JUNE HAS BEEN A JOURNEY

 May seemed to fly right by as we celebrate our anniversary of 48 years together.  Mother's Day, Rick's birthday and my 70th birthday just flew by and now we've come to the middle of June.  We got calls from the kids and cute signs via email to put around the house to celebrate. Brett came with Jared close to our anniversary and mother's day. 

I had my sister Jeanette and brother Dan and their spouses and Jacob come out on their way home from New York the middle of May.  We had a quick visit but enjoyed being together.  We took the trolley around DC and got off to see the Lincoln Memorial.

Our daughter surprised me and showed up and we picked her up from the airport and went straight to an endowment session for a member in our ward.  She got to see the temple with us and find out our Sister missionary in our ward, Sister Hatch, knew our granddaughter when they lived in Washington.  Small world when you live in the church.  She was here and got to experience transfers in the mission field.  We always are a little sad when we have missionaries finish and go home and we have transfers in the district we're assigned. 

Elder Strong and Daley after eating dinner.

We love inviting other missionaries
that aren't in our district

                                                                                              

We had zone conferences this month and our Area Authority was visiting.  It was Elder Vai Sikahema.  He was at Mesa High and my dad taught him there.  His family were friends with my dad.  He still remembered the classes he took from my dad.   He shared with us some of his background and emphasized how much the church appreciated Senior missionaries.  It was very motivating.  He will be reassigned to an area in Africa at the end of summer.

 Bryan showed up just after my birthday and close to Father's Day.  It made the start of June just fly by.  Bryan and his whole family along with his mother-in-law Carolyn Millard stayed with us for a week.  We made it work and fed them all while they were here.  They came for their daughter Claire who won state in history competition and lucky us, the national competition was in Washington, DC at the University of Maryland where we serve.   She did an awesome job and got an outstanding award.  We did several things while they were here and loved the adventures they took us on.

The Bryan Hinton's took us with them for a DC Capitol tour and a meeting with Mitt Romney as a part of the Utah delegation to the National History Day.  We had some fun and went to the only place I know in Maryland that actually has refried beans.  It's call "Burrito Bro.'s" and is a hole in the wall little place across from the National Library.  It was awesome.  I had to bring my own salsa though, it's not their specialty.  

We were exhausted but had fun still trying to fit in our missionary duties while they were here.  Noel's mother flew out and then they got on their way up the coast sightseeing headed to New York.  

Some of our routines are teaching the Addiction Recovery Program via zoom each week.  We love our people that join us each week.  We call it the Hope in Christ.  We love preparing for this experience to help them overcome these challenges in their lives.  They are on our minds each week and Elder Hinton sends regular texts and uplifting quotes to help them during the week.  What a blessing this program is that the church provides.

The third Sunday of each month our mission has a Why I Believe? fireside.  Various speakers have presented.  The Eyre's in our mission are serving at the Barlow Center which houses the BYU interns.  They are awesome and Sister Eyre hadn't been married and Elder Eyre lost his wife to an illness.  They met and married.  It's a wonderful story.  They did a wonderful job talking about while we may want to go to Italy, we wind up in Holland...but the Lord knows and takes us there for a reason which we  may not understand but He does. 

Well we got ready for the day and joined our district for their district activity....biking in DC.  What an experience.  I couldn't believe we said yes.  We got hot and sweaty.  It was a warm day not starting until about 11:30.  I (Sister Hinton) took a number of spills...the worst being right at the first of the trip.  I got back on but I knew my knee hurt a little and a scrape on my right arm.  My feet didn't touch when the bike stopped so I'd have to lean to the side.  Major traffic traveling by bike around the National Mall area.  Leaned against a metal garbage can so I didn't have to put my feet down, it tipped and so did I.  The man and his kids sitting on the ground said, "Can I help you?".  I quickly replied, "No, I'm used to this."  So we went by the Capital, and headed to the Washington Monument.  It was downhill, thank heavens.  In all we biked for about an hour and a half and enjoyed the journey.  We returned the bikes, caught the Metro and headed back home.  I don't think that at 70 I'll try the bikes again at the National Mall.  A more secluded place with less traffic would work better for me.  Elder Hinton always stayed behind me an another Sister that was a little apprehensive.  He was a trooper and WE DID IT.

All 10 of us Bikers from our District

Elder Hinton

Rick had to have a root canal and I had a cleaning and needed a mouth guard.  We definitely paid for dental work this month.  One of our favorite things we do is every Friday from 10 a.m. to 12.  We go to the Meals on Wheels and pick up bags with a hot and cold meal for residents of Friendship Arms.  I have 13 and Rick has 10.  He goes to the 7th and 6th floor and I go to the 5th and 3rd floor.  We like to see who finishes first.  We knock on the apartment door and say "Meals on Wheels", "have a good day."  We leave the bag on the door and then start to walk away.  Many times they will lean out the door and say thanks or you have a good day.  

Our meal bags to deliver

We end up helping missionaries with their friends to give rides so they can teach.  We sit in on FHE and Institute.  We attend missionary correlation each month and help with baptisms and bring treats or run off baptism program.  

Getting Ready for the 4th of July celebration........

Elder Hinton joins the fun

Lunch Bunch after District Mtg.

Elders hang with us



This blog for June has been a journey.  We shifted from regular school mode to the summer mode here in Washington.  Some stayed here for the summer but others left for internships in the YSA's.  We love those we are working with in the branch.  We get to have messages shared at District Prayer and then Evening Study on zoom.  We have some favorite moments while they share messages.  One of our  favorites is God will bless us as we put forth the effort.  God loves effort.  We see countless hours of planning and daily contacts with the world to get "friends" to teach the gospel to.  We too get to share in the joy as we help the young missionaries in God's work.  We love you all and feel the love from home, family, and friends.  
Elder and Sister Hinton
sherrie.hinton@missionary.org
richard.hinton@missionary.org