Connecting Dots - Connecting Hearts!
Elder McIntyre with Lee VanDam
Don’t you just love it when you meet someone with whom you find a connection. For instance, they know someone you know, or they live somewhere you’ve been, or maybe you’re even related. When you share something in common immediately there is a connection that warms your heart and bonds the beginning of a friendship.
A few weeks ago, my uncle Lee VanDam, was asked by a former missionary of his to meet a young missionary flying into the Salt Lake City airport and deliver a package to him. This missionary, Elder McIntyre, was coming from New Zealand and was headed to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. At the airport, as the two met up and visited, Lee learned Elder McIntyre would be serving in the California Santa Rosa Mission with us! So fun! Lee messaged us the photo above and we looked forward to welcoming Elder McIntyre. He has now joined us. He looks like he is going to be a great missionary. Another fun connection with this same Uncle of mine is that our missionary Elder Almeida’s older sister is engaged to Lee’s grandson, Adam. Small world!
Sister and President Quinn with Elder McIntyre
President and Sister Quinn with Elder Almeida
Another new missionary with a fun connection story is Sister Doner. She grew up on a farm outside of Verona, Missouri. She had always wanted to visit Chicago, so before leaving for her mission her dad made that happen. She and her parents went to Navy Pier, ate deep dish Chicago pizza, and enjoyed Portillo’s chocolate cake. (A favorite of ours.) She and her parents also attended the Chicago Temple. At the temple Sister Doner said they encountered a tender mercy. Sister Doner’s mother had been nervous about her daughter going on a mission. They had the opportunity to visit with President Ward and President Sorenson of the temple presidency. The Wards and Sorensons know us well and were able to talk with Sister Doner’s mother and tell her about us - her daughter’s future mission leaders. This helped to calm her worries. Sister Doner told us her mother cried with relief. We love having this new missionary!
Sister and President Quinn with Sister Doner
One more connection. Today we spoke in the Eureka Stake Conference. Elder Steven Shumway, a general authority seventy, was there visiting. We were excited to see him as we know him from back home. He and his wife Heidi were mission leaders in the Chicago Mission from 2019 – 2022. President Quinn had given their youngest daughter her patriarchal blessing. It was great to be able to see him and catch up!
Elder Shumway with Sister & President Quinn
I love the power of connections. They bring my spirit feelings of familiarity, safety, home, comfort, and love.
This week we held zone conferences. After each one we celebrated last month’s record of 37 baptisms with root beer floats! Congratulations to our missionaries for all their hard work! What a great week of seeing everyone! Here are a few photos from the zone conferences:
