OUR FIRST WEEK IN VIRGINIA

The first few days in Yorktown were spent setting up our apartment. Elder and Sister DeLaney gave us some kitchen items, 2 chairs, an old recliner, a folding table, dresser, and a king-sized bed. They will be giving us a few more things when they leave on Nov. 18. We also bought some end tables, desk, night stands and lamps from thrift stores. Thrift stores here are plentiful but the prices are about double what we are used to seeing at Deseret Industries in the West. It is interesting to set up a home without any of our own things, since we came out here in our Buick, and didn’t have room for much more than our clothes, Bryan’s computer, and some books.

We stayed the first 2 nights at the home of Buddy and Lu Lord. He is the third counselor in the Newport News 2nd Ward Bishopric assigned to Fort Eustis and is the presiding authority in our meetings. He can conduct interviews and priesthood advancements. They have a lovely (immaculate) home and have been wonderful. He even found a desk and dresser on the side of the road and picked them up for us.

Our apartment is on the bottom floor of a nice complex, Clairmont, in Yorktown. In the back yard there is a beautiful lake, which makes a pleasant view each time we walk to our door, since our entrance is on the side. We got a 2 bedroom place because the DeLaneys said that their one bedroom place was too small. So we have plenty of room, especially since we don’t have much furniture and other “stuff”. We are glad that we got ground level though, because there will be a lot of hauling of materials and food bins to our meetings. We use the 2nd bedroom as an office.

We were given a television. We weren’t going to worry about getting one, but the DeLaneys told us that we need to keep up to date on the news and watch the weather warnings so that we can be safe and also alert the full time elders of any dangers. (They don’t watch any TV) This is a hurricane area and this week we even had a tornado warning in our county. It turned out OK, but the local channel was adamant about the possible danger for a couple hours. We got a lot of rain, but that was all.

Sunday we attended services at Fort Eustis. There were about 6 soldiers, plus Brother Lord, the DeLaneys, us, and Brother Benoit, the assistant group leader. Bryan will be the Group Leader when the DeLaneys leave. The full time elders also came for Sacrament Meeting. There will normally be 2 to 25 soldiers in attendance.

The first meeting is a combined Relief Society/Priesthood for 30 minutes. (I haven’t met any female soldiers yet, but they could show up at any time) A soldier taught the lesson. Next is a ten minute break, then sacrament meeting for 45 minutes. Two soldiers bless the sacrament, another one passes the sacrament. A soldier gave the talk. Some Sundays we will have High Council speakers or other guests. The soldiers usually wear their uniforms, so that helps to get their names right, since they are written right there on the pocket.

I was really touched by the lesson and talk given by the soldiers. It gave me a better understanding and testimony of why we are needed here. Military life is so harsh and stressful, it is a blessing for them to be able to attend meetings with other members and feel the Spirit. I’m so glad that they have this program and that we can be part of it.

The soldiers here are in the second phase of their military careers. They have completed basic training and are now in AIT, advanced individual training. They specialize in helicopter maintenance and repair. They are here from 6 to 30 weeks and do not leave the base during their training, without special permission. That’s why we hold services on the base, because they can’t attend wards in town. Some are just out of high school. Some are returned missionaries, and some are college graduates. They are married or single, but they are not living with their families here. A few have brought the family and housed them outside of the base and can see them once in a while. They feel alone and stressed here and are glad for a chance to mingle with church members and feel the Spirit.

We learned that the Military Relations Mission was established in 2002. Before that time 10-15% of members who joined the military remained active in the church. Now, with the help of this program, 50% remain active. Our official job is called “Activation and Retention” and we do not generally get involved with proselyting. Since we have non-members in attendance sometimes, the full-time elders do the teaching for anyone interested.

On Mondays we attend “In Processing”. This is the day that all of the new soldiers who have come in that week are briefed, taught the rules, given their jobs and assignments, and fill out all kinds of forms. We have about 1 minute to introduce ourselves as “representatives of the LDS Church” and invite any members or anyone who wishes to be associated with the church to fill out a form. We get their phone numbers and a little information so that we can contact them and invite to meetings and activities. Sometimes we will receive an email from missionaries at basic training, telling of some that will be coming to our base. In our introduction we do not use the word “missionary”, nor do we wear our name tags, since proselyting is not allowed on the base, and that would seem to send the message that we are looking for converts. We do however, wear our name tags when we conduct services on Sunday, in the Chapel Annex.

On Tuesday we hold two Family Home Evening sessions in the morning and one in the evening for any soldiers who wish to attend. We have a short lesson, then games, refreshments, and visiting. The morning sessions are not well attended, but are offered because of the various class schedules.

Friday we attended 2 graduation ceremonies. Three LDS service members graduated this week. We take pictures and mail them a copy. It is nice for us to be there, since families aren’t usually able to attend.

So our first week was filled with gaining a wonderful testimony of our mission here. We are desperately needed for these service members to have contact with the church, a blessed relief from the stress of military life and worldly influences. Since Bryan is retired military, and we both have military ID cards, we can get on the base daily without hassle, which would be impossible for other people. What a great thing to know that we have been training for this mission all of our lives.