your notes to us. I really wish we could answer them individually but it is impossible. We do receive them and cherish your messages and encouragement. Thanks to all for your prayers in our behalf. I want to testify that we feel the influence and blessings for your prayers. We have been protected in a country that isn’t known for safety. We have never felt in danger. Ideas to resolve problems come at our bidding. There is joy beyond measure in doing such a thing with my husband ...I would not believe it if I didn’t experience it. Everything we have ever experienced and learned is put into practice on our mission. It is like our whole life experience has been in preparation for this work in which we are now engaged. We are truly grateful and blessed by your love and support. Love Elder and Sister Gilmore
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